The Intuitive Perspective

How to Give a Healing Hug

05/23/2012 19:01:00

Have you ever thought about what happens when you exchange a hug with someone? Energy passes between both of you, and whether that feels good or not is dependent on the direction of that flow of energy and its intent.

You can turn a hug into a healing experience by consciously bringing in universal love and tuning in to the feelings of the person you are hugging.

Before you hug, imagine standing in a column of light, bathed in divine, universal love. This process connects you to the highest vibrational frequency. See yourself receiving that love for your own well-being. Then, visualize your heart space opening, and imagine that love flowing out of your heart and into the heart of the other person as you hug them.

Stay with the hug until you feel that you and the other person are truly ready to let go. Often, we end hugs too quickly because of our concern for social convention.

I've discovered that hugs that last longer can lead to a much-needed emotional release for one or both people.

So, the next time you give a hug, offer loving energy and feel your way through the experience. You may open up a new level of communication between you and the people you love.

Is your brain older than you are?

05/21/2012 15:58:00

You're striving to stay on top of your career, managing complex decisions, coming up with creative solutions, and working with younger colleagues whose brains process information quickly. You want to maintain your edge in the workplace, keeping pace with the flow of ideas that sustain and drive forward your business.

At the same time, you're working to secure your retirement. You've put money away. You've taken relatively good care of yourself. You've paid off your mortgage. In short, you've ensured that you have the external resources to live out the rest of your life in comfort. So what have you missed?

What if despite all of your efforts to secure your future you've neglected to maintain your brain? If you lose your faculties, your ability to enjoy that future and your independence will be in jeopardy.

If you're in your 40's or older, you may have already noticed signs of mental decline. Do you sometimes forget where you put your keys? Do you have a hard time remembering names? Does the word you mean to use escape you, and you find yourself scrambling for synonyms? These are all indications that you have begun to lose your neuroplasticity. Not only are your retirement years at risk, because your cognitive abilities are stuck in the rut of habitual thinking, you are potentially jeopardizing your creativity and ability to stay competitive in the marketplace.

Not to worry. Your brain is capable of regaining much of what you've lost.

Think back to when you were a child. You constantly had to learn new things: how to walk, talk, dress yourself, read and write - to name a few. Gradually, you came to master these skills and more. Your mind was in a constant state of intense concentrated learning, ensuring that your brain maintained its plasticity.

As we move into adulthood and become established in our careers, our daily routine often presents fewer opportunities to learn new skills. Instead, it becomes incumbent upon each of us to seek them out. Why? If we don't, our brains begin to lose their neuroplasticity. They becomes fixed in their functions, and we start to lose our cognitive abilities. We process information more slowly and have more difficulty recalling facts and figures. Our response time is affected and even our problem-solving skills.

We become creatures of habit as we age, choosing a daily routine that has very little change. As we get older, we tend to stay within our comfort zones. With nothing to shake up our world, we stop learning new skills. Instead, we simply build on the ones we've already mastered. To build new neural pathways in the brain, it's imperative that we learn new skills on a regular basis, or we risk atrophy.

Neuroplastician, Michael Merzenich, in The Brain That Changes Itself, concludes that, "...when you are eighty-five, there is a forty-seven percent chance that you will have Alzheimer's disease... We've got to do something about the mental lifespan, to extend it out and into the body's lifespan."

Some of Merzenich's suggestions for fighting cognitive decline include:

1. Learning a new language.

2. Learning new physical activities that require concentration.

3. Solving challenging puzzles.

4. Changing to a career that requires the mastery of new skills and material.

Today, there are a number of programs available through the Internet that can improve our mental faculties. Merzenich is the developer of Posit Science, a series of brain training programs designed to address age-related cognitive decline, which attacks memory, thinking, and process speed. Posit Science has dropped its prices considerably since their programs first came out on the market from $690 for the complete program down to $345. The site includes sample games you can try, as well as an opportunity to test your brain.

A popular site that allows users to compare their cognitive abilities with their peers is Lumosity. Users go through a training program for a very reasonable cost. $200 will buy you a lifetime membership. You can pay considerably less if you want to give the program a trial run of a shorter period of time. Lumosity fans can even participate in scientific studies that use their stats to understand neuroplasticity and other aspects of brain science. Lumosity also offers a smartphone app so that some games can be played while mobile.

Another program, Cognifit allows users to unlock applications by inviting Facebook friends to participate. Cognifit uses a more general comparison of a user's score to that of the world in general, but also breaks it down by profession, gender, age and country of origin.

Regardless of which program you gravitate towards, don't fool yourself into thinking that these computer-based tasks are going to cut it. Get exercising, eat right, get enough sleep, and drink in moderation. Avoid excessive TV time or video game play. A well-rounded life leads to healthier grey matter.

Whether you are in the work world and want to stay competitive with your peers or you are planning for a fulfilling retirement, ensure you stay sharp. Maintain your brain!

Are you settling for small change?

04/29/2012 11:00:00

When we welcome a change, we call it variety and enjoy it.

When we resist a change, we call it tragedy and suffer pain.

Peter Comrie

Something just out of reach of your conscious mind is scratching at the surface of your life. It's time for change. You know that some part of your life no longer fits - and you need to do something about that.

When it's a small change, it's not a big deal - and that's often where we settle. We get a haircut or go shopping. We let off steam by talking to a friend. We alter our routine at work. Little changes make a small difference - and we're happier for a while.

So what do you do when the voice inside of you loudly demands a big change? Do you listen? Often, we're too afraid of the unknown to make the change or we don't know what our next step should be.

Here are some unorthodox ideas for welcoming big change in your life:

1. Where will you be 10 years from now? If you are in a dead-end job, an unhappy relationship, or the wrong location for you, but you can't muscle up the gumption to do anything about it, picture yourself there 10 years from now. Close your eyes and run the entire scenario through your mind until you feel you are really there. Is that the life you want? No? Then, start living.

2. Figure out your first step. Would you rather have a nicer location, more abundance, a happier relationship, a better career? It takes some big, powerful steps to get there, but you can only make the change one move at a time.

We tend to overwhelm ourselves by pondering the end goal rather than just taking the first step to get there. So break it down. What can you do today to get you a little closer to your happy life? As Gandhi said, "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." That first decision toward your new life may not shake your world, but just as Gandhi used simple, small steps to change the world, so can you change yours. Just make that first move and watch the next reveal itself.

3. Expect what you need to show up. Once we've made a commitment to a goal by taking action, our intent works like a magnet to attract the people, resources, and events we need to reach that goal. Expect to hear great ideas from people around you, watch for opportunities to arise, and be open to making changes greater than you anticipated - and in ways you never expected.

4. Accept the pace of change. When we set an intention, we don't know exactly where the ripples will go. Opportunities can present themselves sooner than we thought they would, and they may challenge us to go somewhere we have never been. When the brass ring is presented, trust that it is coming your way for good reason - and grab it.

5. Be willing to learn by doing. When a new opportunity presents itself, even if you aren't confident that you can meet it, do so anyway. Too often, we play it safe, only walking into what we already know. Adopt the attitude that the opportunity has arisen to call out the potential that already resides within you.

6. Are you scared? Rejoice. If you're scared to take the next step, you may be looking at significant change in your world. Way to go! Acknowledge your fear, but change anyway. When you get on the other side of that doorway, you'll wonder why you didn't act sooner. If your life is uneventful, and you're not enjoying it, then it's time to take some risks. You are not here simply to take your preciously preserved body gently to its grave. You are in life to enjoy this rollercoaster ride, so let it shake you up a bit - or a lot! It's so much more fun that way.

7. Learn to love the unknown. In the information age, we've come to expect that answers we need will be just a keystroke away, but making big changes usually means walking into the irrational unknown. We can educate ourselves only so far into our process, and then the rest is up to wherever our path leads us.

For example, I became a yoga teacher without any conscious intent. Walking by a yoga studio one day, I clearly got a message from my inner guidance that I was to go in and say that I wanted to work there. Since I had just moved my counselling practice to a new location, I thought my intuition was guiding me to a way to supplement my income while building my practice. Front desk work and free yoga classes sounded like a good idea.

However, my inner guidance had other plans. The owner of the studio hired me to work at the front desk on the spot, but with the proviso that I was to train immediately to become a yoga teacher. It turned out to be a natural fit for me, but not one that I had consciously considered.

Had I known that I would be asked to teach yoga, I probably would have been too overwhelmed to walk into that studio. I would have missed out on a very beautiful component of my life, simply because of my own resistance to stepping into something entirely new.

Since we often meet new challenges with some resistance, our inner guidance will only give us information on a need-to-know basis, not revealing the end result, but nudging us step by step in the right direction. Be willing to act on the inner messages you receive, even if they don't make logical sense to you at the time.

Following my intuition has led me to leave a career as a university administrator to devote myself full-time to my intuitive counselling practice - and to a move across the country to British Columbia. Listening to your intuition can mean opening your life to adventure.

8. Trust your intuition. Often, people know instinctively what they need to do, but they balk at heeding the messages from within, because they would have to let go of security and step out of their norm. Accept responsibility for your inner knowing and take the action you know you need to take, accepting that you may encounter major challenges on the way. If you need to leave a relationship or a career that despite your efforts isn't working, delaying your departure won't make things any easier.

9. Accept fallout. With positive change often comes a period of loss and disorientation while the ego mind finds a new footing. Be gentle with yourself during this time. Surround yourself with supportive people. Take time to be alone when necessary to feel your way through the changes. Accept that fear about the outcome of your choices is not uncommon when you've taken a step outside of your usual paradigm.

10. Look around. Making a big change in your life alters your vibration. Expect to interact with people you've never met before. Recognize that opportunities will arise, and that you could be drawn even further into the mystery that is this new paradigm. See each interaction as an invitation into a new and exciting life.

11. Address resistance. It may take time to adjust to big change. Old patterns can emerge that don't fit your new circumstances. Their modus operandi is to pull you back to your previous life. When you find yourself wanting to slip into that comfort zone, sit with the resistance instead of acting on it. It may burn through you like fire, but eventually, the pull backward will weaken, and you'll have more energy to embrace your new situation.

12. Feel the emotions of change.

Whenever we are called upon to make a major change, we start to experience strong emotions. This is a sign that an internal shift is taking place. Change must come from within before we can generate a better world outside of ourselves. If you make a leap forward without allowing yourself to feel how this is affecting you, then you are likely to recreate the same problems you thought you left behind.

From the time that you contemplate making a major shift in your life, throughout the process itself, and as you adjust to your new situation, there will be emotion. Think of these feelings as energy in motion. Everything within is being rearranged to suit your new paradigm.

You will be tempted to withdraw into old comfortable patterns, and to shut down your emotions. Instead, welcome these feelings and let them open you up to a deeper appreciation of yourself. Emotions are entirely necessary to create profound change. The longer you can sit with the sensations instead of acting outwardly to relieve them, the deeper the shift into your new paradigm.

This step takes courage and dedication to the act of self-discovery. Trust that you are at this point in your life because you are ready to know yourself better and to move into your own greatness. Welcome the change.

Is resistance getting in the way of your great life? Join me for an intuitive counselling or PSYCH-K session to transform thought patterns that resist change, and directly experience the guidance within, which is ready to steer you toward positive change in your life.

Listening to Shame

03/16/2012 18:42:00

Another must-see video. This is the second TED talk given by Brene Brown as a follow-up to her first talk, "The Power of Vulnerability", also available at my blog.

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Brené Brown: Listening to shame

http://www.ted.com Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when pe...

Your Valentine's Day Gift: Self Acceptance

02/14/2012 01:12:00

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Self Acceptance.m4v

Often, we focus on receiving love from others in order to validate loving ourselves. In this video, I discuss the importance of learning to love and accept all facets of yourself so that you can exper...

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Books for Practical Enlightenment

01/26/2012 18:49:00

Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying two really useful books from Sounds True. The Intimate Life adds a new dimension to human interaction. Through a series of exercises, the author Judith Blackstone, PhD, leads readers deeper into a relationship with themselves and others by bringing to awareness the fact that we resonate at various frequencies within ourselves and with each other. This book reflects what many intuitives like myself know to be part of the evolutionary process happening at this time. We are beginning to recognize in an experiential way that we are indeed energy, and that we interact with each other through vibrational frequencies. It’s one of the reasons that we sometimes meet people who look very familiar even though we’ve never actually met before. We’re vibrating on the same frequency, so there is a sense of recognition as a result.

If your desire is to understand better how your energy influences and affects people around you, then I highly recommend this book. It will change the way you experience yourself, and it will enhance your relationships with others, since many of the exercises are designed to be used with a partner.

The Intimate Life has inspired me to use these ideas during the beginning meditation in some of my yoga classes, so that we all vibrate on the same frequency at the start of the class, thus we truly get to feel the union that yoga engenders.

It’s standard practice in yoga to study the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, but The Path of the Yoga Sutras is the first version I have encountered that presents the Sutras with great clarity and using practical exercises to anchor the truths into one’s practice. Nicolai Bachman, also author of The Language of Yoga, offers an understanding of the yogic principles and the nature of suffering, and provides the remedies by clearly explaining the eight limbs of yoga along with personal practices and inner development. The book is designed to give the reader a comfortable comprehension of the Sutras through a path that deepens that awareness and creates motivation for its full expression in yoga. A refreshing, inspiring read.

Should you create your reality?

01/24/2012 19:18:00

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Should you create your reality.m4v

Many people use the Law of Attraction to achieve their dreams, but is it always advisable to do so? What if there are lessons to be learned from life that are masked by going for your goals? What if k...

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When You Don't Get What You Want

01/23/2012 14:57:00

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When You Don't Get What You Want.m4v

When our plans fall through, the frustration we feel can be a teacher in disguise. In this video, Bonita Kay Summers of www.spiritkelowna.com explains how to use life's setbacks as opportunities.

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The Power of Intention

01/03/2012 02:38:00

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The Power of Intention.m4v

Intention is necessary to manifest change in our lives. Once you place a clear intent, change occurs. If you are unclear on what changes are needed in your life, book an appointment at http://www.spir...

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Rewiring the Brain

12/10/2011 20:12:00

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Rewiring the Brain.m4v

Bonita Summers of Spirit Kelowna Wellness discusses ways to cope with stress, and how using techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and PSYCH-K can change emotional reactions and therefore the w...

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