“To lose confidence in one’s body is to lose confidence in oneself.” ― Simone de Beauvoir
.... It is truly amazing! Since I made the conscious decision to fully embody the Goddess on a physical level, I have been re-gaining all that I once lost: my self-esteem, my confidence, true love for my body, and most important, the simple pleasure in being ME. Plus, I have lost 17 pounds since the end of March! Almost effortlessly, I might add. Just one unexpected shift in my thinking has changed
E V E R Y T H I N G!
Some of changes I have noticed in recent weeks:
- My Balance Has Improved: Now 'tree' pose is easy. I can even raise my hands in a graceful overhead prayer and sway them slowly to and fro!
- I Am More Conscious: I no longer eat mindlessly, nor too much! That habit just fell away ~ no struggle whatsoever...
- I Hear My Body: Listening to my body feels effortless, now. It is a pleasure to treat her with respect and consideration and kindness.
- Healthy is Satisfying: I no longer crave carbs or sugary sweets. I am not even tempted ~ Now, my body craves fresh fruit: especially juicy peaches, cherries, apples, grapes, plums, strawberries and blueberries.
- I Am Moving More Gracefully: I can feel myself flowing, gliding, and gently navigating though my day like I use to. I have regained my sense of self. I now feel at ease and comfortable claiming space. At long last, it is a joy to be in harmony with my body and my surroundings.
- My Hair Is Growing Super Long: I have always had long hair, but now it is growing faster than I ever remember. It is healthy and shiny and bouncy again. Plus, I am not losing as much when I brush or wash it!
- I Am Feeling Sexy: This is huge! It has been a long time since I felt passions flame, this sense of sassiness, and my inner harlot. I like it! Though I have not changed that much without, major renovations are happening within! I am a wild woman!
- My Skin Is Healthier: No more dry, wrinkly skin! No more itchy scalp!
- I Have More Energy: Seriously! There is a bounce in my step. I am accomplishing more and feel the divine moving through my essence.
- I Am Happy: Really, truly. I am enjoying so many sensual pleasures. I am feeling excited! Excited to be alive, living my truth, expressing my radiance, making space for abundance and opening up to the unlimited possibilities! Life is truly beautiful!!!
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. . . Meditation is a tool to shake yourself awake. A way to discover what you love. A practice to return yourself to your body when the mind medleys threaten to usurp your sanity.” ― Geneen Roth
19 June 2014 Journal Entry:
I am truly caring for myself. I am being nourished and sustained in ways I did not expect to be. How glorious that a few simple changes can shift everything for the better. The little moment to moment choices that I make concerning my diet, the way I spend my time, what I think, and how I move my body have made a radical difference in my quality of life!
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Eating more yogurt - not the sugar filled kind, but Fage Greek yogurt, every day, makes me feel so good on the inside. My body is devouring the nutrients in all the fresh, organic vegetables and fruits I have added to my daily menu. Drinking more water than I ever have is cleansing and restoring my body; I can feel it coming alive! I am on the edge of thriving!
Meditating... This simple 20 minute practice clears away more than I ever realized it could. I come away from the experience feeling lighter, more free. Sometimes, without effort I enter into a place of stillness, emptiness, quiet. Which is the most extraordinary thing for a woman like me, whose thoughts are a constant waterfall or at least, a babbling brook.
Yoga. I love yoga! When I first started I felt so fat, cumbersome, clumsy, stiff, and old. Now, slowly ~ I am becoming more agile, more flexible, more elastic, more capable of moving with ease. My body is remembering the way it moved when I was a girl. Though I am far from that place of being, I can imagine myself being there once more. For now, this is enough.
Breathing... How can breathing be such a struggle when it is an involuntary act? I do not know. But if I think about my breath, I immediately hold it, fight against it, or try to control it. I am learning to let it go; to relax with my sacred breath; to take in a full breath, just as full as the amount I willingly exhale.
This week, while listening to a radio program, I heard something that halted my thoughts while at the same time caused them to forge new pathways in my brain:
The woman speaking commented in such a way as to express that we as women, breathe shallowly, because we are not allowing ourselves to receive as deeply as we give away. WOW! This rang so true for me. As if the very act, our natural right to breathe in air, might infringe upon someone else! I spent a lot of time thinking on this... and now, I choose to allow myself to breathe in as deeply as I possibly can. It still does not come naturally, but it feels so good! I must practice so it becomes a habit.
These four simple necessities - breathing, eating, moving and resting. Each a sacred act. Yet, on some unspoken, unconscious level, I just now realize that I must have been made to feel (at some time in my life) guilty and unworthy to even be alive. Thus explains the silent war I have waged within myself about my value and my right to receive the essential nourishment that I require. No wonder my body held on to all that it could get. In its wisdom, it knew that it deserved to live, to take up space, to hold energy.
My Sacred Vow:
In this moment, NOW, I grant my self permission to breathe, to eat, to rest and to move freely, wildly, joyfully, ecstatically! Never again will I be made to feel that I am unworthy to be alive on this planet, to be part of the body of my Mother Earth. Never again will I allow myself to mistreat nor deny my beautiful body these basic rights to life. Instead, I will consciously and purposefully set aside scheduled time to embrace and be nourished by each. And so it is.
AFFIRMATIONS:
I LOVE myself enough to make wise and healthy choices.
I LOVE my body so much that I will be a good mother caring for it. I will be a good lover providing for its pleasure, its safety, comfort, health and freedom to express its true essence.
I forgive all wrong doings, harm, neglect and betrayal done against my body, mind and spirit.
I accept what is rightfully mine with joy and peace of mind. I will open to receive graciously.
I am free to breathe, to nourish myself, to rest when I need to, to take up space and move as I desire.
I release all fears that have held me prisoner, waged war against my body and emotions, and have lied to me.
I LOVE my body. I LOVE my mind. I LOVE my spirit. I LOVE my emotions. I LOVE me!
“Do something every day that is loving toward your body and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sensations of your body.” ― Golda Poretsky
I Embody the Goddess! photo credit:
Alto/Antoine Arraou via Getty Images
Pearl Mala by CatandtheBird on Etsy.com
One With Nature by Wind Stock Photo
