Monthly: May 2014

May29

Time to Shake Things Up!

by Cheryl Brewster

“The term “spirituality” lacks a definitive definition.” This statement from the online etymology dictionary caught my attention…  (see more from Wikipedia) . How ironic and appropriate to come across a term that cannot be defined except by oneself! I have often found that until I can define something, I don’t have an understanding of it;  if I don’t have an understanding of it, then I am not consciously applying in my life.

What is your definition of spirituality?

In the defining, we begin to see where we are actually living what we say is important to us.  This practice of self discovery invites not only greater understanding, but greater authenticity and accountability – we begin to see where we are being effective or ineffective, where we’re being honest with ourselves or not.

Social scientists have defined spirituality as:
The search for “the sacred,” where “the sacred” is broadly defined as that “which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration.”

This begs the question, what is sacred to you…

  • in life?
  • in business or career?
  • in relationships?
  • in how you do anything – the big things, and the little things?

Are your life, business, relationships and how you operate “set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration?” Or are they dull, boring,  or overcrowded with anxiety,  overwhelm, reaction or repeated ineffective patterns? Is there a sense of energy and aliveness? Does your spiritual life seem separate or disconnected from your everyday life of down to earth, practical matters like running a household or a business?

Veneration is defined as respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person.

  • Where are you in awe of yourself and your life?
  • Where are you inspired by your own dignity, wisdom, dedication and talent?
  • How have you defined your life in ways that hold these parameters as sacred, as non negotiable?

The act of defining spirituality shakes things up – we begin to look beyond the assumptions and perceptions of conditioned thinking or inherited beliefs or habits that have lost their life-luster.  It’s the “shake-up call” to awareness of what’s really going on and what we can do to come back to a vibrant life filled with its own dignity, wisdom, dedication and talent. It’s the “shake-up” we need to  share this vibrancy with a world that desperately needs it. We live in a time where the shift of consciousness that is occurring is so important and so needed.  Look at just a couple of statistics and we are reminded, and called to “Take Our Stand”:

  • The Global Study on Homicide reported that in 2012, intentional homicide took the lives of almost half a million people.
  • The US federal price tag for the Iraqi and Afghanistan/Pakistan wars is  close to $4 trillion (let alone the cost of all other countries involved)
  • The  United Nations reported that in 2010-2012,  nearly 870 million people, or one in eight, were suffering from chronic undernourishment
  • According to Food Banks Canada, nearly 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks each month and 38% of those helped are children and youth

Huh?! We live in a world gone completely mad!

  • How can this be happening?
  • How can it be acceptable?
  • What can we do to change things, to shake things up?

If each one of us took responsibility for honoring our own dignity, wisdom, dedication, talent, wonder and awe, wouldn’t we in turn, seek to help our fellow human beings? Isn’t it time we awoke from the apathy we’ve grown up in and ask those hard hitting questions?  And isn’t that what spirituality is about? As we define it for ourselves, we come to see the responsibility that we have to live from a higher place in consciousness – to engage the thinking and actions that will access creative solutions to heal our planet.

How can we make this a better world? By defining and applying our definition of spirituality… we move beyond our egos, our self absorption and limited perceptions; we begin to grasp what the mystics have been saying for thousands of years and we yearn to engage that infinite intelligence within… if indeed we are unlimited, infinite, changeless consciousness at our core, then what are we doing to demonstrate this for real-world solutions? What are we doing to “get over ourselves” so that we can instead “give of ourselves?”  I believe it begins with listening to “the call,” the call to greatness that comes to each one of us in the form of listening to a deeper, more authentic, awe-inspired place within us.  As we follow through in the commitment to do the work, we become more mindful of the possibilities… and THAT is the living, breathing, dynamic definition of spirituality… the awe inspiring experience of our infinite, changeless, effortlessness… imagine the possibilities of coming together from this amazing space of creativity to bring healing to our hurting world.

It begins one step at a time, one person at a time, with the courage to change, and none of us does this alone.  As Ram Dass said, “we are all walking each other home.”

If you enjoyed this blog, we welcome your comments and insights.  If you would like to know more about Cheryl Brewster and her workshops and retreats, visit TheIntuitiveLife.com – where you can learn more and also sign up on two different places on the home page: one for general events and newsletter and the second one for a daily inspired quote (look under the testimonials box for this one).  Cheryl is a highly respected professional speaker and personal and business intuitive specializing in helping people transition from stress to success in life and business.

May20

Imagination is POWER!

by Cheryl Brewster

“What if?” When we ask that one simple question, we open up to an infinite realm of imagination AND high performance in virtually any area of life – from personal happiness to business success.There are two sides to the imagination coin:

  • On the one side, imagination is often misunderstood, downplayed, misused and even ignored. 
  • A life without imagination however, is a life without vitality, wonder, awe or impetus; it becomes, stale, withered, dull and boring.
  • Dreams and visions die on the vine and we are left bereft, disappointed, hardened and stuck.
  • Personal effectiveness is diminished, relationships are affected, career growth can be impeded
  • We lose hope, focus and can succumb to a sticky, heavy energy field that feels impossible to break out of.

On the same side, we can can also experience over-active, uncontrolled negative imagination where:

  • The terror of worst case possibilities pummels our self-identity and self esteem
  • We feel traumatized in a seemingly endless cycle of paralysis and self-sabotage.
  • We become immobilized, unable to access our personal power and take action to create healthy change

Fortunately, the positive side of the imagination coin provides:

  • Immediate relief, relaxation, wonder, awe, enjoyment so the “good vibes” of what we are imagining is really happening right now.
  • Access to the high vibration frequency of ease and well-being that all top achievers in their field use
  • A new paradigm free from threat: It’s called many names; being in the zone, peak experiences, the larger “field of intelligence” that is our true nature, etc.. 
  • A guaranteed path to freedom from self doubt and worry
  • Discernment with integration of both sides of the brain resulting in more clarity, easier decision making and more accurate access to intuition

Put your positive imagination to work moment by moment!

  • You will experience a greater presence; the ability to stay present and be open to what arises without judgment or threat
  • Do this enough times and you establish an internal training routine that transforms reactive stress triggers to high performance breakthroughs
  • As Walt Disney said, “it’s fun to do the impossible,” so remember – DREAM BIG!

TAKE YOUR STAND- Lead from your Imagination to tap into a more joyful, intelligent, connected state of awareness!

  1. Use “what if” – questions to direct you where you want to go, for example, what if I got today’s tasks done quickly and easily?
  2. How would it feel to be super confident? Ask the question, notice the images and feel the feelings
  3. Go back into a great memory and relive it – take that inspiration and energy into how you do things
  4. Be a kid again in your mind and have an adventure – where would you go, what would you do, who would you be? Apply what you discover.
  5. Recall amazing night time dreams that you’ve had – what did it feel like to do the impossible?
  6. Visualize yourself as a favorite super hero – who would you be? Have a conversation! What would they tell you about your life?
  7. See if there are periods of history or geographical locations that you’d love to visit – imagine what they’d be like – soak up the great vibes
  8. Imagine releasing pain from your body – what’s the first image you see? Use it frequently – trust its affects
  9. When you breathe, imagine every cell in your body vitalized to the max for optimum performance
  10. Pay attention to signs, symbols and synchronicity that will begin to emerge as you use your imagination more frequently
  11. KEEP PRACTICING! Use the ABCs of Intuition to counterbalance the affects of uncontrolled, negative imagination to stay present even when it’s uncomfortable or unpleasant.

“What if “thinking is an instant bridge to your imagination – the BRIDGE from the sub-conscious to the conscious…. when we cross this bridge enough times, we are more aware of our innate goodness and strengths. We break the bonds of past limiting beliefs. We are working in the quantum field, re-wiring the brain and creating healthier habits to bring us results we could have never accessed through logic. The mind has learned from the past. Imagination is infinite wisdom beyond what the mind can access. When we make the mind the servant and not the master, we have the winning combination of structure, brain power and vision.

The healing power of imagination works –  you’ve proven it to yourself in the past and it’s time to prove it again. It’s an endless renewable resource that is available 24/7 –  Imagination is POWER! All that is required is your willingness to engage it, to apply its wisdom and  be the super-power that you really are.

If you enjoyed this blog and your ongoing journey of  self discovery and personal development, write to us about your experience. If you’d like to learn more in either a coaching session or current workshop or retreat,  contact Cheryl Brewster at:cheryl@theintuitivelife.com  or from the web TheIntuitiveLife and check out our calendar.

Cheryl Brewster is a Personal and Business Intuitive who takes clients from Stress to Success through  Consultations, Coaching Programs and Seminars. She lives in Vancouver, Canada and is a dynamic speaker with leading edge material that captivates and inspires her audiences to greater success in life and business..

Testimonial:
The changes that have occurred in my life as a result of Cheryl’s Intuitive Mentor Program have been phenomenal. Perhaps the most meaningful change is that I now see how I create opportunity, instead of wishing it would show up. I have the power, I always had the power. But now I see it, feel it, eat, sleep and breathe it. And–I’m finally free of the life-long patterns that caused the uncertainty, stress and lack in my life.
Claire S., Entrepreneur and Vancouver-based Business Owner of 17 Years

May15

The Healing Power of Imagination – It Works!!!

by Cheryl Brewster

Stress can be deadly. While short-term stress can create anxiousness and overwhelm, we know all too well, that the cumulative affects of stress over time diminishes both the quality and quantity of life. A 2013  report from the  American Psychological Association, American Institute of Stress, in New York reported that:

  • The annual costs to employers in stress related health care and missed work is $300 BILLION!
  • Of people who regularly experience physical symptoms, 77%  are caused by stress
  • 73% Regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress
  • 48% Feel their stress has increased over the past five years

What does this mean to you?

  • With 48% of those studied feeling that stress has increased over the past five years, you have a 50/50 chance of being a part of this growing statistic.
  • If you are a person committed to self growth, you are going to experience stress as you challenge your comfort zones
  • Finding tools that are effective, get results and reverse the stress/death connection are imperative
  • The ability to do things differently is paramount
  • One of the fastest, easiest, most effective tools is the healing power of imagination, and it costs us nothing! Except willingness,  a paradigm shift and a bit of time

How imagination heals

In his book Jung and the Alchemical Imagination, author Jeffrey Raff concludes that “disease is never a purely physical event, but includes the spirit as well.” He  says that imagination can be responsible for the onset of disease, and has a great part to play in its healing. Authors Ann and Barry Ulanov of the Healing Imagination concur; they believe  imagination helps us correspond to grace – that’s how it heals.

This is where it gets personal for each of us so using myself as an example: As a business intuitive I teach  big picture thinking,  as a coach I mentor spiritual healing , and as a  mother, to nurture and guide my children,  I rely on the healing power of imagination in::

  • its ability to get my attention
  • using all of my senses
  • waking me up to a bigger picture of life that includes  healing,  solutions and creativity that I couldn’t otherwise see
  • getting me  out of the nonsense of my negative self talk

Simple Strategies to harness the healing power of imagination:

  1. Ask yourself, “what would effortlessness do?” to get   out of the stress habit and into pure imagination
  2. Breathe into your imagination ….  create some space for it
  3. Use Active Imagination (a process that Carl Jung created), as the bridge between the conscious and the subconscious (this includes dream interpretation, visualization, and daydreaming)
  4. Whatever stress or illness may be in your life, view it as a movie…. how did it get there? What will help to heal it? Notice the pictures, images or body sensations that you experience
  5. Commit to take some form of action…. write down what had the most compelling energy from the above  and use discernment… will action on your part take you further into grace or farther away from it?
  6. Do more of what you love… the state changes created from simple things like your favorite song, exercise,  a favorite flavor of chewing gum or fresh flowers take you to a much higher energy frequency which improves corresponding critical thinking and decision making
  7. Pay attention to signs, symbols and synchronicity
  8. Have a check-in or feedback loop to test and measure the results so you can drop what doesn’t work and expand what does

Embrace Simplicity
Stress becomes ugly, rampant and deadly when we lose our capacity to live from our imagination. Just take a look at the results in your life right now: where there’s shortage, lack or illness, there will be one of two things: lack of positive imagination or undisciplined, negative imagination. Until you become aware, nothing will change… the steps outlined here are beautifully simple. Are they so simple however, that you won’t take them? Imagine what would happen if you did?

Cheryl Brewster is a Personal and Business Intuitive who takes clients from Stress to Success through  Consultations, Coaching Programs and Seminars. She lives in Vancouver, Canada and is a dynamic speaker with leading edge material that captivates and inspires her audiences to greater success in life and business..

Testimonial:
Cheryl Brewster is a valuable contributor to the Business Management Course at Rhodes Wellness College. She is a dynamic facilitator, combining entrepreneurial wisdom and strategies for effective results. The students’ experience of Cheryl was amazing. We are thrilled to have Cheryl Brewster as an entrepreneurial/facilitation resource and recommend her services highly. – Lisa Brown, Operations Manager, Rhodes Wellness College

 

 

 

 

 

May05

Clarity through want/don’t want lists

by Cheryl Brewster

Like the ABCs of Intuition that are incredibly simple (Aware, Breathe, Connect) to stay present and focused,  writing out  lists of what you don’t want to clarify what you do want, can appear too simple to bother with.  But the benefits are huge and here’s why it’s important to use them on a regular basis:

Benefits of writing your “Don’t Want” List:

1. Instant clarity on what you do want.
2. Self discovery and self knowledge to reveal ineffective patterns and bad habits.
3. Awareness of just long these ineffective choices or patterns have been playing out in your life.
4. Empowerment by being reminded that you do have choice.
5. Awareness of things you didn’t see before.

Benefits of writing your “DO” Want List:

1. Improved vibe and mindset that increase awareness and determination.
2. Improved results by making full use of both sides of the brain   (Henriette Anne Klauser explains why in her book “Write it down, Make it Happen”)
3. Instant physiology changes that over time,  replace ineffective habits  with healthier ones.
4. Enhanced  mindfulness (staying present by paying attention in a particular way, without judgement)
5. Instant  stress reduction, increased feel good energy and  possibility thinking

The lists don’t take long, and when the “DO Want List” is read daily, with feeling, you begin more and more to engage both willpower and commitment to “Take Your Stand” for your best life.  Soon, wanting is replaced with having and your new, healthier mindset is in the driver’s seat of your life.

What is your “Old Story” and what is the “New Story” you choose to replace it with?
It’s good to write this out too in a couple of sentences or short paragraph; review it regularly and acknowledge your progress… it all starts with baby steps.

Use “in-process” statements like “I am in the process of trusting myself more more and I love it!” to help bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.  Soon, something very beautiful and wonderful begins to happen… empowerment is here immediately. Negative thinking is transformed to  peace and joy here now, because this is an “Inner Experience,” not dependent on what happens “out there.”    No more waiting…. peace, power, effective thinking and inspired, authentic action are here now because you took the time to engage in personal discovery and self development… all with two very simple lists. Again, the benefits of this very simple exercise are huge; internal mastery replaces control or attachment to things needing to be a certain way “out there.”  We become responsible and accountable for our choices. We become more intimate with our true nature and will settle for nothing less than being in integrity with that.

If you enjoyed this blog, we invite you to experiment with your don’t/do want lists and share the results with us.  Email cheryl@theintuitivelife.com and your name will be entered for a complimentary introductory Intuitive Mentoring session with Personal and Business Intuitive and Coach, Cheryl Ann Brewster.

About Cheryl Ann Brewster:
Cheryl left the corporate world to follow a “calling,” that challenged her at every level possible… she knows what it takes to trust the Self amid deep uncertainty and profound change.  She consults with entrepreneurs and business, provides individual coaching and mentoring and is a popular speaker on reducing stress, managing change and personal effectiveness in life and business. To be included in her email updates, sign up for your free bonus report on her homepage,  and also for her “Daily Inspiration” at TheIntuitiveLife.com