Theme for the Year: Peace 
"I am a being of love and I release all negative energy." Last year we explored themes of honesty and integrity, exposing the truth, and celebrating our authenticity. We are now being asked to take that truth and show up fully in who we are, making peace with ourselves and with others. This is a powerful shift that signifies an opportunity for us to all shift on a global level. Peace starts with you. See that as your contribution to the planet. The more you stand as an advocate for peace, the more love you bring to the world. You are being asked to bring awareness and accountability to your life, taking inventory of how you are and aren't contributing to peace (individually and collectively). 

Question: "What do I need to stay anchored in peace?"

How people treat you is there karma; how you react to it is yours.- Wayne Dyer

The holiday season is among us, which means: time with family! Let's be honest, no matter how much we love our blood line, TOO much togetherness can sometimes push our buttons. The question I've been getting lately is, "How do I not react when my family drives me nuts?" First, let's be real clear that their intention is not to make you crazy, but to spend quality time with you. It's just that... somehow you fall back into those old roles and habits of being that may not be attractive and may not reflect AT ALL the individual you are now. Your power in this situation is to not assume those unflattering roles, and instead practice peace.  But since I know "practicing peace" is sometimes too much to grasp, here are 6 tools that will have you knocking back your egg nog and toasting to your loved ones in no time!

The holidays can test our patience and our cheer. Stay humbug-free with more joy, more peace, and more magic this season!

1. Let people cut in front of you in traffic- There's a reason this is #1 on the list! One of the biggest holiday boo-hoo's is the amount of traffic everywhere. Instead of getting defensive and angry, let people in your lane. Smile, wave, and know you are contributing not only to the safety of the road, but your own sense of peace! When you don't sweat the small stuff, you gain a little perspective and can enjoy the ride!

2. Smile at strangers- With the hustle of the holiday season, sometimes people just need to know they are seen. A friendly smile is an act of love that acknowledges the soul of another in genuine appreciation. It's a way of saying "I see you, and I celebrate you!"

Can you believe we are less than 2 months away from the END of 2014?

I don't know about you, but this is typically when the overwhelm and panic starts to set in for me. Checking in with the lofty goals I declared at the beginning of the year, I realize that these "promises" were not all met... in fact, there were many that dropped off the map altogether. My mind begins to race to try and rectify lost time in the hopes that I can somehow "achieve" everything on my list: lose 15lbs, finish my book, make six-figures, become an expert baker, (insert 20 more things), all to be completed in 4 weeks! Follow this moving train of anxious thoughts and I arrive at the next stop... "Everyone who's headed for Defeat and Disappointment please exit the train here." 

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek." - Joseph Campbell

Okay, it's time to get real. Serious honesty. Here we go...

As a coach and healer, my mission has been for people to know how loved they are, for them to see that their perfection lies in their wholeness (the light AND the dark parts). I see the beauty in each person I work with, and hold the space for them to see it for themselves. But, I would be lying if I said that I don't struggle with this very thing myself. Confession: I am a perfection-seeking, people-pleasing, power-fearing human being trying desperately to love herself. 

Well, I thought... I did it again. After injuring my neck for the second time, following the "I can't believe I did this! How could I be so stupid?"  chatter from my Ego, I smiled, laughed and realized, "Oh... that's why they call Self-Care a Practice." 

Self-Care is any practice that nourishes, replenishes, fuels, and shows love and kindness to our body, mind and soul.

I'm a huge advocate for teaching what I need to learn, and Self-Care is an ongoing lesson for me. The biggest challenge I have- aside from my endless excuses- is truly GIVING MYSELF PERMISSION to take care of myself, without feeling guilty. Now matter how much "self-work" I've done, I realize there is this societal meme that affects us, and that is that Martyrdom is a Virtue. Let's be real, it's not. 
Going Without, So Others Can Have Is Not Service To The World!
Still.. the urge to sacrifice is always there. 

So I've created (for you and me) "The WHY's of Self Care" so that when resistance (i.e. excuses, old beliefs, guilt) moves in, you are still able to honor yourself and this practice: