Author Archives: Blissful Living 4 U

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If You Suffer from Disease or Illness, Sleep Should be Your #1 Priority

People often believe that sleeping is something you do when you feel super tired. They don’t realize that sleep processes are actually vital to keeping the body healthy and disease-free.

Sleep goes way beyond getting rid of the bags under your eyes and putting you in a better mood: getting an adequate amount of quality sleep is essential for lifting your mood, managing your weight and creating a healthy lifestyle.

In fact, sleep is one of the most important aspects of healing. If you suffer from some sort of illness or disease process, good, quality sleep should be your first priority in getting well.

 

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During Sleep, the Body Heals Itself

You might have noticed that when you get a cold or the flu, you want to curl up in bed and sleep for hours. This is because when we sleep, the body is healing itself: since we’re not moving around and active, energy is funneled toward processing nutrients and fighting bacteria.

 

When you sleep, the immune system gets a big boost.

In fact, it has been shown that people who sleep better actually live longer lives. This may be in part because sleep helps to curb inflammation in the body – and inflammation can lead to heart disease, diabetes and premature aging.

Research has shown that people who get less than 6 hours of sleep nightly tend to have higher levels of inflammatory blood proteins, which can also lead to heart attack.

 

Sleep is Preventative

In general, people who sleep well are much less prone to disease or illness. This is not only because their body has the time it needs to restore the immune system and rejuvenate itself, but it’s also because when we sleep well, we have the mental facility to make better choices during the day.

When we don’t sleep well, we reach for candy bars or soda in the afternoon to fight daytime sleepiness. Or by the time we get home after work, we’re so exhausted that the idea of going on an evening walk or visiting the gym just feels imposible.

It’s been proven over and over again with regards to sleep: people that don’t get a good night’s rest cannot think as clearly the next day. 10 times out of 10, the person that has gotten the best sleep is going to be able to function better.

They can handle stress more easily, they can manage challenges that come their way, and they’re calmer throughout the day.

Not only that, but they look brighter, healthier and they’re much happier so people want to be around them!

 

I’m always surprised when I realize how we take sleep for granted. If you’re truly committed to living a healthy and long life, invest some time and energy into your sleep habits. Create some strong practices that leave you feeling cared for and nurtured, and you will enjoy the longevity you desire.

Want to find out how to achieve your sleep goals, naturally? Click HERE to set up a time to speak with me one-on-one and we’ll pinpoint how you can get better rest every night.

 

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Can’t Sleep? Here are 3 Common Reasons You’re Unable to Fall into a Deep Slumber

Have you ever noticed that the impact of missing even ONE good night of sleep can reverberate through your life for days? Sleep is so important for our bodies that it’s considered one of the main pillars of Ayurveda, an Eastern Indian holistic health modality that teaches your body to be well, naturally.

It is true that during this time of year, the autumn, our bodies tend to be thrown slightly off balance with the changing of the seasons.

However, if you’re feeling a little wacky from lack of quality sleep, it is likely due to one of these three common issues that plague modern Americans.

 

Reason Number 1: Electronic Notifications.

Sometimes trouble sleeping can be due to hormonal changes. In fact, my menopausal and pre-menopausal clients come to me on a regular basis concerned that the change in their body is affecting their sleep, and sometimes that is the case… but very often, trouble sleeping well is caused by electronics in the bedroom.

imagesOPVZLGRKThese days, we have access to wonderful technology that didn’t even exist 20 years ago. People fail to realize that all this technology, although it is great for our lives during the daytime to a certain extent, will wreck havoc on our rest periods at night.

For example, let’s say you keep your cell phone in the bedroom when you sleep at night. Every time someone tweets, posts on social media or sends you a message, the phone vibrates or makes a sound that stirs you.

When you’re constantly being awakened by these noises, the quality of sleep drops dramatically because you’re breaking it up into cycles that are not efficient for your body. You’re not allowing the body to complete a full, natural sleep cycle.

 

Reason Number 2: Electronic Energy Fields.

Not only do the notifications from the phone create problems, but the blue light emitted from the technology creates an issue wiondas-cerebralesth the energetic field in our bedrooms.

Your cellphone, iPad, Nook, television or any other electronic screen or device emits certain a certain type of blue light that interferes with the natural levels in our bodies and our natural meridian planes. This can create disturbances in the organic flow and processes of our body.

We’re not supposed to have all these blue lights shining at us right before bed or when we’re attempting to sleep.

 

Reason Number 3: Eating or Drinking Right Before Bed.

Other challenges to sleep include eating a heavy meal too late at night, which creates challenges for digestión.

banquete6During sleep, our bodies work at their most efficient levels to prepare for the next day. If you eat a rich meal before sleeping, you’re taking away the time it should have to relax and process nutrients. Now, the body actually has to work to digest the food, and when you’re in working mode, you’re not getting the rejuvenation the body desires and needs to function optimally.

Not only eating food, but drinking certain beverages will keep you tossing and turning. Any caffeinated beverage after 7 pm will stimulate your mind, and drinking alcohol, although many people believe it helps them sleep, will actually keep your body from entering and staying in a restful state through the night.

To get your best sleep, create a dark, quiet environment. Your bedroom should be peaceful (with no electronics) and kept at a moderate temperature. If you avoid these top three things that keep us prone to restless sleep, you may see a huge improvement in your nightly rest!

Are you looking for natural solutions for sleep disorders or problems? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click here to set up a complimentary call with me and I’ll give you some steps to take right away to get more restful sleep.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Are You Truly Getting Enough Sleep?

Good sleep is crucial to keeping your body balanced and fully functional, and yet, as summer begins to wind down and our bodies transition to autumn, we often begin to feel like something is “off.”

This is because we have shorter daylight hours and longer nighttime hours. Even though Mother Nature beckons us to bed with the setting sun, our bodies are used to being awake for longer periods of time. This mismatch can cause us to feel a little imbalance around this time of year.

In addition to this confusing change in daylight hours, as we age, our bodies generally require less sleep than when we were younger. Because of this, most adults don’t realize how important it is for them to get a really good night’s sleep every night. It can greatly affect their happiness, health and wellbeing.

Are you getting enough sleep? Quality vs. Quantity.

Sleep is one of those interesting things in life where the quality is actually more important than the quantity!

The higher quality sleep you get, the better you’re able to function. It doesn’t mean that you have to sleep for a full 8 hours – in fact, you may be a person who only needs 6 hours of quality sleep to feel completely rested.

The National Sleep Foundation found that even though people think they’re getting the right sleep, the majority of people actually aren’t. Their sleep bank accounts run short even if they’re getting enough hours of sleep but they’re not getting the right quality of sleep!

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They studied 40 million Americans that suffered from 60-70 different sleep disorders (insomnia, tossing and turning, sleep apnea, etc.) and found that, although 60% of adults report having chronic sleep problems, most of them go undiagnosed.

They think they’re sleeping well because they lay in bed for 8 hours, but actually, their body never drops into the deep REM cycles it needs to completely restore itself.

Are You Getting Enough Good Sleep?

Researchers estimate that more than 40% of adults experience some sort of daytime sleepiness, and 20% of adults in America report problems with sleeping for greater than a few days per week.

When left untreated (meaning, when the adults don’t take action to get more sleep at night), it begins to affect their daytime activities.

When you look at this data, you can see that sleep issues are a HUGE problem! Not only that, but daytime sleepiness can cause employees to perform poorly at work, become more forgetful and – this is a big one – eventually develop more serious health problems.

Do any of these things sounds like you? Are you getting enough good sleep?

If we don’t get good, quality sleep, we simply cannot function properly. Our mental, physical and emotional systems will become taxed, overwhelmed and eventually begin to break down.

This is a great time of year to really examine your sleep habits. How much sleep do you normally get at night? Do you feel rested in the morning, or do you wake up groggy and cranky? Have you created a routine that you regularly follow when it’s time for bed, or do you fall asleep to the televisión?

Your sleep habits will greatly impact your quality of life. Begin to notice your patterns, and tune into this blog next week for specific tips for things you can do right away to improve your sleeping.

Are you looking for natural solutions for sleep disorders or problems? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click here to set up a complimentary call with me to talk about what you can do today to sleep better tonight.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Uncover Your Innate Happiness, Naturally.

Most people experience some sort of depression at some point in their lives. Sometimes the unhappy feelings last for shorter and more manageable amounts of time, but sometimes unhappiness and a general feeling of “gloom” can last for weeks, months or even years.

Often people want to be happy but they don’t know which key will unlock their happiness and surround them with love and lightness. It can be incredibly frustrating.

The truth is our brains are equipped to unlock the door to happiness. We just have to know which key to use in order to release it!

 

Experience Happiness Naturally

Science shows that each of us has the innate ability to release our natural anti-depressants without the aid of pharmaceutical drugs. With some work facilitated by health care providers like me, we can discover how to be happy without the use of medication.

Our natural ability for happiness is actually more powerful than any kind of narcotic drug: it’s available any time because it lies within you, and like a muscle, you can learn over time to use it effectively.

Self-judgment, negative thoughts and self-criticism are most often the culprits that cause people to feel unhappy or depressed. Many people may feel that, at some point in their lives, they let themselves down; these repetitive and crushing thought patterns make it very difficult to experience joy and happiness.

 

Anti-Depressants Ultimately Make the Situation Worse

When people are feeling chronically unhappy, they will often act out or do things that are inappropriate. Excessive alcohol use, drug abuse and sex addiction are some of the more common ways people act out that may lead them to be prescribed an anti-depressant like Prozac or Wellbutrin.

3Ironically, people tend toward addictive behavior in an attempt to relieve their depression, but what ends up happening in the long run is the opposite. Each time they engage in the addiction, they push happiness farther away. It’s like sludge. It becomes more and more difficult to get through the sludge when you think that it is the key to your happiness.

Often, the prescription drugs that are meant to solve the problem of depression only become the next addiction. If possible, it is best to seek natural remedies for depression.

 

Mindful Meditation to Tap into Happiness

Meditating regularly is one of the keys to experiencing happiness and relief from depression. It allows us to improve our moods by eliminating or limiting negative self-talk that can be harmful.

Find a quiet space, and sit comfortably for at least ten minutes a day. Take the time to connect with yourself and notice any thoughts that come and go. You may soon be able to pinpoint negative thoughts that keep you stuck in a place of unhappiness – and that’s the first key to releasing them and experiencing joy.

4Mindfulness is so important because it helps us practice self-compassion, connect with our purpose, strengthen our coping skills and release feel-good endorphins that improve overall well being.

Little by little, by practicing good habits like meditating, exercising, playing with children or animals, and doing things we love with the people we love, we strengthen our ability to connect with our happiness. It is the key to unlocking the gates of sustained, day-to-day joy.

 

Could you benefit from experiencing more joy in your life? If you would like to have a complimentary call with me to talk about natural ways to relieve depression and tap into your natural happiness, let’s talk. Click HERE to connect with me.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Natural Solutions for Coping with Pain

There are more than 100 million adults in the United States that deal with some sort of pain every single day. More than half of these people feel that they have little or no control over their pain… and countless others have turned to narcotic medication to manage the discomfort on a daily basis.

Some people have been on medication for so long and their tolerance is so high that the medicine does absolutely nothing for their pain.

In all my years of being a health care professional, I’ve seen a lot more people suffer from pain due to various issues than from Diabetes, heart disease and cancer. That’s a lot of pain!

It seems like I’ve been getting a higher than usual number of requests from my clients for herbal pain ointment, so this week I’d like to share some holistic steps you can take to help manage pain in your life.

 

Is Your Pain Chronic or Acute?

businesswoman migraineEssentially, pain is the body’s way of telling the brain that something is not quite right. It may be an indication that we’re out of alignment, there’s something growing in the body that shouldn’t be there or an adjustment is needed. It’s a clue that we need to pay attention to correct something.

There are two types of pain: acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain is when you’re walking down the street and you bump your ankle. You’ll think, “Ouch, that hurts!” The sharp pain you feel in that moment in your ankle is acute.

Chronic pain is when you’ve bumped your ankle, it’s painful, but you don’t get it checked by a doctor. Maybe you’ve fractured a bone, but you don’t know because you haven’t seen a professional. Despite the continued pain, you never go to see anyone and you have an ongoing aching sensation in your ankle for months or even years.

After so much time, it’s possible that you’ll forget how you hurt your ankle in the first place. The fracture will likely heal improperly and the body will be out of alignment, which will cause ongoing pain.

In general, any pain that lasts longer than 6 weeks is considered chronic pain.

 

Natural Solutions to Relieve Pain

Finding pain relief is important. When people suffer from ongoing pain, they can’t concentrate as well, their sleep becomes interrupted and their natural energy resources are quickly depleted.

Mindful Meditation. Many of us try to ignore or “work through” pain, but when we pay attention to and acknowledge our pain, it helps shift our consciousness. Mindful meditation reminds us that instead of trying to only solve the pain with an outside solution, we can also work on it from the inside. Studies suggest that the greatest benefit of mindful meditation is an enhanced ability to cope with any physical discomfort that may occur.

Many people experience anger, irritability and moodiness when they suffer from chronic pain. When you begin to practice mindfulness, you’ll find that coping with pain is easier. You will likely also find that irritability, anger and depression are reduced as the body and mind work together more harmoniously.

Self-Care Massage. Take good care of yourself when you’re experiencing pain through massage. Use coconut, almond or sesame oil and start with your feet: rub them lovingly and thank them for supporting you. Next, move on to your ankles, your legs, your knees, and continue until you reach the top of your head. With each new body part, give thanks and show appreciation.

At the end of your meditation, thank the Universe for allowing you to have time to check in with your body and go about your day. You will feel better.

2Are you looking for natural solutions to manage chronic pain? I would love to talk to you about how I can help. Click HERE to set up a complimentary call with me to talk about what you can do today to find relief from your pain.

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Be Mindfully Present in Love

People often think that once we become intimate with another person, it will be peaches ‘n cream, lovey-dovey, last-forever kind of love. We expect that the prince found his princess; they’re going to ride off in the sunset, live a fairytale lifestyle and be happy forever.

But that’s not quite reality. In romantic relationships, intimacy can’t be cooked up all at once; it has to build and grow and there are many actions and habits we can take on a daily basis to demonstrate our tenderness toward the other person.

Take the Other into Consideration

imagesIn partnership, one of the most important things is to take the other person into consideration and pay close attention to detail. Sometimes we believe that we will be happy “if only my partner fulfills my needs…” but in this instance, the act of giving can be just as fulfilling if not more fulfilling than the act of receiving.

Asking questions like, “How will this action affect my partner? If I make this choice, will it affect him or her positively or negatively?” is a great first step to taking the other person into consideration.

Something as simply as making dinner for your loved one can build intimacy and trust between two people. When we bring kindness to anything we’re working on, and especially intimate partnerships, it creates a feeling of closeness, desire and being wanted. It facilitates love.

Complete Communication

Communication is about so much more than words, and body language is vital when it comes to the long-term success of a relationship. Bring mindfulness into your interactions with your partner: how do you feel when you’re speaking to your beloved? Do you make eye contact, or don’t you? Do you talk about how you feel, or do you stick to logistics?

So many of our modern conveniences make quick communication easier, but take away the subtle nuance of our interactions. Simply choosing to pick up the phone when you need to communicate with a loved one – even if it’s just to tell him or her what time you’re meeting for dinner – can make a world of difference.

When you have a phone call with another person, you can physically hear that person’s voice. Unconsciously, you may begin to visualize how that person looked when you last saw them; how they smelled, perhaps how they felt when you touched them.

Now, just by picking up the phone, so many more of your physical senses have become engaged!

Set Aside the Distractions

One of my friends has a wonderful boyfriend. When they’re together, he demands that she not work because he doesn’t want her to do anything but focus her attention completely on him. He does the same for her when they’re together.

At first, this was a challenge for her. She thought, “Well, I have to work! How else can I make money and support myself?”

He pointed out that yes, of course she needed to work, but not when they’ve specifically set aside time to be together. The two of them don’t live together, so when they choose to spend time together, it makes sense that they would focus 100% on the other person to build intimacy and trust.

Now when they spend time together, they choose to prioritize each other. Work gets done during work time, but they both now know that tenderness and intimacy can only blossom when they invest the time and energy into each other.

Take a Moment

Today, take a few minutes to think about how you will honor your partner. Maybe you’ll set aside time to really listen to them and ask about their day, or maybe you’ll look closely at them and notice something that you hadn’t noticed before.

If you’re looking for ways to bring more mindfulness into your romantic relationship, click HERE to access the complimentary Bliss Kit!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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5 Practices for Mindfulness at Work

Last week, I talked about the importance of being mindful at work (read more by clicking HERE). Today, I’d like to share 5 practices for creating a balanced work place.

Practice #1: Train Your Mind

Mindfulness doesn’t just “happen” to a person, it must be practiced. You can train your mind to be mindful at work when you’re self-aware and self-regulating what’s going on inside you.

Yes, emotions will come up in the workplace – it’s inevitable (and very human!). However, when you train your mind to recognize an emotional attachment or a negative emotional experience, you’re more likely to handle the outcome gracefully and proactively.

Practice #2: Learn the Art of Accepting Feedback

The art of skillfully soliciting and accepting feedback is a powerful tool in managing our emotions in the workplace. Sometimes workers get really attached to what they’re doing; it starts to feel like a personal attack when someone discredits them or doesn’t agree with them.

In truth, it’s not personal at all! Learning to disconnect an idea from a person’s self-worth is very important. Being able to hear feedback and put it in the appropriate drawer, so to speak, is a powerful way to adjust your course and better succeed at work.

Practice #3: Be a Model of Respect and Trust

Trust is an important aspect of the healthiest workplaces, and respect is vital to successful collaboration. Offering respect and trust to others – especially in the midst of conflict – is the best way to move through conflict and keep things smooth and calm.

When employees operate from a place of respect and trust in the workplace, other people learn that they can come to them with whatever concerns they have and they’ll be heard. This is how successful workplace relationships are built, and how the most successful workers make their way up the ladder.

Practice #4: Show Appreciation 

mindfulness-at-workThere are so many things that we take for granted at work. Seemingly simple things such as having a reliable email system, having someone pick up our mail and get our paychecks accurate and even just having staplers in the supply closet are so important. Often, we don’t notice those things until they’ve gone missing.

Show appreciation to the people the office may take for granted. They make it possible for us to do our jobs in an effective and successful manner so we can earn a living and feed our families! Showing appreciation for even the small things in the office will go a long way to diffuse conflict and create a more wholesome and holistic workplace environment.

Practice #5: Make Friends with Conflict

This practice can be a tough one, but in order to create a balanced workplace, it’s important to allow yourself to make friends with conflict. Every time you do something, no matter what it is, someone may not like it. Often, jealously and insecurity show themselves at work, and the office dynamics can get messy, unruly and problematic.

Such chaos does not require that you go into a panic state. You don’t even need to resist it. Just recognize the chaos, be mindfully present with it, don’t internalize it, and actually welcome it. Sometimes it’s the most conflicted projects that offer the most opportunity to learn our lessons graciously.

As they say, attitude is everything. The more mindful you can be in your working relationships and the more self-aware you are, the more peaceful you will find your work environment.

Are you seeking more bliss in your life? Click HERE to access my complimentary Bliss Kit!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Mindfulness in the Work Place

In the last article, I talked about what it means to be mindful and what tremendous benefit mindfulness can be in your home life (read the article HERE)

When we work, we have one agenda: to do our job, and to do our job well. That can feel like a lot of pressure in our modern world that constantly demands everything be faster, smarter and cheaper.

How can you keep your sanity (and inner peacefulness) as you navigate through these challenges?

Is the Success Worth the Sacrifice?

WF_20120906_NEWS02_120909979Work is stressful, there’s no doubt about it. No matter what job you hold, there’s always the pressure to do well and earn your keep. We always want to achieve results and reap the rewards but sometimes the effort required of us can feel so overwhelming that we find ourselves in a constant state of stress.

Many times workers will sacrifice their emotional and physical well-being in an effort to achieve what we perceive to be success in the work place. It isn’t until something happens – sickness, lack of sleep, traumatic emotional event, excessive conflict between co-workers – that we begin to realize it’s time to take a different approach.

Recognize the Challenge and Approach it Mindfully

If you’re feeling stressed at work and experiencing conflict with your coworkers, it’s important to first recognize the challenge you’re facing. Most often, there will be a difference of opinion or ideals, but that difference can be resolved if both people are willing to acknowledge the value of the other’s input and contribution.

When you encounter obstacles like this, notice how you’re feeling inside. Take a few minutes to listen to yourself unconditionally… and then offer the same act of kindness to the other person. Listen to him or her as you would wish someone to listen to you in a conflict, and allow that person to express their aspirations, concerns or worries that are coming up.

Reframe the Problem

It’s always good to reframe the problem in order to constructively create a solution. Negative emotions can sometimes transform simple problems into threats, challenges and major ordeals when they don’t really have to be that big of an issue.

Invite others to creatively reshape their challenges and redefine their goals in collaboration with you. Look at the situation objectively: is this road block actually a road block?

Here’s an example of what this looks like in action:

Not too long ago, one of my friends gave a presentation at work. It was well received, and the company decided to integrate his suggestions. However, although they used his ideas, they didn’t give him any credit, promotion or acknowledgement for his contribution. At this point, it would have been easy for him to turn the situation into a big problem, but instead, he reframed the situation by telling himself, “I didn’t get recognized for the wonderful job I did… but deep down inside, I know I did the best I could and I was successful at achieving my goal of making a positive impact on the company.”

Now, he has a constructive belief built around the experience instead of bringing himself and others down with negative thoughts and talk.

It always takes an effort to be mindful in our lives, but you also always have a choice. Choose to stand in your power as a positive, mindful employee and you’ll see big changes in the way others interact with you in the workplace!

What practices do you implement to stay mindful at work? Leave a comment below to add your two cents!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Live Your Dream – Part 3

This is the third installment of a series of articles on how to step into the flow of life to accomplish your dream (read Part I HERE , read Part 2 HERE).

Essentially, there are three main components of living your dream: first, you must define the dream, next, you must say “YES!” to your dream, and finally, you must remember the intention you had when you stated your dream. Let’s dive in.

Define Your Dream

We all have dreams and ambitions, but for many people the specifics of the dream are fuzzy. We’d like to think that we have defined our dream, but in truth, we still only have a vague understanding of what we really want.

It’s important to know exactly what your dream is – otherwise, how will you be able to tell if you’ve achieved it or not? When working to get clear on your dream, try this:

Close Your Eyes. 

Sit alone in a peaceful place and close your eyes. Ask yourself, “What would I do if money were not an object?” Give yourself a few minutes, do some deep breathing, and let yourself be with the question until something pops up in your head.

Write Ideas Down. 

Once something comes up (and something will), write it down. It might even be a series of images-1ideas – write them down! Notice which of the ideas appeals to you most, and expand on that one. Use detail, and use the present tense with statements like, “I work with creative people and I share my gifts. I love what I do.”

Feel it in Your Body. 

Read out loud what you wrote, and notice what sensations come up in your body. Which parts of your dream feel best? Which parts may not be truly what you want? This will help you create a more real experience for yourself, and get more clear about what it is you actually want.

No matter what you’ve written, you will always have the opportunity to course-correct as you go – nothing is set in stone!

Say ‘YES!’ to Your Dream

Now that you’ve created this beautiful vision for what you want to do, post it where you can see it every single day. Let it become a source of inspiration for you so that you can go forth carrying that wonderful expectation! It will come knocking, and now your job is to say, “YES!” to this dream.

Positive affirmations are a powerful way to say, “YES!” to your dream. Here’s an example:

“I am the queen of feeling fabulous. I have fabulous days and I have fabulous moments in each day. I love, love, love feeling fabulous in my mind, body and spirit.” 

Notice that this affirmation is written in the present tense. Your dream is a choice that you can make now, in the moment, regardless of where you are on your journey. Say “YES!” to the present moment with the wording in your affirmation.

Remember Your Intention

And finally, remember the meaning of your dream. Sometimes we can get off track and lose focus of what we’re working on when all the initial euphoria wears off. Don’t be surprised if that sense of elation is replaced with some familiar discontent and negative voices: that’s a natural aspect of challenge that will occur.

Return to the paper where you wrote down your dream. That’s the truth – that’s the powerful intention behind your desire. Read it as often as possible to reinforce your confidence in your dream!

How are you living your dream, or not living your dream? What could you do today to powerfully step into the dream life you want and deserve? Leave a comment below to join the conversation!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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Live Your Dream – Part 2

In my last blog post [LINK], I shared a few preliminary steps with you about how to get started living your dream. You already have access to your own wisdom; you just have to tap into it!

We talked about the importance of journaling to dive deep and figure out what excites you and where you get stuck. Next, we talked about setting an intention and confiding your dreams to the friends who will certainly hold you accountable.

Let’s pick up where we left off…

Step 3: Set Goals and Plan Them Out

When you’re building a long-term plan of action, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many steps we have to take along the way. The key to enduring the ups and downs of your journey is to establish a regular system for approaching your goals. Once goal setting becomes a habit, it’s easy to fall back into it. You’ll look at your goals and intentions and be able to course correct to get back on the path if you veer off.

imagesStart by writing down three things you want to do today that fall in line with living your dream. Sounds simple and like it might not work, right? The simplicity of listing three things will propel you forward and keep you accountable to yourself. Monitor your results; identify the times of the day when you’re the most productive. Eat, sleep and treat your body well as you go along.

At the end of the week, reflect and ask what you learned over the past seven days; what did you do really well and what were your challenges? You’ll start to notice patterns. Use that pattern awareness as information to keep you motivated to accomplish those dreams even faster.

Step 4: Seek Support

It’s so important to have a community of people around you that supports you and understands your goals. Don’t be afraid to share what you want to do with others. Eventually you’ll find yourself completely surrounded with like-minded people, as the Universe is always bringing us whatever we put out. When you clarify and declare your dream, you’ll start encountering people that can help you live it.

I knew a woman who was contemplating leaving teaching in order to design and make jewelry. It was scary for her – she was a salaried, tenured teacher. How could she leave this profession for her dream and be able to live off it? She told her plans to some co-workers and friends. News of her desire and talent eventually got beyond her inner circle to an external circle of people she didn’t even know. People bought her jewelry through the friends she’d shared her dream with, her support group.

She was getting so much business that she was able to go from full-time teaching to part-time and then was able to leave it altogether. She now has a full jewelry business. She wasn’t afraid to let others know what her dream was and surrounded herself with supportive people.

It doesn’t make you a weak person to ask for help. Ask from a place of strength; if you appear frayed or vulnerable when asking for assistance, you’ll attract similar people.

Make a choice to live your dream; don’t straddle the line. If your dream is grandiose or seems farfetched or unrealistic to other people, who cares? It’s not their dream. It’s yours. So make a choice and take these steps to go forth and live your dream.

Dare to be bold, and share your dream in the comments below!

Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect

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