Tag: self development

Sep25

Courage to do Hard Things!

by Cheryl Brewster

Ahoy, courageous voyager!

Welcome back to another inspiring edition of weekly inspiration. I love the archetypal energy of the Inner Pirate as metaphor for triumph. It’s easy to stay inspired when things are going well, but when hard things come along, massive courage is required. It’s worth looking to some of history’s greatest leaders who embodied the pirate archetype to inspire change, reshape the world, and make a positive impact.

1. Nelson Mandela – The Compassionate Buccaneer: Mandela’s unwavering commitment to ending apartheid in South Africa is testament to his courage. He faced imprisonment for 27 years but emerged stronger, not bitter. He used diplomacy and forgiveness as his weapons, proving that courage can change an entire nation.

2. Eleanor Roosevelt – The Fearless Captain: As the First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt was a trailblazer for human rights. She fearlessly championed causes like civil rights, gender equality, and children’s welfare. Her tenacity reminds us that true leaders never shy away from difficult battles.

3. Mahatma Gandhi – The Peaceful Privateer: Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance against British rule in India transformed the world. His courage to stand up for justice through peaceful means inspires us to navigate turbulent seas with grace and determination.

4. YOU – The Brave One: “When I am weak, then I am strong” means believing that the divine power within you is greater than any challenge you face, and choosing to live that strength in the moment. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Leaders remind us that courage isn’t about wielding swords or hoisting flags; it’s about fearlessly embodying the courage of spiritual transformation to bring positive change in the face of adversity, into our inner and outer worlds.

🚢 “Courage to me is doing something daring, no matter how afraid, insecure, intimidated, alone, unworthy, incapable, ridiculed or whatever other paralyzing emotion you might feel. Courage is taking action….no matter what. So you’re afraid? Be afraid. Be scared silly to the point you’re trembling and nauseous, but do it anyway!”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

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Apr11

The Antidote to Stuckness

by Cheryl Brewster

How do you feel about your stuckness?

Are you like me? Where I feel stuck is in how I judge my stuckness. Intellectually I know that stuckness is an inevitable part of life. But oh, if I’m not paying attention, how I can get caught up in hating it! I hate it because of how it makes me feel; ineffective, weak, lacking, ridiculous, hypercritical – ugh – it just feels awful! How many of us are feeling stuck with the changes that the Covid-19 virus has precipitated?

Asking productive questions to catch the blind spots of habit is a powerful antidote. If I could develop ways of catching myself when I start sinking down into the depths of despair, think of the freedom that could take place! If I used how I judged myself as a path to greater awareness, I would be practicing transcendence, the art of spiritual awakening and just plain common sense. I would be mastering the ABCs of Intuition as a form of energy management and accomplish what my heart really, truly desires, no matter what the circumstances around me.

To use pain as a productive tool of transformation defies the conditioning, apathy, stupor, even the stupidity of mankind – it calls out the deprivation that would seek to harm and vanquish the very real battle we each face in determining, will my life stand for something meaningful or will I just “surface-live” because it’s more convenient? The ultimate question, really is, will I live my life for good or for evil? Evil is a lack of love, a diminishing of life, an ignorance that demands power and control at the expense of anyone and anything else. So here we are, over the past few weeks, facing the harsh reality of a species on the brink of possible cataclysmic failure if we do not wake up, and drop our individual and collective apathy on one side and need for control on the other.

Every single one of us needs to wake up. Many of us are, yet this one thing remains… the call to drop the judgment that keeps us prisoner to suppression of our personal authentic power.

Evil is the word “Live” spelled backwards. Judging our stuckness sends us straight to experiencing hell on earth – to the irrational acronym of G-U-I-L-T: Gut-wrenching, Useless, Insidious, Lies (and) Torment.

I refuse to contribute one second longer to the virus eating away at the sanctity of mankind. Yes, I will wash my hands; and just as importantly; I will wash my mind and my emotions of disempowering, harmful voices. I will take my stand and re-frame stuckness as the Law of Opposites at play; part of the natural rhythm of life. Instead of labeling stuckness as some horrible, terrible thing, I will choose to see it as the very important impasse or right of passage that creates and grooms a new way of thinking and being in this world. Stuckness is a part of the evolutionary phase that begs the question, will I react with judgment and condemnation or will I use it to rise into a higher consciousness? What could happen if stuckness was showing me something new that I hadn’t seen before? What if stuckness is nature’s way of saying there’s a better way? And isn’t that what’s facing us on rebuilding our lives and economy during and post corona virus? Isn’t the whole message one of coming back to what’s most important? And doesn’t that point us back to values that stand the test of time and a connecting back into community; that authentic sense of self and togetherness that ensures innovation, creativity and cooperation for a healthier planet and world?

Oh! The relief that comes with the release of the need to fight, to struggle, to continually feel defeated by inner and outer challenge!

In contemplating this in mediation, I had a vision of St. Francis of Assisi who reminded me that all great leaders have learned this one very important thing – to use stuckness as a catalyst for powerful, important change. Judgment and self-condemnation leading to “less than” thinking, is the virus that has been bred into us for centuries. It is the need for power and control, manipulation and economics that twist moral values, where consumerism has replaced the God of our hearts.

Let us rip away the twin masks of blame and shame and mirror instead, the possibilities of life, healing, innovation and progress that exist through challenges and obstacles. We live in a world that so desperately needs to come back to sanity. By choosing love as a commitment and principle to live by, no matter what, we can then practice the very important Stoic philosophy of “Amor Fati,” which means to embrace fate, to accept the reality of what is and productively use all adversity and obstacles as fuel for the fire of our potential!

So how you do you feel about your stuckness? Will it feed your potential rather than smother it? Will you join me in blessing it and practicing the message of the Easter Story; the message of forgiveness, death to apathy on one side and ego-control on the other? Will you join me in the most courageous act possible; the one of self-forgiveness that leads to loving the self as much as the Divine within? If not now, when? How much longer do we need to wait?

“Your Intention to Love, no matter what, is the absolute Key to Happiness” – Robert Holden

It’s so important that we use stuckness as the opportunity that it provides; to become aware of our negativity in judging it and therefore make the switch back to sanity; to positive reinforcement and the invitation to overcome through the transcendent power of love.

Negative self-accusations and questions lead us straight to creating Hell as our personal reality. As author Robert Holden pointed out in his book Happiness “Now, in H.E.L.L., all the letters stand alone: (the) Horrific Effect (of not enough) Love (and) Laughter, (waiting to be undone). In H.E.A.V.E.N. all the letters stand together: Happiness (next to) Eternity; Abundance, Vision, (and) Ease (joined to) Now (as one).”

In this pandemic we have the opportunity and responsibility to stop creating hell on earth and literally create a new earth. It will come by our individual and collective willingness to be live in deeper alignment with the laws of nature and spirituality – the law of love in action. As WW2 concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl noted, “the last of human freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Choose well. Choose to use your own personal stuckness not as a stopping place, but a stepping stone into an attitude of grace, faith, fortitude and victory. Take Your Stand for what Inspires you and do it. Take Your Stand for what Empowers you and do it. Take Your Stand for values born out of compassion rather than consumerism. Forgive your past mistakes, embrace the wisdom they birthed, and step into a future with a fortified sense of commitment, compassion and vision. In the words of Albert Camus, find that invincible summer within yourself, that has the strength to hold the winter. Take Your Stand. There is a power inside of you that can and will handle anything thrown its way. Aware, Breathe, Connect to the Heart. We were born for these times, let us navigate them as nature intended. Let us transcend and live from this place of inner freedom that defies any and all attempts to vanquish it. Like the Easter Story, let us rise again… yes, let us rise! Intuition leads the way…. follow it.

Call to Action: Make the switch from the inner hyper-critical judge to the observer mind that sees the bigger picture. Observe your life like a movie…. what could happen in this moment by committing to love rather than fear? Notice the options that surface and choose that better feeling thought to make a new choice that empowers. This is your fork in the road. It’s in the tiniest of decisions and attitude adjustments that show us the way back home.

Inspiration: Canadian Choir of Women Physicians sings RISE AGAIN (virtually)

Rev. Cheryl Brewster, B.Msc.
I empower individuals and organizations to stay inspired and keep moving forward in positive, productive ways, no matter what changes, challenges or adversities they may face.

Personal and Business Intuitive, Consultant/Training/Keynotes/ specializing in:
Intuition in Business, Radical Joy through Conflict Resolution/Communication/
Resiliency Skills, Ordained Minister/Wedding Officiant and Life Celebrant

Oct29

Stay Alive All Your Life! – Part 2

by Cheryl Brewster

What makes you come alive and stay that way, even when it’s hard; when you feel yourself shutting down and it takes pure grit to stay true to your integrity and dreams? How do you keep growing to improve personal effectiveness? Author and expert on world mythology, Joseph Campbell knew this one well:

“Suddenly you’re ripped into being alive. And life is pain, and life is suffering, and life is horror, but my god you’re alive and it’s spectacular!”

I love this!  Are you like me? I don’t particularly feel spectacular in the middle of the pain, suffering and horror that’s part of life. But I have been through it enough times, to know that indeed, there is always an equal or greater benefit; something spectacular that occurs through the process, onto the other side. It takes great courage and tenacity to live this way. The results are priceless: Mind mastery and learning how to hold our ground in the face of uncertainty. With an eye to our personal and spiritual development, instead of feeling overwhelmed and beaten, we begin to emerge with skills and mindsets that turn great suffering into great victory.

It takes time, great self-compassion, guts, and the willingness to trust and develop our intuition, to feed our resilience, and to keep the faith, even when it appears counter-intuitive.

As Campbell emphasized:
“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive. That’s what it’s all finally about…”

Ahhh, what it’s really all about… the rapture of being alive! Business and spiritual leader, Marsha Sinetar, agrees: “It’s the “burning desire to be or do something that gives us staying power – a reason to get up every morning or to pick ourselves up and start in again after a disappointment.”

The rapture of life can only occur with a burning desire for it. How do we keep the fire stoked when it’s hard?

  1. Science proves it: “high vibe” thinking feeds the flame
    Our brains are hard-wired with a “negative memory basis” to notice potential threats and protect us from harm. Studies done by John Cacioppo, Ph.D., (Ohio State University, and University of Chicago), demonstrate that the brain reacts more strongly to stimuli it deems negative. There is a greater surge in electrical activity, meaning our attitudes are more heavily influenced by negative rather than good news. Research has also shown that a specific ratio of five (five “high-vibe” thoughts to balance out the “one low-vibe thought”) is the magic formula to balance out this negative memory bias.  Worth remembering!  Working “with” our physiology rather than judging ourselves for habitual negative thinking is empowering. It course-corrects us into the extra energy of inspired action that we need for true change and growth to occur over the long-haul. As ancient wisdom reminds us, it is our continued commitment to choose “higher vibration” thoughts to feed the flame of desire that feeds our intent, which in turn feeds our will, which feeds our behavior, and ultimately, feeds our destiny. This leveraging of our negative emotions/memory-bias into holistic, focused, resilient, “alive,” possibility thinking becomes automatic over time. And that’s huge. Now there’s hope, encouragement and something to look forward to, even when life is very hard and hasn’t turned out the way we thought it would.
  2. Give yourself credit and re-energize past successes
    What are some of the toughest times you have been through?
    What helped pull you through? What belief, inspiration or process did you use?
    How did you become a better person through this difficulty? How can you apply that to current circumstances?

    3. Have enthusiasm and clear intent moving forward
    Begin and end each day with vision, re-charge throughout and end it in reflection: spend time in the morning in visualization, prayer or meditation to re-stoke that burning desire and pre-plan how you will “Create Your Day.” It takes just one minute of mindfulness several times throughout the day to keep coming back, to build focus and follow-through. In the evening do a review; celebrate wins and also identify where you can improve. Apply the 5-to-1 ratio to rehearse how you will do things differently tomorrow…. by getting excited about our improvements, now course-correcting becomes more positive, more enjoyable. We have something to look forward to, feel more resilient and capable. Now true change is happening, so that even in the midst of our hardest challenges, we have something to hang onto, a reason to keep going, a grit, tenacity and energy that feeds us, that feeds the rapture of being alive!

Call to action: on those tough days; dig deep – bridge the gap of where you are to where you want to be by applying the 5 -to-1 ratio to this very moment… right here, right now. From this viewpoint you actually are where you want to be, only now you get to enjoy the ongoing journey as a way of life, not just sporadically. To paraphrase Campbell…. my god, you’re alive to your innermost being and reality…. and that’s spectacular… that’s what it’s really all about! Draw on the power of intuition to keep feeding the sacred flame within you – that’s its job and you can trust it to help you come alive and stay alive all your life.

 

Jul19

Stay Inspired! How to re-frame “failed” goals (part 1)

by Cheryl Brewster

What inspires you?  Inspiration is important!  It’s what comforts us in the most difficult circumstances, transforms lethargy into those great “I Did It!” moments, and also helps us deal with those disappointing “I Didn’t Do It!” moments. However, like anything else, the benefits of inspiration can’t do their work if we’re not open to its incredible power and potential.

Inspiration is food for the body and the soul – we’d starve without it.
Defined as a creative force that stimulates thought or action, inspiration is also defined as the drawing in of breath.  There is no lack of inspiration, but if we’re not deliberately incorporating it into breathing, we’re missing out on a whole lot of mental, emotional and physical fuel… we’re draining our resilience and access to our intuition and its super powers of calm, clear, accurate guidance.

What would happen if you brought more “inspired breathing” into your day? You’d not only feel better, you’d be opening up to more of your creativity, ingenuity, genius, imagination and originality. You’d be breathing new life into what appear to be “failed” goals and expanding into an even greater prosperity consciousness.

To do this, we need to acknowledge, feel and breathe into our feelings and question our assumptions.  Feelings like disappointment, regret and worry are natural and even expected. But are we overly self-criticizing with labels like failure, being lazy, weak or not good enough?  These labels can certainly feel justified given the work/achievement culture we live in. But we must ensure we are seeing clearly.  Often there are circumstances beyond our control or there’s a bigger picture we can only become aware of, after the fact. Further, the stress of unexpected events can cause repercussions we’re not even aware of, like post-traumatic stress and burn-out. These cause huge energy hits on our system…. and yet…we still actually blame ourselves for not achieving our goals!

So what to do? Finding ourselves in the doldrums of unexpected or disappointing results  is hard. Really hard. How do we stay inspired then?

Practice Mindfulness
“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ~James Baraz.

Ask questions rather than judging or making assumptions:
The brutal critical voice is something we all have. It can crush our spirit – don’t let it! Mindfully ask quality questions to shift perspective:
What would inspiration do now?
As an observer, watching myself, what can be learned from this?
What is a better feeling thought I can have?
Was this a reasonable goal or did I over/underestimate inner and outer environments or time required?
Did I leave wiggle room for adjustment?
Did I re-evaluate my goal to course correct?
In hindsight, what would I do differently?
What attitude serves me best in moving forward?

Use inspiration to see the bigger picture
It sounds weird; but sometimes “not” achieving our goals can benefit us (if we’ll let it):
1. If you’re way too hard on yourself or have some other ineffective habit, not achieving your goal this time round can be a good thing. It’s the opportunity to course correct any self-limiting attitudes so you are genuinely expanding your self-awareness to create a more grounded level of success.
2. The most inspiring among us are those who found a way through crippling adversity –  you can too. Take Your Stand! Decide to pick yourself up and invest in support and self-development; none of us does this work alone!
3. Find meaning in the pain…. what comfort and wisdom will you bring another who goes through something like this? Bring it to yourself first, right here, right now.

This is part one of how to re-frame your goals… If you enjoyed this blog, stay tuned for part two, and let us know what impacted you most and how you applied these tools. (And please share, we appreciate it)!

Cheryl Brewster helps people become aware of their strengths and the mindsets that impair them. She works with both organisations and individuals to help each person take responsibility and move forward in their roles for more empowered experiences and outcomes. Cheryl offers keynotes, coaching programs and private consultations.

Sep30

Fearless Action to Master Change

by Cheryl Brewster

Take Action!

What wants to move through you? That idea or project that is relentless in its pursuit of your attention and call to action. The one that keeps tapping at your shoulder, yelling in your ear and tugging at your heart… the one that says if you don’t slow down and really look at this, you’ll continue down the slippery slope of unachieved goals, regret and unexpressed creativity.

In her seminal book “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway,” Susan Jeffers provides a powerful, clear strategy for turning pain into power. Her bottom line is that the only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it! So why don’t we? I love her two-fold answer… the first is education (you didn’t learn the facts about fear); the second is the reminder that every time you feel afraid, that it’s simply because you are not feeling good enough about yourself.

The  interplay here between intuition and self esteem makes sense.  Intuition is the driving need for self expression; it’s also the path through fear that takes us from pain to power.  The heart knows the way…the heart always feels good about itself… in fact it can never not feel good about itself because it’s the very essence of life,  limitless in its power. Intuition then, uses the power of the heart to shore up where we don’t feel so great about ourselves so we can move forward into action!

So how do we overcome fear and take action to follow the heart, and honour those intuitive impulses? As Jeffers brilliantly counsels:

  1. Reframe fear
    Remind yourself that when you feel fear, it’s because you’re not feeling good about yourself….Fear then, can be seen as a useful marker, pointing the need and path to higher self esteem.
  1. Decide that “I’ll handle it” is your new (and only) life perspective.
    When fear becomes a habit, we’ve allowed “less than” beliefs or helplessness to feel stronger than the reality of our capability and  infinitely powerful essence . When you decide that no matter what happens, “I’ll handle it,” fear dissolves!
  1. Take Action
    Feeling good follows action – too often we reverse the process thinking that when we feel better, then we will act.  The opposite actually is true. Whether it’s massive action, or one tiny step, the truth is, that nothing will change without taking action.
  1. Measure results with a pain to power chart.
    Check-in daily  to see if you’re moving on the chart from pain to power. If you’re not, it’s because you’re not taking responsibility for that area of your life.
  1. Practice the ABCs of Intuition.
    Aware, Breathe, Connect – this simple 3-step process is the link between self esteem and action.  AWARE of the power within that’s stronger than any obstacle; BREATHE that power in and CONNECT to the heart – it knows the way…. we can trust ourselves and the process of life…. we can drop self doubt and take action from an inspired, empowered place. Self love steps out into action, no problem!

If you have a calling or intuition that you know you’re not following through on as completely as you could, ask yourself why you’re resisting or delaying. You’ll get an immediate answer. Now what is one small thing that you can do to move yourself from the pain to power chart?  Do that thing… the highest form of integrity is the noble task of honoring what wants to move through you.

If you enjoyed this blog or would like to share the results of what you learned and applied, email us! We’d love to hear from you and celebrate the success you are creating! If you are not already a subscriber to our daily quote of inspiration, be sure to sign up.

Cheryl Brewster of The Intuitive Life is a personal and business intuitive, specializing in self development through mastering change.

 

 

 

May31

Drop Anxiety to Manifest Goals! Part Two

by Cheryl Brewster

Part two of how to drop anxiety to manifest goals, is a continuation of part one where we learned that anxiety is a choice that we may or may not realize we’re making.

Awareness reveals this choice, giving us the opportunity to gradually replace anxiety with the joy of life.  As mentioned in the last post, this is easy to say, much harder to do which is why practice, practice, practice is so important. (***Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice. Use sound judgment; seek medical help if symptoms of anxiety persist.)

Awareness of our feelings is critical.  In his book How to be Wealthy, Healthy and Happy, Raymond Charles Barker, who influenced many leaders including Louise Hay, said that “Feeling is the most important function of life.” New thought leader Gary Zukav says the same, noting that feelings are the force-field of the Soul, and scientist Gregg Braden agrees, stating that “feelings are prayers.”

Manifestation authors Esther and Jerry Hicks echo this: “every emotion that you feel is about your alignment or misalignment with the Energy of your Source. Your emotions are your indicators of the vibrational variance between your physical Being and your Inner Being.”

Manifestation then, is using the power of positive emotion to evoke a vibrational match with your desire. Easy to say, harder to do, so how do we actually “do” this?

1. Deciding to feel good = alignment to Source
Decide that from now on, you are choosing to feel good about yourself, your intentions and goals. It sounds so simplistic, but if you’re not feeling good about yourself and your dreams, it’s because you haven’t actually decided to yet. (Try this… in this moment, if you REALLY chose to feel better about yourself, notice what happens).  Cool huh? No decision, no feeling better.  However, the better you feel, the more you are deciding to be connected to the source of Infinite Intelligence.  This is a solid foundation towards ongoing self development and personal effectiveness. Business great Napoleon Hill emphasized this constantly and is famous for saying that “all thoughts which have been emotionalized, (given feeling) and mixed with faith, begin immediately to translate themselves into their physical equivalent or counterpart.”

2. Staying in anxiety or negativity = resistance to Source
Anxious feelings like self doubt and self sabotage will come up – decide to DROP them immediately. Feeling good is “allowing” your connection to flow (infinite intelligence), while choosing to remain in a negative vibe is resisting that flow. We get better with practice, can you be willing to keep letting go of your resistance? Start with willingness… that’s enough to begin with.

3.  Create the habit of feeling and seeing the end result before it actually occurs.
Strong emotion combined with clear visual images utilize the power of the subconscious mind. Done consistently, focusing on what we DO want, rather than what we don’t want, works. You know this from experience… so keep doing it! Feeling good now doesn’t have to wait until the goal is completed… in fact, the goal gets completed “because” we feel good now. We will always have new intentions, dreams and desires… they will never end, so the point is to “enjoy the now” as much as possible, by making that “now,” as interesting, fun, creative and fulfilling as we can.

4. Course correct as quickly as possible.
Be kind to yourself and get back on track as quickly as you can… the idea here is to be like a gun slinger….course correct as quickly as possible and drop any need to self-punish or self-sabotage. Just keep doing it again, and again, and soon your focus is always on target.

5. Use your Imagination
During those times when it feels difficult to switch from anxiousness, use your imagination… remember, the solution already exists… make room for it… use the ABCs of Intuition to slow your breathing and bring your awareness to the solution so it can “pop” in. What visual will you use? Make a movie in your mind… how does the main character triumph? Or, imagine sitting under a tree and watching all the leaves and branches holding countless solutions and possibilities… which one will it be? Remember, this is not about figuring anything out, this is about allowing something new to pop in. It may happen right away, or most likely later when you’re doing something mundane… that seems to be when most eurekas hit.

6. Stay Mindful
One of the best definitions of mindfulness comes from Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. He says that mindfulness is, “paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, to the unfolding of experience moment to moment.” The beauty of mindfulness is that on those days, where accessing our better feelings and thoughts is not immediate and takes time, we learn to accept. Acceptance honors the experience as an unfolding, without judgment which ultimately leads to peace through surrender. Now that’s what I call a vibrational match to awareness.

Manifesting goals requires action on our part… it starts with the power of intention; choosing to feel good about ourselves reduces the resistance we may or may not know we have and leads to inspired action. Anxiety is an indicator of that resistance; by appreciating the indicator, we have a powerful tool… awareness and choosing to match our feelings to what we most desire is healing, powerful and effective.  It can sound too good to be true, however, the Law of the Universe is built on Harmony…. all we’re doing is returning to our true creative nature… and that is the most natural thing in the world. Learning how to manifest then, becomes a joyful, easy process when we decide to make it that way.

If you enjoyed this blog post, let us know! We welcome your comments and if you are interested in an Intuitive Consultation or Coaching program with Cheryl, or wish to hire her speak at one of your events, contact us at TheIntuitiveLife.com

 

Oct16

Patience – 7 Power Tips

by Cheryl Brewster

Could you benefit from a little more patience, a little more acceptance of what is currently happening in your life? Patience is something most of us wish we had more of. We can get a bit snarly with delay, inconvenience and disappointment.. Snarly, unfortunately only builds frustration, rather than solution. So as Conscious Changemakers what are we to do with these big visions and dreams that may be taking longer than we anticipated? How do we  catch our impatience when things go wrong, get delayed or seem thwarted at every turn?

Let’s start with the definition of patience:

  • the quality of  bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper and  irritation.
  • an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.
  • quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence

To bear misfortune and pain without complaint, loss of temper and irritation… wow, that’s a tall order; no wonder patience is a virtue. But it’s something more – it’s the invitation to harness any frustration, anger and other charged emotions  into feeding a productive purpose.

Purpose and patience tie into the whole concept of mindfulness: paying attention in a particular way without judgment. They also tie into synchronicity, self-respect and the radical decision to “be happy now,” before our goals are achieved, problems solved, and that big dream landed.  It might sound weird, but it makes sense to choose happiness now; otherwise we’re missing the point…. pursuing goals without a happiness mindset is a life without patience. A life without patience is a life without peace and is doomed to perpetual conflict and suffering.

Our productive purpose then, becomes an immediate choice, that no matter what, we keep going… we keep the faith… we maintain a positive mental attitude at all costs and stay true to our purpose finding the good, the benefit in the challenge, no matter what. .

Patience  is a discipline that remembers the bigger picture.
Why? Every challenge or obstacle feeds a productive purpose.
Patience remembers that purpose; it values it.
Patience is fierce determination – it’s the decision made again and again, to drop doubt, disbelief and negative self judgment.
Here’s 7 Tips to harness the power of patience:

  1. The next time you feel impatience coming on, ask yourself… “would I rather have this, or peace?” Choose peace!.
  2. Happiness is a decision – when you decide to be happy all manner of patience, creativity, new ideas, inspiration and possibilities abound
  3. Use emotional triggers as reminders to  feed your productive purpose, to choose peace, happiness, effectiveness, whatever your key word is that lights your fire
  4. Be kind! Think of Patience as a new habit – it takes time to develop, but step by step it does
  5. Decide right now on the ideas and mindsets that no longer benefit you – say NO to them! Make them final and irrevocable They’re not allowed!
  6. Get physical – change your physiology – celebrate success with a physical YES! Cheer to anchor in the new habit
  7. Understand that when your perspective changes – EVERYTHING changes! Imprint the subconscious with constant pictures of the joy you are creating and feel it.

The benefits of more patience are incalculable; instant relief and peace, worry reduced to a minimum, and a sweet acceptance rather than a resistance to what is. Your mental and emotional energy  focus on solutions, not problems;  intuition, creativity and innovation are heightened. Live flourishes with more contentment and satisfaction.   Too often we ignore the present for the future, and like the caterpillar that becomes a butterfly, we need to enjoy the caterpillar stage… it’s just as important and needed as its next level of evolution. In terms of self discovery and self development, patience is a key factor we cannot ignore.

Cheryl Ann Brewster is highly regarded in her skills as a Business Intuitive, Coach and Speaker. She specializes in supporting  those  keen to expand personal and professional effectiveness through the power of intuition and soul-centred business practices. To join her mailing list and/or daily inspiration  or to learn more, contact her at: TheIntuitiveLife.com.

Sep03

Synchronicity: the hidden language of FLOW

by Cheryl Brewster

We are surrounded by a sea of abundance that flows to us!

  • How many times do you think of someone and they call?
  • Do you see recurring sequences of numbers every time you see a digital time display, like 111, 333,  555, etc?
  • Have you pondered an important question to have a billboard or licence plate in front of you declare the answer?
  • When you’re looking for something have you had someone hand it to you without them knowing you needed it?
  • Have you waited in traffic or been detoured only to find the billboard message on a passing vehicle displays what you just finished telling someone at that exact moment?

The odds of having such coincidences occur is mind boggling.  Given the obvious intricate intelligence behind such occurrences, we must ask ourselves, if these things are happening without our conscious involvement, what could happen if we brought more awareness to them? Can you imagine the possibilities, solutions and innovations that could be accessed?! How could this impact our self development and personal effectiveness?

In her book Synchronicity and the Soul, Nancy Seifer explains that it was the power of synchronicity to overwhelm the rational mind that held significance for Carl Jung (1875-1961), the Swiss psychiatrist who coined the term and brought the phenomenon to light.  Jung recognized that synchronicity, which he defined as meaningful coincidence, had the effect of breaking through the “rationalistic shell” of the modern scientific mind.

“(Synchronicity) is a form of coincidence powerful enough to shatter the notion that material science has discovered all there is to know about the universe.  To the person having an experience of synchronicity, the realization dawns that a mysterious force is at play in the world—a kind of “cosmic clock” whose gears operate on a more subtle plane.”

This echoes Deepak Chopra’s poetic words that “Synchronicity is choreographed by a great, pervasive intelligence that lies at the heart of nature, and is manifest in each of us through intuitive knowledge.”

And this pervasive intelligence is ours even without asking! All we have to do is pay attention to the Signs, Symbols and Synchronicity at play in our lives.
We are surrounded by a sea of abundance… but are we actually in flow with it or fighting it?

I’ve been a fan of this amazing principle of intuition for as long as I can remember and find it incredibly helpful in important decision making  and in situations requiring more clarity and validation. I often tell the story in my seminars of how I used a “Bookmark” to determine when I should follow the call from my intuition to leave the corporate world to begin my own business as a professional intuitive.  Although I knew in my heart that this was the right thing to do, it didn’t match the rational thought of my upbringing… My mind screamed no and my heart say yes, even though I’d be leaving a great company, significant income with benefits, and most of all, the security of a guaranteed paycheck for  nothing but a gut feeling and a dream.

Setting a bookmark is a specific technique that finds its beginnings in ancient times and remains just as powerful today.  In my experience, I used a symbol that was fairly uncommon – a boomerang – the “bookmark agreement”with the Universe was that when a real boomerang came into my life, I would know that yes, now is the time to leave the job.  (But I must admit, because this was such a big decision, I thought I’d help the universe out by adding a proviso that either one real boomerang came into my life or three smaller ones which could be in the form of a TV commercial, ad on a billboard, etc).

You can imagine my shock and delight when after a couple of weeks, feeling rather disheartened that the symbol hadn’t arrived yet, I’d picked up a book that I’d recently purchased. The book itself wasn’t something I was particularly interested in, however my gut “told” me that I “had to buy it.” As I flipped through it, I came across an interesting paragraph and there, deep into the story did I not only find the word boomerang “three times,” but I also found the meaning of the word… the boomerang is a sacred symbol cautioning us not to hold onto things too tightly,  for it’s only in surrendering and giving them to the universe, that they can be returned to us in bigger ways.

WOW!

I was shaking. This was something that you see in the movies or read about in books… this happened to other people, not to me! And here I was, not only with three small boomerangs, but with the meaning of the word as a sacred symbol!  I gave my notice the next day and have been privileged to live an extraordinary life beyond anything I could have imagined because “I was willing to let go and not hang on too tight.”

Powerful, beyond all odds and four months later, when I taught my first intuitive workshop in Whistler, what did the store carry? Two decorative boomerangs which I promptly bought. The third I added to my collection when again, trusting my gut to go to a certain store, only to find a boomerang with the engraving “authentic souvenir of Australia.”

Having worked with synchronicity my entire life, to go through an experience as specific and mind blowing as this made a huge impact.  I’ve come to appreciate that when we ACTIVELY participate with the “great, pervasive intelligence that lies at the heart of nature,” not only do synchronicities happen with more frequency, so too do miracles. Can you imagine the impact to families, business and organizations to harness the power of synchronicity both as an art and tool of science for brainstorming and team building? Can you imagine the solution and innovation?  The possibilities are staggering, and like all great things, it begins with us as individuals to apply and hone the hidden language that Signs, Symbols and Synchronicity in our own lives, to test and prove them. To create more FLOW in your home and professional life, consider what would happen if you:

  • asked clear specific questions of the vast intelligence awaiting you?
  • paid attention to what you were thinking before a sign, symbol or synchronicity crossed your path?
  • asked for clear, specific signs to underline or highlight a feasible action or direction to take
  • did a life review of where synchronicity has been the most prevalent in your affairs
  • discovered when there was no synchronicity in your life to find the patterns that prevent rather than propel FLOW in your life
  • willing to participate more fully with this great pervasive intelligence?

Basic tools to grow your awareness and appreciation of Synchronicity and self improvement:

  • notice the thought you were thinking just before a synchronicity happened
  • be clear on your desires, write them down and expect their fulfillment, by feeling them here now
  • keep a journal to acknowledge synchronicity
  • use ritual to honor it in your life
  • be firm and clear in your commitments
  • be diligent in replacing negative thinking with positive thought
  • ask specific questions (better yet, write them down and journal the answers when they come)
  • expect an answer without  attachment to how or when it is delivered, or if it looks different than you originally intended
  • learn more and resist less by spending more time in mindful contemplation and deep silence

We are surrounded by a sea of abundance that flows to us! By paying attention to signs, symbols and synchronicity, we harness the hidden power of flow in life and business. By applying it, we create the change we’ve been wanting and more. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to learn more – see our calendar for upcoming live events or tele-seminars on Signs, Symbols and Synchronicity..

Cheryl Ann Brewster is highly regarded in her skills as a Business Intuitive, Coach and Speaker. She specializes in supporting  those  keen to expand personal and professional effectiveness through the power of intuition and soul-centred business practices. To join her mailing list and/or daily inspiration  or to learn more, contact her at: TheIntuitiveLife.com.

 

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

Dec15

The Power of Personal Reflection

by Cheryl Brewster

December is the invitation to reflect in  a time of stillness and quiet beauty.IMAG0558

This December has transformed itself into a month of stillness and beauty despite the hustle and bustle of the year…. Perhaps it’s because I’m up at 5:00 am every morning to drive my son to his new job until his pre-arranged car-pooling kicks-in again. I’m sure that’s a big part of it… I’ve enjoyed the extra time… it’s been quite magical. Not usually such a morning person, I have been gifted with so many things, like the play of light that streaks across a dark horizon; the stunning purples and blues behind the starkness of leaveless trees, mixed in with moonlight reflected off a sleepy river… it’s all been so memorable and powerful. In addition, the quiet, reflective time with my son has been such a gift of bonding that we wouldn’t normally have had.

I am very grateful and with winter solstice just around the corner, I’m reminded that we each have the opportunity to reflect, to go inside before the shortest day of the year arrives. The name solstice means ‘sun stands still’ and spiritually, it offers the opportunity to pause and reflect. How else can we measure the effectiveness of what’s really working or not working in our lives without that quiet pause?

Winter Solstice is symbolic of allowing the darker shadow side of our experience to come out; to be acknowledged and transformed as it heals, and we lovingly, kindly, with compassion, tell the truth to ourselves… what do we really want more of in life? What are we willing to let go of in order to embrace the new?

This meditation by author Meg Casey captures so succinctly the hushed beauty of this special time:

December is a holy month. Maybe it is the dark, silky silence that descends so early that speaks to me of reverence. Maybe it is the promise that December holds — that no matter how dark, how cold, how empty it can get, the light is coming back. Something always shifts in me when December arrives — I embrace the darkness, and am eager for the coming solstice when the whole world is still and holds its breath, waiting to be reborn again.

What is seeking to be reborn in you? Time to pause, to reflect and vision in the quiet of your own heart is always a good thing.  May the balance of December be for you, a quiet reflection of stillness and beauty. Happy Winter Solstice!

If you would like to be a part of the 2014 Visioning Tele-Seminars in December, click here. To be a part of future teleseminar series that focus on prosperity and visioning, email us here.

Photo credit of Trees in Mist: Tina Doughty, Photo credit for Cheryl Brewster: Amber Light Photo

 

cheryl75Cheryl Brewster is a Personal and Business Intuitive who provides intuitive readings and coaches entrepreneurs, business people and individuals to embrace intuition at deeper levels for personal effectiveness, self development, stress management and self discovery.  She founded The Intuitive Life in 2004 and delivers interactive, dynamic keynotes to business teams wanting a refreshing approach to communication, stress management and inspired business building.