This is one of the most helpful and most difficult things I have ever learned.  It is incredible how powerful it is.  It isn't in our nature to lean towards discomfort of any kind.  What I have learned is that it is the quickest route through the pain.

Use the Tools You Have

We are equipped with many tools to help us navigate our lives.  We have the ability to develop new tools and update old ones.  Sometimes it seems like the tools we have aren't working.

When you are experiencing a challenge and you start to work with the tools you have and it doesn't seem like they are working, keep trying.  Keep working the tools you have until you find the one that works. It is possible they just aren't the tool for the job. Using a hammer when a screw driver is needed doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the hammer.

Recently, when I was having trouble sleeping I tried taking a hot bath, I tried journalling, I tried meditating, I tried reading and even some yoga.  These are all things that had worked very well in the past and were not helping at all in the moment.

When we aren't sure what tool we need at a particular time, we can ask for guidance.  Guidance is always available to us.  Sometimes we just need to listen.  I have experienced "hammering" away at something so loudly I couldn't hear my internal guidance.

The night I was having trouble sleeping, I finally got quiet and realized I had thoughts and feelings of fear coming up. Then it occurred to me that I was trying to get rid of them. I asked myself, "What if I just lie here and feel the fear?" I was overwhelmed with the idea but decided to try anyway.  I barely remember what happened after that as I feel asleep quickly.

Our internal guidance is always right on.  This is one tool that is fail proof when used.  Sometimes it will guide us to an old tool.  Sometimes it will guide us to a new tool.  Whatever we need our internal guidance is always guiding us bit by bit. #OneDegreeOfChange2018 #BabySteps2018

Nourish Your Soul

Who do you spend the most time with?  Do they nourish your soul?  Who surrounds you? Do they make you hungry for life?  Do the people you hang out with touch your heart?  Do they lift you up or drag you down?  Who we spend our time with is very important.  It is a choice.  When the choice gets difficult it is okay to take some time to be gentle with yourself, meditate on direction and make choices that are empowering.

Being Normal

In our home saying that someone is weird is considered a compliment.  Normal is over-rated.  This quote says it just right.  Be yourself.  Sometimes the road less travelled is the way to go. What would you do if you knew no one would judge you?

Letting Go To Know

Sometimes it may seem impossible or at least agonizing to live with not knowing what's next, or what to do or what if.  Letting go of that can seem like a feat beyond our understanding.  How do you let go?  Willingness is the first step.  Being willing or at least being willing to be willing will help us to  move in that direction.  If we are not willing we can ask ourselves what is keeping me from being willing to let go of the need to know?

The answer to that question is usually some form of fear and it often shows up as the need to control.  Some part of us knows we really can't control all outcomes, but we like to think we can at least try!  The truth is the more we can let go and listen to our inner guidance system the more peace we will experience in the process and the "answers" can come to us as we are now peaceful enough to hear them.

"But I can't let go! It keeps whirling around in my head no matter what I do!"  Then let it whirl and focus your attention on the next thing in front of you.  The answers will come, they always do.

Unfold

Someone once shared with me that when we are feeling the urge to control something we could just wait and see what happens instead. This does not mean we can't take action. It simply means that we can respond by listening to our heart instead of reacting from a feeling of fear.

It reminds me a little of a time out. Taking just a little time to step back from the situation. Maybe we just need time to breathe. Maybe we just need time to think. Maybe we just need time to clear our head. Whatever it is, it is much easier to respond once we've taken this little bit of time.

In this way we allow our lives to unfold. We take action in a more peaceful serene way and our lives begin to look like what we had hoped for all along.