Can some labels be good?  You bet!

You get the idea.  These are all attractive labels, denoting a positive trait.  What happens when a positive label gets taken too far?  A person becomes a workaholic, someone puts a lot of pressure on himself or herself to give more and more of themselves until they are physically, spiritually and emotionally exhausted, or our kids become sick and overwhelmed.  If we are not careful, the desire for a positive label can stress us out.  We get caught up in images and behaviors, trying to maintain and exaggerate the label.  Our ego craves more and more feedback and we lose touch with what our soul needs – balance, pleasurable experiences and inner peace.

What about negative labels?  Unfortunately, I think these are often more the norm for women.  We want so badly to fit in and be accepted.  In the process, we become aware and insecure about differences.  When we become fixated on what we don’t like about ourselves, the labels become internalized.  They limit us… making us feel like we’re not “good enough”.

It’s heartbreaking when a client is struggling with self-esteem issues.  They’ve listened to what others have said (or what they have said about themselves) and those labels have become their inner view of themselves.  It’s a lie, though.  Just because someone may be experiencing a temporary condition, it does not mean that is their permanent characteristic.  It’s time to change our view of ourselves.

You are not your current condition. Your soul is so much more than what you are feeling or experiencing at this moment.  Sometimes we forget that we are stronger, wiser, braver, and more amazing than we can ever realize.  We have so much to give and receive.

If you are finding yourself believing the labels you or someone else has put on you… maybe it’s time to shred the labels and be who you really are. If you allow your true self to come through, it won’t be long before you find you’re in love with yourself.  Not an ego trip kind of love.  The pure, amazing love that comes from accepting your greatness.

May we all embrace the greatness inside of us!

Until next time friends,

Tara

“I expected my husband to be something he was not.  To be a person I made up in my head that would make me happy.  I haven’t lusted after things, but I have lusted after approval.  Approval, love, visibility from him.  When I said I love you, what I really meant was I’ll trade you… I’ll sacrifice myself on all levels for your love and appreciation.  Once I understood the person I was lonely for and the attention I was seeking wasn’t from my husband or someone else… the person I was lonely for was me.  I gave up the notion that he needed to be something else for me to be happy.  It brought peace to my soul.”

She became resentful of being everyone’s everything.  She wasn’t giving in an honest, authentic way but as a bribe for approval.

WOW!

It’s painful, but honest, to say that I did the same thing.  I just didn’t see it that way.  I thought I was being kind, loving, compassionate and patient because that’s how I “should” be to be a good wife.  Now I can see I needed self-love so badly that I offered everything I had to someone else in trade for some of his love.   Ironically, no amount of love from him could ever compensate for lack of love for myself.

Isn’t it amazing how heaven gives the perfect situation to understand ourselves in a deep, life-changing way!  This is when the discovery of the soul unfolds and we become more connected to our real, authentic self.  The perfect situation was created for me to be so desperate for love that I had no option but to turn inward.  In searching my own heart, I began repairing the leaks, holes and wounds that had made loving and accepting myself virtually impossible.  The healing brought a deeper appreciation, respect and adoration for myself than I had never experienced.  I found joy and a sense of completeness… possibly for the first time ever.

Now I understand what Rita means when she says, “I don’t think it’s possible for other people to hurt me – they are giving me their observation.  I’m the one who gives it meaning.  I get to choose what that meaning is.”  When our own roots become deep within ourselves, others’ viewpoints of us become much less important.  I’m no longer willing to take criticism from others because what they share is their opinion and I don’t determine my worth by someone else’s opinion.  Period.

Oprah shared two thoughts I would like to end with today:

1.  Your internal worth doesn’t come from the world / from others… it comes from within.

2.  If you’re sacrificing and secretly resentful that you’re not getting anything in return, you put a lot of conditions on your love and your giving.  And then it’s really not unconditional.

May we each have the courage to dig deeper within and find that glorious, wonderful, amazing woman inside.  This is my prayer.

Until next time friends,

Tara

She told me of how she had known for awhile they shouldn’t be together any longer, but she had fought her feelings in hopes that things would change.  When she finally realized she couldn’t hold on any longer, she asked her husband to move out.

As she spoke, the sadness was audible in her voice.  From the outside looking in, someone may wonder why she is asking for a separation.  He didn’t cheat on her.  He’s not abusive to her.  He’s a decent guy.  He’s been an okay partner to her – they have good memories and good times together.

However, she knows that they were brought together for a time… and that time has come to an end.  It’s hard for her to explain why it needs to be over.  She just knows it does.

It’s interesting how often women know a relationship should end, but for any number of reasons stay longer than they should.  Whether it’s a marriage, a friendship, a job… we all have had times when we didn’t leave when we knew it wasn’t right anymore.

The conversation with my friend has been on my mind a lot.  I can’t help but reflect on my own marriage that ended as a disaster.  I shared with her I knew it was over years before it officially ended.  But I stayed.  And things only got worse before it was done.  I am very proud of her for following her intuition… for knowing she can still love and honor him without staying in a marriage that is no longer right for either of them.

What relationships are you staying in out of fear, avoidance, lack of energy, low self-esteem or any other number of issues?  Is it time to release the attachment – allowing the person to stay in your heart but not in your life?  Relationships that aren’t healthy can strip you of life force energy (chi), affect your health and create tremendous stress.  Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your relationships.  Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1.  Is this relationships mutually beneficial?  Do I give AND receive in a positive way?

2.  Does this person make me feel tired, discouraged, angry, frustrated, guilty, shameful when I’m around him or her?

3.  Do I find myself dreading taking their phone calls or spending time together?

4.  Even though I can’t explain it, do I just feel like this relationship isn’t good for me?

5.  Am I staying in this relationship because I feel responsible for their happiness or for taking care of them?

6.  If I’m being honest with myself, would I be happier, healthier, more at peace if this person weren’t in my life?

7.  Have I been feeling this way for awhile?  Do I want to continue feeling this way long-term?

As we work to create positive, healthy, high-vibration lives, we must evaluate the people we associate with.  If you find yourself in a relationship that is not serving your higher good or has served its purpose, it’s okay to release yourself and the other person.  It’s okay to let go and move on.

Until next time friends,

Tara

When I think of some of the most challenging times in my life, they are always after a time when I got an answer but didn’t follow it.

It’s interesting that, in those moments, I always “know” but I don’t trust myself.  And if the answer isn’t what I want, I start the cycle of confusion:  ask everyone around me for their opinion, worry, try to convince myself I don’t know what to do, feel sick, negotiate with myself to change the answer. It must be really frustrating to my heavenly helpers who are trying to direct me to a smoother path!

When I trust guidance and my intuition and go with it, it works out.  Not sometimes… always.

It is always a powerful experience to see how my clients grow from their very first Akashic Reading with me.  I love to see how people start to change almost instantly – the understanding, peace and self-understanding that comes from accessing their records opens the door to healing.  Very deep healing.

What guidance are you seeking right now?  Do you know you’re on the wrong track and are struggling?  Perhaps it’s time to travel the smoother path.  Let an Akashic Reading help you find your footing in a difficult time.  I would love to help you heal and thrive.

Until next time friends,

Tara

Similarly, in the midst of a stressful day, the same trick for navigating my way back to shore helps me navigate my way from stress to a more grounded center. But instead of following the rhythm of the ocean, I follow the rhythm of my own breath. Even in the pull of the strongest tides of stress, putting your attention on the natural rhythm of your breath for a moment or two will help you “ride the wave of your own breath” as Jon Kabat-Zinn says, bringing you back to the shore of centeredness in your own body so you can think clearly and act from a place of calm.

I invite you to take a moment to place your attention on your breath today. Just for that moment, feel and be focused on the natural rhythm of your breath as well as the rise and fall of your chest. This simple meditation takes just a moment to do, and it can help calm you in the midst of the stormiest sea of stress in your life.

love & light,

Jennafer

As a teenager, I participated in a memorial service for the mother of a friend who’d lost her battle with cancer. The service ended with those in attendance releasing colorful balloons into the sky. (This was long before we knew that act may have serious repercussions on local wildlife). It was a beautiful sight to see those balloons ascending into the air, cheerfully honoring a woman who’d brought cheer to our lives. And releasing those balloon gave us all a tangible way to begin to let go and move on from the loss her death brought to our lives.

It is both painful and scary to choose to let go sometimes. Whether it’s letting go of the loss of a relationship through death or change, pain from the past, or a belief or situation that no longer serves you, it can be a difficult choice to make no matter how necessary that choice is at the time.

But there are also many blessings that come from letting go. Just like the balloon floating into the atmosphere, you feel lighter and less weighed down after letting go. And the lightness that letting go brings can open up room in your heart and life to make room for new relationships, situations, beliefs, and more than can teach and enrich your life in countless ways that never could have come without it.

Today, choose to let  go of a belief, situation, or relationship that doesn’t serve you any longer in order to make room for the blessing of one that does. Your heart will be lighter and your life will be transformed for the better. Then watch for new opportunities to flow that never could have otherwise.

I’m not promising it will be easy. But I will promise it’ll be worth it.

love & light,

Jennafer

I was praying about this one day and it was explained so plainly to me:

“Let’s say you had $100,000 to remodel your house.  You could either make it look great on the outside (re-do the facade of the house, beautiful landscaping, etc) or you could shore up the inside, making it more earthquake or tornado proof.  You have the choice.  In the past year, you did a lot of inside work… you spent your investment on working on you.  A lot of the work you did is not visible on the outside.  Someone looking at you may say you’re the same as you were a year ago.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  You have secured your internal foundation.  You’ve strengthened yourself.  The walls are fortified.  Your house is built to stand any trial or disaster that may come.  Now you can work on beautifying things… the things you want to show the world.”

Do you have times that you feel like progress is slow?  It’s those times that the real soul work is happening.  It may feel like nothing is changing.  But in reality, your foundation is being reinforced and you’re becoming stronger from the inside out.  Your confidence is growing, your self-worth is increasing, your courage is becoming more powerful.

Today’s challenge is to give yourself credit for the work you’ve done.  Allow yourself to celebrate you – to cheer for your efforts!  We are all working on this together.  Please share your successes – a positive thought from you may encourage countless others!

Until next time friends,

Tara

I love this message.  As an over zealous planner, I have a hard time letting to and letting life flow.  This is one of the biggest lessons I’m here to learn!

Now please don’t misunderstand me… I believe there is tremendous value in goals, plans, focus, effort.  But there must be a balance – an opportunity for heavenly helpers to step in and create a life far beyond our vision.  When we relax and take a moment to let life happen naturally, an amazing existence is created.  It’s when our determined effort meets our willingness to openly receive God’s blessings that our authentic life is created.  Those two forces are are powerful!  It takes both to experience miracles.

In what ways are your plans actually holding you back?

We rarely stop to think about that.  It’s worth pondering today.

Until next time friends,

Tara

It was easier before… but now you’re finding yourself battling health problems, depleted energy and feeling empty inside.  Why do you feel this way if you have the desire to help others?  Why do you go beyond what it reasonable to help others but find yourself feeling sad and tired when it’s all over with?

If this is the problem you’re facing, you’re not alone.  For years I was a rescuer.  I thought I was responsible for others’ happiness.  But when I started digging deeper into my records I realized that part of my challenge was to learn to trust others to become their own master.

I needed to learn that people in my life were fully capable to handling whatever obstacles and distrations came into their lives.  While I can help, it was not my responsibility to “fix” things.  My job is to love and support.  Help and encourage.  But not take on the problem as my own.

Akashic Records are amazing in that way.  Not only did my records offer deeper understanding, but gave me tools to overcome the habit of taking over.  It took some time, but I have come a long way!

If you are struggling with this or a different dilemma that is causing your trouble or difficulty, reading your Akashic Records may provide an amazing insight into how you can overcome problems or behaviors that are not serving your highest good.  It can help you realize why you are acting a certain way and where the problem comes from.  It also helps you understand how to master the challenge and come out stronger than ever.

Until next time friends,

Tara

Then the next day, you calm down and are less hormonal and don’t feel so desperate.  In fact, you are okay with the relationship, the job, the friend.  You may still want to fix some aspects of each situation, but you certainly don’t want to cut ties.  It would be nice if it all went away – you were forgiven as quickly as you recovered from the frustration and anger.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t usually work that way.  It’s in the moments when we feel overwhelmed, out of control and somewhat insane, that we say and do things that can create permanent wounds in our relationships.  The hurt can go deep.  And the pain can be immense.  If only we could take back our actions.  If only we could rewind our life DVR to 30 seconds before we made the drastic decisions, we could avoid the situation all together.

But real life can’t be rewound.  It’s lived in the very moment – second by second.  It is our challenge to live responsibly for each of those seconds.  As I’ve pondered the moments I wish I had stopped and thought through a decision, I realize there are some things I could have done to change the outcome.

1.  Take a few minutes to clear your mind.  Whether it’s in the middle of a heated argument or a moment of pure frustration, you need some time to step away and let the adrenaline settle down.  Adrenaline is critical to keeping us alive in a life or death situation.  However, it’s not as valuable when we need to be able to think rationally and make a longer term decision.  Letting your body chemistry mellow out a little and the hormones stabilize will do wonders for your ability to put rational thoughts together.

2.  Stay away from alcohol.  Alcohol and reasoning never go together.  Discussions and opinions should never be offered when one or both parties are under the influence of alcohol, even minor amounts.  It alters brainwaves, making a person think differently.  It can also cause amnesia for comments made.  Just do yourself a favor – don’t engage in an important conversation when either person has had any alcohol.

3.  Sleep on it.  It’s amazing how much more reasonable a person becomes when they’ve had some sleep.  Being tired is already a drain on the adrenals – adding an emotional decision on top of exhaustion is more than your sensibilities can handle.  Do yourself a favor – don’t make an important, permanent decision when you should really go to bed.  In most cases, that decision can wait a day or two until you’ve had a chance to get some rest and think clearly.

4.  Talk to someone who is level-headed and can help you make a good decision.  Sometimes this is a person who isn’t emotionally connected to you – who has no tie to the outcome other than to support you in weighing the factors to reach a solid conclusion.  When I was separated from my ex-husband, I chose a mentor who was skilled in Akashic Records to help me make decisions about my marriage.  She helped me move through the process with wisdom but wasn’t concerned with what the final result was.  She wanted to empower me to make the best decision for me, regardless of what that decision was.  Even though my family and friends were very supportive, it was difficult for me to make the decision I wanted when I was relying on others who were involved in my life day to day.  They wanted nothing but the best for me.  However, it’s sometimes challenging to make a personal decision when others are weighing in.  Having the outside help allowed me to be less emotional and angry in my decision – to make a logical, clear decision.

5.  Take as much time as you need to listen.  Sometimes you KNOW.  You just know.  You don’t need a lot of time to ponder and consider – your gut tells you what to do.  If you know without a doubt what to do, do it.  However, if you are not certain how to proceed, give yourself a little time and space to pray and listen.  The answers are always there.  Sometimes you don’t want to hear them.  Sometimes you don’t trust that you got an answer.  But when you are honest with yourself, you know what to do.  When you get the answer, trust your intuition.  Some of the most painful experiences I’ve ever been through have been a direct result of not listening.  I got an answer but did something else.  And the result was excruciating.  I learned!  I listen now.  If I don’t know what to do right away, I take whatever time I need.  But I always listen – and the answer is always there.

Life can be very challenging.  We live in a very fast-paced, hurried society.  Decisions can be rushed.  We all owe it to ourselves to take a breath, step back and make the decision that’s best for each of us.  As my mother always said, “It always works out.”  Yes, Mom, it does!

Until next time friends,

Tara