Trinity of Truth Tip: Talk to Your Problems About God

Prayer is for honoring God, but it's also where we go for guidance, help, and to resolve problems.  Regardless of your reason, always begin prayer in a state of appreciation.  Counting your blessings sets the tone to one that most resembles God-like energy.  Next, repeat "Thank you for loving me" for several minutes.  Tune into the moment. My mom taught me that when it comes to asking for help, "Don't talk to God about your problems, talk to your problems about God."

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Consider a current problem.  How would you share your knowledge of God with the problem?  How could your understanding of God help?  What would you say?  Instead of simply "turning it over to God," shift your circumstances by consciously and deliberately sharing your wisdom.  Set the scene and watch it play out.  Observe the outcome. 

 

Close by giving thanks to God for helping you and for loving you.           

Trinity of Truth Tip—Call Your Mother

In my dressing room hangs a poster called "Life's Little Instructions."  I have it in my line of sight so it easily grabs my attention.  The instructions say "Be the first to say hello" and "Treat everyone the way you wish to be treated" and other things like that.  The last instruction says "Call Your Mother."  Today, this particular instruction struck me as the most important one. 

My mom passed away just a few short weeks ago.  I cherish the last phone call we had the week prior.   It was one of the longer calls we'd had in a while.  I read to her.  She listened.  And she offered insight to questions I had.  She explained to me what would be most helpful to people as I discover ways to be of service in my work, writing and teaching.  We talked about God.  How best to ask for God's guidance and how to share this with others.  She said to always keep things positive.  Negativity, she said, helps no one and will drive them away.  

The massive stroke left my mom, such a wise soul, unable to talk.  As she lay dying, I stood at her bedside.  I talked.  She still listened.   

Yesterday, walking along the lake, I called out to my mom—asking her how to hold on to what she's given me.  How to keep her wisdom alive inside me.  How do I know you are with me, I asked.  How do I keep you with me, always?  As I approached a bench I noticed a small piece of paper on the ground.  Before sitting, I picked it up.  Unfolding it, a warmth filled my heart.  The words brought a soft salty sting to my eyes.   Filled with a sweet ache, her essence embraced me as I read, "I still call out for you sometimes."

Even though my mom is no longer with me in physical form, I still call to her.  She responds, she still listens, she calls back.    

A mother is never far away.  Even if she's on the other side, call to her.  No longer held back by the limitations of being human, her ability to talk to you, to love you, is amplified.  Call out to her.  Be still.  Now listen.   

Pictured above with my daughter and me is my mom ...the day she "gave me away" to my sweet husband twelve years ago on September 23, 2000.

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Trinity of Truth Tip: I Can See Clearly Now

When you leave your car parked under a an old evergreen tree for weeks, your windshield gathers layers of sap, building a sticky film.  It's the same with your intuition—it gets clouded when you sit idle, when you choose to limit your field of vision by not being open-minded or exploring new ways of thinking.  To be more intuitive, you've got to move your mind, open it.  If you don't it grows weak, dull, narrow, and like the dirty windshield, blurry—making  it hard to see what's ahead of you.

Challenge yourself to see things from various points of view.  When something or someone causes you to feel angry, consider what in their behavior is triggering your reaction.  Shift your perspective from "why are they treating me this way" to "I wonder what's going on for them that's causing them to act out so poorly?"  People generally have negative behavior because they are suffering.  Open your mind and see the world from their perspective.  As the cliché goes, "walk a mile in their shoes...." Also study other religions, political beliefs, or cultures—without judging them.  Open your mind to a more global point of view.

When you begin to shift your understanding and see that others are doing the best they can with what they have or know at the time, your vision widens.  Your heart softens.  You begin to see more clearly and are no longer so offended or annoyed.  You come to know that what other people do or say really has nothing to do with you. 

When you wipe away judgments, biases, and expectations, it's like washing the windshield—you can see clearly now.

Trinity of Truth Tip: Gossiping Can Make You Fat!

How in the world could gossiping possibly make you fat?  Well, it has to do with your thyroid gland.  The thyroid gland is located in your throat area and the thyroid gland is part of what controls metabolism. Metabolism is about how fast we burn calories, that is to say, fat!  Guess what else is located in your throat?  A major energy center—the fifth chakra, the throat chakra. 

Talking negatively about other people is very tempting and sometimes even feels justified.  We often validate our talking about others by calling it "venting" --- but no matter what you call it, it's harmful to your personal energy system; in particular, all anatomy in the general area of the neck and throat. 

Bottom line, cut it out!  When you talk about others, you are judging and/or blaming them for something that rubs you the wrong way.   Judging and blaming are extremely negative and causes a lot of harm, namely to you.

Instead of letting the other person get you down, work on cultivating compassion and understanding.  Sure, they probably "are" super annoying, but it's not about you!  It's only about you if you let their behavior get to you.  See the other person as someone in need of understanding.  Perhaps they are suffering in some way.  You just can't know. 

What you can know is that any behavior on your part that is less than "nice" is only hurting you. And, yes, potentially adding a few pounds to your waistline!  From an energy medicine point of view, it's important to keep life force energy flowing through the thyroid gland.  

Next time you are tempted to "vent" simply shift perspective for a moment.  Can you see that the person who's annoying you is struggling?  Be the bigger person.  Someone needs to take the high road.  Let it be you.  Let your thyroid thrive!

Trinity of Truth Tip: Ah-motional Breathing for Emotional Balancing

Each chakra has a vowel sound associated with it.  Using your voice to express the sound (we call this toning in energy healing) serves as a way to "tune" the energy of a particular chakra to its best and highest energetic frequency.  The "ah" sound is used for the heart chakra.  

Whenever you feel emotionally spent or depleted try this to rebalance the heart center:      

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Place your hand on your chest.  Close your eyes.  Begin breathing through your nose.  Feel your breath coming and going.  Notice the depth of your breath, how your chest rises and falls. 

After establishing smooth rhythmic breathing (about three to five cycles) open your mouth on the exhale.  Inhale through the nose again.  Now, add the sound "ah" on each exhaling breath. 

With your hand still on your chest, feel the vibration of "ah" as you exhale.  If you can't feel the vibration, increase the tone (get louder) until you do. 

Imagine the vibration clearing the path for emotions to rise to surface.  Imagine the breath, the energy, the vibration, starting at the base of the spine.  See it rising toward the heart.  Allow the energy to settle into the heart center.  When you're ready, allow the vibration to expand.  The vibration of "ah" is the essence of love.  Tune into what love really, really, feels like.

Knowing that nothing is stronger than love, see the shields around the heart begin to crumble.  Feel the vibration expanding throughout your chest.  Imagine light expanding, radiating from the heart center, shattering anything that binds your heart.  Releasing as you exhale.  As you sing "ahhh..." letting go of what no longer serves you. Breathing, letting go ever more gently.    

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Tears are God's way of cleansing and healing a broken or saddened heart.  If they come, let them flow.

Trinity of Truth Tip: If There's A Will, There's A Way

When we allow our lives to be governed by other people, from the role of victim, we lose our sense of individuality. When we live in reaction to how other people treat us, or how we perceive they are treating us, we stop being ourselves. We do this because we’ve lost trust in ourselves—we stop believing in ourselves. This happens because we disconnect from our deeper all-knowing self, our internal GPS. When we can’t trust our guidance system, we lose our way, just like in driving. If you feel you've disconnected somehow from your inner wisdom, your inner knowing (intuition), think about what change would get you back on course.  Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see..."  is one of my all time favorites.  In order to change our surroundings, we must change ourselves.  

* Trinity of Truth Tip: If There’s A Will, There’s A Way *

It takes will and determination to bring real change. Sometimes things will flow into your life with effortless ease, but other times you need to muster up a little courage and a lot of will and determination to bring change or make change stick or evolve into lasting change. Get quiet and imagine the change you want. See it, feel it, be with it. How does it feel? Do you really, really want change? If you do, what one thing—within your control—can you do? Name just one thing. If you can’t find even one thing, you are claiming the role of victim.

Trinity of Truth Tip: Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words Can Never Hurt Me

When you step into the perspective of observing a situation from your soul view you begin to see all people and all people’s actions as very separate from you. And you begin to see that they really can’t touch the most important part of you, your spirit, your soul. We need to remember the words we used as children, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Except this time, understand the truth in that statement.

In the words of Viktor Frankl (World War II holocaust survivor and author of the book, Man’s Search for Meaning), “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Viktor Frankl never allowed his broken body to break his mind. He never allowed the evil into his heart. He said there was one thing they could never take from him—they could never take his spirit (his soul).

Trinity of Truth Tip: The Self "PEP" Talk—What Is It and Why Does It Work?

Many times we find ourselves consoling friends and family in their times of need.  And sometimes they provide comfort to us too.  But sometimes we need a kick in the pants that can only come from the person who knows us best—ourselves!  More times than not, you have to be on the giving and receiving end of your pep talks.  That's where the Self PEP Talk comes in.

What does PEP mean and how does "Self PEP Talk" help?  It's sort of like a cheer and it goes like this:

Gimme a "P"

P is for Positive:  positive self talk shifts your attitude from "poor ole me"—the victim role—to an attitude of gratitude.  One tool for positive talk is the use of affirmations.  Try this: Make a list of what's troubling you—why you need a pep talk, a boost—and then write a counter statement to cancel it out. 

For example, if you are experiencing low self-worth you might write, "I am not capable of giving or receiving love and feel completely worthless" and then next to it, write, "I am an innocent and powerful Being surrounded by, and worthy of, the radiant glow of love and light that surrounds me."  Then allow yourself to feel the truth in those words.  And do your best to really, really, believe them!

Gimme an "E"

E is for Empowerment:  Reminding yourself that you are indeed worthy of love and capable of giving and receiving all the nurturing you desire gives you a sense of empowerment.  That is to say, you regain your power.  Somewhere along the way, you gave it away.  Self PEP Talk helps you get it back.

Gimme a "P"

P is for Perspective:  Once you shift to a Positive attitude and feel Empowered you have a new point of view—a new Perspective.  You are in a position to see the situation—whatever had you feeling down on yourself—more objectively.  When you can see any situation more objectively, it is easier to relinquish the victim role and see that whatever had a hold on you is just another opportunity for growth, if you choose it to be.  Perspective is where we are given the choice to not only take back our power but claim it, own it, but taking the ultimate step of personal responsibility.  We get to choose—every single time—how to respond. 

Seriously, what other people do, don't do, say, or don't say is never about you.  Ever.  Sure, it still stings and scars but you can get your power back when you stop reacting, defending, explaining, denying.  You stop these things when you shift your attitude.  Taking on the role of observer is the most helpful tool for shifting your attitude, getting clarity, understanding and working through your emotions.  It really works.  And remember life is a process.  Cheer it on in the good times and bad times.  There's something to learn, to gain, in every situation if you can just stop for minute and remember to not take it—other people's stuff—personally.  It's Not About You!

One More Tip:  When you're feeling down and need a boost, focus on your accomplishments, not your failures.  But also think about the lessons you've learned from the failures and how you got through them.  Make a list of your successes.  How did you achieve the highest points in life.  What strengths did you draw on to achieve these things? Bottom line: you've got to be your own best cheerleader!  

Trinity of Truth Tip: Bless Your Water

An easy way to consume good energy and clear toxins out of your body is through the water you drink. Even better is if you bless your water before consuming it.

Fill up a jug first thing in the morning (or the night before if you're pressed for time in the mornings).

Stand over the water. Close your eyes. Rub your hands briskly in front of your heart center. Feel the heat and tingling sensation in your palms. Open your hands and hold them over the jug of water.

Keeping your eyes closed, imagine white light coming from your hands and into the water.

In your minds eye, behind closed eyes, see the water free of any toxins; know it is pure, clear, and full of vitality.

Next, chant three aums as you imagine the light integrating with the water. Feel the vibration of your voice as you sing aum. The vibration is the voice of and link to a higher power—connect with it.

Throughout the day drink only this water which you have blessed.

Allow the energy, the light, to seep into every part of your body as you drink the water. Imagine the water reaching and hydrating every cell (which it is).

You can also send the water to any area needing special attention. Or imagine the water as a calming and soothing agent during stressful meetings or situations. Just sip the water slowly as you feel it flowing into small crevices of your body, relaxing and softening your insides.

Note: If you consume other beverages from another source (coffee or tea over a business lunch, for example) silently bless it in the same way.

Trinity of Truth Tip: Aum Your Way to Health

When I am feeling out of sorts, off center, or not grounded for some reason, I start auming.  The reason it works is because the sound of AUM (OM) is the cosmic vibration of the Universe.  We are part of that Universe.  The AUM vibration is in our cosmic DNA, the deepest part of our being.  When we connect to the depths of our creation, we get grounded, centered, and feel secure once again.

I also aum my family's food as a way of blessing it before we consume it.  If I forget, my husband now reminds me!  It's as simple as holding your hands over the food and chanting aum a few times.  Imagine light radiating from your hands (because it is!) and penetrating the food and drink.  Know that you are consuming cosmic, healing, energetic, light. Do this with everything you consume (vitamins, supplements, medications, anything you put in your body). 

I took the photo in this post the fall of 2010 on a beach in British Columbia (Salt Spring Island to be exact).  My husband and I were there celebrating our wedding anniversary.  It was on a cool morning walk that I came upon this hollowed out log.  It struck me that I was to meditate here.  And so I did.  In the freedom of seclusion, I aumed out loud with complete abandon.  In the stillness of this piece of earth, the vibration of the earth, through that log, sang back to me.  I returned later to build the "om" inside. 

This picture reminds me of the peace found in the simple act of sharing an aum (om) or two with nature.   As often as you can, sing or hum aum as you walk, run, or hike while outside.  The birds will hear you ...and they just love it when you sing back to them.

Aum, peace, to you........

Trinity of Truth Tip: The Breath of Fire

One of my favorite pranayama techniques is called The Breath of Fire. It is considered an advanced technique, but I often teach it to beginners because the results are immediate and powerful. This technique gets its name because it is associated with the lumbar, or third, chakra, which is associated with the "fire" element.

The practice begins with an exhalation instead of the more natural inhalation and breathing is done entirely through the nose.* Begin by sitting upright, feet flat on the ground, and place your hands on your lap (palms turned upward is best). It might be helpful, at first, to hold your hands at the navel area so you can get a feel for how your belly is moving which should visibly be thrusting in and out.

To begin, throw out ALL your breath through your nose (keeping your mouth closed will help) with great force while at the same time thrusting your navel back into your spine. Let your inhalation come on its own with no effort or thought of it. Pick up the pace—it is meant to be a bit aggressive, heating up (like a fire). A good goal is one full breath (inhale and exhale) per second. To help, mentally count "1-1000, 2-1000, 3-1000" and so on, until you get a feel for it. If you feel light headed at any point, stop. There's no hurry.

You can start with just a few rounds and build up to 25 rounds or more (do as much feels right for you). This technique will wake you up and bring you into the present moment, here, now, and fast! It is super energizing and works great to clear the cobwebs out of your head! I do this pranayama more often than any other. It works wonders!

*If breathing is constricted in your nose, it is okay to use your mouth.

The Power of Breathing

Each element of the Trinity—mind, body, spirit—is independent yet must work interdependently to have true balance. We cannot function at peak performance if any one of these three aspects of ourselves is being neglected. To ensure you are not always throwing a wrench into the mix and getting out of balance without even realizing it, it’s good practice to start recognizing yourself as "mind, body, spirit" instead of just a mere physical body carrying around a load of muscles, bones, and organs in a protective layer of skin. Yes, we are physical, but the power of the mind and the energy of the spirit is what keeps us going. Think of your body as a car: Your thoughts as the fuel and your spirit as the battery power.

In the practice of yoga and meditation, the Sanskrit word prana is often used to describe the vital life force that feeds energy to our bodies and calms our minds. In my practice of yoga, blocked energy is released from joints and other areas in the body when we move into various postures; the mind is calmed when we say the affirmation that goes with each pose. In English, prana is translated as breath. Without the ability to breathe we would die.

Mind, body, and spirit are interdependent, and just as the body would die without the ability to breathe, so too would the body and mind die without spirit. I am not saying that you will literally die by not having a spiritual practice, but it's more like that sense of feeling dead inside—apathetic, indifferent, and lacking joy. My own body and mind both took very serious hits when I lost touch with my spirit—more specifically, my soul. In my old job I got so immersed in what some call the "rat race" and just trying to survive that I literally stopped doing all the things that fed my spirit. I'd never been a regular churchgoer, but I'd always attended some services and done lots of outdoor activities, like backpacking, swimming, biking, and other things that kept me close to the spiritual, to the elements. I'd always considered myself to be very fit and even did some mountaineering and several triathlons. So, when I could barely make it down a ski run one winter without stopping to rest, or unable to carry a basket of laundry up my stairs without feeling like my legs were giving out, I knew things were getting bad. My body was failing me as many tests indicated. And I often left business meetings with debilitating migraines that lasted for days. I really was falling apart mentally and physically.

I learned through the practice of yoga and meditation how to reconnect with the essence of spirit and reunite with my soul—in particular the power of using my breath. Understanding breath as spirit keeps me in touch with my Truth. Each breath anchors me. No matter what might be going on around me, I remain calm by using breathing techniques and mentally chanting "Trinity of Truth." My breath brings me back to center; it allows me to meet with the essence of my soul, where I find peace, in any given moment. Developing a habit of correct breathing has taught me to keep my Trinity working in harmony without even trying; I simply have a good breathing habit now. There are many tools to get back in balance, but I believe using the breath is one of the most powerful and easy to learn.

In Paramhansa Yogananda's book, Scientific Healing Affirmations, he writes: “In his mortal aspect man is a Triune Being. He longs for freedom from all varieties of suffering. His needs are: 1) Healing of bodily diseases. 2) Healing of mental or psychological diseases such as fear, anger, bad habits, failure consciousness, lack of initiative and confidence, and so on. 3) Healing of spiritual diseases such as indifference, lack of purpose, intellectual pride and dogmatism, skepticism, contentment with material side of existence, and ignorance of laws of life and man's own divinity.” He further states, “It is of paramount importance that equal emphasis be given to the prevention and cure of all three kinds of diseases.”

I no longer compete in the "rat race," but I have re-entered the business world. Instead of participating in the race as a competitor, I now act as cheerleader and coach. I teach meditation in the business community to help others learn how to win—not through blood, sweat, and tears, but through the simple act of breathing. Let's face it, not everybody can just up and quit their jobs. We need engineers, data entry administrators, doctors, teachers, taxi drivers, pilots, managers, worker-bees, and all those hard-working souls in the food-service industry. Giving people tools to not just survive, but actually to thrive, no matter their job, is what breath work can do for anyone willing to learn. Learning proper breathing along with some simple meditation techniques can quite literally transform your life. It did mine.