December 29th, 2008, by Shelley Riutta
It is now a few days before the start of a New Year. It is a perfect time to be reflecting and setting your intentions for the upcoming year. What would you like to see happen in your life for the next year? What changes would you like to make? We are always growing and expanding –it is important to keep up with the growth that our Spirits are calling us to make.
A lot of times we will hear the whispers of change in the reoccuring thoughts we have–like “I would really like to change jobs” or “I would really like to travel to Italy” or “I would really love to move to a different place.” Oftentimes as soon as we have these thoughts–the voice of our conditioned self starts to speak with responses like “I can’t change jobs–what about the ecomony–I need to stay put” or “I can’t travel–I have no one to go with” or “I am too scared to move.” So another year goes by and these dreams go unfulfilled– then we wonder why we feel a lack of vibrancy, joy and aliveness.
What dreams and intentions would you like to take out of the closet to pursue this year? What new directions would you like to go in this year? If anything were possible what would you do? These are the questions to be asking yourself right now. What about setting some BOLD intentions? Intentions that will really make big shifts in your life. One of the best way to bypass anxiety and fear is to step out boldly and take big risks. What would these be for you?
The key thing to remember is that it is a powerful act to set an intention and then to take concrete action to pursue this intention. Once you do this the Universe responds to your commitment and action. You will feel supported as you take action and move forward on your intentions in ways that will just amaze you. If you hang back and just ponder the intention with doubt and lack of commitment you will just get more of this same kind of energy mirrored back to you. If you are clear, committed and willing to take action the Universe will respond in kind.
What would you like your Intentions to be for the New Year? I would love to hear what they are!
December 20th, 2008, by Shelley Riutta
Are you immobilized by fear about the economy? Many people are and instead of moving forward into their dreams they are pulling back in fear. This is the exact opposite of what is needed right now.
We are in a transformational time that is urging each one of us to live more authentically and true to our heart. If we continue to ignore the voice of our true self and stay in places in our life out of fear—we are going to be more stuck than ever.
What I have found is the people that have been stuck are struggling even more now—and the people that are moving forward in faith are the ones that are seeing this time as a true opportunity to align more with their Spirits. When we are in faith and trust we hear the voice of our true voice guiding us safely on our path. Our attention is inward to the subtle messages of our intuition-which is how our Spirit speaks to us.
If you look to the news or to outer sources to guide you-you will be confused and fearful. Use this as an opportunity to start to listen to your own inner guidance system. This voice will be one of comfort, reassurance and ideas on how to proceed during this time.
If you can think of this time as a Spiritual Awakening-that we are moving into higher, lighter spiritual frequencies. With this transition we are all called to release the denser energies of fear and control to be able to embrace this higher energy. What I see happening is that a part of the fear that people are experiencing right now is an actual release of long held dense energy that has been held inside for a long time.
It is helping people being able to hold this higher frequency–so this is actually a good thing. The other kind of fear that I see people in is not a release but is being created by a projection of fear into the future. This is unnecessary fear that people are experiencing and is just causing them to suffer.
So see if you can identify where your fear is coming from. If it is old, dense fear that is being released-breathe into it and consciously focus on releasing this dense energy-helping it to move through your body.
If it is self-created fear based on projecting fearful thoughts into the future then open up to comforting and reassuring this fearful part of you that is creating these scary scenarios. Reassure this part of you from your loving adult that you can stay in the present moment, taking loving care of yourself and listening to your guidance on the best way to move forward. Trust that you are being guided to navigate this time calmly and with the full assurance that all is well.
December 18th, 2008, by Shelley Riutta
This is a picture I took last year when I was down in Florida giving my 3-Day Inner Bonding, Breathwork and Joy Breakthrough Workshop. Isn’t it beautiful! Well I am happy to announce that I will be giving this Workshop again in lovely Ocala, Florida on Feb. 26th, 27th and 28th. I hope you will join us to make 2009 the year you move into a new level of Joy and living your dreams! For more information on the Workshop go here.
December 8th, 2008, by Shelley Riutta
“Blessed is the Season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” Hamilton Wright Mabie
Over the years of working with clients there has been a common theme of people dreading the Holidays. There are various reasons for some of the dread like: not wanting to be around certain family members, not liking the commercialization of the Holidays, old feelings that the Holiday can bring up, feeling the loss of someone who is not there for the Holiday.
Whatever the reason there is a way to work with it and actually shift the dread into a more hopeful, excited perspective.
Here are some tips to help make this Your Best Holiday Ever!
1. If you have anxiety about being around certain family members–see if there is some family members you do enjoy. Make a plan to spend more of your time interacting with these family members. Oftentimes people have the most fun playing with children–because they are the most loving and open people at the event! If there is no one you would like to interact with–think about not being with family for the whole time and find some friends you can spend more of your time with.
2. Let go of expectations from others to do things a certain way. Decide what the Holidays mean for you and then spend your time honoring this meaning. If it means sharing love and not material items with others—have that be OK. If you don’t want to cook–don’t cook. If you don’t want to go to a certain place–don’t go. Spend time in ways that honor what this time of year really means for you–rather then responding to the pressure from others to do be a certain way. I have had clients who have decided to go on a vacation and celebrate the Holidays on a tropical island:)
3. Be Loving with Yourself if Old Feelings Come Up- If you have had Holidays as a child that were painful or stressful–these old feelings may get triggered. Be compassionate and loving with yourself with these feelings and then bring yourself gently into the present moment. Remind yourself that you get to create what you want to experience now and you are no longer powerless over what happens.
4. Honor your grief if you have lost a loved one- If this is a first Holiday after you have lost someone you love–whether through death or a break-up–it is important to be loving with yourself as you feel your authentic grief. Be mindful of not allowing allowing this grief to overshadow your enjoyment of the people you do have in your life– who you can share love with during the Holidays.
5. Take responsibility for your happiness at the Holidays. Don’t hand this over to others and expect them to meet your ideal vision of what should be happening. Let others be just as they are and don’t make your fun dependent on what they are doing or not doing. Tune into what you love to do most around this time of year and make a plan to do it. Do you love to bake, look at lights, listen to music, see a concert, have quiet time alone or have a party?
6. Create Rituals that Have Special Meaning for You. Make conscious decisions about rituals that can add depth, meaning and fun to this time of year for you. You can do this alone or with others. This can be simple and fun like going sledding (if you are around snow:) for New Years–or it can be something that has depth and meaning–like mediating on a certain day with a particular intention.
Whatever your spiritual tradition—or what this time of year means for you—have an intention to open up to the beauty, love and joy that is available to you at this special time of year.
December 4th, 2008, by Shelley Riutta
The environment that we are in can have a profound impact on us. The following things make up our environment:
- Our physical surroundings–the decor, colors, sounds, smells, the kinds of activity happening around us
- The people around us–what they are saying, doing, the kind of energy they are emitting (ex. happy, frustrated)
- The overall energy of the place we are in. Each place—each home, place of business has a signature energy–which is a combination of the moods of everybody, what historically has happened there, how physically clean it is, the intentions of the business owners. This energy in turn impacts how people feel there which can in turn contribute to more of the same energy. Example–if it is a place with a happy energy–it is more likely that people will feel happy there and emit more energy of happiness into the environment.
This kind of awareness can help you to choose the environments you decide to spend your time in. It can also help to be aware of the kind of environment you are creating in your own home and office and notice if this is the kind of environment you want to create.
Last week I was out to lunch with a friend and we went to an Indian restaurant here in town. I have been to this restaurant before and have had a good feel about being there–but this time it was striking how beautiful it was there. There was so much care that went into the decor and it was so clean that it almost shimmered. The energy feel of it was also light and beautiful. There were lots of window with light streaming in the golden curtains. The people that worked there also were so focused on really being of service and were kind and loving. I really got how this kind of care and attention on so many levels really helps to uplift people and nurture their Spirits.
So pay attention to the environments you are in and see how they feel to you. Notice what you like and what you don’t like. Use this as information to make the adjustments that you can in your own environment and then to be more mindful of where you spend your free time.