The Most Important Freedom

FREEDOM!

Now there's a "Hot Topic" these days, huh? It seems like everyone is questioning freedom. Rights that we once thought were sacrosanct are now being threatened and/or lost. That said, what I find to be a most curious sociological phenomena is that regarding a myriad of issues, what one group of people is deeming as a loss of freedom, another group of people is claiming as a victory. Let's just say that things are very complicated these days and I'm not going to go there.

What I am most wanting us to preserve at a time of civil and political unrest is our Personal Freedom. Even though there are times that we are reactive and are triggered based on our past programming and experiences, WE REALLY DO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHAT WE SAY AND WHAT WE DO. Where that gets tricky is that what we say and what we do comes from what we are thinking and feeling. Thoughts trigger feelings, and feelings in turn affect what we say and do. This can create a downward spiral of doom that leaves us feeling like a victim trapped by negative circumstances, people, and events or it can be a wonderful source of healing and affirmation that leads us in the direction of greater happiness, health, and success. So, in order to be the best version of ourselves that we can be, we really do need to get a better handle on our thoughts as the powerful influence in our lives that they are. 

Even though we can't always choose our thoughts and feelings, we can however become more aware of them as the messengers they are intended to be. For example, thoughts and feelings alert us to potential threats, whether real or imagined, and it is our job to figure out which is which as we grow in conscious awareness of what we are thinking and feeling and the energy behind it all. Our thoughts and feelings also serve to inform us of the wounds of the past that we have carried into the present. This truly is an on-going journey for all of us. As it has been said, there really is no end to personal and spiritual growth and development. The beauty of growing in conscious awareness is that we can then choose which of our thoughts to give our attention to - those coming from the energy of Love that are for our best and highest good or those coming from the energy of fear, limitation, and doubt that are in need of processing and healing. This is where the Law of Attraction and the Law of Vibration come into play. Although we certainly don't control everything in our lives, where we choose to place our attention and the energy we are broadcasting are definitely and strongly influencing the direction of every area of our lives. So, when I say we can "choose our thoughts" that is what I am referring to, not the idea that we can control them all. (By the way, as someone trained in the fields of sociology, psychology, and education, I absolutely love that scientific research is now able to explain and validate many of these ancient principles that some people still write off as "woo woo" and New Age nonsense!) 

On a personal note, you may have noticed that it has been quite a while since my last article. There's a reason for that. As I continued to focus on growing and expanding my business to be of highest service to more people, I found myself turning to "the experts" in the field and spending far too much of my time, energy, and money investing in their knowledge, courses, coaching, books, groups, and ways of doing things instead of trusting myself, my mission, and my intuition. So after going down way too many rabbit holes, I am coming back to the ultimate freedom - The Freedom to BE ME! How ironic that this is a big part of what I help my clients to do on a daily basis. We really do teach what we most need to learn - and I am ok admitting that. We are all a work in progress. 

That's why it is important when seeking help to change your habits and ultimately your life that you work with someone who truly values YOU and YOUR PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT. That way, you have the benefit of working with someone who will facilitate programs and sessions that allow you to feel in charge of your life rather than being dependent on them. Like me, you may still get tripped up in viewing even good advice as "shoulds, musts, and oughts," but if you are working to heal that pattern and find the right person or people to support your process, it will always lead you back to your own inner wisdom.

May you be blessed with the inner freedom to follow your own unique path to be happy, be healthy, and live a life that matters. Please let me know what I can do to continue to support you along the way. 

 

Love or Fear?

It has been a long time since I sat down to write a post. Actually, I was rather shocked to see it has been 6 years! Time flies, huh? It's good to be back.

We are certainly living in the strangest time I have ever been through in all my years on this planet. The world is experiencing an unprecedented "Global Pause" as it has been called. And hey, that sure sounds better than Lockdown. So much is happening around us it's hard to even process. Some of what is happening is horrific, like all the lives lost due to the pandemic as well as all the collateral damage due to businesses being shut down, people laid off, economic challenges, and the shortages of food and supplies. I think when this is over we will all appreciate the availability of toilet paper in a whole new light!

At the same time, there are some silver linings in all of this. For example, there has been a significant change in the level of pollution. There are people who are slowing down enough to reconnect with the family they live with and through technology with those near and far. I've seen people out walking more. I've heard of family game nights and dance parties. People are engaging with life from a simpler, less materialistic perspective.

In other words, life is handing us a mixed bag as it always does, but in this time of a pandemic, the bag contains elements that are far less common since they are generally found only at the extremes.

That said, FEAR is everywhere. In fact, when I do leave the house for necessities or for my walks in nature, it is palpable. As I get in my car and start backing out of the driveway, it's as if my mind goes into a hyper-vigilant state just waiting for whatever may lurk around every corner. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

And then, I remember to breathe. Breathe. Pause. Recenter. Calm down. Relax. All that stress and worry won't accomplish a thing. In fact, it will simply serve to put my body into fight or flight survival mode. My energy will contract. My mood will darken. But the worst thing that can happen, and in fact will if I continue to be sucked into the mire of fear, is that I will hamper my immune system just when perhaps I need it the most. That's right, as Dr. Bruce Lipton has explained in his amazing book The Biology of Belief, we can be in one of two states, either growth and repair OR in survival mode. We can't be in both at the same time.

Now lest you think over the past 6 years I have taken on a Debbie Downer persona, I have not. I'm just sharing what I think we all go through whether we admit it or not. When we feel threatened, whether by the current challenges related to the coronavirus, or whether we react to some other trigger, it doesn't matter. Fear is fear and it creates the same body chemistry even if the so called threat is simply in our imagination. Fear needs to be acknowledged rather than denied. Sometimes fear contains a message of something we really do need to pay attention to that is actually actionable.
For example, if you have been ignoring healthy self-care, eating lots of sugar and fat, not getting enough sleep, etc. and you fear you may be placing yourself more at risk well...perhaps you are. But don't just stay locked in fear. Change the things you can.

If however, your fear is about something in the past that can't be changed or in the future that can't be controlled, once acknowledged, the fear must be let go. I know. I can literally hear you saying, "Easier said than done" and just to be clear I agree. That's why we need a new way to look at fear.
Anyone who has read my writings knows that I love a good acronym. The acronym I have heard in the past for FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real. Definitely a good one, but somehow I needed something else. And that's when it came to me in a moment of silent prayer.
FEAR: Face Everything And Rise!
(Not coincidentally I'm sure, this came to me during the season of Lent, just prior to Easter.)

Face Everything And Rise! <- Brilliant if I say so myself.
Why? Because it is such a beautiful statement about our capabilities.
Life is good, but is is NOT always easy. In fact, due to illness, pain, loss, aging, and death, there is a lot to contend with BUT with trust in the power of Love, we are up to the task. The greatest suffering comes when we succumb to the thought that "this shouldn't be happening" or the other devastating thought, "I can't handle it." Now, THAT is when fear triggers suffering and gets the upper hand.

There is no greater power in all the universe than LOVE. In fact, that which appears to be other than Love is merely a denial of love. Love Always Wins - another acronym - because that's the LAW. We might not readily see it, but it is true. I was listening to a talk this morning by my friend James Twyman and he said quite simply, "Truth is truth. Love is love." <- Love that. It's a fact. Thanks James for being one who embodies that message. You are an inspiration to us all.

The other apparent lack of Love manifests when we have a lack of trust in Love. This can often occur because we fail to see ourselves as channels of Love rather than as the Source of Love. If you try to be the source of Love, you will find yourself exhausted. But the Good News is that Love is unlimited and always available for us to tap into if we have the willingness to call on grace and allow ourselves to be instruments of that beautiful divine energy. Yes, we need to say Yes and that takes some quiet and a pause.

Oh, guess what? Now might just be the perfect time for transformation. So much of what we have been too busy or distracted with may have kept us in the not so comfortable comfort zone and now we have been thrust into what seems most days to be a weird alternate reality that for now we need to call home. So, what now?

Face Everything And Rise! Rise to the occasion. Rise to a higher level of consciousness with which to deal with people, circumstances and events. Rise to the choice of Love over fear in everything you do. This is what will ultimately serve to either strengthen or weaken you. It is NOT what you do, it is the energy with which you do it!

A timely example is people wearing masks in public. Some people wearing masks look absolutely terrified and it is clear they are wearing them strictly out of fear. Other people look your way, and even if you can't see their mouths, you can tell they are smiling. You can see it in their eyes. They are wearing a mask out of Love - Love for others as well as themselves. It's the same with social distancing. It is what we have been asked to do. You can see the people who do so in fear, but yet we can leave the same 6 feet between us out of Love. It truly changes everything.

Choose this day which energy you will serve for it will be your Master.
Will it be Love or will it be fear? You get to choose.
You can choose to live in fear or Face Everything And Rise!
Choose Love and rise you will!
But don't take my word for it. You have to put this into action. It's not a one time choice either. We have to keep choosing Love moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day. By repeatedly choosing Love, we can make it a more natural, conscious choice that becomes more habitual. No, we will never get it "right" all the time and we may even screw things up. But that's ok. We just need to choose again. I think that's why my favorite line of the Bible is "Behold I make all things new.' What a beautiful, merciful world we live in if we can call on Love to hold and guide us.

So, with that I will leave you with yet another acronym - this time for LOVE:
 LOVE is a Life Of Vibrant Energy.
Ah yes...take me to that river.

Be well. Be blessed.
With Love,
Mary Ellen

Who You Are as What You Do - Heal the Energy Reversal and Come Back to Life

There are times in life when we find that we are living in reverse. It is at those times that our energy is scrambled and we are quite literally doing things backwards. So, in that spirit, it only makes sense that I will address this issue in the same manner. Let's start with the end in mind.

Here's what you ultimately need to know: Who You ARE is the Energy that you can choose to consciously align yourself with and allow to be the determining factor in What You DO. It is NOT the other way around if you want to live a Life of Vibrant Energy, Joy, and Peace. You can choose to live that way in hot pursuit of those things, but you will end up exhausted as it is not a sustainable way of life. To do so is to mistakenly turn Gifts into goals and to place those things at the finish line rather than embracing them as the Source of All that is Good.

Who are you? There are a myriad of ways to answer this question from the surface and share such things as name, marital status, age, gender, job title, family roles, religious and other affiliations, hobbies, etc. But, that's not who you really are, is it?

Ask the question again, this time addressing yourself at the deepest level of your Being. Simply ask: Who AM I? and wait. Again, the typical answers will come as you skim the surface, but wait, as the infomercials remind us...there's more. Much more.

Some of what may surface comes in the form of bodily sensations. Perhaps you are feeling tense or ill or are in chronic pain. Notice whatever comes up. Choose not to judge it as positive or negative. Just let it be as it is for now. All physical conditions change over time and this too shall pass.

Notice too your thoughts and feelings. They arise in conjunction with the bodily sensations and often in reaction to them as you may find yourself labeling your experience. Again, let it be. Notice it, become aware of it, and let it pass through.

Whatever your experience may be, the surface issues will  begin to settle over time, and as this happens, you will notice that you are able to release more and more of the "stuff" you have believed yourself to be. Eventually, you will at some point find yourself in the Silence of Your Heart and it is in that beautiful space that you will be able touch your Inner Core. Some call it the Soul. Some call it the Christ Within. Some call it the Presence of God. And as Wayne Dyer has said, it doesn't even matter if you call it Louise! You will connect with that part of you which is Eternal, that part of you that is the Essence of Pure Love. You will KNOW that what you once heard about being made in the image and likeness of God is True. This is when you will KNOW the Truth that will set you free - in spite of all the dogma and dysfunction that may have clouded that message in the past. You will not just hear the words, you will at last embody the Truth and Oh, what a relief that is!

Once you Know Who You Are, you are Guided in all you do. Your intentions and inspired actions will at times almost effortlessly spring forth from the Everlasting Fountain of Wisdom and Love and all that is Go(o)d. Love is now properly reclaimed as the Source rather than the goal. You will know the Joy that comes your way when you choose to live a Life of Love, so that Love is extended as a natural outcome, rather than shouldered as a burdensome obligation that weighs you down as you strive to prove that you are who you already are. And that, my dear, really is all you need to know to heal your energy reversal and come back to Life and Vibrant Living.

Stop living life backwards in pursuit of the Good that is already yours. Live from Love as the Source of All and Who You Really Are and you will be taking the most Powerful Action for the Highest Good of All Concerned - including you!

As always, I trust that these words will find their way to the right people, at the perfect time, and have the intended impact on the lives and hearts of my readers for the best and Highest Good.

With Blessings, Love and Light,
Nurture U

Fool's Gold: A Goal as a Hole That You Dig

We are indeed a goal-driven society. From education, to career, to money, and all forms of success, goals are touted as the be-all and end-all on the road to achievement. Not only must goals be formulated, they must be written down succinctly and be SMART: specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timed. (There are different ways of teaching the acronym. This is the one I have taught and followed myself.)  Goals must also be periodically reviewed for progress and re-evaluation. In pursuit of our goals, we must remember that there is no failure, only feedback. And on and on goes the "coach speak" with regard to getting anywhere in life. The motivational strategies are research-based and proven to be effective. So...the message is, "Keep on keepin' on..."

But wait...!!! I have followed these formulas to the letter. I have done all I can with regard to pursuit of my goals. I am motivated. I am determined. In fact, in many cases, I have achieved the goals. Sometimes my success has been greater than I expected. My ego is stoked. My ego has been stroked. I am happy. At least for now...

Then Boom, Crash, Zap, Poof...That happiness is gone! Now what?

Back it up...

Goal setting is indeed a powerful process in climbing the ladder of success, but as it has been said, you need to be aware of where you choose to place that ladder. Otherwise, you will get to the top and simply find yourself trying to maintain your excitement and your balance on the highest rung with perhaps nowhere to go but down. That's why we all need to dig deeper to uncover our highest intentions. Otherwise, what seems like climbing the ladder of success becomes tantamount to digging ourselves into a proverbial hole. The more we try, the more we spin our wheels, the more we find ourselves stuck. It is at that point that we may become deeply embedded in the false belief that life is not fair and that all of the positive things we have read, heard, and been taught must be the ramblings of the chosen few who can afford to preach such rubbish from the comfort of their ivory towers. Lest we lose heart, be assured, there IS another way.

Many of our goals are likened to fool's gold. We dig, and we dig, and we dig our heels in further until we at last have that glistening lump of gold that we thought was a gem in our worn and blistered hands. We paid the price. Here's the prize. Oops. Not so fast. The shiny object is indeed worthless and our efforts are for naught. We only wanted the real thing. Not a cheap imitation.

Here's where we can claim the true power of manifesting our heart's desire. In order to manifest your heart's desire, you must KNOW what it is! In order to know what it is, you must be open to receiving this information. In order to be open, you must soften your stance. In order to soften your stance, you need to be present. In order to be present, you must cultivate a degree of inner peace. In order to cultivate inner peace, you must be willing to align your personality with your soul. In order to align your personality with your soul, you simply have to know and trust that it is the highest part of you that always seeks to manifest the highest good of all concerned, including you. In order to know and trust your soul, you need to choose to connect with the Great Power of the Universe that is Your Source of Being. And that brings us to the "Good News." You are already connected to Your Source.  Your Source is Pure Love and all that is Go(o)d. You are a Spark of the Divine. Therefore, there is only One Power, One Way, One Intention, and that Intention is to BE the Love that you are and seek to express that Love in all that you do in an ever-evolving upward spiral. Just choose Love and your goals, whatever they may be, will be backed by the Power of the Universe for your Best and Highest Good - all the time - Guaranteed!

So, behind all of the glitz and glamour of the image of climbing the ladder of success, you may find a multitude of haggard laborers digging deeper and deeper holes that lead them nowhere but into greater darkness and isolation. That is the aftermath of the goals of fear: Fear of failure, fear of lack, fear of being unworthy, fear of _________________________(fill in the blank). Even if you manage to reach the goal through the sweat of your brow, that same brow is soon furrowed as you ponder your next move. Surely, the next goal will be "it."

The lesson here is simply this: Beware of a goal that stems from fear no matter how noble it may appear. A goal motivated by fear will weaken and disappoint you every time. It is the ultimate fool's goal that leaves you exhausted and discouraged. You truly have a choice in this matter - no matter how far you have come or how far you feel you have left to go. You can now choose to have access to the fuel behind any goal you may set, whether it be a wellness goal such as weight loss, a career goal, a financial goal, etc. The form that your goals take will be as individualized as your journey itself. Ultimately, it is not the goal that matters. It is what fuels the goal that determines your destination as well as the quality of your experience along the way. And that, my friend, is all you really need to know. The power of your intention is the power behind your goal and you have the power to choose. 

Start now - Tap into the Ultimate Power of the Universe. 
Begin in Love.
End in Love. 
And just watch how that one decision changes everything in between.

Namaste.
It makes me smile to hold this vision for us all. Go in Peace, and Love, and Joy.

As always, I trust that these words will find their way to the right people, at the perfect time, and have the intended impact on the lives and hearts of my readers for the best and Highest Good.

With Blessings, Love and Light,
Nurture U

Claim Your Life's Purpose

Claim your life's purpose? Now there's a tall order. Let's get right to the gist of what I am saying before you get bogged down by that heavy feeling that can seem to descend upon you in the blink of an eye and linger in your consciousness until you can literally feel like you are dragging the weight of this issue like the proverbial ball and chain as you drift aimlessly in a sea of possibilities...

Okay, so I was being a bit dramatic...but c'mon...just a bit. If you have ever been in that mode of searching for your life's purpose, you know the feeling of trying to navigate in a thick fog. That's why the key is to claim your life purpose not find it. Your life's purpose is NOT about what you do, it is about being WHO YOU ARE. And that's where you need to start; you need to stake your claim.

Your life's purpose is not about your career or your job or even your hobbies or avocation. It doesn't begin when you start working and end when you retire. You don't need to take a vacation from your purpose or rest up on the weekends to return to it. Your purpose is a part of your life every moment of every day. Your life's purpose is your Divine Assignment. Your purpose is to be an expression of the Divine - and so is mine. Essentially, we ALL have the same purpose whether we choose to embrace it or not. We are united in purpose, and only separate through the exercise of free will and choice.

So, how do we express our Divine Nature? By being as the Divine is. For me, the simplicity of the Bible description of God works best because it all comes down to this: God is Love. We are told that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, WE ARE LOVE and that is what we are here to express. Simple, but not easy...

That's where the idea of staking your claim comes in. We are conditioned throughout our lives, some to a greater extent than others, to question our Divine Connection and our worthiness to receive all of the blessings that are ours to receive as a beloved Child of God. This questioning comes from our experiences with our parents, other family members, teachers, preachers, peers, the media, and our society and culture at large. Virtually everywhere we turn, we are apt to encounter the beliefs and mores of those around us not just through experience, but through all that we see and hear and read. We are indoctrinated in this way, both directly and indirectly, by the pervading environment in which we live and this profoundly affects not only our thoughts and feelings, but also impacts our ability to function and experience the joy of healthy, balanced, conscious living. That is why the admonition of Jesus to remember that we are to be "in this world, but not of this world" holds such sway and why, through His powerful example, we can indeed be cheerful that He overcame this world. 

By following the example of the Spiritual Masters that have gone before us, tuning into the guidance, grace, and gifts we are freely given, and strengthening our connection with the Source of our Being, we will have the power to claim our ultimate identity and purpose to live a life of Love. Once committed to that, all the rest begins to fall into place as the journey continues and our personal transformation takes place and we continue to evolve. 

What is your life's purpose? To love. What does that look like? It looks like YOU - at work, at home, at rest, at play, alone, with friends, with family, in a crowd, in your car, in youth, in old age, in sickness, in health, and even on your death bed. In the end, as it has been said, all that ever matters and will endure forever is Love. 

Choose Love and you will ALWAYS be purposeful.

Namaste!

As always, I trust that these words will find their way to the right people, at the perfect time, and have the intended impact on the lives and hearts of my readers for the best and Highest Good.

With Blessings, Love and Light,

Nurture U