Blog – Page 3 – Dr. Danielle Clark

Summer detox tips for higher summer vibes

Summer is in full swing. The longer days. The festivals, celebrations, vacations, and the sunburns (that hopefully tan), the sandy cards, and the missing flip-flops. Or is that last one just me?

For me, summer brings a sense of vitality paired with a more relaxed mindset; the extra warmth and light (especially here in Florida) provide me with more energy (and sweat), a sense of deeper gratitude and a deeper connection with Mother Nature, especially with water.

Because of the light and bright summer feel, I’ve found it to be an excellent season to detox mind, body and soul giving me an even higher summer vibe.

In no particular order, here are a few detoxes I’ve incorporated and some ideas on how you can too:

Calendar Detox: Participate in more spontaneous activities, block off days to just ‘live in the moment’, and cancel plans that don’t energize you. Too much planning keeps us rigid. This detox invites flexibility and flow into your life. I’ve been saying ‘yes’ a lot more when an invite comes my way and feel more free and alive.

Cry: Yes! You read that right. Make space to open your heart. Read a sappy beach-read novel. Volunteer at the local shelter. Have a heart-to-heart with your partner while you’re fishing on the lake. Crying is a beautiful emotional cleanse that releases stress-related hormones and gives us a sense of renewal and emotional clarity.

Technology Detox: Easier, said than done, I know, but it’s so worth it. To get the full effect of a technology detox, leave all technology at home for a fun summer day out, including your smart watch and ask others who are with you for the day to do the same. If you’re not ready to go all in, you can commit to not watching TV for a week and instead spend your nights crafting on the porch or taking a long stroll in your neighborhood. Getting a break from technology has many benefits including enhanced focus, creativity, and productivity.

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Water, fruit and veggie infused water, and organic juices are excellent for helping to flush unwanted chemicals (like too many peach margaritas) from our bodies. Summer favorites of mine include turmeric pineapple water and beetroot, carrot, apple and ginger juice. Iced green tea is also a great detox as it packs lots of antioxidants.

Sweat: Thanks to the mounds of sunscreen and mosquito spray we consume, our skin and body may be suffering from chemical overload. Regularly sweating will help to remove toxins from your body. Fortunately, finding ways to sweat in the summer is easy. You can ride your bike, go for a run, play pickleball. Be sure to shower soon after sweating to remove any residual chemicals. If sweating isn’t your thing, dry brushing can help bring chemicals up to the surface, allowing them to leave your body.

Breathwork: Adding breathwork to your summer increases oxygen flow in the body, improving circulation and nourishing cells. Oxygen plays a crucial role in the body’s natural detoxification processes. Yoga and long night time strolls are two spaces where I do deep belly breathing activities.

I’m sending you and your summer so much love.

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use to remind yourself of the power you hold in your wellness journey, “I design a life of well-being. My choices create healing and rejuvenation.”

PPS – To offer you additional support on your summer detox journey, you may want to consider starting a food and beverage log. If this calls to you, grab your pen and journal. Between BBQs and beers and extra sweets, summer can knock us off our health goals if we aren’t careful. That’s why creating a daily log to track your food and beverage intake may be helpful.

Write down everything you consume, including meals, snacks, and beverages. Reflect on how certain foods make you feel and identify any patterns or triggers that may affect your body and mood. Use this log to make conscious choices and gradually incorporate more detoxifying foods (leafy greens and citrus are great) and hydrating beverages (see above) into your diet as needed.

Get outside yourself

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed or stuck – you’re not alone. Over the last few months I’ve seen an uptick in clients navigating these emotions and I have my own experiences as well.

Fortunately, getting outside of yourself can help.

When I say ‘getting outside of yourself’, I mean shifting your focus away from your own thoughts, emotions and concerns.

Oftentimes, we don’t do this though, do we? Instead, we hyper-focus on ourselves or our perceived issues. We think about something and then think about it some more, hoping that somewhere along that string of thoughts we’ll find the answer. Or we sit in our sadness so long that all we do is magnify our feelings of confusion and stuckness.

Lucky for us, we don’t have to face everything on our own. We can get a sense of relief, connection and balance externally.

Maybe you thought I’d say, ‘go internal… the answers are within us.’ There is truth in these words no doubt, but there are alternative ways to shift our focus. First, redirecting our attention to the needs and experiences of others; and second, immersing ourselves in new environments. Both can help us to tap into our beautiful inner wisdom.

When we are outside of ourselves, we are broadening our perspective, giving our mind and emotions time to rest and recharge. By temporarily shifting away from ourselves, we are working to regain a sense of balance, giving us time to heal, to experience new ‘ah-ha’ moments and tune into inner wisdom.

Give it a try! Here are some ideas to get outside of yourself:

Volunteer

By volunteering, you become part of a larger community and connect with others. Make sure to choose a cause meaningful to you – a genuine sense of belonging and involvement can provide a much-needed distraction from personal distress. Contributing to the well-being of others can be incredibly healing.

Recently, I was overwhelmed by my summer workload: teaching multiple business classes, enhancing future classes, and preparing my tenure portfolio. Despite this anxiety, I prioritized volunteering at the Special Olympics in Florida, alongside my son Aaron, for an eight-hour shift. That day was truly remarkable, and since volunteering, my anxiety about my workload has significantly decreased. Witnessing the determination of those courageous athletes provided me a fresh perspective: appreciate the present moment and recognize my blessings.

When praying, say ‘we’

‘I’ statements tend to come with ego or a feeling of being alone. Dear God, I have a problem and I need help. To foster a stronger sense of unity and partnership with your higher power, use ‘we’ statements.
When I am feeling blue and am seeking the answer to something, I ask God, ‘What can we do?’ Adding the ‘we’ gives me a sense of camaraderie and companionship with my higher power.

Go for a nature walk

A nature walk offers an escape from yourself, immersing you in a different environment. What colors do you see? What sounds can you hear? Connecting with nature shifts your focus away from internal concerns, calming your mind and grounding your emotions.

Nature walks are my go-to when I have a lot going on. I leave my phone at home and work hard to detach from my current thoughts and live in the present moment. Mother Nature is a wonderful teacher. I’ll always find something I need while walking – a heart-shaped leaf on the ground or a silly squirrel that makes me chuckle. Do your best to be present.

Read a memoir by someone who has lived a different life than you

Memoirs provide a powerful means to broaden our horizons and understand diverse perspectives. Through these narratives, we discover the shared human experiences of overcoming challenges, grappling with fears, and seeking love. By immersing ourselves in memoirs, we transcend our own reality and enter the lives of others, offering a pathway to connect with universal truths, and foster personal growth and empathy.

I just finished reading the book The Daughter of Auschwitz: My Story of Resilience, Survival, and Hope by Tova Friedman and Malcolm Brabant. Tova was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz. Her story serves as a powerful reminder to persevere, fight for humanity, and uphold my beliefs (I highly recommend this beautifully written book, a testament to love and resilience). Reading about Tova’s experiences reminded me that my problems aren’t as big as they feel, which has given me a deep level of peace and appreciation for all I have.

Sincerely,
Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use when you want to get outside of yourself, ‘I possess the power to redirect my focus from my thoughts and concerns, enabling me to find rest and rejuvenation.’

PPS – Do you want a practice activity to get outside of yourself for a bit? If so, grab your pen and journal. Follow the below writing prompt and lose yourself and your worries for a bit. If you happen to think about something happening in your current world, don’t judge it, just ask it to leave and keep writing.

Prompt: Transport yourself to a world covered entirely in water. Describe the sights, sounds, and sensations as you navigate through an underwater city and explore the depths of the ocean.

Break the chains of judgement

As an empath and psychic medium, I’m naturally a sensitive person. And you know what? It seems like my sensitivity keeps getting stronger as I get older. So, I’ve had to make some changes to take of myself.

One big change I’ve cut out is alcohol – I need a solid 48 hours to recover from it. Talk about time wasted! When it comes to caffeine, I’ve learned that I can only handle one cup of tea in the morning. If I have it later or go over my limit, I end up with the shakes and a foggy mind. No fun at all!

I’ve also realized that sticking to a strict sleep schedule of 7-8 hours is crucial for me. Bed time is around 10pm and I wake up around 6ish. That’s the only way I can wake up feeling refreshed and relaxed, which is critical for the work I do. I have definitely refined my routine.

Although I do what I can to keep myself running at an optimal level, sometimes external factors break my routine – like my husband Ron leaving for work at 4am.

Ron does what he can to be super quiet in the morning, and I love him for that. He gets ready in the spare bathroom; he turns on as few lights as possible. But at least a few times a month, he will drop a spoon in the sink, or trigger our yellow lab Charlie to bark, or not turn off his alarm quick enough.

Once I’m up, it’s better for my brain to stay up instead of going back to sleep. It used to be that when I woke up, I’d throw a huge temper tantrum, either venting to Ron through text or just stewing in my own head. I’d stay in bed for hours feeling unproductive and grumpy.

“I’m so pissed I’m awake…”

“Today is ruined before it even started…”

“My work is going to suffer because I’ll be exhausted…”

I wasted so much time and energy on rumination and anger. And guess what? My days really did turn out crappy, and my projects suffered as a result. I manifested my own misery.

But about two months ago, when Ron accidentally woke me up yet again (this time dropping his keys on the tile floor), I made a promise to myself that I needed to change my approach. Instead of throwing a fit, I fought the urge and decided to pray: I trust that if I’m awake, there’s a reason for it.

I waited to hear the garage door shut, then grabbed the book sitting on my bedside table and started reading. After cruising through a couple chapters, I noticed the sun’s orange glow peeking through my shades, so I moved out of bed, brewed a nice cup of tea and got a head start on my work. I actually enjoyed my morning and found I could appreciate the time to myself before the day became hectic. Compared to a mental state of griping, I had a clear mind, a full heart and good energy. Plus I got so much done!

The point is, sometimes our minds don’t always know what’s best for us. So why waste time judging the outcome of an inconvenience when we can control our perspective? When we surrender and trust that everything is perfect just as it is, well, everything really does turn out perfect!

Sincerely,
Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use when you’re feeling rattled over a perceived disturbance, ‘I embrace life’s unpredictability for my own peace and fulfillment.’

PPS – Do you want to gain insight into shifting your negativity when something unexpected happens? If so, Grab your pen and journal. Reflect on a recent experience where external factors disrupted your routine or plans. How did you initially react, and how could you have responded with more grace and acceptance? Delve into the emotions you would have liked to experience instead. Imagine responding with patience, flexibility, and gratitude. What micro-changes (like in my case reading a book and praying) could you make to your thoughts and behaviors next time to feel these emotions?

Follow the breadcrumbs

Last month, I had a work event at my college where I was invited to have lunch with some local stakeholders.

Although I like networking and supporting my college, I wasn’t feeling too excited about it. It was on a Friday and a 40-minute drive from my home, plus I didn’t know anyone else attending.

I decided to check in with my intuition and asked if I should go. It gave me a strong unwavering ‘YES’, so I decided to trust it and headed to the event.

The lunch was good, with yummy food – salmon with an orange glaze and rice pilaf – and the people at my table were very nice. But these things didn’t quite match with the enthusiastic ‘YES’ my intuition had given me. Picking at the last bit of salmon on my plate I started to wonder, Why am I here?

About 20 minutes later, the college president spoke on institution updates and showed photos of our state-of-the-art, award-winning pickleball courts. She informed the room that our college offered lessons. I paused, the last piece of salmon falling off the tip of my fork. The hairs on my arms stood up and I felt little tingles all over my body. This is why I’m here! I knew very little about pickleball and had never played it but my reaction to the announcement told me I was meant to pursue it.

I rushed home and scheduled pickleball lessons with Chris, the manager of the sport complex. I had my first lesson a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been playing a few times a week ever since. I feel more alive (and sore!) than I have in years. Learning the rules, improving my backswing, and tapping into the competitor in me has brought a much-needed element of play and focus into to my life.

Sometimes, we don’t know why we’re somewhere. That’s okay – honor your intuition and stay anyway. Make sure to keep your eyes open for the breadcrumbs (or in my case the pickleballs). You never know where it might lead you, so stay curious!

Sincerely,
Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use to strengthen the connection between you and your intuition, ‘I listen to my intuition and follow it with courage and faith, knowing it will always guide me towards my highest good.’

PPS – Experiencing life fully with enthusiasm reduces stress and gives our life more purpose and fun. When was the last time you felt truly alive and energized? Grab your pen and journal. What were you doing or experiencing? How can you incorporate more of these activities or moments into your daily life to feel more fulfilled and present?

The power of perception

I have two clients named Anna Z. Can you believe it? How lucky am I? They’re both amazing women with unique stories, and I feel privileged to be a part of their journeys.

The other day I had an Anna Z scheduling mishap that left me feeling embarrassed and flustered. Let me tell you the story.

It all started when I had to reschedule a session with Anna #1. I quickly fired off a text to let her know and went about my day. Later that afternoon, my phone buzzed with a reply from Anna Z #2. Assuming it was Anna #1, I quickly responded with some follow-up questions. However, as the conversation went on, I started to get a nagging feeling that something was off.

Anna #2 on her third or fourth message told me she was confused. That’s when I finally realized I had been texting Anna #2 instead of Anna #1. My heart sank. I was mortified, especially since I had already had a separate scheduling snafu with Anna #2 a few months prior. Important side note here: I am not typically as disorganized as I sound. Promise.

As I sat there, feeling embarrassed and frustrated, something shifted. A little voice inside me said, “Danielle, what if this wasn’t an accident? What if Anna #2 needed to hear from you?” At first, I brushed off the thought as wishful thinking, but then I realized that it could be true.

I texted back, “I am so sorry for the confusion,” and explained my mistake.

Her response? “Well your ‘error’ worked out. I had been thinking about booking another appointment but was putting it off. This was the sign and nudge I needed!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. How many times had this happened where my perceived mistake had led to something wonderful?

This was such a good reminder that I wanted to send it to you: Things happen in perfect timing, and mistakes are only in the eye of the beholder. So, the next time you find yourself in a similar situation, take a step back, and ask yourself, “What if this wasn’t a mistake? What if this was exactly what needed to happen?” You might be surprised at what unfolds.

Sincerely,

Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use when you’re worrying about making a mistake, “I embrace the unexpected and have faith that everything is working out for my highest good.”

The stories in our bodies

There’s a saying that I 100% agree with. “The issues are in our tissues.”

This means our emotional, mental and spiritual ailments connect to our body. Simply put, if you’re experiencing something in the body, chances are, there is a deeper meaning for what is happening. If you can pinpoint the root cause, you can work to heal your whole self – mind, body and soul – so full and lasting healing takes place.

For example, I get headaches from time to time. There are moments I know exactly where they come from: I jump into my hot car without rolling down the windows and letting the AC do its thing… I have too much sugar… I have too much caffeine…

On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be a big story there, but if I look at the deeper meaning behind my headaches, it can get boiled down to a lack of patience (I know better than to hop into a car that’s been boiling in the sun) and a lack of self-discipline (I know my sugar and caffeine limits).

Other times I get headaches, there’s not an obvious reason, but when I slow down and reflect, it’s usually my soul’s way of saying, “You’ve been in your head too much… You’ve been overthinking, overworking or both… You need a time out.” When I regularly rest and do something creative, I notice my headaches become less and less frequent.

Here’s another example. I have uneven hips, sciatica and other problems that predominantly show up on the right-side of my body. An injury to my pinky toe when I was a little girl caused me to walk funny and I sit too much (I’m not proud of this one, but I am honest). I’ve had to ask myself, “What are my tissues telling me?”

When I am good about regularly attending yoga, going for walks and eating well, I notice less pain. But here is something interesting: holistically, the left-side of our body represents our feminine energy and the right-side represents our masculine energy. I notice that when I am in my masculine energy too much – spending time being structured, assertive and taking charge – I have more pain than when I am balanced in my masculine and feminine energy; the feminine side being creative and nurturing.

I encourage you to consider the concept of the stories in our bodies and see what insights about yourself you can identify. To assist you, here are a few more body and soul connections:

Is your throat sore or scratchy a lot? It could be pollen and/or it could be your throat telling you that you need to speak your truth more.
Do you have knots in your shoulders? Are they sore? Sure, it could be because of all the computer work you do, but perhaps it could also be your body’s way of telling you that you are carrying many burdens and the weight of the world on you.
In general, are your muscles stiff and tight? It could be that you’re getting older or perhaps it’s your body’s way of saying it wants you to loosen up a bit more – to laugh, to have fun and be open to new experiences.

Sincerely,

Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to strengthen your connection with your body, ‘My body is a vessel of love and information. I am always connected to its wisdom.’

PPS – Showing our body gratitude can help it heal. Grab your pen and journal. Write your body a love letter. Take the time to thank it for all that it has offered you. For example, did your body allow you to give birth, complete a 5k or heal from an illness or ailment? What parts of your body are you most grateful for? Your dad’s coffee-brown eyes? Your grandmother’s strong calves? How has your body matured over the years? What parts are you most proud of watching change? What parts have stayed the same? Once you’ve written the love letter to your vessel of love and information, try reading it aloud. Turn your thoughts into spoken words and feel the positive energy surround you.

Never assume…Get curious instead

Sometimes, my hero complex switches on and suddenly I’m in ‘rescuer mode’ trying to ‘save’ someone or ‘fix’ a situation. This heroism takes on many forms…

Recently, my husband Ron came home upset about something that happened at work. After Ron gave me the details, I jumped into a motivational speech of sorts about how he could have handled the situation differently and how he could do it better next time (I’m sure you know where this is going). When I came up for air thirty minutes later, I could see Ron was more distraught than when he got home. I asked Ron what was wrong and he expressed he didn’t need a lecture – all he needed in that moment was an ear. Not my best “donned my cape and answered the call” moment.

Here’s another example:

A few weeks ago while walking around Dunedin, I noticed my son was chatting with a stranger about 15 feet from me. Looking like he felt trapped in the conversation, I interrupted several times, yelling, ‘Come on Aaron, we have to go.’ When my son finally walked over to me, he was annoyed and told me he was having a great chat – the stranger had seen his wrestling shirt and was talking to him about his own wrestling days.

In both of these situations, I had good intentions. I love my boys fiercely and always want what’s best for them – the problem is, I assumed I knew what was best for them instead of getting curious and believing they knew what was best.

Thinking back to both situations, I picture my good intentions landing differently had I not made presumptions and asked a few questions.

Hey babe. It sounds like your day hit you like a ton of bricks…What do you need from me? How can I best support you?

Hi Aaron. Hi Stranger, it’s nice to meet you. What are you guys talking about?

Self-reflection taught me this: I need to recognize where I can soften, where I need to let go a little bit more, and where I need to trust my boys more. However, I’m not judging myself for my actions either. Jumping into “hero mode” is one way I cope with the chaos of my life and the uncontrollables of our world right now.

And so, I’ll continue to Reflect. Let go. Get curious. Shift. Repeat. All while remembering that when I sense a bat signal shining in the sky, to consider my plan before jumping in.

I’m curious. When have you jumped in to save the day – when the day didn’t need saving? Where in your life can you Reflect? Let go? Get curious? Shift? Repeat? I’d love to hear from you. Reply to this email if it calls to you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to help you calm the hero complex within you: ‘I trade judgment for curiosity.’

3 ways to stop self-sabotaging

Procrastinating.

Avoiding.

Using a tone that’s not from our best self, then spending the day feeling guilty about it (I know this one well from my personal experiences. I’m sorry, babe.)

Binging food, medication, alcohol or other… Or trying to be so perfect, we get lost in the minor details and never move onto the next project.

Sound familiar?

This is self-sabotage.

Self-sabotage is when we consciously or unconsciously get in our own way regarding our goals, well-being and overall higher good. The external world didn’t muck up plans, but rather our own internal world did, we did.

We self-sabotage for various reasons: low self-esteem, fear, bad habits, familiarity, and a need to be in control – just to name a few.

Simply put, self-sabotage sucks, but you already know that. My goal is to help you find ways to stop the vicious cycle.

While I can’t claim to no longer fall trap to self-sabotage, I can proudly report I’ve stopped many self-sabotage cycles in my life and I’ve helped hundreds of others do the same. Here’s what I’ve seen work.

Get honest with yourself

This one is hard, painful and scary but so worth it. Your self-sabotage is coming from YOU and before you make a plan forward, you need to acknowledge this. Start by taking a moment for yourself, going inward and reflecting. Then fill in the blanks:

I’m responsible for my words, thoughts and behaviors. I recognize that when I do X, I self-sabotage.
I have a bad habit of X, X and X.
I am scared of X so instead I do X.

Self-sabotage can also be a result of past trauma that has gone unhealed; we develop survival strategies to keep us from further harm. If you think your self-sabotage is coming from a deeper place, seek support through a life coach (remember, yours truly is here to help), therapist or other healer.

Talk + listen to all sides of yourself

Oftentimes, we end up taking an easy win and pooing on what’s best for us because we’re tired or burnt out. This can lead to poor decision-making in the moment. To minimize the chances of self-sabotaging, address the things in your life that are depleting your energy or making you feel emotionally and mentally distant.

You should also embrace your dark side. In those times when we (fill in the blank) – drink too much, shout at someone we love, go silent and detached – it’s a cry for help. That dark side is wanting more of something and it’s rearing its head because it’s not getting it. So rather than letting that dark side take hold of your day, week, year or life – be proactive and find out what that side wants. Typically, if you lean in and embrace your shadow self, you’ll realize there’s not a true ‘dark side’ in there, but rather a wounded inner-child. Ask your inner-child what it wants and then schedule some time for more fun, more chances to express yourself, etc.

Set intentions + reminders

Life is busy. Like really, really busy. It’s so chaotic, so go-go-go that sometimes we can forget who we truly are and what our goals are. This happens because we get sucked up in the noise of our surroundings: news, responsibilities, family drama, etc. To refocus and regain our equilibrium, we need to invest more time in reminding ourselves of our goals. We can do this in a variety of ways. Here are a few suggestions:

Start each morning with an intention ritual. This creates mindfulness and purpose. How this looks is for you to decide. I like waking up, not grabbing my phone first thing, and giving myself a little pep talk: Danielle, be present today. Remember, you are light and love. Get your writing done. And enjoy your writing. Be grateful for your writing gifts.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to go on a shopping spree, here it is: Buy (or create) things that will remind you of your goals. For example, have you always wanted to go skiing in Colorado but never manage to save enough money because you always spend money on eating out? If so, buy a few Colorado t-shirts to remind you of your true goal. I have a typewriter necklace that reminds me to write.

Join me in spreading my messages of breaking judgment habits and strengthening intuition even further: forward this blog to a few family members and friends. The greater the shares, the greater the impact – They can subscribe here.

Sincerely,

Dr. Danielle Clark | Psychic Medium
drdanielleclark.com

PS – Here’s an affirmation to use when you want to break free of your self-sabotaging ways, ‘I believe in my worth and my future.’

PPS – Self-awareness is critical to preventing self-sabotage. Grab your pen and journal. When you notice yourself complaining or making excuses about why you can’t get something done, write it in your journal. Over time, you may notice a trend of what your perceived barriers are. Understanding your limiting beliefs can help you overcome them.

Signs are subtle

February 6^th was my 38^th birthday, my 38^th trip around the sun.

Two days before my special day, I asked Spirit to send me some special gifts to help me celebrate.

On my birthday morning, I went to Orangetheory Fitness. I figured getting active and showing my body love and appreciation was a perfect way to honor my life. When I arrived, the woman behind the desk said she had assigned me to rower 6. I smiled. Of course she had! Even though rowing is my arch nemesis (OTF-goers, do you share my pain?!), I was still grateful for the synchronicity.

An hour later, after a much-needed shower, I took my yellow lab Charlie out for a stroll. As we walked down the sidewalk, a brilliant red cardinal caught my eye. This majestic bird fluttered his wings and locked eyes with me. Whenever I see a cardinal, I feel it’s a sign from Spirit, a special gift in and of itself.

But there was something especially significant about this sighting: the day before while we were walking the neighborhood, my husband observed it had been awhile since we’ve seen the cardinals out and about. I agreed and he responded, “With the warmer weather here, hopefully, we’ll see them soon.”

As I watched the red cardinal fly across the rooftops and onto the next neighborhood, I paused, thanking Spirit for their gifts.

From my experience, this is how Spirit works. Spirit is artful, clever and practical. They will work with the nature and people in our lives to create these perfect moments of harmony and connection between our physical world and the spiritual realm. We just need to slow down enough to see them and open our hearts up enough to believe and feel them.

PS – Use this affirmation when you want to strengthen your connection to Spirit, “I am divinely created and divinely supported. I am in sync with the love, signs and synchronicities Spirit sends me.”

PPS – When we write something, we amplify its energy. Grab your pen and journal. Write a letter to Spirit. This can be to God, a loved one in Spirit, your Spirit guides, your angels, whoever feels right. Ask them to send you a gift. For the next week, be open to the signs and synchronies you receive (remember, Spirit is subtle – my gentle reminder to you to slow down and observe). Make sure to capture these gifts (like my rower 6 and the cardinal) in your journal. Then, write a second note to thank Spirit for the gifts.

Asking + Awareness + Gratitude = More connection with Spirit.

Everything happens in perfect timing

Last month, I was in Virginia enjoying a meditation retreat at the Monroe Institute. Side note: I highly recommend their Gateway program if you’re looking for a space to reflect, heal and explore your consciousness while enjoying mountain air, exquisite food and a diverse group of like-minded, spiritually connected people. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about the program.

Okay, back to the story…

On my last full day at the Monroe Institute, all participants were tasked with going outside for a solo no-talking-to-others meditative nature walk before coming back inside for an extended inside meditation.

My ego started talking: Of all the days to have been assigned this activity… Why today? It’s dreary. It’s raining. It’s cold… Why couldn’t it have been yesterday when it was sunnier and—

I interrupted my inner chatter as I remembered the book The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection by Mickey Singer which I had just finished two months before my trip.

In The Surrender Experiment, Mickey specifically talks about the rain, ‘Could it really be so hard to just let it rain when it rains and be sunny when it’s sunny without complaining about it? Apparently, the mind can’t do it…’ Mickey then points out that we oftentimes automatically assume we know what’s best, but we don’t, and instead of wanting to control things and make them different, we should let go and accept things as is and trust universal flow.

So that’s what I did. I took a deep breath, shifted my energy to a place of gratitude and curiosity and went to my room to put on my boots. Next, I grabbed an umbrella and went outside.

Within the first few steps of my walk, the Blue Ridge Mountains revealed themselves in the distance, a panoramic display. I felt small yet seen, as if the mountains knew I was there, embracing me among its natural landscape. A white haze drifted among its peaks which weaved around each other for miles. The pitter-patter of the rain on my umbrella put me into a light, love-induced trance. Fifteen or so people spread out with umbrellas in hand, walking the foothills of the mountains and connecting with Mother Nature and their Higher Selves. The sight was like a crowd of ants working toward the same purpose. A feeling of bliss swept through me, and I couldn’t help but swing my umbrella back and face the sky, enjoying the rain on my skin.

When I came back inside, I felt awe and gratitude. If I hadn’t read The Surrender Experiment, perhaps I wouldn’t have shifted my thoughts and embraced my nature meditation. If I hadn’t decided to visit the Monroe Institute, perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten such a beautiful chance to put my newfound learnings into action and show myself how far I’ve come.

Remember that sometimes you need to give up that initial sense of control, that ‘knee jerk’ reaction to a situation, for you to find a little more flow in life.

PS – The next time something happens that your ego isn’t happy about, use this affirmation, ‘I know everything connects and I know everything happens in perfect timing.’

PPS – It’s incredibly rewarding when we can learn something and then put it into action. Reflect on recent blogs, podcasts, books and conversations where you’ve learned something new. Grab your pen and journal. What are some of those learning lessons you gained? How can you create a situation to apply those lessons to your day-to-day life? For example, did you finally get around to reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? If so, good for you! But have you actually done anything with your newfound knowledge? Have you gone through your bookshelf to decide what books give you joy? Have you tried out her vertical folding technique? Create a plan to put a few lessons you’ve learned into action.

Category: Blog