Tag: self discovery

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

Mar01

Stay Inspired in Difficulty – Part 2

by Cheryl Brewster

The Obstacle is the Path. I know this to be true. The very thing that creates confusion in my mind or terror in my gut is the very antidote to that stress. And the answer to that confusion, terror, difficulty, heartbreak, disappointment or challenge is this… it’s here to be used to my advantage.When I approach life from this perspective, I go to a whole new level of awareness and effectiveness.

How about you?

Scott Peck said that “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

That’s huge! Life-changing! It helps us tackle the things we don’t want to, because we have discovered an inner power that transcends our resistance, procrastination or limitations. What are 3 simple steps we can use to develop this kind of life-altering perspective?

1. Use difficulty to your advantage.
Challenge and change are unavoidable. But your perspective is totally your creation. The question is… have you created consciously or unconsciously? Awareness will course-correct perspective to help, not hinder you. It sounds simplistic, but when you “take your stand for inspiration in difficulty,” postponing peace or your sense of capability, is no longer an option. Difficulty is used to your advantage… immediately. Want proof? Identify a current difficulty and list at least 5 ways you can use it to your advantage… you’ll probably find more. Decide on the one tiny baby step you can take right now, in this moment… and then the next and the next.

2. See difficulty as your servant, not your master
What do these names have in common? Terry Fox, Rick Hanson, Nick Fugicic, Christopher Reeves, Maya Angelou, Anne Frank and Victor Frankl? That’s right, they used their obstacles, difficulties and tragedies as inner paths to freedom. Their capacity to see life from this perspective is the same path of power available to us…  Our willingness and commitment to embrace the obstacle as the path redefines us, makes us aware of points of inner power that we didn’t see before. We can start from the humblest beginnings and yet lead the most extraordinary of lives. Immediately.

3. Recognize that all difficulty is the invitation to peak performance.
This perspective cuts through emotional baggage, irrational fear, worry and stress. Difficulty is the very thing that brings out the best in us. The result is knowing we can handle the situation immediately… in the now, the present… “while” we face our shadows, worries or innermost demons.. because the truth is, the hardest battle we will ever fight is with our own thoughts and emotions…. Will we be true to what calls us and stand up for what matters? That’s the call to inner truth, self-trust and personal development and mastery. It’s what gives us the grit, courage and tenacity to do the right thing. It’s what frees us from the insidiousness of  unchallenged fears.

By staying inspired in difficulty, we drop the habit of “hoping the problem will go away,” and embrace a strength that was here all along, but wasn’t being used. Staying inspired in difficulty helps us surpass all forms of mediocrity, victimization, self-doubt and exhaustion. We stop projecting the past onto the future and begin to truly enjoy the present moment. We master the very things that once held us back.

Stay inspired. It is difficulty’s equal partner. The obstacle is the path. Begin today and if you’re stuck or not wondering quite where to start, that’s okay! Start anyway… what’s just one small step you can take right now? Take it! Nothing is more rewarding than “right action!” That’s you mining the gold in the shadow of your subconscious. It’s worth it. And it’s waiting for you!

woman_speaking_to_audienceAbout Cheryl Brewster, B.Msc., Transformational Speaker, Coach and Celebrant. Under every difficulty is a greater inner potential that our intuition accesses. My expertise is inspiring my clients, whether individuals or organizations to re-frame difficulty as a path to tangible, measurable, powerful results and solutions in the areas of life and business that matter most.  If you’d like to learn how my intuitive consults, coaching programs or speaking services, can grow your success, please contact me for a complimentary exploratory call.   As a Celebrant, I also offer officiate ceremonies for life’s most meaningful moments.

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.

Jul02

Keep it Simple – 5 steps to effectiveness in a frenzied get-it-done-world

by Cheryl Brewster

Stress may not seem like a  decision, but over time, we begin to see where it is. Fight, flight or freeze responses are immediate, but when we take a step back,  we do see that we have choice in changing our responses…. do that enough times and we have improved our lifestyles for the better. It all begins with baby steps and being more mindful…. paying attention on purpose without judgment in the present moment. In a world gone mad with deadlines and getting things done at all costs, we must be vigilant in honoring our values. We must ensure they are not being eroded by inner and outer forces that at first glance appear noble, but over time, diminish our quality of life.

Peace of mind = effectiveness. But all too often, our definition of effectiveness can get skewed if we focus on results at the expense of our values.

In his book “A Life of  Being , Doing and Having Enough,” author Wayne Muller starts out with these comments:  “we have forgotten what enough feels like…. So we work and add and never stop, never back away, never feel complete, and we despair of ever finding comfort, relief, or sanctuary.”

Sound familiar?

Step #1 – Evaluate Be truthful, honest and brave… If you keep your same daily routine, where will you be in the next 5 years?  Is that a YIKES! or a YES! response? What one small thing can you begin to do in your daily routine?

Step#2 – Choose Peace When we dig deep into our core, we find the strength to identify and drop old ineffective patterns.  When we focus on cleaning up on the inside, we find the strength to clean up on the outside too.

Muller’s take on this is profound:: “Here is the final thing we must know. We carry within us a fierce grace that will not be extinguished, does not break and cannot ever leave us comfortless. It lives in us. This life force, whatever it is that allows a blade of grass to push up, up through concrete to reach for sun and warmth. It lives in us. This is what we are made up of. If we trust in this impossibly resilient capacity to bear all we are given, and re-calibrate  our speed….”

Step #3 – Re-calibrate Your Speed Harness that “fierce grace within you,” it’s the booming voice that says “You can DO this!”  Fierce grace wins over the internal critic every time… it does require that you slow down to hear it, however…. it is always there…. it’s your noticing it and inviting it to lead that changes the trajectory of your life. It’s your willpower to Take You Stand for lasting change.

Step #4 – Use the power of Imagination! Imagination is the bridge from the unconscious to the conscious… it holds the secret solutions beyond the rational mind. It’s fun, refreshing and very effective… get relaxed, imagine what ease, effortlessness or flow would do in any given situation and notice the ideas or mental images that flash across your internal screen!

Step #5 – Breathe! If you kept a “breath log,” you’d be amazed at how little you maximize this incredible energy booster! In order  to access clear thinking and relieve anxiety and tension—like a plant needs water—your brain needs oxygen. Remembering to breathe helps take the edge off,  so you can respond from a more centered place which over time, creates a habit of calm and mastery in effective and accurate decision making.

Stress actually serves a purpose other than survival; it lets us know where we need to loosen up, let go, and enjoy the process of life and business rather than feel bound by them. Every challenge is an opportunity, every dilemma holds a a creative solution and every heartache over time can be healed… the freedom to choose is our greatest gift, willpower our greatest tool, and “fierce grace” our greatest birthright. Self discovery and self development are the twin flames of personal effectiveness; they hold the keys to what is sacred to us. They help us create a legacy rather than just get by. They are fed by the flames of fierce grace – that intrinsic desire to express our creative genius.

Cheryl 2009Interested in learning more on how Mindfulness contributes to your career, business or company?

Cheryl Brewster is 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, daily inspiration  or to learn more: TheIntuitiveLife.com+

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.

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

Apr02

Following your “Calling” in Life and Business

by Cheryl Brewster

Do you have a “calling” for the business you’re in or the life you want to lead? Or perhaps you feel a  shift coming;  a whisper inside  that isn’t clearly audible yet. It  seems to be nudging you to something different, but you’re not sure of what that is..What is your response when this happens? Are you curious or do you unconsciously begin to go into stress mode, and shut down? So many of us judge uncertainty, missing out on its gifts, but it’s a very important and necessary phase of self growth.

Re-frame uncertainty – its polar opposite lies just beneath the surface
Usually the only difference between  uncertainty and trust is the decision to believe in ourselves and our ability to handle change.  Self trust can only grow from the willingness to be in discomfort and take action anyway. When we decide to trust ourselves, we release perfectionism and drop destructive self judgment. Only then can we embrace the calling for change. It takes time. It doesn’t happen over night.

Uncertainty can be frightening and paralyze us from taking action, no matter how powerful our dreams are.   Gregg Levoy in his book “Callings”  describes this beautifully: “We love to quote the philosopher and poet Goethe who said that “whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” But we forget that he also said, “To put your ideas into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” 

It all begins with our willingness to be in the discomfort of uncertainty and re-framing that discomfort into action

The poem in the head is always perfect, Stanley Kuntiz once remarked. The challenge comes when we try to convert it into language. This is especially so when we discover, as we often do, that saying yes to a calling requires not just one act of heroism and risk taking but a prolonged period of action that can stretch into years.”

How do we maintain the heroism required for these long periods of time? 

1. Use the breath to be with your fear of lack, whether that’s time, money or control, etc. Witness it, let it be there and acknowledge the subsequent feelings.
2. Notice the chemical reactions in your body… very powerful! But are you these chemical reactions or the awareness of them?
3. As the Awareness... what do you now choose to create? Breathe through uncertainty, let it be there which allows you to actually  let it go. As the Awareness, connect to what’s been here all along; trust in yourself and in life.
4. Always take time to be present with the breath; it releases the fear of change and puts the peace and confidence of your inner knowing back in the driver’s seat of your life.

Uncertainty is a part of following your calling. Putting your ideas into action is the most difficult thing in the world. Solutions begin with the breath; it slows things down, brings you back to the present, releases stress and invites clarity. Be brave; be willing to slow down and do things differently.

If this blog resonates with you, stay inspired with our daily quote and newsletter (two different places to sign up on our homepage The Intuitive Life.). Cheryl Brewster is a Personal and Business Intuitive who specializes in helping clients go deeper into self discovery, personal effectivess and intuitive development through the vehicle of life’s changes. .

Feb27

Business Stress – 3 Ways Intuition Can Help

by Cheryl Brewster

As a conscious minded business person, your goal is to provide the highest quality products and services in the most efficient, sustainable methods possible, with customer satisfaction and healthy profit.. But what happens when challenges come up that rock your world? Our knee-jerk reactions take over. Big Time. While some reactions can be  effective, most are not.  Intuitive Development plays a critical role in catching those gut-wrenching situations and transforming them into effective learning experiences. The caveat here however, is that we must be willing to re-frame how we look at ourselves and stress.

How Intuition helps to  reduce business stress:

1. Rule number one in intuitive development is to breathe.
Over time we learn to look at breathing in a whole new way:  slowly, deeply, consciously and deliberately.
This kicks us out of the “fight or flight” sequence and gets us connected back to our body wisdom. Otherwise, the huge rush of chemicals released in the body can take over our perspective and we all know what happens… we react (based on the past) rather than respond (based on the present). Without taking time to breathe, we simply repeat old patterns again and again. We’ve heard this a million times… breathe deeply and slowly, but are we actually doing it?
TIP: Use association. Choose something that happens frequently and use it as a reminder… for example…. every time your phone rings, use it as a marker to check-in and breathe slowly, deeply, consciously and deliberately before you answer it.

2.  How would you feel if everything was really okay?
Our intuition has access to the bigger picture that the five senses don’t.  Just take a look at nature’s beauty and perfection – there’s an invisible harmony that runs our world – when we breathe into that inner harmony, we operate from a success minded perspective. Our job becomes less fear-driven and more purpose driven; by allowing this inner harmony to emerge through us, we become aware of possibilities we didn’t see before..  We think more clearly.  Intuition draws from this creative space while fear prevents our access to it.
TIP: Re-frame stress as a  signal to refocus on the inner harmony already inside of you; it builds supreme self trust and improves the thinking process.

3. How would you act if you were already successful?
Ask this simple question in any situation and see what happens! You’ll feel instant relief and guidance and find it easier to drop ineffective thinking patterns.
TIP: Make this question a new practice by using your tea or coffee break to sit with the answers. Be sure to keep a journal handy!

The bottom line: Intuitive Principles reduce stress and add an element of self discovery. They increase profit by creating a new perspective of trust and freeing up stuck energy. Intuitive Development takes time and practice but it’s affects can be felt immediately.  Our biggest challenge as entrepreneurs is to give ourselves the same time, care and attention we give to our customers. Start small and build from there… these three simple steps can have profound affects on your business!

Cheryl Brewster is a Business Intuitive who provides intuitive mentor programs and workshops to support entrepreneurs  in being less stressed and more productive.

Inspiration:
If you focus on the negative in any situation, you can expect high stress levels. However, if you try and see the good in the situation, your stress levels will greatly diminish.”  –Catherine Pulsifer