We are all guilty of it, of being a collector of things that we don’t make good use of. There is a shift happening in the direction of minimizing our lifestyles. Thinning out those personal belongings that fill our physical spaces and create clutter in a way that is taking up more space in our already busy lives. Netflix currently is running a documentary called “Minimalist,” and one thing the creators suggest is when going through our stuff attempting to create less distraction in our lives; they ask the question, “Does this item bring value to my life?” The question itself became a simple tool for me in deciding whether or not I genuinely need to have yet another blouse or trinket of some kind before making the purchase. But it also made me think further into the idea of how we collect tools for our mental and emotional well-being and perhaps the necessity to declutter or rotate them out.
You Have The Power To Decide How You Will Use Your Power.
Words have such power to inspire, comfort, support, encourage, and tear down, discourage, belittle, stress, or create anxiety and self-doubt. Whether written or spoken, words evoke such meaning when, in reality, they are simple characters strung together that we have learned to assign meaning to for the purpose of expressing. But, we know there is more, of course, much much more in the power of those simple characters.
Home For The Holidays
Happy Holidays Friends,
I don't know about you, but I have enjoyed, for a change, a little more quiet simplicity this holiday season. I know many of us are finding the silver linings in many things this pandemic year. The plan is to be back at it next year, so why not enjoy this season at a bit of a slower pace? However, a bit of a slower pace seems to be a struggle for many of us. We are hard-wired to believe that slowing down is unproductive, and in terms of our overall well-being, a constant pace isn't providing the most health benefit.
Clair Connection For Communication
As Spirit living a human experience, we’ve learned that our chosen and most proficient way of communication is by speaking a language of words. This way works, but I believe that when we rely only on the language of words, there’s the potential to miss the expanded support that comes from tuning into our developed senses. As little ones, we weren’t taught beyond the words and into the language of our higher senses. In communication, we are perhaps looking at body language, how someone uses inflection in their voice, the chosen words, making eye contact, or even how firm the handshake is. All systems are firing off when using these cues to interpret further what is being communicated. We have learned to be very cerebral when it comes to our communication.
Sweet Dreams
It is said that we only need 4-5 hours of physically restorative sleep per night and that in the extra time, we are plugged in, so to speak doing a number of possible additional things almost like when you put your computer to sleep. Different ages require different amounts of sleep, and for the average adult, 7-9 hours is ideal. It is hard to believe that even science doesn't fully understand the need for sleep or what consciousness is. But what it does tell us is that we make memories while we sleep.
Unlocking Your Potential Therapy VS Coaching
Do you have that one friend that you reach out to when you're struggling through something? Have you thought about what makes you call that individual over another? Maybe you are that person to a friend? We all look for and appreciate that support person when we're struggling. Who is available to listen and hold you gently accountable when necessary?
Getting Grounded
This photo was taken recently high above the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and what a spectacular view it was. It was a pretty steep rock formation stair climbing hike to arrive at the top, but worth the beautiful solitude upon arrival. Recently I have been in a very productive mode that’s required a lot of time at the computer and headspace, so I appreciated this opportunity to welcome some true grounding. Having too much energy or focus directed into my upper chakras (headspace) will leave me feeling unsettled, and a bit anxious, but my body has become pretty reliable at letting me know I need to shift and rebalance starting with my basic survival chakra.
What Sparks Your Light
What Sparks Your Light?
“Let Nothing Dim The Light That Shines Within.”
Maya Angelou
Have you been waiting for the universe to give you the perfect sign of your soul’s purpose? Sometimes it can be stressful waiting for a sign of what this big purpose is. What if it never comes to me, or I don’t have a purpose, or I choose the wrong purpose?! I think an important part of the journey is surrendering the what-if and opening more to listening because the universe makes it’s very clear to us at times what that purpose/purposes are especially when we turn inward for it.
Our Soul is always leading us into opportunities for shining our light. When we surrender and let go of the need to know, we create more space for discovery. When we step out of the way the light can flow leading us into illumination.
Ask yourself what do I think my soul’s purpose is? Then I will ask you, what do you lose yourself in because you love it so much? What would I do most of my day without being paid? Maybe you do this something for a living and maybe you don’t here lays only a teeny tiny difference. We tend to think of “our purpose” in terms of our occupation. You shine brightest when you take that love of something and combine it with a broader sense and knowledge of it and then you take it out to the world in service of others. This may be your occupation and it may not be what brings financial support, but it is the thing that sparks your light, and in that light, you shine the brightest.
I have a friend that loves to bake. To her being a baker feels authentic, it brings her a creative joy and perhaps challenge at times. When this client recognizes it as more than just a fun past time and feels it as a passion she is inspired to learn further how to creatively bake beautiful cakes, and loves sharing that talent with friends and family. Upon rave reviews serving the people within her small circle, she found herself further inspired to study small business and acquired a business loan to set up her bakery. Now she successfully serves others from a passionate place, inspired to work hard, and realizes the joy in taking her beautiful creations out to the world, and guess what she gets paid to do so!!
The person you long to be is already inside you. Do what your soul came here to do, be that person. If you long to be a poet, a fisherman, a grocery store worker, a singer, a doctor, a baker or an artist, whatever it is don’t wait for someone to validate that for you. Get busy exploring ways to live in that space more often and watch it bud.
Ask yourself, what are ten things I love doing, make me feel joyful, enthusiastic, and inspired?
What are ten things that I am good at?
Are there things that make both lists? Start somewhere and follow your passion, onto a trail of possibility and see where you land. Pay close attention to those things and don’t do those things as an end game but do them because it sparks your light, and follow where that leads you.
Shine Your Light Brightly,
XO Donna
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Anxiety Happens
Anxiety Happens
By, Donna Daacke
What a year in the life of being human! We live in a time of potentially heightened anxiety, Could it be in part due to a constant stream of thought forming information provided by our devices and lack of autonomy? Anxiety and fear have always been with us as a matter of survival. What’s changed is the constant plugged in stream of provocative self conversational thoughts that keep us in flight or fight mode. When a bear is approaching you as dinner you need to have a system that works to your advantage. Or if you have a work deadline it can motivate you into action. But, when fear and anxiety become problematic or disruptive in your life it’s helpful to know that it doesn’t have to be this way.
The kind of anxiety that is generated by incessant thought is the kind of anxiety we are talking about today. Generally speaking, one way anxiety is generated is when we have an experience that recalls the energy from a previous scenario basically living somewhere in the past or somewhere out in the future. An example of this is “ I am afraid of getting COVID because in my mind I am recalling how awful it was when so and so had it.” “Gaining a new President scares me because what if the economy takes a dump?” You see both thoughts are somewhere else in time. There’s the possibility of either scenario while remaining completely inconclusive, and we’re giving precious energy to living in the fear or dread of another time and possible outcome instead of being in the energy of the present safe moment.
How do fear and anxiety rear their ugly heads in your life? You might answer by saying you feel it unpleasantly in your body or you have too much of it. But, stop for a moment and ask yourself if having anxiety is truly my problem? Ask yourself, what have I been really struggling with? How has it caused excessive stress, worry, and brain chatter maybe even impacted relationships and health? Shifting gears and becoming more aware through your self observer of its impact on your life can give you some direction for managing thought-provoking anxiety. From a very young age, we learn that we have to control things. Control works well when we are trying to get life’s necessary things done, like our jobs, family, and taking out the trash, or for getting you out of harm's way, but not so well when you apply control to your thoughts and emotions. What if you can become friendly and familiar with yourself like truly acquainted with the person you’re having these constant conversations with. The same person that says you can’t and that says if you do such and such then something may happen? Yes, think about the constant dialogue you are having with yourself. Your mind does not ever want to stop chattering, but there are no rules what so ever that state you have to always be listening. Just because your mind says it’s so doesn’t make it so. You might say that’s impossible, how do I not listen to what my mind is chattering on about?
What if when you find yourself starting to obsess on a fearful thought you tried shifting that focus by generating a replacement thought? It takes practice, maybe consider the meaning of practice (to perform an exercise repeatedly in order to improve one’s proficiency). Practicing forms new baseline habits. A simple replacement thought can go something like: There’s COVID everywhere, yep it’s just a matter of time before I get it, the numbers keep going up, all the businesses are closing omg, life will never be the same and on and on and so on. STOP see a light switch in your mind (because you’re the true boss of this conversation being created in the mind) and literally see yourself turning off a light switch that represents that conversation. You don’t have to have it, nobody is in there demanding you have it. You won’t go to jail if you turn off the minds light switch. A replacement thought can be any number of thoughts that better suit the intimate conversation that you are having with your self at any giving time. Replacing the fearful thought with an affirmative thought such as: “ I am afraid I won’t get this job and won’t be able to pay my bills.” Instead tell yourself a different story “ I am confident and capable and remain excited about my prospects because I know I my needs are being taken care of.” Use your self observer to practice using a replacement thought for letting go of fear, and bringing you back from the future freeing you, and giving you space for moving forward in a liberating way and for reclaiming your personal power. Remember the old saying (a replacement thought) of “ 80% of what we worry about never comes to be?! “ It’s true, so why not practice your choice of how you invest into your self conversations.
Practicing My Self Observer.
Most important is making the decision to engage in practices for becoming familiar with your Self Observer. You can’t get better at something if you don’t practice.
Noticing when your body is feeling the presence of fear/anxiety in the form of stress, body aches, etc. STOP, SHIFT, and SETTLE by bringing the focus onto your breathe turn off the light switch, or bring in replacement thought. Practice, practice, and practice. If your thought is on your breathing it can’t be on the fearful thought.
Create the opportunity in each day even if it’s five minutes to practice stillness. Just sit and when the thoughts come in and they will, give up attachment to them, letting go of the need to get it right, simply just practice being with them recognizing how they feel and seeing them as ticker tape scrolling by.
When you awake in the morning, before launching from the bed and locking into your cell phone. Bring three things to mind that you are grateful for. Fear and anxiety don’t live in the same frequency of gratitude. Start your day with a good dose of grateful energy.
With practice, you’ll start to notice how liberating turning off the switch and disengaging from the self chatter and constant conversation can be.
Flip a switch,
XO Donna
Live With Intention In 2021 with Celebrate You
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Your Personal Energy Barometer,
By Donna Daacke
Many years ago, when I was, let’s say much younger, there was a neighbor, and whenever I was in his presence, I would become very uncomfortable. Being very young and naive, I didn’t understand the signals my body was generating were energy signals trying to warn me of someone’s inappropriate intentions. Safely I was able to remove myself from that situation. If I received the same energy signal as an adult, I would likely take a defensive position because I now have an adult’s wisdom combined with the body’s reading of that energy. We all have experienced in one way or another an energy exchange that gives us a sense beforehand of what the mind may or may not necessarily interpret.
Energy follows thought, and those thoughts can project electromagnetic signals, and this is how we can quickly pick up something good or bad with someone or something even before their actions are realized.
We have all heard the term energy vampire, they’re not interested in your blood but rather your energy. Even unintentionally, they can extract your life force while leaving you drained and exhausted. We have all met them, sometimes oblivious to their extraction; they can even appear to be friendly while being overbearing. Once aware of their energy drain, you may have to cut them off entirely. At a minimum, you will have to create boundaries guarding your emotional capacity. On the other hand, there are those individuals that just make us feel good when we are around them; they exude a positive force that draws you in.
Ideally, there is a fair energy exchange between individuals. Learning to recognize when a relationship is out of balance gives us the power to navigate them appropriately. Being okay with saying no is not a bad thing. It brings harmony between giving and receiving.
Spaces also carry an energy residual; upon entry to specific locations, you can feel it. Residual is like recording an energy event or emotions contained within a place and can accumulate or compound additional energies. Maybe, on the other hand, you’ve entered into someone’s house and immediately felt right at home. Feng Shui, a Chinese traditional practice, claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. Objects can also carry residual energy, especially jewelry with stones. Perhaps that’s why wearing grandma’s ring feels special and brings you closer to her.
Energy is exchanged through mind, body, and spirit. Our bodies are contained within what I refer to as our energetic spacesuit, the aura. It protects us from unnecessary energy leaks out into the world and keeps us safe from taking on too much excess energy from the world. It’s essential to keep our space suits in tip-top shape through things like visualizing it in perfect repair, nature walks alone, and staying out of high electromagnetic fields with our devices. Energy enters through thoughts; what we think about comes about. Like a magnet, energy attracts like energy. So good thoughts in most of the time, counteract the effects of the negative ones. Through spirit, energy is felt as an emotion. Emotion is energy in motion. Being aware of our feelings and how something or someone may contribute to these feelings and the emotions generated through thought is an essential part of energy maintenance.
Our intuition or sixth sense is like our being’s central intelligence system. When in touch with it, basically learning to pay attention to it can assist us in our survival. Energy is moving about all of our known and not so known senses all the time. Like our very own GPS, practicing a higher awareness of our energy body can be a powerful discernment tool.
Overall, awareness of how we manage our energy exchange can be vital. Choosing relationships and projects that feed our field (feel good) and positively support us can be beneficial. Also helpful is honoring the energetic GPS that gently guides us out of situations that may not be healthy or even safe. We will always pick up on unwanted energies that can cause us to operate at a lower frequency. Remembering energy is like a magnet attracting experiences in the world that match our energetic field. Paying attention and having a tool for shifting away from an undesirable state can be a good practice.
A quick and easy tool for daily maintenance or for when you feel the need to shift is this simple visualization.
Bringing yourself to a bit of stillness.
Focusing for a moment on the breath to create a shift.
Next, follow, starting at the base of your torso (root chakra), working your way up to the top of your head (crown chakra) to visualize the color while saying the affirmative phrase.
Red - I am Safe
Orange - I am Confident
Yellow - I am Brave
Green - I am Loved
Blue - I am peaceful
Indigo - I am Insightful
Violet - I am Sensitive
Sending You Love Vibes,
XO Donna
Please Join Me At My Private Facebook Group
"Only High Vibes In This Tribe"
Your Autumn
Your Autumn
By, Donna Daacke
Autumn is my favorite time of year; the colors, flavors, smells. The crispness in the air tells us that we are ready to pull out the sweaters and our boots! As we walk along the trail or enjoy being outside before the weather turns too cold, the signs are all around us that a cycle in nature is upon completion, and we can acknowledge with gratitude the bounty of this season of growth. In all areas of our lives, there are seasons of ripeness and maturity. Cycles in nature represent the natural evolution of death and rebirth in all things.
When you reflect on the growing season of your life this year so far, what has your journey yielded? What’s been the result or the consequence of your harvest? In a particularly challenging year, we’ve likely produced some weeds, but with true retrospect, I bet there has been some tremendous growth.
In this season of the gathering, where can we do some releasing of the old with gratitude and prepare the pantry, so to speak, with the bounty of the growth process?
Try this exercise for connecting with your season of Autumn.
Settling in for a few moments by closing your eyes and bringing focus to your breath. Inhale slowly through the nose to a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, and exhale through the mouth even slower to a count of 4.
This process of breathing will activate the vagus nerve, in turn
stimulating the relaxation response.
In this relaxed state, let yourself expand into something that happened to you this year that was a great experience—staying in that space for a few moments, extracting the energy of that event.
Next, go to the time just before that great event and feel into what was going before that time.
Now, seeing into that time as a story, open yourself up to the possibility that what was happening before that time was a natural progression of events clearing the way for the death of something and the rebirth of something new.
Consider how something challenging was actually clearing the way for what you are now celebrating.
Now take a moment to express gratitude for the challenges and goodness in whatever measure it comes.
Of course, the word “cycle” means to repeat, and as we enter into nature’s next cycle, we stay in the awareness that there’s a beginning and an ending to everything; this can be our invitation to shed anything that doesn’t serve us. Letting go of worry, stress, negativity, and forgiving. Harvesting the good brings in the growth in ways that help us and others by doing the work.
Sowing the crop can be achieving your goals with intention. Alongside your to-do-list, try creating a to-be-list. I have a dream (my to-do-list), but what do I need to be to realize this dream? (my to-be-list) I want to be less stressed than I may need to bring in perhaps things that support my being more understanding, organized, and disciplined.
Honoring each season and all cycles of life allows us to glean, gather, and collect while discarding that which no longer serves. And with appreciation, we can accept and eagerly move into the next natural growth cycle.
Your Bounty Is Endless,
XO Donna
Living Your Truth
Living Your Truth
By, Donna Daacke
Have ever considered how your life would have turned out if….. you had only? If you had only married so and so, or if I had only made that big move, or accepted that other job offer. Inevitably we are going to wonder and even think one of these other choices would have been the better choice right? What if our human experience offers many opportunities to live out what western cultures call dharma. ( Closest English Translation Meaning “The Right Way Of Living”) We are born into a particular cultural group, family, geographic location etc but, even within those various settings we will have many many choices for pursuing our dharma. Whatever path we follow, which ever direction we choose on the crossroads of life, if we are following our “dharma” we are pursing our truest calling and serving all other beings by playing out our true role. Ultimately when your life is aligned with your dharma, and you are living “the right way” or have knowledge of one’s true self it brings peace and joy.
10 Tips to Discover Your Personal Dharma
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/discover-your-dharma_b_2517835?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9zZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFmQMuvainrE3y9bAY2gsXMA5A8ulQ-7unPoOy5qJuK3EAGQzC2KqPh-SHKWCWEV4mcujhr37xWvYsKftLMdb0TyhtIsLcaLrKR7IedQo8PgRgpU0_aC8tnM-6vqmlPkLCSeV9k2zGoPpi0Lus_wt6p6a3gmXkEz4MkBJiIvhgaX
1. Pay attention to synchronicity. Life is very good at guiding you, if you just pay attention. Notice what or who keeps showing up in your life. If someone or something shows up over and over, it's likely that the person or thing is tied to your dharma.
2. Follow callings. Callings are those things that you feel deep inside guiding you that don't necessarily make sense to anyone else but you. You feel a direction to do something, but it's not through your mind. These callings are preparation for your personal dharma.
3. Know when it's time to go. If you are feeling like it's time to move on, then it's probably time to move on. Your mind might be fighting you, but your soul knows best.
4. Be aware that it's not linear. The path to your personal dharma may in fact feel like a spiral. Just when you think you've gotten there, you find yourself spinning deeper into some aspect. It helps to surrender to the notion that the journey isn't always forward.
5. Make friends with the illogical. It's important to know that your dharma is not necessarily coming from a rational place. If you are trying to over-mastermind it, you will probably drive yourself crazy, and your dharma will feel even further away.
6. Have a practice that connects you to a greater source. Whether it's yoga, meditation, painting or walking in the woods, it's important to connect with a source greater than you because that's where the information about your dharma lies and that's where you'll find the support to step into it.
7. Look at the people you admire. The people you admire tend to represent the greater aspects of you. Put on your detective hat. This can give you clues to your personal dharma.
8. Take it seriously, but be light-hearted about it. If you take discovering your dharma too seriously, you may not actually be able to see it. It helps to have a light touch.
9. Have courage to walk into the mystery. If you are committed to discovering your dharma, you'll need to call in a higher level of trust.
10. Allow breathing space. Your dharma is not something you can "catch." You need to take steps, then leaps, and then let yourself breathe. Patience is an absolute necessity.
How do we live our Dharma? Desiring to live our Dharma gives us a good reason explore Karma another western concept. I don’t think of karma in terms of punishment but, rather one can think of karma as the spiritual equivalent of Newton’s Law of Motion “For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.” When we are negative in thoughts and actions we draw back more negative energetic thoughts and actions. “What we think about comes about” this is also the bases for the power of thoughts and actions in manifesting our dharma. Okay, so I know some of this may getting in deep let's bring you the to following. No matter the belief system I think we would all agree that these ideas are helpful in guiding us toward our happy, whole, and connected place during this life time.
The 12 Laws of Karma Everyone Should Know!
https://www.beinghappybuddha.com/blogs/insights/the-12-laws-of-karma-everyone-should-know.
1. The Great Law or The Law of Cause & Effect
As you sow, so shall you reap.
To receive happiness, peace, love, and friendship, one must BE happy, peaceful, loving, and a true friend.
Whatever one puts out into the Universe will come back to them.
2. The Law of Creation
Life requires our participation to happen. It does not happen by itself.
We are one with the Universe, both inside and out.
Whatever surrounds us gives us clues to our inner state.
Surround yourself with what you want to have in your life and be yourself.
3. The Law of Humility
One must accept something in order to change it. If all one sees is an enemy or a negative character trait, then they are not and cannot be focused on a higher level of existence.
4. The Law of Growth
Wherever you go, there you are. It is we who must change and not the people, places or things around us if we want to grow spiritually.
All we are given is ourselves. That is the only thing we have control over.
When we change who and what we are within our hearts, our lives follow suit and change too.
5. The Law of Responsibility
If there is something wrong in one’s life, there is something wrong in them.
We mirror what surrounds us, and what surrounds us mirrors us; this is a Universal Truth. One must take responsibility for what is in one’s life.
6. The Law of Connection
The smallest or seemingly least important of things must be done because everything in the Universe is connected. Each step leads to the next step, and so forth and so on. Someone must do the initial work to get a job done. Neither the first step nor the last are of greater significance. They are both needed to accomplish the task. Past, Present, and Future are all connected.
7. The Law of Focus
One cannot think of two things at the same time. If our focus is on Spiritual Values, it is not possible for us to have lower thoughts like greed or anger.
8. The Law of Giving & Hospitality
If one believes something to be true, then sometime in their life they will be called upon to demonstrate that truth. Here is where one puts what they CLAIM to have learned into PRACTICE.
9. The Law of Here & Now
One cannot be in the here and now if they are looking backward to examine what was or forward to worry about the future. Old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, and old dreams prevent us from having new ones.
10. The Law of Change
History repeats itself until we learn the lessons that we need to change our path.
11. The Law of Patience & Reward
All Rewards require initial toil. Rewards of lasting value require patient and persistent toil. True joy comes from doing what one is supposed to be doing, and knowing that the reward will come in its own time.
12. The Law of Significance & Inspiration
One gets back from something whatever they put into it. The true value of something is a direct result of the energy and intent that is put into it. Every personal contribution is also a contribution to the Whole. Lesser contributions have no impact on the Whole, nor do they work to diminish it. Loving contributions bring life to and inspire the Whole.
Every opportunity as well as every missed chance in life is a chance to get it right, we are just lucky enough to have many different ways of getting it right. Maybe it’s not about the doing and the who, and the when and the where but about the practice of just being and living out our truest self in every moment.
Sending out so much love, and feeling it come right back at me,
XO Donna
Anything Is Possible When You Put Your Mind To It
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you willed it into being? We could also call this determination, stick to-it-ness, or putting your mind to it. But what is the mind? Traditional science still can’t explain the mind or where it comes from. There’s an understanding of the brain as a tool of the physical body. Science can also show us how the immaterial mind can directly influence the physical body. Thoughts, the mind’s energy influences the physical brain (a tool), and the brain can control the physiology, all one big beautiful system.
The mind has interdependent subdivisions. The conscious mind in charge only 5% of the time from where our expression of soul, wishes, desires, and creativity comes from, and our habitual subconscious mind in charge 95% of the time is where instincts and learned experiences come from. Our lives are generally being conducted from those beliefs and behaviors that were acquired from our past experiences, family, teachers, and community. When those programmed responses aren’t serving us well, there are tools such as hypnosis, body-centered therapies, and other energy psychology modalities for disempowering outdated programming. Essentially changing an undesirable habit is unlearning the old baseline belief that created the habit instead of cruising full speed ahead on an outdated autopilot. With self awareness can create a new, more beneficial baseline belief. The cool part is that our conscious mind has access to most of the data stored in the subconscious mind and this important features allow us to consider our history of life when consciously planning our future. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it!
Suppose we take this understanding one step further and consider the impact of thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and perceptions on the physical body. In that case, science does tell us that biology does require our cells to follow instruction from the head honcho, the nervous system. The mind, via the central nervous system, overrides the body. Because science doesn’t yet fully understand the mind in Western medicine, the mind isn’t considered an acceptable biological concept. However, in the quantum mechanical universe, this logic has proven to be incorrect.
Consider the Placebo or “Belief Effect” or call it the “Perception Effect” Once there’s a realization that a drug is being taken for treatment, one starts to believe healing is possible.
Conversely, when the same mind is engaged in the negative suggestion of the “Nocebo Effect” such as a doctor saying you have six months to live, the belief can have a damaging effect. Our beliefs are like the lens on a camera changing up how we see the world. A positive mental attitude such as seeing the world through “rose colored lens” is a real thing, hurry put on your glasses!
Positive thinking enhances the immune system and can become a defense against dis-ease. Consider our stress response programmed in us for intermittent use designed to keep us safe and not being eaten by a grizzly bear; when taxed 24-7, stress hormones are over-flooding the body, and this can lead to mood disorders, and all of this has a negative impact on gene function, the mind-body connection.
All organisms, including humans, read their environment by gaging their energy fields. If you’ve ever been fearful in a dark alleyway, this is referred to as “destructive interference” within your energy system. Or maybe newly met someone that you immediately clicked with this is considered “constructive interference” within your energy system. “Energy follows thought” those thoughts generate emotion, and those emotions impact us physically.
Good mind-body hygiene with modalities such as what I like to call an “Energy Reboot” can offer many benefits for managing well being and life’s daily stressors. Complementary/Holistic therapies generally focus on the energetic aspect of our overall well-being and can indeed be a strong Aly in maintaining good health and happiness.
“Your beliefs become your thoughts
Your thoughts become your words
Your words become your actions
Your actions become your habits
Your habits become your values
Your values become your destiny”
-Mahatma Gandhi
For more on this topic, I highly recommend reading.
“The Biology Of Belief” By Doctor Bruce Lipton
Mind Over Matter Baby!
Stay Well,
Donna XO
High Vibes
I believe that the God, Universe, Mother Nature provides so much in the form of healing and restoration. A shift in mindset toward vibrational energy tools takes into account the many forms and frequencies of vibrating energy (atoms) that contribute to the human energy system. Vibrational tools use the living energy within something as a remedy such as crystals, plants, sunlight, food, other humans, reiki, acupressure, massage, sound, color, etc. For example, crystals have an extremely high vibration that is condensed into a rock that has been alive for potentially thousands of years. When placing a crystal on the body, the highly synchronized vibrations begin to merge with that person’s bio-energy field. Crystals store and transmit information, which is why they are used in computers, radios, lasers, etc. I have been drawn to collecting stones and crystals from all over the world and at the very least they are beautiful to look at and that in itself creates a shift of the energies vibration.
Complementary Therapies different from Alternative Therapies are used along with conventional medicines or treatments. Everyday lifestyle brings stress, which has an impact on our health. Before getting to the point of requiring traditional medicine, there are many ways to incorporate vibrational therapies into one’s lifestyle for bringing balance to health. Crystals and other types of vibrational treatments are not magical processes meant to instantly change your life but rather tools that bring an opportunity for bringing together our physical energy and souls energy. Overall, raising your vibration makes you feel lighter, more loving, and more at peace and the the world can always use more of that. With the practice of complementary treatments your body and mind feel more relaxed, and pain often diminishes. Holistic wellness considers the physical along with the mind, emotions, and spirit. Embracing vibrational energy tools and complementary therapies are the universe’s gift to us and some of the most pleasurable and best treatments offered to us for improved health.
This a vast topic, so to narrow in a bit for you, I’ll provide you with a few things you can incorporate into your everyday life that can enhance your energetic frequency simply and beautifully.
The spoken word carries frequency, so be impeccable with your word choices.
Bring into your workspace and home the healing power of plants, good light, and fresh air.
Take a walk along the river and gather stones that you’re called to, placing them in and around your home in beautiful dishes and your plants; they love it too!
Google some Feng Shui for placement of furniture and objects in your home for optimal energy flow. Bring into your home things that inspire (inspiration, a high-frequency word) maybe vintage, organic, or homemade you decide what that is!
Become aware of what symbols you’re called to. Use them in your styling of home and fashion. Circles inspire the cyclical nature of life.
Find some relaxing, grounding, centering techniques for those moments your frequency is dipping such as focused breathing, mini-meditations, music, sounds, movement, a time out, a good old fashion nap….this list goes on and on.
Take a shower and imagine all of the lower level junk washing off into the drain. Water is a giant conductor of energy. Our physical body is comprised of 50-75 % water.
Feeling a dip with stress, stop shift into gratitude. Count on ten fingers things you are grateful for. (A heart feeling gratitude is like an elevator taking you straight on up!)
disburse stagnate energy but spraying saltwater with a few drops of any evergreen EO blend throughout your home occasionally. You can also burn sage or white fir, but those are preferred scents. I also like to burn incenses for clearing.
Close colors in your home and clothing that you are called to, we’re called to shades for a reason.
Drink lots of water. Remember, we are mostly water, and water is a conductor. No surprise, the planet is mostly water.
Sit, study, and absorb nature. Watch the birds, look at the mountains, stand in the forest. For pete’s sake, breathe fresh air.
Hug (after Corona) or with a mask, your family members may be again someday even a stranger.
Pay someone a compliment, lifting another lift you!
Use your essential oils, have at least some rose or lavender. Rose vibrates the highest of the plant essence.
Find a form of exercise the promotes the flow of energy, dance, yoga, Chi Gong, just stretching. It doesn’t have to be in a studio; there are lots of online options and apps. I love the Gaia network to create your home studio.
Consider having a pet. Pets bring so much unconditional love into your life.
Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more! Check out the app Tick Toc….funny stuff!
Look in the mirror and say out loud…..I Love You!!
Beat a drum, or invest in a small singing bowl or wind chimes. The drum’s rhythm and vibration and sound of a bowl and chimes can be relaxing and soothing. And they are beautiful within your home.
Sending you high vibrations!
XO Donna
Sessions with Donna - Being on the receiving end of a vibrational energy session is an expression of self-love. My session incorporates multiple modalities pleasantly combined to accommodate restorative healing and relaxation.
What To Expect In An Energy Wellness Session
During a studio session, after some dialogue to better assess where we need to focus, all you need to do is relax and remain open to healing and restoration while laying comfortably fully clothed on a massage table fitted with a healing amethyst and tourmaline biomat. As your facilitator, I will begin by leading you through a brief calming visualization then prepare your energy body for its session over a few moments with some gentle, relaxing Indian Head Massage as well as some additional movements implemented to open up the subtle energy centers within the body. After that and throughout your session, you will be aware of my hands resting gently on and off as I move about your head and other energy centers around your body, calling in Reiki. I incorporate various vibrational elements such as magnets, crystals, singing bowls and sound elements, tuning forks, and the healing energy of aromatherapy ( if not sensitive ). I hold a comfy space for you to settle in to and facilitate the light, much like recharging a battery as well as with most clients discharging overcharged emotional energy. On a higher level, you do all the healing. As you relax, your soul’s wisdom knows exactly how to direct a session. Your session is designed for you to let go, relax, and restore! Anything you may choose to share in a session is held entirely confidential.
Human-In-Nature Return To Your Roots
Do you love spending time in nature? For me, something so healing takes place every time I step outdoors. Many have their preferred natural setting, whether it be the mountains, the forest, the ocean, or a beautiful lake or stream. For me, it can be any of these things, but something magical happens when I am in the forest amongst the trees. Even if you don’t know why or have considered much your connection to nature, I hope you’ll find this an invitation to discover your true nature.
There’s something so expansive that happens when we leave a social or urban setting and return to our profoundly rooted human in nature. Life offers many distractions these days. When we take the time to return to nature we are creating an opportunity to be in our place of broader connection with God, Mother Earth, The Universe, or any name you choose to call it.
The Japanese have cultivated a concept called “Forest Bathing” which simply means to “bathe your senses in the forest” or to “take in the forest atmosphere” for me the forest is super regenerating. I feel the intense connective energy of the trees, moss, rock formation, streams, etc. A deep peace takes residence. The remedy of spending time in nature isn’t a new concept. As our lives have become so saturated with technology, we are again learning new ways to be intentional about that old way of managing stress and other health-related problems. However, you don’t have to be in the forest to realize your rooted connection to nature. The idea is to relax and recharge in any natural setting free of distraction and definitely without electronic devices. Like a meditation practice, you create a more profound sense of connection with energy/life. You can feel a more reliable connection to your intuitive nature, creating clarity and an overall sense of well-being.
The following are some helpful ways of being intentional about a commitment to connecting with nature.
1. Creating time in nature can be as simple as taking a timeout from your daily workspace. When you make a lunch break or bathroom break, include stepping outside for a few moments again without your phone and shift your focus. Taking in the fresh air, study the sky, feel the earth below your feet, allow yourself to become one at that moment with your environment.
2. Take a hike and get moving. Free of air-buds or other distractions, initiate your senses as you walk. Smelling the air and fragrances, noticing the critters, bugs, squirrels, etc. listen for the sounds of nature, birds, streams, the wind. Taste the honeysuckle or any other edibles along your path.
3. Take time out. Sitting down, notice what you’re drawn to, take in your surroundings, and become aware of the details and what that is. Are trees your thing or the rock or leaf formations, does the sound of a stream soothe you? What is it, find and rest in that space.
4. Hug a tree, no really hug a tree! The vibrational properties of trees and other plants offer excellent health benefits through increases of hormones such as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, making you feel happier. Also, notice how trees have their personality, so many trees even have faces……yep start noticing!
5. Talk to your self. You’re not crazy. In nature, you can feel completely in touch with yourself and can explore our innermost feelings.
6. Go for a treasure hunt. I have been a collector of stones, leaves, feathers, and driftwood, any wood really. My house and art are full of these nature collections. They surround me and ground me even when I can’t be outside in nature; nature abounds all around me inside too!
7. Go barefoot, yep, take your shoes off. There’s so much concrete in today’s world, and concrete doesn’t exist in nature. Earthing is something getting attention from scientists. The earth’s surface conducts energy, and we are energy beings, and that energy can be impacted by the many devices we utilize. Grounding or earthing is a discharge of built-up static electricity and heat wants to ground. When your body is without a barrier like shoes, carpet, or concrete, you’re earthing. Earthing/grounding is a natural mechanism for getting back to neutral.
8. Do a little soul stepping. Feeling a little sad or depressed, worried or anxious, feeling stuck and need some clarity? Take a few deep breathes, stating your intention for assistance in gaining clarity toward a resolve asking nature to work with you, begin walking comfortably, stating your intention for clarity. In the beginning, keeping your question in the forefront of your mind….pay attention to everything, what you see, what you feel, what you may hear. Nature will respond to your desire to connect and uses the language of symbolism. Keep track of the small signs of clouds, flowers, animals, weather, etc.… as they appear. Nothing is accidental. You are practicing direct communication with your consciousness.
Connecting with nature is a return to our roots. It surrounds us, guides us, can heal us, and provides for us. It is remembering that cultivating a connection to nature doesn’t have to be elaborate. Finding what that is or you is the key and getting started.
Embrace your human-nature! XO Donna
And The Oscar Goes To…..
Did you know that the CEO and the founder of Whole Foods John Mackey was a self-declared college dropout? He started college as a philosophy major and felt completely uninterested or uninspired by what he was learning and his charting path. He chose to leave college and began reading books of his choosing along with making inspired choices about what he was learning in life, which oh…. by the way was not taught by a college program. Years later, a million books later, and choosing to follow the integrity of his authenticity, he eventually founded Whole Foods.
Which starring role do you play in the movie of your life? Who wrote your screenplay and created the character that you play in life? We come into this world with a perfectly clean canvas capable of being anything and everything. Then in our masterpiece, the screenwriter, ie, culture, parents, teachers, friends, society, experiences, etc. create an external belief system that doesn’t always line up with who we see ourselves to be. That can often create a self-limited version of the main character. We play out the scene based on the screenwriter’s expectations. They are the stories and sagas that produce the external noise instead of what is true for us. Everything in life is based on a belief, and that belief is based on the belief of the someone before him and so on. Quickly, the blank canvas becomes a creation based heavily on the words of the screenwriter.
If John Mackey had not been bravely self-aware or as some might have said stupid enough, his story could have turned out differently. It isn’t to say it would have been a bad thing to have studied philosophy, but would he have been as happy and as successful if he had followed the ideas of what others said was the correct path for him.
Of course, there are many paths to a destination. Mackey followed the one that led him to become the founder and CEO of Whole Foods? We don’t all aspire to be the John Mackey’s of life, but don’t we aspire to be happy and live fulfilled lives? If someone says you can’t, or you’re not of a certain caliber or there’s only one way to do things, rewrite that darn script and command your place in your role of a lifetime!
Chart an inspired course,
XO Donna
Mindfully Connected with Donna
Heart Centered Spiritual Activist & Mentor
Inspirational Blogger & Creative,
Cultivating Awareness, Support, Healing & High Vibrations
I support you in realizing your full potential!
Removing Obstacles For Pivoting
We are each responsible for our experiences and our happiness. Every thought we think is creating our future, and they are only thoughts and thoughts can be changed. Here's an interesting fact for giving some perspective on fear. Dr. Jill Taylor says, "It takes less than 90 seconds for an emotion to be triggered, surge through our body, and be completely flushed out of our bloodstream." This reaction is a primitive fight or flight mechanism, and after the 90 seconds, it becomes more a choice to hang on to that thought or return to the present moment, allowing the reaction to melt away. Based on that knowledge alone, we can see that being brave and taking risks may be felt emotionally at first, but then we can return to the present moment and see through the fear. When moving from a space of fear into a space of love and bravery, It's essential to be aware of;
a. What is the story you tell yourself? Ideas and conclusions based on the past and the future?
b. And what is the truth based on what's going on right here right now ( sights, sounds, body sensations, etc.) What is your reality at this very moment?
"YOUR POWER IS IN THIS MOMENT!"
What is risk? There are four types;
Physical ( fear of danger )
Emotional ( Fear of exposing feelings )
Professional ( Fear of exposing yourself or your dreams )
Social ( Fear of judgment)
Ask yourself this:
a. Is this risk essential to achieve my heart's desire?
b. Does the thought of taking this step create an inner sense of clarity despite my apprehensions?
c. Does this risk feel like inspired action, and does it align with my intentions?
d. At the end of my life, what will I regret more: taking this risk and failing or refusing to take the risk and never knowing what would have happened?
When you've discovered if a risk is worth taking, go for it, and here's how we do that.
a. Take the smallest scary step possible. It has to be brave, not comfortable, but not terrifying a small baby step.
b. Make backing out as hard as going forward. Tell someone about your commitment to this risk.
c. Pay forward for the risky step; money motivates if you've got skin in the game; you're likely to remain motivated.
d. Be okay with being afraid, If you resist fear you actually may feel worse. Assure yourself that "This is only fear. It won't kill me."
e. Remember the 90-second rule mentioned earlier.
f. Walk in the certainty that the outcome is so important that it's worth the discomfort.
Be aware that the mind is very good at fooling you into believing it's endless layers of a story (usually suffering ), so always be on the lookout. See yourself choosing to be in the energy of love over fear a higher vibrational frequency drawing on your inner power. Look back at your list of desires created last week from the Mindful Monday post and choose a passion and risk you are willing to take and then do it!
" Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."
Napolean Hill
Go, get-em tiger!
XO Donna
Creating Goals For Pivoting
Creating Goals For Pivoting
By, Donna Daacke
Did you know that research shows if we want to accomplish something, we’re more likely to achieve that goal when we tell a person, doing this creates accountability. But you don’t want to say to it to a person that you have a deep relationship with, such as a best friend or spouse, because they will forgive you more easily for not keeping your word. If you tell an acquaintance, you’re more motivated to prove to them that you mean what you say. Go figure!
As you are becoming more clear about your purpose in life and discovering how you want to live life, next, putting some focus on goal-setting makes you more capable of orienting your choices around your goals and being intentional in your life.
Start with a “Personal Manifesto” Who are you at your core?
Answer the following;
Who am I?
What do I believe?
How do I see myself?
Combining this manifesto with your mantra ( Created in Mindful Monday 7/13 ), you now have the groundwork for creating inspired actions.
Imagine What’s Next? Using the following as a guide or creating your own list, establish three action steps for each of the following areas that you want to work toward.
I will create?
I will learn?
I will practice?
I will release?
I will make time for?
I will surround myself with?
I will invite these feelings into my life?
I will experience?
I will take good care of my physical health?
I will make time to be alone, to read, and to nurture my growth?
Moving ahead.....Contrary to popular belief, it’s not hard to change habits. To change a pattern, you essentially have to create a new one. So whether replacing an old one or creating a new one, the process is the same. First, you must pick a small action and make that action easy enough for at least the first week because you’re trying to establish a conditioned response. Practice it 3-7 days in a row before your new habit is formed.
Intention - Attention - Action - Manifestation
Use your intuitive tools, and uncover the thing your soul has been longing to try, improve, change, or explore upon. For the next week, be brave and do one new and scary thing each day as you move toward your goals.
Next Mindful Monday and last in this pivoting series, we will take a look at removing obstacles!
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old,
but on building the new.”
Socrates
Shoot For the moon,
XO Donna
Pivoting With Heart Intelligence
Did you know that science has measured when we have an intuitive experience first the heart measures a signal, then the brain and then the body like in the form of goosebumps, etc. ? Many of us believe that we possess higher intelligence. All of us have experienced this higher intelligence and possibly haven't acknowledged it. Heart intelligence is very subtle yet very reliable and accessible at any given time; becoming comfortable and fluent at utilizing it is simple, and it can be a highly supportive ally.
Now that you may be gaining some clarity with how you intend to live based on who you are defining yourself as when it comes to making further life choices, you may want to engage your GPS. Accessing your heart's intelligence can help you plan or make big decisions and enhance creativity objectively or gain insight into any given situation for practical solutions. Much like hitting the pause button on your remote, the following technique allows us to stop and access an intuitive perspective. Depending on how complex an issue is, an answer may not come right away but be patient and access again later for further insight.
First, write down on a piece of paper some feelings about a decision, direction, or a problem you're seeking clarity on and then do the following exercise.
The "Freeze Frame" is a HeartMath Technique intended to help you make a quick decision or when an out-of-the-box solution or more clarity is needed.
Step 1. Acknowledge a problem or issue and any attitudes or feelings about it.
Step 2. Focus your attention on the area of the heart. Imagine your breath flows in and out of your heart or chest area, breathing a little slower and deeper than usual. Find a natural, comfortable rhythm.
Step 3. As you continue heart-focused breathing, make a sincere attempt to experience a regenerative feeling such as appreciation or care for someone or something in your life.
Step 4. From this more objective place, ask yourself what would be a more efficient or effective attitude, action, or solution?
Step 5. Staying with it for a few moments quietly observe any subtle changes in perceptions, attitudes, or feelings. Commit to sustaining beneficial attitude shifts and acting on new insights.
Now return to and write again on the same piece of paper any words, descriptions, shapes, images, or subtleties you may have experienced while doing the Freeze Frame. Practice using this GPS tool often, and it will become second nature for you.
Next Mindful Monday, we will talk about goal setting!
"Every life has its challenge; every heart has an answer."
XO Donna
Pivoting With Intention
What is your WHY behind your WHAT? Intentional living is choosing how you want to live. How do I want to show up in my world or in any given moment? When you live with intent, you live on purpose. If we can step back from all the DOing and open up to more of the BEing and see our intentions as who and how we want to live, our purpose can become more apparent.
To simplify, ask yourself what is the WHY behind my WHAT? Our WHAT may be the purpose, but then the WHY is bigger, it is who and how do I intend to live—often having more clarity of our WHY can reveal our WHAT.
For becoming more precise on your WHY, list three words that describe how you want to show up regardless of external factors, such as compassionate, joyful, and with ease. What are the qualities you wish to embody? How do those qualities apply to how I am living my life? Whether living my purpose or job, or big life changes are those the qualities that I bring to my WHY, and is that how I want to show up in everything I do?
For letting your WHY guide you even further here's an exercise called "The Five Levels Of WHY" This technique is excellent for exploring curiosity and can help you get closer to your real WHY. Below is an example of how you might do the five levels of why yourself when exploring a pivot.
"I want to quit my job as a pilot."
1. Why Do you want to quit your job as a pilot? Because I am gone too much.
2. Why Is it essential that you're not gone so much? Because it's important for me to be around more for my family.
3. Why is it important to be more with your family? Because I want to be actively involved in raising my children.
4. Why is it essential for you to be more present in raising your children? It's important to me because a single mom raised me, and although she did a great job, I missed having a father figure.
5. Why is it important that your kids have a father figure? Because I want them to have all the advantages of having two parents present. It made me sad not to have my father present, and I don't want to miss out on watching them grow.
Finally, to narrow in and create a focus as you move forward, consider establishing a word or "mantra" that can help guide your attention as you proceed.
1. REFLECT - Start with jotting down whatever comes to your head some reflective answers to the following questions; What could I use more or less of in my life? What brings me joy? What satisfies me? What brings me frustration? What am I fearful of? By the end of the day, I feel (fill in the blank)
2. FEEL - How would I like to Feel? Once you've reviewed your responses, you'll have a better sense of the direction you'd like to go, or what may be lacking.
3. VISUALIZE - What would the perfect day FEEL like? How do you want to feel at work? How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed in the evening?
4. CREATING A LIST - Spend 10 minutes, creating a list of words that come to mind as you explore, no self-editing. Examples may be; stress-free, creative, outdoors, authentic, explore.
5. REFINE - Review and narrow down to 3 highlighted words.
6. COMMITMENT - Are you interested, or are you committed to your word? If you're merely "interested," chances are you'll make excuses for why you're not putting forth the effort to make changes. But if you're "committed" to your word, you'll do whatever it takes to implement that word and bring more of it into your life.
Take some time to think about choosing the word that feels right to you. Let this chosen word guide you and be your incentive for your WHY behind your WHAT.
Good luck with exploring what it is that further helps you discover the WHY before your WHAT so that you can choose how you show up in your world for living on purpose!
Next week's post, I will share a technique for using your intuitive intelligence to help guide you further.
Happy Living,
XO Donna
