Barbara Schmidt's Blog, page 44

How to End 2015 on a High Note

We are just about to close out 2015! Can you believe it’s that time already? I feel like I was just writing my end of the year blog of 2014! There is something really exciting to me about closing out a year. It’s almost as if we are finishing a good novel. Just like all good stories, each year has its ups and downs; its highs and lows. I had many expectations for 2015. I experienced a lot of amazing things but also had some trying situations that made me question a lot. I am grateful for it all. I think the final days of the year are a really special, important time. It’s a time to reflect, recharge, and renew your intentions. No matter what occurred for you over the past 365 days, I think it’s important to close it out on a high note. This week I want to share with you some great ways to end this year in a positive way, and to prepare you for the amazing year to come!

1. Make a gratitude list. A lot can happen in a year! Take time to sit and think about all that you are grateful for. It can be a slippery slope to focus on the negatives in life, but remember, there is always something to be grateful for! Gratitude shifts our perception, brings us back to love, and reminds us that we have the power to choose our thoughts, no matter what is happening in the outside world.

2. Contemplate the lessons that you learned. Experienced challenges over the past year? We all do. Reframe these challenges to think about what lessons they taught you. Life can be a rocky ride, but it’s really all about what we choose to do with the lessons we learn. Take inventory on the great lessons of the past year, and carry them with you into the new one. Think of it as arming yourself with the right tools for the coming months!

3. Take time to honor and take care of yourself. The holidays are a busy time, you may be feeling like you’re burning the candle from both ends. Use these last few days of the year to pamper and treasure yourself! Fill up your own cup so that you can serve and be the best version of you for 2016!

4. Contemplate the possibilities and get clear on what you want. I love prepping for a new year. For me, a new year feels like a clean slate, filled with infinite opportunity. The best way to take advantage of all that life has to offer is to get clear on what you want. Clarity is so important. Sit in meditation, journal, and listen to what your heart tells you are your truest desires.

5. Trust that everything that has happened and is to happen is for a reason. Your life is a beautiful story with twists and turns have faith that the good and the bad are all part of the story of your life. Lovingly let go of the past and keep that faith for the year to come!

I hope these tips help you as we close out 2015! What are some of your end of the year rituals? Are you setting any intentions for the New Year? Let me know in the comments below!

I wish you all a safe, happy and healthy New Year. I look forward to walking life’s path together with you in 2016.

Love, Michelle

How I Manage Holiday Expectations

I love the holidays so much. There is something inherently magical about Christmas time for me. With that being said, sometimes my enthusiasm for the holidays can build some unrealistic expectations for how my holidays should pan out. As you might have guessed, based on my past blogs, I am a dreamer and idealist, and so as you can imagine, I set my expectations high during the holiday season, dreaming of the perfect Christmassy things with the perfect people, in the most perfect surroundings. While there is nothing wrong with desiring the best, the problem lies when we let the idea of the “perfectness” get in the way of what’s really happening. So this year, with the intention for my holidays to be as magical as possible, I am setting the intention to let go of my expectations. This week I want to share with you how I plan to do this, in hopes that it may benefit you for the holiday you celebrate, but really we can use this any time of year. As Shakespeare said, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”

1. Set intentions. I am intending (by stating it here for all to read), to release my expectations of how I think the holidays should be. Intentions are powerful. The thoughts we think are powerful, and so by setting an intention you are automatically taking control of your holiday’s fate. In addition to the surrendering of all expectations, I intend to be in gratitude and find the joy, even in times of chaos.

2. Be in the moment. The holidays are a busy time for everyone. There is so much to do, so many people to see, it can feel very crazy and unmanageable. The best way I know how to manage this is to be present. Do one thing at a time, give your attention to the task, the person, the situation, at hand, and release the rest. We live fast paced lives and let’s face it we can often feel like time just passes us by especially during this precious time of year. So I say right here and now, take back time by cherishing each moment.

3. Accept and allow. Try not to micromanage each situation and make it the ideal image that you have in your head. Allow each moment to unfold naturally, having no shoulds. If things aren’t going the way that you would like for them to, stop and ask yourself, “why is this bothering me” instead of automatically feeling there is something wrong with the situation. Be in confidence and faith that things are just as they should be.

4. Take time for yourself. Spend time in gratitude and reflection on what the holidays mean to you. Allow yourself the time and space to feel the feelings that the holidays bring up for you, notice your emotions, and remember that you can create anything that you desire by starting from the inside out.

These will be my “go to” tips this holiday season, and I hope I have given you some thoughts here for you to be in joy, happiness, and peace now and throughout the new year! Remember you are complete, you are enough and you are loved- I am in gratitude for you always.

I would love to hear your “holiday expectation releasers” in the comments section below!

Love, Michelle

How I deal with difficult situations

I was recently in a situation that tested me in every aspect–mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I generally feel confident that I can handle whatever it is that life throws at me, but sometimes we are thrown curveballs that can knock us off our game. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and that life’s situations are here to teach us and to help us grow into the best versions of ourselves. It is from this mindset that I have a strong foundation for dealing with situations that challenge me deeply. While in my own struggle recently, I realized that my personal process, in dealing with this challenge, is sharing with all of you. In the end, I hope that you learn that the challenging situations in our lives do not define who we are but add to our layers that give us character, wisdom, and strength. If you are going through a difficult situation, I send you lots of love and offer my ways to get through, come out the other end, and thrive:

1. Become aware of the thoughts and mindset you have surrounding the situation. As we know, awareness is the first step in bringing lasting change.

2. Focus on the good. Even when times are trying, there are still silver linings. This is what saved me in my situation. I found positive aspects that kept my attitude positive and my mind at ease.

3. Be grateful for the positives. When you recognize the good, give thanks for it. That is a sure fire way to bring more good into your life. Gratitude is a proactive way of replacing the negative with a positive.

4. Don’t dwell on the negative. Many of us get stuck in negative mental patterns like complaining or dwelling on what isn’t working out for us. Complaining or worrying really won’t get you where you want to go. When you start to go down a negative road, make the conscious choice to veer back to positive.

5. Remember that nothing lasts forever, even the painful times. Just like with everything else, time heals all. Painful moments will pass; it’s how we deal with the painful moments that matter. Use your pain and struggle to build you up higher, not drag you down lower. Everything happens for a reason.

My wish is that this helps you in your process for dealing with all difficult situations. Please remember you are not alone, and this too shall pass. Do you have a personal process when things get difficult?

Let me know in the comments!

Love, Michelle

Evolving vs. Changing

How many of us as we approach the end of a year feel that there is something in our lives that we would like to change? We tend to crave change in the self-help world, right? That’s why we read blogs, books, and go on retreats. We want to live the life of our dreams, and we want it, right now.

I was recently thinking about change, and the energy behind that word and how it feels to constantly want to change something about yourself or your life.

For the longest time, I strived for change. I worked hard to change things about myself, so that I could fit into the ideal that I held for myself. This kind of thinking led to obsessive tendencies and dwelling on aspects of myself that I thought were not good enough. This lead to judgment, comparison, jealousy, insecurity, and the list goes on.

What I have discovered is that the word change implies that there is something wrong with the person you are right now, which simply is not true.

In spending time with this word change I have decided to change my vocabulary when it comes to myself and my own personal growth, and in this week’s blog, I encourage you to consider doing the same.

I have learned to accept and love where I am and who I am in this very moment, because I am perfect; and so are you! Of course we want to grow and expand and become the best possible person that we can be. If we can accept that right now we are exactly where we are suppose to be we will naturally, with ease begin a process; this, to me is evolution. You have been reading my blogs for quite some time now (so much love and gratitude for you!) that you know how important I think words and thoughts are, so it makes sense that I believe it matters how we frame this concept of the word change in our minds. Join me in this: “I now choose to focus on how I am evolving; day-by-day.” Evolving implies that you strive to be your best self in every moment, but you do not have judgments or even goals on how you should act, feel, be, or seem. For me, I have my highest ideal for my life and I focus on evolving, step by step, action by action, moment by moment, rather than placing my attention on the idea that I need to change. This to me feels more authentic, and a more loving way to live our best lives possible.

This week notice ways to reframe your thinking from changing to evolving. Let me know if this subtle shift in words makes all the difference for you in self-love, happiness, and your energy to live each day to the fullest. Love who you are- I love you.

xoxo, Michelle

Gratitude Practices for the Holidays (And Year Round)!

It’s late November, and so it’s only fitting to have a post about gratitude. I have talked about gratitude quite often on this blog throughout the years. Gratitude is one of the most important emotions we feel in this life. Let’s be honest here, with all that is going on in the world right now, it can be really easy to fall into a negative slump, leaving us feeling helpless or even worse, hopeless. This is when gratitude comes in and really saves the day. Whether we can see it in the moment or not, there is always something to be thankful for. It is gratitude that can bring us out of the darkest of times, and help us to find the silver lining again. In the spirit of the holiday season, and focusing on the theme of gratitude, this week’s blog is intended to help you give thanks now and throughout the year.

Wake up in the morning and say thank you. We are never promised another day of life. How lucky are we to wake up and have another chance to live in love.
Be present so that you can notice the good. Sometimes we get caught up in the thoughts in our head and miss the good that is actually happening in the now. Live in the present moment so you can be aware of the positive happenings around you.
Take a gratitude inventory daily. If you are struggling to find the good stuff in life, I encourage you to make an effort to write down what you are grateful for, every single day. This is a sure fire way to bring yourself back to that thankful, positive place. Gratitude lists don’t have to be grandiose. They can be as simple as being thankful for air to breathe, food to eat, or even a smile from a stranger.
Notice the little things, for they are the big things. Stemming from the gratitude inventory, remember sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest impact. Maybe you don’t need a fancy yacht or mansion to feel gratitude, but the kindness from loved ones and a feeling of purpose to experience the sense of gratitude. Positive little things are just as meaningful as the “big” things.
Reframe setbacks as an opportunity to learn and grow. Life can be hard. Life is difficult. We all know this. Don’t dwell in difficulty or despair. Reorganize the situation and think of how you can look at it differently. How can you bring love to a situation that is currently low vibe? This will bring you back to a more peaceful, grateful place.

I hope these gratitude tools are helpful! Remember, be the expression of gratitude that you wish to see. Your thoughts and energy are contagious. What are you spreading in your community and to the world? If we want the world to have more gratitude, it must start with gratitude in our own hearts. I am so grateful for every single one of you and the amazing work you do in the world! Let’s keep the gratitude train going! Comment below on what you are grateful for!

Love and gratitude,

Michelle

My favorite self-care practices

These days, I am all about self-care. A self-care junkie, if you will. I am a huge proponent of feeling good, finding practices that make you feel good, and honoring yourself enough to take the time to do them!

With that being said, I totally understand how it feels when you get overwhelmed or just don’t know what self-care practices are right for you and how to fit it all into your very busy schedule. I am a true believer that when you feel good, you do even better, and so with this week’s blog I share my favorite self-care practices but also encourage you to take time to find what makes you feel your best. Every single person reading this blog right now has an amazing gift to share with the world, when you take care of yourself, your gifts shine through even brighter. Self-care, here we come!

Positive Thinking. Every day I realize more and more how powerful our thoughts are. I recognize my thoughts and beliefs of the past that have created low vibe situations and I spend time cultivating positive affirmations and goals to create my best future. Your thoughts have energy behind them, and you have the power to choose that energy. Choose to be positive and step into the flow of life, it’s magical, I promise.
Hydration. I make it a priority to drink lots and lots of water everyday. It truly is something I crave all the time. I have a water bottle with me at all times; it’s a non-negotiable.
Feel Good Movement. We know that exercise is essential to healthy living, but I also believe that you should choose exercises that make you feel good. I used to go to classes strictly because I thought they would give me the body I desired, but the classes felt like torture to me. Now, I find exercises that I enjoy like yoga, Pilates, and weight training. I notice a difference in myself and in my mind. It makes all the difference.
Meditation. My meditation time is my everything and a definite non-negotiable. I meditate every day, twice a day and it is my favorite parts of the day.
Journaling. When I feel stressed or stuck, I pull out my journal and let my thoughts flow. Sometimes I overthink things, and journaling is a way to release all the crazy thoughts and get back into a centered space.
Alone Time. I love, love, love being alone, I can restore myself, regroup, and reenergize when I’m alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love being with people too, but I know me and I will always need alone time to stay on top of my game.
Be Nurtured by Nature. I love being outside, whether I’m at the beach in Florida or Central Park in NYC, I know that nature nurtures me, and so I make a point to get as much nature time as possible.
Care For the Skin You’re In. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? Your skin is everything, it’s your protection, it’s what’s holding you together, and it needs love! I choose to take care of my skin by using products for my body and face that are made with organic, non-harming ingredients, and that nourish me from the outside in!
Adios Judgment. Ever since I started to become aware of my judgments towards others and myself, and to actively choose differently, I’ve felt like a different (more vibrant) person. Judgment is so low vibe, and so I believe it’s a self-care practice to axe it out of my daily life. When falling into judgment remember you can choose again, and choose love.
Simple Sleep. One of the best (and my favorite) self-care practices is sleep! I am a true crazy person when I don’t get enough sleep. For every mind, body, and spirit benefit, make sure you get enough quality sleep every day.

Now that I have let you in on my practices, tell me what your self-care practices are in the comments! What makes you feel good on a daily basis? What is a non-negotiable for you? Let me know!

Love yourself by taking good care of yourself!

xoxo Michelle

Practicing Patience

“Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and wait without anxiety”–A Course in Miracles

Patience truly is a virtue. We have all heard this adage for years and years, but what does it really mean? What does life look like when we live with patience?

I am fairly certain that if we all had a little more patience, we would be a lot more peaceful, and if I dare say, our lives would unfold with much more grace. In my opinion, when we break down the root of impatience, we find that it’s when we are not trusting that things will work out ok; in our best interest. We are actually out of the present moment. When you get into the trusting mindset, that things really will unfold as they are meant to, you can relax knowing that you are being taken care of; you are supported. This is the essence of patience. Living patiently is a practice, with awareness, and a change in mindset. We ease into it by making small, simple adjustments. This week, I want to share with you my practices for patience; so that we all can live in grace and faith.

1. Practice being in stillness. When we are still, we find peace in the current moment. We have learned with the speed of society to be discontent with stillness. When we add moments of stopping, stillness throughout the day you will find your sense of inner peace, strength, and acceptance.

2. Practice awareness. Start to notice when you are feeling impatient. What does it feel like in your body? What situations trigger you? By being mindful of what brings you these feelings of impatience we can start to create positive change towards the desired goal of feeling at ease. When we are aware- we know.

3. Practice living in the present moment. When we are present, we are at peace. This can be very difficult for many of us as we often trail back into the past or have anxiety about the future. When we stay in the moment, patience automatically comes to us. Take a few breaths when you are feeling impatient and come back to the now.

4. Practice surrender. Many times, we yearn for the sought after goals and ideals that we know will transpire in the future. The key to bringing these goals into fruition is living in the present. Practice Patience, and all is coming.

How do you practice patience? What are your biggest triggers when it comes to being patient? Keep the conversation going in the comments below! I’m wishing you a beautiful day!

xoxo,

MIchelle

Why I Expect Miracles Every Day

“I’m realistic. I expect miracles.” – Wayne Dyer

I really love miracles, and honestly I expect miracles every single day.

This sentence may have many of you scratching your heads because when many of us think of miracles we think of people walking on water or curing incurable diseases. Which, yes, those are miracles as well. The miracles that I encounter daily are the miracles of the mind and spirit.

I’ve been studying A Course in Miracles a lot lately, and it has taught me so much about true miracles. From this text, I’ve learned that miracles are a shift of perception from fear to love. A miracle is an act of love; a remembrance of who we truly are. From this vantage point, maybe you begin to see why I started this week’s blog off in saying that I expect miracles daily.

You may be wondering now how you too can experience miracles in your daily life. So here is a quick miracle checklist I’ve put together for you:

Meditate daily
Set powerful, positive intentions
Practice present moment living
When stressed, remember that you can choose your thoughts and reactions
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude
Remember that love is our true purpose
Forgive others
Forgive yourself
Love yourself unconditionally
Trust that life unfolds as it should

These are just a few ideas to get you started in the miracle mindset! I think you will find that when you incorporate these tips into your life you absolutely will find yourself more in the flow of life, which brings a sense of inner peace, abundance, and pure joy. I would also definitely recommend looking into A Course in Miracles to further your practice and expand your beliefs. I attend a weekly ACIM book club at Gingersnap’s Organic in NYC led by my dear friend Anne Marie Imperiale. If you are in the area you should join us, or catch her live feeds on Periscope! There are many other local book clubs, check it out in your community!

“Miracles are natural. When they do not occur something has gone wrong.” – A Course in Miracles

You are a miracle.

Love, Michelle

5 ways to propel your life even when you feel stuck

I truly believe that one of life’s most beautiful purposes is to continue to grow and learn as we walk through our paths of life. I also believe that every situation, every relationship, and even every hardship teaches us lessons that make us into the amazing people that we are meant to be. Sometimes, we can get so determined to grow and progress in life that we can actually notice when we feel stuck or in a rut. When we have the awareness of how we would like to live our lives; high ideals we wish to achieve, it can sometimes feel difficult to find acceptance in the present moment and what life consists of right now. Luckily, this week I have some meaningful, fun tips for you on how to keep moving your life forward, even when it feels hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s face it, we know that life is all about the journey, not the destination, so let’s discus how to make that journey the best it can be.

Get clear by connecting. Clarity is one of the most important qualities to have when striving to create your best life. When we are unclear about what we truly desire, we sent out mixed messages to the Universe. The best way to gain clarity? Connect with yourself. Spend time with yourself in meditation and in mindfulness practices to access that space within you that knows your truest desires.
Set goals that set your soul on fire. Once you have connected with yourself, you can start to determine what it is that you really, really want. What is the highest ideal for your life? What would make you happy in the truest sense of the word? When you start aligning with the desires that make you feel good, you set yourself up for forward moving success. Follow what feels good for your soul

When I say “feel good” I mean what warms your heart and lights you up inside!

Take actions that excite you. How many times do we do things that we don’t want to do, just for the sake of doing it? While I completely understand that there are some tasks at hand that are necessary in life that aren’t always pleasurable, or things we do for the purpose of serving those closest to us; but I do believe it’s important to take actions in life that make us happy, that are in our best interest as a loving human being. Just like the steps above of clarity and high-vibe goals, what inspired actions can you take that will take you in the direction of your dreams. This could be as simple as a walk in nature, to enrolling in a fun creative class, to as drastic as moving cross-country to live in the city that lights you up.
Find value and meaning in the present moment. When we are so focused on the goal or the outcome, we can forget to find the joy and value of what is happening right in front of us in the present moment. Don’t future trip. Lovingly bring yourself back to what is, and be open and receptive to what life is bringing you right now. Whatever is happening for you in this moment will help you get to where you want to go, make the choices you need to make, and be the person you want to be. When you find happiness and gratitude in the present moment, you will reach your goals that much faster.
Trust in the process. Perhaps the biggest factor in creating a life you love is trust. When you have done all the steps above and are still feeling like life isn’t heading in the direction you want it to, or maybe not in the timing you would like, the greatest thing you can do is trust and have faith. When you do the work, when you have connected, when you have set the stage for success and it is all in alignment with your highest and greatest good, the Universe will have your back. You next action is to have faith. Set reminders for yourself, write it down in your notebook, do what you need to do to remember that faith will bring you the life you desire, in perfect timing.

I hope these steps are helpful for you in propelling your life forward, even when it seems difficult! I would love to hear your stories of success in the comments below! Let’s keep the conversation going!

Love, Michelle

Lessons learned after 70 straight days of meditation

As many of you know, I really love making life an experiment, especially when it comes to living your best life. I have tried out different ways of eating, exercising, and most recently, meditating. Week by week I share what’s going on with me and tips that I think might be useful for you to live a happy life. Rarely do I write a blog that doesn’t mention meditation. Meditation has been a game-changer for me.

Seventy days ago, I ventured on another experiment, and signed up to learn Vedic Meditation with Emily Fletcher at Ziva Meditation. I have had the inkling to go deeper into my meditation practice for a while, and contemplated signing up for a few different courses, but as the Universe so lovingly guides us, I ran into Emily on the street one night with friends, right after I had stated my desire to take a meditation course, and in that moment I knew my decision had been made.

I took Ziva’s 3-day Vedic meditation course back in July, which essentially is meditation with a personally prescribed mantra. You practice this style of meditation twice daily, for 20 minutes.

Now, if you know me, I tend to be a commitment-phobe, so the original thought of meditating twice a day, everyday, for 20 minutes really freaked me out. Who has time for that? Truth is, we all do, if we truly value it. Since completing the course at Ziva, I made it my mission to be dedicated to this practice. I have yet to miss a meditation, and I am super proud of it! Truthfully, I look forward to my meditations now.

I learned so much from Emily and my time at Ziva, and as I learn, I share with you. Since starting this meditation practice 70 days ago, I have noticed these amazing benefits:

1. More patience

2. More self-love

3. More energy (especially after that afternoon meditation!)

4. Greater sense of clarity and purpose

5. Increase of creativity and drive

6. Heightened awareness of my thoughts, actions, and feelings

7. Ability to see things as they are, and to stay in the present moment

8. Less mental chatter/clutter

9. Amazingly restful sleep

10. Less stress

11. Gratitude

In summary, this week’s blog is to encourage you to find your practice, and practice it! Meditation is a valuable tool to have in life! These are just a few of the amazing benefits I’ve noticed since incorporating this style of meditation into my life. Truthfully, there is so much more! As always, I encourage you to find a meditation practice that works for you and that makes you feel connected, every day! If you’re interested in checking out this meditation practice, you can find out more about Emily and Ziva here. Emily is an amazing teacher and I couldn’t be more inspired by her!

I would love to hear your experiences with meditation, and the different styles and techniques you practice on a daily basis! How do you think the world would be different if everyone meditated for a few minutes every day? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below!

Love, Michelle