I am back and so happy to be sharing my updates with you. It has been a year since I announced my Sabbatical and took some time away from the office and my writing. So much has happened and the biggest lesson I have taken from this past year is to truly – Go with the Flow!

Right after publishing my last blog, we welcomed our first grandchild into the family. A happy little boy who also turns 1 year old today. This was followed by two weddings and the birth of our first granddaughter in October. To say life has changed is an understatement. There is so much joy along with all the crazy. This balance has definitely helped to keep perspective.

I had such expectations that my sabbatical was going to allow for a deep dive into how I might shift my work to be even more impactful in the world. That is would look like a big 360-degree shift in my offering. As I entered into month 3, I was getting quite restless. All my tuning in, meditations, coaching sessions did not seem to be birthing this new program. Some colleagues started to reach out for sessions and it felt right to see them. Slowly, my schedule began to fill up without me making any formal announcement. I noticed that I was very clear on my boundaries. I would work my 4 days a week with specific hours and not get pulled to make time work for everyone else’s schedule.

The big result was – I was different. I was and am bringing a new level of presence and awareness to my days and that has created more joy and gratitude to be doing what I do. This does not mean that new programs will not show up, change is always with us. As my company name suggests – all real change comes from the inside out. It was my mind and programs that were telling me that in order to justify the time off, I had to make a big outward change. It makes me smile with more self-compassion now.

So what are some of the things that have contributed to this inner shift?

• Daily (almost) meditation
• Walks in the forest or by the river. Many with a dear friend, some with family or solo, and the dogs.
• Yoga – self-care
• A nine-month Enneagram program with Russ Hudson and the Awakened Company.
• An online community choir called Wonderland Singers with Coco Love Alcorn.
• Continued North Metro Sweet Adeline’s chorus.
• Continued Women’s Wellness Circles monthly

The biggest shift as I mentioned opening this post was an ability to go with the flow. Whether it was last-minute client cancels due to health or life demands, changes in how a day would unfold, the numbers for Circle, changing my teaching schedule for reiki…I was consistently being reminded to let go…to trust…to know that the best outcome will always be supported even if it did not look that way from my initial vantage point. I did not realize how much I planned my time. This was partially engrained in me from upbringing and school and work. In order to be successful, you must employ time management skills. The other part was out of fear. My fear looks like not being able to keep up with all the demands I expect of myself, what I thought others expected of me, to be able to be there for others, to not show weakness that I can not manage whatever comes my way. These are the self-sabotaging patterns that set into motion years ago.

Change only comes about through awareness and practice so my time allowed for more of both of these. I also have incredible support in my colleagues, friends and family to not give up when it got tough to feel my way through.

I am so grateful to be where I am today and know that there is so much more to experience and expand into. Thank you to all my clients who continue to put their trust in me and teach me. Thanks to my family, friends and colleagues and community. We are always stronger together.

As we welcome the December full moon this week and prepare for the Winter Solstice on the 21st and holidays, I wish for you to invite in self-love, curiosity, gratitude, playfulness and big dreams for a world that works for all of us.

See you in the New Year. Blessings to each of you.

I want to expand on my first Intention Word for 2021 shared in my last post. Belly Breath or simply Breath. It is the most automatic instinct we have from birth and therefore one that we don’t typically pay much attention to without cause.

We have so many expressions that include the experience of our breath:

“breath of fresh air”

“under one’s breath”

“hold your breath”

“save your breath”

“take your breath away”

“breath taking”

“catch one’s breath”

“just breathe”

“breathe life into your dreams, desires, intentions etc”

I shared that without my weekly chorus rehearsals where we spend 3 plus hours singing with and without choreography that my natural breath pattern became more shallow. That in turn raises can result in anxious feelings, contraction in my abdomen which impacts my digestion and an overall sense of unease. All it takes it conscious moments throughout the day to take 3 big deep breathes to change my whole physiology. It is also why my daily walks in nature have had such a profound calming and grounding influence on my well being.

As a Reiki Master, it is absolutely one of the most influential aspects of receiving the benefits of a treatment. I start all client sessions with a a gentle invitation to come into presence through our senses and landing with the breath. I watch the breathing patterns of my clients as they are on the table to notice when they change. It provides strong clues as what is happening within and when I might inquire or support differently.

We have so many options available to us to bring awareness to our breath and create healthy breath practices. Breath is the foundation to the following and I know it is not a complete list:

“Yoga, Meditation, Qui Gong, Tai Chi, Vocal expression, Pilates, Reiki, Body Talk, weight training, birthing, sports, good sleep, digestion”

I receive the daily inspiration from Abraham Hicks and as a synchronicity, this is the post that arrived today which fits so perfectly.

“Through our daily process of focusing upon your breathing, you will progressively breathe your resistance away, causing a gradual shift in your Vibrational point of attraction. And then, you will begin to feel a strong resonance with the words that we have been speaking to you. When that occurs, the Vibration of your physical body and that of the Source within you will be at the same Vibrational frequency; and when that occurs, your physical body will benefit.

In the same way that a complete understanding of electricity is unnecessary in order to flip the switch and receive the benefit of it, you do not need to understand the complex inner workings of your physical body. You only need to understand the simple process by which you allow your intelligent cells to do their work.

As you find and practice resonance with the Vibration of the Source within you, communication between the cells of your body flourishes, as does your entire physical body. And it all begins with the simple focusing upon your breathing to “flip the switch” of absolute physical well-being.

Excerpted from Getting into the Vortex Guided Meditation CD and User Guide on 11/1/10

Our Love Esther (Abraham and Jerry)

I invite you to bring more awareness to your breathe in the next week and notice the difference that it provides in your overall sense of wellbeing. As always, I encourage feedback and suggestions from readers. As we share we expand.

Until next time.

Welcome to September…not sure how July and August flashed by so quickly yet here we are. As I shared in my last post, these last six months have provided a fertile ground for us to do a deep dive into our closest relationships.  Limited travel, gatherings and outings have resulted in more time spent with our close family, friends and most importantly; ourselves.  Some of us have always been comfortable in our own company for long periods of time, however for many; this is a very new experience.

I happen to be a very social person; enjoying the opportunity to work with my clients and hosting events that bring the community together. When that was cut off for a few months earlier this year, I too was in my own company for many more hours a day than ever before. It has been a rich ride, some days blissful and some days extremely uncomfortable.  I found I was slowly going down a rabbit hole of seeing all the things in myself I didn’t like.  The crazy thing is, that same outlook was in play as I looked outside of myself too.  I was seeing all the things that had built up over the years with other relationships. As I touched base with others, many were also saying that their buttons were so close to the surface that others could push them without much effort. What were the gifts coming forward in this uncomfortable way?

One of the incredible gifts that came forth was a series of online Enneagram classes with The Awakened Company led by Catherine Bell and Russ Hudson. The timing was so perfect to provide very practical understanding on how each type might deal with the pandemic crisis. 

What IS the Enneagram?

For those who are unfamiliar with the Enneagram, it is a personality system that provides incredible insights into nine patterns of thinking, feeling and acting in the world.  We all hold some of each type within us and we all have a dominant personality type that is the base motivation for how we engage in the world with ourselves and others.

My website contains more detailed information and videos describing this system.  I also coach individuals, couples and teams with the Enneagram to bring more ease and effectiveness to their relationships.

Exploring Enneagram Types In-Depth Workshop

Once each year, I hold a public workshop where individuals can witness others who know their type describe how they tend to look at life.  It is one of the most fun and informative days that I lead every year.

This year will have a slightly different atmosphere in a great way!  We will be outside under a huge tent at the Historic Sharon Temple on September 13^th. There are a few spots still available.  If this is not an option for you, I encourage you to research the Enneagram. I am happy to work with you or guide you to Russ Hudson, , Ben Saltzman, , and the Awakened Company, to name a few.

May these times bring wisdom, transformation and compassion as we move forward together to create a world that works for everyone.

Until next time,

Karen 

As we enter week 11 of being more house bound and adhering to social distancing, old patterns are arising, and our inner critic is getting very loud. We can find ourselves in a reactive mode not only with outside issues; the more detrimental tendency is that we tend to attack ourselves first.

Why am I heading to the fridge again?

Why can’t I get myself motivated to do my “To Do” list?

How can I let anyone see me with this hair?

How can I stop my worrying?

My thinking is scattered.

How Fear Effects Our Reasoning Mind

We are in an unprecedented territory of change worldwide and yet, we put expectations on ourselves that are running from old patterns. We have the skill set to move into a responsive mode, yet we are out to lunch 98% of our day. Not consciously, our unconscious patterns and learned behaviours are in the driver’s seat, especially with the heightened level of fear coming at us from every angle. Fear by its nature limits our immune system, our reasoning mind and creativity.

Breaking the Cycle

So, how do we break the cycle? The simple answer is presence. I hear your rebuttal – oh right, not so simple. The reality is that presence can be tough work. So, how do we approach tough work? Through simple steps repeated with consistency. It comes through our breathe and our body – our body communicates through sensation.

Breathe and Body

When we take the steps to welcome in our breathe and body sensations, new messages can come to the surface. This is where the work comes in. We typically get to this front door and then leave because it is not always confortable. It requires a deeper letting go and flow than we are used to. There is a vulnerability to be in the moment and trust. ..

Here’s an invitation for you. As you move through your day or week, stop periodically to breathe and feel into your own goodness. To acknowledge the sacredness of this new space and the journey we are on at this time. We can remember that we are our own custodian and caretaker. We can also notice the habits by which we give ourselves a hard time. We can notice if there are recurrent themes. Write these messages down and read them from a place of kindness. We might see the untruth of them. 

We are never wasting time by working on our inner critic. It is freeing.

Until next time,

Karen