Mindset Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Inner Power Mindset

Be the Light. Shine Your Light

For many people, the holiday season can be a mix of feelings. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) study shows more than half say the holidays make their condition worse. During this time, practice self-care and be compassionate and kind to yourself and others. Take time to breathe, be in nature, and do what you can to uplift your spirits. In fact, I want to share a special practice for you and your family. This process came from NY Times Bestselling author Marci Shimoff who wrote Happy for No Reason. I’ve been doing this with my family this past week and I definitely feel a shift.

New Family Tradition

During this holy time of the year, light a special candle now through the end of the year or get one of those LED lights to turn on. As you light the candle, look at the flame and ask the flame to be transferred to your heart. Then, bring loving awareness to inside your own heart. Cherish that light…be grateful. Ask the light in your heart to dissolve any darkness that may be lingering. Sit with the light and allow in these feelings of receiving for a few moments.

Then, ask the same light of presence in your heart to shine and dissolve some darkness in the world. Stay present as you share your light and blessing with Mother Earth.

Even during these challenging times, may you be filled with the light within. May your radiant heart be a blessing to you and to all those you touch. And may your spirit continue to shine in this world.

I wish you joy in whatever holiday you celebrate – Hanukkah (belated), Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa. You may also download a special gratitude meditation.

Peace and Many Blessings!

Vicki

PS: Please share this practice with your friends and family and keep shining your light!

Vicki Atlas Israel is a Mindset and Meditation Coach, and the Amazon bestselling author of “Inner Power NOW.” The Foreword is written by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jack Canfield, co-creator of “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” High-achievers hire Vicki to improve their wellbeing to live their best life. Vicki is also passionate about bringing more inner peace to parents, children, and those who work with children.

Help Spread Inner Peace

Mindfulness, Mindset, Visualize Guided Imagery

As a parent, caregiver, or special teacher, I know you would do anything for a child. Since the pandemic, studies show anxiety and depression have doubled in children. We are looking for special ambassadors who will help spread the news about a new soothing app for families called Inner Peace Time. Please play the video below to learn more.

We have a gift for those who become Inner Peace Ambassadors. It’s a beautiful guided imagery to open your heart spreading more loving kindness. Our aim is to reach as many families as possible in the new year, when the app launches in January. That’s why we are offering a special “Founder’s Launch” that includes the app, a gift and bonus.

Background Inner Peace Time App

Inner Peace Time provides a magical enchanting solution to the chaos of the outside world. Through guided meditations and breathing exercises, you and your child will be taken on many fun, relaxing, and healing journeys.

How would you like: Breathe for Calm, Feel Better Now, Less Stress Add More Joy. One side of the app is for kids and teens. The other side is for parents and adults and can also be used by professionals who work with children. Our app is designed for children and families going through challenging times. Intertwined throughout is a colorful animal guide Lucy the Llama who reminds us to open our hearts in gratitude and dream bigger. Here are some testimonials from our beta users.

Look at what others are saying…

Michele Magner is a Behavior Facilitator, formerly with the Special School District St. Louis County. “Children can let go of their worries or challenges as Inner Peace Time carries the message of positive coping strategies, such as Balloon Breath, and self-regulation, ” says Magner, “Developing an Inner Peace Time healthy practice, children can enhance their positive outlook, choice-making, confidence, self-esteem, creativity, independence, and focus.”

Another mom and beta tester, Tina, was amazed at how the app prevented major struggles and emotional outbursts with her son’s homework. As Tina said, “I could not believe the difference after we played one of the breathing exercises, especially with his math. He was so calm, which normally doesn’t happen.” Her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD.)

Social Worker Casey Limmer, Founder of Gateway to Wellness, beta tested the app as a therapist. Impressed with the results, Limmer says she plans to use the app in her practice with children, teens, and parents. “The app shows what I teach my clients about mindfulness. What I like is that it is especially built for parents. They don’t have to go looking through thousands of meditations to find the right one, and it’s so colorful.”

Be An Inner Peace Ambassador

Now is your opportunity to help families in need by sharing a social media post like this one below when the app launches.

***Lucy Llama Illustrations by Artist Catharine Magel***

Please send me a message if you’d like to be an Inner Peace Ambassador to Vicki@InnerPeaceTime.com or have other ideas to share.

Wishing you peace!

Vicki

Stress Relief for the Holidays

Mindfulness, Mindset, Visualize Guided Imagery

Worries over the pandemic can feel overwhelming. Especially since this is supposed to be a “happy” time of year, what to do if you feel unhappy and depleted? Although the holidays may feel different at this time, it is possible to find some peace and even joy.

During this time of year, many of us feel stressed. According to a survey in Consumer Reports, here are the top “Holiday Stressors”: crowds and long lines, gaining extra weight, getting into debt, gift buying, and seeing certain relatives. While stress may seem unavoidable, you can change your response to these stressors with a few simple mindful and meditation tips.

Here are a few tips for coping with stress during the holiday season this year.

It’s okay to feel your feelings. Perhaps you have lost someone close to you or you can’t be with your friends and loved ones. Realize that it is normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings, even the uncomfortable ones. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.

Reach out to your community. If you feel lonely, seek out contact with your community or religious groups. Many may have websites, online support groups, social media sites or virtual events. They can offer support and companionship.

Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. Even though your holiday plans may look and feel different this year, find creative ways to celebrate.

Release expectations. Let go of buying the perfect gift, or decorating the perfect house. We are a blend of perfection and imperfection. Appreciate the meaning of the holidays, and be grateful for the beauty of family and friends. These are true gifts!

Take mindful breaths. When feeling stressed, stop and take a breath. Notice the present moment. Take 4 deep cleansing breaths, hold for a count of four and exhale on a count of four. You will become more present. You can do this anywhere. Waiting in long lines or at a holiday gathering. Remember to just stop and take a breath. This is a small way to stay mindful.

Meditate or do Guided Imagery during this time. Sometimes it can be peaceful spending some time alone, relaxing to music. Or Meditate on the words, “I am calm. I am relaxed.” Remember your own self-care during the holidays! See below my “Stress Buster” Guided Imagery program–perfect during the holidays or anytime! Please share with family and friends!

Enjoy the holidays and give the gift of wellness!

Vicki

Vicki Atlas Israel, CGIP

Your Mindset and Meditation Coach

PS: We’re excited to say the Inner Peace Time app will be launching in January! Learn More and grab your free gift.

Practice Attitude of Gratitude

Mindfulness, Mindset

Play Video Above for Group Gratitude Meditation

Happy Thanksgiving! Having an attitude of gratitude remains one of the best ways to boost health and happiness. Despite the hardship of the past two years, we still have so much to be grateful for our blessings. Please pay it forward and share this gratitude meditation with family and friends.

As you make a regular practice of gratitude, an increase in well-being improves. Simply believing you are grateful for all of your blessings does not bring more happiness. You have to make it a practice of gratitude. The beautiful thing about practicing gratitude, it’s a reminder of what’s going right in your life. When you focus more on what’s going well, you will notice and attract more good in your life. As bestselling Author Deepak Chopra says, “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” — Deepak Chopra

Three Ways to Practice Gratitude:

Gratitude Box or Jar– Liz Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love has written about her personal practice of gratitude. For years she has kept a jar where she would jot down on scraps of paper things that made her happy that day and put them in a jar. This could be a fun practice that you could do with your children for feeling happier. Another bonus is that the jar can serve as inspiration when you want to feel more alive and connected.

Gratitude Meditation –Settle into a quiet place and get comfortable and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and begin to release any tension in your body. Now place your attention on your heart. Breathe in and out a golden light in your heart. Be thankful for your heart center. Keep breathing in love and breathing out gratitude. Feel your heart expand to someone you love or loves you unconditionally. Stay here for a few moments. Now feel in your heart some of the things you are grateful for: like the abundance of nature, the beauty of life, so many blessings. Just breathe in love and breathe out gratitude. While in this stillness, spread gratitude to your loved ones… then expand out into the community. Continue to sit in stillness for a little while, saying “thank you.” After several minutes gently bring your body back to the room where you began. Remember to carry this gratitude for yourself and to all you meet throughout your day.

Gratitude Journal –I remember how Oprah Winfrey had shared this practice on her popular TV show and how this one thing shifted how she viewed herself and the world. Keep a special journal of gratitude. Write down three things you are grateful for every day. You may include a loved one, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, appreciation for material possessions, opportunities that came to you, gratitude for yourself and others. Include things that may have touched your soul or made you smile and appreciate. Some believe you should write down new things each day, but others say that’s not necessary to reap benefits.

Please try these and let me know how it goes or share what ways you have found to practice gratitude. I am so grateful to you who continue to read my blog posts.

Wishing you and your family the best!

Vicki

Want Big Answers? Try Journaling

Mindfulness, Mindset, Visualize Guided Imagery

Do you want answers to some big questions? Try journaling. Studies show it can increase resilience, self-esteem, and stress relief. Let’s talk about the power of journaling with meditation. Some call it automatic writing. This is a great opportunity for you to check it out, as well.

The combination of journaling and meditation together can be quite powerful. I had learned this a while back when I was being certified in guided imagery. My teacher and coach would say it’s very important for people, after they go through a guided imagery process, to write down some things that come to them–maybe even draw out some images. That form is a different kind of journaling. The journaling I’m talking about today is when you’re in a meditative state, you then ask for guidance and write what flows.

How to Do Journaling and Automatic Writing?

You always begin with gratitude like thank you so much for any inspiration I may receive. “I am so grateful for what you may bring.” Allow this beautiful appreciation into this process. With more gratitude comes more grace, and that’s what we all want. After meditating, get into a very thankful state. Then, ask an inquiring question like, “What do you want me to know today,” and then just start writing.

Do not judge anything that’s being written nor edit. It’s all free-flowing and it may seem a little strange at the beginning. Some people set a timer—maybe 5 or 10 minutes per question. I would also recommend a couple of questions per session. I would not ask about your whole life. Another great question could be, “What’s important for me to focus on today,” and you may get an answer. Or, “How can I be more loving toward my family? Then be quiet and see what answers may come.

Now, sometimes you may get great answers in your writing. Sometimes the answer may come a little bit later. You may be reading something and a quote jumps out at you as the answer to your question, or a book may fall out and open up to the right page. You never know how these signs may come, but a lot of times, they will come in writing because we do have a higher intelligence.

Be Open to Inspiration and Guidance Received

When we can open up and be still, we can let this inspiration come through. The problem with this generation and technology, we’re always on our phones or we’re checking our screens. We need some downtime. We need that breathing space so the beautiful insights and inspiration will come. Then, just say thank you, thank you for that. Thank you for that little wonderful surprise or wonderful little miracle or whatever.

This week why don’t you try one or two of these sessions where you ask an inquiring question and see what comes up. I wish you and your family all the best with this beautiful practice. I also invite you to go to the website of our new app called Inner Peace Time and download some free gifts. Click image below.

Who’s the Silent Watcher?

Mindfulness, Mindset

Expand Your Awareness-Be the Observer

You are not your thoughts. You are not your feelings or emotions. You are really the observer. You are the “Silent Watcher.” You are the one that’s really looking behind your eyes… observing your environment and looking at your life without judgement. To expand your awareness in life and in a meditation practice, this is very important to remember. As the observer, you experience more of an open focus. This is the real you–your higher self. And your higher self loves you unconditionally and wants only the best for you.

When you begin your journey into higher consciousness, you are really tapping into that higher part of you. The silent watcher is the one who is looking behind your eyes observing. This can be a real eye-opener. You may also think of this observer as a “Little You” who sits there on your forehead. You’re watching the world.

Step Away from Your Thoughts and Feelings

This can be very helpful when you are meditating, or when thoughts come up or feelings make you uncomfortable. You can always step away, step back from the stress and turmoil. This is very helpful in life, as well. I want you to connect with that observer throughout the day. Be this observer. What does that feel like looking at your world? This will help expand your awareness, your consciousness. It will open you up to the higher part of you.

My coaching clients have always enjoyed coming to understand this separation and helps in dealing with negative thoughts. We become so absorbed in our problems. We are not our problems; we are not our thoughts; we are not even our feelings. We are this precious one that is observing all of this from a higher perspective. We are witnessing the ups and the downs, the learning opportunities, and is full of love for you and love for others.

If some problems come up and the situation is really driving you crazy, remember step away from the conflict. I learned this from a meditation teacher Michael Singer who wrote the bestselling book The Untethered Soul. It’s great to always think you can step away from what’s happening in your life and the turmoil. Singer also calls the negative inner critic “Your Awful Roommate.” As you know, we can have this roommate that’s just driving us crazy. That’s how the inner critic can be.

Let’s Practice Being the Observer

Back to being the observer, the silent watcher. We can practice this during meditation. Close your eyes. Begin the deep breathing and then maybe after a minute of very deep breathing and letting all the tension out of your body. Then, try to imagine the observer that’s observing your life. You can even have the observer seeing things from above or from side to side or whatever. It’s like an opening of the focus. That is really who you are. Experiment a little bit during your meditation time when you’re quiet. You really are a beautiful infinite being that is full of love and is doing your best throughout the day. I hope you enjoyed this activity.

I invite you to go to our website for the app InnerPeaceTime.com Learn more about the app, grab a gift. Be the first to know when the app launches. It’s for the whole family. There’s a side for kids and teens and another side for parents and adults. Our goal is to make meditation time family time and to build strength as a family. Feel free to click on the image below to learn more