Listen To Your Heart

It’s calling to you…

When I worked as a meeting room leader for WW, I met with fabulous people that were there because they wanted to change.

I could relate. I remember walking through the doors the first time myself looking to lose at least 20 lbs. I needed to lose more but was afraid to even put that pressure on myself — and on a program that I was first learning about.

How many of us can relate to this? Afraid to ask for more?

That feeling of not wanting to be disappointed in ourselves — again. Or if we succeeded, afraid of what that change might bring.

We say things like “I’ve tried to _____ a thousand times.” Or maybe a million times, as if that is even possible. (fill in the blank with whatever you are looking to change about yourself).

We start out defeated, skeptical that change can happen and if it does, will it last? And what would it be like if it does?

The thing is, it’s not so much about whatever you are looking to change about yourself — it’s what you need to change within yourself.

Whatever is happening on the outside is really a key to unlock what is happening on the inside.

It’s our heart calling for us to act upon whatever that catalyst is to help us become who we are meant to be.

It starts as a whisper — and if ignored becomes a roar.

Let’s use weight as an example. Here in the United States, many of us live on what is known as the Standard American Diet. What the integrative community refers to as SAD — and it is…

…filled with processed “food” made in a plant instead of coming from a plant. Filled with pesticides, chemicals, sodium, sugar, and so much more.

Many of us eating this way have gained weight — can you relate? Especially in these times now when we are living in uncertainty and isolated in many ways.

We have been taken out of our comfort zone and looking for what can bring about some comfort. For many, it’s food and drink.

And you start to feel that you need to do something about it.

But what? You’ve tried so many diets and nothing works…

Your head is talking you out of moving forward, you’ve been through enough, you don’t need more change — right?! It’s protecting you.

And your heart gently encourages you to take a chance.

If you listen, you lose weight and help your body. If you don’t, you continue with dis ease in your mind and it comes out as ‘manageable’ conditions like high blood pressure.

And eventually can lead to loss of quality of life and disease. And an earlier death. We hear people sharing statements like “getting old sucks.”

But it doesn’t have to!

If we listen to our heart which knows it’s best for us to change — and not our heads which try to protect us from change; having to lose weight becomes a soulful journey to help us live our best life.

This journey is more than how we look — more importantly, it includes how we feel and how our body functions more efficiently.

You can use this model of heart v. head in any aspect of your life. Career, finances, relationships — it’s not about what we have or can have, it’s about who we are and who we can become.

In the past, it seemed like some of us were called to change due to life forces. Now, since this pandemic, I feel we are all called to change — in some way.

Are you ready to answer the call? You do get to choose.

It might be a whisper — it might be a roar. Are you ready to step into your inner power and step up? Embrace change instead of fear it?

Life is happening for us — not to us.

Going back to my WW days, I saw that many were paying for the program and even attending the meetings but still struggled. I knew most of it was due to mindset.

It wasn’t just about the food they were eating — it was about what was eating at them.

So, I would go deeper to help them with their relationship with themselves. And I would use tools and techniques that I learned outside of WW training.

I brought in tools to inspire at each meeting to show that we have control over ourselves and how we react. And this was one. I heard it originally from Wayne Dyer.

Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters by Portia Nelson:

CHAPTER I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost…I am helpless.

It isn’t my fault.

It takes me forever to find a way out.

CHAPTER II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I am in the same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

CHAPTER III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in…it’s a habit.

My eyes are open.

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

CHAPTER IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

CHAPTER V

I walk down another street.

What street are you walking on right now? Are you ready to go down another? Not sure where it will take you?

Now I will admit while I love this poem, I am not a big fan of “it’s my fault”. We beat ourselves up enough, we need to embrace ourselves. That said, I do understand that this is about taking responsibility for our lives.

When things happen — it’s our ‘ability’ to ‘respond’ to it.

We cannot blame our roots for all our broken branches…

Over time, I have had to go around some holes and change a few streets.

Though it’s not the same path as your’s, I know what it’s like to walk into uncertainty. And I’m using tools and techniques that helped me then — and are helping me now.

Do you need some support, encouragement, guidance as you navigate in these times?

If this resonates with you — come join me.

Or are you reading this and know of someone who does? Please share the link.

I have developed a course to help us take control, tap into our inner power and find peace.

…..https://newlandwellness.kyvio.net/panic-to.../registration2…..

My course starts 2/7/21 — join me? It includes 5 weekly 30-minute virtual meetings with an interactive FB group for support and encouragement. There has been enough isolation these last 9 months — let’s come together.

Please join me on Facebook, for the NEW Minutes With Michele where I do a Monday evening Live based on my published articles. Replays are available.

You can also find me Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, My Website.

And I encourage you to read the work of my fabulous writer friends: Trista Ainsworth, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Amy Marley, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Kathryn A. LeRoy, PhD, Desiree Driesenaar, Selma, Keno Ogbo, Melissa Bee, Dipti Pande, Francine Fallara, Sandra Szubert, Erin King, Karen Madej, Ann K Frailey, Sumera Rizwan, MaryJo Wagner, PhD, Britni Pepper, Chowa Sekai, Ksenia Sein, Alison Tennent, Livia Dabs, Neha Sandhir S, Lanu Pitan, Sherry S, Agnes Louis, Chris Hedges, Paul Myers MBA, P.G. Barnett, Terry Mansfield, Rasheed Hooda, Henery X (long), Timothy Key, Tim Maudlin, Bob Jasper, John Ross, Joe Luca, JeffHerring.com, Indra Raj Pathak

Always celebrating, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Founder & Leader of ILLUMINATION

Until next time ~

Sending you light, love — and 5 soulful Sundays…

Be Well,