RHG Magazine & TV Guide Fall 2017 | Page 35

set me up with unrealistic expectations, and prevent me from seeing and discerning.

We always have access to profound stillness and silence within. This is the home of our intuition. It can be incredibly subtle and requires our un-occluded awareness to work well. When we are captured by our hamster wheel, we lose touch with that touchstone to the Divine.

I wonder if the story about the Tower of Babel is about the folly of trying to reach God through the limitations of language and mind – the “babble” which interferes with the true language of the Universe – Experience, here in the moment. Words and concepts can never truly capture the breadth of our experience. Our inner dialogue also tears us away from each other – distracting us from truly listening. When we are present, we are in service to the universe and to each other.

Do you have a practice that silences your inner dialogue and connects you to your roots? I offer this as an option to try. Externalize your hearing, internalize your vision, and see what happens. Take the practice into the holidays for really being present with your loved ones.

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Maura McCarley Torkildson, "The

Inner Tree Cultivator" empowers

women to trust their bodies, their emotions and their intuition to make better decisions for life. For more info on

Maura and her passions, go to

www.mauratorkildsoncoaching.com

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A Column

by Harriet Tubman Wright

Your Soul Safari

RHG Magazine & TV Guide TM - Fall/Winter 2017 © All rights reserved.

The holiday season can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride from anxiety to exuberance to depression, all within a matter of weeks. Attitudes change as temperatures drop and colder weather sets in. In North America while we can experience an abundant harvest time, nature is actually settling into hibernation; animals are gathering food and storing it for the winter. The rhythm of nature is slowing down, yet many people are caught in a consumption frenzy, rushing through shopping malls, overwhelming themselves physically and financially.

With a range of emotions and activities tugging at you, contemplate:

• What can I change to cope more effectively?

• Is there a healthier way to move through the holiday season?

• How can I experience greater ease, serenity and joy at this time?

First, accept that you have the potential for healthy change. Determine what’s most important for you and expect to enjoy the holidays. Consider these options:

Optimize Self-Care Practices to Release Stress and Create Serenity. For example:

1. Spend quality time outdoors in nature. Go to a park, the beach, forest or mountains and attune yourself to nature’s wisdom. Allow the sights, smells and sounds to enliven all your senses.

2. Make pampering time a priority. Relax in a hot tub or soak in your home tub with bubbles, aromatherapy candles and soothing music. You can also treat yourself to therapeutic massage, reflexology or a reiki treatment.

3.Check into a retreat center or engage in a silent retreat. Make it your way of slowing down, turning in and hibernating to renew your energy and spirit.

4.Give yourself permission to splurge only if you feel good about it!

Implement Feasible Spending Parameters. Rather than face the New Year in debt and regret, develop a spending plan. Use discernment and discipline, not denial with this season’s expenditures. For example:

5.Give gift certificates or handmade gifts. Exchange items with friends that you’ve never used or no longer use. It’s a gift for the new recipient.

6.When gathering with family or close friends, make it potluck or go to a favorite restaurant with the understanding that everyone will chip in on the tab.

7.Take advantage of the post-holiday sales and share gifts in the New Year.

8.Finally create a holiday season savings account and make monthly deposits.

Reconnect with the true meaning and rituals of the Holy Day season within your faith tradition. In addition, you may choose to engage in community service or volunteer at a shelter. The gift of your time and talent can make a positive difference for people. Help gather and/or distribute care packages to the homeless, especially if you’ve never done it before. These activities are not only appreciated by the people you’re assisting, but can also be very fulfilling and boost your level of gratitude.

I’ve shared a variety of options to help you cope with the holidays more effectively and experience more ease and joy, not to overwhelm you, but to support your well-being in body, mind and spirit during the holiday season. Therefore, implement one or two options that appeal to you or one that you and a family member or friend can do together. Create your own stress-free, fun-filled strategies. Furthermore, if you’ve slacked off your normal health regime, don’t wait until the New Year. Resume it now, so that you start the New Year invigorated and empowered.

Whatever strategies you ultimately choose to navigate the holiday season, do so with an attitude of gratitude, appreciation and celebration. Make time to relax, re-assess and rejoice, allowing yourself to move through the rest of this year and begin next year with ease and grace.

Holiday Blessings!

Unmask Your Potential for Healthy Change

While Navigating the Holiday Season

Moneeka Sawyer is a bestselling author, speaker, and master at helping people create meaning, purpose, passion, and joy in all areas of their lives, including their businesses and investing. She is the Founder of BlissfulInvestor.com, Creator of the Blissful Real Estate Investor Formula, and author of Choose Bliss.

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