Category: Meditation – Downloads

Stop Hoping and Start Trusting

In meditation yesterday I was guided to stop hoping and start trusting. This lead me to really start thinking of the two words/concepts. In Merriam Webster’s dictionary hope and trust are synonyms of each other and are often used interchangeably. So, what is the difference? Here is what I discovered:

First for me there is a difference in the energy of the two words.

Let’s look at hope first. There is an expectation that something will happen, or a wish for it to be. For me there is an uncertainty with hope though. Doubt has somehow crept into it. This was a sad realization for me. In my daily life I often rely on hope that things will get better or that I will get a good parking spot at the grocery store. It seems like wishful thinking…almost.

Don’t get me wrong I still feel like there’s a place for hope. You must always have hope in your heart for the things you desire. There is a light hearted and playful nature to hope that trust doesn’t have, and I believe that is important too.

For the big things like believing in yourself, manifesting, and choosing the right path for your life, that should be the job of trust.

Trust implies there is a force or person responsible. There is no doubt involved with trust. It is proven and experienced. An example is that I know that my sister will take good care of my babies, like there were her own. I trust her.

When I got the message yesterday that I needed to stop hoping and start trusting. I realized that I wasn’t trusting myself, or God. I was hoping that things would work out for me. I was putting out expectations, but not really trusting that they would be fulfilled. There has been an element of doubt all along.

Trust has always been a hard thing for me from a very early age. Many of us have come from broken homes and bad situations that have broken our trust. It requires a leap of faith, sometimes quite literally. Trusting yourself would be the best place to start. After that consider trusting the source of all things. I call him God, but he goes by many names. That is where I have decided to start!

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.

-Gretchen

Lesson of the Slippery Socks

Today I had to bring my cat to the vet to be spayed. I work from home and was having to take a bit of time from my very busy day to do this. I started the day with just my slippers, and since it was -7 degrees this morning, I needed to put some socks on and wear my winter boots for this chore.

I was already running late as a client call went over the allotted time, and I rushed into my room to grab the socks. I chose a pair of white socks that are made of soft material. Nothing crazy, I have worn them several times with no issue. Something was nudging me to pick a different pair. I shrugged it off and kept moving as there was no time to waste. The cat was already in her carrier, I had already used the remote start to warm up the car so we weren’t going to freeze, and I just needed to get my butt out the door.

I put my jacket on and grabbed my purse and the cat, and started down the stairs in my stocking feet. The next thing I knew I was on my butt halfway down the staircase. When I calmed down I realized the cat was alright, I was indeed okay. Yes, a little worse for the wear, and my back will probably hurt for a few days as I could feel the strain in my muscles already, but truth-be-told it scared me more than it hurt me.

As I told the story to my sisters and a friend via text, the socks were the issue, as well as my mind moving 100mph before I descended the staircase. At lunch time I meditate, everyday. Today again, the socks came up, but this time I let the answer come to me through my heart space.

That nudge was my guardian angel trying to divert disaster and keep me safe. I just shrugged it off because I was too busy to take the time to acknowledge the divine suggestion. I thought I was good at seeing these things… Wow, how often do I do this?

I have begun to realize, for me it’s not that I don’t see them, it’s that I need to think about them before I listen. If there is not time to properly analyze the advice, then it’s 50/50. Sometimes I listen and sometimes I just shrug it off. It’s a trust thing for me. I always worry that there’s some dark energy or trickster around that has hijacked my conscious and is giving me bad information. I haven’t quite gotten to that space within where I can sense that energy, because, I just assume that I cannot trust myself to know the difference between good and bad energy.

The truth is I can, but it takes away my control, and that keeps me safe, or does it?

Just some food for thought…and a lesson to listen and trust those nudges. You could save yourself a few days with a heating pad and Tylenol. You’re also learning to trust that the universe really does have your best interest at heart, or at least your angels do.

Let it Be vs Let it Go

Let it be = Acceptance

Let it go = Choice

How can two letters change the way I view things so much?

When someone tells you to let something go, it requires a choice. It also infers that you are holding onto something that isn’t for you. There’s fault in this statement. I have seen value in something that doesn’t have value and for someone that has unhealed traumas might trigger guilt and shame.

When someone tells you to let something be, it requires a whole new process. It’s not really a choice, but an evaluation of what it is to you, and how it fits into to your life. It’s acceptance of what is, and if it’s in alignment with you. By accepting what it is, you remove the control and allow yourself and whatever it is to be what it is. This removes the shame and guilt, for the need to find fault in it.

This also allows you to be in acceptance of yourself. Here’s where I am, I might be somewhere different tomorrow, but this is who I am right now, and that is okay. We all grow and change our whole lives, and what we are in vibration with today, might not be what aligns tomorrow. If we accept and let it be what it is and your relationship to it, then there is room for growth.

I have to admit it was hard for communicate this in words as I felt it so strongly in my heart during my meditation this morning. I hope I did it justice.

Love Yourself

There is a golden rule in Christianity that says “Do unto others that you’d have done to you,” but society has focused on others, and forgotten the part where we must also show ourselves love.

We focus so much on being kind to others and treating them with respect, even if we aren’t treating ourselves that way.

We have to give ourselves the love and kindness we give others. If we aren’t giving it to ourselves first, others won’t either. Like attracts like, it’s one of the universal laws. We show people how to treat us, how to love us.

When there isn’t a balance between loving ourself and others codependency results. I need to prove my love and kindness to others and forsake myself so that I get love and kindness in return.

Instead I would challenge you to give yourself love and kindness first, because then you are practicing the golden rule as it was intended. I love myself therefore I treat others with love and respect.

What are 3 ways you can show yourself love today?

Believe

In meditation today I asked my guides what message was most import to deliver on my blog today and I was handed a list.

  • Believe in yourself
  • Do everything with intention
  • Love your life
  • Enjoy the journey

Easy right? Is it though? No for most of us. If you are anything like me, you find moments where this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Let’s unpack this to do list shall we.

What does is mean to believe in yourself? It means you have to stop listening to that voice in your head that lists all the reasons why you can’t have what you want (that second piece of chocolate), why you’ve failed every other time (so why even try again), and why you aren’t worthy of the dreams and goals you have for yourself. This will take more than a moment to get control of, but the first step is recognizing the voice. The second is to recognize you are observing the voice say those things, therefore, you are not this voice. You are an observer, this observer is your soul. The true essence of who you are. If you want more information on this concept a good book is The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. When you have discovered the pure essence of who you really are, then it’s easy to believe in yourself.

Next up, Do everything with intention. When you wake up in the morning what is your intention, I bet that most of you don’t even think about this. I know for a fact that I don’t open my eyes and set an intention for the day. Think what a difference it would make if we did. What if you woke up and decided today I am going to be happy. You have a purpose and a goal. When obstacles alight your path, you can make a decision to choose happiness, to change your perspective on what ever comes your way and not let it derail your happiness. Before you walk into that meeting set the intention that you are going to remain focused on the discussions being had in that room, and allow your brain and your mind to be present. Think how much more productive you that meeting would be. When you walk through the door at home after a long hard day, set and intention to be present with your family.

It’s easy to look at your life and see all the flaws. I have a job I don’t like, a house that needs improvements, or crazy relatives that I have to deal with, etc. With a change of perspective you can learn to really love your life, and when you’re ready, make the changes you desire. Instead of looking at the things that aren’t so great, look at all the things you’re grateful for. You may have crazy relatives, but you have the best friends you could ask for. Your house might need improvements, but you have a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in every night. You get the idea. Focus on the places in your life that are abundant and more abundance will follow.

The last thing on the list is to enjoy the journey. It’s important to understand that life is a journey. Nothing stays the same, we start at one point and we will end up at another. During this time we will have experiences, hardships, celebrations, and adventures. We will learn and grow, and our views will change as we age. There is always something new coming into our lives. We cannot control this and we do ourselves a disservice when we try. Embrace the journey, enjoy it. That’s when the magic happens.

Be Honest with Yourself About Your Goals

Are your goals materialistic in nature?  Are they expectations placed on you by family or society, or do they come from your heart? Will they make you happy? Are they attainable?

When I was fresh out of high school my goals were prescribed to me by society and family expectations.  My goals were to go to college (picking a realistic major), have a good business job that afforded me a comfortable living, and to start my own family. 

As I look back now, how shallow that all sounds.  I was completely neglecting the aspects of myself that made my heart sing.  I was neglecting my creative, loving, kind, sensitive side completely.  I was making my family happy, but where was I in all of this?

As I have walked this new spiritual path I have realized that my goals have completely changed. They are no longer material in nature, but soul satisfying.   I don’t really care anymore what society or my family want for me.  My goals are now based on healing my shadows, living a life that balances my internal peace with my external freedom of expression and love.  My goal is to be in the flow, and to use my intuition to guide me and show me where there is work to do.

I have discovered that caring about fitting in with the masses is like chasing your tail.  There’s always something else to want or to be, and you don’t really have a say. I happen to like pumpkin spiced lattes and romantic comedies even though they make me “basic” according to the folks on social media.

So I challenge you to take a look at what you’re striving to become or be.  Is it what makes your heart sing or is it an idea that someone else has decided is right for you? Embrace your authenticity and make your goals something that will grow you as a person.

Meditation – Download

Today I woke up early by a half hour. Normally, I would just roll over and savor the last 30 minutes before the alarm. The universe had other plans. I’ve been making a conscious effort to listen to this advice. I took a moment, sat up and began by asking my angels and guides to protect me while I spend a moment talking to them.

To my surprise during my meditation I discovered that I am happy. I am solidly happy with life.

From a very young age I was taught that you should never be happy with what you have, that wanting more was where I should focus. I was always comparing myself to my friends and family. Always trying to prove my worthiness. Do better, have more goals, be the best at this that and the other.

On my spiritual journey I have learned that we attract what we put out. If I am living in a frequency where there are not enough resources and I don’t have enough, then I am attracting more of that. So, the past few days my meditations have been focused on the gratitude and satisfaction of all the things I do have. Then something inside of me clicked into place this morning,and I felt at peace and whole. In that moment I realized I am happy. The feeling has not left me, all day. I will continue to process this and journal. More to come.