Living in the present moment.

Who here suffers from anxiety? *raises hand* I've dealt with anxiety for almost as long as I can remember. In middle school it manifested itself in constant tummy aches and missing lots of school, in high school I learned what an anxiety attack was and to hide out in the girl's bathroom until they passed.

There are tons of ways to cope with anxiety and there has been one tiny thing that has been a big help.

Living in the moment.

Easy to say, yet hard to do, I know. It's one of those things that takes a lot of practice, especially if you have monkey mind, which is where your mind just won't shush and keeps jumping from topic to topic. First thing's first, concentrate on what's going on right now, in this very moment.

I mean, right now you're hanging out with me, maybe with a cup of tea or coffee, hopefully you're all comfy, with a great day ahead of you, or a good night's sleep in the near future. That doesn't sound too shabby, right? Focus on what's happening right now, focus on what you are feeling in this moment without the baggage of what has happened or what might happen.

This moment is pretty nice right?

When you stop worrying about what might happen, or you stop playing the past in your mind, you're making space for the good things, for the real things, to flood into your life. What has happened can't be changed, and what is going to happen hasn't happened yet. 

Concentrate on breathing. There's breathing and then there's breathing. That's when you feel it deep in your stomach. After several deep breaths you start feeling it all through your body, suddenly your muscles are relaxing and all the yucky stuff starts fading.

Also focus on your body. One of the things that I do when I get anxious (trade secret here!) is I start massaging my hand. It helps me to focus on the right now, the feeling of my skin, of the feeling of easing tension out of my body. Good stuff!

Get thy feet to the Earth, or learn how to ground. Grounding, also known as earthing, is the act of connecting yourself back to the earth. There are many ways to ground. Sometimes it's as easy as going outside and letting your bare feet walk upon Mama Earth. The easiest way to do this is to go outside (doing it inside will work too). Imagine you have roots coming out of your feet (if you are standing) or the base of your spine (if you are sitting). Picture your roots reaching deep down into the earth. Let them anchor you to the Source of all life. Empty your body of everything that isn't serving you.

Practicing mindfulness is one of the keys to a happy, zen, life. Enjoy it!

How do you remind yourself to stay in the moment?

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It is your time.

Don't forget to enter the Blessing Manifesting Giveaway!

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Gratitude + Give-a-ways + Lots of Lovin's

Hello you lovely you!

How's it going? I'm doing great! The smile is at full wattage, I'm happy it's officially Spring, and I am so excited for what is to come. We are going to rock this year. We are going to make our dreams come true.

It's going to be amazing.

I really wanted to show my appreciation for you (yes you!) by doing a giveaway! I love doing Oracle Card Readings and here's your opportunity to get one for freesies! (p.s. Have you seen Oracle of the Shapeshifters? So excited to own this one on April 30th! It looks gooorgeous!)

I want you all to know what beautiful souls you are. I have felt so supported this last month. You all have wrapped me up with your comforting words and your loving thoughts and I am so lucky to know all of you.

To show my love (and because I LOVE doing readings) I'm giving away (5) One-card Oracle Readings! I am so excited and I hope you win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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A Secret About Anger

You know, there's sometimes this view of me, and people like me, a misunderstanding that because I focus on positivity and mindfulness that I must have my life together. That everything is perfect. Oh how that makes me laugh. In truth, I'm just like you and you're just like me.

Did you know that I get angry?

In truth, sometimes I get really angry.

I get jealous, I get resentful, I get sad, I get lonely, I experience all of those things and sometimes it's difficult and it's the last thing I want to deal with but I do it anyway.

I've always had anger issues, explosive anger issues. I remember trying to hit and kick my mom when I was teenager. I remember my penchant for throwing things and slamming doors. When I was seventeen and found out we were moving to a different state I literally threw myself on the floor and had a temper tantrum that a two year old would be proud of. In my first apartment I cracked the bathroom wall when I kicked it, I have a scar on my leg from a time that I thought it was wise to kick my coffee table while I was in a rage.

The truth is we all get angry, maybe not the extent of breaking things and screaming at people, but it happens...

And it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I think it's especially hard, as women, to own up to our anger. It's an inconvenient emotion that we can't usually do anything with except to let it go, or in most cases, stuff it down and pretend that it doesn't exist. We tend to think of our anger in terms of how it effects other people, instead of how it effects us.

I've been working on my anger for years now, and I've learned a few things. Most spiritual gurus will tell you to release thy anger. However, you can't just get angry and release it, like a game of hot-potato. You've got to work through it first. You've got to hold onto it, move it around in your hands, figure out the why and the how of it, and what you're going to do with it, only then can you truly release it and let it go.

When you are angry and not dealing with it, it will usually manifest in some other way. You'll find yourself being passive aggressive towards the object of your anger, you might start getting anxious, or depressed, or guilty, or even worse, you'll start oozing negativity all of the time.

You just gotta find a way to deal with it.

Be compassionate.

Being angry doesn't mean that you are a bad person. Wanting to express that anger doesn't mean that you have bad impulse control. It doesn't mean that there's any fault with you. Everybody gets angry and you are allowed to honor that. Trust in your ability to handle it and handle it well instead of forgetting about it or ignoring it.

Learn why you are angry.

Sometimes it's not even anger. Anger can mask guilt, hurt, insecurities, and a whole slew of other emotions. For example, it's easier to be mad at your boyfriend for arriving 10 minutes late to a date, than to admit that maybe you're scared that he's cheating because it's happened in past relationships. Get to the bottom of your anger. Maybe you'll realize that you're just tired and stressed and little things are getting to you, or maybe you'll realize that there's this pool of unresolved anger within you that's close to boiling over.

Discover what you can do about it and do it.

Think about what you can do to deal with your anger. Maybe it's one of those situations that can be resolved by lots of deep breathing or jotting down your feelings in your journal. Or perhaps it's time for a conversation with someone. One of the things I've learned (although it's quite obvious) is not to talk about the anger when you're in the midst of feeling it with the person that you're angry at!

Wait until you've cooled down. That includes, texts, tweets, facebook statuses, and emails! Most of the time you're not going to be eloquent, you're going to be too aggressive, or too defensive, and you're not going to get your point across in a way that's ultimately going to be constructive.

Anger is a tricky thing, but when you learn to control it, instead of letting it control you, a lot of healing begins to take place and that spills over into other areas of your life. It's worth the work.

How do you usually deal with anger?

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When you aren't enough.

When you are feeling like you aren't enough I want to let you know something. It's something that I'm constantly learning over and over again. Each time the knowledge sinks into my soul I think it's something that I'll never forget, but I still forget. I need a reminder.

You are enough.

I never thought I would be where I am right now, but I'm here, and it's enough.

I never thought I was talkative enough to do what I do. I was always the shy, quite, bookworm growing up. I never imagined that people would listen to me, and I never imagined that I would want them to. I didn't think I had anything worth saying. I grew up feeling like I wasn't skinny enough or funny enough or interesting enough for anyone to want to be my friend or for anyone to care what I had to say. It wasn't true.

I was enough and so are you.

I had my first relationship and I still didn't think I was pretty enough, or sexy enough, or wanted enough, or loved enough. I started my business and I didn't think I was smart enough, or motivated enough, or a good enough writer. But I did it anyway and I am good enough for one reason.

I show up.

I don't let the not-enough's keep me from trying. You shouldn't either. If there's something you want to do right now, do it. Believe in yourself. Believe in your worthiness. Believe in your inherent good-enough-ness because one day, maybe years from now, you are going to look back and you are going to see how worthy you truly were. How you were good enough in every way that matters.

Don't waste minutes, hours, or days feeling like you aren't enough.

You are, you are, you are, enough. I promise, and I want you to see that with my whole heart. Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't pretty enough and don't let anyone make you feel like you aren't smart enough or lovable enough. You don't have to change or be better, or fix anything about yourself to be worth total, complete, and unconditional love.

Unconditional love in every sense of the word.

Whatever you are right now is good enough to love. It's worthy of love.  You are brave enough to make your dreams come true and to do that thing that you want to do. You don't have to be more than you are. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be anything but you.

And that is enough.

That is more than enough.

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The Time of the Maiden

Spring is upon us! You may still be cloaked in snow, but something is starting to unfurl, something is starting to slowly creep up through the earth.

The world is beginning to blossom.

Change is in the air. It's time for something new. I love Winter for it's slow energy, it gives me a chance to rest and contemplate and relax, but I tend to lean more towards curling up with a warm blanket and a book. Spring brings with it a rush of new ideas and new motivation.

When we think about Spring we think newness and youth, and that is the realm of the maiden. Now is the time to focus on where you really want to go in the coming months. Start planting the seeds of growth.

What seeds do you want to plant this year?

This season represents new beginnings and those hopes and dreams that are floating just below the surface. It is time to make those things happen. You can get a candle (spring colors like pastels work best), light the candle while thinking about that beautiful dream of yours and imagine it coming true. Imagine how it would feel if it would happen, imagine every detail as you hold that candle in your hand. The candle represents your intent to make it happen.

You can also use this time to plant seeds, literal seeds, while thinking about those things that you want to happen. As the seeds grow and blossom it's a way for you to manifest your dreams and desires.

This is also a time to tap into our innocence and release our worries. We spend so much time being adults, worrying about this and that and everything else.

Do something fun, do something that relaxes you, and allows you to embrace joy.

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Spring is in the air!

I am so excited for winter to be over! Don't get me wrong, I love Winter for the first part of it, and then I start to get a little restless. I want the sun shining down on me and gentle breezes, and that feeling that something new and exciting is just around the corner. Besides, Winter this year has kinda sucked balls.

Bring on Spring, and let's make it fantastic.

I have some really big plans. My Journey through Journaling e-course should be up and running by the end of next month. So.freaking.excited. I am quite positive that it's going to be my favorite thing yet!

I've also started redecorating my home. Before, I was a fan of sedate colors, light green for my living room and blue for the bedroom, now I'm adding color, lots of color, and I am loving it! I actually have a shopping trip planned for today! What fun!

In honor of Spring I am sharing my Blessings of Spring ebook and sharing what a wonderful resource it is to getting into the Spring Spirit and getting excited about it! It's a time to shake things up, make some great changes, and focus on what we want to be and what we want to do this year.

What's in it?

65 pages of Blessing Manifesting Wisdom + 11 workbook pages for you to print out and fill in.

Twelve articles on emotional/physical/spiritual Self Love

Information on 10 different stones and crystals to help you make a fabulous new beginning.

The low-down on aromatherapy, 6 oils for Spring that will heal and inspire you + 10 recipes to get you started.

Connect with seven Spring Animal Guides, including Rabbit and Snake. Plus you're going to see how Chicken and Sheep aren't bad totems to have despite their reputation!

Information on the colors and chakras of the season as well as seven rituals to make your wishes come true, embrace abundance, and get in touch with your fertility, which doesn't just mean baby makin', although that could be fun too!

Are you dreading Spring Cleaning? Never fear! I give you a Spring Cleaning battle plan that will have you mopping the floor with your feelings of overwhelm. (I'm working the one-liners today!)

Have you ever eaten a bird's nest? How's about a mudpie with a worm coming out of it? I'll give you the delicious recipes + some other arts, crafts, and activities ideas!

We end the book with two written guided meditations to get you all zen-like!


It'll be perfect for you if...

You need encouragement to make plans and follow dreams. Plant that seed!

Your Self-Care practices aren't stellar and you need some ideas on how to shake things up and create a life you love.

You're interested in holistic ways to deal with drained creativity and resistance to change and new beginnings.

You're looking for new activities to celebrate the Springtime.

You haven't yet shaken off the Winter Grumps.

I really want you to experience a great Spring, so until 3/26 I'm giving you $7 off! You get the ebook + workbook for $8! Use the code SPRING at checkout!

If you have the old version of the e-book and want the new prettier looking one, shoot me an e-mail at Dominee@blessingmanifesting.com and I'll send you a free copy!

“I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost bright.” ― Millard Kaufman

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Make Your Own Affirmations

In case you didn't know, I love affirmations. I post them daily on facebook and twitter because they have been one of the tools that have really helped me deal with my "stuff".

Affirmations encourage positive self-talk.

True story. One of my main problems back in the day was the way I talked to myself. I was verbally abusive to a lot of people, but mostly to myself. I'd call myself fat, ugly, and tell myself that no one was going to love me, ever. I was so stupid for every mistake I made. I should've known better, done better, been better...

Affirmations woke me up to a whole new way of speaking to myself. I know that some people think affirmations are lame, and that's totally okay, but for me, they triggered a wonderful change in myself, and I love sharing that with everyone else. I love encouraging people to make that change. I love showing people that you are allowed to think good things and it feels good.

I think that a lot of people are turned off from affirmations because it doesn't feel real or authentic or they can't believe it. Some affirmations are a little out there. "My body is finally catching up with the skinny person that lives inside it." I've seen that one and it makes me raise a skeptical eyebrow and go "No thank you."

Wanna know a secret?

Affirmations don't have to be all light and lovey-dovey. Don't get me wrong, I like those, and I use those, but that might not be your thing and some days it's not my thing. I'm just as likely to say "Today I overcome all of my problems and everything goes my way." as I am: "I am totally going to kick this day's ass and it's going to freaking rock."

Speak your affirmations in your own language.

Look in the mirror and tell yourself what a kickin' ass and takin' names badass you are. Tell yourself that you are going to rock this day. That you are going to get massive amounts of shit done and not freak out. That you are epic and you pwn all (that's gamer speak). Of course I've never been known to dance in front of the mirror telling myself how I'm the most fabulous, lovely, shmexy, person I've ever met, nope, not me at all.

You don't have to change who you are to change how you talk to yourself.

You don't have to turn into some sort of enlightened guru to connect with yourself. As long as what you are saying feels good and is positive in your interpretation then go for it ya know? Make it colorful, make it fun, make it truth.

What's your favorite positive thing to tell yourself?

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10 Ways to Improve a Sucky Moment

Sometimes you're going along, minding your own business when the Universe decides to throw a sucky moment your way.

They're unavoidable ya know. You can try to duck but the Universe has some pretty gnarly aim. And it's probably nothing personal, the Universe still loves you.

I thought I'd give you a few reminders of those things that you can do to make the sucky moments a little less sucky.

Take a deep breath. 
Seriously it helps. While you're at it, make a conscious effort to relax your muscles and all the tense parts of yourself.

Play with something in your pocket. 
I mean a trinket of course. Having prayer beads, or a crystal, or a worry stone, or some special trinket in your pocket is a great way to distract yourself. Allowing yourself just a little distraction can help restart your awareness to what's happening right now instead of the suck.

Don't take it personally.
Just because you are having a bad moment for whatever reason, doesn't mean life is against you and it's never ever going to get better. Don't do the whole self-fulfilling prophecy thing where you believe things are gonna keep sucking so they do. Push that invisible reset button and try to make it better.

Look on the bright side.
Okay, please don't punch me in the face for this one. I know that when you're having a crappy time, that's usually the last piece of advice you want, but there is a brightside so you might as well do a little head nod of acknowledgement. After all, you're breathing right now, right?

Don't sweat what you can't fix.
There's something I like to do when I'm annoyed/upset/angry about something. I ask myself "Can I do anything to fix it?" If the answer is yes, then I try to do it. If the answer is no, then I do my best to let it go. Sometimes you just got to get over the little things and not stew about them. There's something to be said for letting go and letting God.

Breathe in fresh air. 
Seriously, go stick your head out the window if you have to. Just getting a little sunshine can make you feel better. Fresh air can help you breathe deeper, and looking up at the endless sky and just seeing how big everything is can put things into perspective. Take a quick walk if you can, to get your blood moving and releasing those brain-happy endorphins.

Do something good for someone else. 
Reaching out and doing something nice for someone else can have an uplifting effect on your mood. One of the greatest ways to be joyful is to help other people onto that path. Whether it's in little ways, or big ways, knowing that you have the power to make someone else smile is quite amazing.

Look at something funny.
With the phone and the internet you should have no lack of funny things to look at. Follow those funny spoof accounts on twitter, watch funny videos on youtube, (pssssttt! I love Harlem Shake videos!). There are tons of things out there just waiting to be laughed at.

Talk to that awesome person.
You know the one. They make you light up just thinking about them because they are just that darn awesome. Sometimes a good venting session is just what you need to shake it off and cheer up.

Do something new. 
It's amazing what mixing up your schedule can do. Go catch a quick movie after work. Try a new food, take a nap, pick up a book that you wouldn't normally read, seek out a new television show, try yoga or meditation. Mix things up!

What is your favorite way to improve a sucky moment?

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Lessons of the Labyrinth (the movie)

One of my all time favorite movies is the Labyrinth. When I was young it was everything that I wanted in a movie. I identified with the main character so much, after all, who hasn't felt like their parents just aren't fair? Who hasn't wanted an escape? Who hasn't thought that life was just full of unfairness? When I rewatch it now, I am struck by some of the wonderful life lessons throughout the movie.

Lessons that I can identify with and see in myself, especially right now when life seems so danged unfair.

If you've never seen the movie (and don't want to go watch it RIGHT NOW) let me tell you a little bit about it. It's about a teenage girl named Sarah who is transported to a strange world by a Goblin King, in order to save her baby brother, who she wished would be taken by the Goblin King in the first place

The greatest theme throughout the Labyrinth is personal responsibility.

At the beginning of the movie you see Sarah out in the park rehearsing lines from a play. She realizes what time it is and has to hurry home to babysit her baby brother, something that she resents even though she doesn't truly have anything else to do. When she realizes that one of her stuffed animals is missing and her brother Toby won't stop crying, she gets quite fed up with her situation.

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away! Right now!"

She leaves the room and abruptly her brother stops crying. Concerned, she looks in on him only to realize that he's gone. The Goblin King appears and Sarah realizes her mistake and asks for her brother back, but the Goblin King, Jareth, tells her that she can't take it back. "What's said is said." If she wants to have her brother back she must go through the Labyrinth in order to retrieve him.

Even though Sarah would rather spend time with her books, plays, stuffed animals, and getting lost in her imagination, she realizes that she must be the one to save her brother. It's her responsibility.

For the first part of the movie Sarah runs into different creatures expecting them to help her just because, regardless of the fact that she hasn't done anything to deserve it. She has such a sense of entitlement and believes that even though she put herself in the situation, other people should help her out of it.

I've been guilty of this. It took me a long time to realize that I was responsible for my feelings and actions. I would blame other people for how I felt, for not making time for me just because, for not reading my mind when I wanted something. I'm forever learning that my feelings are owned by me and my actions are my own and no one else's. Good lesson, sometimes it's hard to make it stick!

Life is not fair.

Sarah also has to realize that life isn't fair. She keeps getting upset because the rules keep changing and she doesn't understand why. She's trying to do the right thing, she's trying to make up for her mistake, but everything keeps going wrong while she keeps expecting that everything should go her way. It's a hard lesson for her to learn, but when she realizes that life isn't fair it marks a time of growth for her. She realizes that she has to fight for what she wants and not just expect that life will treat her fairly.

I can't count how many times I've said "It's not fair." in the last few weeks. It hasn't been fair, but there's very little I can do about it. What happens, happens, and I can either whine and complain about how life isn't being fair, or I can find a way to deal with it, try to make it better if I can, and move on.

Things aren't always what they seem.

The labyrinth and the creatures within it are never what they seem. Despite the dark look of the labyrinth, it's alive with different creatures. Beautiful fairies are evil, huge furry monsters can be great friends, helping hands aren't always helpful, sometimes warnings point the right way, and most of all you can't judge something just by what you see on the outside.

I am guilty of letting my first impressions last longer than they should. Sometimes it's hard to look past what you see on the outside to discover what's really deep down inside. This also applies to YOU, you aren't always what you seem either. There are things inside of you that you haven't even begin to discover yet!

In the end you've just got to believe in yourself.

Sarah gets her brother back in the end because she refuses to let the Goblin King have power over her. She realizes that she is strong and brave and that she is ultimately just as powerful as anyone else. It all lies within her, all she has to do is acknowledge it and believe it.

"For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great — You have no power over me."

What childhood movies have held the best lessons for you?

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Goddess Wisdom: Amphitrite's Story

I've been feeling really drawn lately to my oracle cards, especially the Ancient Feminine Wisdom of Goddesses and Heroines deck. I thought it would be nice to feature the story of one of these Goddesses and Heroines every once and awhile.

Her Story.

Amphitrite (pronounced Amf-eh-try-tee) is the wife of Poseidon and Goddess of the Sea. She is the loud-moaning mother of fish, seals and dolphins. I imagine her voice sounds like the deep sounds of a whale underwater. Not much is known about Amphitrite as she doesn't play a great role in any myths or stories. Amphitrite is the Mama of the Sea, Queen of the ocean, nets tangled in her hair as she rides in a chariot pulled by two mermaids who herald her arrival by blowing into a conch shell.

I get a strong impression of her myself. She speaks to me in the guise of a woman swimming in the depths of the ocean, long limbs gracefully moving through the water, someone who is completely comfortable and at home moving through deep waters. She asks me to swim with her, she takes my hand, pulling me deep into the water. I can feel it rushing over my body. I can feel stress fading, I can feel anxiety dissipating, I feel myself finding the freedom to feel the things that are just under the surface.

What she teaches us.

Amphitrite shows us how to be comfortable within the depths of our feelings and how to navigate through those feelings. She puts us in touch with our psyche, with our inner turmoil that rests beneath the calm of the surface. She leads us through the stormy emotions that swirl within us. When you look at the surface of a body of water often there are waves and ripples on the surface but deep below is when you will find the most life, the most knowledge, the most wisdom.

Embrace your ancient wisdom. Embrace the depths of who you are.

Connect with Amphitrite. 

You can connect with this Goddess by surrounding yourself with water. If you can visit the ocean or the sea, you should do so! If that's not possible, visit a body of water or even take a long soak in the bathtub with a nature CD playing in the background. You can go to an aquarium or simply meditate on the image of the Sea in your mind.

You can also sit by the stormy sea and meditate, or spend some time visiting humpback whales. Those videos make a great ambiance for the journaling prompts!

Journaling Prompts.

If you were to look deep inside of yourself, to the depths of your being, what would you find there?
What is something that dwells underneath the surface of yourself that most people don't know about you?
How do you deal with heavy emotions? Do you allow yourself to feel deeply or do you create distance between yourself and your feelings?
Imagine yourself diving deeply into a body of water. You have no need for breath, you can see clearly, you can move gracefully. What kind of things do you feel? Free? Anxious? Calm?
Write down what things you feel right now, and what those feelings mean to you.

“I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.” ― Anaïs Nin

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This too shall pass.

It's been a week and a half since I've written a blog post, almost a week and a half since I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. I haven't felt like myself lately.

I've been drowning.

When the paralysis of the right side of my face happened, I handled it like a champ. The first two days I had a positive attitude, I wasn't letting it get me down, I was rolling with the punches.

Then day three happened and day three really sucked. It really hit me that I can't laugh or smile. When I try, I look like I'm snarling, cringing, grimacing. I work in retail and I can't look friendly. If I try then everyone wonders wrong with my face. I don't look normal. I don't look happy, and I definitely don't feel happy.

I do feel guilty.

It's just a face, it will go back to normal eventually. There are so many people with chronic illness, with permanent disabilities, and here I am, moaning and groaning over the fact that I'm not all smiles. I feel like I don't have the right to complain, that I'm being petty, that I'm being a big ol' baby. It's taken me over a week to be able to write this because I don't want to be all doom and gloom.

I've also fallen into depression.

It's no secret that I deal with depression, but in the last few years Depression has visited less frequently, leaves rather quickly, with no long lasting signs he was there. This last week has seen Depression and I as best friends who curl up in bed together. He's definitely been wearing out his welcome.

It's been a perfect storm.

The Bell's Palsy happened to coincide with my menstrual cycle, which usually gives me a mild case of the blues. On top of that I was experiencing the flu-like symptoms which usually accompany Bell's Palsy. Did I mention I was put on steroids? Talk about mood swings! I spent a whole day in bed crying, and then another, and all of my usual feel-better methods stopped working. I kept telling myself that these feelings if despair were not my reality.

I didn't want to work, or write, and I started to doubt what I do and why I do it and if I'm meant to do it. I just bought a brand spankin' new video camera. I was so excited to start working on my next big dream for Blessing Manifesting. Now the thought of sitting in front of a video camera and talking to you makes me cringe. I know you'll love me anyway, but at the same time I want to give you my best and brightest.

I'm trying to take it one day at a time.

I hope this week will be better! (Due to my nutso work schedule my week always starts on Thursday!) I want to be back to my shiny self, I want to feel like writing, I want to feel like what I have to say is worth putting out into the world. Blessing Manifesting is about loving yourself and loving your life. Despite the fact that right now I'm not so in love with my life, I do still retain a massive amount of love for myself and compassion for what I'm going through.

This too shall pass.

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The Power of Positive Thinking

I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky person and I also deal with depression. I know both sides of the coin, how it feels when everything is amazing and how it feels when everything sucks.

Even when it sucks... 100% of the time it gets better.

That's positive thinking for ya. It may take a little while, but it works. I've run into people that think that positive thinking, affirmations, that kind of thing, is just so fluffy bunny. Which basically means you're all airy-fairy, head in the clouds, nonsensical kind of person.

Some of the critics even think that positive thinking is dangerous because it makes you break from reality and it gives you unrealistic expectations about life. If you wish hard enough for a pink fluffy unicorn, and a castle in the sky, and lots of money, then gosh darn it, it's going to happen and if it doesn't happen then poor you, that's going to crush you and destroy your life, no more positive thinking, it's dangerous!

Positive thinking has to be based in reality.

I think that's where the misconceptions come into play. We're not all sunshine and lollipops all of the time. There needs to be some level of self awareness when it comes to positive thinking. You have to know when it's time to do shadow work, and dig deep into the sucky stuff, and you have to know when it's time to let the crappy stuff go and focus on the positive.

Imagine that you had someone following you around all of the time telling you how much everything in your life sucked, how much you sucked, how nothing was ever going to go right so it was pointless to even try. How would that help you? How would that be nourishing? It might open your eyes to something that you needed to change or work on, but at the same time if it goes on day in and day out it's going to break you down.

Now imagine the opposite. you have your own personal cheerleader following you around telling you how everything is awesome, and you can do anything, and life is just fantastic. Now that's a little bit nicer, right? But what if this cheerleader tells you that you just have to believe anything and it will happen? Believe that you can have all the money in the world and it's yours if you just believe. You don't have to work for it, just want it bad enough. Do you see where the dissonance happens?

Positive thinking is the bridge between what is and what can be. You have to seek balance.

It's based on believing in yourself and your abilities in a realistic way but in a way that also looks on the bright side. It's about having faith in yourself and giving yourself a pep-talk. Positive thinking gives you the space to quiet the doubts so that you can see what you're really made of. It's the umbrella that stops you from getting soaked by the rain, even though sometimes you have to cast it aside and get a little wet.

Know what you're capable of, and also believe that you might be capable of a whole lot more!

What are your opinions on positive thinking? Do you think it's a load of hokum, as Sheldon Cooper would say? Or do you find that it works for you and your life?

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