Happy Birthday to Me!

I LOVE my birthday!!! I mean seriously love it. I wish every day was my birthday. I mean who doesn't?? For me, though, it's not about the gifts or the cake so much as the fact that I can act like a spoiled brat and the world revolves around me, and people are going to love me anyway.

I had an amazing conversation with a friend the other day about this very topic. I love being the center of attention. I love acting like no one else in the world has needs but me. I love to be the object of everyone else's love and adoration. Why, then, is it that I only act like this on my birthday??

Somewhere along the way, someone told me not to be selfish. Someone told me that I needed to share and be nice to others. At some point, though, I started putting other people's needs, wants and happiness in front of my own without them even asking me to do it. This is a pattern that was formed years and years and years ago, and it's a pattern I need to learn how to break before I'm able to commit to a serious relationship with someone else, and especially before I become a mother, which is something I really want to do in the near future.

So what does that mean? What does that even look like to break that pattern?? Y'all have heard me and probably a million other people talk about self love, right? Well, what does that look like?? My first step is not to help someone unless they ask for it. This is really hard for me. My mama raised me to help other people.  If someone is struggling to reach that can on the top shelf at the grocery store, I would normally see it, realize they were struggling, and walk over to offer my assistance.

This is even harder to keep from doing as an empath. I want to help everyone. I walk into a room and feel what people are feeling, physically and emotionally. This is a "gift" that I was born with and have probably been honing since I was a child and didn't even realize that I had it until I was an adult and talked to someone about their experiences and finally put a name on what I'd been experiencing for years. What a relief!!! I'm not alone. As a yoga teacher, I can use that gift to help people who walk into my classes or ask for private lessons. It truly is a gift. In my personal life, it makes it hard to be around people for extended periods of time. I mean pretty much everyone has something going on, and taking all of that on is a lot for one person. I've learned to avoid situations where I know I'll be around big groups of people. I've learned techniques like zipping up and shielding my electromagnetic field and things like that that help guard against letting in the sharp stuff, but in the end, the easiest way to help myself is some good quality time alone meditating or just sitting in silence.

Hmm...but I think I digressed there. Back to self love and helping yourself first. You know when you're in the airplane and the flight attendant tells you that if you're traveling with small children, you should put on your own oxygen mask before putting on your child's? There's a really good reason for that. Basically, if you don't have an oxygen mask on, chances are that you're going to die, probably before you can get your child's mask on. Then you're both dead and that would be horribly sad.

The same applies to life. If you go around helping and giving energy to people who didn't ask for it, you won't have energy left to help the people who need it and want your help and are going to be grateful for it.

You have to start, though, by filling up your own cup.  I do this through meditations, playing, running and being around people who share the same love and respect for me that I share for them. I love being around people who love me back. Who doesn't??

So, the gift that I'm giving myself for my birthday in addition to that amazing run I took this morning followed by a fabulous meditation on the front porch looking up at the beautiful clouds in the sky and watching one of my favorite one-year-olds in the world is that it's okay to put myself first. 

It's okay to not help that stranger who fell down in the stream on my way to Cummins Falls (can you tell there's a little guilt there? She had friends with her and a crowd of people forming before I even knew what was going on. It's not like I left her completely alone and bleeding to death). It's okay to not engage in drama in the people's lives around me. From now on, I'm only helping people who ask for my help, and I reserve the right to choose whether I engage in friends' drama, and I give myself full permission to speak up and be "selfish" and love myself.

I would love to hear from you. Is this something that you do? What types of things do you do for self care?

Love,

Emily Rose

Labels

I'm getting a little tired of them. Well, I should say that I've been tired of them for at least a year now, but I continue using them along with everyone else, because that's the way we communicate. That's the way we relate to other people. Words. Judgements. Labels.

They're everywhere! They're what we use to define ourselves: I'm too fat, too skinny, too blonde, too pale...I'm an engineer, a singer, a songwriter, a yoga instructor, a dogsitter, a babysitter, a house sitter... We use them to define others: She's too friendly, too bubbly, too whatever. Good, bad, pretty, ugly... You get the point. We label everything we do and everyone we meet in some way. 

This video of kids breaking through their labels to live wholly and purely in their truth came up in my news feed this morning and I want to share it with you. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1085977368086270 I hope it moves you to be a little more aware of one label you've put on someone or just notice next time you label something as good or bad, broken, whatever.

What would happen if we removed those labels? If we just looked at each other with no judgement and no assessment? If I met someone and just knew right away that I loved them without knowing anything about them. What if I knew the other person was me? We are all energetic beings. We are all made up of particles of energy that vibrate and reflect light back for the eye to see. We are all capable of loving and being loved.

And maybe those are just words to you right now. Maybe you don't know what they mean yet. Maybe I don't know what they mean yet. But I know I've had glimpses of them in my life, and those glimpses are getting bigger and longer.  I am capable of living fully in that place of love where I will never feel the need to judge or label myself or others again. I hope you'll join me there!

Let's make those labels fade into the background, and be our beautiful, true, authentic selves!

In Unlabelled Unconditional Love,

Emily Rose

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

They just keep on comin! I've made yet another move into what we're calling the Summer Home. I moved in with Beck. To some, that may seem like a big move, a huge commitment to move in with someone. For those of you who know me at all or have been reading this blog for any significant amount of time, you've probably already figured out that commitment is something I struggle with right now. We're getting around this by saying it's just temporary. Hence, this is my home for the summer. In August, Beck will be moving to Cookeville, and then I will have another decision to make about whether to go with him, stay here in Nashville, or find a new home altogether. Bali is looking pretty amazing right now. Just sayin....

I knew that I was making the right move when I was on the verge of cancelling my Thumbtack account and had a request from someone in White House, approximately 6 miles from my new front door. It turned out that they're musicians who travel a lot for work, but when they're home, they want me to teach them yoga as much as possible. That was pretty life-affirming, not just in my decision to move to White House, but also in my decision to become a yoga teacher. I don't know why it makes a difference, but when someone of this stature decides to put their body and spiritual development in your hands for an hour when they're at home for such short amounts of time, it makes you think, "Hm, maybe this really is where I'm meant to be."

I feel that way every time I end a class, too. I am so humbled by the gratitude that people express on their way out, when people tell me they feel like they've just gotten a massage, when people grow on their mats. It fills my heart with love and gratitude that my path has brought me here. I've said all along that I don't feel like this is my final resting spot, but it's a pretty amazing stepping stone.

Another change that has come into my life over the last few months is the opening of the Nashville Center for Alternative Therapy (NCAT).  NCAT is a one stop shop for alternative healing modalities. They have massage, acupuncture, yoga, energy work, hypnosis, sound therapy, and so much more. The things they don't have in-house, they have a network they can refer you to. I have "office" hours there every Friday from 1-8 pm! I'm taking on clients who want to use yoga or energy work to heal their bodies and minds. It's such a great spot to be, and I'm so grateful to the owners for their love and support as I'm growing my practice.

I can't help but acknowledge another major milestone that passed last month. I quit my job as an engineer in February 2014, and almost a year later, I'm actually able to pay most of my bills with yoga and energy work. Granted I've simplified my life and purged unneccessary items, services and expenses, but I'm making it work. Eventually, I know that as my practice and clientele grows, I'll be able to add those things back in. For now, though, I'm happy with where I am and where I'm headed. I hope you are, too! I'm so grateful that I get to wake up every day and help someone, even (especially??) if that someone is me.

I also have a new beautiful little being in my life. My niece was born in early February to my brother and his beautiful wife. She and my nephew are such beautiful little beings, and they have amazing parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles to love them and teach them the ways of the world. Their smiles melt my heart, and I love being able to spend time with them!

Oh, and one more thing that I want to share about my move to White House, is that it's in the country, y'all! White House is country. There are fields with cattle and cute little white farm houses and just amazing things all around me. I went to high school in New Harmony, Indiana, a small town in the middle of the corn fields and cattle farms in the southwest corner of Indiana, and being out here feels closer to being me than I have in a long time. Here's a beautiful photo I took on my run along the country roads a couple weeks ago.

Also, I'm making things. I crocheted a pretty cool hat that I gave to my sister for the cold spell we had here in middle Tennessee, and just this past Saturday, I went to visit my mom, who was cleaning out her closet. She found a sweatshirt from a trip my high school took to Washington DC for the 1997 inauguration, and tried to give it to me. She knew I am living a more simple life now, so she wasn't offended when I said no, but couldn't bring herself to get rid of it. My brain started rolling, and I was like, "Maybe we could make a pillow out of it." An hour later, we had this:

It's now sitting on my couch, and is pretty comfy. I had no idea I could make a pillow that quickly! I'm so grateful to my grandma and mom for teaching me how to sew when I was little. Grams also taught me to crochet, although I use the internet to find a lot of the patterns now. It's amazing the things you can do when you put your mind to it. We're such strong, powerful creators when we just open ourselves up and let it flow. Just do it!

I'm going to leave you with this St. Patrick's Day blessing to pay homage to my Irish roots:

May your troubles be less

And your blessings be more

And may nothing but happiness come through your door.

Love,

Emily Rose

Yoga and Meditation Opportunities with Emily Rose:

Tuesdays 7 pm NCAT Yoga - $12

Thursdays 6 pm NCAT Meditation - suggested love offering $5-10

Fridays 1-8 pm Private Yoga or Energy Sessions - $40 if you mention this blog

Saturdays 7 am Run<3Yoga<3Love Ampitheater at Bicentennial Mall - FREE

Saturdays 4:30 pm Gentle Hot Yoga at Kali Yuga Yoga in East Nashville - $13 drop-in

And COMING SOON: Spring into Kundalini Yoga 11:30 am at Kali Yuga Yoga (a six week introduction to Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan) - $13 drop-in/$60 series

Self Love Day #7 - Last Day!

Just a reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

Thank you all for being on this journey with me.  Thank you for co-creating in the truest form.  Thank you for loving yourselves and generating love for the collective.

Today is the final day of the self-love revolution.  In the meantime I want to encourage you to get a self-love journal and begin writing 5-10 things PER day that you love about yourself to keep the momentum going!!!

Here's another idea:  Write yourself a THANK YOU letter today.  Thank yourself for jumping in and being part of this process.  Tell yourself what you are proud of and shower yourself with kindness for showing up and shining this week.

Today's Invitation:  I want to invite you to go outdoors and connect with nature.  Nature holds a vibration that is healing- as you walk outdoors- you reset your own energy field.

Go outside to an open space and hold your arms out wide to the universe.  Open your heart big to the "all that is".  Hold your body open like a container fully willing to receive.  When you are ready (IF you are ready) make this declaration.

"I open my heart fully to all that is.  I surrender myself to you in love so that I may be a catalyst of love for others.  I am open and willing to dedicate my life to love."

I know it’s a big statement and a big commitment but I wanted to make the invitation.

Make a declaration to the universe with a big voice or a whisper.  Whichever you choose-- say the words aloud.

(Of course, they don't have to be these exact words-choose your own if you'd rather)

All week you have spent time loving yourself.  Now you are ready to take the self-love revolution out into the world.

Make a list of at least 10 loving things you might do for another person.  Either someone you know or a stranger.

Brainstorm ideas of how you might spread love in your own, unique, creative way.

ex)  drop off a meal to a neighbor

put $ in the starbucks tip jar for 7 straight days

send out happy-talk texts to at least 3 people

write a letter to an old friend

make someone a surprise gift

Write at least one idea in the comments here so that we might share ideas.  What a wonderful brainstorm that will be!!

Thank you again for being a part of these past 7 days with me.

It’s been a very significant time astrologically and a wonderful week to be together doing the self-love revolution!

Happy self-loving!!!

Much love,

Emily Rose and Marin

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

Self Love Day #6

Just a reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

Today is all about forgiveness. 

Forgiveness, I realize is not anything FOR the other person.

Forgiveness is one of the most self-loving things we can do.

It’s also the highest (and often hardest) spiritual work.

Are you willing to LOVE yourself fully by forgiving another person?

Make a list today of all the little grudges and resentments that take up real-estate in your heart.  Really be honest with yourself as you write them down.  Circle the biggest "ouchy" on your list.  How much space in your heart would you free up if you were to let this go?

You don't have to know HOW to forgive, you just need to be willing.

Start with, "I am willing to forgive ___________."

Hold them in a picture in your mind.  See them on a stage and see love directed to them.  It doesn't have to be YOUR love - just universal love.  Send it to them.  Wrap them in it.

Hold someone in your heart today with a willingness to forgive and let this be your most bold, daring act of self-love yet!

Today’s Invitation: LOVE Water

I want to invite you to write LOVE on a water bottle.  Place your bottle in sunlight for a few moments for extra goodness.  Bless your water with love and then drink your own self made "cup of self-love elixir".  Let the elixir wash away the resentments, upsets and frustrations you carry in your body.

Do this all day with any water you drink.  Speak the word love love love over it. And other high-vibration words you wish.  You can also make an on-going practice of this.

As you drink, know that you are filling yourself with a healing tonic that could work wonders and don't take that lightly.  I want to invite you to BELIEVE in energy and to believe in the power of love. In fact I can prove it!

I'm sure many of you have heard of the work of Dr. Emoto and the hidden messages in water.  It’s fascinating and worth learning about!

In short, if you've never seen this I'll outline it with a super simple explanation:

Dr. Emoto spoke negative, violent words over water and then photographed the molecules.  They were distorted and ugly.

Then he spoke loving and kind words over the water and photographed again.  This time they were perfectly shaped, intact and beautiful.

In other words- love affects water!

For more information check out his book, Hidden Messages in Water, or look on you tube for info.

You can drink your healing tonic, bless your heart with it, water your plants, etc.

May your deep thirst for all that you desire be quenched with love.

Much love,

Emily Rose and Marin

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

Self Love Day #5

Just a reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

You are perfect just as you are

You are enough

You are so loveable

You are important

You are beautiful inside and out

Your body is perfect just as it is

Imagine if we grew up hearing this every night before bed and every morning as we met the new day as children.

How might your life have been different?  I'm not sure how to answer that for myself, but I DO know that I am a caregiver for a small child.  We can start right here, right now to foster a new generation that grows up hearing these messages.

How might their lives be different?

Create a truth mantra for your children, your nieces, nephews, grand babies, etc.

Choose 3 lines, like the ones above that feel really good...maybe ones that you would have wanted to hear as a kid...and start saying them to the children in your life.  Constantly!

Whisper them.  Make a painting for your kid’s room.  Write a letter. Write notes in lunch bags.  Make it your sign off in your cards.  Create a goodnight song.  Do everything you can to give the children in your life a loud and clear message that they are perfect as they are.

Now here's some great news.  It’s actually not too late for us.  We can still offer these loving words to the inner children in us.

Imagine if we started right here, right now and also began to foster a new generation of women and men who love themselves enough to take the time to speak lovingly to themselves everyday...

Imagine if you spoke these words aloud every night and every morning.

How would your life be different?

I want to invite you to make this a NON-NEGOTIABLE in your life. 

This is a revolution after all and revolutionaries don't play small.  They don't sit on the sidelines and just post on FB.

What changes are you making?  What steps are you taking?  What shifts are you noticing?

It's time to up the ante.

This is going to end in 2 days and if you're not careful your personal revolution will end with it.

For the Love of Self....Don't let that happen!

Make a list of 3 non-negotiables that will help you continue your self-love revolution.

Ex)

I'll start and end my day with my truth mantra

I'll eat something green daily

I'll buy myself a small self-love gift once a week/month

Now this is important Just THREE.  Just THREE!  Just THREE!?  And keep them simple!

People have a tendency to go whole hog with wanting to make change and then easily fizzle out.  It’s not because you're lazy.  It's because it's TOO MUCH for the critter brain to deal with; too much change and a threat to identity.  The ego won't allow the change to take place without a vicious fight. Most people give up the fight because it’s too mentally exhausting. What happens...we forget!?  Hence, we bungee back to where we started.

If you start with three super small, simple things you have a much higher chance of actually creating lasting change.

So, given those guidelines, what are YOUR 3 non-negotiables?  Post them here in the comments and on your facebook page.

Today's Invitation:  Give yourself at least 5 hugs throughout the day!

Today's Self-Love Dare: Let at least 1 hug be in public!

Honestly what is the worst that could happen...someone looks at you funny!?

Now what’s the best thing that could happen...someone walks away with a spark in their heart, a smile on their face, and the message to love themselves! 

I dare you!  :)

_____________________________________________________________________

Today's Self-Love Resource:  I love this article from Tina Su who writes about taking yourself out on a self-love date.

http://thinksimplenow.com/happiness/the-secret-to-self-loving/

She gives some cool ideas and I thought you would like this.

I want to invite you to SCHEDULE a self-love date TODAY and put it on your calendar for next week.

This will help you continue your self-love revolution once this journey is over.

But enough of that!  We still have three full days of self-love, sisterhood and sparks to make!

Much love and hugs,

Emily Rose and Marin

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

Self Love Day #4

Just a reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

Who do you have the potential to be?  If Self-Love was a fully expressed reality and all the fear disappeared and all the old stories were suddenly erased.....who is the you left standing there?

One of the reasons we hold so dearly to the pain of our "not-enoughness" is that it is familiar.  Like a well worn sweater the not enough story is one that has been worn and stretched and paraded about town quite a bit in our lives.  And even though it's not the most flattering thing we "wear"....it sure is comfortable?!

Did you know that it is a proven fact that people would rather be miserable that have to face change?

Sounds crazy to conscious mind but consider this.  To the ego...Identity is Everything!  The ego will go to great lengths (even misery) to hold tight to familiarity and identity.   To change is a death threat to the ego!

Because if you CHANGE...who are you?????

The ego will fight tooth and nail to keep you from changing if it is faced with a loss of identity.

So today we are going to skirt around the ego as if she was a sleeping pitbull and we are going to do some gentle yet powerful change work.

Fact:  Change-work starts with vision.

If you are not your old stories of not enough, not worthy and not deserving, WHO ARE YOU?

You need to create a new identity for yourself in order to keep the ego from becoming vicious and using everything in its power to have you not change.

Michael Beckwith spoke one of my favorite pieces of wisdom of all time:

"Pain Pushes Until Vision Pulls"

Up to this point in your life your identity has likely been crafted out of pain. 

All good.  That has been perfect and fine and right.

But now...you have a choice.

Do you want to continue to come from pain or are you willing to let love heal so that you can come from vision?

Today's Invitation: A New SELF (-love) Vision

Who are you if you are not your old "truths"? 

Who are you when you are totally safe to express all the brilliance within you?

Who do you have the potential to be when you step into the experience of radical self-acceptance?

Get out a lined piece of paper and a pen.

Part 1:  Start with this one line:

I have the potential to be:

(write 10 possibilities)

ex.  I have the potential to be a deeply impactful teacher of life and love

I have the potential to be a fully expressed modern day priestess who embodies her power and inspires others

I have the potential to be love in all my actions, thoughts and words

Keep writing until you have 10.

Part 2:  Use this new line:

I AM......

Don't think, just write and see what emerges!

(write 10 possibilities

Ex.  I am divine

I am perfect as I am

I am a vessel for service

Part 3:

Now choose the most resonate (favorite) statements from Part 1 and 2 and put them together.

 Ex) I have the potential to be a fully expressed priestess who embodies her power and inspires others because I am a vessel for service.

Edit your statement however you like so that you LOVE it!!

Your statement should feel as if it mirrors a new truth back to.

Part 4:

Post and share unapologetically; fully in your power with a willingness to be seen, an openness to be celebrated.  Post it in the comments here!  If you choose to play big and be brave, bold and kick-butt awesome....Post and share on your personal page too!

Here’s an example of what to post on your page.

"I'm part of a 7-day Self-Love Revolution and this statement was part of our work this week.  I'm putting it out there because it's who I am with my "not-enough" story. How about you?  Who do YOU have the potential to be?”

Put it out there loud and proud!

The world RESPONDS to who you say you are!!

Today's Mantra:

I am willing to love myself and the world loves me back.

Look for evidence of this today.  The universe WILL give you love if you ask for evidence of it!

Little miracles WILL show up in your life to mirror your love back to you. You have to really be open to seeing them.  Expect them.  Don't question them.  If you see it, it is so.  It might be a person who smiles at you, a favor a friend offers, a self-love theme song that comes on the radio, etc.... 

Delight in finding these little reflections all throughout your day.

Thank you again for being part of this movement!  I feel change in the air and change in my life, and it’s amazing!

Much love,

Marin and Emily Rose

You can check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

Self Love Day #3

Another reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

Yesterday we held sacred space to honor our vulnerable “truth.”

Of course this isn't TRUTH - the truth is we are all divinely perfect in every possible way.

What we shared was the authenticity of our feelings and those deep parts of ourselves that feel disconnected from wholeness.  So why share "negative" things during a 7 day self-love journey?

Well first, I believe there is no negative.

Second, because naming the "fear" is actually an essential piece for lasting transformation and self-love.  We MUST be able to come into resonance with the parts of ourselves that feel imperfect, invalid and scared.  If we neglect or fight those parts (as I have for years) transformation cannot take place.  Period.

So the self-love revolution is an opportunity for us to connect with and love back the parts of ourselves that we have disowned.  

What parts are you willing to love?

Here is today's wisdom:  Love it first and it will change.

Ex)  I am willing to love my belly.

I am willing to love the part of me that feels small when I'm around beautiful people

I am willing to love the part of me that procrastinates.

Love yourself back to wholeness.

I want to invite you to move through your day today with an "I am WILLING mindset".

Today's Invitation: A Self-Love Exploration

Finish these sentences for yourself in a journal:

If I truly loved myself I would start __________________________.

If I truly loved myself I would stop _____________________________.

If I opened my heart up wide to myself it would say __________________________.

Feel free to share your answers here in the comments, with your group of friends or on your Facebook page.

Today's 2nd Invitation:  Choose a Self-Love theme Song and DANCE!!!!!

Did you know that one of the best ways to shift out of a fear mindset and release anxiety is actually to move your body?  Movement instantly changes your physiology!  That's why working out is so effective for depression.  

Today I want to invite you to choose a self-love theme song or maybe even a short self-love playlist and to DANCE at least once today!!!!!

Dance the "I am willing to love myself dance"

Dance it for you, your daughters, your friends, your sisters and for all women everywhere on the planet.

Let your dance be your prayer.

Let it be a powerful declaration.

Let it move the fear for you and for us all.

Choose songs that really light you up and speak to your soul; songs that you can unleash, expand, awaken and explode into; songs that lift your heart and help you feel alive.

My Self-Love Theme Songs

- Roar by Katy Perry

- Happy by Pharrell Williams

- Brave by Sarah Bareilles

- Let it Go from Frozen

- Rolling in the Deep by Adele

And my ALL TIME FAVORITE: "I was Here" by Beyonce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?vi41qWJ6QjPI

I want to send this song to you all today as a gift. 

Today’s 3^rd Invitation:

If we are truly going to leave a mark and make a difference as the songs says, we have to put what we do and who we are into BOLD ACTION.  Start by making a choice.  Take all of yourself out into the world today. Stand up, stand strong, open your heart and let your self-love BEAM.  BE a force and a model for self-love through your eyes, your smile, your gestures and your words.

You are powerful beyond compare and when you choose to practice self-love and em-BODY it....oh!  The possibilities!

Let the world see self-love in your eyes today.

Much love,
Marin and Emily Rose

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

Self Love Day #2

Just a reminder, this self-love revolution came from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!

This week, we are being radical about practicing self-love and part of that is learning how to Talk Ourselves Happy. Today, anytime you notice you are judging yourself, berating yourself, pushing yourself or putting yourself down, I want to suggest that you stop that habitual thought whenever you can by saying, “NOPE!  Not this week.  I'm choosing to love myself.”  Then, take a deep breath to change your physiology and tap your heart point (where you'd put a hand for the pledge of allegiance) 3 x.  This will interrupt the negativity with ninja effectiveness and even begin imprint the new thought pattern!  Do this as many times today as you can.

Today's Invitation: A Self-Love Truth Telling Ritual

Part of loving ourselves is not just about feeling amazing about who we are.  It's also the ability to be vulnerable with ourselves. We're not perfect.  Self-love is the ability to embrace our fears, soften around our mistakes and be gentle with the parts of ourselves that feel inadequate.  The last thing we want to do this week is get so "self-lovie" that the inadequate parts feel even more abandoned. 

So the invite today is to sit with a tender heart and give yourself about 10 minutes to do this Self-Love Ritual.

A Self-Love Truth Telling Ritual

(You'll need: Pen, paper, a mirror and a candle)

Start by lighting a candle to honor the light within YOU.  Spend a few moments to "presence" yourself.  Let go of your day.  Bring yourself into the moment. Open your heart. Once you can feel yourself fully present, you’re ready to get started.

If you were to tell some vulnerable truths to yourself what would you say? 

Use pen and paper to finish this sentence and fill a whole page:

The Truth is: 

(ex)  I am scared of failing

I often feel like people don't get me

I'm not comfortable letting people see me without makeup

etc....

Give yourself some quiet sacred, space to get soft with yourself.

When you are finished with your list, read it aloud to yourself and insert "It's OK" at the beginning of each sentence.  For example, "It's ok that I'm scared of failing,"

When you are done reading your list aloud, get out your mirror (or go to one) and look yourself deep in the eyes.  REALLY look at yourself with eyes of love and softness and say this:

"I love and accept you exactly as you are right now"

At first the ego will boom back:  "What a joke, look at your skin, ugh, etc.... "  Allow it.  Love it.  Be ok with it. Your ego is just trying to protect you in the best way it knows how.  Stay there in front of the mirror for at least 2 minutes.  (You might even set a timer on your phone.)  Hold your gaze like you would a loved one.  Love yourself.  Be as tender as you can.  Say your affirmation a few more times.

Go back to your candle- Bless yourself with the light of the flame as if you could paint a bubble of warm angelic light all around you.  Smile to signal that you have received this self-blessing.  Say a few names aloud to whom you also want to send this blessing to and imagine that you CAN send "self-love" light to anywhere in the world.  For example, “I share this light with Amy, Greta and all women who suffer violence and believe it's their fault.”

Close your ritual by placing a hand on your heart and thanking yourself for time well spent with YOU.

All in all, this will literally take about 15 minutes.  Please give yourself this gift.

Ritual is powerful because it is the language of the psyche.  The subconscious responds to imagery and symbolic action.  You are literally re-patterning the subconscious when you create this experience for yourself.

Today's Resource:  The Power of Vulnerability

Each day Marin also shared a gift with us; a resource, a poem, etc.  I’m going to pass those along to you, too.  Today, it's Brene Brown at TED talks speaking about vulnerability.

If you haven't seen it- it's truly a must, must, must!!!!

If you HAVE seen it, I want to invite you to drink it in with new "self-love" eyes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?viCvmsMzlF7o

True vulnerability is the core of self-love. 

Don't forget to post 3 things you love about yourself today and try to get your FB friends to do the same.  Women tend to find intimacy in complaining to each other about everything that is shitty about life.  My cranky kids, my lazy husband, my fat ass.  OMG...my ass is so fat too and believe me my husband is even lazier than yours.....etc. etc.

Imagine if we could change this and birth a new model where women could find intimacy in sharing the most beautiful things they love about themselves.

We're changing the world one post at a time!

Thank you for being part of this with me and thank you for loving yourself!

Much love,

Marin and Emily Rose

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess

A Week of Self Love Starts Today!

Self Love Day #1

What a great time to give yourself a little self love!  We're coming into the holidays HOT HOT HOT!  I can't believe how fast they snuck up on me this year.  I’m also heading off to Winter Solstice Sadhana Celebration, so I wanted to get these to you to work on while I’m gone and working on myself.  Disclaimer: I meant for these to post while I was at Solstice, but technology didn't work with me. Oh well!  😀

As promised, over the next seven days, I'm going to share some self love teachings from Marin Bach-Antonson, who you can learn more about here.  This beautiful woman came to me through Kim Salter who facilitates the Nashville Sister Circle I talked about last week.  A lot of this is copied directly from Marin's emails, so I'm not going to take any credit for it other than sharing it with you and adding my little comments here and there about my own experience!  So, are you ready to dive right in??

GETTING STARTED:  SUGGESTIONS FOR EVERYDAY

These are a few things you can do every day that will start you on the path of self love!

1. Get a package of post-it notes or some paper and tape, and put reminder notes all around your house...especially on your mirrors and even in your car!  I even made the background and lock screen on my phone a photo of my post-it note.  The notes should simply say, "I love you!"  This is your mantra this week.  Say it as often as you possibly can.  Think of yourself as an empty vase that needs filled, and you fill that vase a little more every time you say, "I love you.”  It might be awkward at first but stick with it.  "I love you" is powerful medicine!!  JUST doing this one thing could potentially change your life!  And if you've been doing the mirror work that I discussed a couple of weeks ago, you're already a step ahead of the game here!

2. Each day, share at least 3 THINGS that you love about yourself.  You can post them here anonymously in the comments, share with some trusted friends or family, or if you're brave, even post it on your Facebook page!  Here is a sample post:

This week I'm sparking a self-love revolution and I want to invite you to join me!  I'm going to be posting 3 things per day that I love about myself because I believe that if one person does it we give permission for others to do the same.  Will you join me?  What are three things you love about yourself?  Write them here and post this on your page.  Here are my three things:

I love my naturally wavy auburn hair.

I love my curves.

I love my voice.

3. Begin your day with love, not technology.  I use my phone for my alarm clock, so it's really easy for me to grab it to turn off the alarm and then start playing on email or Facebook.  Instead, remind yourself of your worthiness before getting out of bed. Breathe in love and breathe out love.  Enfold yourself in light.  Saturate your being in love.  Most people start their day with a low level of dread.  Consciously make a choice to shift this mindset for these 7 days, and hopefully for a lifetime!

4. Are you brave enough to ditch your scale for the week?  Do it!  Put it in the garage, the basement or perhaps the trash.  Weight is one of the biggest "bear traps" when it comes to self-love.  We are going to radically practice acceptance this week and for many of us, the scale is a sure fire spiral into negative patterned thinking. Get rid of it.  If you really want to you can bring it back next Monday.  I haven’t owned a scale in a little over two years, and it’s amazing how much happier I am with my body!

JUMPING IN:  DAY ONE

Ok, so those were the daily rituals.  Here is the invitation for day one:

Treat yourself like a dear, dear friend and go out and buy yourself a little treasure today.  You can choose whatever budget you'd like but I want to suggest something small like $5-10 dollars.

What wonderful present will choose?  A bar of dark chocolate, a bunch of tulips, a new nail polish color, a bar of fancy soap?  Buy something you normally wouldn't!

If you don't have the time to pick up an item, then write yourself a short, sweet note.

Must do:  Have fun turning attention on yourself!

Enjoy this week!

Much love,

Marin and Emily Rose

Check out Marin's website here: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupgoddess