Author: valeriecameronmerritt

An affirmation for acceptance and allowance of the mind through understanding with the heart:

I breathe deep into my chest, filling it with fresh, cleansing air, and I look into the eyes of another to see the soul of them, the God in them.  I speak my truths and make allowance for whatever that may be for others.

I am accepting of differences and I do not falter because of these, but embrace the varied perspectives of those who speak with me, and hold space for them to speak freely.

There are many ways to view a topic and no right or wrong perception, only what each person presents as their current understanding.  I embrace the offering of everyone I encounter for where they are and who they are in this moment.

On this day we dedicate to amore, I want to share thoughts with you about the outer armor we sometimes wear as a means to protect our inner world…

Armor as a noun

• the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle.
• the protective layer or shell of some animals and plants.
• a person’s emotional, social, or other defenses.

Seeing past what a person may project socially can assist us in understanding emotions and, therefore, one another at a deeper level.  A person may look hard, but be fragile on the inside or the opposite, looking very happy but fighting a sadness or other challenge internally.  This is sometimes difficult to read and digest.  Truly the only way to know what lives beneath the surface is to spend time in observation and better yet, conversation should the opportunity arise.

Keep in mind that what you see externally may simply be a protection of a person’s internalization of their experiences.  These are likely to have been in formation for years.  Please persevere to bless the souls of others for whatever they may be carrying.  Embrace the moments presented to you when you can offer a safe haven to another person, allowing a vulnerable state to become an accepting one too, so that those in interaction with you can trade in their armor for amore!

 

“Don’t compromise yourself.  You are all you’ve got.”   – Janis Joplin 

Many of us feel a need to please others.  We want others to like us.  If we move beyond that need to feed the ego being expressed through wanting others to like us and doing good at the surface being guided by this same need, we may move deeper into pleasing because we actually want others to feel good.  This can play into a routine of subjugating the self to please another and maybe also finding that the other is still not pleased!  What an exhausting cycle.  Sometimes, we do need to sacrifice the ego to please another.  It can be a very good practice.  However, there is a balance to this as with all things.  If you are being rolled over, dominated by another in order to have them pleased, I hope you will find the strength to stand up.  I hope you will find the words to speak your mind and truth.  I hope you can give a voice to your experience, no matter the emotional residence.  If we are always directed at pleasing another, the sense of self can be totally lost.  A high price.  Taking time to nourish the self first (and this is not to mean egotistical needs but healthy habits and spiritial practice) is vital in being anywhere close to the realization of successfully pleasing another.  If you are present with yourself and your own needs, your presence will naturally please those who are in line with your vibration.

 

The way you feel the moment you wake up is an important part of setting a good vibe for your day.  Take a moment when your eyes first open to say, “Thank you for this day”.  It can be inside or outside of your head.  That’s up to you :). Next, to become aware of your body, wiggle your toes under the covers and feel the delight there.  Roll your ankles and flex them back and forth. Give thanks for the movement and the warmth you feel. Complete the simple exercise by wiggling your toes again.  This is a quick way to ground yourself before your feet ever hit the floor. Happy thoughts, happy feet, and thankful heart first!

What may reveal itself to you, if you approach the coming days like this tulip, with a humble, yet brave openness and vulnerability?

 

 

 

Food and eating are a glorious, sensual part of life.  Food appeals to our sense of touch, taste, and smell.  Many even enjoy the sounds associated with food: sizzling, a wooden spoon running across the sauté pan, the water rushing over the vegetables in the colander, or the knife against the cutting board in it’s percussive precision.

I don’t know about you, but I love to eat!! I like the entire creative process.  I like to organize, chop, cook or bake, present, and then sit down to eat and enjoy!

With all of this love of food buzzing around inside of me, I find that it can be directed in one of two ways – towards indulgence or towards mindfulness.  Both are pleasurable for different reasons and with different outcomes depending on the measures taken to balance the two.

I like to embrace whichever direction I’ve taken and also listen to my body so that I can balance with mindfulness if I’ve too long enjoyed indulgence.  When you find it’s time to reset, a cleansing soup can be a helpful tool.  You can go head on, committing yourself to eating this primarily and drinking the broth for two to three days or you can go lightly and replace a meal or two in this fashion.  If you go head on but find yourself needing something additional, consider adding whole fruits, vegetables, and perhaps almonds and cashews.  In the past, I have cut caffeine when cleansing, but would at this time leave it in place.  A cup of coffee in the morning is one of life’s treasures!

The soup can be made of leeks, onions, celery, fennel, garlic, lemons, or spinach.  You can use any combination of nonstartchy greens and alliums covered in water and set to simmer.

Begin by drinking the broth, and when you are hungry take out the greens and alliums to eat.  A drizzle of olive oil on top of the vegetables may help to stay solo with the soup for a longer time period. In the photo below I added herbs for flavor and avocado for a midday boost in nutrients, fiber, and protein.  Some herbs I would recommend are thyme, oregano, and rosemary.

This soup is good for the mind, body, and soul!

I am currently reading a text entitled “Cognitive Coaching” by Arthur L. Costa and Robert J. Garmston.  This aims at creating self-directed leaders and learners in the field of education, however, I feel that the passages apply to us all and our life choices.

Quotes from Cognitive Coaching on Behavior, Values, and Identity:

• “under certain conditions, repeated behaviors may affect beliefs.”
• “values, beliefs, and behaviors are related to identities, which reinforce and sustain identity adjustments.”
• “identity is always a moving target”
• “as we transcend the self and become part of the whole, we do not lose our individuality but rather our egocentricity.”

I especially like thinking of identity as a moving target, for the position that offers in making desired improvements to ourselves and not being confined to a narrow existence.  We can always adopt a new way of thinking, choose to nurture positive internal lingo, and honor the best parts of ourselves.  In this, we can evolve to become more fully who we are at the core and integrate our unique individuality into the whole thoughtfully.

Last week a local storyteller came to my daughter’s school to share tales from different cultures.  In between the two performances she gave at the school to accommodate all six grade levels in a relatively small gathering space, she spoke to me personally about why she does what she does.  A storyteller is a person who shares tales to draw on the commonalities of humanity, to learn from the wisdom of others, and feel connected within our communities.  I felt such kinship with her intention, her purpose, and the importance of her words soaked into me.  She felt that if she could release her ego to allow a story to work through her that she could be a conduit for humor, life lessons, and binding the threads of our humanness. 

I walked away from the conversation carrying a lot of questions and solidifying some truths as well.  She told stories that reinforced thinking already present in me.  One was of a man who was a pot maker, had a few exciting adventures, gained wealth and fame, and after a short time of enjoying all of that – went back to being a pot maker because he enjoyed his work.  I liked this so much for the point of tasks that may be seen as menial by some bringing a great satisfaction to others.  Each task is needed.  Each job calls for fulfillment.  I think the most important question is, how is the work being approached?  Is it done well?  Is there love in the labor?

With the focus on positivity for Wednesdays, I am asking you to think on this with me:  If your heart did not lead you to your work, can your heart lead you to find the value in the task at hand?  Can you approach it with love and care?  If your heart did lead you there, is it a constant guide?

Here’s to loving what you do everyday!

 

When you’re looking for a way to bring more positivity into your life, it’s easiest to place your attention on one thing that’s really good.  Find one thing that you’re pleased with and talk about it a lot.  This will spread the feeling and help it to grow larger within you.  As this becomes your practice and you create conversation about things you are grateful for that bring happiness, it will become second nature to find the good things in your life.

Tell everyone what’s good about today!

 

Something to ponder as the calendar year comes to it’s close, and the sun bestows more light upon us, gathering momentum for new cycles & growth…

“You are what your deepest desire is.
As your desire is, so is your intention.
As your intention is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.”

–The Upanishads