Mindful Abundance

Posted on December 27, 2011 by bridget

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much"

-Elbert Hubbard

Take a few moments and consider what abundance really means to you? True abundance is aligning with the overflowing fullness that is present in every moment, and is always surrounding you.  It is about being aware of how life always support's you, noticing the abundance that is already present in your life and opening your arms to receive life's riches everyday. Real abundance flows naturally when you synchronize your desires and beliefs with consciously focused time for self-reflection, setting intentions and wise action. Your life can overflow with fullness when you create harmony in all areas of your life and balance your financial, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

Below is a short quiz to help you assess your abundance harmony level:

  1. Are you happy?
  2. Do you pay your bills with ease, are you debt-free?
  3. Do you enjoy quality and meaningful relationships?
  4. Do you have vibrant health and vitality?
  5. Does your life feel purposeful; do you feel as though you are making a difference in the world?
  6. Are you passionate about your career and do you find it meaningful as well as financially rewarding?
  7. Do you sleep soundly at night, and wake up refreshed and ready for the day ahead?
  8. Do you have time to enjoy your life? Or do you feel rushed and stressed?
  9. Do you set aside quality time each week to spend with family and friends?
  10. Do you have sufficient financial resources to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them?
  11. Is your life filled with laugher and humor?
  12. Do you feel supported in your life?
  13. Do you believe that there is an unlimited supply of goodness in the universe that is available for all to enjoy?
  14. Do you believe that it's your birthright to experience a happy, abundant life?
  15. Do you feel as though you can turn your heartfelt dreams into reality?

If you answered no to any of the above questions, then it is time to really take a close look at your beliefs and attitudes that may be preventing you from creating a glorious life for yourself and for others! True abundance, is of course, more than just money.  It is about becoming aware and broadening your present perspective on the abundance already present in your life. It is about blossoming into your true self and finding your unique heart song. Learning to live in abundance can be as simple as appreciating the sound of rain on a tin roof, the beauty of a rose in full bloom, marveling at the grandeur of the stars in the night sky.   Living abundantly also includes being grateful when you are able to pay the bills on time and when you can buy that jar of imported olives you enjoy so much. When you align yourself with the abundance that is already present in your life and in the universe, you will open yourself up to receive the all you desire. When you follow your bliss, when you appreciate all the blessings in your life, and when you become aware of how life supports you in the most profound ways, then you will be ready to open yourself up to the abundance and follow the path of miracles, of synchronicity and flow!

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

~ Gandi

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Live Fully Now

Posted on September 29, 2011 by bridget

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL – On-line course coming soon!

Carol O’Dowd and Bridget Mendelman, will be offering an on-line course teaching skills to help maximize your potential and awaken to the opportunities present in your life.   The course will include a workbook, on-line discussions and phone coaching.  You will be able to download a wide variety of exercises for connecting with life as well as techniques to accomplish that difficult task of letting go of limiting behaviors and beliefs.

Topics in the course will include how to: – connect to life with mindfulness

– release and replace limiting beliefs

– place attention to produce positive result

– take small steps to a rewarding life

– practice gratitude for seen and unseen blessings

– lighten up and have fun

On-line course registration and course workbook will be available soon. Please contact Bridget at bridgetmendelman@gmail.com for more details.

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A Natural Approach to Mental Wellness – A Book Review

Posted on August 24, 2011 by bridget

This courageous book takes on the establishment norms of talk therapy and pharmacology and offers a simple, natural and clear alternative to achieving good Mental Health. Instead of the old worn paths of focusing on our problems, Gregg Krech talks about the 4 skills of Acceptance, Co-existence with unpleasant feelings, Attention and Self Reflection.

Gregg expands in detail on these 4 pillars and how to take persistent action regardless of interfering feelings and thoughts. He provides clear concise summaries at the end of each chapter as well as several simple exercises to practice and learn these valuable skills to help us live meaningful and productive lives.

This book is packed full of wisdom. Besides Gregg’s own quotes such as “the more we resist or fight these feelings the stronger they become – its as if the nourishment we give to unpleasant feeling is actually a form of nourishment, like water to a plant …” he also includes some timeless quotes from sages and Zen Masters. Here is a further taste: “When we repeatedly talk about our unpleasant feelings it is easy to fall in the habit of simply complaining and wanting our suffering to be the center of our attention – this isn’t characteristic of mental wellness.”  “Complaining makes us good at complaining.”

Similar to his advice about feelings he also describes the futility of attempting to control our thoughts instead of accepting them as ‘secretions in your head’.

One of the skills of Mental Wellness the author covers is Self Reflection. He describes the process and benefits of a Japanese method called Naikan. I enjoyed how he describes developing a ‘habit of attention’ away from our frequent focus on problems and ruminations about what happened in the past or anticipated future difficulties, but rather towards what we often fail to notice – things that support our existence such as our health, our friends and family. He stresses the importance of gratitude and how Self Reflection gives us an opportunity to view our lives from a different perspective.

The final chapter enlightens us to the importance of living a purposeful life and gently guides us out of our illusory comfort zones and into taking meaningful action and dealing with the inevitable risks.

Not only does this book provide new solutions for readers that have treaded the well worn path of medication and discussions of childhood issues in hopes of improving their lives, but I also recommend their book to anyone who is interested in taking their mental (and physical) health to a new level.

In the interests of full disclosure I should note that I have done several of the ToDo Institutes courses and I have been certified by the ToDo Institute in methods of Japanese Psychology. However, I still highly recommend this book as a simple path to Mental Wellness and a nice introduction to Morita therapy and Naikan.

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Satisfaction in Performing a Simple Task

Posted on July 30, 2011 by bridget

There is real satisfaction in doing a simple task tastefully – David K Reynolds

For my morning reading I came across one of David K Reynolds books ‘Pools of Lodging for the Moon” and thought this observation from his book could benefit many people who set the aim to live a more consciously aware life.

Pacing Ourselves – Sometimes I find myself hurriedly moving from one task to another, operating at a pace faster than is required by reality. In this world of dizzy activity it is easy to be seduced into habits of rushing about. When I notice the beginning of such tendency I shift my effort to doing the same task with grace and aesthetic emphasis. It isn’t sufficient to tell myself, “Slow down!” My mind is still moving along at a fast clip; my body tries to catch up. So I put that accelerating mind to work finding the most beautiful way to get dressed, to water plants, to dust, to move the furniture, to change the spark plugs in the car. Over the years, our minds learn to do many projects relatively automatically, so the free mental energy becomes nervous energy devoted to speed. The relatively unfamiliar task of finding beauty in an everyday task absorbs the excess energy and results in a natural slowing of our pace of life. And there is real satisfaction in doing a simple task tastefully. – David K Reynolds

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The Perfection Trap

Posted on May 30, 2011 by bridget

In the Merriam Webster dictionary the word perfection is described as “an unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence.” Many people find themselves caught in this trap and instead of making progress; one can feel stuck, and unable to take the necessary steps that will lead to the successful completion of a project or task. I often get caught in the perfection trap myself and I can be unproductive for days, even weeks when I allow myself to get hooked. So whether you are cleaning out your den, designing a website, going though paperwork, cutting down on diet soda, trying to stick to a fitness routine or searching for a new job, don’t let yourself get hooked!

Living a successful and rewarding life is not about achieving an unsurpassable degree of excellence, but instead it is about learning to work with the imperfections in ourselves and in our life and discovering and making time for what truly is important and meaningful in our lives. When I feel my perfection tendencies surfacing, I remember these wise words that my yoga teacher shared with me recently from the little book “A Year Of Living Your Yoga” by Judith Hanson Lasater: We are seeking wholeness, not perfection.

Lasater advises that when you get caught in the perfection trap, go and find a wood floor and spend a minute looking at what could be called its imperfections, such as knots, irregular grain, and discolorations. Remember that these imperfections are what gives the floor its beauty and character; they make it real. Allow yourself to grow in wholeness, imperfections and all. Perfectionism can be an “internal barrier” that can block your progress. Try not to get hooked, but if you do, then go and look at the wooden floor in your living room or a wooden coffee table or walk outside and examine your deck closely.

The beauty and uniqueness of what we create can be found in our efforts and results, not in the inner turmoil that occurs when we try so hard to do things perfectly. Give yourself an opportunity to be creative, to explore and discover a new way of getting the important things done while at the same time keeping it realistic and true.

 

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Indigo Children

Posted on April 23, 2011 by bridget

Indigo Children are a blessing in our lives and a great gift to the world. It is important that these young ones are understood and seen as the unique, talented and gifted beings they truly are.

If you as a parent or teacher notice the following characteristics in a child, then it is possible that they are an Indigo:

– They love fairies and dolphins

– They look for real, deep and lasting friendships

– They love being outdoors in nature

– They bond with animals

– They have extremely clear, big and wise eyes. Sometimes known as “old eyes”

– They are very energetic and active

– They know whether they like or dislike a person straight away

– Many Indigo children have been diagnosed as having ADD or ADHD

– They do not like repetition at school and become bored easily

– They love crystals, meditation and yoga

– They are usually drawn to poetry, writing and creative activities

– Indigo children are very right brain oriented

– They are musical

– They are highly intelligent and are full of questions and demands

As we draw closer to the Aquarian Age, it is time to welcome in the new, to welcome in the age of peace, love and healing. We need to remain open, aware and attentive to the needs of the Indigos. Now is the time to delight in the beauty of our children, ourselves and our planet.

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Are you an Indigo Child?

Posted on March 9, 2011 by bridget

Indigo children are a set of children having certain special psychological and spiritual attributes. These children were first popularized in the book “Indigo Children” written by the husband and wife team, Lee Carroll and Jan Tober, with the contribution of medical doctors, psychologists and parents. The adjective “indigo” is used because it is claimed these children appear with an indigo-hued aura. (source: Wikipedia.org)

I often hear this during my readings with clients “Am I, or is my child an Indigo? ” or “How can you tell if you are an Indigo?”

Take our quiz below to find out and learn more about Indigo Children:

Indigo Quiz:

1. Do you feel out of place in today’s world?

2. Do you perceive the world very differently from most of the people you know?

3. Do you possess a deep desire to help the world by contributing or being of service in some way?

4. Are you prone to insomnia, restless sleep, nightmares or difficulties falling asleep?

5. Do you have difficulty conforming to the ways and norms of society?

6. Do you feel frustration at the thought of leading an average life i.e. marriage, 2 children, picket white fence syndrome?

7. Are you intelligent although do not/did not necessarily achieve top grades at school?

8. Are you very creative in the areas of art, music, science and/or technology?

9. Do you have several on-going projects at any given time and often multi-task?

10. Do you have difficulty with authority: do you need to understand the reason behind what you’re being asked to do?

11. Do you opt for leadership positions or working on your own rather than taking a team position?

12. Do you have enormous empathy for others, yet are intolerant of stupidity?

13. Have you had psychic experiences from an early age?

14. Do you have an intense interest in spiritual matters?

15. Do you have food or environmental sensitivities?

16. Do you feel frustrated even hopeless at the ‘old’ ways of doing things in education, politics or medicine?

17. Do you feel there is a better way of doing things but don’t know how to make a difference in the world?

18. Do you have a strong intuition or knowledge of things that are unexplainable or do you often have a feeling that something is about to happen?

19. Do you feel annoyed when you are around superficial people?

20. Do you have an intense desire for truth and honesty?

21. Can you easily see through people’s hidden agendas and facades?

22. Do you have an awareness of other dimensions and parallel realities?

Please Note: To be an Indigo you typically will answer Yes to all or at least 20 of the 22 questions.

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Crystal Healing

Posted on February 27, 2011 by bridget
HOLISTICALLY IMPROVING HEALTH ON ALL LEVELS, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY Crystals and Gemstones are wonderful healing aids used alone or together with Reiki or Hands-on-Healing technique. The vibrational energies of the crystal/gemstone balances and aligns the Chakra System. There are 7 major chakra’s focused on during a healing session. Chakra are energy points in the body that correspond with the Endocrine glands. These need to be balanced and aligned to experience and maintain vibrant health and well being. Here is a list of the Chakra’s and the corresponding Crystals and Gemstones: Root Chakra: Jasper, Garnet, Onyx, Rubies Sacral Chakra: Carnelian, Hematite, Moonstone Solar Plexus Chakra: Citrine, Amber, Topaz Heart Chakra: Rose Quartz Throat Chakra: Aquamarine, Turquoise Third Eye Chakra: Amethyst, Sapphire Crown Chakra: Clear Quartz, Amethyst The Healing effect is enhanced if the Crystal is placed on the corresponding Chakra. “God sleeps in the Minerals, awakens in the Plants, walks in the Animals and thinks in You”    – Ancient Sanskrit Saying
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A Course in Weight Loss:21 Spiritual Lessons For Surrendering Your Weight Forever

Posted on January 11, 2011 by bridget

How to loose excess weight and how to keep it off is a question many people ask every day.

New York Times best-selling author, Marianne Williamson’s latest book “A Course in Weight loss” can show you how to feel comfortable in your own skin and how to surrender your weight forever and give birth to a new, beautiful and loving you!

When Hay House asked me to review “A Course in Weight Loss” and I received a free copy in the mail, I was truly excited!  I believe Marianne Williamson is one of the most influential spiritual teachers of our time and if you have read any of her previous books, such as “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles” or “Illuminata: Thoughts, Prayers, Rites of Passage” I’m sure you have come to realize the great wisdom and love contained in her teachings.

“A Course in Weight Loss” is no exception. This book is not just about what you eat, but instead it is more about letting go of your fear and replacing it with an immeasurable love. Williamson provides 21 lessons to help you explore and understand the root of your suffering and she guides you in ways in which you can cultivate new strengths. This is a journey into conscious weight-loss. Marianne says ” It is conscious in that it goes beyond the mere letting go of weight; it is a letting go of the part of your personality for which eating excessively and self-destructively has felt natural. Your losing weight is not just the removal of excess weight from your body; it is the removal of unwanted dynamic from your mind. You are building new synapses in your brain, new tracks in your nervous system, and new thoughts-forms in your problem-solving repertoire.”

Getting involved in the lessons will show you the deeper joy you are searching for is not found in food but rather in living fully and embracing life. If you are ready to participate in a profound spiritual journey and return to your truest self, then this book will gently help you face your biggest fear, that of giving birth to a new you. If you are ready to be free, to be extraordinary, to be your most joyful self, then this book and it’s 21 lessons will help you align yourself with the lightness of your true being so that the heavy energies of addictive and compulsive eating and unhealthy lifestyle choices will fall away of their own dead weight.

This book is written for people who are ready to look at the deeper causes of their suffering and pain. It requires an honest, sometimes difficult examination of your unprocessed pain and how it may be expressing itself as a desire to eat more than your body requires to stays healthy. In Lesson One, Williamson gives you an opportunity to explore feelings of shame, fear, anger, unforgiveness and many more emotions that may be holding you back from living fully in the light of love. As you continue on with the lessons you will learn how to replace old, unproductive, unhealthy habits with a new, vibrant and fresh way of being in the world. You will be given the tools to create a new life, step-by-step. However this does require a commitment and time set aside everyday to read the lesson, write in a journal, take action in new ways, and quiet time for reflection and prayer. I would not recommend this book for someone who cannot find at least 1 hour a day to focus on the lessons and who does not want to approach weight loss from a spiritual perspective.

If you are ready to take a deep and honest look at your life and your eating patterns, then I truly believe that this book can change your life. This book is a priceless gift for anyone who wishes to break free from the crippling restrictions and limitations that come from living a life filled with fear. It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to live a life filled with more love and light.

“The real you has a natural wisdom for how best to eat”

– Marianne Williamson

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Success Is Not Frozen In Time!

Posted on December 27, 2010 by bridget

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value" –Albert Einstein

Life is constantly changing and we are always being brought more opportunities, more challenges and more chances to love with an open heart and mind. Goals that were important to you last year this time, may have little value or significance now, regardless of whether you achieved them or not.  

Success is not frozen in time but is continually evolving, just as your goals and aspirations are changing with each year that passes by. At the age of 20 it may be an important goal to back- pack around Europe or Central America for 2 weeks, whereas someone in their late 60's may prefer to set a goal of going on a transatlantic cruise during the summer. Each one of us is changing and maturing and each phase of life needs to be met with a fresh attitude and open mind. It is important to remember that success is not static.

How long does it stay a success? Often we are so eager to move onto our next goal that we do not allow ourselves to fully indulge our senses in the new car, the newly remodeled kitchen or the job promotion. Take time to value life and all it's blessings for soon the success will pass and a new cycle of opportunities, challenges and blessings will be presented to you.

Roz Savage who became the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean said in an interview ‘I accepted that mistakes are a fact of life, an inevitable consequence of being adventurous and trying new things. I realized that it matters less whether something is a success or a failure, and matters more what I learned from the experience." Well said, Roz!

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