HeartBeat

Let’s face it, we are busy. We over schedule our calendars and undertake obligations to create the lives we want, sacrificing much along the way. Often the first sacrifice is sleep. There are often not enough waking hours in the day to complete our urgent checklist of activities. We can feel well accomplished and at the same time feel drained and depleted. Our personal and professional activities have consequently lead to less time for sleep. Even a bad night’s sleep puts undue stress on the body and mind. Historically, napping was a scheduled part of the day, midday siestas. The name comes from the Latin hora sexta, which means "the sixth hour.” The sixth hour is noon, which is when siestas often begin. Spain, and other Spanish influenced areas, Italy and other European countries go home, eat lunch with family and then nap. Somehow we lost that practice. The Industrial Revolution created a society that valued modern conveniences and granted more time for work and play. It ...

It’s no secret that I am a genuinely caring and affectionate person. Some days my need to surround myself is greater than others. And there is no agenda or strings attached when I do offer tenderness and understanding. Last week I enjoyed so much attention, affection, and conversation. I think it’s interesting how the many people I know express love and affection in very different ways.  When we are conveying our love and warmth, it is essential that we come from a place of sincerity rather than a need to fill a void. It is incredibly enervating when others look to have their emptiness supplied by us. It is also highly enabling when we allow others to seek love and attention from us. It is called codependence or “relationship addiction.” It prevents one from paying attention to their own emptiness and the head-on realization that filling oneself with self-love allows them to reciprocate accordingly.  There are many reasons for relationship addiction, such as: endu...

Being able to “go with the flow” and be flexible in our reasoning fundamentally supports life’s inevitable changes making us able to adapt to different situations. It is something that can help things run smoothly. Flexibility acclimates us to new impetus circumstances, challenges and situations as they arise. It is so much easier to adopt an easy-going schedule that benefits us personally than to put other’s first. Consider what you can do to make other people’s lives less complicated. It might be something as simple as changing an appointment to better suit the needs of someone else or scheduling a time to meet with someone who needs your advice. Finding some way to cooperate and negotiate with other people frees us from our mundane routines. Allow the unexpected to occur without resistance. Integrating the needs and desires of others into our lives helps us keep our daily routines engaging. When we are willing to interrupt our plans, it not only shows our interest in other p...

Did you know the window for a first impression is 7 seconds? We naturally evaluate people based on first impressions and our own perceptions. Knowing this, we must consider the face value of our preconceived judgments. When we judge, we are looking for specific evidence, which classifies the person as a threat, a friend, or neutral party. We make assumptions. Even though no one wants to be referred to as judgmental, there is a propensity evaluate and pass judgment. To be considered judgmental carries a very negative connotation, but the fact is, everyone does judge. It is basically not possible to remain completely judgment-free. However, it is important to discern between trusting inner guidance and casting judgment. Our intuition is our inner voice that will not shut off. We all have it and can work to make that stronger. Intuition usually reveals itself in a swift physical reaction: a flutter in our stomach, sweaty palms, or a chill or tingling. This serves as a navigational...

We all have things we uphold as valuable and hence know all too well the deep feelings of despair when we lose something we treasured. There is much anguish as we face the loss of a relationship, family member, a close friend, pet, job, house, finances or even a dream. This leaves a gaping hole, and it’s up to us to decide how and when we are going to fill that void. It is always wise to honor the loss and respect the space that it once filled. By giving reverence, we are creating space for newness. When you take the time to explore you can generate a blessing out of an unfortunate event. You will know when you are ready. There is no set time frame. Your heart may feel callous at first. You may feel displaced. It won’t be easy. Letting go is never easy. However, surrendering will renew your mind, and open your heart. Personally, it was excruciatingly painful for me to evaluate the great losses I faced over the years. It got worse before it got better. Initially, I had to assu...