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Live Your Best Life Now

Christmas season • • • • • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

How are you feeling now……?

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How are you feeling now….after the Christmas rush? Are you feeling satisfied, at peace, happy with the way your holidays unfolded? Are you feeling sad that it’s over, guilty that you spent so much money, disappointed with the way it turned out? Or are you exhausted?

How do you feel about the commercialism that Christmas has become? It isn’t new, it increases every year. Now there is Halloween stuff on one isle and Christmas stuff on the other. It’s all about consumerism. We get so stressed out over making sure that we buy enough stuff for everybody. What to do if someone gives us something and we don’t have a gift in return? Are we spending as much as the other person spent on us?

Somewhere in the final days of the Christmas season, I hit a wall.  I felt dizzy with my to do list, the hectic, frenzied shopping, the insane traffic, who I still had to shop for and how much I should spend. Every-day-life didn’t stop, I still had to work, call the cell-phone company, go grocery shopping, get the brakes fixed, etc. My mind was all over the place, just not present. God knows how I got from one place to the next with my thoughts playing this crazy game of chase.

So I stopped!

I literally stopped doing anything, sat down and meditated. It was not an easy thing to just sit and get quiet in the chaos. But on the other hand I couldn’t add one more thing to my plate either. The anxiety and stress were making me sick. I couldn’t participate with the craziness anymore. I wanted to enjoy the season! I wanted to experience the moments.

I didn’t want to be a victim of consumerism and the resulting frenzy.

Some things were easy to change, like remembering to breathe and staying calm, smiling at others, becoming a nicer driver….letting people in, not getting upset when I got cut off, and driving a little slower. I cut back on the gifts I chose for only the immediate family. I didn’t send any Christmas cards; I sent facebook messages or emails instead. I chose to bake cookies and plan a nice dinner. Grocery shopping became calmer and more focused.

It was wonderful, as if time obeyed my command and slowed down.

What hurt was that I couldn’t get gifts to my daughter on time. She lives on the other side of the country and I was too late. I felt stuck and confused about how to approach the topic with her. So I was amazed when we resolved this with lots of love on the phone. (I sent the presents late and some money via paypal).

I can say this Christmas season was wonderful! We enjoyed the food and the cookies (I shared with others); we appreciated each and every gift, my family and I loved our time together and all without stress. The miracle was that we even resolved some family issues that normally cause pain and anxiety.

How do you want your Christmas to be next year? It is your choice! You are in charge; make it as crazy or enjoyable as you want. As a matter of fact, this applies to everything in your life.  You can start right now!

Inspiration Self-Love • • • • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Quick….can you answer this question?

 

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If someone were to ask, “what do you love most about yourself?” What comes to mind? Do you have a quick answer, or does it take some thought? Can you even come up with an answer?

It probably depends on the kind of day or week you are having. We can more easily access that self-love when we have good days, when things are flowing, relationships are calm. On difficult days– the kind that are full of struggle, too much activity and doubt– that self-love can virtually disappear or play a serious hide and seek.

When I was asked that question just the other day, I drew a blank. Nothing, I mean nothing came to mind.

What is going on, my Self admonished itself. You must know something you love about yourself. You have been working on this all your life. What a fraud you are!

I began to frantically dig around in the hidden cabinets of my mind, where this important information is stored. Nothing! Oh I found some crumpled reminders to love my body, to do loving things for myself, to take some moments each day……blah blah.

All this searching stressed me out. I had to come up with an answer, I was being held accountable.

OK, deep breath. “You’ve had a massively challenging week. You got this.” I took the comforting approach toward Self.

What I found was that when we have too much going on, that old recording starts playing again. You know the one we keep working on; those negative voices that have a never ending reservoir of our inadequacies and shameful secrets. They just sneak in, you don’t even notice them, they are so stealthy and quick. That is why it is so important to stop every so often and not let life overwhelm us. That is why we have to take some time to play, be silly…..and not take things too seriously. Because when we play, we literally shut the door to those voices, they can’t find the entrance.

Especially now during the holidays! Let’s take a deep breath together and take it easy for a minute, find a moment to fool around, have fun, be silly.

Oh yeah, and I found the cabinet. I can answer that question now.

Lots of Love and fun….

Christina

 

Acceptance • • • • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Are you weirder than me?

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I recently moved because of my neighbors. I couldn’t live next to those weird people anymore.

We, the neighbors and I, judged one another harshly for being different.

We couldn’t accept each other.

It just seems so difficult to do with all these weird people around us!  Don’t you think those thoughts? Don’t you believe that your lifestyle is really the best way and if everyone just understood that, the world would be a better place?

I sure did.

Staying in the same place all their lives is some people’s idea of a good life, while others love to travel and move around. Some wouldn’t do without a routine; others can’t stand the same thing every day. Some people stay married for life and judge others for getting divorced.

And what is it with gay people? Are they born that way or did they learn that? What about people that hoard, or women with muffin tops and super-tight shirts? What are they thinking? Why do some people, especially guys, talk sooo loud on their cell-phones in public?

We could go on all day like that. It’s really easy to get stuck on someone else’s odd behavior.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Mostly because I want to be loving and accepting.

My parents were incredibly judgmental about others, about the smallest stuff even, like the way someone wore their hair or their make-up. One day I listened to my mom go on about the way my aunt was chopping onions. I mean really, what difference does it make?

It made me want to figure out how we could learn to accept each other more.  Would it really be better if we were all similar?

I decided to look at Nature. It is incredibly diverse.

Just look at a rose, such beauty that comes with thorns. How about a dandelion, a flower that changes and then you can puff it into the wind? There are rare, exotic flowers and there are wildflowers, there are brightly colored flowers, intricate and simple flowers. Some are long blooming and some have a very brief lifespan.

What about the animals? Some mate for life, some never mate. Some live in groups, some are loners. Some prefer same sex, some are loud, some are quiet, some are big, some are little, some are lazy, some super-industrious………..

My point is, whatever you can dream up, exists in nature. Pretty awesome, wouldn’t you say?

So if it is present in nature, it can’t be absent in human nature.

Human nature mirrors nature!

We CAN accept, appreciate and love the presence of all human nature’s weirdness. We don’t have to hang out with it if it isn’t our thing. We have to take responsibility for surrounding ourselves with what feels right to us, what works for us…….sometimes that means moving.

 

Procrastination • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Are you struggling with this?

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Lately I have really tuned into how often I take on responsibility for someone else. Maybe it’s what we as women naturally gravitate to, but I have seen men do it as well.

If you are a parent, you definitely understand what I mean. You tell your child to clear the table before you head out for soccer, shopping, Disneyland, whatever…. You are on a time schedule. Your kid is procrastinating, so you jump in and finish it up.

I can’t count the times I’ve done that. Of course we know we shouldn’t, but we’ll do it just this once, because we are in a hurry.

So then I watch myself do this with adults. Most easily with a partner. It can be really little things, like dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor, cheese back in the fridge without wrapping, cap off the toothpaste. Or bigger stuff like making sure the taxes get filed, the bill gets paid, the electrician gets called.

If this only happens once in a while, it’s no big deal. If this is a pattern, if  it keeps reoccurring, then it becomes a heavy burden. At first you don’t even notice it, the weight of it creeps on so gradually, you almost consider it natural, like a part of life.

If you are new in your relationship it may make you feel needed and special…..for a while. Then you settle in and you begin to feel less special, more ticked off. Things need to get done in a timely manner, but you are the only one who realizes that. Slowly but surely, the little things become just as upsetting as the big ones. Like why wouldn’t you rinse the egg off the plate before you put it in the dishwasher? Or if you had just dealt with that phone-call about that delinquent payment maybe the credit score would not have been affected.

Maybe you see it happening in your job. People rely on you regularly. It’s stuff they could do, but they decided to lean on you.  Before you know it, you have taken it on and do it automatically.

The picture I see in my head is a cart with two horses. They both start out pulling the cart until one of the horses gets distracted and starts grazing. The cart doesn’t make progress any more, nor does the partnership. It’s a combination of procrastination and lack of responsibility.

Last Thursday morning I became so aware of all this procrastination around me. It was like someone turned the light on in a dark room. I saw my life full of people who willingly let me take care of things for them. In that moment I made the decision that I am done with that. I will not accept it any more.

I knew without a doubt that this was it!! I am NOT playing on that playground anymore. I am now attracting people who are in charge of their lives, willing to do their part in a timely manner, willing to be equal partners in a project, job or relationship.

Whew! I felt like tons of weight came off in an instant, I feel so much lighter.

I know by the certainty of my decision this will now change. That is the Law of Attraction.

 

 

Charity Inspiration • • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Loving Orphans Globally

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We work with a non-profit where I know the founder personally. So many Charities keep  over 50% of donations received as salaries for their top executives. Therefore most of your money does not go to the children. There are so many loopholes in the rules and regulations of a non-profit organization that make this misappropriation possible.

I have searched for years to find someone who is honest and cares about the kids.  His name is Richard Lawson. He gives everything that comes in to those children. He works in  Uganda | Kenya | Rwanda | Thailand | Myanmar | India | Nepal | Indonesia  He travels to each orphanage to help them become self-sustainable. But even if they are able to provide food and shelter for themselves, there are many “extras” that are beyond their reach.

Our newest project is to provide the Orphanages in Eastern Bali and India with Washers and Dryers.

The poverty there is often unimaginable for us here in the US. Yet those kids are the sweetest, most loving little kids I have ever met. The women who take care of them give their all to make a home for them.
I am calling on you who read my posts to open your heart and give just a little to help two of the orphanages to buy some washers and dryers.
There are about 18 kids in Eastern Bali. They live on a piece of land filled with dirt, bugs and absolutely no amenities. Showers are a bucket of water, clothes are hand-washed in the same bucket and hung to dry on a line in the dust.
Their goal is to become self-sufficient. They have planted papaya and banana, which they eat and trade for other foods . They are raising pigs and chickens. Each of the kids have jobs to contribute to the “family”. Some of these generous, loving, happy children were rescued from the streets where they sometimes lived for years.

The Orphanage in Vishakapatnam, India has less ability to sustain itself. It is a work in progress. Many of us are supporting those kids to create a better living environment for them.
A small amount from a few of you would buy those washmachines. Search your heart. For more information and donations go to www.lovingorphansglobal.org

Our goal is to collect $4000 by Christmas 2013

We currently have $50

Inspiration Intuition • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Intuition…..Is it real?

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Listening to your gut. Inner voice. Instinct. A strong “sense” or “knowing”…

Whatever you want to call it, your intuition is a naturally built-in guidance system within you that will always lead you in the right direction in life.

  • Have you ever had the strong urge to speak to a stranger?
  • Have you ever just known that you had to take a certain action even though it seemed illogical or irrational? It only became clear much later why you had to do that.
  • Have you ever had a sick feeling in your stomach that you were compromising yourself, your integrity in a work situation or a friendship?
  • Have you ever been in an argument and you knew that you shouldn’t say what you are about to say, because you knew it would cause damage?
  • Have you ever felt strongly like leaving a job, a relationship or a friendship, but you could not explain why it was so urgent?
  • Have you ever taken a different route or turn in the road just because a strong feeling came over you?

This is your intuition speaking to you!

When you allow your intuition to guide your thoughts and actions, you feel on track. You trust in the universe to bring you what you need, to lead you to the appropriate people and situations.

You feel calmer, less stressed and have a sense of confidence in knowing that things will work out.

If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

Once you begin to listen and follow your intuition, it becomes easier and easier to tune in to making the right choices, to sense the appropriate actions that put you in the flow. You are no longer swimming upstream. Things will fall into place, whether in your relationships, finances, business, health, love or any other area of your life. The more you trust it, the more empowered, stronger and happier you will become.

Your intuition already somehow knows who you truly want to become and guides you toward that.

Trust that small voice inside of you and it will never lead you astray!

Book • • • • • • • • By Christina de Valencia 0 Comments

Next book coming out soon

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“Step On It”

Your search is over!!  A simple 8 step process to lift off. You will overcome fear, get unstuck and plugged in to Spirit to live a purposeful, powerful, exciting life. The life you’ve been meant to live all along.

Don’t you long for more meaning, joy, abundance and purpose? Don’t you deserve more? What are you waiting for?

Here are the tools to make it happen. This is all you need to be in charge of your life.

You need to allow yourself to be you, not some copy of someone else. As you get to know your real, true self, as you peel off the layers of convention, the more inspired you will feel.

So who are you? How can you uncover who you are?

Look at your life now. What do you like to do? When are you your happiest? The answers are already there. It may not look like something tangible, like cooking or woodworking; it may be reading, or watching people. You may have an eye for detail in fashion or decorating. You may enjoy sailing, perhaps listening to others’ problems. As you are reading this you may be saying: Yes, that sounds great, but I need to make money. Look at the many ways people create income: Someone came up with stuffing a teddy bear with filling and a heart, giving it a name and birth certificate.  There are professional waterslide testers, Storm Chasers, Video Game Designers, Coffee/Tea Tasters just to name a few unusual actual jobs. That doesn’t mean that you have to look at getting a job. You can design your life and get paid for it. People come up with new ways to make a living every day and you can too!

Pay attention and don’t dismiss anything. There are plenty of clues in your daily life. Let’s figure out what yours are!

There are 8 essential steps that are required for an Inspired Life.

 

 

 

Homepage Slider • • • By Christina De Valencia 0 Comments

Counseling

Life is full of obstacles, storms, fog and inclement weather. In times of confusion it helps to have some clarity and understanding how to move forward, to feel more in control, to figure out how to deal with those events in your life.

We will determine what approach works best for you and get you back on track. Read more

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