Inner Light

As you learn to take personal responsibility over your life, one of the biggest lessons is emotional control. Like most people, you’ve probably gone through your life reacting to situations and your environment, rather than responding in a more proactive, responsible manner. It’s a subconscious reaction to say,

“That person makes me so mad!”
“This person makes me sad.”
“This person makes me feel so fulfilled.”
“That person makes me happy.”

But in fact, nobody can control your emotions except for you. By allowing someone else to “make” you feel a certain way, you’re in effect giving your power to them. There is always a choice in how to respond to situations. On the surface, being in a relationship where you feel that someone “completes” you or “fulfills” you may look like a wonderful thing. I’m not saying it isn’t, but I would challenge you to ask yourself, “Can I be complete or fulfilled without having to be in a relationship?” If the answer is no, then you are giving another person the power to control your happiness. Do you really want to let someone else be responsible for your joy?

Likewise, if you are confronted by a situation that elicits an immediate negative emotional response, take a step back and ask yourself,

“How else can I react to this?”
“WHY am I reacting like this?”
“Is there a better response?”

You and only you should be in charge of your emotions, whether they be positive or negative, because only you have the power to change them.

When it comes to writing your own story for a balanced life, don’t forget to write a chapter on spiritual connection. It is this connection that gives us our faith and belief. Not only does it connect us to Spirit, but it also connects us to all of life. This connection allows us to hear the messages from our Higher Power through our intuition.

To cultivate this connection, find a place where you can sit in silence. This can be a sacred space you create within your home, or someplace out in nature. Close your eyes and inhale. Breathe in the energy of the Earth and of Spirit. Let it ignite the Divine Spark within you and listen for the messages that come to you. Feel the Light and Love of the universe flow through you and out into the world.

When you build a nice, strong spiritual connection, you will be better able to receive messages from Spirit. These messages guide you on your journey and since they are from Spirit, they will never be wrong. Listen to them and follow them–even if it doesn’t make complete sense at the time. Spirit always works for your highest good. Allow yourself to be guided and have faith that all will turn out as it should.

I’ve recently gone through a very trying time in my life. Life has a way of throwing unexpected curve balls that really flip your whole reality upside down. I’m still adjusting and realigning, but the situation has brought up an issue that I know a lot of Lightworkers have: asking for help.

Lightworkers can become so intent on helping others that they forget they deserve and need help too. I know that I’ve had this belief myself over the years…especially being a single mom. There has been this feeling of “going it alone” and doing everything myself. What is important to realize is that there is no shame in asking for help. It doesn’t make us weak or needy. It is simply an acknowledgement that there are some things that we can’t….or shouldn’t…do alone.

Help comes in all forms: from friends, family, random strangers, or your Higher Power. But these people don’t know you need it unless you ask! When you ask for help, be specific in your request. You might simply need the knowledge necessary to complete a task, or you might need it completely done for you. Maybe all you want is someone to bounce ideas off of, or a shoulder to lean on. Maybe all you need is to know that someone is there “just in case”.

When my own situation came up and knocked me off my feet, the first thing I did was ask for help. I knew I couldn’t, and didn’t want to, deal with it alone. I asked for help from my friends as well as from Spirit. It’s because of that that I was able to stand back up much sooner than if I had to try and do it all alone.

So, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone and there are plenty of people who would love the opportunity to give back to you just a little of what you’ve given them. For those who gave to me……

thank you.

Like most people, now that it’s New Year’s Eve, I find myself reflecting on the past year. 2009 has brought so many changes for me. I took courses in life coaching and began my coaching business. I met a fantastic group of like-minded people that I now Mastermind with. I’ve made many internal changes simply in the way I look at life and the people around me. And now, I am beginning 2010 by welcoming a new love into my life who makes me smile and my heart overflow with joy.

I’ve cleared out a lot of old beliefs that were no longer serving me and have even cut cords with some people who were draining my energy. Every time we clear out something old, we make way for something new. I am so immensely grateful for all of the new coming to me.

The New Year always holds such promise of starting over fresh….beginning anew with only the unknown out ahead of us. I truly wish nothing but the best for all of you in 2010. Dream big and write yourself a fantastic, magical story. You deserve it!

I wanted to write a quick note to wish everyone a splendid holiday. I am so, SO grateful to all of you who have come into my life this past year. There have been an incredible amount of changes happening for me…I am amazed at all that has gone on and I can’t wait to see what 2010 will bring!

I hope that this holiday season brings a ton of Light, Love, and Magic into your lives and that it carries you far into the next year.

Brightest Blessings,

Shela

In Linda Goodman’s book, Star Signs, she devotes a whole chapter to lexigramming. Lexigramming is when you take a word and scramble the letters to make other words. For example, the word STOP contains TOP, POT, POST, etc. Linda stated in her book that you can often find hidden meanings to words by lexigramming them. In my name, SHELA, you can find the phrase SHE HEALS, which is what I work to do for people when I coach them. I bet you can see what I’m leading up to, right?

When many gurus talk about the Law of Attraction, they discuss and teach people about the visualizing and feeling aspects only. But, right out there in plain sight is the most important part of the Law of AttrACTION. Yes, it’s action! The words THINK and FEEL aren’t in the word ATTRACTION. While it is important to think positive thoughts and hold positive feelings for whatever you’re trying to manifest, if you don’t take action toward the end goal, you’ll never reach it.

Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t win if you don’t play the game”? You will never create what you desire if you don’t get in there and play the game. The visualizing and thinking and intentions and affirmations are the playbook. Putting yourself onto the field and playing the game is where all the real work gets done. If you want to create wealth, a great job, a wonderful relationship, you have to *do* something to make it real. You can dream about finding your perfect job all day long, but if you don’t take the action steps necessary to land that perfect job, you’ll never get it.

You’ll find that, as long as you hold the visualization in your mind, and take some action toward creating that vision, the opportunities for more action will flow to you easier and easier. Add the *Action* into the Law of Attraction, and I guarantee you will be on the fast track to manifesting your desires.

Whenever someone asks me how to start meditating, the first question I ask them is, “What’s your zodiac sign?” That may sound like a cheesy pick up line but, in my experience, I’ve found that people have an easier time beginning a meditation routine if they work *with* the element of their birth sign. Here are the elements of the signs as well as ways you can use them to help you meditate.

Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
How many of you have ever become mesmerized watching the dancing flames of a campfire or a fire burning in a fireplace? This is a perfect example of how fire can help you meditate. If you don’t have a fireplace or campfire handy, you can listen to a meditation CD with crackling fire sounds on it. You can also light a candle and watch the flame as you meditate.

Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
If you’re an Earth Sign, chances are you can physically feel the tension melt from you when you step outside or take a walk in the park or out in the woods. It will be very easy for you to meditate if you sit under a tree with your back against it. If you can’t go outside, listen to a CD with Native American drum music or Gregorian chants on it. These tones are very earthy and meditative to an Earth Sign.

Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Sound and scent are the meditative helpers for the Air Signs. For you, you could sit and listen to pretty much any meditation CD and let it carry you away while your favorite incense burns beside you. A CD with music plus chimes or singing bowls on it would put you in heaven. If you’re able to be out in nature, focus on all of the bird songs and the feel of the breeze brushing your skin and taking all your troubles away.

Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Water is the element of cleansing and healing. As a Water Sign, I do a great deal of meditation in the shower. When I get out, I am clean on more than just a physical level. You can also take walks in the rain or on the beach next to a lake or ocean. There are tons of meditation CDs with sounds of rain or gently running creeks on them. Table top fountains are also a great focal point for meditation.

We all know that astrology is more than just your birth sign. This is a generalization to help those of you just learning to meditate. If you know your Moon and Rising Signs, you can use the elements of them along with your Sun Sign to design a meditation routine specifically for you. For example, I have a Water Sun (Pisces), an Earth Moon (Virgo), and a Fire Rising (Leo). In my case, sitting on a beach next to a lake with a campfire burning would be the ultimate meditative experience for me. Use your imagination with your element to come up with something that fits you.

I apologize for not posting in awhile. With the U.S. holiday last week, things were a little chaotic. I had a wonderful time with my son who was home for 6 days last week. Thanksgiving with the whole family was terrific. The week really reminded me of all I have to be grateful for.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to rest up a little before rushing off to prepare for Christmas!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. Many blessings to all.

With Thanksgiving coming up this week in the U.S., it’s hard not to think about all of the things I’m grateful for. I know that sometimes, it can be difficult to find things to be grateful for in your life. However, it’s that attitude of gratitude that smooths out the energy flow as we work to manifest our dreams and goals. When you’re having a hard time being grateful, you might have to get creative to find the beauty in the chaos, so to speak.

Be grateful for that job you don’t enjoy. It’s keeping a roof over your head and food on your table. Besides, it’s only a stepping stone on the way to your dream job.

Be grateful for your ex-wife/husband. Without them, you wouldn’t have your amazing children.

AND/OR

Be grateful for your ex-wife/husband. They came into your life to teach you ________ (insert lesson you learned from that relationship here).

Be grateful for the rainy weather. Your car is getting washed and your lawn is getting watered for free.

Be grateful for the chain letters filling your email inbox. It means you have a lot of friends who are thinking about you.

Be grateful for the people who annoy you and challenge you. They are helping you to grow into a better human being.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my U.S. friends. And many blessings to everyone.

All too often, people put the care and well-being of everyone else ahead of their own. When you spend all of your time on others and none on yourself, you become energetically depleted, stressed out, even physically ill or dis-eased. These are messages from your body telling you to take time out to care for yourself. In order to be able to give all that you do to your friends, family, and employer, it is necessary for you to take time every day to do something for you. Here are five things you can do that will keep you in good energetic and physical health.

1. Meditate
It has been proven that meditation relieves stress and replenishes energy. Just 15-30 minutes of meditation every day is enough to produce noticeable results. There are many CDs on the market to help you start a daily meditation routine.

2. Spend time in nature
Getting outside and soaking up some sun is a great way to rejuvenate yourself. You can garden, play a sport, take a walk, or simply sit on the deck and relax doing nothing. Absorbing natural light is an instant pick me up.

3. Take a nice hot bath
Do you remember the old commercial for Calgon? There was a woman relaxing in a big tub and her line was, “Calgon, take me away!” There’s a reason why she looked so content! Light some candles and incense and feel the stress melt away into the water.

4. Eat healthy
A healthy diet loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables will keep your body running efficiently. The healthier you are, the more energy you’ll have to keep up with everyone and everything in your life. You can’t keep up if you’re always sick and tired because of a poor diet.

5. Take up a hobby
Engaging in a hobby is a great way to be good to you. You are doing something you enjoy that isn’t (or shouldn’t be) stressful, and will allow you the opportunity to take pleasure in doing something by yourself. Find something that will completely take your mind off of all your obligations for awhile.

If you make time every day to do something that is just for yourself, you will be much healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can’t operate at your best if you are under constant stress with nothing to relieve it. If you aren’t good to yourself first, you can’t be any good to others. Most of all, keep in mind that self-care is not selfish! There is no need to feel guilty or upset if you take time to be alone and rejuvenate. It is just as important for you to care for yourself as it is for you to care for others.