Courage occurs when you’re afraid to do something,
and you do it anyway. If you jump, the net will be there.

In her book, ‘The Gift’, the author (Echo Bodine) is asked how to determine whether a message is from Spirit or oneself. She responds by explaining that when a message or inspiration is truly sent from Spirit, there is a calm, almost detached energy surrounding it. When we allow ourselves to listen to our Spirit, things seem to flow more easily. There is a gentle guidance which exists.

Feelings are one of the best ways of determining how close to following your path you are. A nagging, uncomfortable feeling can be one indication you aren’t being true to yourself. Sometimes just acknowledging you want a change is a good start. Anyway, changes aren’t made over night. Perhaps just starting with something simple is a good place to begin. Any time a permanent change in behavior is made, it can take awhile, however consistency is more important than expediency. The average habit takes about 21 days to establish. Anyway, if things go as planned this year, I won’t be biting my nails 12 months from now. Hopefully the procedure of stopping this habit won’t take a year, but even if it does, that’s ok.

I just came home from a hypnotherapy session to quit biting my nails. I’ve been biting my nails for as long as I can remember. It had reached the point where I couldn’t even pick up a quarter if I dropped it on the floor. My fingers were sore and my nails looked really bad. I used hypnotherapy several years ago to quit smoking (worked like a charm). Now I am ready for another change. When something which blocks is removed, it leaves room for all sorts of wonderful things to happen. I am excited & delighted. And psyched!!!!!

It’s easy to sit on the fence sometimes. To avoid speaking out, or making your views known (for fear of ticking someone off or being unpopular). There comes a time, however, when you have to stand up for what you believe in. Without having the courage to stand up for what you believe, you’re probably not really living as completely as you otherwise might be.

I think it’s sometimes important to just be in the moment; to go with the flow. Not plan three hours ahead; nor think back to a week ago. Be in the now. There’s at saying” The past is over; the future doesn’t exist, right now is a gift; that’s why they call it ‘the present’.

Well, the cat is lying nearby on the edge of my computer table. Every once in awhile she takes a playful swat at me with her claws. Just to remind me she’s here. The thing I love about animals is that they have so much unconditional love to give. That another species is communicating with me (without using words) is amazing. I love Saturday mornings; there is something peaceful about them. A couple extra hours to do things I love. A time to both reflect, and plan for the coming week. A good day to have some ‘Fredda time’.

My back hurts. I fell the day after Thanksgiving (tennis shoes and icy roads don’t mix). Landed flat on my back. Lucky part is: the backpack I had on cradled my head and upper back, so when I fell, I was somewhat protected. Just the lower back hurts. However, I clearly remember thinking (briefly) before this happened, that I would love to have someone take care of me, just for a short time. I think I created this. No…I know I did. Anyway, the point is: be careful what you think, it’s right there for you. Be specific. Be grateful for what you do have (I think I wasn’t). My grandmother used to say ‘This too shall pass’. I know this will, as well. I also feel so much better. I just need to learn what’s being taught here (about thoughts and gratitude and conscious creation) to make the healing complete.

So many people tend to block themselves by throwing out contradictory messages. For instance, they’ll say ‘I really want to be able to have a new …(fill it in)’, then they’ll worry about being able to afford it. Or they will think that in order to have one thing, they’ll need to give up something else. Actually, it needn’t be an ‘either or’ thing. The ’secret’ to conscious creation is letting go of those things which impede or block it (such as attitude or thoughts) and replacing them with ways to attract it. Meditation (which silences negative thought and emotions), or keeping an ongoing list of things you are grateful for or enjoy, are ways to do this.

Lately I have experienced challenges in different areas of my life: health, financial, social. I think a lot of this is based on preconceived ideas of how I think things need to be, rather than accepting current conditions. The I Ching says that an obstacle lasts only as long as it is needed. If I can use these challenges I am experiencing as potential lessons, by seeing what I need to learn (what perceived lack in my life caused me to think I needed to create something?) then there is a real opportunity for self development and growth.