My guess is that something in your life just isn’t flowing the way you’d like it to be. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, unfulfilled, unhappy, or maybe you’re just not where you want to be in your life. You just don’t know how to get out of a cycle that isn’t working for you. You are wanting to go on a journey towards happiness but don’t know what that looks like.
Well, I believe that there are no accidents and that you are reading this today. Something nudged you and told you you are ready. You are ready to get unstuck and Journey Forward® to living your best life.
I believe you can attain greater peace, happiness, joy, fulfillment, authenticity, and personal freedom. Your Journey Forward® starts by meeting yourself where you are at with compassion, self-love, and kindness. Then deciding it’s time – and that you are ready and capable – to make a lasting change.
We often think change has to be big to be significant, like making a 90% shift, but that’s not true. Even a small change can end up making a profound impact.
I believe you can change your future because I was able to.
So to change your future, you have to begin with learning how to be in the present. You have to know how to slow down your mind, not react to every thought or emotion, and connect to your breath and your body. This will allow you to observe your habits and patterns. You will be able to see which ones aren’t working for you! Then you’ll know what you need to work on so you don’t continue the same things that still aren’t making you happy!
This is easier said than done, but I know you can do it.
And how do I know? Because I used to be stuck, and now I’m not. I used to not know myself, or what I needed to be happy or fulfilled. I was living on autopilot. I kept chasing the next thing, thinking that if I achieved the next level in my relationship, schooling, job, kids…then I’d be happy.
Have you ever felt the same way too??
I have been able to let go of the anxiety that used to rule much of my life. Also, along with my self-limiting beliefs of what I thought I was capable of, or of what I “deserved.” I took the courageous Journey Forward® into an unknown. I had no working model for what my life was going to look like, but I didn’t let that stop me.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anais Nin
I had faith that it was all going to be okay because I got to a point where there seemed like no other option but to try being in a new way. And with practice, I got to a place where, I was in full alignment with myself: mind, body, and spirit.
And if my old friends self-doubt or insecurity begin to creep back in and try to pull me back into old habits, I simply acknowledge them. Then respond with a mindset of “you don’t serve me anymore and you’re getting in the way of my happiness!”
So how did I start this Journey Forward® to being my happiest self? And more importantly, how can you??
In one word: meditation.
Now don’t let any “yeah, but I can’t meditate” thoughts take over in your mind. I can almost hear them popping up in your head, which is good! This is your first practice – acknowledge the thoughts, and choose to not believe them – they are just habits.
So, you’ve got to get past the assumptions, judgments, misconceptions, and preconceptions of what you might think meditation is and is not. This will allow you to begin a practice that will actually help you make a positive shift in your life.
I am here to help you let those thoughts go so you can learn to meditate in a way that is attainable. That you’ll be able to integrate into your everyday life, so you can benefit from the many gifts that meditation can offer.
So let’s go through the most common excuses we all (yes, me too!) tell myself: “I can’t meditate…I’ve tried and I’m just not good at it – my mind races, my body is restless, I get distracted, I can’t sit for that long, I don’t have the time, no one in my life gives me the space to sit and breathe, I’d rather sleep longer in the morning…”
Am I right? Did I hit on at least one thought running through your head??
Mindset Matters
Well, let me tell you this, mindset is everything! As soon as you say you can’t, you’ve decided you won’t.
Be very aware of the language in which you speak to yourself in your own mind and the limiting beliefs that that language can give you.
It turns out, our brain actually is not always on our side when it comes to positive thinking. We have a negativity bias in our brain. For evolutionary purposes, our brain is designed to focus on the negative. When we were cavemen, it helped to protect us. But now, it’s just a pesky adaptation that gets in our way.
Psychologist and neuroscientist, Dr. Rick Hanson, describes this as “the brain is like Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones.”
This means that we are inclined towards focusing on the negative, which means we have to work extra hard to focus on the positive. This includes our mindset.
And so before being ready to meditate, consider your mindset towards meditation being something you can do and that you believe will “work for you.”
I define meditation as:
Creating the space to slow down, with stillness and silence, connecting to your breath and body, as an anchor to the present moment, and allowing whatever is arising to exist, without judgement.
It is so much easier said than done – but it’s possible. And if you are not yet convinced that this practice will “work” for you – then I will hold the space that growth and change, and ultimately lasting happiness – is possible.
But it’s about doing something different to get different results. Just saying, “I want to change” or “I want to be happy” without doing anything different, won’t get you anywhere new, it’ll likely only make you more frustrated and stuck. You won’t be able to achieve that happiness you are longing for without first being aware of what is keeping you stuck.
So here are your steps…
- Envision in your mind the future you want to be living…what would be different in your life for you to be truly happy? (And be really honest with yourself…)
- Believe that you are worthy of being happy and fulfilled
- Make the commitment to yourself to begin a meditation practice as the first step in breaking you from reactive habits and patterns, at least 1-2 minutes per day
- Create the space to be still and silent
- Focus on your breath as an anchor to the present moment
- Observe your thoughts, emotions, sensations or distractions, and name them “this is anxiety” or “this is sadness”
- Come back to your breath
- Wash, rinse and repeat
This is hard at first, but does get easier. Allow me to be your guide to being the best version of yourself you’ve ever been. I want you to get off of autopilot, and get you into the driver’s seat of your own life . No more just floating through life, wanting more. The time is now to take action and control of your destiny. You’re ready. It’s no accident that you’re reading this right now. I believe that in my soul, the Universe is telling you that you are ready to get unstuck. Start the Journey Forward® to being the happiest you’ve ever been, living your authentic life.
