Appreciation

"I have not stopped thanking God for you.  I pray for you constantly."  Ephesians 1:16

It's easy to walk in gratitude when life is sunny and peachy.  But how do we stay appreciative when life has truly got us down?  I wish I had an easy answer, but there isn't one.  Holiday stress is once again upon us, and I can see the anxiety coming out in those around me.

I meditate and pray...ALOT.  I have an ongoing conversation with the Holy Trinity, as I have cultivated a deep personal relation with Jesus since I was a small child.  We talk about all kinds of things, and He is a close friend and generous provider.  He always comes through for me, though not always in the time and way that I think He should or will. 

I'm praying for us all to find the Divine in our own personal, private way.  Whatever words, signs, gestures you can find to stay in the race, please let's pull one another along.  Reach your hand out the someone ahead of you, then reach your other hand behind you so that we can continue to grow and heal together.  I'm just an email, phone call or Facebook away...luv you!

MiChelle Jeneen
Spiritual Teacher, Healer and Author

Psychic Self ♥ Mental Wellness - Pt. 2 (Holiday version)

Every year around this time, I get really excited about the coziness of hibernation and the promise of a fresh start in the new year. Here in Southern California, today is a blustery, chilly 60 degrees farenheit, brrrr! Sounds funny coming from an East Coast girl, but the fuzzy boots are out and the heated blankets are on full force.

As a self-confessed air-fairy, it still amazes me how much I truly value my date planner. That doesn't mean I'm fully committed to penning every minutia of my everyday life. But as someone who loves the freedom of fluttering around like a butterfly, my Franklin planner has saved my life, on several occasions, repeatedly over the last two decades. As we speak, I'm busy working on my personal, business and family "mission statement" for 2011. Their system has helped me to remember to focus on what I value in life, when the grind (and "the man") starts to get me down with the endless myriad of "stuff" that always pulls at my attention.

Lately, it seems to take alot of my energy to get out there in the hustle and bustle of the world to get things done. I just came back from a mad dash to the Topanga Mall to pick up my yearly date planner. My head is throbbing, my blood suger spiked and dropped (even though ate a healthy lunch) and I drove around the San Fernando Valley an extra 45 disoriented minutes before my angels got me on the freeway to beeline it home. After starting dinner and throwing in a load of wash, I realize the best gift I can give myself (and my family) right now, is some solitude and meditation...even for a few minutes. Shortly, afterschool pickups and homework will take over, and I'm back on duty. It's a free, simple and loving way to self-care and keep that nasty holiday stress and depression far from my little love nest, so off I go! Have a great week!

MiChelle Jeneen, Energy Skills Educator
www.spiritrefreshed.blogspot.com

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…stress!

“…everywhere we go…”  Well, if you’re reading this, you’ve already got at least one item of your list of things to be grateful for.  You lived to see another holiday season.  I could do the usual sappy “what are you thankful for this year” post.  But, I’m sure you’ve already beat over the head enough by that wet noodle. 

Let’s face it.  Life is tough right now…stressful, expensive and at times ALMOST unbearable.  Truth is, if you are still sucking in precious oxygen, you must still be here for a reason.  I might dare even say a very important reason.  A wise mentor of mine once asked me “What if the most important reason God wakes you up everyday is for you to shine Light on your own little corner of the world?”  Hmmm, that’s it?  Shine my little light?  No podium?  No platform?  No book deals or speaking engagements?  Just “shine my light?”  Sounds a little abstract and New-Agey, but I’ve learned over the last decade to savor and enjoy doing just exactly that. 

When looked at from that perspective, all the other silly-season accoutrements seem, well, silly.  When I look around at my life today, I already have everything I could ever really wish for this holiday.  My beautiful healthy kids, a (mostly) thoughtful loving hubby, a (mostly) sound mind and body and a new washer and dryer (thanks to Santa’s helpers) all complete my sense of well-being and give that “all is right with the world” satisfaction…for today.  Has it always been (or will it always be) enough?  Probably not. 

But the fact is, I have no room in my personal space to lament the bills, the cool gadgets I can’t afford to buy, the ticking time bomb that is my 12 year old car ready to fall apart, looming (potentially bad) report cards from those boys of mine and possible lay-offs and mean supervisors at work.  I love keeping stress at bay and maintaining a relaxed, calm clear aura. Like Jamie Lee Curtis in her article for Huffington post, gratitude and positivity are a big part of my daily diet. My daily goals and practices?  Pray, meditate, laugh (loudly and often), eat delicious food, plan for the worst and proceed as if life is ALREADY the very best…that’s all.  Have a great week, and happy first-day-of Advent! 

MiChelle Jeneen  ~Energy Skills Educator