I was looking through quotes today (I love quotes) and I landed upon this piece by the Dalai Lama;
“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace within ourselves.”
And my heart sighed. It’s so true.
In a time of chaos (which are definitely swirling right now) the best step you can take is some house cleaning of your inner world.
The topic of “Inner work” came up over in the Facebook group today and it led to some interesting discussion.
Inner work is more than meditation... (although meditation is often part of “inner work”).
At the same time, Inner work doesn’t have to be painful “work”.
Long spirals of mentally working through your past, untangling your guilty memories, feeling angry at those who have hurt you have their place, but, most of the time it takes you back to the energy of what has been and with that, brings that frequency back into your life.
Clients often hear me say that this is like going back to a High School Reunion, you find yourself acting like the same person you were, rather than carrying the new found growth and experience with you.

Focusing on the things that made you feel that way you are feeling can lead to the sentiment of another favourite quote of mine, this time from the film “As Good As it Gets.” When Jack Nicholson shouts
“I’m drowning here and your describing the water.”
Describing the water, focusing on the water doesn’t stop the drowning.
Rather you have to get out of the water first.
And often that takes some help.
 (Which is good. It’s good to have help. There’s no extra pride in getting out of the water on your own.)
Inner work for me is a little more about shifting and lightening loads.
It's muscle toning and stretching, remembering that you are more than these physical bodies. It is all about simple steps, small movements and little reminders to tune into who you really are, rather than who you were told to be from the world.

Inner work takes you from the reactive space, the trigger warning, jump- into- action mode of wondering what’s next, to feeling balanced and steady, ready to deal with what needs to be dealt with as your whole self.
This takes work, no matter how good it feels.
It takes work because it entails shifting neural pathways, literally changing your mind!
You and the rest of us humans have certain beliefs and patterns in place from childhood and it takes facing them and feeling into them to create the life you consciously want, and be the person you want to be.
The gift of Inner work though, is that it feels so good to do it.
With each process, each step, each breath, you feel lighter and more connected to the flow that is you.

So, today, I wanted to encourage you to take a deep breath, dive in heart center and ask, what Inner work you are called to do?

Oh and also, if you are curious about processes to practice some Inner Work with me, check out my next study group of my program STEP INTO YOUR LIGHT starting on Friday January 22nd. 
Use the code "newyear" for 30% off on enrolment and get the added bonus of having FREE access to the magical powerhouse of The Breathing Space membership private group (with benefits) in our new space over at Mighty Networks. We'll be working through the material together right there as we're moving from Facebook gradually and this study group is an exciting way to ignite the space with magic!

 Within my focus to help you clear what's been holding you back so you can feel light, ease and in flow before the end of this decade... there's something I need to talk with you about.
It's big... are you ready?
Forgiveness.
Gulp.
Yup.
Well actually, I don't necessarily call it the F-word, because I find that, like so many words, forgiveness can have different feelings and intentions for everyone.
The word Forgiveness can sometimes trigger a sense of blame or a sense of self loathing, it can sometimes spark defense within one person or the sanctimonious "I forgive you!" which can carry a new weight within.

And yet... within the deep sense of forgiveness is the pure, unwavering, blissful sense of
RELEASE.

I always encourage my clients to focus on RELEASING... releasing themselves, releasing others, releasing situations, releasing energetic response, releasing the stories of what is.... the inward releasing which creates Presence and WHOLENESS from the inside out.

I truly believe the focus of Forgiveness is actually based in loving releasing. 
Imagine that with every negative experience you have with someone, energetic cords link you together. Each time you are with the person or in a similar situation, these cords get reactivated and practiced, sparking away.

When you practice forgiveness... or releasing, you shift the energy, release the cords and allow new life to flow through your experience.

This has magical results, transforming relationships, creating light conversation where before there was only tension, or even simply letting the energy fade away, so that you don't seem to even "bump" into each other anymore.

A traditional process to "forgive" that is mentioned on social media is the Ho'oponopono prayer. 
The idea being that you hold someone or something in your mind within these phrases:
I'm Sorry. Please Forgive Me. I Thank you. I love you.

I have heard incredible stories of transformation with these simple words, so I want to encourage you to simply try them on. See how they feel and if they resonate.

However, I will also make space for the fact that when I first tried them on, they didn't resonate. I felt like the please forgive me phrase kept me in a feeling bad space and actually made the focus on releasing only myself. Each exchange we have with other people is a co-creation... so I like to offer these phrases instead.

I'm Sorry. I Release you. I Thank you. I love you.

 I appreciate the transformations the traditional version has brought to many, but between translation and past triggers I find that this can hold back that deeper shift that is so magical for some people.

Here's the intention behind the statements;
Holding someone or a situation in your mind surround it in...
I'm Sorry. (By saying Sorry you are noting that everything is a co-creation. You were there in the room so your energy was part of the combined energy. Like chemistry, two compounds create a reaction.)
I Release You. (Imagine the cords unhooking from your field and being released back to the person. See them fade. This doesn't necessarily mean they will be out of your life forever, rather it is simply claiming your energy as your own... and returning their energy to them.)

I Thank You. (Each engagement, even a negative one, creates growth and new insight. We learn so much through contrast, we learn what we want through what we don't want. We GROW. So giving thanks for the experience acknowledges the growth.)

I Love You. (Imagine surrounding the situation or person in love and light, allowing them to be whole and released from you, see the love flowing around them... and the love flowing around yourself. )

Have you ever practiced a Forgiveness/Releasing Process? How have you found it? Did it create shifts for you? 

I have been working through this process with clients and members for the last couple of years, but I really started hearing about the impact it was having when I included it into my course Step Into Your Light. 
I included this within the Releasing Your Shadows section, which is the second part of the course and designed to let go of what's not serving you and open up the doors to feeling present and aware as the person you want to be.


I've included Step into Your Light as my contribution into the  Positive Parenting Premium Ecourse Bundle Sale  that takes place next week. 
Between the 22nd and the 24th you'll get access to my course + 18 other courses all created with the intention to give you tools to be the parent you want to be and support your children in their journey positively.

Here's a link to a preview of all the courses you'll get access to... along with Step into Your Light.
I love being part of this experience with fellow bloggers and parenting experts.
You basically are getting 17 courses for the price of 1 so you can pick and chose.
(actually, the $97 fee for signing up for the bundle is less than the regular price of my course enrollment alone!)

I always love the deep sigh of sweet relief that follows truly releasing someone or something that you have energetic ties to. Forgiveness is actually the ultimate act of Self Care.
​This is a true and deep reset, which creates new space for life to flow effortlessly into the direction of your desires.