Meditation Experiences

About 8 years ago I realized that I wanted and needed to get rid of some of the noise of my overactive brain. Life was overwhelming, every decision took on massive proportion and I was generally left with a sense of less than-ness. So I learned how to meditate. The goal was to quiet the thoughts at the outset and later become a process of not attaching to them.

But what I really was learning was to show compassion for myself in my process. To lessen the judgement and inner dialogue that was so filled with how I was not ________ enough - you can fill in the blanks if this resonates for you.

I've been practicing meditation now for over 8 years. Mostly alone, sometimes when I'm lucky, on a multi day retreat, and lately in a new setting for me.

There's a Meditation center in my neighborhood called Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago. I wandered in after being told by a friend that she had visited it and thought I'd like it. And was she right. There is something about sitting silently in a group that provides an entirely different experience to the meditation journey. You are doing it yourself, but you are not alone. When you stand you see others, and you realize that you are not alone in your desire to find that peacefulness and help repair the world, one mind at a time.

Baby Steps

How does we make a significant change, usually by taking baby (small) steps. How many times have we each said - I'm going to do _____? We're excited by something new, we think it will have a big impact on us or we know we have to do something. And for many of us, that moment passes and we are left not doing what we thought we'd do because _____________ (fill in the blank.)

Yesterday I came across a reading book site. Installments are sent in bite size (baby step) portions and before you know it, you've read a whole book. And you get to enjoy just a segment at a time - kind of like eating an orange.

Go to www.dailylit.com to find something new that forces the baby step. Enjoy!

Locking up

Lately I'm noticing that there's a great deal of tightening, contracting and locking up going on. I know you're noticing it too.

Every newscast, every newspaper is swarming with stories that cause us to hold on tight. But the truth is, that's exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing.

We need to loosen up, need to raise our energy and our vibration, to bring about the good that we are. So what to do?

3 quick suggestions:
Put on your favorite music and move! Dance, be free and don't worry about anyone seeing you, they won't and if they do....they'll want to do the same.

Remember to smile more. As you do it, see how it improves your outlook.

Breath deep. When we're fearful, we take in less oxygen and that tightens us up. Air is free, take it in!

We have power to improve this - baby step by baby step.

Stepping up!

Saturday Night Live (SNL) has played a significant role in my world, for many years. (yes, I remember Jonestown and wondering whether it was a joke when the network broke in to report it when I was in college.)

Well they have outdone themselves now. Aside from the brilliance of Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin, they have also launched Weekend Update on Thursday nights.

Laughter is critical, humor is so important. At this time in our economic and political situation, we need to laugh and giggle even more. It is too easy to jump into the gloom and doom and fear and dread. SNL picks us right up out of our stuff and brings us to our knees (and maybe even toilets) from laughter. They are providing a remarkable service to the public. Kudos!

I'm back

It's been some time since I last wrote.

What I'm finding right now is that I'm obsessed with what's happening in the media. Economics, politics, spin, power and energy. And it's alot of yuch.

What we hear, what we let in, really does influence us. It can change our mood, our thoughts, and our energy. It can zap us, or it can empower us.

Just for the record, I'm a big TV watcher. Yes, I know, it's not considered very cool, but I have always liked TV - so I watch it. But honestly, I'm in overload now with the US presidential election. It has become insulting. The energy out of the MP camp is upsetting - fear based, attacking and irresponsible. I find myself upset about the spin that is allowed to take place, and the untruths that are set out. I also find the choice for VP candidate to say it all about John McCain. She is an irresponsible choice - he has shown us that his judgement is off. As Alec Baldwin said on Real Time with Bill Maher, John McCain's time was in 2000, not now.

I encourage all of us to remember to hold on to the thoughts that bring us pleasure right now. Not the ones where we get an adrenalin rush from feeling competitive or better, but the ones that are filled with kindness. We are being challenged right now by lots of emotional pulls, and we can be helpful by finding the things that make us feel good. So let's do it.

Find that feel good movie

Last night I happened on a movie I'd heard much about - "We Are Marshall". A powerful true story about a college that lost almost it's entire football team in a plane crash. The story continues on to share how the people of the town rebuild, find new energy, come alive again, from what looked like an impossible place.

Watching something so uplifting was energy shifting. I found myself laughing, crying, cheering and feeling better and better.

What movies do that for you?

Find one and watch it!

Feel good!

Natalie

Winter Solstice Celebration

There's something amazing about the Winter Solstice time. I get a rush every year when I realize that we've just passed the date when the days start to get longer again.

Today I went to a Winter Solstice Concert at Link's Hall in Chicago. The performers Hamid Drake & Michael Zerang are AMAZING percussionists/drummers. The concert began at 6 am and lasts for about 75 minutes. The audience was led through a series of improvisations by the two artists that grew and grew in energy and intention. By the end I felt wonderful, energized and inspired. There's something about doing something new, something different, something that takes you out of your normal comfort zone that is so powerful.

When we left the program, the sun was up, the snow was falling and the winds were blustering. It felt just right.

Happy Solstice!

Create Customized Radio Stations and feel GREAT!

Music can have a big impact on our emotions, our energy and our vibration. I don't know anyone who doesn't occasionally belt out a song when they think no one's listening, just because they feel so good when they do.

Pandora.com is a website that allows you to create your own radio stations, without advertisements, really easily AND it is offered without any charge. Go check it out. Plug in what you want and enjoy listening to ONLY what you want to hear! How great is that?

Eyes to the world.

Travelling to Minneapolis for thanksgiving, I notice how many people are squinting and not able to look at others easily.
Energy is passed through our eyes and connection. Get your eyes checked!

Natalie Goldfein
www.inspiringenergy.com
773.727.0171
Sent via BlackBerry

How do you deal with Negative Self Talk?

Negative Self-talk is a big energy vampire. To hear a system for breaking the negative self-talk habit….go to http://www.inspiringenergy.mypodcast.com/ and listen.

To your energy….

See the Goal as Complete

Today on the Inspiring Energy Boost we talked about how the end of the year is a perfect time to accomplish the goals we want to complete. So we took a few steps to make that happen more easily by aligning ourselves vibrationally with what we want to achieve.
a. Identify 5 goals you'd like to see done by the end of the year.
b. Pick one and focus on it, FEEL what it will be like to have it completed.
c. Create a list of the steps you need to do to get to the goal. Start with completion and work back to the present.
d. See yourself accomplishing each step and feel how it would feel.
e. Plot those steps into your calendar.
f. Find a way to remind yourself of the goal daily. Go to the FEELing space of it every day.
g. Watch what happens.
This process is a quick energy raiser, and will get you into a vibrational match with what you have decided YOU want to do.

What do YOU want to do???

Get the Blood Flowing

Feeling a little down, a little depleted, a touch yuchy? The easiest and fastest and healthiest way to change that is to do some exercising. What works for you? Is it push-ups, sit-ups, stretching or aerobicizing (oh, I love that word!) Whatever it is, make sure to do it. Take 10 or 30 minutes and move your body.
Lately I've been doing my walking in the neighborhood listening to great upbeat music and then doing a 24-25 minute stretch routine with Miranda Esmonde White's Classical Stretch DVD. I LOVE her approach, it's clean, simple and really effective. I recommend it highly, and it's great for travel - you don't even need to leave your room. You'll feel stretched, confident and strong.
GO FOR IT!

Surfing....spend a moment at Gimundo

Whenever I watch or read the news, I find myself wishing there was more "good" news being printed and spoken. How come it's always about the bad stuff going on? Isn't good more important, really??
Today I revisited Gimundo.com, and was instantly uplifted. This site brings you information about health, heroes, products, experiences that are positive and upbeat. And I even found a link for serious scrabble enthusiasts - what a great way to spend a few minutes a day....playing scrabble with people from all over the world.
Check out Gimundo - it will put a smile on your face.

Beautiful Environments and Great People

I just returned from Capital Camps in Waynesboro, PA where I was a facilitator for a day. During my brief visit, I was taken with how great my energy felt. And what I realized is that being in beautiful places, rolling hills and lush surroundings, makes a difference. When I took my morning walk up the Liberty "mountain", I found myself singing outloud because there was so much open space and air and light.
Equally wonderful was the day of working with a group from BBYO - so dedicated to their cause and so happy to be together, learning and creating.
Surrounding yourself with good people and environments that speak to you can make all the difference......

Read a Great Book

I just completed Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat, Pray, Love". This is her personal journey through 3 countries over a year's time. It was inspirational, funny, entertaining and the kind of book that had me wanting to gobble it up as well as take my sweet time in reading it. You know, the kind of book that completely takes you away from it all.

I highly recommend this book and know that reading inspiring books raises your vibration and your energy with little effort on your part. You get to enjoy and get jazzed, all at the same time.

Try it, you won't be disappointed.

When was the last time you took a real REST

How hard do you push yourself? How often do you wish you could just lie down and close your eyes for 20 or 45 minutes?

Do you let yourself do it?

Chances are if you do, your energy will increase. Our bodies tell us when they need all sorts of things, food, water, exercise, (a new outfit :), and rest. Most of this we listen to. But the resting thing, well it often seems to get lost in the shuffle.

Give yourself a break, take a rest....you'll feel better once you do.

Just Get it DONE!

You know how you feel when you accomplish something big, like finishing that paper for a class, cleaning your closets, or painting a room? Well imagine what it would feel like to clear your plate of your distractions daily.

Getting things done is a great Energy Booster. It frees us up. It's as if with every finished task you take a weight off of yourself. We get lighter, we have more energy, we smile more and we feel accomplished. It's worth doing and not putting off, isn't it?

So....what can you get done today?

Summer Inspirations

Summer is the perfect time to lay back a bit and slow down. It is also a great time to play with powerful creation techniques.

Here's a quick energy boosting process that is perfect for making summer even better.

• Ask yourself - what do I want to be able to answer when someone asks me "what did you do on your summer vacation?" :)
• List 3-5 things that you would like to do this summer, that would make you feel like it was a great summer for you.
• Now focus on one of them.
• Close your eyes, and really feel what it will be like when you've done it!
• Now, open your eyes and let's work backwords. List 5 steps that you need to take in order to make this great thing happen.
• Put those 5 things into your calendar and do them
  (Bonus point: Put the end result dream somewhere where you will see it every single day....keep your sights on it......you'll be surprised.)

You've started the process in motion to create a great summer for yourself. Let's hear how you've made it happen!

To your success and enjoyment!

Energy Zappers: A Solution.......

We've all experienced it, people who are operating in a very negative energetic space, and the energy starts to bleed over and impacts us. It doesn't feel good, not at all. So what can you do?

Today on the Inspiring Energy Boost we talked about the Glass Jar technique - which will protect you in extreme scenarios (and even not so extreme):

1. Take your energy – vibration pulse – 1-10 10 being highest, where are you right now? Mark it down.
2. Now, I’d like you to bring to mind someone who you have to be in contact with – a co- worker, boss, client…..someone you can’t extricate yourself from at the moment, for whatever reason.
3. Next imagine yourself having contact with that person….having a conversation with them…..be in that space for a moment. Take your energy vibration pulse. It’s probably fairly low…..
4. Ok, now let’s reroll the tape. Go back to imagining that EZ person. They are coming to talk to you. You however, are in a jar…..it is a glass jar…..and you can see them, and even hear them, they can come right up to the glass and be in your face, but their energy cannot get through to you, because there is glass between you.
5. Now, sit with that conversation, and with you inside the jar, protected from their energy, and listening to them, knowing they cannot impact you with their energy. Does this feel different? What is your energy pulse/rating?

Another way of shifting the negative energy in a situation is to take 5-10 deep breaths. On the exhale let out some sound. Your energy will change very quickly (oh, and you may get a little lightheaded - enjoy!) and the energy in the room will change as well.

What other ways do you know to help yourself survive the Energy Zappers?

To you.....

Enjoy!

Energy Zappers

Frustrated with those distractions and Energy Zappers (EZs)?

What does one do about them?

Well first and foremost you MUST identify what they are for you. They are different for each of us, but they have the same effect, they take the good energy out of us.

The distractions are little/manageable things.....they are fairly easy to get rid of. But the EZs, those can be another story. They are more serious and they carry more weight in the "getting us off our direct path to success" journey.

Once you've identified the distractions and Energy Zappers, make a firm commitment to dump AS MANY AS YOU CAN. Do it immediately. Either do 'em (clean a closet, make a call) or dump 'em (move 'em out). Just by reducing some of the distraction drag...you'll feel lighter and more easy on your path.

With the EZs, set some boundaries, set limits, have conversations with them and be aware of what the tradeoff is for you in not removing them. These take more time, and they may take some help - call a friend or work with a coach to assist you in making the changes in your world.

There's a great tool I've been working with lately from Mark Joyner, the founder of Simpleology (the sale is fairly hardcore, but I swear, the free software is tremendous - so get over it!) It is a web-based program that is great for helping to get clarity around what you want, why you want it, how to get it and how to keep yourself VERY focused so that you are using your good energy to achieve what you want. There's a wonderful 20 part online course that goes with the software. Don't skip it, it's clever and fun.

AND it helps with dumping the distractions and limiting the EZs, because you quickly become aware of how you are spending your time and where you are putting your focus.

Give it a whirl if you are so inclined and let us know what you think!

Onward......