In the month of September, we celebrate World Gratitude Day and we are honouring this with the launch of our annual Lighten Up Summit, starting on 19 September. Five days of inspiring videos that you can enjoy explore and experience the many ways we can embrace life.
Why Lighten Up?
We believe it is time for us to connect, allow ourselves to shine and bring our light to the world. Our community is full of people that are doing that in a variety of ways, and we invite you to take part in our online community event.
The Summit is free to access from 19 to 23 September, and all you need to do is register to gain incredible stories, insights and tips around a variety of topics in the areas of natural health, personal development, spirituality and creativity. Listen to our introductory video.
Since 2013, the Embrace Life community has offered informative seminars, experiential meditations, sound healing and “hands on” demonstrations through local, boutique festivals throughout Sydney and regional NSW locations and has kept in touch through articles/blogs, videos and podcasts here on Gratitude Online.
The energy has continued to build with many people travelling far and wide to connect with their messages and knowledge often shared at our physical events, or by browsing their monthly updates.
The Lighten Up Summit is a collaborative effort to take our collective knowledge beyond the physical boundaries of distance. As part of our growing conscious community – connect, learn and receive wonderful insights within the comfort of your home.
Free to join, the summit will cover a wide range of topics and starts on 19 September 2016.
What to expect?
Each video allows you to hear their stories, share tips/lessons and get to know each speaker on a deeper
level while showcasing their various areas of expertise.
The videos last for 30 to 40 minutes giving you the ability to enjoy “taste-bites” of their knowledge: be it you are a conscious entrepreneur and you have now found your tribe, you are curious to what “being conscious” actually means or you are seeking for ways to take your current practice to another level, the summit will allow you to choose what topic you want to know more about (with 10 videos being released each day, and available to view a further 5 days).
Be open to receive within the summit whatever resonates and if you want to explore a little deeper, enjoy the multitude of “special offers” that have been extended.
Interact and engage with your own personal questions in our dedicated Facebook event page during the Summit. Our Lighten Up Summit is a space created for you to belong, contribute and for us all to Turn Up The Light!
And after the Summit, what next?
Our Lighten Up experts will be offering online programs at additional cost, in specific areas.
You have the ability to upgrade for 12 month access for all the videos to be at your finger tips, giving you more time to digest the content and accessing bonus videos that will not be part of the actual summit. Want to know more?
As always you are also welcomed to attend our Embrace Life festivals, invited to browse our updates on Gratitude Online, be part of our Instagram and Facebook community or become more involved as a business – there is always a way to connect with your soul tribe, in whatever way feels right for you!
As someone who fancies herself a creative person, I’ve spent a long time out of creation mode.
Life happens, business happens and as I welcomed stress and fear into my life, I slowly moved away from my creative self.
So when I found myself ready to start writing and creating workshops and classes I was more than stuck, I was totally frozen. It can be difficult to tap back into our creative energy, for some, it’s a tap that we turned off a long time ago for any number of reasons, the most common being that either you or someone else convinced you that you weren’t good enough (a big fat lie!)
You might not think that you have a creative bone in your body, or you might just not see yourself as creative in say an artistic way, but I’m here to let you know that’s also a big fat lie.
As children we were all artistic creative souls, drawing, dancing, making up songs, creating imaginary worlds and we did it all with beautiful abandon, not thinking about being judged or whether or no we could do it, we just did and we did it for Joy.
So whether you’re creatively stuck, or you just want to unleash that creative child within for the Joy, here’s some great ways to get it going.
- Shake it up & Shake it out – Blast your favourite tunes and have a dance party, close your eyes and get lost in the movement, connect with the music! I truly believe that the spirit of creativity that birthed each song (the same goes for each painting, each poem) lives forever inside of it, so let yourself open up and connect with that energy.
- Just start creating – the simplest way is to get some markers and paper or some paint and just start drawing, or if you need a bit of inspiration pick up a colouring book, mindful adult colouring is a huge thing right now, but I still like to stock up on some standard kids colouring & activity books to use when I need a bit of fun and play (and I never stay inside the lines!!) Or go buy yourself a lego set and get building!
- Move – It doesn’t have to be a dance party, movement of any kind is really helpful, it gets the blood and oxygen pumping to your heart and brain – two key players in the creative process. For me there is something about a good yoga session that really opens me up.
- Get outside – If you can find yourself some nature, get there, or even just take a light stroll at sunset or under the stars, when I take time to connect and get in awe of nature and the magic all around me, it tends to stir up the magic within. You can double down with some movement and go for a run or a hike.
- Do something new – Find your local community centre or just search eventbrite for whats happening around you and take a class on something totally new to you – Learning something new can help to unlock that creative part of your brain.
There are also a few really interesting skill sharing companies like Work-Shop (http://www.work-shop.com.au) where you can learn anything from hula hooping to welding.
Once you get your juices flowing who knows what will come up! Creativity isn’t just about the arts, it fires up a whole space inside us to come up with great ideas and solutions to every area in our lives.
Happy Creating!
Veronica is a on a mission of spreading Love, Light and Gratitude around the world.
What started as a physical wellness journey after a health scare in 2012 has lead to a passionate and in-depth adventure into spirituality, holistic health and the mind body connections.
A preacher and teacher of self love, she strives to empower others on their own paths to mind and body wellness.
She has a drive for guiding others through their own exploration to finding their core desired feelings and creating a life they love through her Desire Map Workshops as well helping to reduce their physical toxic load by teaching and sharing her love for essential oils and DIY natural solutions for your home and body.
You can connect with Veronica via her website, Instagram and Facebook.
She will also be one of our experts in the upcoming Lighten Up Summit, starting on 19 September. Register today.
Lighten Up ™ is an online summit showcasing our Australian conscious thought leaders within 50 inspirational video interviews across 5 days in the field of personal development, natural health, spirituality and creativity.
Since 2013, the Embrace Life community has offered informative seminars, experiential meditations, sound healing and “hands on” demonstrations through local, boutique festivals throughout Sydney and regional NSW locations while keeping in touch through articles/blogs, videos and podcasts on their online platform, Gratitude Online.
The energy has continued to build with many people travelling far and wide to connect with their messages and knowledge often shared at our physical events, or by browsing their monthly updates.
The Lighten Up Summit is a collaborative effort to take our collective knowledge beyond the physical boundaries of distance.
Be part of our growing conscious community – connect, learn and receive wonderful insights within the comfort of your home.
Explore the world of the conscious entrepreneur from some of Australia’s leading and emerging experts in the areas of natural health, personal development, spirituality and creativity.
Free to join, the summit will cover a wide range of topics and starts on 19 September 2016. Register today, lightenupsummit.com
Platonic Solids are shapes which form part of Sacred Geometry. They were first catalogued by the ancient philosopher, Plato (hence their name), although evidence of these most magical of shapes has been found around the world for in excess of 1,000 years prior to Plato’s documentation. Working with them individually is said to help with our connection to nature and the higher realms of the cosmos; to find the common pattern which links us all at a molecular as well as at a spiritual level.
There are traditionally 5 platonic solids and they are the Cube, Icosahedron, Tetrahedron, Octahedron and the Dodecahedron. In this article I have also included the Merkaba and the Sphere which also have a significant connection with the platonic solids as they are comprised of the original 5 shapes.
Further explanation about the meaning of these mystical geometric forms are as follows:
Cube or Hexahedron
The cube is also known as the hexahedron and is a six sided figure with square faces. The cube is associated with the element of earth and the base Chakra. The cube represents the connections with the foundations of the earth to the foundations of the heavens.
This is a symbol that reminds us that things are spatially equal in their parts (metaphorically and symbolically as well as physically). It therefore sets the standard of inserting Spirit into form in perfect equilibrium.
Icosahedron
The Plantonic Solid Icosahedron structure represents movement, flow and change. It has 20 sides all of which are equilateral triangles. This shape can be found all throughout nature in various forms.
The Icosahedron is said to be connected with the element of water and sacral charka and offers help in balancing the emotions. Working with the Icosahedron can also help facilitate regenerating and healing energy into physical reality.
Tetrahedron
The Tetrahedron is a four sided pyramid, each of its sides being an equilateral triangle. This platonic solid is connected to the element of fire, the solar plexus chakra and is associated with creativity, motivation, inspiration, will power and self respect.
By connecting to the energy of the Tetrahedron we are able to ignite the force within that enables us to truly stand up for ourselves and what we believe in.
Star Tetrahedron
The Merkaba or Star Tetrahedron is comprised of two interlocking tetrahedron shapes – one pointing up to the heavens, channeling energy down from the Universe to the earth plain, and one pointing downwards, drawing energy up from the earth beneath. The Merkaba is powered by love and corresponds to the heart chakra which is the centre of our being. The Star Tetrahedron contains all manner of possibilities as well as for healing and even to transcend into other dimensions of existence.
Octahedron
An Octahedron is a Platonic solid composed of eight equilateral triangles, four of which meet at each vertex. This shape is associated with the element of air and the throat chakra which is our centre of expression through vibration and sound. Our hearts truth is found in the Octahedron as it aids communication of self love and compassion.
The Octahedron reminds us that we all have the wisdom to know when to express our truth or when to be silent.
Dodecahedron
The Dodecahedron has 12 faces and 20 vertices, each face being a pentagon. The Dodecahedron is associated with spirit and consciousness and is attributed to the third eye chakra which shows the truth beyond illusion by helping us see the divine connection with all things.
Some have believed that the Dodecahedron represents an idealised form of Divine thought, will or ideas. To contemplate this symbol was to engage in meditation upon the Divine.
Sphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space that is the surface of a completely round ball. This shape is associated with the crown chakra which is elementally linked to cosmic energy and opens the connection to the infinite source of creation. By understanding the sphere we are able to release limitations and through conscious focus we create union with a higher power. Through understanding the mysteries surrounding these ancient and universal shapes we can gain cosmic knowledge of our infinite connectedness to the universe and beyond.
All the artwork in this article was created by Lisa Winter. To see more of her work visit her website or her online store.
You can also listen to Lisa’s talk on Sacred Geometry as part of the upcoming Lighten Up Summit which starts on 19th September. Register today.
We are all born with a certain role in this miraculous life, yet our free will has a tendency to take us wandering down the side streets. Why, because we’re human and tend to get swayed by the many, and often distracting, influences in our life. The great news Liz has for us, is that our soul is always there to give us insight as we go! Our soul is the part of us that has a clear vision. It knows exactly why we are here in this lifetime and we can benefit greatly from tapping into that knowing.
There are quite a few ways for tapping into what your Soul wants to do, but here are 2 well know ways:
Visualisations
A visualisation is something you logically want. For example, you may want a house with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, water views and a double garage. This image or visualisation is the creation of your mind. You may be familiar with manifesting in this way using vision boards or other imagery to reinforce and create what you can see.
Visualisations teach us that something in our mind can happen and most importantly, allow us to connect to the feeling that we would have if that image was present in our reality. Sometimes our visualisations can shift and change over time. This can actually hamper what the Universe wants to give us. For example, you may visualize a 3 bedroom home, but the Universe wants to give you a 4 or 5 bedroom home because it knows in the future you will have more children. By visualizing only what you want, you may miss out on the opportunity for something better. My guidance would be whenever you visualize, always ask for ‘that or something better’. If you’re asking for a new job and want 100K, make sure when you visualize you put 100K plus because the Universe may want to give you a job which is paying 120K.
So what exactly are dreams then?
A dream is something that comes out of the blue or that you just instantaneously wake up with. If it is a dream, it will pop into your awareness when it is not at all relevant to what you are doing – this is your soul telling you something, telling you where it is wanting to be, rather than the ego/mind directing you. Have you ever felt a deep and resounding knowing arise within you? That is a dream! Something you feel in every cell of your body, not merely think with your mind. Dreams are the light bulb moments, the glue that brings miracles together, an offering of information from the Universe. They create magical experiences, are alive with awe and allow a spontaneous emergence of gratitude.
For example, I never set out to design my Archangel Michael empowerment cards. The images just came to me and they created themselves. I asked heaven to help me with the process and soon enough, people started to show up to help me manifest it. With gratitude, I received this assistance from the Universe.
Top tips for bringing your dreams to life
- Stillness – give yourself time and space for your dreams to emerge. Turn your phone off in the evenings, meditate, do yoga, go walking or do a type of physical activity (headphone free) that gifts you with time for your dreams to pop in
- Trust – what you are seeing and feeling is unique to you. Trust the creative and supportive energy present in that deep knowing and remember to trust in yourself regardless of external resistance
- Feel – when you think about the dream, how do you feel? Feel this sensation in your body. Will others feel this? Is it good for you? Is it relevant right now? Can you put it aside for later? Is it of service? What service could it be for others?
- Ask – reach out to the Universe, to loved ones that have passed over, guides etc. for support of all kinds
- Open – allow this support to come forward. Listen carefully to the energy of life. Be aware of messages through conversations, through the media, through your intuition and any other creative ways your soul may gift you with your dreams
So next time you are about to go after the ‘dreams’ you want rather than those that come to you, pause, get out of your own way, offer to be of service and then allow them to come to you!
Allow the heavens to gift you more than you think you are worth and on this Gratitude Day (21st September), hold a moment of gratitude for your ability to dream, for the experiences your dreams bring and the infinite potential they connect you to.
Liz is an Empowerment Mentor, Assertiveness Coach, Business Intuitive and a Spiritual Physician and Healer. She is able to combine her Psychic, Mediumship, Reiki & Pranic Healing skills to provide both comprehensive & holistic services to clients that is focused on both their individual and business needs. By removing fears, limitations and old patterns, (along with a sprinkling of angelic energy), Liz assists clients to reach their full potential and to fly.
She offers one on one sessions in person and on Skype, as well as board room consultations that assist in bringing balance to an organisation.
You can contact her via email, facebook, website or phone 0411 560 562.
Liz will be speaking at this year’s Lighten Up Summit starting on the 19th September. Register today.
There are signs around us of a fading winter – the sun is rising earlier and with it early morning bird calls. There are a few early flowers blossoming in the garden and I can start to sense a change in energy – from wanting to stay under the covers of winter to now start moving again in spring.
One of the energies that is really strong at the moment is the need to cleanse – to declutter in all areas of our lives. I’m finding myself looking inwards, observing my thought patterns. I have recently begun a detox diet and can feel my body’s lightness. But I’ve also started decluttering the house. Our spare room contains a collection of boxes and bags – of books, clothes and toys – ready for donation.
Why it’s important to declutter
So let’s talk more about that last point – decluttering our homes.
According to spiritual guru Rob Bell, “Our external environments mirror our internal lives. Clean, intentional physical space can dramatically affect how calm our minds and hearts are.”
Decluttering our physical spaces – our external environments – has a direct correlation on our internal energy and its ability to flow. Physical possessions that hold no clear purpose contain stagnant energy. That energy can drain us of our focus, distract us and leave us in a place of not feeling calm and centred.
In this shift in energy from being inwards, to one that wants us to burst and blossom and shine, take time to ‘spring clean’ and declutter your physical spaces. This can help get that vital energy moving and flowing – setting you up for the next 6 to 8 months before it’s time to go back under the covers again in late autumn and winter.
Here are some tips on decluttering your space:
- Find a corner of your house that needs some spring cleaning. It could be your wardrobe, your kitchen cupboards or your bathroom drawers.
- Sort through your possessions and put them into 3 piles:
- Throw away or recycle pile
- Donate pile
- Keep pile
- If you are having difficulties in working out which pile to put your items in, ask yourself:
“Do I really need this? Does this have a clear purpose?” - If the item has no clear purpose but holds sentimental value, consider taking a photo of it and maybe even say a little blessing:
“Thank you for the memory, I treasure what it means to me and I will hold it in my heart. You can now be released as this memory is held where it needs to be held.”
- If you are having trouble parting with items, sometimes it helps to have your partner, a family member or friend help you out. They probably don’t have the same attachments as you do and will be able to help you determine what’s clutter and what’s worth keeping.
- Before putting the items from your ‘Keep’ pile back in your space, give your space a good clean, ready for a new season.
Decluttering your physical space will help you increase your energy levels, improve your mental clarity and make you feel great. Chances are you won’t even notice or miss the items you have let go of, but you will certainly feel the benefits of not having them in your home and life anymore.
As I wrote in my book, It’s Your Birth… Right?, “When you declutter your space, you pare yourself back and can more clearly see your true self. With the mess cleared away, there is nowhere to hide, but you can also realise that you’re not defined by your material possessions, but by what is in your heart and soul.”
Be sure to tell us in the comments below how you decluttered and what you felt shift afterwards.
Sources: Rob Bell (2016), How To Be Here, and Cherie Pasion (2015), It’s Your Birth… Right?
Cherie Pasion is an author and mama who runs Connected Mama, helping women emotionally and energetically prepare for motherhood with her online programs and mentoring. When she’s not writing or mentoring, she can often be found exploring nature with her husband and son.
You can connect with via her website, Facebook and Instagram.
Cherie will also be one of our 50 inspiring speakers at the upcoming Lighten Up Summit. Starts 19 September. Register today.
When we find our passion and calling we are creating through The Divine Source – God.
What an honour, what a privilege to express our unique gifts just as the Universe intended. There is a force greater than us and by opening our hearts and connecting; we are also in touch with our Soul and our own Divinity.
Black ink pen, pure crisp white paper, sunrise, solitude, serenity……
A moment in time, the imprint of pen on paper. A black dot breaking the stark white page. The seed, the thought, the beginning of creation. What is this? Unfolding, presenting, birthing. Black ink flowing, lines, curves, more ink – patterns, growing, developing, forming, a cosmic design emerging into existence.
Time stands still, and in that moment a lifetime of questioning, that deep restless feeling of searching and yearning, was finally answered. Stunned, overwhelmed and in awe, I sat motionless, taking it all in, reflecting, awakening…
If you are interested on how to create your own Mandalas: here is a previous article, Connect With Your Soul, Create Your World.
Childhood Creativity
As a youngster, I loved my Derwent pencils, textas, drawing and doodling. I spent hours creating my school projects, designing, planning, drawing, colouring in fancy headings and decorative borders around carefully positioned, hand written, researched articles. My favourite subject at school was maths and of course the wonderful world of geometry. I admired all different forms of Art, trying various mediums hoping to find an outlet for my creativity. My love also extended to beautiful things especially the beauty of the natural world, so exquisitely designed by Mother Nature.
Who would have thought these childhood pastimes were the deep knowing of my Soul’s desire to create Mandalas. It all made sense, the coming together of all the things I love. Once I joined the dots, I realised my Work was always there, waiting, waiting patiently for the right place and the right time. Divine time.
Going with the Flow
I let them flow, one by one, with fervour and enthusiasm, sometimes till all hours of the night, welcoming in the first light of dawn. I could not get enough. Drawing whenever I had a spare moment, constantly being drawn back to the exciting and amazing Art that is Mandalas. Simple, yet intricate, subtle, yet powerful, steeped in Sacred Geometry.
The purge was obsessive, yet satisfying on so many levels. I found my passion. I found my calling. Wow! Is that not something we only read in personal development books, or that only happens to a select privileged few?
That never happens to ordinary people, going about their ordinary, mundane lives, day in, day out, or so I thought. Yes, that cathartic experience, it does happen to very ordinary people just like me!!
Connecting with Clarity
The peace, the exhilaration, the relief, the happiness and so much more were beyond words. I started to come alive, remembering parts of myself I had forgotten. No amount of money could have bought the emotions and feelings I experienced. All of them rolled into one, an indescribable high – priceless.
This discovery of purpose and the healing as a result are truly miraculous. I define myself as my parent’s daughter, my husband’s wife, my children’s mother and all the many other roles we play, but at the apex of this identity is my Divine Self, Despina, the Mandala Artisan.
And so it is. It is my great honour to introduce ‘Infinite Pathways Mandalas’ – a precious gift from the Divine Source through me for all Humanity.
Through this Sacred Art, I wish to bring forth, The Divine Love and Light of God, delivered in simple yet magnificent Sacred Geometry form. They represent the Soul’s Essence and assist in healing at the deepest level of the subconscious. May they bring Infinite Love, Joy, Happiness, Prosperity, Health and Abundance.
May they heal, remind us of Who We Really Are, allow us to find our passion, our calling through our God–Given gifts and in the process, create an extraordinary life.
What a precious Sacred Divine Gift resonating the Essence of You, to reflect and see your Self through the Eyes of God.
Despina Pappas is an Artist who loves creating Mandalas. Creative processes that are organic and intuitive, based in Sacred Geometry, is her passion and calling.
Mandalas touch the heart of the soul and are a great tool for meditation and healing, to gain knowledge from within and to become One with the Universe. Through her Mandalas, she wishes to spread the Light and Love that is available to all of us. Have your own personalised Mandala created by her. Raise your vibration, transform your life and enjoy the journey to become Who You Really Are and Create the Life of Your Dreams.
Contact with Despina via infinite8pathways@hotmail.com, call on 0402 991 540 or Facebook. You can also delve in a little deeper in the upcoming Lighten Up Summit. Starts 19 September. Register today.
When you are in a job that doesn’t make you happy, it is easy to feel frustrated, unfulfilled and unmotivated.
However, you know that deep inside there is a little voice trying to tell you that you are in the wrong place and you need to do something about it.
You might wish that you had a magic wand to give you the confidence boost to leave your comfort zone and start something new.
What you need to know is that having GRATITUDE in any situation in your life will help you to transition faster to a career you love!
When you focus on gratitude you will start to see the good things that you already have and will recognise aspects in yourself, like your greatest qualities and strengths, that you were not aware of.
You will find increased positivity and enthusiasm that opens space in your life for new opportunities and people and you may find that places which no longer align with your new outlook of gratitude, begin to grow distant.
It is like a radio…
Imagine…when you don’t like the song that you are listening to …what do you do? Stay on that station and think about how much you don’t like the song?
No, you think about what kind of song you want to hear next and you change the station!
This new station is fantastic and you will find an abundance of happiness, confidence, and courage to pursue a career you love.
Unhappiness and gratitude can’t not coexist at the same time!
Let’s tune in…your gratitude station…are you ready?
Here are 5 questions to provoke insights to use gratitude and transition to a career you love.
- What lessons are you learning from this situation that you are grateful for?
- What if this situation will help you to get to a better place in your career?
- How grateful are you for the skills you already have, and what are they?
- What past challenges in your career (that you overcame) are you grateful for?
- What actions with gratitude are you going to take to move to you closer to your dream career?
Be part of this movement and start today your own Career Revolution from the inside out!
Samia Pego Keating is The Career Revolution Coach and founder of Focus Mind Coaching.
She is passionate about helping professional woman who feel unhappy and unfulfilled in their careers to gain a confidence boost to make the transition to a career they love, whether it is a change career path or becoming an entrepreneur.
Some years ago, Samia was working as a recruitment consultant, and despite being very successful in her career, deep inside she was feeling stressed and unfulfilled. She undertook a journey of self-discovery that resulted in being able to align her skills and expertise in doing what she loves: helping others start their own career revolution from the inside out.
Samia is certified as a Master NLP Coach, as well as Master Time Line Therapy and Master Hypnosis certifications, from Tad James Co. She also holds a strong inventory career assessment certification and Diploma of Human Resources.
She offers online consultations globally via Skype, you can access her programs Dream Career Revolution and The Entrepreneur Revolution via her website www.focusmindcoaching.com.au or send an email to samia@focusmindcoaching.com.au
You can also connect with Samia as part of the upcoming Lighten Up Summit. Starts 19 September. Register today.
Winter time is when the soups come into their own. There are all sorts of recipes out there yet they all have one thing in common – they nourish us physically and emotionally.
So how can you have a warming soup which is raw? Use warm to hot water as the liquid and also use warming spices like garlic, cumin and ginger.
Over the last couple of weeks I have had a strong desire for ginger. I’ve added ginger powder to my morning drink and ginger essential oil to my smoothies, dressings and sauces while also using the aroma of the oil by adding a drop to the top of my shirt. Ginger is great for assisting with the digestive system and supporting overall digestive health but did you know that ginger is also great for those times you are having trouble ‘digesting’ ideas or information. Another aspect of ginger is that it is great for those times when you are feeling powerless as it helps create that inner fire and promotes a sense of empowerment. With all of this I can see why I was instinctively craving ginger.
It’s amazing when you ‘listen’ to what your body is telling you and how it is working to bring you back into balance.
One of the dishes I created during that time was this soup. It both warmed and nourished me, emotionally and physically and has become a ‘go to’ dish. If you do not have ginger essential oil then add about 1cm knob of ginger root instead of the ginger essential oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 Thai coconut – water and flesh
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp cumin powder
- 1 garlic clove
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup hot filtered water
- 3-4 button mushrooms, peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 tsps tamari
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1-2 small bok choy, thinly sliced
- 1 drop of ginger essential oil
- pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
- In a bowl, mix the sliced mushrooms, 1 Tbs olive oil and 2 tsp tamari together. Let this marinate while making rest of soup.
- In a separate bowl, add thinly sliced bok choy, 1 Tbs olive oil and 2 tsp tamari. Massage olive oil and tamari into the bok choy. This will help to wilt it.
- In a blender, add turmeric, cumin, garlic, clove, salt, pepper and coconut (flesh and water). The amount of water will depend on the amount of water in the coconut and consistency you prefer your soup to be. Blend together until smooth.
- Pour soup into a large bowl and add 1 drop ginger essential oil. Wish this through the soup.
- Add marinated mushrooms and bok choy to the soup and gently mix through.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne pepper. I only add the tiniest amount as I find cayenne pepper exceptional hot.
To learn how to open a Thai coconut check out my video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6y_43y3nY
Note: When using essential oils internally ensure they are of the highest grade and can be used internally. I use doTERRA essential oils for this reason.
Vicki is passionate about teaching people the benefits of raw/live food and how easy it is to incorporate into your lifestyle. She has been on her own journey with food for the last 20+ years. Yet it has been with the discovery of raw/live food that she found she has ‘come home’.
By increasing your consumption of raw/live food you can increase your energy, help connect more deeply with yourself, open up your heart centre and profoundly change your life.
She will be joining us on the Lighten Up Summit which starts on 19 September 2016, sharing her knowledge on nutrition, .
So what is self-compassion and why is it important?
Self-compassion is an action and an attitude in which we accept and embrace ourselves. Being self-compassionate means embracing ourselves for who we are, the good, the bad and everything in-between. It’s important because it doesn’t just improve our feelings toward ourselves but research shows that it also improves the relationships with have with others.
Unfortunately, today we live in a cultural storm that encourages and embraces self-criticism. It even touts that being hard on yourself is highly motivating. This is not only inaccurate but can be damaging to who we are and how we feel about ourselves.
People who are more self-compassionate are more caring and supportive. They tend to feel worthy, are happy, feel authentic and are more able to express their opinions in their relationships. Research shows that self-compassion actually reduces the stress hormone cortisol. The results of research into self-compassion conducted by Dr. Kristen Neff indicated that individuals with self-compassionate partners were significantly more likely to report being satisfied with their relationship. In addition to this Dr. Neff also found that partners of people who were more self-compassionate were also more:
- Caring (i.e., affectionate, warm, and considerate)
- Accepting of their partners
- Inclined to accept their partner’s limitations
- Likely to compromise in times of relationship conflict
The core components to self-compassion are:
Treating ourselves kindly
So often women will extend empathy out to others and feel completely isolated in their own struggles. We live in a culture that reveres women who appear to do it all, who can be everything to everyone. We see it in the media, at schools, at work, within our friendship groups as well as in our families. In my private practice in Brisbane I see women who are worn out and overwhelmed. When they feel like this they tend to withdraw into their own heads listening to the “not good enough” stories they tell themselves. As we try to be all things to all people we are becoming lost.
Linking in to our common humanity
Reminding ourselves that we are trying our best is of utmost importance. No one is perfect. Everybody makes mistakes. We are hardwired to connect and it is through relationships with others that we can really feel seen and heard. It is through these attachment systems that we are able to be soothed with love and affection. The process of loving compassion helps to calm us down, reduce stress and relieve worries. Criticism does the opposite. Those principles hold true whether the love and compassion comes from someone else or ourselves. The same is true of criticism.
Being more understanding and less judgmental about our inadequacies
In our world of social media comparison is rife. Being ‘good enough’ quite simply is not good enough. We need to be smarter, richer, more cultured, more artistic, and thinner. Average has become a dirty word. Self-esteem comes down to how we value ourselves in comparison to others. A lot of parents try to instill self-esteem in their children, praising them often. The problems arise when the praise is linked to comparison with others. What happens when our praise is conditional on comparison is that we develop high self-esteem but low levels of self-acceptance and self-compassion.
That awful internal voice
No matter what kind of parent, person, partner, or colleague they are, many people simply feel like they are not good enough. We are far crueler to ourselves than any other person could ever be. Some of the things women have said to me in sessions include:
- I’m so stupid
- I’m so disgusting
- I’m pathetic
- I’m lazy
- I’m ugly
- I’m a loser
While we may think that beating ourselves up will motivate us to change, we are actually ensuring that negative behaviour patterns remain in place. People who criticise themselves relentlessly are likely to find shadow comforts to soothe hurt feelings. Instead we need to practice self-care and self-compassion.
By beginning to “notice” what your inner voice is telling you, you not only stop it in its tracks, but you put some emotional distance between the instinctive need to beat yourself up and the capacity to choose an alternative narrative like “I’m doing my best right now”.
So if you find that you are being highly critical of yourself slow down and notice the stories that are running through your head. Then try being kind and compassionate to yourself. There are more than enough reasons to practice self-compassion.
Debbi Carberry is a clinical social worker in private practice in Brisbane, where she specialises in relationship transformation. She has spent over ten years working with women and couples to help them form and maintain successful and fulfilling relationships.
She is the author of a short relationship guide “Is Your Approach to Relationships Healthy? 7 Questions Every Woman Should Ask Herself” and the creator of the groundbreaking online course, “Rewiring your brain for better relationships.”
Debbi will also be part of our team in the Lighten Up Summit, register today, starts on September 19th.