Tag: loveserveinspire

SELAH 2023

On By Heather Wiest1 Comment

EXPANSION began 2018 (this is when I first began creating a theme word for the year). ADVENTURE filled 2019. EMBRACE captured 2020. ARISE led 2021. SEEK guided 2022. When asking God for my theme word for 2023, He gently revealed SELAH. 

Selah — The New American Standard Hebrew Lexicon defines the Hebrew word (סֶֽלָה) as “to lift up, exalt.” Some scholars believe that Selah was a musical notation possibly meaning “silence” or “pause.” This Hebrew word is included 74 times in the Bible (71 times in Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk). It is actually a musical term that means a suspension of the music, or a pause. It comes from a root word that means to weigh. It indicates a pause in the music to weigh what the song is saying. It is a moment of reflection or time given to consider the message.

My favorite interpretation of Selah is pause, and calmly think of that…

That is what I will be doing in 2023 as I reflect in gratitude for God’s presence, love, grace, peace, healing, strength, wisdom, provision and faithfulness:

As…

  • Our oldest daughter recovers fully from ACL surgery and gets back to collegiate basketball
  • Other family members may be scheduled for important surgeries
  • God guides me to invest more hours into my business and career
  • I participate in a new Mastermind Support Team with likeminded colleagues, and continue fueling my spirit in a women’s Bible study
  • Our youngest daughter turns 18 and graduates from high school
  • Our family celebrates multiple milestones with a long overdue Eastern Caribbean vacation
  • I co-lead a Selah in the Sun Yoga Retreat in Paros, Greece
  • My husband and I celebrate 30 years of marriage, and continue to mentor premarital couples
  • My hubby contemplates retiring from his first career to begin another
  • Both of our daughters will be living out-of-state, in different states, for college (lots of travel!)
  • I co-lead an exciting Seek & Safari Yoga Retreat in Africa
  • Our oldest daughter turns the big 21!
  • I consciously pause to {{hug}} others longer, and more often
  • I am open to God’s continual divine surprises, shifts and changes

“Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!” —Psalm 62:8 AMPC

Every year of our lives is unique, presenting different opportunities and experiences. I hope you make time to SELAH—pause and reflect. What are you intending for 2023? 

Intention: The Seed of Action

On By Heather Wiest

“The journey of a year is drawing to a close. Cherish the moments, all of them, even the ups and downs. Honor the lessons you’ve learned, and the people who helped you learn them. Honor the journey your soul mapped out for you. Trust all the places you’ve been. Make a scrapbook in your heart to help you remember. Look back for a moment. Reflect in peace. Then let this year draw to a close. All parts of the journey are sacred and holy. You’ve learned that lesson by now. Take time to honor this ending though it’s never really the end. Go to sleep tonight. When you wake up tomorrow a new adventure will begin. Remember the words you were told when this last adventure began, the words whispered quietly to your heart: Let the journey unfold. Let it be magical. The way has been prepared. People will be expecting you. Yes, you are being led.” ❤️ ~ Melody Beattie

Goals vs. Intentions: I think evaluations and goals are useful, but I am a bigger fan of reflections and intentions. Intentions come from the heart and soul — they are rooted in the values most important to you. I have found my goals to be more authentic and impactful if I slow down, reflect, and connect with my deepest intentions. Intention is the seed of action.
“Setting your intention is like drawing an arrow from the quiver of your heart.” ❤️ ~ Bruce Black

Exploring Intention (Sankalpa) Meditation Exercise:
*Close eyes and breathe
*Focus awareness on brow center
*Receive the question: “What are the most satisfying moments or decisions of this year?”
*Notice what comes up first, without thinking or searching
*Write down your answer and how it feels…
~ Pause ~
*Close eyes and breathe
*Focus awareness on brow center
*Receive the question: “What is one aspect about myself I have especially loved this year?” 
*Notice what comes up first, without thinking or searching
*Write down your answer and how it feels…
~ Pause ~
*Close eyes and breathe
*Focus awareness on brow center
*Receive the question: “What would I have done differently this year? What do I want to let go of?” 
*Notice what comes up first, without thinking or searching
*Write down your answer and how it feels…
~ Pause ~
*Close eyes and breathe
*Focus awareness on brow center
*Receive the question: “How have I noticed Divine/God’s presence in my life this year?” 
*Notice what comes up first, without thinking or searching
*Write down your answer and how it feels…
~ Pause ~
*Close eyes, hold your hands on your heart center and breathe gently into your heart space.
*Receive the question: “What am I bringing to life in the new year? What do I desire on the deepest level?” Maybe it’s a theme or word for the year. 
*Notice what comes up first, without thinking or searching
*Write down your answer and how it feels…

Create an intention (or two) with what you wrote in the meditation exercise using the following guidelines. Take your time. Let it be authentic and impactful. Affirm what you desire, instead of what you fear.

Four Principles of Effective Intentions:
Present — stated in the present tense, as if already happening
Positive — stated in the form of what is desired
Concise — clear and to the point
Resonates — feels right with your true self

“Embracing intention infuses every breath, every moment with a deep sense of peace, confidence and clarity.” ❤️ ~ Erin Madore

Let the journey of a new year unfold! Inhale the NOW, the NEW — exhale the OLD!

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” ~ Isaiah 42:9

May this be the BEST year yet! 🎉

Gift of Light 🌟

On By Heather Wiest

A long time ago, people thought the sun was leaving. Each day, the sun appeared for shorter times and climbed less and less into the sky. Fearing that it would stop its ascent and descend completely over the horizon and not come up at all, people celebrated the day of the Solstice, translated as the sun stood still. After that day, the sun began to climb ever so slowly into the sky and the days became longer. The light makes a stand against the dark and prevails. People all over the world celebrate light in many forms at this time of year. This season of great de-light is a time to remember the amazing Light that resides within and all around you. The light is most welcomed at this time of year when we are in our darkest days. As we hold it dear, it is a constant reminder of revelation. At any given moment the brightness of understanding will burst through; a ray of light relinquishes the darkness. Yes, the sun will return. Yes, the oil will remain lit. Yes, the Son is born. We light the candles and remember the miracle of this season. Light the night sky with your bright spirit; remember you are a miracle! May light-filled moments of wonder be yours this Holy-Days Season, and may you give the gift of your complete presence, your undivided attention and care to your loved ones.

✨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, or a beautiful room with many candles. 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. 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.

“There it was — the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.”

John 1:9 AMPC

“If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out; to keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”

Mother Teresa

Recharge & Radiate ✨

On By Heather Wiest

The holiday season is filled with lights and all the beautiful traditions surrounding them. Many years ago, as our family was decorating the Christmas tree our daughter asked her Dad, “Do these lights run on a parallel or series circuit?” It reminded me of a quote from Mother Teresa, “Each one of us is merely a small instrument. When you look at the inner workings of electrical things, often you see small and big wires, new and old, cheap and expensive, lined up. Until the current passes through them, there will be no light. That wire is you and me. The current is God. We have the power to let the current pass through us, use us, produce the light of the world.”

In nature, the glow worm produces a constant light throughout its entire body and can turn the light off and on at will, shutting down as a protective measure and relighting again when at ease. An inquiry for you – when, where, and with whom do you shine the brightest? Throughout this busy season take time to recharge and connect to your true source of love & light. Embrace yourself with supportive surroundings and loving people. Be your genuine self. Radiate your own unique light.

Light Meditation

Visualize a tiny light somewhere in the distance. The light may take any form you can imagine. It could be the glowing aura of a candle, a light bulb, a flashlight, a streetlight, any light that enters your awareness. Begin to move toward that light. It may be clear, or obscured by a misty fog that creates an aura around it. As you get closer and closer, the light becomes more significant and more brilliant. Keep your mind focused on the light and feel it growing brighter as you approach nearer and nearer to it, now surrounding you entirely.

Imagine that the Spirit is at the center of the light, and so, all of the Wisdom and Holiness of God are also in that light, which is presently glowing intense and white. Now move into the center of the light and feel it enter your being, moving all around and through you. Feel the presence of Divine Love within it, and realize it is your love. Feel the embrace of the Spirit all around and through you. Surrender to the Love, and become one with it. Savor the presence and the warm embrace as you connect with Love. Understand it will always be with you. Relax, knowing you are one.

Now, feel all the light that was surrounding you, and flooding through you, begin to gather inside your being, as if you are a magnet, pulling all that light inside, so that you become the light itself. You are a being of pure light. You contain God, the Spirit, and the entire essence of Love. Now, collect all the light together, allowing it to focus in the center of your heart space where it settles and glows with the same intensity. You deeply rest, renew, recharge & radiate.

Rules To Relationships ♡

On By Heather Wiest

Jennifer Pastiloff, L.A. area yoga teacher and motivational speaker, wrote a blog entitled 10 Rules for Daily Living. She challenged her readers to think about their personal rules for daily life. Here is one of her favorite responses from a 14-year-old:

Don’t take things too seriously.
Make fun of yourself (but not too much!)
Sleep in sometimes.
ALWAYS have a dog.
Be nice to everybody because you never know who is going to be your next best friend.
Just don’t wear shoes sometimes.
Go on a trip somewhere at least every year.
Don’t look in the mirror too much!
Don’t spend too much money on one thing.
Sometimes it’s OK to just not want to talk to people.

We can gain wisdom from listening to youth! As we mature, our aim is to move from rules to relationships. Loving and trusting relationships filled with open and healthy communication develop people of unique, solid character, and humble confidence. What are your standards for daily living? What motivates you internally to live a life of purpose? Make all your moments matter by living meaningfully in this present moment.

Years ago, I asked both of my children to write down their 10 Rules for Daily Living and here are the responses from my then 10-year-old:

Be yourself.
Respect everybody.
Have a good attitude.
Express yourself.
Have fun.
Try not to be mean to your sister.
Smile.
Be thankful.
Follow these rules.
Don’t be a party pooper!

Here are the responses from my then 8-year-old:

Give hugs to your siblings.
Help your mom and dad.
Be thankful for your food.
Be thankful for what God has made.
Be thankful for what your have.
Be thankful for a place to live.
Always trust in God.
Believe in yourself.
Be thankful for your family and friends.
Do not complain.

Here are my personal 10 (well, 11) Rules for Daily Living:

Always choose love. Try to live every moment with authentic love in your heart.
Be gentle and kind, to yourself, and to everyone you encounter.
Serve others unconditionally.
Express gratitude.
Breathe deeply, pray fervently, and meditate daily on inspiring Scripture.
Listen more, talk less.
Smile and laugh often. Cry when needed. Allow yourself to feel and experience emotion.
View everyday challenges as learning opportunities rather than obstacles.
Forgive and let go quickly.
Be your true self and trust your intuition.
Be present and make every moment an adventure…learn something new everyday!

I hope you will take time this week to create and write down your own standards that meaningfully motivate your daily thoughts and actions. Take the time to listen to the children and youth around you and gain wisdom from their insightful perspectives. Let’s move from rules to relationships. ♡

“A man of deep understanding will give good advice, drawing it out from the well within.” ~ Proverbs 20:5 TPT

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