Your Body Is Your Guidance System

by Sherold Barr

My body started shaking when I realized that it would be more painful to stay in my first marriage than to leave. For two days, I shook when I talked, when I ate, when I went to see my attorney. When I did anything, I shook.

I had an inner knowing that this decision was one that would save my life. If I stayed in this marriage, I would end up with cancer or some other disease. Two days later when I made a final decision, I stopped shaking.

We were to move from Oregon to Florida. My husband had left a month early. I had stayed behind to finish things up. I had resigned from my job, sold my car and sold our house. I was 35 years old, with a three-and-a-half- year-old son. I had no job, no house and no car. All of my family was on the East Coast.

Although I was scared to death, deep inside I trusted my decision and went through a painful separation and later divorce.

Within days of making this decision, friends called and invited me to dinner. Another good friend said she had an extra car to lend me. A friend who had several rentals rented a house for me, then painted and fixed it up for us. And the community college where I worked hired me back.

I will always remember that when I trusted my intuition and took this giant leap of faith, I voted for my life.

What is the ultimate goal in life? To wake up and become conscious – to be mindful and present. One strong factor in this process is learning to listen with your body. Think of it this way: Your mind is the steering wheel of your life, and your body is your navigation system that will guide you on the path to your higher purpose. Many of us are asleep at the wheel of our lives.

In our technologically advanced society, we’ve lost touch with our bodies and have become accustomed to living through our minds and believing the stories we tell ourselves.

Each moment of your life you are guided by your senses – taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. I believe your sixth sense is your intuition or your gut reaction, which influences every decision you make. This sixth sense is just as valid as the others, perhaps more so, in making a decision. Intuition also gives clues in the way your body feels.

So, tuning in to your body can guide you to your soul’s destiny. “This body awareness” is the ability to focus in on your sensations, emotions and intuition, in the present moment, without listening to your rational mind.

If you begin to follow the simple idea of noticing your energy drains and gains, you are tuning in to your body’s guidance system. I consider suffering to be any one of these symptoms: depression, anxiety, frustration, anger and stress. These emotions are the language your body speaks to you. When you ignore these messages, you can end up with physical symptoms or illnesses.

Here’s a simple exercise to try right now:

Think of a time in your life when a negative event occurred. Your mind’s images and thoughts will create the same physical sensations in your body as if it’s happening right now. Your body doesn’t know if it’s happening for the first time or the tenth time. Notice how your body feels. Is your gut tight, your shoulders bunched up, or is there pressure in your head?

Now take a deep breath and exhale. Think of a time in your life when you were happiest. As you notice the images in your mind, feel the feelings of this time in your life. Notice the difference? Just thinking these thoughts and seeing these images in your mind calls up positive emotions and physical sensations in your body.

There is an intuitive wisdom spoken by your body that is, by its very existence, healing. This is because it turns you toward your true destiny. Your goal is to follow those feelings of happiness and turn your body toward what energizes you and breathes life into your body.

Marcus Buckingham, author of “Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently,” believes that the happiest women don’t necessarily follow their passions when choosing a career – they follow their energy and listen to their bodies. These women focus on doing what makes them strong.

Four Steps to Listen to Your Body’s Guidance

1. Your body communicates to you in emotions and energy. Move toward what gives you a spark of enthusiasm and excitement, and move away from what leaves you feeling as if you can’t drag yourself out of bed in the morning, and your body will lead you to your best life.

2. Focus on what makes you feel strong. When you commit your life to being true to yourself, you are not committing to some far-flung destiny, some grand dream or some disembodied list of values, no matter how worthy. Instead you are committing to the truth embodied in this strong moment, the truth that this specific moment, for no rational reason, energizes you.

3. Move toward the feelings of happiness. Take small steps and notice what makes you happy. Set clear intentions – decide right now to do one thing each day or week that brings you happiness.

4. Your soul directs you toward answers and a deepening of consciousness. Sit still, go inward and ask, “What truly matters most to me?” Ask. Dare to listen to your answer. Learn to trust the wisdom and the intuitions from your body.

Your senses and intuition provide you with rapid feedback. It will take a little practice; but if you get back into a great relationship with your body, it will always guide you to the right path for your life!

A Change Pioneer and Trailblazer for women entrepreneurs, Sherold Barr is at the forefront when it comes to teaching women how to re-engineer their lives. Whether you’re on this planet to build a meaningful and prosperous life or to create a socially conscious business, Sherold is a master. She’s a certified coach with “best-known life coach in America” Martha Beck, a facilitator in The Institute of The Work of Byron Katie and the founder of WomenHealtheWorld.com.

Photo credit:  mag3737

Nutrition Intuition for Kids

by Gretchen Tseng

We all have an inborn nutrition intuition, and it is up to us to decide whether to listen to it. In our current culture, unless we actively pay attention to it, our nutrition intuition slowly fades away as we are bombarded with the Standard American Diet (SAD) of processed food, fast food and the incessant advertising for both.

When children are very young, they stop eating when they are full, just as nature intended. There are times when mealtime comes around and my children inform me that they are not hungry. I try my best to allow my children to keep their intuition alive by not forcing them to eat when they are not hungry. Pushing children to eat when they are not hungry teaches them not to listen to the cues their bodies are giving them.

I have also observed this intuition diminish as children begin elementary school. All of a sudden, children become influenced by their peers and the SAD rears its ugly head as they begin to see what their friends’ parents pack them for lunch — new and exciting foods they may not have been exposed to before. When my oldest began elementary school, he quickly noticed that in today’s day and age, his mom was not the norm and could be labeled as a health nut of sorts. (When did eating whole foods and Ezekiel bread become abnormal?) Kids don’t always like to be different, so it is our job as parents to explain to our children why we eat the way we do. If I were to cave in to my children’s requests for SAD foods, their bodies would never truly be satisfied nutritionally.

This situation has led to our current epidemic of overeating, as our bodies encourage us to eat more in an attempt to ingest the needed nutrients that are not provided by a diet of processed foods. Fortifying these processed foods with vitamins and minerals has not and will not solve this issue, since it is whole food nutrition our bodies crave. Nature made fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes as perfect food sources whose nutritional components work synergistically. Fortifying a food with one or two vitamins simply cannot have the same satiating result as eating whole foods does.

In our current food climate, helping children maintain their natural nutrition intuition is truly a constant battle. It is my hope that the healthy whole foods being fed to our children will help them keep their nutrition intuition by reminding them what “real” food tastes like. Here are some tips you can use to help you and your child:

Tip #1
This bears repeating: avoid forcing your children to eat when they are not hungry.

Tip #2
Start the day off by giving your children freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice, which will satiate them naturally by providing their bodies with much-needed nutrients.

Tip #3
Avoid the empty calories of processed foods. If you must feed your children foods like crackers and bread, ensure that they are 100% whole grain.

Tip #4
Make sure your children are hydrated so they do not mistake thirst for hunger. Water is the best hydrator. If your children balk at water, lightly flavor it with some lemon and stevia, or squeeze the juice of an orange into the water.

Tip #5
Keep a tray of high-nutrient snacks on the bottom shelf of your fridge within your children’s reach (e.g., cut fruit and veggies, hummus or bean dip, nuts and seeds). Tell your children they may go to the fridge and snack from this tray whenever they are hungry.

As a parent, I try my best to keep my children’s nutrition intuition intact and to teach them the merits of eating whole foods that will truly satisfy their bodies’ needs. I do notice that my children understand nutrition much more than the average child. Both can easily explain the merits of living a dairy-free life and why dairy actually weakens their bones. This has taught me that even when I do not think my children are listening to me, they are.

We need to shift the way people approach meals and the consumption of food as a whole in this country. Many of us are working hard to change the way our country approaches meals, and I believe the tide is shifting as more and more people are ready and willing to hear how to improve their diets. I have never shied away from being different or standing up for what I believe, and certainly will not do so when it comes to the nutrition of those most precious to me.

Gretchen Tseng is a Nutrition Specialist with certification in plant-based nutrition. At a young age, she experienced a series of illnesses, which propelled her to seek nutrition-based solutions. Gretchen is passionate about sharing the health benefits of this lifestyle.

Photo credit: Bruce Tuten

Lessons Learned From a Feline Friend

by Djanira Cortesão

Three years ago, Shani was born on the streets: homeless, struggling for food, with no one to take care of or love her. She was dirty, cold and faced scary obstacles every day. Her luck turned when she was picked up by a cat rescue shelter and lived there, still not knowing if she’d find a home of her own or what her future would hold.

Despite this inauspicious start to life, she has grown into a confident, healthy and very wise cat. I’ve had the pleasure of her company for almost three years now, since I adopted her from the shelter.

In that time, Shani has taught me so much about how to look after and love myself. Cats, like all animals, are great teachers because they are deeply tuned in to their intuition, they trust their instincts and they don’t overanalyze things.

Here are six key lessons Shani has taught me about living well.

Sleep is a Beautiful Thing
We’ve all heard that sleep is essential for optimum health and well-being. Yet millions of people do not get enough sleep and many suffer from lack of sleep. In addition to getting at least eight hours sleep each night, Shani makes sure to take plenty of cat naps throughout the day. I’ve followed her example by making sure I get my eight hours at night and the odd siesta when I need an extra boost. I’m happy to say that it’s made a big difference in my energy levels.

Stretch Throughout the Day
Stretching provides multiple benefits to the body, from improved circulation, posture and relaxation to decreased muscle tension and soreness. I often failed to stretch regularly, thinking that it was only worthwhile if I did a long stretching session. Watching Shani, I noticed that she stretches out every time she gets up or changes position. I’m sure this is what keeps her so flexible. I’ve copied her and made stretching a habit that I practice throughout the day. When I get up from my computer, for example, I stretch up and then stretch out my wrists and shake my hands. It’s stopped me from feeling so sore at the end of the day.

Have a Healthy Curiosity for Everything New
Shani loves to explore and is super curious about everything that comes into the house. She takes a good old sniff of any bags I bring in, and shoes are another of her favorites. I try to constantly challenge myself to learn new things and try new experiences. For instance, I wanted to improve my communication skills so I could improve the marketing workshops I give. So I joined my local Toastmasters club. I have gained confidence and my students report that the workshops are more fun and that I make hard concepts easy to understand. Plus, I’ve made lots of new friends at Toastmasters.

Make Life More Fun
This is my favorite lesson of all. I noticed that Shani is constantly playing and makes everything into a game. When she doesn’t have a toy to play with, she’ll chase her tail. Now, Shani is a smart cat; she knows it’s her tail. But she’s willing to pretend just so she can have fun. I thought about how I could incorporate this sense of fun into my own life.

Live in the Moment
This is the most important lesson that I have learned. We’ve all heard of this concept, but how do we achieve it? Shani does it by living life on purpose and doing everything with vigor. From playing with toys to chasing birds to sleeping soundly, she gives it her all. She never tries to multitask and sneak in some exercise or playing while she’s munching on her biscuits. I used to be the queen of multitasking, and I believed it made me more efficient. I’ve now been practicing the art of being present and focused, giving every moment my all. I work on one task at a time. I’ve found that this focus has actually made me more productive and produces better quality results. It’s also more motivating, because once I finish one task, I can move on to the next with a feeling of achievement, rather than having several unfinished tasks that I’m working on at one time.

Don’t Let Your Past Hold You Back
Shani never gave up on life and love, even when it seemed like no one wanted her. She instead immediately accepted my love and never dwelled on the past. So many of us have pasts that hold on to us and make us feel like we’re not good enough or deserving of great things. But if we instead accept our past, and thank it for the gifts and life lessons it has given us, we can move forward and know that we are deserving of amazing, wonderful things every single day – just like Shani!

So What’s the Big Picture?
What do I want you to take away from this? It’s that no matter what happened in your past, it’s the way you live life now that matters. What you do today is creating your future, and if you can follow these key lessons I’ve learned from observing Shani – sleep well, stretch often, be curious, have fun, live with vigor and let go of the past – then you’ll be well on your way to a happy and healthy life.

Djanira Cortesão helps extraordinary service providers reach their ideal clients, unlock hidden revenue streams and grow their businesses organically. She offers group workshops and one-on-one mentoring, as well as insightful marketing newsletters and articles.

Photo credit: alternakive

If You Feel Lost, You’re on Your Way to the Miraculous

by Tama J. Kieves

If you choose to live a life that launches you into the highest stratospheres of your potential, yet fits you like silk, you might first have to stumble into some brick walls. Poet Galway Kinnell says, “And the first step, shall be to lose the way.” When I read this at my “Unleash Your Calling” workshops, participants gaze at their shoes. Some look at me as though they want their money back – plus interest. They don’t want to lose the way. They want to find their way. They want me to find their way. And they want to find their way – and faster than Google, thank you very much. But this is the hitch and transformation of living an inspired life. You have to hit exasperation and drop all your marbles. You have to let your ideas and plans disappear like startled pigeons. Because only the open-minded can look in completely new directions. And only the lost will ask for help.

You are called to walk off the beaten track and light upon secret turnpikes. That means there often won’t be road signs or easy entry ramps. There won’t be mass transportation or park rangers. Your truth will not be on the evening news. The creative life is not driven by external cues. That’s the point. You don’t need those inferior tools. You have guidance.

If you want to live an extraordinary life, you have to open to an extraordinary presence within you. Some of us might call that experience God or the Universe. Others may call it their creative mind, True Self, Goddess instinct or primal intuition. Whatever you call it, please call on it – often. Learn your captain’s language and you will not feel lost. Why rely on clumsy, conventional wisdom to navigate an unparalleled life? The spiritual study of “A Course in Miracles” asks, “Who would attempt to fly with the tiny wings of a sparrow when the mighty power of an eagle has been given him?”

I think those of us who dare to live a larger life often feel smaller and more uncertain. We are walking naked into the unknown. We are leaving behind the safety of mass agreement and approval. It would be a sad situation if we truly were alone. But we’re not. We have guidance. We have a knowing sense within us, a more vibrant encompassing compass, and this beloved presence will empower us beyond our wildest dreams.

But most of us don’t consult this incredible resource until our old answers no longer bring us peace, freedom or prizes. That’s why feeling uncertain is the first step toward a velvet life. It’s when we become available or ready to expand our understanding. In twelve-step programs they call it “being teachable.” That means that “know-it-alls” are a bit hobbled in this realm. Finally, poetic cosmic justice. Because maybe those of us who sometimes feel as though we can’t find our way out of a paper bag might just careen our way into grace. Author Anne Lamott, quoting a friend of hers, says, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns. Faith also means reaching deeply within, for the sense one was born with.”

And all that being said, you do deserve to feel secure inside, resolved and whole. It’s time to don your eagle wings. Stop going it alone. Ask for help. Ask within. Begin this vital communication. Bring your hesitancy with you and even your cynicism. But don’t deny yourself the privilege of using your full strength. You have beautiful radar within you and it only gets more resonant with practice.

What a brilliant design. We have to feel frustrated by life so that we’ll reach deep within us to find answers we didn’t find in the world. Perhaps they’re the answers we came to give the world.

Tama J. Kieves is the bestselling author of “THIS TIME I DANCE! Creating the Work You Love (How One Harvard Lawyer Left It All to Have It All!)” She is also a national A Course in Miracles presenter and sought-after speaker and career coach who has helped thousands worldwide to discover and live their true life’s work.

Photo credit: Lori_Greig

The Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was 30

A Baby Boomer’s Letter to Millennials and Gen Xers

Fifty isn’t what it used to be. For my generation, it’s like a brand new decade. Because we are living longer, healthier lives, I may reach 100. I’ve lived a great life so far and have even bigger plans for its second half. However, I lived too many years chained to The Man. I thought the American Dream meant consumption, and I bought it – hook, line, and sinker.

I am writing to tell you what helped me wake up to reality. What I know for sure is that external “things” do not make a meaningful or inspired life. I want to share what I’ve learned to help you experience more freedom and joy, and inspire you to help my generation save our living planet.

My Top 10:

1. Your body is your guidance system. Tuning into your body gives you rapid feedback. Your body communicates through emotions and energy. Move toward what gives you a spark, and move away from what leaves you feeling exhausted, and your body will lead you to your best life.

2. Thoughts are the cause of all suffering. If you stay in a job that deadens you, it’s a thought that keeps you there. If you find yourself stuck, it’s because of a story. Any thought that keeps you from being happy is a lie! If you want to feel freedom, question your thoughts. Change your thoughts, and you can transform your life.

3. Your inner lizard is pumping out lack and attack fears. Let’s talk about how our brains are wired. All animal brains include reptilian cores. Martha Beck calls it our inner lizard. Its purpose is to pump out survival fears all day long. When we listen to it, we become anxious and fearful and this blocks our creativity and problem solving abilities. The solution? Become the watcher of your thoughts and notice those lack and attack thoughts. You don’t have to listen to your inner lizard.

4. Screw the rules! Like the bumper sticker says, “Question Authority.” Question all thoughts, beliefs, social and cultural conditioning, and dogma. Screw these rules! If you are living by someone else’s rules, then you aren’t following your own destiny. Learn this now, or you will wake up at midlife feeling trapped.

5. The world of work is changing. Internet guru Seth Godin says it well – today, the good jobs go to linchpins. He says, “Linchpins leverage something internal, not external, to create a position of power and value.” Your own creativity and passion are your best work assets.

6. You and only you are responsible for your own happiness. Get this into your head right now. If you don’t learn this now, you will learn it when you are my age. You will wake up and realize that you’ve lived someone else’s life. It’s up to you to edit out what doesn’t give you fire, meaning, or happiness.

7. Dream your next big adventure. Envisioning what you want has real power. By setting intentions daily and managing your thoughts, you will reach your goals. This is called deliberate creation, and it is the only way to create the life you desire.

8. Be willing to suck at it! If you want to learn something new and get good at it, you have to be willing to suck at it. The key is to “be willing” and put your ego on the shelf while you are learning. So don’t let fear stop you from learning something new. Just be willing to suck as you learn it.

9. The material world will not bring you true happiness. My generation was taught to think that happiness and success come from consumption. Materialism doesn’t bring you happiness. The media keeps feeding our need to buy more (appealing to our inner lizard of lack) and then we end up in our 50s or 60s with too much stuff and chained to The Man. We ask ourselves, “Is this all there is?” I am not saying that having abundance is a bad thing. What I am saying is that it is not the answer to happiness. Try hearing your soul’s answer to these questions:

-Who or what inspired me today?

-Where did I experience a sense of comfort, peace, and balance?

-What (not who) made me happy today?

10. The world needs our help. Paul Hawkins noted that your generation “…will have to figure out how to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating.” We need your energy, passion, and commitment to help us save our living planet. We raised you to believe that you could accomplish your dreams. How can you harness your power and passion to save our planet?

The answer is to become aware. Eckhart Tolle says that humans have lost touch with the stillness inside and our connection to nature. We have forgotten what animals and plants still know – how to be. In stillness we can find what we need to save the planet.

That’s what I wish I’d known before I was 30. I hope you can use these 10 things to start living better now. The world needs you.

This manifesto is dedicated to Max Barr.

Sherold Barr helps others reimagine and reinvent their lives and careers to be more meaningful, joyful, and fulfilling. She is a master certified coach with “best-known life coach in America” Martha Beck, and a facilitator in The Institute of The Work of Byron Katie. For more information on Sherold visit Sheroldbarr.com.

Photo Credit: Zyada