BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A FOUNDATION OF

Life is constantly moving around us. In a hurry to get things done, we may forget to take a moment and contemplate what we want out of this existence. We become unconscious and move from moment to moment, day to day, without any awareness that we can change our life.

Yet, we have the power to choose how we want to build our life and our future. We may build it on a foundation of love or fear. The truth is, no matter what has happened in the past, we may choose to stop a negative cycle and begin again, creating a new life at any moment, a life we desire.

Often, an event or ending that feels devastating or unfair is the Divine offering us a pathway to freedom. We may find ourselves stepping into a new life, a better life than we could have imagined. In order to do so, we must have faith in our own divinity and in that of a Higher Power. We must have faith that moving through the darkest times will allow us to shine our brightest.

But how do we do so? How do we walk ourselves back to our hearts to create our future from a foundation of love? The answers are simple but not easy.

Words are pure magic. Many modalities and tools exist for creating a life worth living. One of the most powerful ones is writing. Talking with others is a means of connection and healing, yet the written word has the ability to propel change in our behavior.

By writing our thoughts, we are able to clarify our thinking. Putting pen to paper allows our ideas to become more concrete in our consciousness than when we speak them to another. The effectiveness of journaling is why many of us are guided to write down intentions, gratitude lists, and desires.

By writing our past, we allow ourselves to acknowledge that our pain is real, and yet we can also acknowledge the lessons we have learned. We can then let go of the story and step forward with an open heart that is ready for love.

We must care for ourselves as we care for others.

Journaling is only one aspect of healing and manifesting. Daily self-care is an integral component of reuniting the pieces of our hearts that have been shattered over time. Those of us who have suffered heartbreak and trauma must learn to soothe our wounds so that we may build a life full of love.

We must learn to prioritize ourselves first, even though it may go against how we have learned to survive in life. It is the story of the oxygen mask on a plane; we must first put our own mask on before we have the strength and capability to help our children. We must first learn to care for ourselves before we can truly care for another.

Sleep allows the fog to clear our minds.

Sleep is a main pillar of self-care. To attain a quality state of sleep, we must create a sanctuary for sleep. The proper environment will aid in calming our nervous system so that our minds can relax.

When we are exhausted, we are unable to filter the outside world in a rational way; our thoughts are not coming from a grounded and centered place. We are living on the edge. When we are rested, not only does our physical body function better, but we are also better able to control our emotions and our behavior. We are more rational and empathetic to outside stimuli instead of reacting from a place of survival or emotion. We have the space and energy to be who we want to be at the moment.

Meditation brings us to the only moment that matters, the Now. Mediation serves as self-care for our entire being. It involves slowing down so that we may hear the wisdom of our Heart or our Higher Self. There is no one way to do this.

For one person, meditation may be pranayama (breathwork). A breathing exercise may be as simple as counting the length of the inhale and counting the exhale so that they are equal, or it could be making the exhales longer than the inhale. Breathwork does not have to be complicated to be effective. The purpose of this tool is to allow your nervous system to send the message to your body and mind that you are safe and you can relax.

Chanting is another powerful meditation technique that involves saying a word, phrase, or prayer in a rhythmic manner, again signaling to our nervous system that we are safe. When chanting, the sound of the words can carry powerful vibrations that transform our thoughts. The repetition of the chant serves as a mantra, a reminder of what our intention is as we move throughout our day, and a reminder of how we want to create a life we wish to live. www.sanctuaryforpeace.co

Others may find sitting in quiet or listening to a guided meditation the best means of connecting with a Higher Power. Some can hear the loudest in the stillness of the body and the silence of the mind. Still, others may find taking a walk and enjoying nature is the best means of connecting to the internal world and the Divine.

As with everything, it is a personal practice. It is a practice of quieting the mind to hear the wisdom that only speaks in silence. It is in silence that we can hear the loudest.

Exercise moves energy to create space for the world we create. Exercise is beneficial not only for the physical body but also helps to clear the mind and to move stale and stagnant energy. Through physical movement, we create space for the dreams of our future. This can be in any form, hiking, running, yoga, swimming, or whatever gets your body moving. When we exercise, we push ourselves outside of our comfort zone, which is what we need to do in order to create the life we desire. As exercise is action, so must we take action to build our life on love and faith. We must have faith that what we want is ours to have.

All of these tools are simply means to guide us back to our own hearts. They allow us to remember who we are inside so that we may live a life in accordance with the future we desire. And so I ask today, how can you start to show up in the world and for yourself as the person you know you are underneath all the stories? How can you walk yourself home? How can you build your life on a foundation of love? Allow yourself to lean into the love inside of you and around you, and expect that there will be miracles in your future. Be blessed.

Susie Schroadter, once a practicing attorney and mediator, has has turned her focus to creating Sage, a safe sanctuary to allow others to heal. She offers consulting and strategy for those going into mediation or dealing with life altering events so that they may be empowered and advocate for themselves. Once those events have occurred, she also offers different modalities for healing such as life and spiritual guidance and energy work.

By Polly Wirum