The Teacher in a Tiny Package

Life is so interesting! Everything that happens has a potential to teach you something about yourself and gives you an opportunity to grow in some way.

If any of you have been following me on Instagram you know I have a new puppy. Her name is Elly and she is quite a little pistol. We've had her for about a month and it hasn't been quite as smooth sailing as I had hoped.

From day one Elly was quite indifferent to me, well, to everyone in our family actually. She had a strong personality and did what she wanted when she wanted. I had lived with my little Schipperke, Bear for almost fifteen years and she was definitely the Alpha Female in our house and I was seeing many of the same traits in Elly. Funny how that happens. I knew there must be some kind of lesson for me.

Things quickly got worse. She started growling at me when I tried to groom her, growling when we took her bone away and acting like Cujo when she met another dog. Here was this cute little puppy acting like a tyrant!

I made a one on one appointment with a trainer and the first thing she said was that Elly had no respect for me because I had no respect for her as a dog. I had to stop treating her like a baby and start treating her like a dog.

This hit home for me and brought up a bunch of emotions I had no idea I was still holding onto. You see, when I was a kid, dogs were everything to me. They were my biggest source of love and companionship and I would do anything for the love of my dog. I NEEDED them to love me and they knew it.

The trainer taught me the exercises I had to do and then told me something that changed everything. She explained that she hated to go to the dentist but when the dentist came in and projected confidence and self assurance, she felt at ease. She said it was the same concept with dogs except that while the dentist could fake it, I could not. The dog could sense what I was feeling so I had to get control of my emotions when dealing its her.

This meant that I had to go in and look at what was driving me to NEED her to love me. I had to heal the part of me that had been hiding since my childhood. I had to talk through situations in my head before I reacted. I had to learn and I had to grow.

I am happy to say that Elly has transformed. She is still "spirited" but she has a sense of calm now. She seems happier now that she knows her place in our family. She still has things to work on but it was almost like magic when all the pieces were put together. And now when she challenges me I can respond in a healthy way. She was definitely a tiny teacher.

As you go through your days, look for your teachers. They come in many shapes and sizes. Often they arise as challenges and many times there is a theme that runs along with them. Take some time to get underneath the surface and see what you can clear out and heal. It's a magical process.

How the Love of Another Means Nothing Without the Love of Yourself

By Michelle:

I am a big proponent of self love, self care and finding your own inner peace inside of you. I know that we are the only ones who can make us happy.

One example of this theory revolves around my husband Ed. I met him 19 years ago. I was divorced and had two young sons despite only being 25 myself. He was unlike any of the guys I had dated before. He was polite, clean cut, quiet, thoughtful, and so caring. He was so cute with my kids and loved that I was a mom.

It didn't take long before I knew that he was the perfect person for me and that I was going to marry him and make a life with him.

Everything I thought about him in the beginning was true and yet he was even better than I imagined. He is the most loving man I have ever met. He is quick with a compliment and dotes on me every day. He calls me twice a day during the week amd his eyes light up when he sees me after a long day of work. He supports me, loves me unconditionally and will do anything to make sure I'm happy. He is truly a dream come true!

And yet, there was a time when I couldn't let that in. I was unable to appreciate him and to some degree I didn't feel worthy of his attention. I was shut off to his love to some degree.

Now don't get me wrong. We had a nice life. We had 3 more beautiful boys, we lived in a great house, had great friends and on the surface everything was great.

But underneath, I wasn't as happy as I could be. Here I had everything I could ever want...and I do mean everything...and yet I wasn't happy. I had this great guy who loved me and these amazing children who loved me and I couldn't really feel it. What was missing?

Looking back now I realize that the missing link was my inability to love myself. Once I had my healing crisis and started on my path of healing and growth, things began to shift and my heart began to open more and more.

I started practicing gratitude and I was able to see my husband with new eyes. I began opening up to him and sharing parts of me I thought were so ugly no one could love. I allowed myself to be vulnerable.

And in the process of learning to love myself, our love grew stronger and stronger and I have to tell you that right now, I can't imagine our relationship being any better. I feel like a princess living a dream life with my Prince Charming. And I know that none of this would be possible if I didn't learn to heal myself, take care of myself, and love myself.

Today is my husband's birthday and we will be celebrating it together as a family and showering him with the love he is oh so worthy of.

I want to invite you to open your heart and let the love flow in honor of the greatest man I know. Let's make today a love fest in honor of my wonderful husband. Share the love with someone close to your heart today and especially send some love your own way!

Xoxo

Take a Vacation in Everlasting Joy and Love

I was sitting out in my screen room today working away on my computer. In a split second I caught a glimpse of my reflection in my laptop screen and I was taken aback. Who the heck was that looking back at me? I did not recognize that person.

When did my eyes change so much? How old am I? How on earth did my face gain that double chin?

All good questions.

But then I looked a little closer. I looked deeper into my eyes and I recognized that inner spark, the part of me that isn't attached to this body and I felt like I could breathe a sigh of relief. I felt myself relax and my whole being felt like it settled in to a sense of peace and contentment.

I'm a mystery to myself. Some days I'm content exactly where I am, others I'm wishing for more. There are times when I'm smiling ear to ear, acting goofy, and laughing with the greatest of ease and then there are times when I'm crabby, stand offish and just want to be left alone. Some days I look in the mirror and hate what is being reflected back to me and others I'm pleasantly surprised at the person looking back.

But when I am able to strip all of that away and go deep...really deep, I find myself to be vast and expansive, connected to everything, pulsing with love and light and from this place, none of the other stuff matters.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't live my life from this place of everlasting joy and love...I wish that I did or that I could, but I have not figured out how to do that just yet. BUT...I am able to vacation there from time to time. It's a miraculous journey and the few moments I have the pleasure of spending there is enough to bring everything into perspective and to make everything feel alright.

It's enough to release my self judgement, to be gentle with myself and to not take life so seriously. It's enough fill up my well, to smile just a bit easier and love just a bit deeper. And it's enough to realize that no matter what I look like on the outside, I'm still the same person on the inside.

Time to Recharge

Sometimes life gets busy and we lose track of our lives. We rush from one activity to the next, we plan dinner, do laundry, clean the house and before we know it a month has gone by and we can't remember what we did.

That has been my life from time to time and as I've mentioned before, baseball season is a particularly busy season and I've been in deep!

This last weekend my family traveled to Indianapolis for a baseball tournament. I stayed home to care for our elderly dog. I had four days home alone...

I didn't know what to do with myself. I cleaned the house, I wrote, I cleaned out my inbox and then I rented movies and just relaxed on the couch. I watched a lot of movies!

And you know what, I was rejuvenated. Sometimes it doesn't take much to recharge the batteries.

What do you do to help you recharge?

How Being Scared Can Change Your Life

When Jill asked me to color in some mandalas for her practice, I had no idea that it was going to be the beginning of a life changing adventure for me.

She gave me a stack of black and white copies of mandalas and I set to work using my water colors and colored pencils to create a variety of different mandalas for her. We met at our usual hangout...Panera Bread and I gave her back the finished mandalas.

I was so happy she loved them but little did I know that her wheels were spinning. Not long after that meeting she asked me if I would be willing to create custom mandalas that we could sell.

I wasn't really sure if I could do it. I had been doodling mandalas for ages but this was different...it was legit and they would have to be good. I was so nervous about it. i had butterflies in my stomach for days but I decided to give it a try and see what happened.

This is the first mandala I created. I had no idea what I was going to do but the image of a butterfly and a flower popped into my head so clearly and I knew that was what I had to do.

I tried a new technique I had never tried before. I had been walking through the art store and so strongly drawn to the masking fluid that I felt I just HAD to buy it even though i had no idea why. Later when I began creating, I knew exactly why I needed that masking fluid. It was all coming together so perfectly.

When I finished the mandala, I stepped back to take a look at it and I started to weep. It wasn't because of the way it looked or because it was a masterpiece; it was because something deep inside me KNEW that this was RIGHT...this was exactly what I was supposed to be doing!

I started experimenting and playing with techniques and materials and before I knew it I had created my own style and my own techniques that were unique to me and to the people I was creating the mandalas for.

It was all very exciting and divinely guided and yet without that first step that was steeped in fear, I would have never been able to take the leap and uncover what it was that truly made my heart sing.

What is your scary step that you've been afraid to take?

Can you imagine how your life can unfold when you take that leap?

What can you do today to begin making your dreams come true?

Do it today!

How Spending Less Time With My Kids Released My Purpose

By: Michelle

I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My parents owned restaurants and they worked very hard. When they weren't working, they were often talking about working. I found it dreadfully boring.

I was an only child and because my parents' were known to work morning to night, seven days a week, I spent a lot of time with my aunt, various babysitters or alone. As a child I felt like the restaurants were more important than I was. My child brain couldn't understand the concept of paying bills, having a mortgage and making a living. None of that mattered to me, I just wanted to feel like I mattered.

Fast forward to my adult life. As you know, I have 5 children and have been a stay home mom for almost 21 years. That's not to say I didn't go to school, take classes and start some fun businesses, but my number one focus has always been on my children. There is a big part of me who didn't want my children to feel like anything was more important than they are.

I have orchestrated my life to revolve around my kids' hectic schedules. I attend sporting events every night of the week and every weekend (our record is 17 games in one weekend). I shuffle this one to that practice and that one to this practice. I never miss a game when there is no other conflict. This is my life.

Over the last month, Jill and I have been called to take Inner Alignment Mandalas to the next level. We know that together we have a unique offering that has the potential to help a lot of people. We were so excited to begin offering our Inner Alignment Mastery program that combines intuitive coaching and energy healing.

We signed up our first 5 clients and booked their sessions. It seemed so perfect because with all of the timezones involved and the amount of people we had to coordinate, it all fell magically into place. We were feeling so blessed.

Then I noticed my negative beliefs started rearing up and trying to wreak havoc on our plans. My 21 year old son came back from the Air Force for the first time and I found myself having to be on coaching calls. Calls that looked like they were scheduled at times that would work suddenly were scheduled at the same time as my children's baseball games. I started freaking out! I was thinking of giving up the whole thing to focus all of my attention on my family because I couldn't imagine how I could make it all work.

I knew that it was this belief that I carried with me from childhood. I knew that somewhere deep inside I believed that if I worked and made money, I would be a bad mom. My children would feel they weren't as important as money and I would be failing them. On the conscious level I knew it was ridiculous but subconsciously it was there.

I cleared blocks, meditated, went into the Akashic Records, and did a lot of deep breathing to allow myself to honor my commitments to these 6 wonderful women (Jill is the 6th). I spoke to my children and explained what was going on and how I was going to have to miss some of their games and that their dad wouldn't be able to be there either. I will sum up their response by sharing what my 10 year old said. "It's fine Mom. I don't care. As long as someone takes me there and brings me home, I'm fine."

So I did it. I got on those calls and connected with these women and we did the MOST AMAZING work. They made huge shifts and changes and were ecstatic with what Jill and I were offering them. When I hung up with those calls I felt energized, electric and alive. I knew I was living my purpose.

And when my children came home from their games we talked and they told me all about it. How they hit, what crazy play happened and the funny things that went on on the bench and I knew I was living my purpose.

It brings me to tears now as I'm writing this.

I learned a lot of the last month. I've grown and I've overcome a huge block that was holding me back. I pushed through what was probably the most uncomfortable thing I've come up against and it turned out wonderfully...magically even.

I know my story is unlike your story and some of you may relate to it on some level while others may not, but the reality is we all have our own stories that hold us back in one way or another. I shared this very personal piece of my life with you to help you see where you may be playing small because of some belief you had that is no longer serving you.

I want to invite you to spend a little time thinking about your story and what one negative belief you have that is keeping you stuck in some way. How is it affecting you? What would your life be like if you could let it go? Can you imagine how even though it might seem scary, that when you finally, once and for all let it go, you will be connected to your purpose? What is one thing you can do today to begin to let go of that negative belief and release that block?

My Simple Gratitude

by: Michelle

I am such a big proponent of gratitude. Tapping into the positive energy of gratitude has changed my life. Beginning a gratitude practice is one of the first things I encourage the clients I work with to incorporate into their lives. Today I want to share a little piece of what I am grateful for these days.

I am grateful for the beautiful and fragrant lilacs that are blooming in my front yard.

I am grateful the grass is sooo long because my son isn't here to cut it. He is down in Texas playing in the College World Series. Go Chiefs!

I am grateful for my Mother's Day flowers.

I am grateful for the ants that are helping my peonies open.

I am grateful my kids can play in the street.

I am grateful to have been a part of Aidan's 5th grade party.

I am grateful to see Aidan's baseball team win the championship at his weekend tournament. Can you say undefeated?!

I am grateful that my Little Liam is so loving.

I am grateful my good old dogs are still here with us.

I am grateful for Twitter where I snagged this picture of my son in Texas.

I am grateful Devin is studying hard for his finals.

I am grateful my son Dallas is coming home from the Air Force for the first time in 1 1/2 years.

What are you grateful for today?

How Often are You Missing the Beauty That is All Around You?

By: Michelle

 

 

I’ve always wanted to live in Hawaii. To me it is the ideal place to call home. When I visit the islands I am transported to what feels like a magical state of being. It begins the moment I step foot off the airplane and breathe in the air…it’s just different. I feel at peace there and I spend every moment I am there in this state of gratitude and presence because I want to take it all in.

Several years ago I was absolutely obsessed with wanting to move there. I bought a book about relocating there and spent inordinate amounts of time researching islands, homes, neighborhoods, prices, schools…you name it, I was learning about it.

I also told just about everyone I ran into that I wanted to move to Hawaii. I would lament about the cold climate I lived it and dream about how wonderful my life would be if only I could make the move.

One day when I was talking to a woman and boring enlightening her with my incessant talk about Hawaii she said something that made me think. She said that it’s so wonderful when you visit Hawaii but if you moved there you would have to go to work, take the kids to school, clean the house, and have your busy life there and pretty soon you would stop appreciating the beauty of the place.

Whoa! What? I never thought about it like that. I can’t say 100% agree with everything she said because I do think it is possible to make life-style changes that will allow a person to stop living that “busy life” but it got me thinking.

How often was I missing the beauty that was happening in my own little neck of the woods? How often was I rushing to drop a child at baseball or basketball and hurrying to get the laundry done that I stopped even noticing what was happening in front of my eyes.

I started looking. I looked out the window and saw the tree in my front yard ablaze in rich red and orange tones. How long had that been like that and how did I miss it? I paid attention to the snow in the winter and saw the patterns the wind made. I noticed the wildlife that visited my house everyday and the sunsets that lit up my sky.

Just the other day I was in the car with my youngest son Aidan and we were driving to his soccer practice. We drove by a tree that looked like a fluffy white cloud, filled with fragrant blooms and I pointed it out to him. He said, “Yeah mom, I love that Bull Run is lined with those trees. It looks so cool!” and then we sat at the stoplight admiring the tree.

It was a great moment that we shared and it got even better when this bright red bird flew into the white tree. I had never seen a bird like this. The only red bird I have seen in our area is a cardinal and this wasn’t a cardinal. We both sat and watched that bird hop around branch to branch framed by the delicate white blossoms of the tree and it was magical.

If I were rushing to soccer practice and staring straight out my window, I would have missed that bird and I would have missed the brief display of those trees. I would have missed that special moment with my boy. But instead I looked. I saw the beauty that was there for me. 

Funny thing is, ever since I started this practice, I haven’t had the need to move to Hawaii. I’m content. I’m grounded and I live in the beauty that is here in the Midwest. Crazy!

I invite you to take a moment to see the beauty wherever you are today. If you live in the city, look at the buildings, signs and windows with new eyes. Look at the bark on the tree or the grass in the field. Look for little flowers, bugs, or interesting weeds. Look at the faces of your loved ones and see each freckle and crease and open your heart to the beauty of it all.

xo

Revealed...

By: Michelle

This month I was guided to pull a card from my custom card deck. I purchased two decks by Cheryl Lee Harnish. The first deck is the Path of the Soul and the second is Divine Guidance. I love these cards. They are unique, beautiful and because they are abstract in nature they really allow me to use my intuition.

The card I pulled for all of you for the month of May is the Revealed card. Here is the definition from the guidebook:

Revealed
Do you know how beautiful you truly are? It is time to stop hiding from the world. The Universe is calling you. You have so much to give. This card is a reminder for you to see who and what you truly are. You are a part of the One. You are beautiful and perfect in every way.
When you hide yourself you are withholding, not only your energy- but your Love. Love for yourself and Love for others . Embrace yourself and all your quirks - we all have them! Let yourself be free. Let yourself shine.

Here is additional insight I received about this card:
The Universe is an amazing place. It is filled with great beauty and uniqueness and you are a part of this. Imagine a prism. Each color combines to create the whole. Purple is not prettier than red. Green is not better than yellow. They are equal and yet unique and together they create something greater than they are alone.

Embrace your role in this Universe and allow the light to shine through you. How would you be if you lived your life from this place, with this knowing? How would your life be different?

What a beautiful and empowering message for you this month. Embrace your unique beauty and live your life with pride!

xo
Michelle

Where the Mandala Magic Happens!

by: Michelle

Years ago there was a show on HGTV where different crafters would share their homes and where they create and they would demonstrate how they made a piece of art. I loved that show and watched it all the time. I used to rewind the part where the person would say, "This is my studio" and play it over and over to my husband. Haha, I'm so subtle.

I always wanted a studio!

I have tried creating a studio in different parts of my home. I set one up in my master bedroom a few years ago, I've worked in my screen room and basements always seem to be the only real place for messy work. Let me tell you, nothing has ever really worked for me.

When I started working on mandalas for I AM I knew I needed a place to work on them easily and because the technique I created had a very specific set of materials, I didn't I need a huge space to work.

Let me show you my studio!

No matter where I started working on a piece of art, I almost always ended up finishing it in my kitchen/family room so I decided to just set up in that space. I was worried that it would be messy and clog up the flow of traffic but it didn't. It's actually perfect.

Making it work with my lifestyle

I asked for a small art desk for my birthday last year. It's the perfect size for the mandalas and even has a spot to hold my heat gun which I use endlessly.

I put it on the edge of my kitchen under my family command center. It's sitting on the wood floor so I don't have to worry about dripping on the carpet...phew! It seems like a bit of a tight fit but it actually works great.

Ooooh, fun art supplies!

Next to it I put a shelf I already owned and purchased some bins to hold my paints, pencils, brushes and the like. I also keep all my magazines and books that I incorporate into the mandalas. Everything I need is here, at all times, ready to create. I love it.

My little creative corner. Yes, that's my dog Snickers relaxing in the background.

I wanted to show you "my studio" for a couple of different reasons. First, I wanted to show that you can be creative when setting up an art space. I never would have thought I would do this in my public living space and yet it works...it works better than any other set up I've used before. So think outside the box and try it out.

The other reason I wanted to share was so you can see where I'm creating your mandalas; in the heart of my home, surrounded by my family. I enjoy peering into an artist's life and seeing behind the scenes so I thought I would give you a little glimpse into my world.

Have a great day!
Xo

You Can't Always Eat Life's Veggies!

By Michelle:

I remember when I was a new mom and learning how to care for my babies. There was so much to learn, so much to do and be aware of. I remember learning about how to feed toddlers and how they can be finicky. One day they love something and the next, they hate it. The important thing I learned was that as long as they were getting a balanced diet over the long haul, they were OK.

It was a hard concept to embrace because as a mom you want the best for them and you think that veggies at every meal is the most important thing you can do for their diet and yet the reality is that it just isn’t always possible. Looking out over the month or 6 months to see that maybe they didn’t eat what you wanted that week but they made up for it the following week was a very important lesson for me.

I think this way of thinking actually applies to all areas of our lives when it comes to trying to find balance. We seem to want to strive for this idyllic life that is perfectly balanced each and every day. We want to exercise the perfect amount, eat the perfect amount, take time for self-care, nurture our children, our houses are perfectly clean, we nurture our friendships, volunteer, and…the list goes on and on.

The reality however is that sometimes we just can’t eat our veggies! Everyday isn’t going to be perfect. Some days we may be lacking in self-care or our house is a mess and we haven’t talked to our friends in weeks because we are too busy.

Sometimes we have deadlines or commitments that we have to honor and other things have to be put aside for the time being and guess what, it’s OK. Our lives are like the earth’s seasons and each season has its own energy and is designed for a specific thing. We aren’t meant to plant vegetables in the winter and we can’t always accomplish the things we “think” we “have” to.

This is where I think it is so important to have a strong foundation for what your priorities in life are. What is most important to you? What are your intentions for your life, your family, your work, your social life? Once you know what you can and can’t live without, you are able to make choices based on what is best for you in the moment.

I think the best way to do this is by learning to turn inward. I know we talk a lot about this here at Inner Alignment Mandalas and I think it is crucial. Time and time again when I am working with people and I see that they begin to incorporate this idea into their lives; things magically begin to happen for them.

It is through establishing a relationship with yourself that you will be able to live your life aligned with your highest calling and sometimes that might mean sprawling out on the couch and watching a movie. It might mean staying up late to work on something because you are so inspired and it might mean turning off your phone and having a quiet night at home with your family. It might mean all of those things…over a period of time…spread out to where you might not even realize that you are living a life of complete balance for YOU.

Personally, I’m hitting my busiest time of the year and in the past I let myself get completely stressed out about how I was going to handle it and get everything that needs to get done. But now I don’t feel that same stress. I know what my priorities are and during this time of the year they are different then they are in the fall or the winter. That’s my life and while I have been known to complain about it, I wouldn’t change it so now I am embracing it.

This is such a powerful practice, one I would like to invite you to bring into your life. Spend some time going inward to get clear on your priorities and your intentions for your life. I have been using my I AM Love Mandala to help me get centered and tune into the energy of self-love. This has helped me be gentle with myself and forgiving when my days don’t unfold the way my thinking mind would like. If you haven’t downloaded the I AM Love Mandala, I would like to encourage you to do so and use it daily. It can be just 1 minute of focused attention that can change everything. I also took a picture of it and put it on my phone so I can look at it when I’m sitting out in the 30 degree weather watching a baseball game. Woo hoo! I love spring!

Spring Energy is Emerging!

Happy spring everyone!

While it doesn't quite feel like spring in our neck of the woods, (yes, it's colder here than it is in Alaska today) we can still feel the spring energy rising and Jill and I are riding it up and up!

We have two exciting announcements to share with you today in honor of the first day of spring.

The first is that we have a new Spring Emergence Mandala for you on our website, ready for download. The energy of this mandala is light, powerful, and bubbling up to be shared. We would love for you to check it out on our website.

The second announcement is in regards to our upcoming Emerge online class. We are finishing up the details and will be ready to launch very soon but we wanted to share this short video to introduce it to you.

We have been working feverishly, fueled by the power of the energy of the Spring Emergence Mandala to bring our first online class to you and we can't wait to launch it. Until then, enjoy this fun little teaser!




Update
Emerge is open for registration! Find out more about it here.

TV and Mandalas? Yes, They Can Go Together.

By: Michelle

 

I have always been attracted to mandalas. It started long before Jill and I got together to start Inner Alignment Mandalas. I used to doodle them, paint them onto rocks, and create them in glass tile mosaics. I've also used them for healing purposes in my intuitive paintings and in my emotional release work. There is just something soothing about the circular form that appeals to me and draws me in time and time again.

The thing about mandalas is that they can be anything you want them to be. They can be geometric, symmetrical, colorful, free flowing, dark, light, expressive, inspirational, or even ugly. They can be made with paint, pencil, tile, photographs, words, yarn, scribbles, sand, flowers, or other earth materials. There are no limits with mandalas.

Last week I was watching Panache Desai on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday and jotting down quotes and thoughts that resonated with me. This is something I like to do with many of Oprah's shows. One of my learning styles is kinesthetic so writing helps me learn and I've been doing this for ages. If you ever have a phone call with me, just know that I am writing things down and doodling the entire time. :o)

They started out talking about the Soul Signature and I felt like it was the anchoring sentiment for the conversation so I put it right in the middle of my mandala and worked outward. I added things here and there and just had fun with it.

I love the vibrant colors, the messy writing and the imperfect circles It's fun and it holds so much meaning for me. The energy that is in this mandala warms me up when I look at it.

I wanted to share this mandala with you because the mandalas I make at I AM are completely different and they are just one way to do a mandala. I created that technique for this work and it constantly evolves with each new mandala I make. They are multi-layered and infused with so much energy for each person and the work that Jill does makes them an amazing spiritual tool.

They aren't the only mandalas I make. I make them for healing, for fun and even for watching TV. Who knew. Ha ha.

I would like to invite you to start seeing mandalas around you. Play with them, create them, experiment and have fun with them and see what emerges for you. I would love to hear about your experiences with mandalas.

An Easy Technique to Change Your Thoughts

by Michelle

On Valentine's Day my hubby told me a story about running into a woman he used to work with years ago. The woman is as sweet as can be. She remembered all of our kids names and asked how they were doing and then asked, "And what is Michelle into these days?" My husband's reply was, "Funny you should mention that, she just started doing something new again, this time with yarn."

We had a good laugh about it because it is true. I am the kind of person who always wants to try to do new things. I have explored so many different things and I get excited each time.

I will say, there was a part of me that felt a little hurt. I felt a little tinge of failure at being the flighty person who is known for always doing something new. Of course my response to my husband was, "Aren't you lucky you are married to such an interesting woman?" and yet internally I thought, 'Why am I like this?'

It all goes back to learning to love and accept ourselves just as we are. Not feeling like we have to fix anything, just accepting our gifts, talents, idiosyncrasies, "faults". It can be difficult and yet when we recognize ourselves going there we can choose to wallow in our own self depreciating self talk or we can STOP it!

I have a technique for stopping it head on. Whenever I catch myself going there I see picture a big "don't sign" in my head and stop those negative thoughts in their tracks and then I replace them with something positive.

It is amazingly effective but it does take some time. You are basically rewiring the neural network in your brain away from the negative and into the positive. I like to think of it like water etching the earth into streams and rivers. It's easiest for the water to follow the path of least resistance making deeper and wider crevices. If you want the water to go a different way you have to build yourself a dam and redirect that water where you want it to go. It's as simple as that.

There are many different techniques for changing your thought patterns, this just happens to be my favorite. How do you do it? What works for you? We would love to hear it.

Happy New Year!

We want to wish you a wonderful New Year's Eve. Enjoy the last night of 2012 and welcome in 2013! It's going to be a good year!

We want to thank each and every one of you for your support and friendship over the year. It has been our honor to bring Inner Alignment Mandalas to you and to get to know you. Thank you for being a part of our deepest passion!

Remember that our Winter Harmony season starts tomorrow so be sure to come back and see what's new.

With Love,
Jill Marie & Michelle

What is Your New Year's Tradition?

By Michelle:

 

Our new "I AM Mother" mandala.

 

We are less than a week away from New Year’s Eve. It’s a big day for a lot of people. I host a big party with all of my friends and their kids every year. It’s a fun way to bring in the New Year.

While I do enjoy my outward, extroverted fun on New Year’s, I also spend some time every year going inward. I told you last time about my Word of the Year tradition and now today I want to tell you about another tradition I partake in.

When I was attending Integrative Nutrition, Joshua, the head of the school, asked us to write a letter to ourselves at the beginning of our classes. We were to write out our goals for our time in the school, what we hoped to accomplish, who we wanted to become, and what we wanted to release.

On our last weekend of the class we were asked to read them and see how much of it fit our current reality. It was amazing to me, much like the Word of the Year practice, that there were so many things that had evolved over that year. It almost felt like magic.

Years later I still like to do this exercise only now I like to do it as a New Year’s tradition. I start out by looking over my letter from last year. I reflect on what has happened that I hoped for, what didn’t happen, what could have used some improvement and what was a total surprise.

Then I sit down and write a new letter to myself filled with love, inspiration, dreams, goals, and plenty of whimsy. I get in touch with how I want to feel at the end of that next year and who I want to be. When I finish, I fold it up, decorate it with some cute little hearts and tuck it away for another year.

It’s a lovely tradition that is just for me and I would like to share it with you. Feel free to borrow it and let me know how it goes for you.

Do you have any New Year’s traditions you would like to share with us?

What is the Word?

By: Michelle

For several years I’ve been partaking in the Word of the Year Tradition. For those of you who don’t know, it pretty much takes the place of New Year’s Resolutions. Instead of choosing a bunch of things you swear you are going to do in the next year only to put them aside within the first month or more likely the first week of the year, you choose one word to be the theme for your upcoming year.

Last year my word was “responsibility.” I had chosen the word because I had a theme throughout my life and my family’s life where I was either taking on too much responsibility or not enough. It was an unusual choice but it fit for me.

The really cool thing about this practice is how you start out the year really paying attention to your chosen word and how to make changes and just like resolutions go, the energy seems to fade away shortly after. BUT…it’s not really the case. Your intention for the word seems to act like a spice in the soup of your life and you find it flavoring everything you do without even realizing it.

Looking back over the last year I can see all the places where I have stepped up and become a much more responsible person. I now enjoy making lists and completing the items so I can cross them off. I hit my deadlines, I’m more focused, and my energy just feels more responsible all around.

I’ve also notice the places where I have been able to step back a little and allow my children to step up and take some responsibilities around the house. It has made a world of difference.

 

When I originally wrote this blog post I had chosen a word of the year for 2013 and then my dearest friend Carrie put out a Word of the Year Companion Guide and it was so amazing that I changed my word of the year! I cannot tell you how helpful it was to go through her guide and get clear on my chosen word. It was like laser pointed clarity and I am so grateful to have the guidance. I wholeheartedly recommend this guide and I want to let you know that this is not an affiliate link, I just believe in her take on the process.

So my new word that I created is so much richer and so much more appropriate for 2013. The word is Soar. It encompasses all of what I am looking to accomplish in the coming year in all areas of my life. I thought about several other words and then I realized that Soar incorporates all of them and so much more!

I think it is so funny that about this time last year I made the intuitive painting above and the idea of the word Soar was born and now almost a year later I am embracing the word to guide me into the next year. It's amazing how these things can go full circle.

I had originally listed several ideas on how to come up with a word of the year for yourself and I realized that my orinal method didn't quite offer the depth that Carrie's method has. I know that there is power in this practice and I want you to choose a word that will inspire you to grow and become more of who you really are. Some of you will know right away what your word will be and for those of you who might need a little guidance I would like to encourage you to head over to Carrie's website and get her guide.

Do you have a word of the year chosen? What is your experience with this practice been like in the past? I would love to hear how this practice has worked for you in the past.

Here is to ushering in the new year with your own special word of the year.!

8 Ways to Have a Dream Holiday Season!

By: Michelle

 

We have officially entered the busy holiday season. The parties, the shopping, the cooking and the baking. Sometimes it just seems like there is too much!

This year let's try something a little new. I've got some ideas that might make this time of year go a little smoother. If you only pick one of them you will be making a positive change

1. Intention for the Season- Right now, sit down and take a few moments to get clear on the way you want your holiday season to unfold. What is important to you? How do you want to feel? How do you want your loved ones to experience the season? Set the mood for the days ahead.

2. Prioritize- You can't do everything, go everywhere and be everything to everyone. Take a moment to sit down and list out your top 5 priorities for the holiday season. Do you want to spend more quiet time with your family, bake cookies with your children, find a way to give back more this year, or is there a favorite holiday party that can't be missed? Make these your "A" list activities and if you have more things you would like to do, add them as "B" activities and only do those after your "A" activities are completed.

3. Cut Back- Get clear on the amount of gifts you are purchasing. Have you been feeling like its just too much? Its ok to cut back. Have a heart to heart conversation with your loved ones and explain your intention and your priorities for the season and let them know the onslaught of gifts doesn't fit in with your vision. Ask them to help you think of ways to make gift giving more special and help them to get clear on their priorities as well.

4. Daily Connection- Make it a priority that you spend just a few minutes each day connecting with your spirit. You can choose to meditate, practice conscious breathing  journal, walk in nature, set a daily intention, or pull a card from your favorite oracle card deck. It doesn't have to be a lengthy practice. Just a brief moment to center yourself, and connect to your higher self will help to ground and center you for the day.

I find working with my mandala is a wonderful way for me to get a deep connection in a short amount of time. We have created a Winter Harmony mandala that carries wonderful energy for this time of the year. It is a great way to for you to tune in during the holiday season.

5. Find Time for You- This time of the year is all about giving and it's important to find time to give to yourself. You want to make sure you are filling yourself up so you don't find yourself completely empty and drained at the end of it all. Schedule a weekly date with yourself to do something that brings you joy. Try to give yourself at least an hour. Take a bath with candles and some essential oils, read an uplifting book,  watch a holiday movie you love, head to a spa or create a spa in your own home. Whatever it is, make sure it's something that gets you excited.

6. Mind Your Body- With the holidays comes cookies, candies, and desserts of every kind. Be mindful of what you're putting into your mouth. Sugar can zap your energy and leave you feeling frazzled and cranky. Limit your intake of sugar as much as you can.  Practice leaving some behind so you can enjoy a wide variety of treats. One bite can often be just enough if you are being present as you eat and enjoying every bite. Be sure to eat protein with your sugar. This will help to keep your blood sugar a bit more stable. Add lots of leafy greens and sweet veggies to your meals to stabilize your cravings and be sure to drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.

7. Use Your Calendar- The calendar is my favorite tool to help me stay balanced. I personally use google calendar and sync it to my phone. I invite you to find a calendar that works for you. Use it for everything. Write lists, schedule your time ahead, plug in your pampering dates with yourself, use the reminders to help you. When I work with my clients, one of their favorite tips they got from me was to use the calendar preemptively. If you notice something that isn't working for you this holiday season, go forward in your calendar to next year's holiday season and write yourself a note reminding you what worked, what didn't, and any ideas you have to make it better. I know you think you won't forget but you would be surprised at how much you can forget in a year.

8. Practice Gratitude- Gratitude is such a powerful way to shift your energy and shift your life. Get in the habit of looking for what is working in your life. The more you do it the easier it is to recognize these moments as you go through your day. It is a magical practice and what better time of year to begin?!

What do you do over the holidays that could use some tweaking? What works? What doesn't? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.  

I wish you a peaceful, joyful holiday season filled with love and wonder!

 

Why was Super Soul Sunday an Awesome Experience for me?

By Jill

Today I watched my first ever episode of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday and I was glued to the set with my mouth open in total amazement.  The content of the show with guests Marie Forleo,  Mastin Kipp, and Gabrielle Bernstein and of course Oprah was at the exact frequency of our latest mandala entitled "My Heart Is Open."

Here is a little of my Oprah history ~ I really haven't been an Oprah fan for many years.  I saw a live show when I was 18 years old and sat right up front.  My experience of that show and the feeling I got from her was not a good one and I held that with me for a very long time. She was not friendly to the audience at all and when there was a break for commercials she would walk off set with, what I remember to be, a look of disdain on her face.  I felt she was totally phony and only put on a show for the camera.

As I matured I was able to realize that the topic of the show was a very sensitive one and it certainly wasn't  warm and fuzzy.  I thought that it was very likely that it could have  triggered something in her that brought up some stuff and she was doing the best she could in the moment and that is why she seemed so cold, distant and full of disgust.

But I still did not watch The Oprah Show even though I started hearing so many wonderful things about how she was changing people's lives with her content and the guests she was having on them. A bit odd since many of her guests were some of my favorite authors and teachers that had impacted my life in very positive ways.

Imagine my surprise when I was so pulled, what almost seemed to be against my will, to watch this episode.  Thanks to Marie Forleo since she was the main force that intrigued me to watch it in the first place.  And there I sat glued to the set in awe.

Just to give you a timeline on what had happened prior to me viewing the episode, here is how the sequence of events unfolded.  

On November 12, Michelle sent me the image of the latest mandala she created ~ My Heart Is Open.   On November 15,  I did the Quantum Level energy work on the mandala along with my reading of the energy message that this mandala radiates and represents.

 I was so moved by the powerful energy and message from this mandala that I emailed my friend in Australia and shared some of it with her.  In my email I said:

"The message in a nutshell was that our journey here is to open our hearts and as we do that and come alive and teach it to others...we will be living a joy filled life in Inner Alignment!  I'm sure I can't count how many times I have heard that before in some form or another...I mean really, could Joseph Campbell have said it any more clearly! I love that it is the energy that this mandala radiates!"

Now on November 18, I hear Oprah and guests talk about the exact  energy and message that this mandala carries!  

Okay so by now you are probably wondering why I am sharing this with you and what the heck my point is?  I promise I'm getting there!

Obviously I love what Michelle and I are doing with these amazing mandala's and I know that there are so many benefits to working with them.  I also know that our clients and customers have also felt the amazing energy and benefits of them.  Both of us are in total awe at how this work comes through us and is so Divinely Inspired.

What I am not convinced of is that we are marketing them properly as we are both very mindful about using manipulation or fear based marketing.  That doesn't feel right to us, we don't like it and we don't want to do that to you.

Having said that, after watching this episode of Super Soul Sunday I really want to get the message of this particular mandala out there in a BIG way and I am asking for your help. 

First, I invite you to purchase one for yourself to experience the energy first hand.  Only seventeen dollars for the download and that includes both my reading and Michelle's. 

Second, If you love it and it resonates with you, please share our website and information with as many people that you feel guided and inspired to, so they can purchase their very own.

The more people with their heart open, the more we are in Inner Alignment, the better the World.

Wishing you a Peace and Joy filled rest of the week :)

PS:  For those of you that do global work, if you haven't already printed out your free I AM Love mandala now would be a great time and you may want to include it in your work.  I have set up a Grid using the mandala to surround the Middle East with Divine Love for the highest and greatest good of all.  I wrote my intention directly on the area around the printed mandala and placed my crystals around the mandala.  Simple yet very powerful.

How do you use your Inner Alignment Mandalas?  Let us know in the comments below :)

With Heart,

Jill Marie