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This is an old post of mine, but it's really resonating with me today. Can you challenge yourself this week to simply let yourself feel whatever is it you're feeling and not judge yourself for it? Just let go, feel and be as you are, right now in this moment? I always admired people with a strong exterior; those with the ability to tap in and out of their emotions on command, especially in times when something pressing or uncomfortable may be on their minds. How easy I’ve watched friends of mine who were going through some sort of emotional turmoil go out into the world and convey an image of happiness and security. Whether that image was genuine or feigned, they still managed to rise above their feelings and act out a different story. I’ve never been one of those people. I’ve always been an easy read, unable to put up the façade that my life was perfect in moments when it felt the farthest from it. And I’ve never liked that about myself, considering it to be one of my “weakest” qualities. Lately I’m beginning to think differently though. The word emotional in our world today often times has a negative connotation to it. We perceive a so called “emotional person” to be the most extreme of the definition; someone who may lack the ability to see things clearly; someone who is irrational or hysterical; someone overly passionate and excited. Somehow this word that is really defined by one’s connection to how they process their emotions has transformed into an Achilles heel; a trait undesired yet innate to all of us. What if instead of shutting ourselves off from emotion, we let it in? Here are five reasons why being a person in tune and connected to emotion is a positive and natural thing: 1)    We are all here to learn and grow as people. The only way we are able to do so is to experience a wide array of emotions, both on the scale that we consider to be positive and negative. Feeling those emotions to their full degree opens us up to wisdom and insight about ourselves. 2)    Being cut off from emotion doesn’t necessarily make one strong. In fact, it may indicate the opposite. Those who are willing to confront their feelings head on aren’t afraid to recognize the truth of a situation, and most likely will better navigate different circumstances in the future because of it. 3)    Emotions can act as intuition. We know how we truly think about things by how they make us feel. It is our own personal guidance system leading us to make decisions that are best suited and healthy for us. 4)    Most people who consider themselves to have no feelings (which isn’t possible), deep down wish they were able to be more open with themselves and others. Most of my friends who feel cut off from emotion admit they wish they allowed themselves to feel more degrees of it. 5)    The only things that are really real in this life are our feelings. Nothing else will matter at the end of our lives than how we felt throughout it, and how we made others feel. Whether you have labeled yourself as a feeler or not, we are all equal in that we are made up of the same things.  Instead of trying to overcome and get rid of emotion, our best route may be to just open up and embrace it.

I just moved into a new apartment and am living completely alone for the first time in my life. Some of you who follow me on Instagram are already aware of this as I've been writing about it in the past month, but one thing that I haven't written on the subject is how now that I have the apartment, something I was waiting awhile for, I'm already looking toward the "next thing." I've always pictured this moment of my life - what my apartment would look like, how I would feel while residing in it, what memories I'd make with friends and family, what meals I'd cook alone and with others, and the space that I'd be writing in. I pictured it all and could feel how cozy and welcoming it would be. I said to myself, "Once I get my own space, ah, then everything will fall into place." And, well I'm sure you already know where this one is going. I've spoken about it many times before. I'm in my beautiful apartment now and things are all really great. Yet I keep thinking of what would make me happier - the next thing or moment that would fulfill me. I went food shopping for my apartment for the first time yesterday and I was saying to myself, Danielle, be happy for this moment! You're grocery shopping for your own place, something you always envisioned being so exciting! Stay in this moment, be happy for this moment, revel in this, for everything is so fleeting if you don't focus on the present and the blessings that are here now. For this week's Weekly Awareness: Your weekly challenge for more conscious and intentional living is noticing both the big and small moments, details, relationships, and experiences of your life as it is now and remembering a previous version of yourself who couldn't wait to be living the life you now do. Choose gratitude for all you have.

Lately I've been meditating for about 15-20 minutes before I get out of bed for the day. I spend most of that time consciously taking deep inhalations and exhalations. It's amazing how much it calms and awakens me. The more I do it, the more it's becoming part of who I am. For example, if I find myself stressed, anxious or triggered throughout any part of my day, my first instinct is to focus on my breath, to the air filtering my lungs, filling my body with vitality and vigor, and allowing the oxygen to slow down my thoughts. I remember in these moments that I always have a choice of how I will go about my day and how I will interpret every moment. When my thoughts get ahead of me and into an imagined future that does not yet exist, the awareness of my breath brings me back into the present, to what is real for me right now. It makes me present, awake and conscious; it fills me with my innate wisdom. Can you incorporate this practice into your way of life this week? Can you wake up slightly earlier to sit comfortably in a quiet space, close your eyes and spend five to ten minutes (or more) just on your breath? I usually use the mantra on the inhale, "I am love" and on the exhale, "I am light." You can do whatever you'd like, but bringing your thoughts back to one main focus is the point here, while allowing your breath to lead the way. If you could do this before bed as well, and at any other point throughout the day that you can remember, you'll notice how much conscious breath work affects your mindset and overall demeanor. It's okay if other thoughts find their way back into your mind, you can loving send them away and bring your focus back into the present, to your breath. It's not so much about being "perfect" and having a clear mind, it's always bringing your thoughts back into what you'd like to focus on. This is how you retrain your mind to be more useful to you, rather than feeling like you're two separate entities. This way, you can be more in alignment with the magnificence of your mind so it works with you, rather than against you, or what we interpret as against us. Have you tried this before? Do you practice any calming habits to aid an overactive mind? Do you let yourself the time to simply be and breathe? Let me know how you're doing. I'll be sharing this journey with you. Sending love.