The Intersection Between Acceptance and Change

Letting go of the outcome is one of my biggest challenges on the spiritual path.  Here's the idea: You put your time, energy and effort into a project and then release the results to the Universe.  You do not get to decide what ultimately happens.  You trust that the Universe will take care of you and give you the best outcome, even if it's not what you thought you wanted.  In this way a delay or a change can turn into a gift.  However, it only works if we release our grip on one certain outcome.

If we are feeling angry, frustrated, impatient or disappointed, then we are probably attached to the outcome.  Of course it's not bad to feel these things, and these emotions can be signs that we need to practice surrender, the art of letting go.  Every day I find new opportunities to forgive and let go.  For example, today I have an important meeting with a team of 8 people.  I know that I am attached to a certain outcome (medical testing for a student) and I am trying to stay open to other possibilities and other solutions.  My practice this week has been to speak my truth in a calm way and then step back.  By stepping back and letting go of the need to control or manipulate, the Universe can do her thing and send all of the help/answers/solutions that we need.  If we are completely locked in to only one right answer, then we will be angered and frustrated by any other solution.  Today my intention is to stay open.  I'm doing everything I can and now I get to let go.  I know that I am taken care of.  This situation will work out in divine timing and order.  It feels so good to let myself off the hook.  Now is time to live in faith and surrender.
 

Book Club: A Return to Love

The right people and the right books always have a way of finding their way into our lives.  Recently I have been connecting with some amazing women through the networking site, Herfuture.com.  Gabrielle Bernstein created this site for women to find new connections and mentors based on shared interests.  The networking groups have themes and are called Power Posses.  I have also made two dear friendships through the Seattle Power Posse.  We have started a book club to share books, spark conversation and connect with like-minded people.  This month we are discussing Marianne Williamson's book, A Return to Love.

Reading this book feels like meditation.  Marianne has such a beautiful way of explaining how to choose love instead of fear in our daily lives.  After reading for a few minutes, I can feel my mind relax and absorb her ideas.  She writes,

 

 "We have the free will to think whatever we want to think, but no thoughts are neutral.  There is no such thing as an idle thought.  All thought creates form on some level." 

If you would like to join us for book club, we are meeting on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:00pm.  Email Amelia at amelia.greim@gmail.com to confirm.

If you would like to join our efforts in bringing Gabrielle Bernstein to lecture in Seattle on her next book tour, join our Facebook group.

Teacher Love (aka discount)

It's the end of the school year.  The rush to finish report cards, clean out the class, say goodbyes with hugs and cards, hurry to make the staff party and finally.....summer break.  This time of year is so sweet because the entirety of summer vacation stretches out before you waiting to be relished, one lazy morning at a time.  It's also the season of renewal and improved self-care.  More walks, more homemade meals and perhaps some new ideas around health.

To show my love for my fellow teachers, I'm offering discounted Ayurveda Health Coaching.  Through my years of teaching, studying yoga and meditation and now incorporating the ancient science of Ayurveda, I've mastered simple techniques that create major health benefits.  Whether you want to lose a few pounds, improve your complexion, create a healthy diet or start a meditation practice, health coaching is the key to your success.

 

I'm offering 3 one-hour sessions for $99 (a $270 value).  Since Ayurveda is not licensed yet, we can not accept insurance.  My vision is to make Ayurveda Health Coaching accessible to teachers accustomed to paying merely a copay for alternative health services.  If you've been wondering about yoga, meditation or Ayurveda, now is your time to take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

 

Join me at Glow Natural Health Center in Madison Valley.  Enjoy some tea in the waiting room, browse the other services available (hello, massage!) and invest in a little self care this summer.  You deserve it!  To register for this special offer, send me an email at nperriella@yahoo.com.

How to Let Go

Lately I've really been receiving the message, "Let yourself be guided."  What does this really mean?  To me, it means that I don't have to be in charge of every little detail of my life.  I'm not the only one working on my behalf.  I can relax into knowing that the Universe has got me.  It feels like falling back into a big cloud of supportive safety that will swoop me off into the right direction.  I just have to stop trying to steer and enjoy the ride.  I'm not saying that I won't work hard or hustle or put time into my goals, but the outcome of these efforts is not really up to me.  I'll put my best forward and the rest is up to (insert your word of choice here).  The same force that got me here is the one that runs my life.  As the Course in Miracles suggests, I start every day with these questions:

Where shall you have me go?

What shall you have me do?

What shall you have me say?

To whom?

 

Then I listen for an answer, an inkling, an idea or a push.  It's fun and exciting and a whole lot easier than struggling through my days.  Recently, I tried this exercise from Esther Hicks.  In your journal, create this table:

 

Things I will do this week	Things I would like the Universe to handle this week
1. 2. 3.	1. 2. 3.

 

My side had 8 items and the Universe side had 13.  I listed very specific to-do list items on my side and big wish items on the Universe side (for example, healing my knee).  Now, looking back about 3 weeks later, I realize that the Universe has already tackled 6 of her big items.  Wow!  I did all of my manageable to-dos, so together we are truly a force of awesome productivity!  I am confident that with time, the Universe will get all of her items done.  In fact, I'm betting on it.  What do you want to let the Universe handle this week?  Write me a comment, and I'll add it to my list, too.  Have fun!

 

 

I Need a Party!

I sit here laughing as I write this because I just realized that I need to cut loose.  I have been so strict with myself lately that I'm strangling all the fun out of my life.  No gluten, no alcohol, too much work, too many commitments...it's enough to drive a girl crazy.  I am officially inviting fun back into my life.  Too many rules is suffocating.  I am reconnecting with the medium path and finding any excuse to giggle, do a dance and be silly.  Bring it on, Universe!

Service vs. Ambition

Ok, let me just say it straight.  This interview blew my mind.  I love Marie Forleo and Marianne Williamson.  To put them together is a match made in heaven.  I want to be friends with them, sip tea and learn, learn, learn.  Since that girl-crush fantasy probably won't happen today, I was equally excited to listen to this interview about Marianne's new book, The Law of Divine Compensation.

The part that struck me most was the discussion about service vs. ambition.  As I am laying the foundation for my Ayurveda Health Coach practice, it's easy for me to focus on the business side of things.  I really want to keep bringing my bottom line back to service and contribution.  If I make money, great.  My number one objective is to help people live healthy and happy lives.  That's what I want.  That's what I choose to focus on.  As Marianne says, "The Universe is an unlimited opportunity machine."  I choose to let that energy run my business and surprise me with all kinds of new experiences, people and chances to grow.  Universe, show me what you've got!

Listen to this little nugget!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed?  Do you wish you could mute the traffic, construction workers or negative people in you life?  In this week's vlog, I share some strategies for tapping into the healing power of sound.  By using mantras and positive thinking, we can clear the chaos in our mind.  We correct and align our vibrations thus attracting other positive, loving people and experiences into our life. 

My favorite mantra is the Gayatri mantra.  This powerful healing mantra helped me cure my own thyroid disease, eliminating my need for medication.  Using this mantra, we call upon the divine radiance of the sun to heal the body.  If you would like additional resources about primordial sound therapy or healing mantras, I recommend Deepak Chopra's book, Perfect Health.