Happy Friday Beautiful BEings!

I woke up with so much gratitude, but realized, on the morning of the inauguration of the 45th President of the United Sates, many were in distress and dis-harmony. So I decided to do what I do best, provide some self care tip to use today and beyond!

1. Limit/Time-block/Minimize time spent on social media

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People often fail to realize that images and videos they come across on social media platforms are triggering and will contribute to a distressed state. Just because you have an app downloaded on your device, doesn't mean you HAVE to look at it. You also don't have to check social media several times an hour or a day. Learn to say no.

2. Say NO with your voice or silence.

Do not feel obligated to engage in conversation you know will trigger you to become irritated, angry, distressed, etc. If any conversation you are in or around goes left, feel free to ask if the topic could be changed, don't make a comment, or simply walk away if possible. Also, feel free to SAY NO if offered to be in certain environments or around people who trigger you.

3. Find or create a space of solace.

When you realize that your internal state feels anything but peaceful, make an effort to create the space you need to bring any anxiety or stress down. The easiest way to do this is to incorporate an intentional breathing practice. Taking 6 second inhalations followed by 6 second exhalations as least 3 times, while closing your eyes. You can also find a quiet place to just go and sit, and try to just listen to your thoughts. 

4. Surround yourself with positive words and imagery

Stimuli in the form of words and images shape your mood and perspectives on life. Your brain registers images as a piece of your life's narrative. Taking time to have positive, hopeful, faith filled, motivational and encouraging words around you and in your visual field is such an impact self care practice. Whether you create a list of quotes or affirmations to keep on a "notes" app on your phone, you bookmark inspirational pages on your web browser, or you have little notes around your room, office, car, etc... have powerful words at your disposal.

5. Tap into your creative side

Dance, write, draw, color, paint, sing, knit, sew and create in whatever fashion you decide to.  Do it often, not just when you feel stressed, but maybe at least 3-4 times a week. Engaging in a creative outlet literally sends happy signals to your brain.

6. Create an awesome music playlist

Music is oh so healing. Create playlist that boost your moods. Think of the songs that make you feel really good, that make you smile, that make you think of good times , and just put you in a really good place. Music carries energy, and if its music you feel that has powerful and positive energy, then thats' what you want to infuse in your life.

7. Be around people that make you smile and uplift your spirit

Being selective about the energy you surround your self with is important when you feel vulnerable to negativity. You want to choose people that make you laugh, make you feel good, support you, encourage you, or help you relax during otherwise stressful times. We our not built to go thru life alone, and it is knowing the power of community and connection that we can often find our strength.

Honor Thyself,

​Tiffany W.

What does is mean to live in resistance versus surrender?

This is a lingering question that I had for myself by the end of last year. Realizing how much of my life I try to "plan" and then experiencing it another way, really compelled me to reconsider how I operate. My anxiety was at an all time, and it manifested in my body. Once that happened, I knew I had to get a handle on what was going on within me.

​With the help of my amazing life coach, I came to the decision that my theme for my life (at least this year) would be "Ease and Grace." For the last 3 years, I choose a yearly theme based off lessons from the previous year. 2016 was "Be Still & Go" because in the previous year, I found myself overthinking, and becoming paralyzed in making decisions.  So because I experienced a lot of transition last year, as well as heightened anxiety, and paralyzing depression, I decided this year I would move with "Ease & Grace". I will allow life to happen and tap into what feels "right." I will make sure that I practice all of the 5 Commandments of Self Love, but pay attention to Honor Thy Spirit.

​See resistance, doesn't work for me. May be for some people, but not me. When I live, I do my best when I'm in a flow. If I don't have the answer to something, trying to think about or obsess over the details all at once, doesn't work for me anymore. I get to choose to take my time, pray for signs, be in silence and listen to my spirit, and decide, it will work itself out in due time.

​I recently finished reading Jen Sincero's , " You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life," and it totally reminded me of the importance of staying connected to ease and grace.

​The above excerpt from her book, is the perfect summation of what it means to live in resistance versus surrender.One thing I know for sure, is when I speak of self love, thru my blogs or in events, the act of full acceptance is all about surrendering.

​Surrendering is not about "giving up" in life per se, but there is an experience of throwing your arms up and saying, what will be, will be, and what is, is.

​You cannot change the past. You cannot change people's minds. You cannot change people's hearts. You cannot even save all of the Earth. You can assess, what power you do have in your own life, and consider the agency and platforms that exist for you to make an impact.

​There is something you don't like, well take an assessment of how much energy you spend in not liking it. How often do you talk the subject at hand? Is it your body? a person? your job? your family? your home? something about your lifestyle? Consider the more you harp about it and complain, you are choosing resistance.
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​When you identify something or someone that is displeasing, its about asking why, removing judgement from your spirit, and focusing your energy on changing it from a place of love and positivity. If you want to lose weight, surrendering to the process of enjoying healthy meals and creative ways to get in physical activity is very different from being in an obsessive state of cutting your self off to all kinds of food because you need to lose weight, judging your self everyday because you need to lose weight, comparing your body to another because you need to lose weight, or believing you can't experience life a certain way because you need to lose weight.

​Ease, grace and surrender recognizes the experience of time, process, and transformation. Surrender is patient and resistance is impatient and impulsive.

​I say all this to you because its tough becoming who want to be or obtaining what you want in life when you're consistently living in resistance. Its the difference of downstream versus upstream.

​Learn to flow. There is a lot in this world, this country, in media, in our communities, and in our minds, that could prevent flow. Anxiety and stress is way too common now, and its because of resistance.

​May you choose to flow, surrender and live with ease and grace. May you remember to Honor your Spirit because your spirit ALWAYS knows.

BE Open,
​Tiffany W.

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