One Life-changing Ingredient for the New Year

There I was, at my favorite restaurant, just having spent two hours in the self-care studio using the steam room, baths and sauna.  Life was good.  There was nothing to complain about.  I had every reason to feel good about my life. Then my mind came in.

I began thinking about the week ahead and all the things I "had to do."  Soon I was quiet and felt a nervous feeling in my belly.  I continued my conversation with my partner, but the feeling persisted.

I finally spoke up about what I was feeling.  "Once I started thinking about my week ahead, I started feeling really nervous and now I can't relax."

Michael asked me more about what I was feeling and I went on to list about 20 reasons why I couldn't relax.

Luckily Michael is an EFT practitioner, a therapy that uses tapping on the body while using affirmations to create new belief systems.   He began tapping with me and I began repeating the affirmation, "I am relaxing now." 

I spoke all the reasons one by one why I "couldn't" relax:

• "Even though I haven't practiced for my kirtan performance this Wednesday, I am relaxing now"
• "Even though I have a book submission due this week and I haven't started yet, I am relaxing now." 
• "Even though the insurance company told me I have to get a new car after my accident, I am relaxing now." ...

I repeated this affirmation or "mantra" over and over while following Michael as he showed me the meridian points of my body.

By the end, I realized even if I am feeling overwhelmed, I can still choose to be relaxed.  

I have control over how I want to feel.

When I began to relax, I looked at my life from a bird's eye view. I remembered everything was going pretty great.  I had to consciously remind myself:

• I have enough money to pay all my bills and do what I love 
• I have a nurturing relationship and open communication with my partner
• I have eight beautiful women signed up for my retreat next May... and the list goes on..

After that conversation, I gave myself permission to relax.  Since then, my life has looked a little like this: 

• I am allowing myself to be late so I don't need to stress out and rush
• I am driving extra slow on the roads
• I am taking the elevator instead of the stairs when I have a lot to carry
• I am scheduling more massages for myself
• I am breathing deeply and smiling, even if the line at the post office is going out the door...

This simple ingredient has provided a change in perspective that is affecting my whole life. 

I find myself approaching my business from a place of wholeness and joy knowing there is nothing big at stake, and I am remembering to relax during the times that used to stress me out.

So what is your mantra for this new year?  What affirmation makes you feel grounded and centered?  

I'd love to hear in the comments below.

With love, Meredith

Facing that fear will make you feel more alive. Here's how to do it.

A few weeks ago I went to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Esalen Resort in Big Sur, California.  I wanted to celebrate my birthday in the most relaxed way possible.  Over my three days there, I soaked in the hot springs, received a massage, and slept a lot, but by the end of the three days, I didn't feel as great as I wanted to.  I felt more sleepy and lethargic than when I arrived!  I wondered, "Why don't I feel like my normal alive and passionate self?  Is it possible to feel too relaxed?"

It wasn't until a week later on the phone with one of my health coaching clients that I realized what was missing.  This client came to me to balance her hormones naturally.

She hadn't had a period for over a year, so we worked together to make changes in her diet and lifestyle.  Within a month her period started and she was ecstatic to have her hormones back on track. We then focused on her relationship to food, and she started feeling better both emotionally and physically.

However, at this particular session she shared, "I'm feeling so much better in my body and with my relationship to food, but I still feel like there's something missing....  I don't feel vibrant...and I don't feel as ALIVE as I'd like to."

I thought for a moment and replied, "You know, the times in my life when I feel most alive are when I face my fears.  I used to be so afraid to teach yoga.  It was one of my biggest fears, and now, every time I do it, I feel so alive and proud of myself.  Do you have anything like that in your life?" 

She replied, "No, I think that's it!  I need to do something that scares me!"   So I gave her an assignment that night to start thinking about what would both excite and scare her. I thought back to that weekend at Esalen and realized that was it.  I wasn't being challenged enough.  It was nice to relax and all, but I didn't feel totally alive and vibrant because I wasn't challenging myself. I realized, I need to consistently step out of my comfort zone in order to feel totally alive.  Even Eleanor Roosevelt says, “The very next thing you need to be doing is what terrifies you the most.” {tweet it} It's kind of like the universe is pointing you in that direction! So what's something that scares you?  Can you commit to facing that fear, knowing how good it will make you feel?  Or do you feel stuck and the idea of facing your fear is too overwhelming?

If you are curious about how to face your fear, and want to fully step into your power, join me tonight for my free teleseminar  at 6 pm pacific for "Power," the second class in a series of 3 free phone calls.  You'll learn 5 truths about fear, inspiration to feel the fear and do it anyway, and my 5 action steps to stop procrastinating, face your fear and move forward with your life!

You'll also hear more details about my upcoming group program where I will be guiding an intimate group of women to face their fears to make their vision a reality.

I'd love to hear your stories about facing fear below in the comments.  What is your fear?  How did you overcome it? and how did that make you feel? Share your story! Can't wait to hear from you...

Love, Meredith

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About the Author:

Meredith Rom believes in the power of self-love, gratitude, and vision to create a life of magic. She is a women’s empowerment coach, yoga teacher, and author.