All I want for Christmas is…

If it is something material you desire – that’s OK. We are here in this world experiencing “things”, so give yourself permission to want “things”. It isn’t anti-spiritual to want, it is human. What “things” would you like? Even though I am pretty much past the part of my life where I want to accumulate more things – I do still love presents under the tree to open. What I REALLY want is excitement, experiences, anticipation, love, connection, kindness, thoughtfulness – all of which can be represented by a “gift”.

One of my favorite gifts every year (and I do hope my daughter is reading this is the family calendar she creates filled with family photos. During the year the calendar helps me unplug by planning holidays and social events, and brings me immediately to the place of love when I see my grandkids beaming out from the pages. Thank you for the gift.

Another favorite gift last year was a stunningly beautiful hand-painted silk scarf– I admit it took me a few months to step into the place of feeling comfortable wearing something so expensive. My partner’s gift deepened my self-appreciation and worthiness. Thank you for the gift.

• I forgive myself for believing I don’t need anything.
• I give myself permission to explore what I really need – body, mind and soul.
• I choose to create the emotions I desire for myself, send them out to others, and receive them back with grace.
• I am free to ask for whatever I desire.
• I know what it feels like to receive my desires, and I am grateful to myself for learning to receive with grace.
• I am expanding my ability to be my best self, and gifts of the heart – both given and received – support my expansion to be.  

So – take another look at your gift-list. If you could give those you care about a feeling of _____ what would that feeling be? And then wrap that feeling up in whatever material gifts you choose to give.

As for your wish list – ask the Universe to provide what you REALLY want, determine how it feels, and then create and claim the feeling for yourself. When you know how it feels, you will give and receive openly. In order for there to be a gift there must be a willing recipient.

What do you really want? The Universe is poised and ready to provide it to you!

Namaste,

Suze

Holy Days. A time for nurturing your spirit. It isn’t about the gifts, or the food, or the decorations. It is about connecting with the best part of ourselves and celebrating our connections.

Everyone has their stories, their memories, their demons and their delights. Emotions run high, and nerves can get frayed. Whether it is your sister-in-law, your kids, your partner, or the clerk at the store, everyone can use just a little extra understanding and compassion. Even you.

• I forgive myself for believing I need to get caught up in the stress of the season.
• I give myself permission to care for myself with enough rest, and quiet time.
• I choose to enjoy this holiday season, creating more peace and joy for the world by creating it for myself!
• I am free to create joy in my heart today by… (go ahead – sing along to a favourite song or phone a good friend! What brings you joy?)
• I know what it feels like to create joy by connecting to my own spirit, it happens when I … (make a list of what makes your heart sing – and consciously create the feeling a couple of times a day)
• I am nurturing my spirit and creating joy!

Turning the ho-hum into HOHOHO for yourself is the best gift ever – it will be the perfect size and be EXACTLY what you want!

Namaste,

Suze

Holy Days. A time for nurturing your spirit. It isn’t about the gifts, or the food, or the decorations. It is about connecting with the best part of ourselves and celebrating our connections.

Everyone has their stories, their memories, their demons and their delights. Emotions run high, and nerves can get frayed. Whether it is your sister-in-law, your kids, your partner, or the clerk at the store, everyone can use just a little extra understanding and compassion. Even you.

• I forgive myself for believing I need to get caught up in the stress of the season.
• I give myself permission to care for myself with enough rest, and quiet time.
• I choose to enjoy this holiday season, creating more peace and joy for the world by creating it for myself!
• I am free to create joy in my heart today by… (go ahead – sing along to a favorite song or phone a good friend! What brings you joy?)
• I know what it feels like to create joy by connecting to my own spirit, it happens when I … (make a list of what makes your heart sing – and consciously create the feeling a couple of times a day)
• I am nurturing my spirit and creating joy!

Turning the ho-hum into HOHOHO for yourself is the best gift ever – it will be the perfect size and be EXACTLY what you want!

Namaste,

Suze

Holy Days. A time for nurturing your spirit. It isn’t about the gifts, or the food, or the decorations. It is about connecting with the best part of ourselves and celebrating our connections.

Everyone has their stories, their memories, their demons and their delights. Emotions run high, and nerves can get frayed. Whether it is your sister-in-law, your kids, your partner, or the clerk at the store, everyone can use just a little extra understanding and compassion. Even you.

• I forgive myself for believing I need to get caught up in the stress of the season.
• I give myself permission to care for myself with enough rest, and quiet time.
• I choose to enjoy this holiday season, creating more peace and joy for the world by creating it for myself!
• I am free to create joy in my heart today by… (go ahead – sing along to a favorite song or phone a good friend! What brings you joy?)
• I know what it feels like to create joy by connecting to my own spirit, it happens when I … (make a list of what makes your heart sing – and consciously create the feeling a couple of times a day)
• I am nurturing my spirit and creating joy!

Turning the ho-hum into HOHOHO for yourself is the best gift ever – it will be the perfect size and be EXACTLY what you want!

Namaste,

Suze

Although it was only 6pm local time, for those of us coming in from Heathrow, it was 1am. Body clocks confused, bodies cramped from being too tight and too close for too long, everyone just wanted to get through the Customs line-up, have our passports stamped and get somewhere we could stretch out and put our heads down. The toddler in her stroller beside us in the snaking queue expressed it perfectly when she went from slightly dazed to full on tears. The woman in front of me turned and with a resigned smile said to me “I think we all feel that way!” The child’s mom was brilliant. Also tired, she could have admonished the little gal to “stop crying and be quiet”, but instead she leaned over, stroked the child’s brow, and congratulated her daughter on how well she had done on the flight. The child immediately burst into a smile and regained her calm. A small amount of recognition goes a long way!

Most of us are now too old for our moms to give us the recognition we need to stay centered in ourselves regardless of circumstances, and when we are tired, hungry and a bit too “peopled-out” we often forget to congratulate ourselves on how well we’ve done. However, just like the toddler, a small amount of recognition goes a long way. Back to the dictionary… Recognition – to know again, to know as before. To acknowledge genuineness or character.

• I forgive myself for believing I can keep going without any recognition from myself.
• I give myself permission to consciously practice recognizing and strengthening who I really am. I did really well on that trip!
• Like that young mom, I choose to recognize my strengths and reconnect with who I really am rather than focus on the challenges.
• I am free to recognize myself and be grateful for who I really am!
• I know what it feels like to recognize the goodness in others – and I practice giving myself this same gift as an act of Thanksgiving!
• I am consciously practicing giving thanks to myself and recognizing and developing my strengths!

 

Rather than admonishing the child within for “acting out”, try digging just a little deeper and find some gratitude for yourself for all the good you do. What we focus on expands, and THAT is worth expanding every day – not just on Thanksgiving!

Namaste,

Suze