Return to Breath Spiritual Coaching

05/11/2022

Hello and happy Wednesday, we have made it to the middle of the week!
I would like to discuss meditation because it's something I continue to work on. When I first started I got quite frustrated because I wanted the benefits I had heard and read about but constantly felt as if I was doing it wrong. I would try to clear my mind and focus on my breath and was bombarded by thoughts and distractions within myself. About this time I went to the bookstore because I wanted to buy the book Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey and was disappointed they didn't have any in stock. As I was walking out the book Meditation Is Not What You Think, by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I bought it and was so glad I did. It opened up a whole new world to me into the practice of mediation. What I learned is there is no wrong or right way to do it and for me this was huge. So often I think we have a notion that there is a correct way to do things, one way. Usually this is not true. When we hold ourselves to such rigid standards we are truly missing out on a world of possibilities. I highly recommend both of those books because eventually I did find Greenlights, and in fact I think I should read it again!
Explore doing things, try doing in your own way, in a manner that works for you and brings something positive in your life. Be kind to yourself, new things and growth take time to foster and become routine. Most importantly don't take yourself so seriously that you are afraid to explore new things. Open mind, open heart.
I hope the rest of the week is great and you treat yourself with kindness. Much love :-)

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05/04/2022

Can it be, is spring really joining us in Northern Michigan, and staying this time?! I believe it is. This is really my favorite time of year, it seems to open up possibilities for new things.
Today I would like to talk a bit on expectations. This is a topic near and dear to my heart because I think it may be one of the greatest tools to happiness and being content in life. If I truly look back on all of the times I was unhappy or down it is usually because I had expectations of how events would turn out or how people would treat or respond to me. If we can somehow manage the expectations we have in life and approach things with a curiosity instead of a preconceived notion of how they are going to turn out it opens up a greater possibility for joy and happiness. This is not something that happens over night, it takes time and patients to cultivate but just like seeds we plant in the spring, the reward is often beautiful and worth it.
Practice this on just a small scale, one step or event at a time and see what the outcome may be. Instead of going into a conversation certain of what the other's response will be have a genuine curiosity, truly listen to what they have to say. I think sometimes we get into a pattern or rut and feel frustrated and hopeless that things will never change. The change is within each of us if we are willing to put in the work.
I hope today is received as a blessing for each of you. Love big my friends❣️

04/29/2022

Traumas that we experience can have a profound and lasting effect on us. Often these traumas happen at a young age and they can impact our behaviors and emotional responses to future events and relationships. When a person experiences a traumatic event such as abuse, death or divorce it can leave us with a negative script playing in our head that sadly we begin to believe as truth or fact. If I had just said no, this would not have happened...If I was better, more lovable they would not have left. If I was smarter, wiser, prettier...stronger, and the list goes on. It is never an easy task but well worth it to examine when and where this script or belief system started. Usually it is a form of protection created by our subconscious to protect us from having that trauma occur again. Once the threat is over it can then become more harmful than good if we don't address why it was put in play in the first place.
Speaking from my own personal experience I can say the process can feel like too much work, or that it takes too long. Even if the patterns of our behavior is not healthy or not serving us well it is comfortable because it is familiar. We may not be happy but can be complaisant because it's all we have ever known. Fear is often the driving force behind resistance to change. We have the small or big voice in our heads doubting and questioning life a different way. When we can stop the negative script and approach change and growth with a positive light it opens up a world of possibilities. For me the hardest part has been to be patient and not get discouraged with set backs. Over time what I can say is the setbacks are fewer and I can recover from them faster each time. A big part for me is living in the "what is real" and what is "imagined scenarios". If I am being honest my imagination has created and done far more trauma to me than any other person or event in life! I have a very vivid imagination :-)
Hopefully this is relatable, and it can help even one person pause and give some thought to that. Enjoy your day ☀️

04/28/2022

I haven't used this site to do much except re-post things that speak to me. I am going to play around with it and try to post thoughts and insights that I have picked up along my journey. Hopefully someone finds it useful and it can even start a conversation.
I have been sick for the past week with Covid and the time off has really given me space in my thoughts and time to reflect. Sometimes it takes something radical to slow us down and give us room to really think.
I think we can all relate on some level to say we are a work in progress, and I definitely feel that way. Old patterns and habits no longer serve me and I want to explore what makes me tick and try to be the best version of myself. I worked towards and earned my certificate in Spiritual and Life coaching not just to help others, but to help myself as well. It was a whole different way of looking at ways to heal and work towards goals, more importantly set goals for myself. I have been a care giver for most of my life but not doing a very good job of caring for myself.
The past couple of years has been a challenge for most everyone I talk to. Loss and maybe gaining perspective of what is important in life. Sometimes we create a script in our minds of what our lives are supposed to look like and we can't see the reality of what they really are. I plan on discussing some things I have learned, usually the hard way, on this site and will be available to talk in person, phone or video if anyone has specific topics to talk about. I hope you all are having your best day and if not, remember no feeling state is forever. We are ever changing even if we don't recognize it.

04/21/2022