AUTHOR NOTE: I realized YIKES major typo in the Beat The Holiday Blues to Bliss Package Special that I offered. I‘ll honor that price, but I offer the real details. It’s $397 for 3 sessions (usually $200/session, a $200 discount) Plus we’ll start with a complimentary Breakthrough session, so its really like 4 sessions for $397. A smokin’ great deal. (See the PS below.)

Gratitude season. That’s what I think of Thanksgiving and the month of November now.

So many teachers, healers and thought leaders are talking about the power of gratitude and what it does to shift our mindset and our experience of life.

It’s a brilliant reality that you cannot be upset, angry or sad AND grateful at the same time. (Try it, I dare you.)

blogbudsAppreciation is the key to accessing joy according to Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection. Even my minister friend Michelle was talking about it at our Center for Spiritual Living this past week.

We are surrounded by messages of gratitude. And I’m grateful for that.

I can recall a time in my life when I was immersed in wealth and beauty of my own creation, truly living a dream life, and I felt miserable.

I was so filled with lack and fear and disappointment in myself that I was not able to see any of it!

I knew there was more calling me, but whatever that was, it was out of my awareness. Which only made me want it more.

That was an ugly, painful time. And what saved me was gratitude.

I had to climb out of a big hole I had settled into, piece by grateful piece. It was a challenge. In fact, I was so immersed in my lack and longing for something different that I couldn’t see the good.

As I was able to see the light and blessings that were clearly all around me things shifted. Inside AND outside. And those opportunities and experiences that I hungered for started to show up.

I’m living a totally different life right now: job/work, home, relationship and community are all different. But I couldn’t shift the outside until I changed how I felt inside (though I desperately tried to!) The changes came out of the blessings of gratitude and my willingness to shift to a path of Joy. 

I sometimes still need reminders so that I can to take my eyes off the stress, conflict or anxiety that gets triggered. There’s so much lack and fear rummaging around in our world right now.

Giving Thanks seems be the antidote, offering a measured dose of increased awareness of the blessings and abundance we are surrounded with.

So how do we do this–how do we grab hold of some of this juicy Gratitude energy that’s rolling around? I’ve recently re-started my gratitude practice and offer it to you:

Every morning and/or evening, write 3 things (people, moments, etc.) that you are grateful for or appreciative of.  Allow yourself to feel it in your heart, not just with your mind. (Write it down! And feel it, those make the secret sauce right there!) Jump on the train!

This is a great kick-off as we roll into the holiday season in December and slide into the New Year (OMG!)  in January.

And Just Around The Corner Looms

maryFor many people this is a high, holy season full of light, love and joy, surrounded by friends, family and beloved ones. But not for everybody.

For some the holidays are potentially scary, anxiety-producing and depressing times. It can be a season that triggers a lot of fear inadequacy–shining light on the beliefs of “I’m not enough”, “I’m alone”, “I’m not worthy (of love/belonging/connection)”.

If that’s you, I feel you. Listen up.

One solution is to hunker down and bear with it. Gut it out. I bet that doesn’t go so well.

Another is to see this as a beautiful opportunity. Value this precious gift of your life–don’t waste these months struggling. If you sense this season is going to bring you challenges, get support.

This can be a really fruitful time to clear through old thoughts, beliefs and ideas that are no longer serving us (but which are very active in this season, nonetheless!) They have risen to the top to be cleared and transformed. (Oh goody?)

Sometimes we get caught in misaligned stories—these are parts of us that need to shift! And we can’t just give them the boot! (If you’ve tried, you know this.)

Happy thoughts, affirmations and visualizations can help cement in a new reality but they are worthless at extricating the old. There are more processes to do this than I have time/space to list. Use what works for you. Find a better way. And getting

support–whether they are peers, mentors or experts–is the key.

We can’t build a new vision for ourselves by ourselves—it’s too hard to hold all of that on our own! We need others to remind us, to have our back and to shine light on the path ahead when we lose our way.

I was reminded of this last week when a client started off her session by saying,

“As I reflect on our sessions, each time there has been a really profound experience that has shifted my energy in ways that has made my increased level of happiness and engagement in life possible. Not just “that was nice”—this work has really changed things. First, finding the source of my bliss in a very practical and present way. Then really seeing and embracing what’s gotten in the way. These sessions have been really stellar and life-shifting, thank you! I really didn’t know dreams could come true in such detail. This is all a living dream. “  

     ~Carol V., architect, Santa Rosa, CA

A Hand Extends…Grab It

This season don’t struggle alone. Reach out to those who support you. And if this is something you are ready to do something about, before it really hits you, contact me. Let’s have a conversation to see what’s going on and what might help you.

Bountiful Bliss Blessings abound,

PS To support you even more, I’ve decide to offer a “Beat the Blues and Find Your Holiday Bliss” Package special: 3 sessions for $397. That’s a smokin’ deal at $200 off! We start with a complimentary breakthrough session, so really its 4 sessions for that price. My sessions are usually $200 and are 1- 1/2 hours. And you’ll have powerful shifts. (Like the quote above says.)  

In this short series we’ll see what we can do to unblock your holiday blues and connect with your bliss that is aligned with who you REALLY are. there are patterns and perspectives ready to shift. You can release years of old yuck and invite the life you dream of. Give yourself the gift of accessing your own JOY. Are you worth it? I think so! 

Email me and we can get started.Or start right away and  set up a no-cost Find Your Holiday Bliss Breakthrough Session (This offer ends Dec 1.)