It’s not an easy time to navigate life, and those of us who normally pride ourselves on spreading light and love might be feeling overwhelmed. If this is you, know that you are not alone.

It’s important to remember that while others are drawing on our light to find their way out of the darkness, we may be running on empty. Wanting to be there for those you love is admirable, but to continue shining your light you must also make time to fill up your own tank.

If you find yourself overcommitted or running from one crisis to another, it’s time to pause and recharge. When you move from a peaceful, calm energetic state to one in crisis mode, your impact on the world around you changes.

Energy is so palpable that it easily transfers from one soul to another, creating a ripple effect. Ask yourself, “What energetic vibration do I want to put out in the world today?”

Managing your energy can be difficult, so having tools you can easily turn to in times of need is imperative. I invite you to consider these tips when you find yourself on empty and unable to be the bright light you desire:

1. Breathe
   Isn’t it funny how many of us forget to pause and take deep breaths in stressful times? I find myself holding my breath when I’m feeling fearful or anxious. These are the moments in which our body desperately needs extra oxygen. Breathing nourishes our cells and helps us return to a grounded, calm state much quicker.
   
   Pause, close your eyes, and focus on filling your lungs with oxygen. Spend a few minutes taking deep breaths while you center yourself again.

2. Take a Break
   Remove yourself from triggers, including situations, events, and people, as needed. As much as you might want to be there for everyone, you must also be there for yourself. Self-care helps you continue to be that shining light for others, but without taking the time to honor your needs you can easily get sucked into the energy you’re trying to rise above.

3. Step Outside
   Most of us find ourselves indoors most of the day. Electronics, while helpful in our daily lives, also emit frequencies that are counterproductive to maintaining our grounded state of being. Nature helps us restore balance.
   
   If you don’t have time for a walk in the woods, by the water, or in a garden, consider taking off your shoes and allowing your bare feet to touch the earth.

4. Listen to Soothing Sounds
   The world is full of sounds bombarding us every day. When we’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s helpful to fill our space with calming sounds. You can find many soothing nature sounds or white noise that help clear the clutter from your brain and find your center again.
   
   Another option is listening to music/songs that raise your vibration. Sing along, allow yourself to feel joy, and remember that you aren’t meant to be constantly immersed in the darkness around you.

5. Move Your Body
   Our bodies benefit from movement, whether it’s walking, yoga, stretching, dancing, team sports, bicycling, or any other activity you choose to engage in during your day. If you’re pressed for time, set aside just 15 minutes in your schedule. Honor your body and the magnificent gift it provides in supporting you through the ups and downs of life.

6. Surround Yourself with Those Who Lift You Up
   Can you recognize those people in your life who inspire versus drain you? Spend more time with those who help you remember your light, empower you to honor yourself, and love you unconditionally. These people are part of your tribe and will help you back onto your path when you’ve veered off it temporarily.

7. Be Gentle with Yourself
   It’s impossible to be everything to everyone at all times. You’re one person and can only be stretched so thin. Try to be proud of yourself for the love and light you put into the world versus beating yourself up for the things you aren’t able to accomplish. Remember that every life you touch touches many more lives, creating a ripple effect.

8. Find Your Joy
   One of the best things you can do when you’re feeling drained is to move toward joy. What is something that brings you joy? For me, spending time with my animals shifts my energy, puts a smile on my face, and opens my heart.
   
   When I want to hide from the world, I look to the unconditional love of my pets to help me find my light again, as they are a constant source of it in my life. Experiencing joy from any source automatically shifts our energy and helps fill us back up.

Those of us wanting to “be the change we wish to see in the world” must remember that our light is that which helps others find their way through the darkness. But without honoring our needs and keeping our fuel tank full, our light becomes dim and no longer lights the path.

You are an important soul here to be a guide, my friend. Remember, without you, the world would be missing a very important light. Listen to your body, honor its needs, and create time to fill your cup so that you can continue sharing your love, wisdom, and gifts with the world.

The post 8 Self-Care Tips for the Light Bearers appeared first on TUT.

For years I’ve been one of those people who likes to get things crossed off my list. I felt as though I’d accomplished something if everything was complete. And if there were still things glaring at me to be done, I would feel disappointed in myself. All of this was exhausting!

One day someone said to me, amid a stressful time, “Do what’s given you to do.” Huh?

You see, we aren’t meant to run around depleting ourselves just to get everything done. Often our to-do lists contain many things that are not urgent and can wait for another day. Sometimes we put urgency on things that are not necessary.

When we take time to pause and sit with our day it’s common for our intuition to guide us to those things which need to be taken care of promptly. And sometimes our intuition tells us that today is a day to stop, rest, and use the time for self-care.

There is always something to get done—that is a fact. And some days are productive while other days we need a break. Taking that time to recharge creates the space to move forward and accomplish more in the future.

There are also times in which we need to pause because there’s something we are noticing that needs our attention. Perhaps it’s a friend in need of support or our body needing rest before it becomes ill. When we get so laser-focused on our “list” we often lose sight of the greater purpose of our day.

Can you remember a day in which you had many things to take care of but then someone reached out with a crisis? You may have felt pulled in many directions but knew right away that the most important thing was to be there for your loved one.

All those chores and errands all of a sudden seemed unimportant. And likely nothing else fell apart because your attention got placed on something urgent.

It’s easy to see how we change course or pause when something pressing happens. But it’s equally important to take a pause when feeling overwhelmed.

Perhaps ask yourself, “What can I push until tomorrow so that I can take better care of myself today?” And then give yourself kudos for choosing that which is best for your well-being versus just “getting things done.”

Choosing you is imperative to a healthy life. Staying in touch with what presents itself each day helps you lead a life that brings you joy and fulfillment.

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From an early age, most of us spend time daydreaming about everything imaginable. It usually starts with our first love followed by our dream job, home, children, and the adventures we want to experience during our lifetime.

But many of these dreams never come to fruition because we let fear keep us from moving forward. Then we are left feeling disappointed while we live out a life that lacks the passion we desire. At this point, we might resign ourselves to a life of “going through the motions” and staying afloat while our heart yearns for more.

I encourage you to think back to a time when you put the wheels in motion to help one of your dreams become reality. Do you remember how your heart felt alive? Do you remember how excited you were to see your deepest desires manifest in front of your eyes?

You may have felt that you were being divinely led in the direction of your deepest dreams.

If your dreams seem out of reach right now remember that by taking one small step in the right direction they may soon become reality.

You see, the universe is always on your side waiting patiently for you to take that first step. As the momentum builds there is a magically divine energy that opens new doors which lead you to exactly the place that most benefits your growth and purpose here on earth.

What’s most important is walking toward versus away from your dreams. Here are a few helpful tips:

1. Keep an Open Heart and Mind
While you may have a certain dream in mind, be open to something even better. Also, remember that certain things must line up universally before our dreams appear, so it’s important to realize that how and when they manifest may be different than you expect.

2. No Judgment or Criticism
You may be stuck in fear and unable to take steps forward right now. Be graceful and patient with yourself. All dreams manifest in divine timing. While you might want to beat yourself up for not working toward your dreams, realize that perhaps you are meant to focus on something different at this moment. There is no deadline for your dreams, only a wish for them to come true.

3. Have Fun
Most of us get so wrapped up in what we desire in our lives that we miss the fun along the way. Stop, play, laugh, and enjoy the journey. Otherwise, you’ll look back and only see the work it took to make your dreams come true. Manifesting is fun if you allow it to be!

4. Be Willing to Walk through Fear
Nobody ever said stepping into change doesn’t involve courage. Allow your emotions, express them, and then still choose to take a step forward regardless of how small it is. The only way to help your dreams become reality is to walk through the fear with courage.

5. Trust
Know that if a dream has come into your heart it’s meant to be a part of your life. It may look different than you imagined but it’s shown up for a reason. Dreams involve passion and where there is passion the universe is always guiding you. Trust that what is meant to be is working its way into your life.

The world needs your bright light and the gifts you have to offer. Enjoy the journey and live from your heart with passion and purpose.

The post 5 Tips to Follow Your Heart to Your Dreams appeared first on TUT.

No sooner was I ready to return to my finished piece of writing when I discovered it was gone, completely reverted to the draft I’d spent a great deal of time editing. How did this happen?

Feeling frustrated, I switched to another task but quickly my mind wandered back to the morning events. Just as I was about ready to throw my hands up in the air and ask for guidance, I realized I’d already received guidance. My divine helpers had literally taken the wheel from me.

Apparently, today my message was meant to focus on following the signs and guidance from the universe. The funny thing is years ago I didn’t even believe that divine help was guiding my life. I might have noticed things happening and labeled them as a “coincidence,” but I didn’t spend time pondering it much beyond that.

Years later as I navigate down my path and look back in time, I realize there has always been divine help trying to steer me in directions that most benefit my journey.

Of course, we all have experiences that we don’t enjoy and that cause us pain during our lifetime. But in my reflection, I’ve come to see that there were always signs trying to get my attention however I often ignored them and kept driving.

As you look at your own life do you see how it’s been filled with divine help and guidance?

Think back to a time in which perhaps you were in danger and at the last moment something, even something small, diverted your path just in time to keep you safe. Or how about those little nudges or small voices that you experience quite frequently?

All these signs and synchronicities, as well as our intuitive feelings, are ways in which the universe is watching over us. Although we may feel alone at times, we are always surrounded by love and support, even from afar.

You may wonder how to take more notice of this divine guidance. Here are some suggestions:

• Pay attention to changed plans and diversions. Often these happen because you’re being guided to something more beneficial for your life.
• Listen to those small voices in your head or the nudges you get. They aren’t there for no reason. Often, they lead you to open doors full of opportunities or away from things that no longer serve you.
• Ask for guidance and help when needed. The more we ask, the greater the help we have around us.
• Remember to have fun with it. When plans go astray, sit back and remember there is always a greater plan. Smile with the knowing you are being divinely led through life.

We always have free will in our lives, but when we take time to pause, listen to our intuition, and recognize the signs around us, life can flow with much greater ease. Even when we feel alone there is always something greater than ourselves watching and guiding our journey here on earth.

Let your divine helpers take the wheel once in a while—you never know what amazing places they’ll lead you to in life.

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What we truly wanted was to pause and choose differently, but in the moment that’s not what occurred. Now we’re left with many feelings about how we had hoped things would have happened differently. I’m guessing most everyone can relate.

We are always at choice to choose our old coping mechanisms. And we are always at choice to choose differently. We know what happens when we choose to react the same as we have been for our entire life. What we may not know is what happens when we make another choice.

For many of us, when we experience an uncomfortable situation our old ways of showing up rear their ugly head because it’s familiar to us, almost automatic. It’s how we coped for many years and it got us through, right?

Well, yes it got us through, but I’m guessing that we’re starting to learn different ways of dealing with life’s struggles that will benefit our life versus create more chaos.

Often, old belief systems formed our coping mechanisms early in life. Perhaps we developed a belief that someone or something was out to cause harm. Because of this our defenses were high and our tendency to lash out prevailed. And most of the time this leads us to push away the exact things that we so desire in life.

Maybe it’s time to ask ourselves a few questions:

• What old belief systems am I functioning under?
• How might my life change if I decide to move beyond my old beliefs?
• How might things be different if I choose to pause and respond from a place of love versus reacting from a place of fear?

When you experience a moment of overwhelm, frustration, fear, or anger, challenge yourself to choose differently. Let that moment be one of growth. It is in those moments that you can change your beliefs, form healthier ways to respond to challenges, and be proud of yourself for how you chose to show up in life.

Making these healthy choices gives you freedom: freedom from the past, freedom to be a new version of you.

I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a wise man who not only survived the Holocaust but chose to rise above all the horrific things he experienced to make a difference in the world.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
—Viktor Frankl

The post How to Find Freedom through Choice appeared first on TUT.

You see potential. You see love. And when these individuals do things that are hurtful towards you there may be many times in which you chalk it up to the struggles in their own life.

The problem is that when others act in ways which are not loving towards us and we don’t say anything, then nothing changes. If someone is not told their behavior is unacceptable, what is to keep them from acting that way again?

It’s like when we were young children: If we put our hand over the wall outlet and fingers close to the holes in which we plug in electronics but our parents say nothing, we will likely do it again until there is a consequence we don’t like. It’s no different with adults.

We all get preoccupied with our own life and sometimes forget about how we are showing up for others. We may be overwhelmed, rushed, and stressed. This may come off as anxious, impatient, bossy, demanding, or even angry in the moment.

We aren’t responsible for how others receive our communication, but we are responsible for how we deliver it and our actions. It’s our responsibility to keep our emotions in check because they often lead to our actions.

Having the same reaction to an event or experience over and over again? There is probably some healing that needs to be done. Often those around us are our mirrors. People reflect back to us what needs to be healed. Unfortunately, in the process we many times engage in unkind, unloving behaviors.

This is not to fault anyone as this is how us humans process life. And it is a wonderful feedback mechanism that allows us to stop, reflect, and make choices as to how we want to show up. We are given feedback on where our hearts may be hurting and on work that is important for us to do in order to have the fulfilling life we desire.

Not only is it important for us to have boundaries for others, it’s important to have them for ourselves as well. What does that mean? It means that if you are having a difficult day, week, or time in your life and know that you are not showing up as your highest self you don’t repeatedly beat yourself up. It means you calm the self-talk. It means you offer yourself love.

It means you take the time to stop, reflect, and find ways in which you can nurture yourself to get back to showing up in a way that you feel proud of in life. Yes, we can have boundaries for us. We can tell ourselves it’s time to take that break, stop spinning the wheels, meditate, spend time in nature, and get re-centered. If we don’t work well, our life doesn’t work well.

Honor your own needs, whether that’s self-care in the form of boundary setting or time away from all the things which lead you to feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and unhappy. You are the only one who can create your own happiness.

The outside world may be pushing you in many ways, but it cannot create misery nor can it create joy. It is you who decides what meaning to assign to every event and circumstance you encounter. And that’s the good thing.

You and only you get to decide how your life will feel based on your interpretation of events. With that in mind, what changes might you want to make today? How might your thinking be contributing to your struggles in life today?

The post How to Find Joy with Healthy Boundaries appeared first on TUT.

It may not always be easy to spot the change, but over time small changes within you begin to be visible in the world around you.

Maybe you are having trouble in your relationships or at work. You might wish certain individuals would show up differently. Sometimes people, because of their own pain and life circumstances, make the choice to be less than their wonderful self. Each one of us makes a choice how to show up in every given moment, and that choice is usually determined by how we are feeling inside.

And it is true that everyone lives in their own world with their own demons, struggles, and beliefs. Just because others choose to be less than the beautiful individual they are capable of being does not mean that it’s about you.

I love the phrase “hurt people hurt people” because it’s so true. When we are in pain it’s often hard to think about anything beyond our own suffering. We may lash out or take things out on others. This may not be our intention, but in the moment we may struggle to spread the love and light we so want to receive ourselves.

“Healed people heal people” is also true. Those who have worked through their pain are usually able to help others by spreading their own love, light, and wisdom. A ripple effect is always created when our energy goes out into the world. The question is: What type of ripple do we want to make?

We can sit around and wait for the world to change. We can hope that our partner, our parents, our friends, our boss, or the world will shift. AND we have no control over any of these shifts. We cannot make anyone be different except the one we see in the mirror.

When we choose to focus on how we show up in the world, we put out the energy that we would like to see in return. I love the quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Only when we choose to be that change do we make the difference we so desire. It’s not about others; it’s about ourselves.

Everyone has their own journey, and allowing others their journey leads them to the life lessons they came to experience in this lifetime. We can choose to be part of those lessons, or we can choose to detour and let others go it alone, but we cannot—nor should we try to—change their path.

Our only job is to look at our own life, our own growth, and navigate through the lessons to become the best version of ourselves during our time here. The only way we are going to shine our bright light and love into the world is by staying in our own business instead of focusing on what others are doing or not doing.

Allow them their process. Focus on you and what energy you choose to emit. You are full of more love and light than you can ever imagine. And the world needs it right now. Heal your heart and you heal not only your life but you will also impact the collective around the world. What you do matters, each and every day. Shine bright my friends.

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Sometimes during the worst of times it seems that the universe is against us and we may find it hard to see our dreams through the fog. We may feel discouraged and lose track of where we want to go in life. Sometimes we settle and turn our head the other way, ignoring our lifelong dreams.

But with time, we get those soft nudges letting us know that we have clearly taken a detour, a detour not in the direction we had hoped to go. And if we ignore those nudges they become louder and louder UNTIL we are forced to listen. Unfortunately, this often manifests as issues with our health, our relationships, or our jobs.

Think about it: Do you often just keep going and going without much pause because there is so much to DO in life? And what happens if you do pause? Is there self-care? Do you find insight into where you are in the world and where you want to be?

You are a lucky one if you don’t have to be bedridden with an illness or experience significant conflict in your life in order to slow down and listen to your intuition.

The truth is that we are the creators of our own life. We have the ability to CHOOSE what path to take, what we desire, and what comes into our life. If something doesn’t feel right or honor us, we can choose to take our path somewhere different.

The important thing to remember is that we have free will and that free will isn’t just with our choices—it’s with our thoughts as well. If we continually have “stinking thinking,” the universe will respond accordingly and our life may feel a bit dismal.

See, it’s our energy that attracts things into our life. And with “stinking thinking” our energy is not full of love, light, hope, and passion. So the universe sends us what our energy puts out.

Consider waking up and instead of thinking, “I’m so tired,” think thoughts such as, “I’m energized. It’s going to be a great day.” These positive thoughts contain a completely different energy and attract more of what we really want in life versus what we don’t want. Changing our thinking is instrumental in creating the life of our dreams.

In addition to controlling our thoughts, we must also be willing to follow signs and open doors. If we are continually sending out energy that we would like to create something new but then fail to follow the path laid out, the universe will stop opening up the road and shut it down for further passage.

Although fear can keep us from jumping in feet first, we always have the option to move forward one step at a time. Any step forward is a step in the right direction. We can feel proud for moving at all. Some people stay stuck for their entire lives and end up with significant regrets at the end. It is not necessary to live a life in which we continually settle.

There are many reasons why we might stay stuck, but when we are willing to keep moving forward, the universe will show up and provide what we need along the way. It’s a matter of trusting not only in you but also in the divine energy of the universe that wants us to have what we desire.

I encourage you to take a step forward toward your dreams today. You don’t have to leap, unless you want to, but at least take that first step. What is it you really want? Walk towards it and allow the universe to guide you.

You deserve to have the magnificent life you desire. Don’t let your thoughts or anything around you stop the manifestation of all your dreams. You can do this. I believe in you!

The post You Are the Creator of Your Life appeared first on TUT.

Our world is filled with many situations that do anything but provide peaceful feelings. We are constantly bombarded with situations, conversations, news stories, and social media that stir us up.

Thoughts begin swirling in our head and can often fill us with anxiety, fear, and discomfort. None of these feel very peaceful. We may realize that the only way we will find our own peace is to create it.

It’s important that in our chaotic world we step away from everything bombarding us to get centered and find peace again. It’s impossible for any of us to feel grounded and centered when we are constantly in the flow of a world that doesn’t represent calm.

Giving ourselves time to step away from those things that prevent peaceful thoughts allows us to rest, rejuvenate, and find that place inside that knows how to bring peace again into our mind. Some of us enjoy time outdoors, reading a book, or meditating. Whatever helps bring us back into balance is where we often find our peace.

I’m one of those people that finds it helpful to step out into nature when I’m feeling overwhelmed and off balance. Last week I was working on many important projects plus dealing with some situations that weighed on my heart. I found my energy being pulled between needing to get things accomplished and being there for those I love.

I didn’t really have time to pause for a break, but I knew that if I continued on the path I was traveling I would soon burn out and get sick. I finally put everything aside, hopped in the car and drove to a trail in the woods where I could find my own peace again.

It was shortly after stepping out of the car and walking in the crisp morning air that I felt myself taking deep breaths. All of my muscles seemed to relax in places that had previously been tense. I could sense myself letting go of all the tension that had been keeping me from peace.

And while part of me felt pulled to rush home, I continued walking for about an hour just to soak in the calming energy of the woods. I let my senses absorb the smells of the pine trees, the sounds of the birds, and the beautiful views of the snowy mountains in winter.

When I got back in my car to drive home I felt a renewed sense of self—feeling peace again in my heart and mind. It was the perfect reminder to me of how important it is to find our own peace in the sometimes-chaotic world.

The post The Only Way to Find Peace Is to Create It appeared first on TUT.

I was truly choosing to “live in the moment” with my spontaneous decision to detour to the beach, which is about an hour from my home. I wondered what gifts this day would bring. Never did I think that the gift would be broken sand dollars I happened upon during my walk.

As my feet made their way down the sandy beach, with the sun shining on me, I glanced down into the ocean water seeing what appeared to be a whole sand dollar. I picked it up and discovered that the top was broken like so many I’d found and discarded over the years.

But TODAY something was different. At that exact moment of picking up the sand dollar I realized how perfectly it represented our lives.

Like the weathered sand dollar, each one of us experiences our own weathering in life. We endure struggles and pain as part of our growth. Some of us have more challenges to overcome than others. Some of us ride the waves easier while others get constantly pushed against the rocky reefs of life.

Although it’s sometimes a necessary part of growing, it can also leave us feeling battered and broken. We may come out of difficult times seeing ourselves as anything less than whole.

The gift and insight for me was the realization that I could choose to focus on the side of the sand dollar that was broken OR I could choose to focus on the side that was whole. Same sand dollar, different perspective.

In our own lives we can see ourselves and others as broken, damaged, and weathered. Or we can see the beauty, the perfection, and the wholeness that we are as individuals.

We have the choice to direct our thoughts and beliefs in a positive way, seeing the true miracles that each one of us embodies as humans. In reality each struggle and difficulty we ride through adds to our individual beauty and depth.

As I continued my stroll down the beach, with a new spring in my step and a smile on my face, I came upon sand dollar after sand dollar weathered on one side and whole on the other side. And each time one caught my attention I ended up with one more “perfect” sand dollar in my hand.

Two hours and twenty-eight sand dollars later, there was no doubt in my mind that the Universe had given me a gift. The gift was profound insight delivered through the beautiful treasures I found during my time on the beach.

So as we step through each moment of our life may we remember that it’s all about perspective. We can choose to see the problems and imperfections OR we can choose to see our own beauty and perfection. We may be weathered but we are PERFECTLY WHOLE.

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