Barbara Schmidt's Blog, page 37

Freedom Through Forgiveness

To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you—Lewis B. Smedes

This quote has been resonating with me all week and I had a hunch that we all may be needing a little reminder about the importance of forgiveness and living in freedom. There is so much happening in the world around us, our own personal mini-dramas, life situations that may feel unjust and unfair, we may be feeling like a victim or even wanting to fight back in order to create the equal and opposite response we feel is appropriate. We often forget that one of the most powerful weapons in setting ourselves free is through forgiveness.

What exactly is forgiveness? We may think that it’s a simple exchange of words and then figuring out how to let it go, but forgiveness is so much deeper than that.

Forgiveness is less about the world, the people in our lives, the oppressors and abusers, the external; and more about having a tool for self-care, self-preservation, and personal growth.

I have had a handful of traumatic life experiences (as I’m sure you have too) that left me clinging to anger, sadness, resentment, and sometimes even, revenge. When we feel like we have been wronged, we want it to be acknowledged, we want to be seen for it, we want the world to know that this is the reason we are the way we are. I think this is why we hold on so tightly, to be protected from future hurt which keeps us from being our truest selves; from being free. This “free self” is the version of us where all possibilities are infinite; we are not consumed daily by anger or resentment. This resentment keeps us stuck in an uninspired life.

I give you hope, we all have the capacity to work through the traumas and grievances, and release the charge it has over our bodies and life.

The first step of forgiveness for me means you don’t try and forget the situation to be free, you simply have to be open to seeing it differently. Forgiveness is never about sanctioning bad behavior or promulgating abuse. Forgiveness is about you. Forgiveness changes you, not the person or situation that hurt you. When you forgive you see the world differently, you see life differently, and you are open to a whole new vista of opportunities and possibilities. You are finally free to live; you are not held captive by another persons actions.

It took me awhile to work through every trauma or difficult situation that happened to me, and what I know for sure is that it made me the strong, loving, confident person I am today. It taught me so much and has helped me learn, grow, and for the most part, really like me. With this perspective, I can look back on painful moments, and forgive, I set myself free from the emotions tied to these times from long ago. I know that I have survived, I am thriving and I have a deep sense of peace about the past and trust and hope for the future.

It’s time to let yourself off the hook for your past my beautiful friends. Begin today, in small ways, to look at situations in your life where you still need to forgive and set an intention to do so.

Remember you are not in any way forgetting that you suffered traumas, betrayals, or difficult times. You are not pretending as if they didn’t happen. You are beginning incredibly important deep self-work and healing from your past. When you begin the work of forgiveness you might discover that the hardest person to forgive may be yourself; but you must.

This week, I ask that you set the intention of living your life without the heavy baggage from the past, the negative emotions that are no longer serving you, and the fear that is keeping you stuck.

Just being open to forgive, you may feel a sense of lightness come over your body; this is setting yourself free.

I hope I have been helpful in this very difficult task of forgiveness. I share my life with the desire that you may feel empowered on your journey. I look forward to hearing your stories of freedom through forgiveness.

xoxo, Michelle

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The Power of Practicing Acceptance

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” – The Serenity Prayer

I want to start this week’s blog with the Serenity Prayer, as it immediately popped into my mind when I began to write. The Serenity Prayer is one of the most well-known prayers, particularly in the the addiction community. Essentially, I believe this prayer to be a guide to managing life, and everything that gets put on our path, with grace. I begin with this prayer because of the first sentence, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” In this very powerful, life changing prayer, the very first words deal with acceptance. Ergo, practicing acceptance is an important part of living a happy, fulfilling life.

Whether you are dealing with something happening in your personal life or frustrated with the state of the world, acceptance can feel challenging, or nearly impossible. It’s hard to practice acceptance when things are not going our way, when tragedy strikes, or when things feel completely out of our control. But, as the prayer teaches, it’s important to strive to accept the things we cannot change; especially situations or outcomes that we do not prefer!

The key is noticing what circumstances are out of our control, what is worth fighting for or changing, and what are alternate paths we can take to be where we want to be.  This week, I would love for us to practice acceptance, but in a new way, that feels healthy and empowering. Acceptance is never about allowing yourself to live in abusive or destructive situations. Let’s learn together, how to accept with grace, so that we can focus on the things we can change, and create the lives we truly desire.

Know yourself. Get to know yourself, your preferences, and how you would like to see your life and the world. Know what you want, so that you can set your aim in the right direction.
Know how to pick your battles. Sometimes we get into a mindset that we have to fight everything we don’t like to be effective in creating what we want. Let’s reframe this. Learn to “stand-up” smart. If there is something happening in the world or in your life that you don’t like, think outside the box on how you can change it. Remember, what you resist, persists. Prioritize your battles, and use your creativity to come up with solutions.
Know when to take action. Have courage when the time is right to make a stand, a statement, or a change. We are powerful beings, and when we have desires that are backed up truth, confidence and perseverance, anything is possible.
Know what’s done is done. Sometimes we like to relive the past and bring up old hurts as a way to excuse bad behavior. Let what has happened stay in the past. Learn from it, forgive it, release it, and work to live each day from a clean slate. The past has taught us and given us perspective, use it for the powers of good in this present moment, but don’t allow it to hold you back.
Know that it is all going to be ok. Have trust that the situations that pop up in your life, even the challenging ones, are here to teach you something and to make you stronger, wiser, kinder, and more compassionate. They are showing you who you really are. When we can let go of the outcomes with faith that all will be ok, we have more energy to put towards the things we want to create.

I hope this blog helps you reframe acceptance and understand its importance. I’d love to keep the conversation going today on how you practice acceptance and what it means for you.  Send me some love in the comments below!

xoxo, Michelle

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How to Be Your Own Best Friend

When I think about the aspects of our lives that tend to bring us stress, the first thing that comes to my mind is relationships. Thinking back as far as I can remember, it has been the varying of feelings that comes in relating with people in many different circumstances, that has brought me the most stress, confusion, and uncertainty. Relationships are everything. For many of the hours in a day we are  engaging with people. Relationships are our biggest assignments. So, how can we become “good” at managing our relationships? How do we become a magnet for the kinds of relationships we truly desire? How can we be the best friend, partner, spouse, parent, and relative possible? The answer is simple, yet incredibly powerful.

It all boils down to the relationship we have with ourselves. We must have the relationship with ourselves that we wish to see in our relationships with others. We must become our own best friend.

I have found that many beings would rather spend time with people they don’t even like, than spend time alone with themselves. Think about this. I believe  self-loathing, self-hatred, and self-deprecating are far too common in our world. How can we possibly be the amazing person we are meant to be, when we embody so much negativity towards ourselves. How we relate in the world starts with how we relate to ourselves, so this week I want to encourage you all to begin cultivating a beautiful friendship with you. Not sure what I mean or where to begin? I have you covered with some simple steps to get you on your way.

1. Make a conscientious effort to spend solo, quality time with you daily. This basically means cultivate a meditation practice. We spend so much time connecting with outside sources, how often do we spend time connecting with ourselves? Take a few moments daily to sit down in a quiet space, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Marvel in the miracle that is your life. Have gratitude for your body and mind. Connect with yourself so that you can go out and successfully connect with the world.

2. Take inventory of your thoughts. Just like we have conversations with the people around us, we also have conversations with ourselves. What thoughts do you think to yourself, about yourself daily? I know for a fact that you are way harder on yourself than you are on everyone else around you. Simply notice that. Don’t beat yourself up for beating yourself up. Awareness is key. Notice it, and redirect it to something more positive; more loving. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a child or loved one.

3. Know yourself. We often know so much about everyone else, and so little about ourselves. Who are you? What do you want? Who do you want to be? Can you answer these questions with confidence and ease? Be curious about your own true nature. Explore the real you, and own who you really are with pride and courage.

4. Take care of yourself. Be considerate of your needs and desires. Just as you would drop everything to care for a loved one, make yourself a priority in mind, body, and spirit. Know when you need rest, remember when it’s time to get moving, and nourish your body with foods that feel good for you.

5. Forgive yourself. When we have disagreements with loved ones, we feel the feelings, go through all the emotions, and ultimately we begin the process of choosing to forgive, and we move on; but do we actually do this with ourselves? How many of us are holding on to the mistakes we made from years past? It’s time to let yourself off the hook for being human beings. Set an intention right now to forgive yourself. Let the past be your teacher. You can’t really love yourself when you feel disdain for the person you used to be. Forgive and set yourself free.

6. Remind yourself daily of your value and worth. Even when it doesn’t feel like it, you matter, you are important, and you have something incredibly valuable and unique to share with this world. Remember this, just like you would remind a friend. Become your own cheerleader. Root for your own success. When you believe in you, others will believe in you.

Becoming your own best friend is a sure fire way to cultivating the very best life you desire. Everything around you will change when you start to view yourself in this positive, loving way. I’m excited to hear the shifts that happen for you as you walk this journey of self-love. Keep me posted in the comments below!

xoxo, Michelle

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Simple Practices for Managing Difficult Times

People ask me everyday,  “Michelle, please give me one thing that I can do to deal with all the stress I’m feeling in the difficult times happening all around me.” My answer is clear and simple really, “Make sure you have a practice that connects you inside to your heart and body. Otherwise you will be at the mercy of this fast-paced, always changing environment.”

Right now we are in an incredibly interesting time. We are experiencing a lot of change, whether we welcome it or not. We are experiencing separation, anger, and divisiveness. We are experiencing this on a worldly level and I believe even on a personal scale. I hear from so many people every day who are struggling and hurting. I hear from many people who are scared and feeling helpless. I hear from a lot of people who are feeling angry, unseen, and unheard all across our globe.

My sweet friends I hear you and I honor you. All feelings, even the difficult or uncomfortable ones are valid and important. All experiences are here to teach us something. What is important to remember is that life is not stagnant. Life is filled with peaks and valleys, the highs and the lows. We, as humans, will always experience difficulty on our way to our happy destination. We can never truly rid ourselves of the difficulties or the negative, but we can choose how we maneuver the times. We can be the greatest surfers in these waves of life. When we pass the tests of difficulty with grace, we build up our stamina and capability to process future challenges with a greater sense of ease.

If you are experiencing uncertainty and unease I have my simple practices, my favorite “pick-me ups” to share here in helping you through, I hope they serve you as well as they have me. Remember that no feelings are permanent, this too shall pass, and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. For right now focus on the light shining on your first step.

1. Meditate. I always recommend this one in my blogs, and I hope you take this as a sign of how important I really feel a meditation practice is for you. Since I adopted a daily meditation practice, I find that I am able to handle life’s curveballs much easier. I am not saying I don’t have bad days, or difficult situations don’t come my way, I simply find that I have a deep sense of trust and peace that helps me process what life puts in my path. It’s easy to meditate when life is going great. It can feel more difficult to get to your meditation cushion when challenge arises. Make an effort to sit with yourself daily. Connect with yourself. When you are aligned with you, you can take on anything. You are unshakeable.

2. Move. There are times when I have been in slumps or hard situations and my first instinct was to curl up and hide from the world. While that might be comforting in the moment, the stagnation of our bodies makes us feel “frozen in time” to the situation at hand. Incorporating gentle physical activity can be a wonderful way to release stress and tension, and it will get your thoughts flowing in the direction of the solutions you seek.

3. Allow yourself to feel. Many times when uncomfortable feelings arise, we try to push it away to avoid the difficulty and pain. While it can be a true challenge to allow ourselves to feel the sadness, anger, and frustration, it is important to actually allow these feelings to process. A great way to let the feelings out is journaling. Allow yourself to sit and put pen to paper. Let the words come, try not to judge what comes out, and let the inner workings of your soul come through. When you feel your feelings fully you create space for them to pass through you and you become free.

4. Be grateful. In stressful times we can lose sight of this great truth, there is always something to be grateful for. Counting our blessings, especially in strife, is an excellent way to lift your spirits and create space for the good things that are undoubtedly coming. Take time daily to write down at least one thing that you are grateful for. It could be as simple as the air you breathe or a delicious meal. Find joy in the simple things. Be grateful for what you do have, even when you are feeling like there is so much that you don’t have.

5. Be helpful. One of the greatest ways to get yourself out of a slump is to be of service to someone or something. We feel better when we help others; this is a simple, yet powerful truth. I often think of this quote by Aung San Suu Kyi in difficult times, “When you’re feeling helpless, help someone.”  Find ways to be of service that are aligned with your passions and interests. Where would you like to make an impact in this world? Take the first step to and you not only will be making a difference you will feel empowered.

I deeply hope these practices, my tools help you. Remember you are strong, valuable, and loved. I would love to know in the comments what you rely on in difficult times.

xoxo, Michelle

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4 Habits That Add Stress to Your Life

In almost every conversation I have with friends, family, or acquaintances, the topic of managing stress habitually comes up. If I were to poll all of you reading this article right now on what is bothering you the most, I imagine a majority of you would answer something related to stress, and how to manage it.

Yes, stress is annoying, difficult, and frustrating. Stress is part of life; however, just because something is part of our lives, doesn’t mean it has to control our lives. I used to let every little thing stress me out, until I really developed a relationship with my stress. I learned how to manage it and I live knowing it’s there from time to time, but I don’t let it rule my life.

It’s possible to live peacefully with the stresses of our lives. The first step is becoming aware of our stress triggers so we can take appropriate action. I have made it a point to notice the habits in my life that tend to lead me to a stressful place, and I’m feeling many of you will relate to them! Take a look below at my top four, and see if any of these habits have a roll in your life. I have added some replacements or reframes, so you can begin to manage these with grace and ease.

Multitasking. Whenever I have way too many things going on at once, I feel completely buried in stress. Usually, my multitasking stems from not being organized enough and not mentally having a good grasp of my time management. As we know, when we divide our attention at any given moment, our energy is zapped, our productivity is lowered, and the quality of our work is diminished. Try to get into the habit of doing one thing at a time. Write things down, make to-do lists, and create schedules, so you can trust that there is enough time to get everything done. This will help give your brain a sense of peace.
Excessive Internet use. This one is a huge for me personally. I can very easily get sucked into hours of mindless social media and Internet surfing. Some days I think back and try to calculate the hours I’ve spent on online, and it truly embarrasses me. Yes, we live in the age of the Internet, and our jobs require us to be connected often, but staring at screens 24/7 is not good for our brains, our eyes, or our psyche. Social media can bring up so many emotions from fear to lack to unworthiness. All of these are huge stress triggers. Notice how much time you spend in front of a screen. Give yourself limits. What really works for me is allotting myself a set amount of time to check in online per day. Once I’m done, I’m done. Be disciplined, step away from the phone or computer, and give your brain a break.
Too much caffeine. I love my coffee, but I definitely have those days where the coffee intake is greater than the water intake, and I feel like a total crazy person. While I’m not here to tell you whether or not you should have coffee in your life, I am here to say that it’s important to make sure you are staying hydrated throughout the day. When I think back on the days that I have physically felt the worst, there is an absolute correlation to the fact that I drank very little water and too much caffeine. How we feel physically has a huge impact on our stress levels. We have to feel good in order to do the good work of our lives. Remembering to drink your water is a simple, effective tool to help keep your nerves at bay. To help me out with this, I recently bought a super cute Swell, reusable bottle that I love bringing around with me.
Saying yes too much. Are you one of those people that has your schedule packed to the brim? Do you say yes to every invite, opportunity, or event? Chances are your packed schedule is leaving you no solo time, which can take its toll on our sense of calm. There is high value in taking part in our societal roles; however, it is equally as important to have the space in between to breathe, be quiet, and regroup. If you are reading this, and can’t remember the last time you spent at least 20 minutes alone, this one is big for you. Know that it’s ok to say no to the things that don’t really light you up. Make alone time a priority, put it in your calendar, and commit to set aside the time. We restore ourselves when we are alone, remember that.

I hope these common habits and their solutions help you on your way to managing stress with ease! Have you noticed any other habits that bring you stress? Let’s keep the conversation going below!

xoxo, Michelle

 

 

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The Power of Your Words

In the trying times that we live in right now, what continues to warm my heart is the Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life community. Week after week, it comes together to try to be the change we all wish to see in this world. It’s such a joy for me to share my experiences with you, and pass on tips and tricks that I learn along the way that empower and encourage us to be our very best selves. What I want to talk to you about this week is pretty basic; however, it’s really important, especially right now. It’s important to remember, the very real power of your words.

As we know, everything is energy― words included. The words you speak and write have vibration. They imprint on your soul and to those you speak to. Words influence your future thoughts and actions. They have a ripple effect on our lives. Words are very powerful.

If you think about it, because of the internet, there are exponentially more conversations and interactions happening at all hours of the day than in decades past. This means that there are infinite more opportunities to speak in hatred or to choose to speak in love. With this in mind, I got thrown off my game this week when a stranger on the Internet called me a liar (and other not nice words). Granted, I know this is pretty benign in internet troll speak, however, it truly shook me to my core that someone out there could be so incensed by my opinion to take to the internet to call me names.

This led me on a mission to peruse the internet in my “research” of how people talk to each other, especially when in a disagreement of some sort. It really pains me to tell you this but, it’s really ugly out there.Yes, there is a lot of division in this country and in this world. Disagreement and debates are part of what makes us human.

It just seems to me that we’ve lost the sense of how to talk to each other, how to hold thoughtful conversation, and how to disagree with grace. We can debate and argue with out negative, personal attacks. We can stand on opposite sides without taking digs and trying to inflict mental harm. It’s time that we start taking responsibility for our words, which ultimately lead to our actions.

So that is why we are here this week, to remind ourselves that words matter. The power of your words can be used to further conflict or increase understanding. The language we use in conversation with one another, especially when talking to someone we disagree with, is hugely important. What impact do you wish to make when you speak? And why? It’s important to ask ourselves these questions daily.

When entering conversations this week, I challenge you to remember the the questions of The Three Gatekeepers from the Arab proverb:

Is it true?

Is it kind?

Is it necessary?

I’d love to hear how your interactions with others go when partaking in this challenge.  Let me know in the comments below!

Wishing you all peace and so much love,

Michelle

 

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How to Deal with Change

I’ve had a lot of requests lately for a blog on how to make life-changing decisions. I promise you guys, that blog is coming! This week I want to talk about how to deal with big life changes that are made for you or that happen to you. Basically I want to talk about how to deal with change that you didn’t choose.

The world is experiencing incredible amounts of change right now. But even so, change is a natural part of life. Whether it’s something large or a small nuance, change has a way of bringing up feelings of fear, uncertainty, doubt, and sometimes even apathy and pessimism. While we all know we cannot control what happens in the external world, we can always adjust our own sails and learn to sail in whatever life brings us. That is true empowerment.

This week, I hope to help you change your mindset about change. You have the power and the tools to navigate whatever life throws at you, you just need simple reminders, like this weeks blog, to get you on your way.

Be strong from the inside out. No matter what happens in life, remember that you are strong, capable, important, and loved. Remind yourself of this every day. Know your worth and own your worth.

Remember that life is happening for you not to you. Sometimes we don’t get what we want, but we get what we need. If things happen that aren’t what you’d hope for, ask yourself how you can see the situation differently, or even what you can learn to reframe the situation. Life tends to have a way of working out even when we can’t see how.

Stay steadfast in your core beliefs. When you know yourself, your truth, and your beliefs, it’s hard to truly get derailed in life. Sure we might waver from time to time, but it’s easy to come back when you’re confident in truth. Make this truth of high importance in life.

Remember that life is unfolding just as it should. Life may take us on detours to what we truly want, but it is all about the journey not the destination right? Remember that sometimes the detours are what get us to something even better than imagined. Remember to have trust and faith in the plans that are unfolding behind the seams.

You have the power to course correct. The external world may continue to throw you curve balls, but luckily you have the power of free will as a human being. Learn to recognize when you can make the choices to not take on the things that don’t truly feel right for you.

Small right actions are the way to change discomfort. Difficulties and hard ships may feel like steep mountains to climb, however, it’s comforting to remember that taking small, forward-moving steps will always get you to the top.

I hope these reminders help you with anything you might be going through right now! Sending you all the love in the world! Let me know what else you’d like to see on the blog in the comments below.

xoxo, Michelle

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How to Deal with Disagreements

As a natural part of life we bump into conflict and disagreements with friends, family members, and strangers. How to deal with disagreements and live a peaceful, harmonious, honest life can be our big challenge.

Generally speaking, I tend to shy away from confrontation and heated discussions, however, we are living in a world of great contrast and polarized views so these uncomfortable conversations and encounters seem to be happening more often than not.

If we know how to mindfully maneuver heated exchanges, I believe we would experience more peace and harmony in our lives and in the world.

My hope for you this week, is to offer up some practical advice to peacefully deal with confrontations, disagreements, and heated discussions. Conversations with different viewpoints are an important part of our society; we can learn to have them gracefully.

When faced with challenging situations here are my top five go-to’s for keeping the peace:

1. Approach the situation with love. Rather than going into a situation with anger and separateness, set an intention to be open and loving, remembering that we are all human beings.

2. Release judgment of the opposing side. Judgment of something that we do not agree with implies that our opinion is the only “true” opinion. We are all unique beings with unique thoughts and beliefs. Remember that it’s natural to have opposing views.

3. Shift your perceptions. Try viewing the situation differently. Try to imagine why this person thinks this way. Walk in their shoes. Be open to different view points. Your openness will ultimately soften the situation.

4. Speak with compassion. Even when there doesn’t seem to be any chance of seeing eye-to-eye, remember to continue speaking with love. Though it’s tempting to undercut and take digs, the outcome will always be better when you remain on the side of love. It is possible to speak clearly and with conviction without being hateful and incendiary.

5. Speak your truth, but accept the outcome. Don’t try to change someone else’s opinion, but rather speak from your highest sense of truth. Allow the other person to do the same, and be accepting if you are still not on the same page. We can love one another even when we don’t agree.

I hope these suggestions will be helpful the next time you experience a disagreement. Give one of them a try!

As I plan the blog for next week do you have a topic that’s coming up?  Let me know in the comments!

xoxo, Michelle

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The best habit to develop in 2017

I recently was out to dinner with some friends, when one of the men in the group turned to me and starting asking me about my work with Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life, which I was super excited about. He then asked, “If you were in a coaching session with someone, and could only give them one tip to better their lives, what would it be?”

One of the more interesting questions I have been asked recently, the answer seemingly came out of my mouth with very little thought. My answer? “I would encourage any person to adopt a meditation practice into their lives, immediately.” He was very intrigued by my answer, which led to a great conversation and inspired the theme of this week’s blog!

We are now a week into the New Year, though in last week’s blog we discussed some alternatives to resolutions and goals for 2017, some of you might still have opted for the traditional route of desiring to include healthier habits into your daily life routine. If there is one “habit” I would encourage you to adopt or resolve to do, without a doubt, across the board, it would be meditation. I’ve written in the past of how much meditation has influenced and changed my life, and it has and continues to do so.

Are you currently a meditator? If so, amazing! This week’s blog is just a casual reminder of how powerful the practice is for your daily life.

Not meditating quite yet? That’s ok too! We all have to begin somewhere! This week I want to talk about the common hindrances I hear about adopting a meditation practice, help you overcome those hindrances, and challenge you to commit to this practice for the rest of this month!

Hindrance #1: I don’t have time for a meditation practice

Solution: Yes, you do! If you have time to browse Facebook or social media (or even read this blog), you have time to meditate. The truth is, we all have time, even the busiest of us. We create time for the things we value. While meditation might not feel truly valuable to those just beginning, I promise you the time set aside will never be wasted. My tip for you here is to start small. You don’t need to dive deep into an hour long, daily meditation practice. Set aside five minutes in the morning, before you get out of bed. Close your eyes, focus on your breath, and allow yourself to connect with you, before you go out to connect with the world.

Hindrance #2: I can’t sit still for that long

Solution: Yes, you can! Just like anything else, meditation is a practice. It requires practice. At first, meditation can feel very challenging. We are used to being on the go 24-7. It’s natural to feel restless and even anxious when you first start to take time out of your day to seemingly sit and “do nothing.”  Remind yourself that you’re starting something new, and you might be challenged, but that it will be worth it in the end.

Hindrance #3: I can’t quiet my mind

Solution: You don’t need to! In the same notion as the solutions above, meditation is a practice, and will feel more natural over time. Again, we have been taught to be on the go, thinking, pondering, reading, all the time. It’s natural to feel like you have millions of uncontrollable thoughts running through your head. The whole purpose of your mind is to think! We need our minds to think in order to be the creative, compassionate, inventive people we are meant to be in this world. The purpose of meditation is not actually to quiet the mind, you will feel insane in trying to do so. The purpose is to slow the thoughts of the mind, to be more purposeful with our thoughts, and to find the simple space between our thoughts.

Hindrance #4: Meditation is too weird and new-agey

Solution: Meditation is what you make it. Meditation isn’t a religion or cult or devious practice. Meditation is a practice of connecting with yourself, of turning off the external world for a few moments, of giving our bodies and minds a break, of remembering to breathe, of listening to your intuition, of being at peace. Make your meditation practice your own. Follow a practice that feels most comfortable to you, it doesn’t have to be weird; it truly is what you make it.

Hindrance #5: I don’t get any benefits from meditation

Solution: Have patience. This was one of my biggest hindrances for a very long time, as I truly thought I was one of those people who just wasn’t meant to meditate and who was missing out from the big “aha” of it. Some people may experience seismic shifts, new thought processes, brilliant ideas, and wild synchronicities. For others, it may be more subtle in the beginning. All I ask of you is to pay attention. Some of the most valuable aspects of meditation come in the very mundane moments. Perhaps you are more patient in the check out line at the grocery store, or you are more compassionate to someone in need. These small positive actions matter. They will add up. Your life will change. And for the better.

I hope these simple solutions help you on the way to cultivating a meditation practice! If there are some that I haven’t touched upon that you would like help with, please let me know in the comments below!

Like I said above, I would love to challenge each and every one of you to a meditation packed January!

Imagine the world we would live in if every person on the planet meditated for five minutes every day. It starts with us! You can do it!

xoxo, Michelle

The post The best habit to develop in 2017 appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.

Create Your Best Year

Happy New Year!

There is something so exciting about a new year. It is time to start fresh and begin a new chapter of our lives. While the clean slate feeling is wonderful, it can also feel daunting. There is so much potential for the year ahead. How do we know what goals to set and what resolutions to make? How do we know where we want to be one year from now?

While I don’t know the exact answers to all of your questions, I do know my own processes for starting out each new year. As you spend your day today reveling in the newness of 2017, I encourage you to take some time with yourself to discover your true desires for the next 365 days. Settle in, make some tea, grab a notebook, and plot out your very best year yet. Putting our presence into the present is the greatest way to create true happiness.

Begin in Prayer: Before setting goals or making plans, I always start out by saying a prayer. My favorite one that really taps into my intuition and guidance is from A Course in Miracles:

“Where would you have me go?

What would you have me do? ‘

What would you have me say? And to whom?”

Recite this to yourself, or a version that resonates with you to connect within and tap into your truest desires for this new year.

Take Inventory: While there is nothing we can do about what has happened in the past, it’s important to honor what took place, what you experienced, and the lessons learned. Our lives are like building blocks, each year building on the others. Spend a few moments going over 2016.

What was good?

What was not so good?

What challenges did you face?

What goals did you achieve?

What are you most proud of?

What lessons did you learn?

Have Gratitude: Take a look at your list for 2016. Go through everything that you wrote down, feel all the feelings, and be present to what you went through. Take a deep breath. Say thank you. Whatever it was that happened to you this year, it brought you to where you are now. You are on your path. You are creating your destiny. Offer up gratitude for what has happened. Offer gratitude for your life, your health, and your path, right now. Gratitude is the foundation on which you create all that you desire in your life.

Identify What You Want: Think about what your life might be like a year from now.

How do you want to feel? Identify your core feelings for the next year. Dive deep into what your soul is craving. Allow your intuition to be your GPS to guide you this year.

What do you wish to achieve? Are there career goals, life goals, or personal goals that are constantly in the back of your mind? Discover the goals that light you up from the inside out.

What do you wish to call in? We are all powerful manifestors of our reality. What do you want to bring into your life?

Decide How Can You Serve: 2017 will be a year where we are called to step up and be of service. Service is why we are here. We all have something to give. Sit silently and ask yourself how you can be of the most service this year? Who can you help? Where can you participate? How can your voice and your love for all be felt?

Choose Your Word: Think of one word that you want to be the theme of your year. My word for 2016 was joy. While not all moments were joyful, the energy of that word was in the back of my mind throughout the past year. Joy served me well this year. My 2017 word is passion. I know this is an important year for me on all levels. I desire for everything that I put attention to have passion and purpose. Sit with yourself once again. What is one word that comes to mind to be your 2017 theme?

I hope this New Year process serves you well! I know we all are going to do wonderful things in 2017!

What word did you choose for the new year? What are some of your goals? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!

Happy New Year, sweet friends,

xoxo, Michelle

The post Create Your Best Year appeared first on Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life.