'You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.' - Buddha
I'm shortly to do a workshop in London based on the philosophy of best-selling author, and metaphysical teacher Louise L. Hay and my own life's experience. As I've talked about this a few times and many people have asked me what this entails - I wanted to share with you some of the wisdom of this particular work.
I'd always been fascinated by the mind/body connection and was given a book by Louise Hay from a dear friend called You Can Heal Your Life. Louise's philosophy has helped millions to change their lives by helping people recognize the mind-body connection. Her philosophy teaches that getting to know who you truly are and loving yourself is the key to healing your life. When you really love and accept yourself by understanding that your thoughts and beliefs create your reality, your life will change for the better.
Here are eight keys to the teachings, which I will be covering in my workshop.
1.) Each and every one of us is connected to that universal energy which guides us, if we are willing to be quiet and listen to it through meditation. In this fast-paced over-technicalised world meditation is my little oasis in the day where I can release any stress. Stress is debilitating as it inhibits the free flow of energy and information throughout the body. The more stress is accumulated the less efficient are our bodies and minds.
With meditation I've realised that, over a period of time, I do feel much calmer and I'm able to make decisions from my true nature rather than an ego reaction. It's taken me a while to harness its powers. I started out with 5 minutes, concentrating on my breath, and progressed from there.
There is no perfect way to meditate - it's whatever works for you. Sometimes trying to meditate blocks the experience so I just call it taking a break to 'rest my mind.' Again, it requires practice but it is so worth it! Meditation is the way to achieve 'letting go' - it calms the chatter in your mind and gives stillness and clarity, so over a period of time, the beauty of life becomes more apparent and amplified. Meditation helps release our hold on certain patterns of thought. Releasing resistance is probably the most important of all the processes because resistance to change and new experiences stops the manifesting of our desires in their tracks.
2.) Identify old limiting beliefs. The beliefs you formed about life at an early age affect you as an adult. Many people live their lives through their childhood wounds without realizing this, so by replacing old negative beliefs with new positive affirmations can be transformative. Like any new skill they must be practiced and practiced until they become second nature.
3.) Create visualisations. Taking time to visualise what you want in your mind and seeing yourself already having or experiencing it is extremely powerful. The key to effective visualisation is feeling with all of your senses what it would be like if you had what you want now. What you see in your mind you can hold in your hand through the Law of Attraction.
4.) All things begin with a thought. It is our choice what thoughts we focus on, but remember you get what you focus on. What we believe about ourselves and life becomes true for us, so make sure your thoughts are creating the life you want. Sharing your thoughts and experiences during this time with like-minded people in a safe and secure environment can be very helpful and inspiring too.
5.) Gratitude. Being grateful and saying thank-you is a magical tool to help build a wonderful life! Expressing gratitude in advance of receiving what you desire draws it to you. Starting a gratitude journal and keeping adding to it is a powerful way of receiving more of what you want.
6.) Forgiveness is the key to freedom with any issue in your life. Learning how to heal the pain of the past and how to genuinely love and approve of yourself can be life transforming - there is enough love, joy, beauty and money on this planet for everyone! Just be consciously aware of it.
7.) Everything is energy - the vibration of your thoughts - the vibration of success - is all about action and you moving to align yourself with what you want. The Universe moves to bring to you what you desire, but it also takes you moving to align yourself with it. So take action!
8.) Develop trust in the universe and be willing to have a good life - in every situation we have a choice to see love or fear. We can choose to focus on the fear in front of us or open our hearts and surrender to a power greater than ourselves to restore our faith in love. That power is what I call the ever-present universal energy that is around us all and we are all connected to it. Once we learn to trust, it changes everything.
Ultimately, it's all about love, love, love… Love of ourselves and love of the universe. So sprinkle that magic fairy dust on everyone as you go about your day! Kindness and compassion really do help heal ourselves by releasing oxytocin into our body's system which makes you happier along with the rest of the world. Choose magic in your life no matter what.
And so it is.
'I want to put a ding in the universe.' - Steve Jobs