Accepting What We're Trying Our Best to Ignore

There are times when things happen that are just too painful to process - and so we don't. Instead, we lock the hurt away deep inside and try our best to do anything but work it through. In essence, we are paralyzed with fear, although we may not know it at the time. When we hide our feelings about what has happened from ourselves, we are freezing a part of our heart and soul. 

Accepting what we don't want to accept is no easy task. But it also takes a lot of energy to keep  these feelings at bay. Resistance is hard work. We must allow ourselves to look at what we don't want to look if we are to live a life in which every part of us is fully engaged.

Take time during your spiritual practice each morning to ask God for the willingness to go where it hurts. Pray for clarity and acceptance, keeping in mind that life is unfolding as it should. Breathe deep and work on releasing the deeply-felt anger, disappointment, sadness or pain. Trust that God is there to support you through it all.

We think of James Taylor's song, Frozen Man, as a wonderful metaphor about thawing one's heart after something difficult has happened and coming fully back to life. Listen to this beautiful song about what it feels like to "come around again."

Let Water Soothe Your Soul

"Le Bain" by Alfred Stevens

Despite our best efforts to think positive thoughts, be grateful in our hearts and have faith that all is unfolding as it should, there are days when hope just fails us. We see someone we love who's hurting and we can't shake the sadness we feel; we come to the end of the month with not enough money in the bank and we panic; or we want to believe in ourselves but the old tapes keep playing over and over again in our head.

One of the best ways to return to a place of emotional equilibrium is to get ourselves into water. Water has a wonderful way of restoring us to a place of clarity and inner peace.

The next time you find that you just can't shake a bleak mood, run yourself a bath. Be sure to add some bath salts while you do. Bath salts are very therapeutic in a variety of ways. The are calming and help to create a sense of well-being. In addition, they soothe body aches and are good for the skin.

Etsy is a great place to find some lovely combinations of all types of salts. Here's a few that we really like:

"Renew" Bath Salts
$15 by Herbivore Botanicals

"Meadow" Bath Salts
$18.95 by Wild Rose Herbs

"Oatmeal Milk & Honey" Bath Salts
$4.99 by Ashla Designs

Add about 1/4 cup of the salts to the warm water. Let yourself soak for at least 20 minutes. While doing so, spend some time in quiet meditation. Close your eyes and deepen your breathing.

With each breath in, feel yourself taking in all that's light and good in the world. As you breathe out, let yourself release the toxic feelings and thoughts you are holding on to.

As you relax, remember to let go and let God. Find your way back to knowing that all is as it should be. We think you'll find a big difference in how you feel by the time you're done.