Month: May 2024

Resilience ❤︎

On By Heather Wiest

10% of life is what happens to you, and 90% is how you react or respond to it! ~ Charles R. Swindoll

What an honor to share about my resilience journey in The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative section of Voyage Phoenix, Life and Work with Heather Wiest. ❤︎

RESILIENCE is the deep seeded quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes. Psychologists have identified some of the factors that make someone resilient, among them a positive attitude, optimism, the ability to regulate emotions, and the ability to see failure as a form of helpful feedback. Even after a misfortune, blessed with such an outlook, resilient people are able to change course and soldier on.

“Resilience may be an art, the ultimate art of living. At the heart of resilience is a belief in oneself — yet also a belief in something larger than oneself. Resilient people do not let adversity define them. They find resilience by moving towards a goal beyond themselves, transcending pain and grief by perceiving challenging times as a temporary state.” ~ Hara Estroff Marano, The Art of Resilience, Psychology Today

Autobiography In Five Short Chapters 

Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit… but,
my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V
I walk down another street.

Copyright (c) 1993, by Portia Nelson from the book There’s A Hole in My Sidewalk. 

REFRAMING is at the heart of resilience. It is a way of shifting focus from the cup half empty to the cup half full. Resilient people cultivate insight, the mental habit of asking themselves penetrating questions, and expressing honest answers. They also take the initiative. They take charge of problems, stretching and testing themselves.

RELATIONSHIPS foster resilience. One of the cardinal findings of resilience research is those who lack strong support systems seek and receive help from others. They are not afraid to talk about the hard times they are having to someone who cares for their well-being.

❤︎ Who has carried you on their shoulders, supporting you through this life journey? Send some love and gratitude their way.

❤︎ And, who do YOU want to carry? Support them through their life journey. Send some love and encouragement their way.

❤︎ We are here for each other. Be LOVE.

Pain Meditation & Mantra Visualization:

Think of a time you experienced PAIN. It may be a recent happening, or from the past. Picture it clearly in your body, mind and soul.
Witness the emotions.
Now turn these emotions into a sensation.
Where do you feel this sensation?
Now bring the sensation outside of the body, RELEASE it with the OUT BREATH.
Now witness it outside of your body. BREATHE.
Notice the sensation has weakened. Feel your RESILIENCE.

“As you inhale, think to yourself: I am strong [resilient]. As you exhale: I am healing. Continue this mantra for another minute. Next, as you say to yourself, I am strong, envision an outer casing shattering off your body. This is the residual buildup of opinions, experiences, hurtful words, or anything that may have added to your duress. See it combust into a million pieces and flutter off into the wind. As you use the statement, I am healing, envision a flowering vine wrapping around the ailment on, or in your body. This gorgeous plant is drawing up healing energy deep from within it’s roots and transporting it toward you. See the plant blossom as it makes contact with your skin, because you are ripe with healing and fertile with potential.” ~ Kathryn Budig, Healing Meditation for Yoga Injuries, Yoga Journal

“At the very moment I called out to you, you answered me! You strengthened me deep within my soul and breathed fresh courage into me.” ~ Psalms 138:3 TPT

Be stronger than your pain. Use your pain for your platform — to bring healing and wholeness to yourself, and others. ♡

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Thank You 🙏🏻

On By Heather Wiest

Have you said thank you lately? by Amy K. Nichols

There’s someone you need to thank.

Someone who believes in you.

Someone who listens to you.

Someone who puts up with you when you’re in your foulest mood.

Someone who doesn’t mind the little things. Someone who celebrates the big things.

Someone who opens doors for you, both physical and metaphorical.

Someone who gives you creative space. Someone who holds down the fort while you’re away.

Someone who inspires you. Someone who spurs you on to better and better.

Someone who believes in the impossible, too.

Maybe you’ve thanked this person before, but maybe it’s been a while since you’ve thanked them lately. Take a minute and thank them.

No, really. Take a minute and thank them. Yes, you’re busy and they’re busy and we’re all busy. But do it anyway. Don’t wait. You’ve waited long enough.

Tell them thank you. It’ll do both of you a world of good.

“Life-changing gratitude does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.” ~Ann Voskamp

Let our thanks be LOVING, THOUGHTFUL, GENUINE, and SPECIFIC.

“Place everything you’ve ever learned or yet to discover in a box labeled THANK YOU. What would go in your box?” ~ Jennifer Pastiloff

Dare To Be by Steve Maraboli

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.
When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.
When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.
When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.
When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.
When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.
When times are tough, dare to be tougher.
When love hurts you, dare to love again.
When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.
When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.
When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.
When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.
When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.
When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.
Dare to be the best you can–
At all times, Dare To Be!

✨A Gift of Light Meditation✨

Breath easily and deeply and bring yourself into a centered, peaceful place. Imagine a magnificent light above your head and ask that it come down into your heart. An endless supply of warm, beautiful and supportive light now fills your heart. You may see it as a fireplace with burning logs, a beautiful room with many candles, or a sphere of glowing light. Visualize tremendous vitality, beauty and warmth within you. You have an unending supply of this energy and light. Acknowledge its power, majesty and expansiveness. Fill yourself with this light; every cell, every bone, thought and emotion is saturated with this eternal energy. See it. Feel it. Let it fill you. It is love. It is peace. And it is joy. Take as long as you’d like swimming in this amazing luster. When you are ready, prepare to offer your gift of abundant light to your loved ones. Visualize and feel the light from above you connecting into your heart and to your hands. Open your palms softly and outwardly. Your hands may feel warm. Offer light to your loved ones. Visualize them clearly. Offer light from your heart to theirs. As the light from your heart pours through them, notice that light begins to come down into the top of their head from someplace else. You are creating a magnet for more light with your intention of giving. See them surrounded by you, surrounded by and filled with light and love. Their bodies are healthy, vibrant and beautiful. Their minds are expansive and calm. Peace flows through them offering them ease of heart. Wish them joy. Wish them good health. Wish them courage and abundance. Tell them whatever comes to you that is important to convey. Continue your blessings for them until you feel it is the right time to stop. Now release them gently. Leave them light-filled.✨

“One grateful thought is a ray of sunshine. A hundred such thoughts paint a sunrise. A thousand will rival the glowing sky at noonday — for gratitude is light against the darkness.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich

Remember to live out LOVE—an attitude of gratitude. Express your thanks. Give away love, encouragement, and acceptance. “So encourage each other and build each other up.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

Who are you going to encourage today?  💛

Hold The Vision. Trust The Process.

On By Heather Wiest

“LET YOUR VISIONS GUIDE YOU. Visions are different from dreams. A vision is a picture that comes from the soul and comes out through the heart. A vision is a small glimpse of light that shines and shows us our path.” ~ Melody Beattie, Journey to the Heart, March 9

Trust the vision in your heart and soul — let it guide you home.

What do you want?

What would feel right?

What do you see yourself doing?

What are you willing to do to make this happen?

Is this in the best interest for yourself and everyone involved?

Hold the vision. Trust the process. ❤️

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want and all that is left is compromise.” ~ Robert Fritz

“The first step toward creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it. Vision will ignite the fire of passion that fuels our commitment to do whatever it takes to achieve excellence. Only vision allows us to transform dreams of greatness into the reality of achievement through human action. Vision has no boundaries and knows no limits. Our vision is what we become in life.” ~ Tony Dungy

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” ~ Jonathan Swift

Guided Meditation: The Forest Speaks (modified from Meg Colby)

I invite you to join me on a journey. 

Imagine that you are standing on a path at the edge of a small forest. The bright sun warms your back as you face the opening in the trees. The cool breeze from the forest is inviting you to enter. The path is clear and broad. It is easy to follow. And so you step into the forest.

All around you, you can hear birds calling to one another. Their sounds are gentle and sweet. It is as if they are encouraging you to take a few more steps into their home, and so you do.

The peace in the forest is embracing. You are aware of small animals around you. You see rabbits and squirrels romping and playing. You can hear the sounds of more birds hidden in the dense canopy of the forest. As you walk on, you begin to hear the sound of running water. You can tell that the water is gentle, and you walk in the direction of the sound. As you walk, you can feel the leaves under your feet and the small branches and roots on the ground. It feels good to have your feet touching the earth. And you let the gentle voice of the water call you on.

Shortly, in front of you opens a little clearing in the forest, and in the middle of the clearing is a small pool. The pool is being fed from a stream cascading down a small rocky slope. As the pool is filled to overflowing, the water leaves the pool on the other side and continues its journey back into the forest. Here in the clearing, there are some rocks where you can sit. The rocks are warm from the sun as its rays make their way down from the opening in treetops. You walk to the largest of the rocks and take a seat on it. It is as if the rock was just made for you to sit on. It cradles your body and holds you steady. And you just sit here for a few minutes in silence, listening to the sounds of the forest and the water all around you. Your eyes are closed and your heart is full of joy.

In a few moments, you begin to sense the gentle presence of another being in front of you. You open your eyes, and standing about 6 feet from you is a beautiful doe, her limpid brown eyes resting on you. She is completely at ease and so are you. For some minutes you sit enthralled by this gentle creature just looking at you as if she loves you. She is so calm and assured in your presence that even her ears are still. And you are so in awe of her presence that your gaze cannot leave hers. It seems that she has brought a message for you, and across the space between the two of you she is sending you that message. Somehow you become aware of the message and are ready to receive it from her. Open your heart now and receive her message.

Your heart is filled to overflowing with the love and encouragement you are feeling in her message. She stands there for a few moments longer. Then she gently closes her eyes, opens them again for one last look at you, turns around and slowly walks back into the forest. You sit for a moment longer simply integrating into your being the message she brought you.

And then you rise from your spot on the rock, move gently back onto the path, and walk slowly and calmly back to the edge of the forest where you first stepped upon the path. Your message from the forest has been integrated into your being. And you will take that message with you back into your daily life. ❤️

I embrace the vision in my heart. I know it will manifest according to Divine will and timing. 

I pray for the highest good for myself and everyone involved.

I drop all anxiety and fear and replace it with bold faith and trust. 

My body is light, my mind at peace, and my heart is unconditionally open. 

What do you want? What would feel right? What do you see yourself doing? What are you willing to do to make this happen? Is this in the best interest for yourself and everyone involved?

Create an open, positive, affirmative intention around your vision.

Let this be your personal intention or prayer now.

Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Source. Hope is future-directed, however, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. (Modified from Sarah Young,  Jesus Calling, March 12)

Trust the vision in your heart and soul — let it guide you home. Hold the vision. Trust the process. ❤️

Live Life With No Regrets.

On By Heather Wiest

One of the best statements I have heard and taken to heart is — live with no regrets, ALL experiences are valuable life lessons. How many times have you said to yourself, “I wish I would have, could have, or should have ___________________________?

Take in this poem by Shel Silverstein.

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda
All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ in the sun
Talkin’ ‘bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.

This “woulda-coulda-shoulda” thinking resides in the past, in the yesterdays, and continually replays the same old stories. The practice of yoga helps us to focus on the present moment, embracing the fullness of NOW, and guides us to take the right action at the right time, gracefully leading us forward. Let’s all be the “one little did.” 😊  “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to shed before the new one can come.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Reflection Questions:

✭ What “woulda-coulda-shouldas” replay in your mind? Begin to let them go. Imagine filling a huge helium balloon inside your heart space as you inhale deeply. Now, exhale completely, releasing all that is no longer serving you. Witness this large balloon flying away into the sky, becoming smaller and smaller as it reaches higher into the atmosphere. As you shift your thoughts from the past into the present, remember these three great guidelines — no blaming, no shaming, no judgement.

✭ What valuable life lessons have you learned along the way? Embrace them all, and be grateful for each experience.

✭ In the quiet and stillness listen to the still small voice inside. Tune into your heart space. What is your heart drawn to? What radiates? Observe and listen. Remain present. Taking the right action at the right time gracefully guides you forward.

✭ Now, is there another voice in your mind interfering, criticizing, stifling? Observe and listen. Allow this voice to dim, to soften. Honor the truth within your soul. No blaming, no shaming, no judgement.

Point of Radiance by Danna Faulds
Find the point of radiance
in your heart. Whether
that be passion, pleasure,
or pain so deep it’s etched 
in blood, follow where
your true heart leads.
When it seems there is no 
light, look carefully,
for it is always there,
that ember of the God-force.
It may be hidden in a dim
corner or buried beneath
a pile of regrets, but it’s 
there nonetheless, that
spark of divine essence,
illuminating your next step. ❤️

May you live with no regrets. ALL of your experiences are valuable life lessons. May you gracefully take the right action at the right time, and be the “one little did.” 😊

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. ~ Romans 12:1-2, The Message