Bringing Your Gifts to the Present

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Bringing Your Gifts to the Present

What gifts do you have to offer the world that you’ve been hiding behind or pretending are not valuable?

This morning as I sat down to meditate, I opened Insight Timer and came across a mediation titled “Your Gift, Your Purpose.” The description was enticing to me so I chose to tune in.

This opening story or inquiry was very confronting for me. First of all, I have been in a similar situation (as described at the beginning) where I’ve poured my heart into a gift only for it to be left unopened and underappreciated. And the feelings I experienced were hurt and shame over ‘why did I buy this gift in the first place?’. In other words, it didn’t feel good. And second, it caused me to ask, “What are my gifts? Do I have any gifts that I’m not using?”

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Discovering Beauty in All Things

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Discovering Beauty in All Things

When we think of beauty, we often think of nature, animals, people, and touching moments. And yes, these are all areas filled with beauty. But what about the beauty shown in the painful moments, lessons, heartbreak, and uncertainty of life?

I’ve been thinking about beauty lately and how it’s often represented in society. Beauty is often associated with things that spark a sense of awe and wonder and grace, or superficial glamour. It’s not typically what we think of when we’re experiencing painful moments or seasons. Yet, it’s through the pain that we can come to a place of beauty and appreciation.

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Finding Resilience While Wandering in the Desert

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Finding Resilience While Wandering in the Desert

My 7-year old niece loves to play the ‘Would You Rather Game’. Would you rather smell like a dog or smell like a cat? Would you rather have a pet fish or a pet turtle? Would you rather be 10 feet tall or 10 inches tall? She often sends me these questions from the Facebook Messenger Kids app. I always reply with the first answer that pops into my head.

This afternoon we were chatting and she asked me, “Would you rather spend a year living in Antarctica or spend a year living in the desert?” I thought about this for a moment. “The desert,” I replied. “Because I know that it will at least cool down at night and offer some relief.”

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My One Day Story

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My One Day Story

“That’s your ‘One Day’ story,” my therapist said as she looked across the room at me.

“My what?” I asked as I stared at her blankly.

“Your ‘One Day’ story. You know the ‘One day I’m going to paint my room this color.’ ‘One day I’m going to save money to follow my dreams.’ ‘One day I’m going to open my heart and let someone in.’ It’s the story you keep telling yourself that one day you’re going to do. Yet, you keep telling the story rather than actually doing anything to make it come true.”

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Learning to Trust Your Intuition When Bobcats are Near

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Learning to Trust Your Intuition When Bobcats are Near

I went for a hike at my favorite nature preserve in Dallas this afternoon. It was slightly overcast with a light breeze which is rare this time of year. As I was walking, I passed a mother and her daughter whom I’ve seen here before. I smiled and waved as I saw them coming. The mom quickly told me, “Be careful. We just saw a bobcat in the woods.” I told her that I was glad they were okay and asked exactly where they saw it. I wanted to get a sense of how close this bobcat was.

In this moment, I had a choice to make. I could take the “better safe than sorry” route or continue on my way.

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Release the Dark Wound, Let Love Live

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Release the Dark Wound, Let Love Live

I woke up this morning rather tired and cranky. Tonight is a Full Moon and usually, I find myself a little more tired during this phase. In the past, I considered it to be an “off” day. I didn’t really have any relationship with my connection to the moon and its cycles. Since I’ve become more aware of my intuitive nature, I’m able to have a better understanding of how connected I am to the energy of the moon. Full Moons are a time to release what is no longer working or needed at this time in your life. It’s a time to let go and create intentions to bring in more of what does serve you.

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Burning, Cleaning, & Releasing for New Life

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Burning, Cleaning, & Releasing for New Life

“Why are they burning the crops?” I asked our guide as we were driving through the Serengeti National Park. “They burn the crops to breathe new life into the earth. The ash creates minerals that provide the soil with rich nutrients to produce new crops in the next season.”

In the summer of 2016, I went the trip of a lifetime with my two travel buddies on a safari in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. We came during the dry season which was the perfect time to see wildlife from afar and up close. This was also the season in which they burned the crops to create new life.

Fires blaze to burn off the old to create new, sustainable life.

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The Evolution of Self-Talk

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The Evolution of Self-Talk

Have you ever stopped to listen to what the voices in your head are saying to you? When you mess up or make a mistake, what is the voice in your head telling you? Is it one of encouragement and kindness or one of ridicule and disgrace?

When I mess up or make a mistake, I am prone to listen to the critical, degrading voice in my head that tells me I’m stupid, ridiculous, careless…fill in the blank. If you had asked me which voice I listen to though, I would likely sugarcoat it and tell you, “Well, I hear the mean voice, but I don’t give much attention to it.” That’s a cute response that is completely untrue.

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