A fun part of today's practice is also deeply fulfilling. It helps us create a whole new perception of our bodies and our... eating.

While Gabby's message in the Miracle Challenge is deeper than the food we eat- it is about rejecting the ego's false perceptions of our body and appreciating ourselves fully, the food part is often a symptom of our inner beliefs of about our outer package. We are focused on seeing our body as equally special to all other bodies- no more, no less. We need to remove the illusion of separation, specialness and attack.

Try out Mindful Eating. I've done some work around this and most definitely benefitted from it. I need it now, more than ever. How about you? One suggestion Gabby offers is to find your favorite part of the next meals you eat during the day. Select one bite and chew it several times- 30 or so. Think of your affirmation, "I am grateful for my body" and spend a full moment enjoying that bite. Explore every sensation connected to that food. Appreciate what that food offers your body.

Now, try the same affirmation during the gym, stretch deeper. Use the affirmation during intimate moments. Center into your body and enjoy the intimacy in a whole new way.

Our body is a rich learning vehicle and part of the learning is enjoying pleasures and feeling grateful for all of the things we can do, feel, etc. Start to notice what nourishes this vehicle we move around in. 

Tonight, welcome your guidance from your inner guide. Notice and list in your journal all false or fear based perceptions of your body and replace those with a new list of loving thoughts.

As you turn off the lamp to fall asleep, Ask your inner guide to offer you love and acceptance. The following is part of the prayer Gabby shared in her book, May Cause Miracles.

"Inner guide, I welcome your support. Thank you for leading me to the right perception of my body. Thank you for reminding me of my life's greater purpose."

#miraclemindset #oilymama #evolvingmother #Womanintheworld #spiritualbeing #energetichealing #faithoverfear #bodyconfidence #selflovemama #wecanriseup #communityuplift #journeythroughthewilderness #emergencewellness 

"The ego is attached to our body because it dwells there" says Gabby Bernstein, "but this separation is an illusion.

Looking in the mirror today, staring directly at yourself, choose to see with fresh eyes- see yourself free of the ego's lies and instead, bathed in pure light. We are spirit having a human experience and we are beautiful. Look at yourself with love and let go of the old story.

Gabby's morning reflection invites us to see ourselves with a golden ball of light pouring over our head and enveloping us. 

Affirmation: "I am not a body, I am free."

Bedtime: There is a sweet little meditation to do tonight. As you breathe in, see a spark in your heart shining. As you breathe out watch it glow.

How can you cherish your body and spirit as a united, shining light in the world? Can you begin to see the light that you bring to others and this place when you embrace your wholeness? 

Love,
LeeAnn

#maycausemiracles #uplifted #journeythoughthewilderness #mindset #energeticmama #naturaluplift #faithoverfear #momsoverforty #truebeauty #bornthisway #weareallmiracles

Wellness isn't about looking good or fitting into your clothes, though you might glow more or manage your weight better if you are well. It's about your whole health- mind, body, spirit. Are you able to manage stress? Are you able to sleep at night? Are you able to create boundaries and say, "no" or "yes" when you want to? Do you know who you are? What your core values are? Do you live with intention and make decisions based on your intentions and your inner values? Are you able to speak up about things you care about- despite the possibility of judgment? Are you able to make peace and let go of old hurts?

Meditation is one method that helps us return to our breath and the present moment- to insert a pause in our actions or reactions and to choose again. It facilitates that kind of empowered and embodied living we want to have- the one in which we know who we are, what we want and design our actions with intention.

Don't Judge Your Monkey Mind
There is a myth that meditation is a completely blank mind and sometimes that causes people who are new to meditation to feel as if they are failing and to move into judgment right off the bat. It's like throwing  a baby into the deep end and hoping they swim. If it works- that's amazing. If it doesn't- well, that baby may never want to bathe again, let alone swim.

Most of us know that meditation involves taking deep breaths and noticing the air as it enters the nasal passages or the lungs or causes the belly to expand and contract. You can do it sitting up, lying down, or lying with your knees bent and calves on a chair in front of you. So, if you are new to meditation and mindfulness-  don't worry if your mind races or strays. Know that it is completely natural and helpful to actually recognize your busy mind and stray thoughts. The act of noticing IS mindfulness. When you notice, you can take a breath and redirect your thoughts again. If you catch yourself judging or feeling angry about the stray thoughts that enter your mind as you try to breathe, gently re-direct your thoughts to more  loving ones. Some specialists will recommend labeling stray thoughts- "thinking, worrying, wondering" and to return to the breath.

Accept Guidance and There's Plenty of It
If you have trouble sitting in complete silence and breathing, there are many aps  that can guide you to learn to focus on your breathing. They range from 2 minute meditations to hour long meditations. 

There are a Wide Variety Of Types of Meditation
Breaking Beyond is an amazing Shamanic Meditation Podcast by Jill Pape Lemke. Imagine adult story time. She will lead you on a spiritual path to discover the inner healing you need. It's a bit magical and a bit of a journey into the universe. Gorgeous and descriptive.

Haye House Meditations- You can find meditations that will take you through past live regression,  meditations that will bring you in contact with spiritual guides, guidance for increasing your creativity and self love.

There are free videos on YOUTUBE as well.

Want something more straight forward and instructive:
I love the UNSTRESS meditations and the 4 minute meditations at the end of Barre Blend from the Beachbody on Demand app. You can get workouts, wellness and nutrition through BOD as well as a supportive coach (me) and a supportive group to cheer you on. Click on the BOD to be redirected to my Beachbody site.

Create a Smell Association:
Try using Essential oils while you meditate. If you use the same oils over time- you will develop a smell association. While the oils will help you ground and focus as you breathe in early meditation practice, they will later be able to help you return to that sense of calm without the actual meditation- just by smelling that familiar scent. I love Frankincense for meditation, but there are many others that are phenomenal, too. Vetiver, Patchouli, Balance, Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood, Wild Orange and Peppermint are all oils I breathe in as I start meditation for different reasons.

Create a time and a space to meditate: Don't overthink it too much, but if you are a planner, a couple of soft cushions, candles, diffuser, blankets and low lights can help ease you into breath work. Create a sanctuary for yourself and set the expectations with kids and partners or roommates that this is your space and time. Use sound canceling headphones to create a space when you don't have physical real-estate for it.

Please, let me know how you're doing and don't hesitate to ask questions!

Love,
LeeAnn

#oilsolutions #meditation #totalwellness #unstress #breathework #communityuplift #wecandothis #wellnessjourney #communityuplift #womenupliftingwomen #fitmomsoverforty #busymomofboys ##onebreathatatime #wellnessminded #oilysolutions
 





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Today, it's all about allowing the inner guide, your inner voice, your spirit, your "ING" as Gabby calls it, to lead your perceptions of your body instead of the ego. Today, as I listened to my inner guide, I learned that I have more work to do to let go of fear and to allow my spirit to work through me. I learned that I might need to rest instead of push. I learned that even when I think I've rested, there is more rest needed. 

We are so busy pushing and striving that sometimes we drown out the voice within us- the voice that knows what we really need.  That voice is also the one who reminds us that we are here to love and be loved.

#spiritualmama #momofboys #wellnessminded #truelove #loveyourself #communityuprise #wecandothis #journeythroughthewilderness #energetichealing #naturalhealing #separationisanillusion #selfcare

Yesterday, I felt like crying off and on- a lot. It kept surfacing the way a sea bean must... as the tide buoys it along for years. There was a pain that felt familiar- like a silvery bit of flesh we realize is, "That scar from when we fell on roller skates while listening to Johnny Be Good on the boom box." That sea bean- that scar- they are floating for years on the surface- with little acknowledgement- until finally, a wave crests and we catch glimpse of it or we finally get around to shaving our legs (it's the winter- am I right, ladies?) and we recall the curvature of flesh that has healed.

Some wounds are like that- just floating along until we are willing to recognize them. The scar might not fade completely but we can release the old hurt. The sea bean will never return to the island it left- but we can examine it and appreciate it- instead of planting it and allowing it to grow. The body work we are doing right now- the illness I am trying to heal right now is all so poignant as I travel through this 40 Day May Cause Miracle Challenge.

Gabby shared toward the end of the daily work:
"Sickness is anger taken out on the body so it can suffer pain." This kind of self-inflicted pain is hard to wrap my mind around, though I believe it to be true. How can I heal it?

Gabby says, our ego has caused us to think we are separate from others- this leads to comparison and feeds our desire to overcome our fears by overeating, under-eating,  abusing substances or sex.  Gabby and A Course in Miracles ask us to observe the ways in which our ego has tricked us into thinking we aren't good enough, that we can use or abuse our bodies to gain power, or how we should numb ourselves by treating our bodies in a way that is not loving.

Moving away from body fear, we can choose love instead of attacking ourselves. When we notice ourselves comparing, feeling our body is more or less special than others, when we flaunt our body or numb it, we can recite the affirmation and begin to replace our negative behaviors and self attack with more positive soul-inspired thoughts.

In the evening, the reflection is an opportunity to observe our addictive behaviors, chaotic thoughts and abuse of the ego. Gabby suggests that this can help us  to disempower the ego which drives our fear.

I love the ocean. I love sea beans. I don't even mind that little, silver, crescent piece of flesh on my knee. I still love, "Johnny Be Good."
There's room to love myself and change my thoughts. There's room to heal. 

Are you willing to look at your own behaviors and change them? I will be working on eating to nourish, releasing some of the pressure to look a certain way- as I've always felt the power behind beautiful things... the lure of perfecting or improving appearances to be more "lovable".

We can change if we do it together... you on your journey- me on mine. We can do it if we have faith and take the time to be patient with ourselves, but real, too. 

Love yourself today.

Love, 
LeeAnn

#nurturedmama #wellnessmindset #naturalhealing #faith #familyfirst #communityuplift #wecandoit #togetherwecan #busymomofboys #essentialwellness #emergencewellness #journeythroughthewilderness #loveyourself #selflove #bodylove #wearenotseparate #united #faithoverfear

Last week I had two different medical procedures performed and 4 medical tests. Truth be told, I've gone through many, many procedures examining my insides since about the time I turned 19. At first, I felt betrayal of my body and fear.  All the pain I felt, the time lost in preparing for procedures or recovery felt like a punishment. This message in the 40 Day May Cause Miracle Challenge couldn't come at a better time. Can our self-attack, our ego and our fears create dis-ease?

After a solid two years of pain and emergency room visits, I felt a miraculous shift. It happened when I met someone and fell in love. The pain seemed to go away almost instantly. I could flatten my feet and walk after I got out of bed (it was really painful for a while). Bleeding, bloating and aching in my abdomen ceased. It was the first time I really knew there was a connection between my vibrational energy and my body's wellness.

As time went on, illness returned. Over the years, I've volleyed back and forth between optimal health- running races and placing in the top of the pack, participating in a women's hockey team, giving birth successfully, completing many fitness programs- and being passed out with pain and bleeding heavily from my bladder or GI tract. There have been lows where I couldn't take a sip of water without labor pain.

I share all of this because I now know that essential to healing my body is turning inward and focusing on my spirit. The work I need to do most is to know when I need to rest, to love myself, and to take the time to heal whatever wounds or insecurities have grown into this illness. If, as Gabby Bernstein and A Course in Miracles is accurate, our bodies are a vehicle for spiritual learning- then I can see this as an opportunity for energetic growth. 

Do you harbor guilt or resentment inside? Are you angry or jealous when you see other people's bodies? Do you feel old, ugly, out of shape? Do you wish you looked different, moved differently, fit into your clothes differently? Sure, we all do sometimes. I've learned this many times- If these old self-attacks linger too long, they can turn into something dangerous. Low level energies need to be acknowledged and released. We have to forgive ourselves for thinking we weren't good enough, pretty enough, young enough, slim enough. We need to place our attention not on the vehicle we move around this earth in, but on the core that really is us... the voice, the light, the energy, the soul, the spirit- the heart of us on the INSIDE. 

As I sit here typing this, I am still recovering from my procedures. There are metal clamps holding me together on the inside- stopping a bleed that occurred when little pieces of me were removed. I don't want to keep having little pieces of my insides removed, tested, probed and pained. I want to breathe in fresh air and faith- I want to heal from the inside out. How about you?

Get ready for a week of body healing.

Love you,
Lee

#spiritualmama #naturalhealing #authenticsoul #heartawakening #openinguptospirit #energeticmom #maycausemiracles #acourseinmiracles #gabbybernstein #heartfelt #communityuprise #beyondthebody #wellnessjourney #wecandothistogether #journeythroughthewilderness #loveyourself #evolvinghuman #peacefulmom #joyfulmom #averagemiracles #momofboys #furmom

My favorite part of the practice today is the meditation and affirmation in the end. Gabby prompts us to see ourselves as a child, smiling. We breathe in the feeling, "I am innocent." We breathe out the feeling, "I am love." Seeing our younger selves, and remembering the innocence and love we deserved without having to produce, be any certain way- without having to earn it- is truly a breath of fresh air. 

I saw myself in a little dress, standing at my aunt and uncle's wedding. My bangs were blunt cut, my smile so big, the dimples showed. Maybe it's because I have a picture of this time, standing in front of my parents with my big sister by my side, but this meditation reminded me of the joy we felt that day. We were swinging together on a large, wooden swing and we felt free, adored and surrounded by the love of the moment.

​Isn't that the way we should feel every day? 

Take the time today to "add up the miracle of forgiveness". Every time you feel self-attack, guilt or your ego acting up, repeat your affirmation, knowing that you are choosing love instead and that is a miracle. When we practice this kind of care and openness, we put our faith in the universe and become more receptive the the miracles and love all around us. The universe will rise up to support our faith in kind.

Affirmation: Today I commit to miraculous shifts. Forgiveness will be my guide."

If it's hard to forgive yourself or you carry around a lot of guilt, trust me, I have been there. I was raised Roman Catholic and you know what they say about Catholic guilt. Plus, I married a woman... so imagine. Start now, on this forgiveness journey and keep it with you every day. You deserve to be free of the useless guilt that holds you back. Trust me, I've been practicing this for years and my heart is so much lighter because of it. Still, it is a practice we all have to return to. 

Love and miracles to you!
LeeAnn

Sometimes we have old hurts and resentments- we carry them around like a forgotten pack of gum in the back corner of that old coat. Heck, we even forgot that pocket existed. BUT, the gum is still there... it's been there, through the wash, the dry, the hot, the cold, the years... hardening. It serves no purpose at all, until one day we reach into the dryer and find that hardened clump has re-warmed and attached it to half the load of laundry... then it is a reminder of that small, unfinished business resurrected. Now, it's a real pain. Its a loss.

We can sort through and find what's worthy of keeping- if anything and toss the rest. Our old resentments are not needed. They serve no purpose at all- so why allow them to stick around- and soil the good? Why wear them on our sleeve? Why wear them across the chest? It's time to move on. 

Each of life's challenges- no matter how we handled them- have been teachers. It's uncomfortable to look back at them and feel embarrassed, guilty or wrong. But, if we detach and remind ourselves that all of those feelings are merely our decision to remain in fear, then we can forgive ourselves now for that choice. We chose the fear so we can choose the love.

​Today's affirmation:  "I forgive myself for having this thought. I choose love instead."

Gabby's advice: "As fear, judgement and guilt creep up, repeat your meditation. You are not your fear- see it as a projection of ego, not you. Choose not to repeat the negativity, attack,  and self criticism."

Choose love. 

Love,
LeeAnn

​PS Let me know how you're doing!

Today is all about breathing in gratitude and breathing out a thank you for each thing we are grateful for. Ourselves are at the top of the list. We can be grateful for who we are- the air we breathe, the food we eat and all of the comforts around us. If we are working on self improvements (well, yeah), it doesn't mean we aren't thankful for our journey- for our process- for this moment. 

Affirmation: Today, I am grateful for this moment.

PM: At bedtime, list out all of the many reasons you are grateful for yourself and your life. Then, close your eyes and breathe in gratitude, listing each thing in your mind. Breathe out and extend your gratitude into space.

Thank you, Gabby Bernstein, from, May Cause Miracles for the beautiful practices you share.

Love yourself. 

Love, 

LeeAnn

#maycausemiracles #wellnessminded #momofboys #gratitude #joyfulmom #evolvinghuman #spiritual #energetic #goodvibes #raiseyourvibrations #united #wecanriseup #communityuplift #loveyourself #boymom #busybutgrowing #breatheinpeace #guidance #fitmoms #family #furmom #journeythroughthewilderness #emergencewellness #emergence #evolution