Tuesday, March 20, the first day of spring, is officially here! The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox (sometimes also referred to as the spring equinox or March equinox). And although the weather can still be pretty precarious for many parts of the United States, if you take some time to look around, you will be sure to find signs of re-birth all around you, green tips of beautiful flowering bulbs and perennials showing themselves, buds on the trees begging to open and shine brightly. And it is a time for us to shine brightly too. The spring equinox is a very energetic time, and for those that can tap into that, a very powerful time of year. Burst forth into spring! It is your time!!!
NEW BEGINNINGS!
Did you smile just reading that? Sit and smile, feel how good that smile makes you feel, imagine how good it will make others feel too! Share it, often. Spring’s energy of rebirth and transformation is truly palpable. Everything is smiling! Leave behind the things that you have been struggling with. Science has shown that we can simply decide, “I am not going to (insert thought or behavior) anymore.” We have to want it. It can be done! What do you want to leave behind today? Self-criticism? Someone’s bad energy? A bad habit perhaps? A toxic job? The possibilities are truly endless.
I am proof that this can be done. I sat on a few things for months and months, questioning my gut, I was off my game and my empathic abilities were definitely rusty…or so I thought. I was actually spot on, and with a gentle nudge, I just walked away. I needed to see it, feel it, heck even a psychic revealed what I already knew. I had to bring out the trash, the things, thoughts, habits, and people that were holding me back, and this spring promises more bounty and growth for me than ever before. And for you, if you do the work!
I have been focusing on what I call the three M’s to breakthrough, transform and grow. Mindfulness, meditation, and manifestation. Three extremely powerful practices. I want to get really personal and share some examples of how I use them in my life.
Mindfulness
How many times a day are you doing one thing but thinking about something else? I will pause while you laugh. This likely explains much of your day-to-day, right? How many times have your children or friend or spouse stood right in front of you asking a question or telling you a story of something that just happened, and you shake your head and say, “I’m sorry, what?” My guess would be quite a lot. Mindfulness can really make a huge difference here in how you bring yourself to center throughout the day.
The beginning of Mindfulness is breath. This is what brings you back to the present moment. This does not need to be meditation in the form of sitting atop a meditation cushion, in silence, eyes closed, the world stops… Mindfulness is purposefully focusing your intention on the current moment and nothing else and accepting it exactly as it is. This should be cultivated in everything you do, in every moment of the day.
Here is one example of a mindful experience, happening much slower than you are reading it of course:
Begin to really notice things around you. You open the front door and head out for a walk around the neighborhood. Hear and acknowledge the sound of your feet hitting the street. Really see the trees, flowers, and grass blowing in the wind. You pass someone on the street. Smile at them, not just a casual look right through them, smile, but really mean the smile, be present with them and lock eyes for that moment. Acknowledge the transfer of energy that takes place. Feel the breeze on your skin. Is it cool or warm? Can you feel the hairs moving on your arm? Is the sun shining on you? Can you really feel your skin smile as this is what it has been waiting for? Can you hear birds? Really open your ears and listen. Focus on this sense. What is in their birdsong? Look up at the sky and see clouds floating by. Can you make any of them into a shape? Contemplate how big the universe is and how lucky and grateful you are to be a part of it; yet how small you are in it. Feel your feet hit the ground. Feel the sensations in your feet, your legs, your back, and your arms. Maybe you notice a bee pollinating a flower. Stop walking and get up close. Look at all of the pollen on the bee’s legs and body. Think about the cycle of life. Thank the bee for all of the flowers, fruit, vegetables, etc.
Smile and continue walking. This is one small example of true mindfulness. Truly being in the moment.
Now, image how truly spectacular you would feel after this experience! Cultivated every day, you can practice this in every activity you do! From this powerful walk to an afternoon outside with your kids, even doing the dishes! A truly powerful tool for the mind.
Meditation
Meditation is one of the most, if not the most powerful tool in your toolbox to train your mind. Its therapeutic benefits are now being recognized and adopted all around the world. Most recently in schools, which is so super exciting. Children should be taught these skills early, the world will be a better place for it.
Meditation can be applied to any situation and used anywhere, it does not need to be sitting cross-legged on top of a meditation pillow or bench.
I have been meditating for 13 years. I have built my daily practice to about 30-45 minutes a day, but I consider myself more of a seasoned veteran. Meditation does not need to be completed for this length of time to be effective.
The length of time is not a magic number, but experts say it is far better to consistently sit for 5 minutes every day than have a long 45-minute session once a week [1].
Many believe that the purpose of meditation is to have no thoughts at all. This is the main reason why so many shy away from trying it. Get ready to smile again, because that is not really the goal at all! Even experts will have a thought come in from time to time. The goal is to acknowledge the feeling, do not entertain it or attach emotion to it, just let it peacefully leave. Breath is the primary focus, but there are many ways to meditate, many techniques. You can utilize an object, sound, colors and more. So that means that you can play around with what works best for you. I can even perform meditation while taking a walk. Training the brain is really so beneficial to everyday life, as the external events around us can be so tumultuous at times. But we can decide not to let those things going on around us, come in.
Manifestation
I have just recently begun a true manifestation practice. I have dabbled in it for years, but never really understood what I was doing other than ‘wishing’ for something. But really, that is the tip of the iceberg of this practice. Carrie Green, author of “She Means Business’ and kick-ass entrepreneur and founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association, calls it showing up for your dreams [2]. Her simple suggestions of how to practice have really kicked my manifestation skills into high gear.
Carrie suggests a practice very similar to guided imagery, and IT WORKS. I was just speaking to a friend 48 hours ago about a product I was looking for, only it needed to be unique and made by a true craftsman. I meditated on it before bed that evening, and thought about it again in great detail in the morning, what it would look like, the color, even the smell of the wood, and no kidding, less than 24 hours later this person who fits the bill as does his amazing product, found me on Instagram. No out loud announcement was made, just true manifestation.
I am reading a book as a part of a book club called E2. This is a #1 New York Times bestseller and has nine do-it-yourself energy experiments that prove your thoughts create your reality. My words can not explain how powerful this really is….but author Pam Grout does a pretty good job. Please check it out for yourself [3].
Lastly, this video appeared on Facebook today, and I just love it. It plays very nicely off of this article today, and I ask that you take a minute to watch it.
You can find it and more like it on Prince Ea’s Facebook page.
Depression, Anxiety, and Panic Attacks are NOT signs of weakness, they are signs of trying to remain strong for far too long. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. Neither is talking about it. And we, as a society, need to talk about it more!
Posted by Prince Ea on Sunday, March 18, 2018
If you are interested in learning more about practices like these, please reach out at Lifeholistically@gmail.com. I would be honored to help guide you to push past what is holding you back.
Namaste…..
Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.
Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.
References
[1] https://mindfulnessandpsychotherapy.com/how-long-should-i-meditate/
[2] Green, C. (2017). She means business: Turn your ideas into reality and become a wildly successful entrepreneur. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House.
[3] Grout, P. (2013). E Squared: Nine do-it-yourself energy experiments that prove your thoughts create your reality. London: Hay House Insights.
