Barbara Schmidt's Blog, page 40

6 Things to Remember When Hurting

We are experiencing some painful times these past few months. Whether you are hurting from the events of the world, or having personal difficulties, it is hard sometimes to see the light when the darkness can feel so dense. This week I am not going into the details of how even the darkest times have meaning; that’s for our discussion another day. Today I want to share six of my go-to simple reminders to help you ease what you may be going through and promote a sense of peace and well-being. Life, though filled with lessons, is meant to be enjoyable and fun!

So here you go affirmations to remember that can bring you back to the joy in painful periods. These bring me back home every time.

1. Life is constantly changing. What you are experiencing now will not be forever. Feel whatever feelings are coming up for you, but don’t dwell in negativity.

2. All periods in life have purpose, and without the valleys, we would not appreciate the peaks. Contrast in life gives life meaning.

3. You can take back your power by remembering that your thoughts are constantly creating your reality. What do you choose to create?

4. No matter what, there is always a takeaway from every situation. Everything that life brings us is an opportunity to learn and grow.

5. Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can in this very moment. Judging and being hard on yourself won’t make the pain go away any faster.

6. You are never alone. Don’t be afraid to speak up when things feel too hard. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

I hope these powerful reminders bring you a sense of ease and peace. Remember my friends we are all in the same boat.

I would love to hear what you guys rely on when times are tough. Let’s keep the inspiration going in the comments below!

xoxo, Michelle

Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Life

Have you ever felt like a mess? Mentally, spiritually, emotionally? Well, I have this week! Everything was out of sorts. I was feeling lethargic, uninspired, unfocused…so many low vibe things! And the interesting thing is I was really practicing my practice and yet still I had a sense of unease. I was confused for an instant, and then I took a moment to really notice what was happening around me, and I instantly realized what was happening. My apartment was in complete disarray. I have been on-the-go a lot lately and the packing to unpack to pack again has wreaked havoc on my home, to say the least. The disarray of my living space was causing distress in my mental space.

As you guys know, I believe that everything is energy, and so the chaotic and unorganized energy of my home was being reflected in my mental space. Can some of you can relate? I’m pretty sure we all want to feel great, be happy, exude energy, and have a clear mind, so this week, I encourage you to do a quick scan of your space to see where you could tidy up. And, if you are feeling extra ambitious, check out the very popular book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo. I was first introduced to this book over a year ago, and have incorporated the practices of “tidying up” and it has changed my life.

I tend to be a packrat. I love keeping everything, which can be nice to be sentimental, but this can lead to MAJOR clutter. My suggestion to those of you who are serious about clearing out your space, take some time really know how each object makes you feel. If it doesn’t make you feel good, get rid of it or donate it to someone who might find use for it. Trust me, it feels amazing to do this!

I go through and clear out my space every few months, and when my home, my office, my car, and anywhere else I spend time is tidy and uncluttered I feel…

– Clear minded

– Motiveated

– Focused

– Inspired

– Organized

– More patient

– More in control of my life

– Responsible

– Connected to myself

– Prepared

– Calm

…to name a few!

I love passing along small tips like this to you guys because these are things that make huge differences in my life and I want you all to be happy! I love helping to bring peace to your lives in whatever way I can, so I hope this week you will enjoy the art of decluttering!

Let me know how this process is working for you and any tips you might like to share with us!

Happy “tidying up” my friends!

xoxo,

Michelle

The #1 Way to Bridge Our Differences

The times that we live in have me thinking a lot. Though these times may be difficult, confusing, upsetting, and anxiety-ridden, I believe they have a powerful purpose in bringing up our shadows, so that we can see them, work through them, and come out on the other side stronger. The biggest thing I’ve been seeing lately is how we are so focused on our differences. Different races, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions, political views; we are constantly looking for ways to separate and close off from one another. Though we may all have different attributes, the truth is we are all one, and we are all part of the human race. In all my thinking, I’ve come to believe that the reason we’re in such a difficult era is because we’ve focused too much on the differences. When we create labels, we shut down our ability to recognize that even the people who are “different” are still just people trying to live their lives in this world. Focusing on differences leads to losing compassion, kindness, understanding, and ultimately, love.

Love is what bridges all of the differences we may come across.

I believe that living life as a full embodiment of love would change the world. Embodying love means seeing people as people, who have their own stories, their own circumstances, their own destinies and not having judgment for it. When we live in love, we are living compassionately, kindly, and with understanding and patience for everyone we encounter. When we live in love, we recognize the humanity in one another. When we live in love, we aren’t judgmental, condescending, or hateful. When we live in love, we want what’s best for all, leading to a peaceful existence.

Marianne Williamson says, “Love is what we are born with, fear is what we learn.” Love is our default, we’ve just allowed ourselves to get inundated by fear. Luckily for us, we can consciously choose love every moment of every day, we just have to intend to do it and actively choose it.

Wishing that we all choose love today!

xoxo, Michelle

5 Quotes That Changed My Life

If you have been in the Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life community long enough, you know that we really love inspiring quotes. Though we created this site as a way to offer peace, community, and inspiration, my personal love of quotes stems from when I was very young. I have always been fascinated with the words other people use to describe their take on life. While there have been many quotes that have influenced me deeply, I have pooled together my top 5 to share with you this week. I hope they bring you as much inspiration as they have for me!

1. “Don’t take things personally… nothing other people do is because of you.”

–don Miguel Ruiz

I remember the very first time I read this quote. I was completely floored by how much it resonated with me, how much sense it made, and how simple the concept was, yet we all at some point in our lives have taken things personally and therefore have suffered because of it. This quote comes to mind every time I start to go down a rabbit hole of taking-things-personally-thoughts. It’s a true game changer.

2. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

–Paulo Coehlo

This quote taught me about faith and trust. I have had many instances in my life where I have felt like things were stacked against me, but this quote taught me to shift my perspective and remember that if I get my mind and my intentions right (i.e. in alignment with my highest truth), then the things that I desire will turn to form.

3. “Nothing goes away until it teaches us what we need to know.”

–Pema Chodron

Life has offered me a lot of repeated lessons. For a long time I would question why these things would constantly and painfully return. Learning this from Pema, allowed me to recognize that all situations, but particularly painful ones, are here to teach us something. So now, when something challenging arises, I look for the lesson. I look to see how I can grow and learn and even do things differently, to create new experiences and teachings for myself.

4. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

–Marianne Williamson

This quote from A Return to Love awakened in me the belief that it is my duty (and yours) to shine in this world. This quote banishes self-doubt for me. Every time I start to question myself and my worthiness, I think of this. It changes everything.

5. “I am not at the mercy of the external world. We have everything we need to thrive when we are not dependent on anything external for our happiness.”

–Barb Schmidt

This one is personal for me as it comes from my mom! She would say this (or a version of it) to me often while growing up, and it used to bug me so much. In my younger years I would often find something external to blame when things went sour, and my mom would remind me of this and I would get so annoyed that she was right; because that’s how mother-daughter dynamics go sometimes! The truth is she was right, and I have always kept this belief of maintaining inner peace no matter what happens externally at the top of my priorities.

I hope that these have spoken to your heart. There are countless other quotes that have inspired me in so many ways! I would love to hear what teachers and their words have touched your life along life’s way.

Let us all know in the comments below!

xoxo, Michelle

Choosing Love Over Fear

At the risk of starting to sound like a broken record, I write to you all on the heels of another very difficult week. I yet again had other plans for what I was going to say to you guys, but yet again felt called to scrap it based on the events playing out in front of us.

Week after week after week, we have seen some pretty horrific examples of humanity pitted against humanity. After every incident, I’ve gone through my range of emotions, I question why these things keep happening, I run through some pretty intense fear-based thoughts, I switch these thoughts back to love, and I bring myself back to my own sense of peace. That has been my process, and truthfully, it has worked pretty well for me thus far. This week however, I let the fear linger a little too long. I went a little too far down the rabbit hole of thinking, to where I was contemplating changing my life plans, canceling travel, and even for a split second, wishing harm to those who perpetuate this hate (I’m not perfect), but then I remembered that this way of thinking, this fear-based thinking, is exactly what feeds and creates the world we are living in now.

I keep coming back to what I believe is the root cause of all of this suffering: fear. Fear has separated us. Fear has made us question our differences. Fear has created hatred. Fear has built walls. Fear has skewed our truth. Fear has brought us to where we are today. I think about all the fear-based thoughts that I have on a daily basis, then I contemplate all the fear-based thoughts every person in this world must have on a daily basis, and immediately it is clear to me how we are in this dark spot that we are in.

Though fear has done all of these things that seem to be insurmountable, what is actually pretty cool about it all is that love (the thougths, the actions, the energy) can actually overcome it. The love that I’m speaking about is a continual, conscious choice; it’s a practice.

This week, I just encourage you to be mindful of your thoughts, begin to notice when fear creeps up, and consciously choose again. Take time to meditate or pray daily, be kind and compassionate to yourselves, and to others, be patient, be generous, be empowered, be courageous, and be confident that every little right thought and action you think and take, matters. It all matters. You might not think that even thinking a positive thought over a negative thought matters, but think about what the world would be like if we all just made that simple shift.

I know many of you feel helpless, I do at times, too. Go from helpless to empowered by knowing and trusting that your shifts create world shifts. Become part of the solution, do not perpetuate the problem. How will you choose love over fear this week? Let us all know in the comments below.

xoxo, Michelle

5 Affirmations for Difficult Times

I’m not going to lie; I have struggled more than ever in writing this week’s blog. I pride myself in writing with ease, and allowing my thoughts to flow to paper with the confidence and trust that whatever moves me to write, will also move and effect you in some way. Of course, some weeks are more challenging than others, but this week was different. This week I stared at blank screens, continuously went through a handful of topics, and contemplated what I could possibly say to you to bring your lives ease and peace. Every time I sat down to write, I had no words, which was concerning to me, as you know I love to just let it flow.

And then I felt deeply moved at my core. This week affected me deeply. The past few months have affected me deeply. The energy of the world right now is heavy, and so, it is not so easy for me to lightly pass on my take on life when, to be honest, life seems really difficult. I am experiencing the hardships of our country and our world on an emotional level, I am sensitive; so the hatred truly hurts. But, I must interject here, that even in my own difficulty, I still consider myself incredibly fortunate. I’m not going to pretend that the hurt I feel is the same as the existential pain and suffering that others feel. There is a difference, I know this, but I offer up my words here this week in the hope of easing anyone’s pain, no matter what they might be experiencing, because ultimately I do believe we are one, and we are connected.

Whenever the world seems to dark, and the problems seem too insurmountable, my spiritual practices allow me the space to remember that there is always a better way and there is always a solution. I believe that the greatest first step to change we can make, is changing the thoughts of our minds. Our thoughts matter so much, so even if you feel like there is nothing you can do to change the world we live in, you can make a conscientious effort to switch the reel to more positive thinking. Ask yourself, “How can I see life differently?” I promise you, it will lighten life’s load.

Here I offer you five simple affirmations that can help you through any challenging time and bring your mind back to a state of positivity and peace.

1. The outer world cannot shake my inner peace.

2. I trust that all is well and everything is working out for my highest and greatest good.

3. Whatever I am going through is guiding me to where I want to go.

4. Everything that happens to me is another opportunity to choose love.

5. I am protected; I am safe.

Sending you so much love always.

xoxo, Michelle

What Freedom Means to Me & How I Live Freely

This July 4th we celebrate the Freedom and Independence of the United States of America. So in keeping with the spirit of this weekend’s theme of independence and freedom, I thought we could chat a little about freedom and what it means to truly live freely.

Regardless of where you live and what circumstances you are living with, we all have the capability to feel free, because ultimately, it starts with ourselves and our mindset. While writing this, my mind immediately went to Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who wrote the amazing book, Man’s Search for Meaning, while in a concentration camp. Even while living in the most horrific and inhumane circumstances, he could find freedom.

He wrote, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” I could basically end the blog here because it brings tears to my eyes, and it encapsulates everything I really want to say here. BUT because I know you are use to a nice hearty Sunday read, I’ll continue.

Just like everything in our lives, freedom is a choice and a state of mind, and it is something that we must consciously choose over and over and over again.

To me, freedom is…

…having a say in how my world exists.

…being able to speak my truth respectfully without fear of biased repercussion.

…breaking out of molds that don’t serve me, so that I can follow my dreams.

…releasing the desire to be perfect, so that I can be happy with what is.

…loving myself enough to not obsess about food and body image.

…the ability to love whomever I want to love without feeling persecuted or judged.

…having the confidence and drive to know that I can make anything happen, if I truly desire it.

…being so clear on my desires that I made decisions with ease

…living life in alignment with my highest self and not caring what others think about it.

…loving all people and remembering that we are all one.

…believing that peace and union is possible in this world.

How do I live freely (or strive to) every day?

– I sit quietly with myself in meditation, so that I can know, honor, and live from within.

– I create my goals in life based on how I want to feel, not how it looks from the outside.

– I remember that my life’s work is to be of service to others.

– I measure my success based on how much fun I’m having (a game changing lesson from my teacher Gabby Bernstein[image error])

– I move and nourish my body in ways that are enjoyable.

– I do not take everything so seriously.

– I laugh every single day.

– I remember that my thoughts create the reality that I live in.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing today, I hope you make a choice to live freely from within.

Do something that brings you joy, do something to put a smile on someone else’s face, and remember that you matter.

xoxo, Michelle

Conversation with July Peacemaker Tara Stiles

PMPL: What does the phrase Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life mean to you?

TS: Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life is such a powerful reminder that we are in control of how we feel and what kind of impact we have in this world. When things feel out of control and frazzled, the reminder to come back within for calm, connection, and inspiration fuels everything we do in our lives.

PMPL: At Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life we encourage people to find their daily practice, and practice it. What are your every-day must do’s to stay balanced and centered?

TS: My schedule is rarely the same day to day so maintaining balance is essential. For me, it’s important to simply enjoy and be grateful for all the experiences I have and all of the amazing people I get to meet daily from all around the world. Appreciating these moments and gifts keeps me balanced and connected. Of course, eating simply and close to nature, getting lots of rest and spending time to reflect and meditate daily help but appreciation is the foundation and essential for me.

PMPL: We love your initiative with Strala to encourage people to move with ease, what are some of the biggest benefits for moving and exercising in this way?

TS: Thanks so much! It’s such a joy to see people feel great in their body, mind and life through the approach. One of the coolest things about moving with ease is that you are simmering in your relaxation response, and learning how to use the least amount of effort to accomplish any task, whether it’s simple or challenging. This process breaks any glass ceiling on potential and allows you do to so much more with a lot less effort. My favorite part is the how. People feel great during the entire process. No pain no gain is dropped, tension is released, and people begin to believe in themselves. It’s empowering.

PMPL: You always seem to have a positive, upbeat view on life. Particularly in difficult times in the world right now, how do you stay positive and influence those around you to do the same?

TS: Oh gosh, it’s so easy to get caught up in negativity and see the horror in our own lives and in the world. When we take a closer look and come back to a peaceful mind of our own, we understand that we really can create a peaceful life for ourselves and for those around us. Anything is possible and I strive to choose that reality is something we create, which gives us a lot of great work to do while we are here. We can do so much good.

PMPL: What is your favorite inspiring quote?

TS: Be here now. – Ram Dass

5 Reminders for Difficult Times

No matter what part of the world you live in, it’s safe to say you have felt a sense of sadness, despair, and most of all helplessness. All we have to do is turn on the news for a 24/7 review.

While I strongly believe that every situation is an opportunity for growth and a chance to choose love; I also believe it necessary to honor the severity of our times.

It seems to me that we are at a crossroads; with so much happening, we have a choice. We can choose to feel, heal, empower, and take action, or we can choose to detach, disassociate, and wash our hands of the fate of the world. Knowing you guys, I have a feeling you want to use your powers for good in this world, and I know you want to be apart of a positive movement. It might feel hard to find the positive side of things with so much negativity happening, which is why this week I’m sharing my process for moving through and creating lasting change. I hope this brings you peace in these times of seeming instability and hope in the uncertainty. Together I believe we truly can change the world.

1. Allow yourself to feel and honor the emotions that come through. Trying times deserve the corresponding emotions. Don’t deny yourself of your feelings. I like to say that our feelings are our compass, and they let us know where we stand at any given moment. Take time to notice, feel, and honor what is coming up for you right now and name it. For example I have said lately, “I’m feeling really sad and heartbroken.”

2. Notice what lights you up. Many of these injustices and tragedies are opportunities to recognize causes that we are passionate about. When things go wrong we have the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Get passionate, find out where you stand, and cultivate your beliefs.

3. Use your voice to share your truth. We are gifted in these times to have wide platforms to share our truths and our passions. Social media is a wonderful way to share our impassioned beliefs. Take time to know what you want to say and then speak your truth in a powerful, loving, and passionate way.

4. Remember that your thoughts, actions, and beliefs matter. Remember all those weeks when we discussed the concept of thoughts to things? Notice the world you are creating for yourself with your thoughts, actions, and beliefs. Is it a world that adds to the problem or to the solution? Take your first empowered action by cleaning up your side of the street.

5. Remember that you are a valuable piece of the world’s puzzle. We are truly in this together, and we are all ONE. Go about your day with the intention of treating others with kindness and respect, show love to all even when you think it’s least deserved, and find compassion for those who are troubled.

I hope this process is helpful for you. I would love to hear how you maneuver your way through trying times. As an added bonus, let’s all commit to doing one random act of kindness for someone else today. Your selfless, loving act may be just what is needed in the moment to brighten and change another human being’s day!

Let us know how you will show the world love and compassion today! I’m so grateful for all of you! I love you.

Michelle

Why It’s Time to Ditch the Timeline

As days pass and time moves forward, our lives change and we begin to think about the self-imposed timeline that we believe we must strictly adhere to in order to be happy, successful, and loved. Time has a really interesting way of making us feel like we are not enough, as we are, in this very moment. How crazy is that?!

With this in mind, my message for you this week is two-fold:

1. It is never too late to fulfill ANY dream.

2. You are always enough exactly as you are.

In case you disagree with me on either of these points, which chances are, some of you might, I’ll break it down for you why I feel this way.

Important point #1:

While we all live very different lives with different paths, there are certain boxes many of us feel that we must have checked, by a certain time in our lives, in order to matter or to feel worthy. While time may play a factor in very, very specific goals or aspirations, I believe it’s important to expand our mindset and be open to the infinite possibilities the Universe can create for us. It is time to allow ourselves the opportunity to imagine alternate possibilities ― possibilities that could be greater than our wildest dreams.

The way I see it, we use a small fraction of our brains; science has proven this. Isn’t is possible that the “ideal life” the small fraction of the brain thought for us, could be less than what the infinite Universe could be planning?

With this in mind, it is never too late to create all that you desire, even when you think you have missed your chance, remind yourself that it’s your mind that keeps you in that limited timeline that truly does not exist. Remind yourself to rewrite the story, do not fixate on the negative or the seeming impossible, and be open to what could exist. Start to be creative with the ways you fulfill your deepest desires.

A great way to get into this creative mindset is to start to think about how you want to feel rather than the boxes of life cred you want checked. Begin pursuing the things that make you smile, light you up inside, and are in alignment with the way you truly want to feel. There are many more roads to your desires than the one or two that your mind may have you believe. You have infinite possibilities awaiting you and in the end your feelings are more important than bragging rights.

Important point #2:

Even if none of what I said in important point #1 happens, or even if you totally dismiss all of it, I urge you to remember that where you are, right this very moment is enough. It’s valid. It’s important. It’s for a reason. Don’t deny this moment because you don’t think it’s good enough. Honor every single period in your life, even the seemingly mundane or unimportant ones. Give life everything you have in this very moment. The valleys are what ultimately bring you to the peaks. Our suffering comes from wanting to be “there” instead of embracing the moment for all it has to offer.

Wishing you so much love and acceptance of wherever life brings you today!

xoxo, Michelle