Time for a Spiritual Reboot

As we move towards 2012, the expansion in consciousness will continue to be more apparent, causing changes on every level; mental, emotional, spiritual and physical. Since body, mind and soul are connected, when one alters, they all follow suit. Understanding these shifts and actively making personal transformations is necessary to maintain growth and balance in your life.

In the past you could use a more generalized approach to spirituality, a one size fits all. But not anymore. What works for one person won't necessarily be applicable for another because we're all programmed differently. Since each person is individually wired, you have to figure out your own system.

 Old programs may not work on a new computer, or if they do, may not work optimally.  If you switch from a PC to a MAC there can really be issues. Even when new programs are installed, the outdated ones are still present. The same holds true as you're shifting.  In essence you are dealing with a new operating system and it's important you uninstall old beliefs and fears in order to fully function within the new structure. 

Deleting what is no longer needed on a computer is as easy as hitting a button; not so with the human psyche. The first step is awareness of the existing programs that are installed. You are the investigator, take inventory of concepts that no longer work for you;  childhood issues, relationship blocks, old ideas, beliefs, paradigms, any thoughts or fears that are slowing down your progress. Once you have that information at your disposal, put the limiting beliefs and fears on one side, then write a replacement  on the other in the form of an affirmation. For instance if you have a fear of poverty, the counter thought on the right side would be that you have unlimited abundance.

Most of us aren't technically advanced enough to fix our own computers, professionals are usually employed. On the spiritual side, there is an angelic Technical Assistance Team (TAT)available to assist with the work.   This group is similar to the angelic Medical Assistance Team, but deals with belief systems as opposed to the physical body. Once you've dug deep and feel your list is complete, call in TAT  to purge the old programs that are no longer relevant and activate the new ones.  As with all your guides, angels and teachers, the Technical Assistance Team are poised to help, but are unable to assist unless you ask them.

Don't be surprised if at the end of your session you are exhausted. Clearing and cleaning up is tough work, not to mention the emotions that bubble to the surface from taking the inventory. When you install new programs on a computer, a reboot is necessary. The same holds true with your physical body and mind, take a rest. This may take several attempts to complete, after all you didn't come up with these beliefs overnight and some are deeply ingrained.

The final week of December is often a time of endings. Many use this time to reflect on the "woulda' -shoulda'- coulda's"  of the previous twelve months. Businesses use this week to take inventory for end of year accounting.  This is the ideal time to make a personal assessment of your spiritual operating system and reboot before launching into 2012.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

Channel for Change

                          Discover the Passion, Power & Purpose Within



Oh Noooo...It's That Time of Year Again!

There can be a lot of stress surrounding the holidays:

·         Battling the crowds to find the perfect gift, then facing the credit card bills in January.

·         Writing whimsical letters trying to make your life sound interesting and exciting.

·         Slaving long hours in the kitchen turning out confectionary delights.

·         Keeping  the reindeer antlers from falling off your car.

·         Stringing up the most lavish light extravaganza in the neighborhood, while avoiding electrocution.

·         Not to mention the family dynamics . . . it can wear you out.

      Holidays are a bedrock for familial drama. For whatever reason, this time of year with its visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads, also plumbs the depths of our psyches dredging up all sorts of unresolved stuff to look at.

      This is the season where families reconvene and often old childhood patterns return, no matter what your age. The long held resentment you've had towards your sister who was the pretty one, or your bullying older brother could rear its ugly head regardless of the amount of time that has passed . Sibling rivalry, family secrets and old hurts seem to creep out of the closet. Even after countless hours on the therapy couch , memories of yesteryear  may come knocking on your door, just like they did for Ebenezer Scrooge. 

So how can you prepare? Ignore the holidays? Disown the relatives? Retreat to a remote island? All viable options, but usually not very practical. This year, try being easy on yourself first and foremost. Don't put additional demands to be the best or first in all the holiday folderol. Often it is our old desire of trying to please that causes tensions in situations that should be pleasant and fun.

Try a more laid back approach in 2011 and just chill out. If the presents don't get wrapped or even bought, it's not the end of the world. After all, what do we really need anyway? Try taking that extra time to connect with a neighbor, relative, your partner or kids and have a great conversation; a  genuine connection, not one where you're distracted by your long "to do" list.  With fewer expectations, it will allow more time and space to take care of yourself and better handle those recollections or uncomfortable encounters that may arise.

Find happy memories to share- they are there, they just aren't as obvious as the more traumatic ones. Instead of having anxiety over the family dinner and the chaos that can ensue, make it pot luck and have everyone relate a special story from the past to represent their dish. This alleviates the work falling on one person to "perform" and allows everyone to be a part of the preparation.  People aren't as apt to fall into their old familiar behaviors when there is something new, and hopefully the stories shared will put the emphasis on pleasant times that have passed.

If you've had pain in your life around the holidays, such as a death or divorce it can certainly dampen the spirit. After my divorce and then the death of my mother during December, the entire season was a time I dreaded. It signified loss for me. I put on a game face over the years for the kids, but my heart wasn't in it. Finally after many years of playing Grinch, I decided I needed to change tradition. In the past on Christmas Eve our family would open presents and have a party with relatives. To help fill that void, I started inviting people I knew would be alone, for a celebration. This began making a new circle of family, one that didn't need to be blood to belong. Start traditions of your own  that will signify new beginnings . It doesn't take away the hurt, but lessens it by creating a positive event to build fresh memories.

Lastly, don't lose sight of what you're celebrating. Regardless of your religious beliefs, this is a time for friends and family to experience peace and joy. Whether you're lighting Hanukah candles or hanging stockings, give yourself a gift; take the pressure off and enjoy the holidays.  After all, you have the rest of the year to deal with the Ghosts of Christmas Past and any of the other issues that may crop up during this joyous season.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key. www.channelforchange.com

When In Doubt...Don't Zone Out

I've discovered the key to the universe, the secret to happiness. It's called being conscious. Sounds pretty simple, huh? If you can concentrate and stay in the moment, maintaining balance mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally, you indeed can and will find joy. But just try staying in the moment, let alone being centered while maintaining your equilibrium. Not an easy feat. How many times do we zone out to avoid feeling the feelings or dealing with the issues?  

Staying in the moment is a real challenge. Our thoughts continually go to what has happened in the past or what we think might occur in the future and completely take us out of the present. Often stress moves us out of our center as we cope with the intensity of the day whether at work or at home, and we must listen to the constant internal voice telling us what we should or shouldn't have done. Not to mention if you have unresolved issues from the past that crop up when triggered by events throughout the day. Our constant thoughts and the "itty bitty shitty committee" that keeps up an ongoing litany inside your head can consume you during the day and long into the sometimes sleepless night.

As a means to ward off that noisy bunch, we tend to choose activities where we don't have to think and use them as a distraction; television, addictive food, alcohol, drugs, sex, friends, video games, web surfing, social networking, mindless chattering conversation, pulp fiction or gossip, etc. It's in the quest to escape, even when the choices aren't particularly destructive, that takes us out of the present moment and into a limbo where we aren't thinking or connecting with our feelings or thoughts. And that works…for a while.

What happens eventually when you ignore something long enough, it rears its head to be heard. This could be an unresolved issue, a health problem or anything that needs your focus to work through and clear as a block. A block is anything that keeps you stuck or limits your forward movement. Continually disregarding your feelings and letting a problem fester, will not make it go away. If you discount a health issue, the body has a way of making the symptoms worsen to get your attention. And in all cases, eventually you have to come back to the present moment and deal with the issue. Delaying the inevitable rarely makes it better and it certainly doesn't make it disappear.

So if we dealt immediately with our issues, removed all the blocks and limiting beliefs, there wouldn't be any bothersome worries to consume our thoughts and our emotional and mental well being would be balanced, right? If we ate nutritious foods and took excellent care of our bodies and exercised, most likely we would be healthy and disease free.  And if we weren't constantly dealing with the voices in our heads, or our bodies acting out, we would be clear to just be, to live in the moment. So what is the problem?

Like I said in the beginning, I believe I have it figured out in terms of what you have to do to achieve happiness. Now the trick is doing it on a regular basis. It starts with awareness and understanding the process one goes through to avoid dealing with issues. If I can begin to look for the signs of when and why I start to drift out of awareness, then I can counteract it.

And once I get all those pieces working together, I look forwards to the day when I can CONSCIOUSLY watch reality tv , while surfing the internet and eating a doughnut, completely enjoy the moment without zoning out.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.

                          Discover the Passion, Power and Purpose Within.

Knowing When To Let Go

Knowing when to let go is a slippery slope. If you hang on too long, you run the risk of co-dependency or even meddling. If it's too soon there can be issues of abandonment or not caring. The hardest part of letting go is watching as your children learn their lessons and even experience pain. Some parents dedicate their whole lives to looking out for their kids, even the adult ones.

 But sometimes you can't protect them, only watch as they deal with life. That was put to the test this past week while I visited my daughter. In just one month's time she has lost all her anchors that defined her life, yet remains positive and open to what the universe is serving up next.

Wanting to go back to school as well as move in with her best friend, my 26 year old daughter Marley moved to a new city and felt a transfer with her job would be a sure thing, since she had been offered a position at that location six months earlier. That was not to be. A new regional VP denied the request. As with many of us, her job helped delineate who she was. Having a strong work ethic, this is the first time since high school she has been unemployed. Her mettle is being tested in keeping the energy going towards a job, while at the same time allowing it to play out as it is supposed to. A fine line, but one she is balancing on quite well.

The move, even with the job loss was more palatable because she had her faithful companion Lincoln by her side. For 15 years he had been her confessional and confidant. No matter how tough things were, he was a constant in her life. Withstanding numerous relationship heartbreaks, he was always there to come home to. But a week after moving, the beagle's health deteriorated to the point he could no longer walk. A huge decision, but knowing it was best for the dog, she had to let go and put him to sleep. The grief has been consuming and left a gigantic void .

Since moving in the first of November, her roommate who had been diagnosed with cancer, had surgery. The prognosis was positive, but there was a tremendous amount of stress surrounding the operation with lots of company and  aftercare as she was recovering at their apartment.  Marley was the nursemaid, dog walker, cook, chauffeur and Mario Brothers partner, all happening the day after her beloved Lincoln left. She gladly was there for her friend, she wouldn't have it any other way, but that was another layer on top of some fairly overwhelming circumstances to begin with. Add to that the waiting for admission into college, employment applications, interviews and a few rejection letters coupled with getting used to a new environment grief and watching her bank account religiously. Trying to stay out of fear, the girl has had a lot on her plate.

As a mom I can't take it away, merely help her realize the major shifts that have occurred and urge her to be gentle with herself. Sometimes we have to let the events and energy catch up with us, after all it's only been 30 days, yet I know it feels like a lifetime.

I am most proud of her trust, faith and ability to know it is part of the process. Time heals all and she will find peace, renewed strength, and a job. Her grief will lessen and it all will fall into place. No matter how much my motherly traits want to kick in to help, this is an individual sport and I know she will succeed. That is all we can do as parents, confident that we have given our kids the tools to deal with such intense changes, we let go and wait patiently on the sidelines - picking them up if they fall, gently setting them back on the course, no matter what their age.

Becky Arrington guides individuals and businesses to discover their purpose and live authentically. Whether you’re a company looking for innovative ways to lead and engage employees or an individual trying to prioritize, reduce stress or decide what you want to be when you grow up, learning to accept and thrive in change is key.