Fearful Thoughts

July 15, 2015 By Karen Leave a Comment

I knew something was wrong the moment my dog began barking. He seldom barks and the sound of it was full of primal alarm. The last time I heard it was when our neighbour’s house went up in flames two years ago.

With fearful thoughts, I left my desk and looked out the window. And there he was. A bear. Not 30 feet away, meandering around our cottage property.

He didn’t stick around for long, but all day, I kept looking for him, eyeing the bushes, wondering if he was going to come back.

Then I realized what I was doing: scanning for the worst. My fearful thoughts were using up energy I could have using to get on with my day. So, I talked compassionately to the part of me that was anxious, promised to keep an eye out and did a process called ‘Scanning for the Good’.

This is a process Rick Hanson talks about in his various books on brain function. As he teaches, the brain acts like Velcro with negative stuff and Teflon when it comes to the positive (we can have a great day, but if one hard thing happens, that’s what we remember). This practice turns this orientation on its head. Here’s how you do it:

1) Notice when you are waiting for or anticipating something negative to happen, or are having fearful thoughts. 2) Remind yourself that this is just your mind trying to get a sense of control.
3) Decide to set the thoughts aside.
4) Beginning with your senses, notice what’s good around you –the colours, aromas, sounds, sensations (for example the feel of the breeze on your skin)
5) Pay attention to the processes you normally take for granted, the breath that you are taking, the way your heart is beating, the way your body is digesting its food and handling your health. As Tich Nhat Hahn says, “noticing that you don’t have a toothache”.
6) Continue scanning for what is working in your life – what body parts/systems ARE working well, what ARE you able to afford, what relationships DO feel good.
7) If other thoughts come in, and they probably will, just set them aside for now.
8) Once you have a list of good things, take a few of them and really FEEL them, really let yourself experience the wonders. Do this until your body responds with a wash of good feelings.

I felt very different once I’d done the scan. I had no more fearful thoughts and was able to move on with my day. The bear did not come back. But even if he had, it would have been okay. Bears wander around in cottage country all the time. I can’t stop them from doing that. But what I can stop them from doing is wandering around in my mind and taking over my thoughts.

Use this practise and you’ll be able to do this too. Let me know how it works. I’d love to hear.

Karen Hood-Caddy
www.personalbest.org

Our Crazy Thoughts!

June 29, 2015 By Karen Leave a Comment

(If you want to read this online, please go to http://archive.aweber.com/pbmm)

Being Happy Anyway

You know me, I’m always trying to help you lead a happier, more conscious life and I’ve come across an author that I think you’ll like – Michael Singer. I’ve just finished one of his books titled The Untethered Soul and I liked it so much that I’m now reading it for a second time. It feels like an important book for me.

The Constant Chatter in our Minds

Essentially, the book is about becoming more aware of the constant chatter that goes on in our minds and how that chatter keeps us trapped in endless circles of mental thinking and prevents us from being peaceful and at ease deep inside.

Our Thoughts are Often Not Helpful

Michael puts forward a very compelling argument for not giving many of these thoughts (especially the stressful ones) much attention. Michael argues that the mind is very limited in what it can solve and suggests instead, that we put our trust in Life itself to show us the way. To him, Life is a far more trustworthy mentor.

The First Step in Modulating Your MInd

The first step, of course, is to notice what our “inner roommate” is saying and how this part of us has an opinion on everything. Once we begin to notice the constant conversation, you might be tempted to try and stop the chatter, but as you’ve probably experienced, this doesn’t work.

What does work is to simply let the thoughts continue, but not give them any credence. Hear them, but don’t get into them, don’t analyse them or believe them. Understand that thoughts are just what the mind produces and our job is to get under them and simply be peaceful anyway.

Stop Trying to Figure Things Out

I’ve always been someone who’s tried to figure things out. Sometimes my mind has ached with the effort I have made to try and solve something by thinking it through. I often feel my ‘state’ getting cranked up as I do. Now, I’m catching thoughts much earlier and as soon as I do, I let them go. As Michael says, the earlier you catch one, the easier it is to let it go. As we all know, the further we go down into the rabbit hole, the more effort it’s going to take to get out.

As a result, I’m feeling calmer at a deeper level. I notice that if I’m at only a 2 out of 10 stress level, there’s way more room to take a little stress hit than it is if I’m already at 8 out of 10!

Happiness in Not Related to What’s Going on ‘Out there’.

Like most people, I’ve often found my happiness related to things ‘out there’. But when I take full responsibility for myself, and let go of my stressful thoughts, I find I can be happy anyway. It’s powerful to know that my happiness can depend on ME, not on circumstances.

This book offers a map to free yourself from the habitual thoughts, emotions, and energy patterns that limit your consciousness. It’s goal is to offer you access to the freedom of your innermost being. Give it a try.

I’m so enamoured with the book that I want to offer one as a gift. Would you like to read the book? If so, please forward this newsletter to someone with your recommendation. “Thought you might be interested in this” is good enough. Copy me on the email. You will receive one ballot for every single person you send it to so if you send it to 10 people, you get 10 ballots, etc.

The book, The Untethered Soul will be sent to your door from Amazon if you are chosen as the winner.

I will send one email to all the people that were sent the newsletter recommendation and ask them if they want to subscribe. If they don’t contact me, no other emails will go to them. Promise.

Sound like a good deal?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Karen

Karen@personalbest.org

Change Your Energy, Change Your Life!

April 11, 2012 By Karen Leave a Comment

We are, at our essence, Energy Beings. Once we fully understand that, we can shift our attention from trying to change things out there, to changing things inside! As the man in the inspiring video below has done. With no arms or legs, no ability to hug, or touch, or do most of the things we all take for granted, he is happy anyway. I’m a big fan of his.

This topic of modulating energy is really hot for me! I’m finally realizing that making changes to our basic energy states is not only possible but fundamentally imperative if we’re going to live empowered and happy lives. Learning how to manage our energy is the necessary piece for truly taking charge of how we feel!

So, before you check out the video (it’s short), think about what it would be like to live at your full energetic force! Think about what it would be like to have all your energy centres flowing! You would know that your were guided and cared for (crown chakra), you would experience your ability to pull all that you need from your surroundings (root chakra) , you would stand for yourself easily and feel personally empowered and strong (Solar Plexus). You could speak your truth (throat chakra) and express all that’s in your heart.

This is what I’m teaching in the 7 week Energy Mastery Tele-Training. The first 2 weeks were free so people could try it out. If you want to listen to the recordings, (even download them) or read the handouts, go HERE.

If you want to know more about the Tele-Training, CLICK HERE!

Don’t delay.. the Tele-Training continues next Monday (8 pm EST) with Week 3! I’d love to have you along! All classes are recorded, so there’s no problem about listening later!

Now, here’s the video! Enjoy!

Don’t hope, Decide!

February 16, 2012 By Karen Leave a Comment

Here is a great story about a life-changing experience Michael Hargrove (www.bluinc.com) had at an airport. I know you’ll like it because it’s about the power of “deciding” or choosing to have a certain kind of energy. . . . I know that’s a topic close to your heart, so here’s the story.

“While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport, I was straining to locate my friend when I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped next to me to greet his family.

First, he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, and movingly loving hug. The mans said, “It’s so good to see you, son. I missed you. His son smiled somewhat shyly, diverted his eyes, and replied softly, “Me too, Dad!”

Then the man gazed into the eyes of his oldest son (maybe 9 or 10) and said, “You’re already quite the young man. I love you very much Zach!” They hugged.

While this was happening, a baby girl squirmed excitedly in her mother’s arms. The man gently took the child from her mother”and kissed her face all over and then held her close. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder in motionless contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, “I’ve saved the best for last!” He then gave his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed, “I love you so much!”

They stared into each other’s eyes, beaming big smiles at one another. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I were invading something sacred, but blurted, “Wow! How long have you two been married?”

“Fourteen years total,” he replied without breaking his gaze from his wife. “Well then, how long have you been away?” I asked. Still beaming at his wife, he said, “Two whole days!”

Two days?! I was stunned! I was certain by the intensity of the greeting I just witnessed that he’d been gone for at least several weeks, if not months, and I know my expression betrayed me. So I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion and get back to searching for my friend), “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!”

The man stopped smiling, looked me straight in the eye and said something that left me a different person. He said, “Don’t hope, friend…decide.” Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, “God bless!” With that, he and his family strode away together.

I was still watching that exceptional man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What’cha looking at?” Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”

* * * * * *

Isn’t that a great story? I wanted you to hear it because it illustrates the power of intention and demonstrates that the state of our energy is always ours to decide.

If you sometimes find it challenging to modulate YOUR energy, I’m developing something special to help. It’s a small-group, personalized coaching course I’m going to be offering at the beginning of March! I’m excited about it. I’ll tell you more about it soon.

Three “Good Things” to Build Energy

January 10, 2012 By Karen Leave a Comment

Conserving Your Personal Energy

Once upon a cave, noticing “the negative” was an important proclivity, but now that we’ve moved out of ‘fight or flight’ survival, we are relying on our attitudes more to create our lives. To do that, we need to constantly modulate our attitudes so we keep our energy flowing and positive.

Here is a short video by Martin Seligman, the author of many books on Optimism and happiness, that describes a great new energy modulating habit that will help you keep your energy vibrant and alive.

ENERGY OFFER!

But just before we get to the video, I want to tell you about something that might interest you. As most of you know, I just finished the “Manage Your Energy, Master Your Life” Telesummit which was fantastic. At the end of it, I offered an hour long individual coaching session that I titled, “Your Ultimate Energy” at a reduced price for those that wanted to do more individual work with me. .

During this 1-to-1 session, I used a process called “Inner Relationship Focusing” to help people attune deeply to their own energy centres and overall energy field. It was exciting to me to guide people to experience for themselves the strengths and weaknesses of each of their energy centres or chakras, as well as explore areas that were stagnant, blocked or leaking energy. Once we had a deeper sense of what was going on, I gave them tools for deeply listening and healing their own energy.

The sessions were awesome to do and I got GREAT feedback about them! Now I want to give you, my faithful readers, the same opportunity to experience this, at the same reduced offer, if you want to. So, here’s the deal: One hour long 1-to-1 session for what I think is an incredible rate–$55. You can take me up on this offer even if you’re currently one of my clients, BUT, I’m only making this offer to 10 people so if you’re interested, don’t sit on your hands!

That’s it! Master YOUR energy so you can create what YOU want in 2012~ Here’s a video that will help you do that!

Fearful Thoughts

Our Crazy Thoughts!

Being Happy Anyway

The First Step in Modulating Your MInd

Change Your Energy, Change Your Life!

Don’t hope, Decide!

Three “Good Things” to Build Energy

Conserving Your Personal Energy

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