Receiving, Self-Care, Self-Fulfillment, Spirituality
“All forms of becoming require spaciousness in one way or another; mental space that allows the mind to expand, emotional space for feeling to flower, and physical space in which to move.” ― Dana Hutton
When you place a young plant in a pot, it can grow no bigger than the pot. The more spacious the pot, the greater the plant can expand and grow. As the plant grows larger in size, its ability to produce flowers or fruit increases.
In my last article, Spaciousness: Your Antidote To Tension, I spoke about how movement of your body creates spaciousness. Now, think of your mind as if it were a plant; it needs space to expand and bear the fruit of possibilities.
Creating space in your mind starts with letting go of overactive thoughts such as doubt, worry, fear, or stress. Let’s look at how you can clear your mind of busy thoughts about the past or future and focus on the present instead.
4 ways to invite spaciousness to the mind:
Let go
Unhealthy emotions can take up a lot of space in the mind. Whether you’re stuck in sadness and grieving, anger or resentment, holding onto the past can limit your mind from expanding and even cause your body harm. Yes, it’s important to allow yourself time to acknowledge your emotions, however it’s also essential to be mindful of your wellbeing. Allow yourself to engage in practices that give your mind room to grow.
You can let go of unhealthy emotions and move on from unchangeable events of the past by practicing forgiveness. As well, focus on the present and things you can control. See my previous article, Spaciousness: Your Antidote To Tension, for other ways to release negative emotions.
Welcome stillness
It’s a challenge to welcome stillness in a world that moves so fast. Women with Type A personalities tend to fill their time with tasks. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself with a break during the day, consider it a blessing. It’s in these moments of stillness that your mind can cultivate creativity and explore realms that your everyday busy mind wouldn’t.
When a moment of stillness arises, sit with it. Breathe and take notice of the elements around you – what you see, hear, or feel. Become more aware of these moments of stillness and embrace them. They could be common everyday occurrences, such as eating lunch by yourself, weeding your garden, or vacuuming your home. The spaciousness that comes with a still mind is an opportunity for mental expansion.
Acceptance
How accepting are you of new ideas or changes in your life? Whether you welcome something new into your life or release what no longer serves you, you open up space for greater possibilities. Try something different or accept a life change, such as a new career, moving to a different city, or ending an unhealthy relationship. Acceptance of that which life brings, while maintaining an optimistic outlook, can open up possibilities that attract greater growth and opportunity.
Patience
As a high-achieving woman, you may experience a sense of urgency to respond immediately when faced with an unwelcome situation. Moving at a fast pace doesn’t mean you’re most effective. Practicing patience can help you make better choices.
When you allow yourself to pause before responding, you have time to evaluate your emotional state and give your mind space to consider greater possible options. Patience gives your mind the spaciousness it needs to expand your opportunities.
Spaciousness gives your mind the ability to focus, expand, and discover alternatives that present new and exciting opportunities in your life. Practice creating spaciousness and expansion in your mind to enjoy more of life’s opportunities!
Self-Care, Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
Why do high-achieving women, like you, experience tension?
How can you counteract this strain on your body?
Believe it or not, you already have everything you need to set yourself free.
First, let’s look at tension and why it occurs. Tension arises when you experience mental or emotional pressure, which can come from external and internal sources. For example, if you work in a high-stress job, you may feel intense pressure to achieve. This can be external pressure from management or internal pressure from yourself…or both.
As a high-achieving woman, you may have a tendency to put internal pressure on yourself to be perfect, to do better, to be better, thus bringing about tension that can lead to mental and even physical strain. A mind impacted by pressure can lose clarity.
As tension builds in your mind, it starts to reside in your body. Muscles tense up when the body is under stress, which is how our body guards against injury. Tense shoulders, sore backs, and tight hips can all be signs of the mental strain you’re carrying. Excessive tension build-up can also trigger unhealthy emotions.
Releasing tension from your body can also release it from the mind and return you to a place of ease. An excellent way to accomplish this is by creating spaciousness through movement. This can dissolve the pressure causing tension in the body and mind. It can also liberate unhealthy emotions that were stored in a physical form in the body. As well, the breath you use during movement creates air and space within the body.
Therefore, creating spaciousness in the body releases unhealthy tension and unburdens your mind. Yet it’s also good practice to get in touch with where you hold tension in your body, so you can become aware of it before it begins to speak so loudly that it stops you in your tracks. Let’s start with a body scan.
Body scan
Take a moment to pause each day. Allow yourself to breathe and be still while you scan your body, starting either at the bottom or the top.
Begin by mindfully directing your attention to your toes or the top of your head. Notice how it feels. Then go to the next part of your body and do the same. As you move through the scanning process you may find tension is stored in certain areas, such as your shoulder or hips. You may notice your jaw clenches or your feet are sore.
Your body is a guide to how you’re feeling. By scanning your body daily, you’ll learn how it stores tension, which can be helpful in preventing and releasing future physical and emotional distress.
Movement
There are endless ways to move your body to create spaciousness. Any movement that brings you joy can also create internal space.
Walk in nature
The energy of nature can remove you from life stressors. The sound of birds and running water, the feeling of fresh air on your skin, and the beauty of lush green forests and sparkling blue seas, distracts your senses and calms your mind.
Yoga
Yoga focuses on the body moving in tune with the breath. This is an especially powerful type of movement because with each breath we create space. Pairing movement with breath can be very helpful for releasing tension and inviting spaciousness.
Dancing
Dancing can be a fun way to get your body moving and to feel spacious and free. The best thing about dancing is that you can do it anywhere. Play tunes in your spare time or while you do chores and let the music get you moving.
When you’re not up for movement
Laughter
Put on your favorite comedy show for a good laugh. Laughter releases hormones that counteract stress and release tension. A joyful laugh is one of the simplest ways to bring spaciousness into your mind and body.
Touchstone
Create spaciousness in your body by calming your mind with a touchstone. A touchstone is an object that represents a desire and enables you to embody it. It can be prayer beads, a rosary, a gemstone, or anything that has meaning for you. Envisioning or physically holding a touchstone, while being mindful of your breath, can help your body relax and release tension.
The outcome
Mindful movement of your body and your breath produces hormones that reduce stress and releases old stored energy from tensions or unhealthy emotions. Encouraging the movement of your breath, inhaling and exhaling, allows new energy to flow through the body and releases tension. At first, this might feel unfamiliar, because the stuck energy was part of you for some time. However, once it’s gone, you’ll begin to feel the spaciousness you’ve created and the new and lighter energy within.
Start with a body scan, invite in movement (or its alternatives), and immerse yourself in spaciousness!
Receiving, Spirituality
Are you ready to receive all that the universe intends for you?
The study of quantum physics tells us that the planets, the stars, and everything else in the universe are connected as one unified field with a universal intelligence. In this field that connects us all, infinite realities exist, which allow for infinite possibilities. Since you are an interconnected part of the universe, and of all that is, you have the ability to access and receive the abundance of infinite possibilities.
However, your ego’s desire for control can often override your connection with the universe and its abundance. It is especially common for a woman who thrives on and makes sacrifices for success to believe that there’s a separation between herself and the universe. When this occurs, you may feel that the only way to be successful at achieving your goals is to work hard… even to the point of burnout. When your ego prompts a scarcity mindset, it creates doubt about the existence of infinite possibilities and the opportunity for success without sacrifice.
However, if you were to maintain your connection with all that is and allow yourself to have faith that the universe will provide for you, success can be achieved with greater ease and flow. Staying spiritually connected can help you maintain this abundant mindset, so you are open to receive the highest and best that the universe has to offer.
There are many practices that can enhance your ability to connect more deeply with your spirituality, such as: meditation, yoga, journaling, positive self-talk, and communing with nature. As you expand into a true knowing that you are one with the universe, you deepen your spiritual connection.
When you make that spiritual connection and can trust that the universe is providing for you in the best and highest way, you’re able to receive its endless possibilities. Here are some steps for you to connect more deeply with your higher Self and receive more from life.
Step 1: Engage with your vision
Part 1. Create your vision
Do you have a goal in mind? Or a dream you’ve been nurturing? Even though you’ve had great success in your life, you may still be striving toward an unfulfilled vision. To receive what you desire, you must first visualize it. For example, if your dream is to own a successful online business, instead of working your 9 to 5, hold onto that vision. Don’t let the fear of change or what others might say block you from receiving your goal.
Write a list of all the wonderful possibilities that could come from your vision. Keep an open mind about how this vision might manifest, because it may occur differently than you imagine or the end result might not be quite what you expect. The important aspect here is realizing a vision that aligns with your values and that you have the intention to achieve.
Part 2. Take action
Once you have a vision in mind, begin to move toward it, physically. It might be a small step such as creating a vision board or writing down your dreams to help you manifest and keep your vision alive. Or, perhaps a big leap such as hiring a website designer to help you start a website, investing in a product to sell, or moving on from your current position to make more time for your new venture. What matters is that you’re taking action to eventually receive what you want most in life.
Step 2: Connect Spiritually
Part 1. Understanding
You can have a vision and take action to achieve it. However, do you know why you truly want this? If you see this vision as something that adds value to your life, acknowledge why. Using the online business you want to create as an example, you might consider the following: Are you looking for a more flexible work schedule to access greater self-care? Do you have a product to sell that could help others? Is there a message you want to share with the world?
Understanding why you want to receive something will help you connect to it on a deeper, more spiritual level. Write down your thoughts or engage in a meaningful conversation to help you recognize the reasons why you want to receive this. Once you have a deeper awareness of your “why,” the universe can move forward on the “how.”.
Part 2. Be ready to align
Infinite possibilities exist in the universe and, as the study of quantum physics reveals, if you’re truly connecting as one with the universe, you’re open to receive possibilities that are in your highest and best good. So, when you have a vision, do the spiritual work to understand why you truly want it, and take action toward it, the universe aligns to connect you with your vision. So, be ready to receive whatever comes your way. And keep an open mind, because the universe may fulfill your vision in a different form than what you expect.
As you deepen your spiritual connection, you’ll experience a greater sense of oneness with all there is, the universe aligns with your vision, and you open up to receive more fully.
Connect with all that the universe intends for you by connecting with your spiritual Self.
Receiving, Self-Care, Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
Would you like more from life?
More love?
More joy?
More inspiration?
More abundance?
You can receive everything that you want in life. How does this work?
Everything in the Universe is made up of energy, including you. This means that energy is constantly flowing to and through you. So, you have an innate and unlimited capacity to receive.
However, it’s possible for life experiences or messages from your past to create a kink in your hose of energy flow. You might have learned not to get up your hopes and expect good things, because you’ve been let down previously. Or you were taught that you don’t deserve to receive something unless you have earned it or you need it as the result of an illness. Therefore, you can become limited in your potential to receive.
But, you have the ability to unkink your hose and access all that the Universe has to offer. With practice, you can learn how to get out of your own way and receive like a pro.
Here are 5 practices for expanding your power to receive:
Accept compliments
When someone offers you a compliment, make sure to respond with “Thank you.” Do not deflect the compliment by trivializing whatever was complimented. Also, there is no need to return a compliment at that moment.
Make gratitude a habit
Each time you get a gift or a compliment, focus on receiving it fully with the deepest appreciation. Then speak your sincere appreciation aloud to the giver, so they also feel your gratitude.
Practice receiving
If you want to expand your ability to receive, you must practice. Start by focusing on being present in the moment and noticing what you receive each day. This could be a smile from a stranger or a compliment from a colleague. See if you are able to receive without giving back.
Ask for what you want
My mother taught me that if I don’t ask, I won’t get. Most people won’t be able to read your mind and know what you want or need. Of course, that means it’s important for you to know what you want or need.
Stretch beyond your comfort zone
The level at which you are able to receive can reveal any limitations you may have around deserving. Invite yourself to stay open to receiving good things. You are worthy of receiving all that you need and desire.
When you are able to open up and receive more, life becomes more fulfilling and enjoyable than you could imagine. The key to immersing yourself in the practice of receiving is to know that you are worthy of having it all.
This means having a healthy, loving relationship with your Self.
Self-Care, Self-Fulfillment, Self-Love
“Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.” ~ The Dalai Lama
Each day you are blessed with opportunities for choice. From the food you eat, to the way you move, to the thoughts you think, every second of the day presents you with another opportunity for choice.
In the past, when faced with choice, my actions were driven by the desire to achieve. My choice to persevere, no matter what, overruled my health and relationship needs, and reflected my perfectionistic tendencies to the detriment of all else in my life.
It took me too long to recognize that something was amiss and to choose to design a different methodology for my journey. You may be able to relate to my story, even finding yourself in a similar position, looking to discover your own spiritual path to your higher purpose.
A spiritual journey can be uncomfortable— especially for a type-A personality. As you embark on this path, you may feel some loneliness if you don’t have a like-minded community to share your experiences with, or some anxiety about letting go of the security of a controlled hold over your life.
However, during the ebbs and flows of this journey, there is a choice that can remain constant. This choice not only improves your wellbeing, it eases you toward your higher purpose. The choice is love and compassion.
Love and compassion are the most powerful forces on earth. Acts of care and consideration towards another being can be shown through even the smallest gestures, such as a smile or a helping hand. Love and compassion can heal, nurture, uplift, and transform a life.
When you choose love and compassion, not only does it nourish the souls of others, it enhances your own spiritual well-being, boosting your fulfillment and connecting you with your divine Self.
Your previous choices to achieve success may have come with sacrifice to your wellbeing and to relationships with those you love. The ongoing drive of an overachiever can generate a sense of dissatisfaction. Choosing love and compassion fulfills a need to be more altruistic and elevates your spiritual path.
Start with yourself
Self-care
Nourish your body and soul with loving self-care. This could include pampering, time off, exercise, meditation, or positive self-talk to uplift you when you’re down. Anything that nurtures you is considered self-care and is an act of compassion toward yourself.
Honesty
Don’t be embarrassed to do something bold if that’s what you want to do. And don’t feel obligated to say yes to things you don’t want to do. Be honest about what you really want. Though it may seem loving to do favors for a friend, if it creates conflict with your authentic Self, you may cause harm to both your Self and your relationships. Do what feels most aligned for you.
Gratitude
When you wake up each day, be grateful to have a new day to practice being in alignment with your authentic Self. Appreciation for each moment is the most loving and compassionate way to acknowledge your own being.
Share with others
Listen
Share an ear of compassion and empathy. Hear what others have to say with patience and understanding. Don’t feel that you have to provide advice unless it’s requested. Sometimes the most loving thing you can offer someone is simply to listen and hear what they have to say at that moment.
Teach
Share your knowledge with others. If you see someone struggling and you have the opportunity, take a moment to lovingly show them how it’s done.
Appreciate
Acknowledge what others have to offer. They might not have the same qualities as you, which is what makes them unique. Appreciate them for being different.
Every day you are blessed with opportunities of choice. Let love and compassion be the guides behind the choices you make. Through acts of love and compassion, your self-discovery can be enhanced and your spiritual journey can be elevated.
Do you relate to being driven towards achieving success no matter the sacrifice to your health, wellbeing, relationships and more?
Are you interested in decreasing the amount of effort you expend, increasing the success you experience, and doing all this with ease and flow?
If so, join me on Wednesday, June 8 for my complimentary new one-time only online class, “The Three Step Formula That Revolutionizes Your Path Of Success, Activates Your Purpose, And Accelerates Your Results With The Greatest Amount Of Ease And Flow!”
More details coming soon! Save the Date – Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
