Have you ever asked yourself how much you love and respect yourself in the decisions you make every day?There are so many ways in which we tend to discount ourselves when we make decisions, maybe because we want to please someone by seeking their approval, or we are fearful of the consequences if we say no, or we are afraid of what they are going to think about us, or we just don’t believe in ourselves.

We discount and hurt ourselves when we don’t treat our bodies with love, or when we accept negativity in our minds, or when we don’t honor our emotions. It takes strong will power to let go of habits that can be hurting our bodies like smoking, not eating properly, not exercising. However, if we approach the change from our desire to love ourselves with the decisions we make every day, we will be more receptive.

It also takes determination to have a winning attitude and a mind that is positive. Becoming aware of our behavior and our thoughts is essential so we can decide to shift our attitude. The same idea applies to honoring our emotions. We need to take time to honor our feelings so we can be in harmony with all.

The ideal situation is to make decisions that end up benefiting everyone involved. However, there are times when we have to make decisions that someone might not approve, but deep inside we know it is best for ourselves. What do we do at a moment like that? We either end up giving up our dreams to please others, or we gather the courage to do it. What is important, obviously, is to never do anything with the intention of purposely hurting someone else. This would not be a wise decision and will create a boomerang effect that will come back to us.

Here are some ideas that can support you to love yourself with the decisions you make every day:

• Do a self-analysis to see what areas of your life have some room for you to be more loving. For example, negative thinking, abusing the body, fear of saying “no”, fear of failure, self-judgement, people pleasing, procrastination and any detrimental behavior that may be hurting us.
• Be authentic. Express yourself with the joy of being you. Be congruent with your thoughts, words and deeds. Be free to be yourself!
• Believe in yourself: Trust yourself and let go of any self-doubt and self-denying behaviors. You have wonderful God given talents and abilities that make you unique. Share them.
• Communicate with clarity and conviction. Express your truth with love and respect and be willing to accept that people may disagree with you. This does not make you wrong; it is just a different perception.
• Give yourself permission to be happy: Happiness is a choice and it is something you have to decide to embrace. Your divine nature is bliss.
• Ask for divine guidance: Your Higher Power is always available to guide you. Ask and it is given! Be open and receptive to the guidance than can come thru a friend, a book, a dream, meditation or your intuition.

Affirm: I make wise decisions that enhance my life every day

I just came back from an amazing trip to South India. I went to the Kerala region to an Ayurveda resort near the capital, Trivandrum. This was my first time going to India. I was fortunate enough to follow my intuition to see India with the eyes of the soul, and as a result I had a very profound experience.

Seeing India with the eyes of the soul really meant to feel it with my heart and not to focus on the external but instead on its beautiful people. Externally there are things that can be overwhelming like the traffic, the poverty, the caste system, and many more. Every day I set up the intention to connect from my heart to their hearts and I believe this is the reason why I was able to experience the humbleness, devotion, kindness, sweetness, spirit of service, joy and deep spirituality of this extraordinary culture. I felt in love with their smiles, with the beautiful colors of their clothing, with the melody of their language and with their deep connection with God.

Very early every day, for hours at a time, you could feel their devotion in their voices singing to God in the temples, churches and mosques. The state of Kerala has a high catholic population. On the evening of December 24^th, my friends and I decided to go to midnight mass. The experience was quite profound. As we were approaching St. James Church, a very large church, thousands of people were walking to the church. When we got there, the church was packed with people inside and outside. There were no chairs. Everyone was sitting on the floor, women on one side and men on the other side. Fortunately, our driver had spoken to the priest earlier that day and they had reserved a space for us with chairs, to the side of the altar. The entire experience was breathtaking. The deep devotion, the singing, the rituals, everything was so deep that I was in tears most of the time. Here, at this church I understood why India is the land of spirituality. I could see and feel their devotion so deeply that it entered my heart and transformed me.

Everywhere we go, whether it’s in our own neighborhood or abroad, we have the choice to see with the eyes of the soul or the eyes of the ego. When we see with the eyes of the soul, we connect with the aspects of people that are positive and that can help us feel our similarities and unity and we can learn a great deal from them. The soul is kind, joyful, peaceful, compassionate, understanding, patient, and sweet. When we see with the eyes of the ego, we focus on seeing what is wrong and this only brings despair and separation.

Thinking about my experience in India, I’d like to live this new year by following the qualities in people that impacted me the most during my visit to India. I’d like to invite you to experience life every day with the essence of your soul. These are some of the qualities that we can embrace at a higher level:

1. Devotion: Being willing to go deeper in our connection with the divine within us.
2. Humbleness: Behaving in modest or unpretentious manner. Humility embraces contentment and simplicity.
3. Kindness: Committing to being kind to everyone regardless of race, religion, education or background.
4. Sweetness: Expressing outwardly the sweetness of the soul.
5. Joy: Keeping an attitude of happiness, regardless of the external circumstances. Being a smile millionaire.
6. Spirit of service: Having an unselfish attitude to serve whenever we are needed and with the intention of making a difference.

Affirm: I am willing to embrace each life experience seeing with the eyes of the soul

“If you have made up your mind to find joy within yourself, sooner or later you will find it. If you want to be sad, no one in the world can make you happy. But if you make up your mind to be happy, no one and nothing on earth can take that happiness from you.” – Paramhansa Yogananda

The message from this quote is something that we know from within. However, why is it that sometimes we do not make up our mind to be happy?

From my own experience, we are conditioned to blame others and to play victim. This is something that I did for years and as a result my life was like a rollercoaster, one day I was happy and the next day I felt miserable. I was an awful existence. Then with self-effort and the help of mentors and teachers, I learned that by taking full responsibility for what was going up in my live, I could make changes right away and despite of external circumstances, happiness was my choice. My life transformed completely and now I share with others what life has taught me. Here are a few recommendations, you can use to expand happiness in your life:

• Change your habits. Be willing to stop immediately, any behaviors of blaming, playing victim, gossiping or criticizing. Instead, with love and compassion, take a look inside of yourself to see what changes you need to make. Keep a journal to let go of what is not working in your life and every day be willing to choose happiness.
• Be determined to be happy under all circumstances. Remember that no one has the power to add to your happiness or to take away from you, unless you yourself allow the adverse thoughts or wicked actions of others to affect you.
• Don’t postpone your happiness. Have you ever said? “If this or that happens, I shall be very contented.” Don’t wait. Choose to be happy now.
• Be committed to switching your attention from worry to calmness. Deep within you there is calmness. That’s the essence of your soul. Learn to say “no” so you do not add stress to your life. Let go of the fear of being rejected, criticized, or punished. Observe yourself and pay attention to your commitment to being calm. Go in a worry-free diet.
• Meditate. This practice is the most powerful tool you have to help you to awaken the joy that already resides within you.

Affirm: I choose to be happy now

What do we do when suddenly we are face with something that is unfamiliar or unexpected or is opposite to our plans? Most of the time we move into fear and the mind starts making up all kinds of stories. This happened to me recently and I finally realized that I was allowing my ego to create scenarios in my mind, which in most cases they will never happen.

I noticed that I was analyzing the situation over and over and from different angles, but without coming up with any solutions. It was like I was in a hamster wheel, going nowhere. I finally realized that I was in a fear mode.

Have you ever felt this way, going in circles, frustrated, stress out, disappointed, fearful and confused? Most likely, we all have felt the effects of fear and how, if we do not stop it, it can take us deeper and deeper into despair. This is why it is so important to be conscious of how we are embracing our experiences in life with calmness and to stop and shift the energy right away, when we feel that we are going in the opposite direction of peace, joy and harmony.

This is exactly what I ended up doing when I realized that my ego was playing games with me, by keeping my mind occupied with F.E.A.R (False Evidence Appearing Real). I remember at that moment that I had a choice to change the way I was thinking and to embrace my situation with a positive attitude.

I have been thinking of ways I can use to remind myself that, at all times, I have a choice to be happy and peaceful. This is what I came up with:

• Fear is the opposite of love. In any situation you can take your mind to choose love. You are in charge of your mind. Do not allow it to be controlled by fear. Switch your approach.
• Do not focus on the problem and instead seek a solution. It has been said that every problem comes with a solution. You just have to be willing to see it.
• Remember that everything is energy and if you focus on obstacles, that is exactly what you are going to attract.
• Talk to your Higher Power and ask for His help.
• Remember that you are not a victim. You are a child of the Most High with divine wisdom that enables you to come up with solutions to every challenge.
• Use the power of prayer to pray for yourself and anyone involved in the situation.
• Count your blessings. There are many things that you can think off that are going well in your life. Focus on them and be grateful.
• This is what the bible says about fear in 2 Timothy 1:7: “God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
• Above all, keep the right attitude and remember the power of positive thinking and affirmations.

Affirm: I choose to be peaceful, joyful and in harmony in all situations

A wonderful way to support yourself in letting Go of Fear is by participating in the free class: “3 Tips to Experiencing Happiness in all Aspects of Your Life“.

Click here to REGISTER and for more information

Divine Blessings,

Divine Blessings,

Recently, in one of my hiking trips to the Yuba river, in California, I was guided to ask for the best way to embrace my adventure in the highest possible way. What I received was simple: “Observe and listen.”

That day, and in my subsequent hiking trips, I have followed this inspired advice. I listen to the roaring sound of the water in the river, the singing of the birds, the fresh wind, and the movement of lizards and possibly other creatures (only God knows what else). I observe the sun, the tall pine trees, the flowers, the water moving furiously downstream, the plants, the rocks and the beautiful scenery around me. It is absolutely a delight to focus my attention at this deep level.

It was only a couple of days ago, while I was walking on a trail, that I realized that the guidance and inspiration that I had received to “listen and observe”, is the perfect formula for savoring the moment and living in the now. I realized, that the inspiration that I had received to “listen and observe”, was eternal truth and it is the secret to everlasting happiness.

At those moments when we listen and observe, we are totally living in the now and we are able to focus our attention and truly savor the moment. I reflected on how, as I was practicing this wise guidance, I was automatically removed from the temptation to go to the past and project into the future making up scenarios that in most cases produce fearful feelings, worries and take us off our center.

As I think of the benefits of “savoring the moment”, here is what I come up with:

• Gives us the opportunity to enjoy life more deeply
• Keeps us calm and centered
• Awakens our inner joy
• Reminds us to focus on savoring the moment
• Helps us find the good in everything and everyone
• Keeps us in a receptive mode to connect with God
• Protects us from emotional ups and downs
• Helps us stay focused
• Opens our heart to what really matters
• Encourages us to let go of the busyness of our mind
• Gives as a wonderful way to release stress

I invite you to truly savor each moment, in all circumstances. As you focus on your task at hand, enjoy it and give it your very best and then go to the next one like in a perfect flow, conserving your calmness, enjoying the experience and savoring the moment.

Affirm: I savor each moment, as I Listen ad Observe