Happy Summer Everyone!
Hope this finds you enjoying it in whatever way that is for you.
This morning as I was warming a cup of bone broth and contemplating things, my brain was was doing its usual wrestling with life's little or big ups and downs.  I quickly recalled some words I had read earlier this morning that had resonated with me in a deep way.  I played with how words can really help to move things we can get stuck on and how I will need to make a mental note to talk about this point tonight at my Art of Allowing Workshop.  I thought of how I would share how it resonated with me.  My brain immediately was like, "That will make me look vulnerable, like I don't have my crap together."
LOL
Ahhhhh.  Today's blog.  Ready?
I have been doing the Art of Allowing group and heart opening meditations for over a decade now.  Do I have the perfect life?  No.  No I don't.  I don't have the picture perfect world we all have stuck in the back of our heads that we try to measure ourselves to.  I do, however, have a wonder filled life.  It is filled with great friends, family, lifestyle, and more.
Here's my point.  Sometimes we get it in our heads, me included apparently, that if we do our meditations, journals, yoga, breathing etc., that our lives will be perfect.  Some teachers may even go so far as to say such things.  Nothing can be further from the Truth.  It is a simple fact that we are here on this planet living our third dimensional lives where stuff happens.  It does.  The reason I encourage you to find a practice that works for you and to stick with it now when things are good, is because when the crap hits the fan you won't have time to figure it out.  It's going to be a lot harder to find your Faith, Trust and Self Love in those moments.  
Simply put, you will always have those moments but having done the work before hand will make all the difference in how you handle it.  How you let it effect you.  And that can kind of make you look and feel like you got the perfect life.
Gwen

Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network

Just recently, I had someone ask me about something going on in the news.  I said I didn't know what they were talking about and I was okay with that.  They pressed me, wanting to share all the scary stuff out there.  I explained, if I can't do anything about it then my focusing on it with fear isn't going to help the situation at all.  
This type of conversation will inevitably lead to the comment of "Don't you care?"
Yes, yes I do.  I care enough to not put my attention on something from a bad feeling place.
The story could end there but you know me and my mental acrobats.  The deeper/Spiritual part of me reconciling with the mental/human part of me and here we are. lol 
Lately, I have been opting for not tucking in my husbands sheets at the foot of the bed.  Why? Because he will just pull it out again. Looking at the bed you don't know that it isn't tucked in , so I am good with it.  Today as I made the bed, I could hear my mind say, "Don't you care?"  I returned with, "About what?  That the sheet police will show up and fine me for not having a perfectly made bed or the wife police will take me away for not demonstrating how much I care for my husband?"
These two ideas collided in my brain. 
Does not caring make me a bad person?
Let's sit with this my friends.  Let's try flipping this around for a second.  In both of these examples, caring equaled worry. 

• Worry about what is happening half way across the world. 
• Worry that my bed is not made exactly the way someone else decreed.

Worry is number 14 on the Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale.  It is not in the happy zone.  This means that if you are worrying about something, you are bringing the wrong energy to the party to fix it. 

• Worry will not fix things. 
  
• Worry will keep you from seeing solutions to the problem. 
  
• Worry will begin to eat away at your health.
  

So the next time you are confronted with the statement of "Well, you must not care", be confident and say yes, I choose to not worry about such things.  
Remember this.  Worry or caring does not equal love. 
Do I love the planet or my husband less? No.  Actually I love both enough to not care from a place of worry.  
Simply put, worry does not equal love.
Okay, I was going to end there but I heard one last insight for you.
Try to watch the news with love for both sides of the story, that is how you help that story.
And the bed making,  that was self- love.
Next time, someone asks you to care about something, think about how it makes you feel.
Have a worry free weekend my friends.

We create in each of our moments.  As we focus and charge that focus with emotion we begin to create more of that experience.  Let’s do a quick exercise.  Just for a moment.......... take yourself out of the drama of everyday and stop and look around you from a different perspective.  From the perspective of an observer of your life.  See if you can imagine that you were just dropped into your body and are looking around at things for the first time.  Can you see your life from this detached state of mind? Now, just glance around the room you are in and with these new eyes, what are you seeing that is pleasing to you.  As you put your gaze there and felt an appreciation for that thing or person, you began to create more of that which you found pleasing. 
Did you find yourself looking at something not so pleasing?  Well guess what.  In your gazing upon it and not feeling great about it, you began to create more of that part of what you did not like.  
How much emotion is an indicator of just how much power you put into your new creation as you looked around your room. 
As I described how creation works could you feel the power you hold?  The power to create.  You can and you do.  That easily.  Every day, all day, whether you are consciously aware of it or not.
What are you focused on?  How does it feel to you?
You know by how it feels if you are creating what you want or not.
Or do you still believe that things just happen to you?  

Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network

Yes I am, still working on the grout.  Sitting on the floor with my magic eraser.  I took a break from it and today I decided to tackle the bigger expanse of floor right by the front door.  You know the area.  It gets the most foot traffic.  I decided that I would do one or two rows as I do have other things on my plate today.
So I began, watching as some areas were cleaning easier than others.  I finished a few rows before the eraser I was using broke into a bunch of little pieces.  A good time to stop for the day.
The OCD part of me immediately said, "You can't leave the floor like this."  LOL  Yes, Yes I can.
"Will anyone notice?"  If so, so what?
I threw out the remnants of the eraser and walked over to admire my handy work.  Actually, I started out to see just how bad those difficult spots were and was pleasantly surprised.  It looked amazing.  It looked great.  "Well don't stop now!", the OCD voice said.  No I think I will sit and admire the contrast.
Ah-ha, you say.  Gwen finally got to why she is blogging today.  lol  Yes.  Contrast.  We sometimes don't appreciate the contrast in our lives.  And yet, without contrast we can't see the picture or hear music or feel.  Everything would be a steady line, blank screen, you get the idea.  Soooo without the dark you don't have the light and without the dirty grout lines you can't see the difference.  You can't see the distance you have come.   That those imperfections that seemed so big at the time, aren't even noticeable.  And yet again, there is still something deeper in the contrast itself.  The perfection of it all. 
Have a contrasty day.
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Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network
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So I get up this morning and I look at my allergy medications.  Yes, lately my allergies have gotten the best of me in spite of more holistic methods of controlling the symptoms.  I leaned was feeling a nudge to change it up this morning and did a little kinesiology on which one would be the lucky one.  I "leaned into" the homeopathic one.  It was a strong lean but the others had no movement.  This got my mind going on the whole energetic concept.  First off, taking anything like this food or otherwise is really only treating the symptoms.  So what is at the base of the allergies?  As in, what is really causing my body to feel it needs to react like this and not pollen or food?
That question always leads me to my Louise Hay book, Heal Your Body.  I looked up allergies and didn't really resonate with it.  It referred to hay fever too, so I went there and read the words.  One stuck out for me. Persecution.  Hmmmm.  Pulled out my journal and sat down to ponder on this.  I started with what did persecution mean to me.  For me, it means being attacked over your beliefs.  Did I feel like that?  Not in a big way of maybe how things were in the old days when folks were burned at the stake but little comments here and there.  People putting their beliefs on me as to squash who I was and what I believed.  I sat with this.  I guess I didn't pay it much mind but there it was.
Now for you Byron Katie fans, this is exactly the time to do "The Work" which goes like this.  If I feel like others are say persecuting me, then am I persecuting me?  AHHHHH.  There it was.  I could see the little comments here and there that I directed at myself.  Wow!!  
My body was reacting to the little hits I was aiming at me in the course of my days.  Can I turn this around?  Of course, I can.  I need to be more mindful of my self talk.  Be more loving toward myself.  In short order, I should feel the allergies lift and the outside of me comments diminish.  I will continue to support my body in allergy relief until that happens, but soon I feel I will be able to feel a whole lot better. 
You would think that would be the end of the story but of course not.  LOL
I looked outside and the sky was overcast, in SWFL that is unusual.  hmm. Interesting.  Moments later I remembered that Sunday is Easter.  Hey that makes today Good Friday.  There are my Christian roots showing. lol  So I thought to myself well that makes sense that today would be overcast and then it hit me.  Today represented persecution.  Yeah.  very interesting.
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Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network

It is 5 pm on Tuesday.  I am looking at the clock and the list of things I had hoped to work on today.  I can feel the stress of that thought as it creeps in and I stop it in its tracks.  I remind myself that I have had a full day.  I have done quite a bit of work.  The work that needed to be done.  I can feel a little ease as I try to pivot my thoughts to better feeling ones.  Then I see my cards and I start to shuffle.  They just are flying everywhere.  In bunches.  I get them back into a pile and start again and there they go, all over.  Yes.  I did it a third time and noticed they all kind of had a theme to them.  So I thought I would share the top 3.  Can you see how they fit into this exact moment.  Refocus, re-energize and play.  Ahhhh.  In a about a half hour I will be heading out to my crochet group.  Ahhhhh.  Refocus, re-energize and play, tomorrows another day.  Deep breath, relaxing breath and a smile creeps across my face.  
Take a moment for yourself and shift.
Gwen Peterson

Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network

As the card says there are many forms.  Sitting, standing, walking, moving rocks, raking sand and cleaning the grout on my kitchen floor.  LOL  Yeah even that one.  Meditation is all about focus.  Where is your focus?  Being mindful of your focus.  Noticing where your mind goes and why.  I think most folks start out with guided meditation.  It is a way to get our butts in the chair and sit.  It is a great way to learn to focus.  Sooner or later though, silent meditation becomes a thing.  You have to learn to sit with you and all that stuff in your head.  (Insert journal.  Best to have one handy to help quiet down your mind and get a feel for what is in your head.)
A daily practice is what you want to work towards.  It is the only way to find your balance.  Your center.  Your peaceful place.  You pick your name.  When you do, you will quickly see your life begin to take on a more calm vibe.
But back to my floors. My home is pretty much all tile.  Lots of grout.  I noticed recently that it needs a good cleaning.  The grout.  I contemplated hiring someone and then a voice said why not you?  Well I could think of a half dozen reasons why I didn't want to be on the cold tile scrubbing but the voice wouldn't let me be.  So I got out my Magic Eraser and started to clean my grout.   After a few squares, I noticed where my head went as I scrubbed.  Ahhhh meditation.  Let's say that the floor will take awhile to get done but my meditation practice is in a different place with this activity.  I found a new groove (lol) if you will.
Is it time to change up your practice? Get back to it?  Start one?
That voice that nudged me?  That is what comes with a meditation practice.  Find your voice.
Gwen Peterson
Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network

Books are my weak link.  I love to read and so my defenses are down when it comes to reading.  That is, if Spirit wants to communicate with me it will be through a book.  Sometimes it is just a paragraph or two or the title that will speak volumes to me.  Pardon the pun. lol
I usually will share one of many crazy books coming to me stories in my discussion groups.  They are so crazy that it can only mean one thing.
So what are you feeling nudged to read.  Book, Facebook, billboard.  You will know when you have hit on the message because you will feel it in your heart center.  Trust the message you feel.  
Maybe it was this message causing you to open up to the bigger part of you.  Spirit asking you to write a new page in your life's story by Trusting who you are more deeply.
--Gwen Peterson

Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network 

Find things to smile about.  Even if it is the small things in your day.  A bird.  Your dog.  The sun.  A friend.
I think you get the picture.  Once you shift your focus to something that will make your smile you change up the energy you hold and you allow the good in life to flow to you more easily.
With practice, you will not need anything to shift your focus.  Just the smile itself and your body will relax into the moment.  You will begin to see the things around you shift.  Give it a try right now. Right this moment as you are sitting here reading this.  Can you feel the relief?
--Gwen Peterson
Gwen Peterson is the Mentor of Insights and Illuminations//Helping others to refocus, re-energize and recreate their lives.  In addition to this work Gwen is the Founder of Spiritual Communities Network//a global community of Teachers and Seekers of Spiritual growth with classes and events held virtually and locally and leads the Naples FemCity Collective//Supporting business women with that Soul connection.  She has been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine.  To learn more about the Gwen, her classes or SCN, visit: Insights and Illuminations, Spiritual Communities Network