In each of our hearts, lives a light. A guiding inner consciousness that reveals to us the truths in the tales of our spirit. Gently revealing to us, in her warm glow, how we may shine our lives as a light for others. To live a life not of mediocrity, but one of kindness and compassion and truth. May we trust in the guidance of our soul, that longs to bring us on fantastic adventures, if we would be so brave as to listen. We are all as equally human as each other, and we are all in this together. In the greatest truth, we must help each other in any and every way we can. May we all walk each other home, together.

via Karyn Bender RPh...

“Help” is considered a four letter word to many of us. We don’t like to ask for it because it makes us feel weak, dependent, indebted, incompetent, or a mixture of all of these things. We might also find ourselves feeling ashamed for being so needy. Asking for help is an intrinsic part of being human. We evolved as social creatures who relied on each other to have our basic needs met, so it’s a natural part of living in a society. There should be no shame in behaving the way that we were designed to behave. It gives us an opportunity to stare down our fear of being vulnerable, which is a beautiful and very human emotion. Sometimes we also need to admit that we can’t always do it on our own. There are certain times that it takes a village to get the job done, and that’s okay.

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Have you ever experienced being resistant to change, then decided to give up and let go of whatever it was that you were resistant to? Did you notice the peace and clarity that came after you decided to stop fighting? Making the choice to let go of things that no longer serve you is an incredibly empowering action, but sometimes it can be difficult to do. We tend to cling to people, ideas, and things that are familiar and comfortable. Our need to hang on usually stems from the fear that if we lose something, we will suffer more than if we keep it around. It’s important when you know that you need to let something go but are resistant, that you take a look at how it’s affecting your life. Are you really happy with the way things are in the moment? If the answer is no, then maybe it’s time to give yourself permission to let go and move on. When you allow yourself to let go, you are choosing to embrace the flow of life. You create space for something new and wonderful.

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We all have moments when completely lose our sparkle. Burnout or dissatisfaction can leave us feeling uninspired, unmotivated, and depleted of energy. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to rediscover your passion and purpose again. When we lose our passion, it’s usually because we are stuck in a rut. The best thing to do to get yourself out of it is shake things up a bit. Bring creativity back into the picture. Try new things. Look at what you are doing from a fresh perspective. Sometimes we lose our passion because we forget the things that make us feel inspired and alive inside, or maybe those things have changed. Whatever the reason, those elements need to be brought in to reignite that fire that’s sputtered out. Find muses for yourself. They could be people, books, or workshops that spark your creativity and get you excited about what you are doing again. Take the time to find out what energizes you and what feeds your soul.

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There are some common signs of caregiver burnout that you’ll want to be aware of confusing exhaustion with another illness. Early indicators of caregiver stress, like difficulty sleeping and overacting, will help you know when it’s time to seek support. By taking on caregiving responsibilities without any support or scheduled breaks, you’ll have a difficult time staying afloat. By requesting that others support you, you’ll be better able to avoid complete exhaustion. If you feel like your currently experiencing caregiver stress, then there are things that you can do immediately to help you get support. The first is to speak up. Although this may seem silly, people have a hard time standing up for themselves. In this case, by speaking up, you’ll be better able to communicate your needs to your loved ones.

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When we care for people on a daily basis, whether we are healers, caregivers, or parents, we can experience burnout if we don’t take time for self-nurturing. We can get so depleted that we don’t have anything left to give. Have you ever experienced that? It’s a common occurrence for women. Taking care of yourself is an important part of being in service to others. Slow down, take a break, and take a moment to listen to the needs of your body, mind, and spirit. Are you feeling stressed, exhausted, or beating yourself up for not getting everything done? If so, then it’s vitally important that you give yourself a little tender loving care before you go down for the count. If that happens, you won’t be able to care for anyone. Give yourself a bit of love and some guilt-free self-care on a daily basis. Even if it’s just a few moments of quiet time, it can help build up some steam for the next round of your busy life.

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As dreamers, we hold the beautiful opportunity each day to become one with our souls. Within us, we have the power to unleash our passion, to discover, and to explore many wonders. May we not only wish, but may our wishes be the root and pathway that guides our dreams and passions. Sometimes, we wish for people: for changed minds, for their presence, for their words, for their touch. Other times, we wish for ourselves: for peace, for gentleness, for joy or contentment. These wishes are tiny prayers of daydreams that our Creator longs to help us be, or become. Sometimes we need things we do not wish for, and sometimes the wishes we make do not come true. Yet, may we trust in the journey ahead. We shall use our wishes as the kindling to spark the fire of our creativity and passion.

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Burnout can be overwhelming. Life is moving right past you at top speed, and you’re just trying to keep your head above water. You feel like you’ve been deflated and you’re trying to get back your spark, your enthusiasm, and your passion. Though it may be difficult to see, this time of darkness is needed in order to see the light. There is a lesson somewhere in the midst of all of this, waiting to be discovered. Open your heart, quiet your mind, and invite in an understanding that this humbling experience will be one of your greatest teachers. Because it is the act of getting up after being knocked down that offers us our greatest growth.

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It creeps up on us, especially around this time of year. Unwelcome irritability or grumpiness begins to rear its ugly head, unexplained fatigue begins to pull you down, or maybe the things you usually enjoy are not making you smile. Your normally positive relationships at work are suddenly strained and difficult. Sounds a bit like depression, right? But it could just be burnout. Stressors add up quickly and without time to recoup and reset, your brain and body begin to shut down to try to repair the damage from everyday difficulties. How to best beat burnout? When things are moving too fast or feeling too hard, try these 3 steps for a quick fix: solitude, saying no, and self care. First take a mindful moment alone. Just breathe and reconnect with your body to get out of your head and back into the moment. Next, remember you are allowed say no to requests at work or home to regain a little time for yourself. It’s much more healthy to say no to a request that will will overextend your energy than to say yes and end up double booked and frantic. Finally, try a little self care to restore. Maybe a hot bath with essential oils or a cup of tea with the door closed is all you need to reboot your day. Maybe an exercise class or a walk is your self-care solution. Perhaps reaching out for help is your best bet to unburden your cares and call in a little support. Whatever you need, take a moment to find out what that is, and treat yourself to some loving care to avoid burnout.

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It’s the time of year where we take stock of our lives and look at what we aren’t happy with, then make New Year’s resolutions to change the things that we think are wrong with us. Usually by the end of January, we’ve given up on quitting smoking, going to the gym four times a week, sticking to our diets, or whatever else we think will make us happier, healthier, and more complete. For those of us who have a hard time sticking to our resolutions, maybe we should try something different. This year, make one resolution only; stop seeing yourself as someone who needs to be fixed. There is nothing wrong with making goals to improve yourself, but most of the things that we intend to change every New Year aren’t really the problem. The real issue is that we are extremely hard on ourselves. We embrace perfection to the point of being incapable of accepting ourselves just as we are. As a result, we don’t believe that we can be happy right here, right now, regardless of our circumstances. Make a commitment to love yourself and to cherish your beautiful, glorious imperfections. The kinder you are to yourself, the easier it will be to eventually let go of behaviors and habits that no longer serve you.

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