Tag: Boundaries

Holiday Tips to Help You Get Through

The holidays are officially here! Bring on the pumpkin pie! This time is filled with delicious foods, fun gatherings and cozying up by the fire place. It’s also a time to spend with our family and friends.

While we love our family and friends, sometimes getting everyone together can bring out the best and worst in people. You may find tensions bubbling over like gravy on the stove. Don’t worry, here are a few tips to get you through so you don’t boil over:

  • Don’t expect other people to change, it sets you up for disappointment. People are creatures of habit. Eliminate from your thoughts, “hoping,” “maybe,” “hopefully..” Your 70 year old racist Uncle is 70, he’s not changing. Accept him for who he is.
  • You’re the one who has changed. Pat yourself on the back.
  • Laugh at the uncomfortable moments.
  • If you need a breather, excuse yourself to the restroom for a few minutes or get some fresh air. This really helps, especially when things get extra weird. You can go to your car and scream. That sounds liberating.
  • Go easy on the libations. Seriously. Inhibitions go out the window with a little too much vino.
  • Buy pre-made sides, put them in a casserole dish. Act natural. No one will know. Many markets set up holiday dinner packs that you can order ahead of time. You can order something nice for around $200. Costco even sells sides. Cooking, eating healthy and entertaining are my jam but it’s not in me this year. My Dad passed away, work has been crazy and of course with death there is a lot of “extra.” Making all the things just doesn’t sound fun. Honestly if you’re feeling pulled in every direction, it’s not a bad idea to cater your meal. Your kitchen won’t be a mess, you’ll be able to rest and you’ll be able to enjoy your day off. It’s called self preservation my friends. You can sleep in, go for a walk, or do some yoga.
  • Did someone say stretchy pants? Athletisure is really a game changer. Obviously there is a lot of enjoying that goes on with the holidays, why be uncomfortable? But DON’T get into the habit of wearing stretchy pants all winter…..you won’t notice if your skinny jeans become too small. Been there done that.

Hopefully you find the tips to be helpful and a little humorous. Most importantly take care of yourself. Make sure you rest on your days off. Your time is valuable.

Easy 3rd Chakra Meditation for Self Confidence

IMG_3923Yellow is the color of sunshine – it’s the core of your being. Meditate on your third chakra (think belly button), it’s the center of self esteem, confidence, self love. It’s the source of our true self, our inner being. It’s our source of power.

When you meditate on the third chakra, visualize the color yellow and the warmth from the sun. This warmth is the light of your inner being. That light is infinite. When you meditate on your third chakra, create a mantra. Tell yourself things like: “I am Confident,” “I have the power to assert myself,” “I shine from within.” These powerful mantra’s are the start to loving yourself again and generating that power from within.

Allow yourself to release any blockages. Yellow is expansive – imagine the confidence you are cultivating and light expanding out from your core. Give gratitude to your emotions, let anything go that is no longer serving you. Stories come up, because people have tried to bring us down in life. Whether it be because we’re not good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, skinny enough, manly enough, rich enough – remember, those are just stories. We know who we are. We’ve been in this self since day one. Rather than being mean to ourselves and listening to those silly stories — turn it around by mediating on your third chakra, releasing all that negative stuff and filling your body with the warmth from the sun and self love you deserve.

You determine your self worth. Accept yourself for who you are right now. Let go of the story of non-self acceptance today. Trust your own guidance, every step on your journey has taught you valuable lessons. Part of standing in your own power and having a connection with your third chakra is knowing that it’s okay to make mistakes because it’s all part of the journey. Not by coincidence, third chakra imbalances are related to digestive issues, interesting how anxiety and lack of confidence are related to third chakra imbalance.

When nurturing the third chakra, eat yellow foods, such as yellow lentils, banana’s, corn – stay away from flour and processed sugar. Stay away from alcohol — especially if you are feeling low. Surround yourself with citrine and yellow serpentine. Take the time to nurture yourself and distance yourself from those who deplete your self esteem or make you question your worth.

Be yourself,  stand in your power, thrive. Let go of those stories. You are enough. Let your soul shine.

Put Away Your Coat of Armor

cropped-img_329811.jpgWe wear disguises in the form of anger, competition, isolation, jealousy and weight -the list goes on. These disguises are a physical “coat of armor” acting as a self defense mechanism in lieu of having good boundaries. We miss out in life by wearing this coat of armor and putting a wall up around us.

Think of how many times you have judged people, gotten angry, held on to something or made excuses to get out of doing something out of self defense. Or the times we compete with each other, or push people away because we don’t want to, “get too close” or we don’t want someone to be doing “better than us-“ these are all self defense mechanisms, our coat of armor.

What would happen if you put away your coat of armor? How do you think your life would open up?