By Vanessa Marie Dewsbury

​“We make it especially hard for others to observe our trait because we are so responsive to our environments that we can be something like chameleons when around others, doing whatever it takes to fit in. - Elaine N. Aron

Highly Sensitive People are intuitive, they feel things more deeply than others, and they can be easily overwhelmed by their internal and external environments. While I believe being a Highly Sensitivity Person (HSP) is a wonderful gift, it does come with some challenges and one particular challenge is setting boundaries.

​Every word, thought, and belief we repeat to ourselves is an Affirmation. The Reticular Activating System in our brain makes these Affirmations a part of our identity and how we see ourselves and perceive the world around us. The more we think or speak of something, the more ingrained it becomes in our belief system. Imagine your brain as a computer, and your thoughts, words, and beliefs as the "downloads", which together becomes your operating system. Affirmations are a way to reprogram your computer so you operate from a more healthy and positive place that is aligned with your core truth.

By Vanessa Marie Dewsbury

There are seven main chakras in the body, starting from the base of your spine through to the crown of your head. To visualize a chakra in the body, imagine a swirling wheel of energy where matter and consciousness meet. This invisible healing energy, called Prana, is vital life force energy which keeps you vibrant, healthy, and alive.​ 

These swirling wheels of energy correspond to massive nerve centers and major organs in the body, as well as our emotional, psychological, and spiritual states of being. To keep our chakras balanced and healthy, it’s essential that our seven main chakras stay open, aligned, and fluid. When blockages occur, the energy flows are restricted and can cause emotional disruptions, as well as illness or dis-ease.

Since the mind, body, soul, and spirit are intimately connected, awareness of an imbalance in one area can help bring all the chakras back into balance. 

Are you experiencing a shift in your soul? Is something awakening within you, making you question everything, including yourself? Are you starting to remember the truth of who you really are, but feel confused, lost, and alone?

What you may be experiencing is a Spiritual Awakening. Your soul is wanting to transcend beyond itself and transition into the next level of evolution. This is a good thing, but it can also be "scary" and unsettling when you don't know what is happening.

Spiritual growth is a process and it comes in waves. At times your soul may be in "rest mode", yearning for peace and quiet, for reflection of sorts. At other times it may feel like you are surging forward at high speed and there's no way to stop or slow down. When you experience deep transformation and inner growth, there will be moments of pain and grief as you let go of who you thought you were to become who you're meant to be.  

Times are very stressful right now as we face a world crisis together in regards to the Coronavirus. Emotions are high, energy is tense, and fear, stress, and worry has overcome many of us.
 
During these times it’s important that we take good care of our emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual health. When we are stressed, our immune system is lowered thus potentially allowing illness and dis-ease to enter our bodies more easily. Take this time to take care of yourself so that you can take care of those around you.

I remember from a young age that I was able to feel the emotions of others. Whether it was a family member, friend, or even a stranger, I could feel what they were feeling. Being so young however, I had no idea what was going on. I just knew I felt so deeply, and at times this "sensitivity," caused me anxiety and confusion. It also make me introverted and needing to spend a lot of time alone.

It wasn't until I started working with energy through my Reiki Practice, that I began to understand what was happening and why I was feeling what I was feeling. I also came to the realization that some people are a little more sensitive to energy than others. This is what one would call an Empath. An Empath is a person who can consciously and unconsciously tune into the emotional state of another.

After understanding that Empaths are highly sensitive to energies, things started to make more sense for me. Like the fact that I couldn't watch the news, and any kind of violence or cruelty would leave me feeling completely "depressed" for the entire day. I was holding onto experiences and emotions that were not my own, it's no wonder why my anxiety at times was through the roof. I also noticed that I felt overly uncomfortable engaging in "small talk," and inauthentic connections would make my skin crawl. I could just sense when something, or someone, didn't feel right. 

Creating morning rituals can be essential to achieving a successful, thriving, and abundant life. Studies have shown that the most common trait of highly successful people is the understanding of the power they have when it comes to co-creating their reality with the Universe. 

One of the most effective ways of being a conscious co-creator is by implementing and maintaining daily rituals. Ancient traditions clearly understood the power of rituals when it comes to reinforcing habits and changing the way we see and create our reality.

Successful people also tend to be early birds, waking up at what is often referred to as "the magical hour." The early mornings are said to be a very spiritual time of day as it helps to soothe the soul and prepare you for the day ahead. Waking up a little bit earlier than usual will give you more time to focus on your goals as you begin the day with more energy, ease, and peace.

What is Self Love anyway, and what exactly does it mean? Self Love means, loving and caring for yourself like you do someone you love. It means holding space for yourself from a place of love, compassion, empathy, and non-judgment. It's also doing healthy things for yourself that foster and nourish your mind, body, soul, and spirit. 

Love for self is so important, yet many of us don't give to ourselves the way we give to others. Why is that? Why do we not feel deserving or worthy of our own love? Well, it can be for many reasons, maybe we weren't loved the way we needed to be as a child and so we carried this unconscious belief that we aren't worthy of good, healthy, and healing love. Maybe it's because we give to others so much of our lives, that we just don't know how to receive the very thing we give. Whatever the reason, it can be changed, and you can learn to love yourself more by engaging in some of the suggestions I have shared below.

​First thing I want you to know is that you are, without a doubt, worthy of the greatest love of all and it's up to you to give yourself what you innately need and desire. When you love and accept yourself for all that you are, you build a strong sense of confidence that is unwavering and unstoppable. It's beyond powerful. Believe me, I've been there, I've done the work, and now here I am sharing with you. I'm also still a work in progress, as we all are, but for me, it's not about perfection, it's about learning and growing as we go, and doing the very best we can from where we are.

​So, how do we cultivate Self Love? Here are Six helpful steps.

The Universe is full of abundance, you can find it everywhere you go, and everywhere you look. The truth is, many of us focus on all the things we don't have, instead of focusing on all the things we do have. When we focus on what we don't have, we tend to live in a state of lack with the desire to accumulate more and more in material things, never feeling satisfied or fulfilled. However taking time to recognize and acknowledge all the blessings you do have, will create an abundant mindset that will leave you feeling like you have enough, and that you are enough. This beautiful state will bring you more freedom, joy, and inner peace.

I realized many years ago that true success is created and cultivated from within. It is not defined by the size of our house or the kind of car we drive, true success is found in the richness of our life experiences and in the smiles of those we love. It’s important to know this because it helps us understand that success isn’t something we need to constantly chase or strive for externally, true success is found within, and it's from having gratitude for all that we already have.