Author: Sholeh

Categories
Personal Development Self Growth

Reviving Your Intentions

As we enter eclipse season and reflect on our intentions for the year, it’s time to review and recreate our goals and intentions.

To encourage this exercise of intention setting, those we may have already set and what we may want to revisit, I’m sharing some prompts with you today:

  • Consider your goals at the start of the year or last month. Is there anything you want to change or revise?

  • What stories or patterns are you ready to release and let go of, creating space for possibilities?

  • If you had a second chance in various aspects of your life, your work, relationships, and overall life trajectory, what would you do differently?

  • Are you utilizing your inherent talents and gifts in your daily life?

  • What are your biggest dreams that you’ve held yourself back from pursuing?

  • What new choices can you make to align with your dreams and become your best self?

It’s never too late to revisit and realign with your intentions. Ultimately, you are the creator and chooser of your life experience. So let’s set our intentions, make choices that align with our dreams, and create a life we love. 

Cheers with a cup of tea from me to you, my friend! 

Categories
Personal Development Self Growth

Abundance of Time Mindset: Embracing Ease and Flow

Our to-do lists are often essential for productivity but the sense of urgency that comes with them can often make time feel scarce. 

The more we feel time slipping away, the more anxiety can creep in. 

Despite the vastness of time in the universe, our perception of time is interesting. If we reference NASA articles, they speak of time in terms of hundreds of millions of years. Yet, we are hard-wired to believe that we are always running out of time, influenced by societal expectations and pressure of where we should be by what age. This pattern of rushing and striving to do more consumes our lives at macro and micro levels, fueled by a fear-driven ego.

But here’s my aha moment: What if we also applied the concept of an abundance mindset to TIME? Imagine how it could radically transform our perception of time and lighten the pressure we put on ourselves. Instead of feeling like we’re constantly being chased by time, we could dance to the rhythm of life. Adding more flow and reducing anxiety in whatever we’re occupied with. The only difference is how we will feel in the doing of things we’re occupied with. After all, it’s our perception that shapes our experience.

So, what happens if we bring this theory into practice?

We bring presence to the table, and we bring it to our day-to-day lives. When we apply an abundance mindset to time, we assure ourselves that we have all the time needed to experience and get done. We give ourselves the assurance and peace that comes with trust and faith in the present moment.  Suddenly, the moments are no longer filled with anxiety.

It allows us to focus and get more done without feeling distracted or leaving things half-done because we’re always rushing to the next thing. By slowing down, we actually gain more time.

When we trust, we welcome ease and flow. As we let go of the resistance that comes with scarcity, we slingshot forward. That sense of abundance in time gives us time back in a spiritual sense by adding peace to our day 😌

I’m sure you’ve experienced it, too – the more you do, the more you can get done, and the more time seems to expand. It’s almost astonishing how productive we can be when actively engaged. On the other hand, when we’re inactive, it feels like we never have enough time or energy to do much.

Our world is a mirror reflecting what we’re feeling. If we think that time is scarce, our focus on that joins forces with circumstances and events to prove that. The famous quote, “as within, so without,” comes to mind. If we slow down and trust that we’ll get to our entire to-do list, imagine what could happen to our output! The flow feels magical, and our undivided attention creates a channel for better results✨

From a broader perspective, when we let go of the need to shape every experience to fit our expectations, life can pleasantly surprise us, often turning out better than our plans! Like watching a beautiful sunset, where we don’t plan or choose the colors of the sky, yet it never fails to mesmerize us with its awe-inspiring display of changing hues. So, why not give it a try and let go of the need to control the hows and whens of things? There might just be perfect timing for accomplishing what we desire.

This also differs from procrastination at a micro level because it’s not about putting things off but rather giving ourselves grace. To fuel what we’re doing with presence, to enjoy the journey. To not inject the experience with feelings of frustration or disappointment with ourselves for what we didn’t get to or things we cannot control. but appreciating what we are experiencing instead. Otherwise, we’re neither there nor here but in between, giving the power of our presence away.

Categories
Personal Development Self Growth

Breaking Free from Repeat Patterns

This week, we’re delving into the theme of recognizing repeat patterns and cycles that can sometimes leave us feeling stuck or frustrated. It’s that classic “here we are again” moment when we find ourselves facing similar situations or circumstances. 

Even though it can be frustrating to find ourselves in the same situation repeatedly, there is a space we can tap into to approach the same problem from a different vantage point. Through experience and time, we have evolved our perspective and energy, and we can choose to handle the situation differently. 

If you’re finding yourself in a repeat scenario or circumstance, take a moment to reflect and  yourself these questions:

  • What similarities do I notice between my current situation and the last time this occurred?
  • How did I respond last time, and what did I learn from that response?
  • Who helped me navigate this situation in the past
  • How can I use my new awareness to choose a different response this time?

By asking yourself these questions and listening to the emotions that come up, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the lessons that need to be learned. 

Use your new awareness to choose a different response and remember to: 

 
  • Embrace emotions and practice self-compassion:
    • Allow yourself to feel the emotions that come up. It’s okay to feel frustrated, disappointed and even angry. These emotions are a part of the human experience, and they can provide valuable insights into our inner workings. 
    • Listen to what the emotions are trying to tell you and acknowledge them with compassion. 
    • Remember it’s not about blaming yourself or others for the repeat patterns, but rather about understanding and learning from them.
  • Forgive and let go:
    • This is crucial in breaking from patterns. Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes and perceived failures. Holding onto grudges or resentments can keep you stuck in the same cycle. By practicing forgiveness, you are releasing the emotional weight of the past and making space for what you want to emerge.

  • Understand the purpose fo repeat patterns:

    • Remember repeat patterns and cycles serve a purpose in our growth and evolution
    • The lessons and growth need to integrate fully before we can move on. 
    • See it as an opportunity to learn from our past experiences, make conscious choices, and respond differently. 
    • Recognize the purpose so that we can shift our perspective and embrace them as an opportunity for growth.

Recognizing that repeat patterns and cycles are an important aspect of our personal growth and self-improvement journey. 

By reflecting on our past experiences, learning from them, and choosing to respond differently, we can break free from the cycle and create a new story for ourselves. Embracing our emotions, practicing self-compassion, and letting go of the past are crucial steps in this process.

Though, at times, it can be a hard pill to swallow, resisting the pattern by responding in a new way is worth the discomfort of paving a new path. And enables us to write a new story for ourselves.

If you or anyone you know is stuck in patterns, feeling unfulfilled, and unable to break free from patterns, I offer personalized 1:1 coaching sessions. I use various tools and techniques I’ve been trained on, including EFT, to heal and rewire beliefs and patterns. I have worked with over a dozen clients and truly love witnessing the transformation. Inquire by replying directly to this email or book a strategy call today using the button below.

Please comment and share your stories! I love hearing from you.

With love and gratitude,

Sholeh

Categories
Consciousness Mental Health Self Growth Wellbeing

Tips on Finding New Energy in Any Given Moment

Continuing our journey of cultivating new energy with an added boost of Spring energy, we’re focusing on something simple yet powerful: noticing and appreciating the beauty around us.

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in our routines and forget to pause and connect with the world around us. But with every new day comes an opportunity to start anew, and by taking a few moments to be present and mindful, we can unlock the wonders of the world that are always accessible to us.

One of my personal favorite ways to connect and reconnect is by looking up at the sky. Whether in nature, at home, or at work, the sky is a constant presence that holds boundless beauty and inspiration for all of us.

So if you need a moment of peace in our ever-faced paced world, I invite you to join me in committing to a simple practice: pausing for a few minutes without distractions from electronics and giving your undivided attention to the beauty around you. 

It can be as simple as taking in the sunlight peeking through your window, the leaves dancing on trees, the bird songs, the breeze in the air, or the aroma of your favorite foods and drinks. Whatever you choose, be present in the moment and don’t think about where you need to be next or what tasks await you. It’s a moment of pure mindfulness, a practice of being in the now and appreciating the beauty surrounding us daily.

If you find it challenging to quiet your mind and be fully present, one helpful technique is to create a checklist to offload your thoughts.  Jot down any thoughts or worries that come to mind, just as you would with a to-do list, and set them aside for the moment. By acknowledging them and giving yourself permission to come back to them later, you can free up mental space to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the present moment.

 

To make this practice a part of your daily routine, you can tag it with something you already do every day.

For example, you can pause and appreciate the beauty around you before you get in your car to start your commute, as you grab your morning beverage to kickstart your day, or even as you sit at your desk before diving into work.

Personally, I love to take this moment for myself first thing in the morning as I open the blinds to let in the light, boil water for my favorite tea, or go on my daily walks as a morning meditation but also to connect with nature.

It’s a simple yet profound way to start my day with intention and gratitude, setting the tone for a positive and mindful mindset that carries me throughout the day.

By practicing this simple act of noticing and appreciating the beauty around us, we can tap into the wonders of the world that are always within reach – helping us to come back to ourselves.

It’s a powerful reminder that there is beauty in every moment, and by being fully present and mindful, we can unlock the joy, inspiration, and renewal that the world has to offer.

So let’s commit to pausing, being present, and finding beauty in our everyday moments. This is a simple yet powerful practice for personal growth and mental health.

Categories
Personal Development Self Growth

Spreading Kindness like Wildflowers

Imagine starting your day with a burst of optimism and kindness, intending to enter all interactions with a warm and friendly attitude. It’s a simple yet powerful challenge to commit to remaining unaltered by negativity, and you can start by trying it for just one day if a whole week seems daunting.

From the strangers, you encounter at the grocery store to the people you see regularly, and even those with whom you don’t always have the most pleasant interactions, that’s where the breakthroughs can happen. It’s in these small acts of deliberate intention that we can make a big impact on our energy, life experiences, and the lives of others.

As you intentionally interact with others with kindness, you’ll notice how it changes your energy and outlook on life. By choosing non-reactivity and preserving your inner joy and energy, you can leave every situation or person better than when you entered it. It’s a powerful way to take back your power and not let negativity from others affect you.

Being intentional with kindness also allows you to become an initiator of positivity, spreading its contagious energy to those around you. Let’s make deliberate kindness a contagion this week and see how it improves our lives, filling them with warmth, joy, and positivity.

So how can you practice deliberate intention and spread kindness in your interactions? 

Here are a few tips for incorporating into your daily life.

  1. Start with a Positive Mindset: Begin each day with a positive mindset, setting the intention to approach all interactions with optimism and kindness. Remind yourself of the power of small acts and how they can make a big difference.
  2. Be Present: Be fully present in your interactions, giving others your undivided attention. Listen actively, show genuine interest, and respond with empathy and kindness. Be mindful of your body language and facial expressions, as they can convey warmth and friendliness.
  3. Practice Empathy: Put yourself in others’ shoes and try understanding their perspective. Show empathy and compassion towards others, even if you don’t always agree with them. Remember that everyone has their own struggles and challenges, and a little kindness can go a long way.
  4. Choose Non-Reactivity: When faced with negativity or challenging situations, choose non-reactivity. Respond with kindness, patience, and understanding rather than getting defensive or engaging in conflicts. Remember that you have the power to choose how you respond, and kindness can often defuse tense situations.
  5. Spread the Contagion: Be a role model for deliberate kindness and spread it to others. Share positive experiences and stories of how deliberate intention has made a positive impact in your life. Encourage others to join in and create a ripple effect of kindness in your community and beyond.

Let’s make intentional kindness the norm in our interactions and see how it transforms our energy, outlook on life, and the lives of those around us.

Embrace the fresh energy of spring and make a deliberate effort to practice kindness and spread positivity, creating a contagion of warmth, joy, and kindness that can brighten our lives and the lives of others.

Are you ready to take on the challenge and make deliberate kindness a way of life? Let’s do it together and see the beautiful ripple effect it can create. 

Happy spring! 🌻

Categories
Personal Development Self Growth

Spring Renewal for Your Mind Space Too

Spring is a season of endless abundance and renewal, as nature comes back to life after being dried and frozen, showing us it’ll never cease to be. When we apply the same energy of generosity and limitless potential to our own lives, it can be awe-inspiring and expansive.

This same power of renewal can also be applied to our lives, not just in decluttering our space or closet but energetically and within our mindset. Imagine letting go of worries, frustrations, or issues holding you back and embracing lighter energy.

As a certified coach, I love helping clients uncover their subconscious beliefs and patterns using powerful tools like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to release emotional triggers and rewire past limitations. So are you willing to challenge yourself and reframe your thoughts to create the life you’ve always wanted? Subscribe to my newsletter for follow-up articles directly in your inbox!

Spring is a season that holds profound lessons for us all. As the flowers bloom and the days get longer, we are reminded of the limitless potential for growth and renewal within each of us. Just like nature, we, too, have the power to come back to life after a dry or frozen season in our lives. It’s all about tapping into the energy of Spring and applying it to our mindset and well-being.

Consider if something has been bothering you lately – this weekend, the past week, month, or year. Pause and ask yourself, is what’s bothering you happening at THIS moment right now, or is it something from the past?

  • Visualize yourself without this worry or issue. 
  • What energy does this version of you hold? 
  • What thoughts or beliefs reside within you instead? 
  • What joys do you carry in its place? 
  • Which version of yourself do you prefer?

The famous saying goes, “As within, so without.” This means that our thoughts, emotions, and mindset directly impact our external experiences. When we hold on to negative or heavy thoughts, they can weigh us down and limit our potential for growth and renewal.

But what if we replace those thoughts with lighter, more positive ones? It’s like giving our minds a Spring cleaning, sweeping away the clutter of negative thoughts, and making space for new, empowering beliefs. 🧹

As a Mindset Coach, one of the most rewarding and fun parts of my work is helping clients uncover their deeply ingrained subconscious beliefs and releasing emotional triggers that hold them back. One powerful technique I use is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which combines tapping on specific acupressure points with personalized scripting to release negative emotions and rewire past limitations. It’s truly transformational to see clients let go of resistance, fears, and limitations and become unstoppable magnets for the experiences they want to have and the life they want to create.

So, here’s an exercise: 

  1. become aware of your thoughts when you feel tense, emotional, or bothered by something. 
  2. Take a moment to pause and express those thoughts in writing or speech.
  3. Then, challenge yourself to reframe them in a more positive way that feels lighter. 

It’s a simple yet powerful practice that can profoundly impact your mindset and well-being.

Stay tuned for follow-up posts on this topic as we continue our journey of Spring renewal. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to receive updates directly in your inbox. Together, let’s embrace the limitless potential of Spring and transform our lives!

As always, I love hearing from you! Please share your thoughts and comments. And if you’re new here, introduce yourself.

With love and gratitude,

Sholeh

Categories
Coaching Personal Development Self Growth Wellbeing

Embracing Self-Compassion to Thrive

Lately, I’ve been noticing more and more how critical of an ingredient self-compassion is in allowing us to be present and there for others authentically with humility and an open heart.  

What if the first thought we had in relation to self-compassion was humility instead of ego?

The influence our degree of self-compassion has in how we experience life and our enjoyment of it daily is vast.

To carry a joy and excitement for life, not only when we’re on holiday or on a trip – but every day as we meet others, our lives, our careers, and our self! To listen and hear, to see, be, and feel.

The most common thing that occurs when we abandon our self-compassion is our inability to effectively use these inherent human functions we’re born with. 

Now more than ever, there is a dire need for a shift in our mindset on self-compassion. What it means, and what it truly does for us.  

HOW LACKING SELF-COMPASSION HURTS US IN OUR LIVES:

  • We are never fully satisfied or feel good enough in our workplace due to a constant stream of self-doubt and self-criticism
  • Our productivity and performance is impacted, we even work ourselves to burnout and hurt our professional relationships.
  • In our relationships, we project our self-criticism by being critical of how others should behave to make us happy, making it difficult for true connection and vulnerability.
  • We unintentionally yet continuously create a rift within our connections with others and a lack of empathy within our connections (think interrupting our friends when they’re talking) 
  • We fail to show up authentically! Even for the most special occasions, our presence can’t meet others while buried in shame, pain, and heaviness, causing us to be less engaged in conversations, distracted, and self-isolate

HOW SELF-COMPASSION HELPS US:

Being self-compassionate is not only empowering, but it is also proven to:

  1. Improve our mental health by reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and substance abuse.
  2. Enhance our physical health, including improved immune system and lower blood pressure
  3. Increase our coping skills and emotional resilience
  4. Betters our professional and academic performance 
  5. Create motivation for making change in our life 

Who knew a little kindness could go so far. Oscar Wilde said, “to love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” I heard this quote on my meditation, Monday morning after sending the first edition of Sunday Tea with the topic of Self-love and was all smiles by the synchronicity. Twisting the words a bit to a natural truth to our existence – being in love with life itself can arguably be the biggest gift of life to be awake to.

PRACTICAL TIPS TO CULTIVATE SELF-COMPASSION:

As a recovering perfectionist, I am an enthusiast for positive affirmations as a tool for self-compassion in that they help us reframe and transform our negative beliefs! They can be a cushion to cozy into from negative thoughts. 

Good news is I won’t sound like a broken record because there are many ways to practice self-compassion in your daily life – so if positive affirmations aren’t for you. – NO FRET there are many other ways to cultivate self-compassion:

  • Validate your emotions: allow yourself to feel your emotions without judging them for coming through. We were created with emotions to experience and grow through life with them.. 
    • Ask and discern what they’re teaching you as opposed to resorting to escaping or numbing how we feel? The more we avoid our feelings, the more they persist.  You may be surprised how quickly it may pass if you allow it to come through – kind of like the relief after a good cry!
  • Prioritize activities that nourish your mind, body, and inner being; 

    • Practice mindfulness by spending a day or half-day without your phone to give your mind space, in the present moment and not feel at the whim of technology or constant context switching! 
    • Become aware of your thoughts! Ask yourself if your thoughts are a reflection of facts or just negative personal beliefs 
    • Give back to your body! It could be taking your favorite exercise class (pilates anyone?) to treat your muscle memory to something new.  
    • Give your mind, soul, and body a treat by going on a 30 minute walk outside for fresh air and energy! Imagine if we were outside as much as we spend time scrolling through social media. 
    • Treat yourself to a massage at least, once a month!! Your body deserves a good massage or movement activity that gets your energy moving. If massage isn’t for you, try acupuncture with an expert or foam rolling at home! Imagine, 60 minutes to honor our body once a month (minimum), is only 12 self-love hours a year – in comparison to the average adult that sits about 2-3,000 hours per year (according to the journal of occupational and environmental medicine). That is some shocking stats to learn our body is sitting for about 83-125 FULL DAYS!!!  Is that a big motivator to GET UP or what?
  • Create a thank-me list: think of the things you love and appreciate about yourself; say it outloud or write it in your phone or notebook so it’s accessible – front and center to lean on. Make it at least 10 things ! bonus tea if it’s more!!
    • Having this on hand is so helpful when we get self-critical or say, “I’m so lazy”, or “I never get things right” to one of your favorite qualities or skills like being an awesome cook!
    • All this to say, think about your positive qualities, things you like about yourself, your talents, skills, traits, personality, relationships, and accomplishments. Being a caring mom or dad? Reliable sibling or friend? A loyal Wife, Husband or Partner? A loving Son or Daughter? A devoted  colleague? The list can go on. 
    • We show up as so many different people in different contexts every day! Honor yourself. 
  • Forgive yourself! Acknowledge where you made a mistake, learn from it and move on. No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes!
    • As soon as we forgive ourself, we create the space for healing and growth to happen.
    • Accept your flaws, and imperfections. It’s okay to be human!!
    • Write yourself a letter of forgiveness by writing out everything you’re angry yourself about followed by a love letter to give yourself the self-love and appreciation you deserve 

Remember, self-compassion and kindness (or anything self-growth) isn’t overnight! It takes time, messing up, effort, and patience. Be kind to yourself just as you are with a baby learning to walk. It is so much about small steps, being aware when we forget, and trying again. Otherwise, we’d never learn to walk!!

I’d love to hear from you if you have any thoughts or comments.

With love,

Sholeh

Categories
Coaching Personal Development Self Growth Wellbeing

Love Yourself First

What if we viewed loving ourselves the same as loving others because we are all made of the same energetic force?

To love yourself has so many different meanings and connotations depending on where in the world you are, the culture, and societal expectations. For much of the world, it’s considered arrogant, self-centered, and selfish to love yourself. And that almost implies not being a good person, and generally not seen in good light as if loving yourself is associated with being unkind, and destructive to others. As if, taking from others for yourself. 

But what if it meant, to be kind and compassionate to yourself so much so that the love pours out of you allowing you to give to others unconditionally? 

To share the abundance of your love so freely.

From this vantage point, you’re not approaching life from a place of lack or in other words NEEDINESS. When we are lacking our self-love, we can be so depleted to the point where almost the opposite happens, we take without any excess to give. Which is where toxicity peaks into relationships. So why isn’t loving ourselves more popular all around the world?

By practicing self-love, we not only improve our life experience by creating space, and happiness in our day-to-day lives but also improve our relationships with others because we’re not showing up depleted. We improve our patience as a result of having made time for the things that matter to us and can share our time better with less irritability and more intention.

We improve our friendships, family life, our community, and ultimately the impact of more people than we know because we are acting on love and even if it’s internally focused, it creates the capacity within us where it wouldn’t otherwise exist to extend, and reach others. 

The biggest realization I had most recently was recognizing how by giving myself the quality time that I wanted from a relationship, I don’t crave it externally anymore, because I’m giving it to myself now. I’ve learned how to love myself and I believe that is what attracts the love that I want.

HOW DO I LOVE MYSELF?

The biggest shift of my adult existence has been giving myself the love that I so desperately craved. Realizing that I wasn’t giving myself my love language – Quality time – was a big aha moment. Always busy, always on the go, never any downtime besides the few minutes before bed, not sleeping enough, not being present enough. WOAH, I could be talking about the qualities of being in a toxic relationship but NOPE, I’m talking about myself and my relationship with myself.

So if I truly believe that our world is a MIRROR reflecting us. HOW was I allowing myself to go on in this way? well to be completely candid, this last question never occurred to me. I was recently journaling when I had a ‘hold on’ moment… For the first time in a long time, I am NOT craving love or feeling lonely. Is this because I take time to read the books on my list, I go on a walk or run daily, write, speak out affirmations, and make time for the things I love? Yes, I’ve filled up my cup with my LOVE through these activities that are representative of my love language, quality time, and words of affirmation without even realizing it. And now my cup is full of my self-love.

There is a very popular book by Gary Chapman, called “The Five Love Languages” and essentially a guide for how to meaningfully communicate your love and care for another based on how the other person translates and receives love.

Know your love language and give yourself that love

So here we go, if your love language is:

  • Quality Time. Then give yourself YOUR undivided attention by putting your phone and distractions away and doing something that you enjoy. That can be any mindful activity such as:
      • Reading,
      • Journaling,
      • Going on a walk
      • Do an activity that gives you, your full energy. It’s about making time, uninterrupted, focused, fully listening, and fully present. So reflect on what that is for you and give yourself that. The thing to avoid is ignoring your needs.
  • Words of affirmation. If this is your love language then words mean a lot to you, whether it’s speaking words of criticism or positivity, it resonates. Compliments mean a lot to someone with words of affirmation as their love language along with encouragement, appreciation, and praise. This is my secondary love language and I wholeheartedly stand by the power of mindful inner dialogue. Becoming aware of the words you say to yourself can be powerful here.You need to hear positive messages and avoid non-constructive criticism.If this is your primary love language, I suggest the following:
    • Write words of affirmation and repeat them daily – better yet, twice a day, at morning and night
    • Create sticky notes as reminders and place them on your mirror, desk, bathroom, and bedroom door so that you’re reminded and hear words of affirmation even if doesn’t come from others.
    • Start a gratitude journal – words of affirmation is one of my love languages, and I personally do a lot in this category but namely, an activity that takes me less than 2 minutes in the morning and night is  a combination of gratitude, affirmations and highlights of the day, using my 5-minute journal by Intelligent Change (link). You can get yours with a discount using SHOLEH10 at checkout.  I have gifted this journal and I love using it myself.
  • Acts of Service. This is someone who values when others do things that show they prioritize their needs such as running errands and doing small to big things that show they are there to help support and help you. If this is your love language, then give yourself this: 
      • Make yourself tea or coffee with your favorite creamer, or make your favorite meal for yourself. Breakfast in bed anyone?
      • Organize your space, clean your room, and make your bed each day – it takes under one minute but is such a great way to start your day!
      • Get items off your to-do list done
  • Receiving Gifts. This love language is for anyone that feels most cared about and seen by receiving gifts people thoughtfully picked for them. Someone with this love language can also feel hurt by meaningless gifting because of the sentiment gifting is to them. This isn’t to be mistaken with materialism because this love language it’s more about the meaning and sentiment behind the gift. So if this is you, then:
      • Order yourself flowers
      • Get yourself something you’ve been eyeing – It doesn’t have to be a special occasion to give yourself a gift that would fill your cup
  • Physical Touch. People with physical touch as their love language feel love, safety and care through the warmth of a touch, hug, or holding hands, and physical closeness in general. If this is you, then:
      • Get a massage or give yourself a massage when applying lotion after you shower.
      • Take a warm bath
      • Get cozy with comfortable pajamas under a blanket.
      • Stretch or do yoga.
      • Hug yourself – I know this one sounds a bit odd but it works 🙂

Read, “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman for more.

I hope this article inspires you to reflect on times you felt love and care for and find ways to emulate that love in your daily life. To love yourself is to create a dynamic shift of intentionally creating more of what you love and desire into your life experience. Ultimately activating an untouchable superpower.

What are things you do to show love to yourself? Do they correlate with your love language? Share your thoughts and comments below.

Categories
Coaching Consciousness Personal Development

Your True North

As I was thinking about the intention of this post, “Your True North,” a book called “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho immediately popped into my mind. I take that as a sign to share this recommendation with anyone drawn to reading this post! Reading this book greatly impacted my life, and the events that unfolded later helped me find my life’s purpose and, ultimately, my happy place, which is surely not a destination. I recommend adding it to your reading list if you haven’t read it yet. 

Your True North

What if you wholeheartedly knew that your highest path, the most uncomplicated and perhaps joyful way of living your life, is the same as stepping into and finding your life’s purpose? 
Now you’re thinking, how do I know if I’m in my life’s purpose and flow? Hang in there with me! Does what you’re doing excite you? And I mean, genuinely, to your core, excite you? When you visualize or think about your actions, do you feel your heart light up? Do things tend to flow in perfect timing? Or do you face resistance and continuous obstacles? Pretty much quite the opposite of ease? 

Being in your life’s purpose and where you are meant to be 

has more to do with how you do what you do versus what you do. It can be spotted by feelings of excitement, contentment, and ease in how things fall into place and happen in your life. You don’t have to force things; I don’t mean NOT putting in effort or action. But the things you act towards and are doing come easily to you. They’re an extension of you. You not only enjoy doing them, but you’re also good at them. 

Why should you care about your true north?

It’s true that what we read, watch, and consume greatly impact our life and the journey we experience. It’s also true that it is our birthright to follow what our instincts really guide us or sometimes scream at us to do!! It is SO important – we need to pursue what brings us alive, aware, and in tune! See what is in front of us, hear the words spoken, feel the energy of what is said or unsaid, and live in the present moment.
 
Because there is a plan for your existence! And unless you’re tuned in to the here and now, you might miss it. What do I mean by being in the here and now? Is there anywhere else to be? For most people, we are physically present yet mentally in the past, rethinking things that were done or said and, in the future, anxiously waiting or worrying – I will leave this topic for another blog post. Simply put, the here and now is being, seeing, hearing, feeling, and being AWARE of the present moment, not in your recent conversation with a friend or deep in thought (having potentially missed the entire drive home). 
You were born on this planet, a part of TRILLIONS of other galaxies, with billions of beings just like you on Earth in a miraculous human body.  You’re HERE to do what feels exciting, NOT just what you are told you SHOULD do. It’s doing things that make your heart expand and smile, bringing your BEING to LIFE at this moment. Taking that step naturally allows doors that are in your highest path to open up for you to walk through. 
When we are in our life’s purpose and step into the path the universe has laid out for us, everything about our experience tends to fall into place seamlessly. By that, I’m NOT stating effortlessly – because effort and action are required and KEY. But it’s almost as if you’re watching a dance, and the rhythm is in synchronicity with every step the dancer takes, and the steps fall into place, creating the motion you’re watching. That motion, in this context, is your life, with the dance moves being actions you’re inspired to take. 

It feels like the Universe was waiting for you to knock.

The doors just spring wide open. The ease with which things fall into place is the Universe’s way of speaking to you and encouraging you to do more of what you’re doing. To continue on your path. When you experience resistance or things are just really, really hard, the message the universe is giving you is to take stock – not for feelings of shame and disappointment BUT for awareness and steer – to try another way. There is a popular phrase by Bryant McGill, rejection is redirection, and redirection is protection. Chances are that path wasn’t going to bring you the utmost fun and joy anyway – SIMILAR TO dancing to the rhythm of another song – it feels uncomfortable, unnatural, and out of place.

I recognize that so many of us are doing what we are doing to make a means to an end and what makes sense for income and livelihood.   But many of us are also on autopilot. I understand we all need money to support our basic human needs.  Beyond that, I’m also a huge proponent of ambition and wanting more than just basic needs to live COMFORTABLY. In abundance!! There is a sticky message that I’m trying to drive home – many of us need to laser-focus on surviving to the point where living gets pushed to the side. Luckily, we can apply purpose to any and every single thing that we do daily. 
And that is where I’m hoping and intending to challenge our thinking around BEING. What if we dared to take our EXISTENCE up a notch and shift from just EXISTING to BEING? From surviving to LIVING. Instead of just opening our eyes each morning, waking up every day NEW with persistent joy. Feeling an innate drive from our BEING, motivated, encouraged, and inspired.  What if you, too, could be in YOUR POWER? Excited for your next move, to follow your next instinct.
I know that you deserve all of this. You are entitled to living with YOUR PURPOSE! To happiness and feeling satisfied, fulfilled, at peace, and at ease in your life!  It is how you and I were ALL born to partake in this human experience with our full potential. For many of us, our upbringing has brought with it many limiting beliefs and conditions instilled within us. As Eckhart Tolle says in his book, “The Power of Now,” we carry our pain bodies throughout our lives. In simpler terms, we are a cumulation of our experiences (good and bad) as early in our lives as we can remember, making up our conditioning and how we perceive, process, and approach situations—most of the time, highly coupled with doubt and worthiness wounds.
If anything, I aim to drive home with this post, is this – by aligning yourself and what you’re doing daily to the things that excite you, or with your presence awareness, you are bringing the magic of what makes you uniquely YOU into the world; by doing so, elevating the energy of the collective world. When we are doing what we love, with our full presence, our energy is in a higher vibration, and that naturally impacts those who interact with us and, as such, has a ripple effect, impacting the collective vibration. Excitement, passion, and joy, are all in the same vibrational frequency as love, the highest vibrational frequency there is! Imagine a world where we act and move daily from a place of excitement, passion, and enjoyment. If it isn’t our energy that makes up the collective, then I’m not sure what is. 
By first prioritizing and taking care of our primary need (being and doing what we are here to do), we establish a persistent baseline of joy, which fuels us to share that high vibration and enables us to take others along on that journey too. The sense of awareness is a key player in all of this. Take stock of what in your experience is flowing and what is not, or more simply, what in your life feels good and what does not. The awareness alone will open the floodgates to so many other knowings that will come from within you in the form of realizations, conversations, dreams, or signs.
AWARENESS is always, always, the first and biggest step to making change.  To feel, to hear your calling, and recognize your purpose.
This topic intertwines with many other key topics I’m writing about, including conscious awareness, presence, learning to trust your intuition, following your instincts, knowing when something isn’t working for you, navigating confusion, feeling lost, and more.
I hope these pieces inspire food for thought and bring downloads of wisdom from deep within you into your awareness. I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. 
Love,
Sholeh
Categories
Uncategorized

x

Reviving Your Intentions