Worries Be Gone

I went to Cost Plus today. I love Cost Plus - they have so many beautiful things....

I purchased a beautiful decorative box today, not the one pictured here, but my own perfect box to put my worries in.

There are times when our minds become too full. Our to-do lists, worries, plans, and dreams may be so crowded together in our heads that we don’t have room to think. We may believe that we are somehow taking care of our desires and concerns by keeping them at the forefront of our minds. We think that we're maintaining our mental hold on every detail, however, this is not really what's going on. We may actually be delaying the our hopeful dreams and the resolution of our worries, fear, or anxiety because we won’t let them go. They are constantly in our minds.

At times such as these, we may want to use what I call a worry box. A worry box allows us to let go of our worries and desires so the universe can take care of them for us. We write down what we want or need to happen and then place the note into a box.

By writing and placing our thoughts in the box, we are taking action and letting the universe know we need help and are willing to surrender our feelings. We are giving ourselves permission to not concern ourselves with that problem any longer and trust that the universe is taking care of it.

The box I purchased today will be very special to me, as it will carry all my worries so I can let them go. I think that if you decided to get a worry box, it should be a sacred container for your worries. By doing this ritual, it will not only free up space in your mind by letting go of our worries and desires, but you are giving your burden over to a higher power. Once we drop our worries and desires into the worry box, we free our minds so we can be fully present in each moment.

Surrendering our worries and concerns and placing them in the hands of the universe doesn’t mean that we’ve given up or have been defeated. Instead, we are releasing the realization of our desires and the resolution of our worries and no longer concerning ourselves with their outcomes.

I think it'll be really fun in a couple of months to go back and pull the slips of paper (folded sticky notes) out of the box once your requests have been granted. And as you could imagine, it would be amazing how quickly problems can go away and dreams actually come true when we finally let go and allow a higher power to help us.

10 Things: Life Lessons for the Busy World

10 Things: Life Lesson for the Busy World

1. Live simple and live it like you really mean it! By choosing not to get caught up in the details of this fast-paced world, you'll discover that you have more time to enjoy being alive. The colors are more vibrant!

2. Stay in the present moment. Soul searching, meditation, and journaling are just a few of the many activities you can take part in to stay aware and learn as much as you can about your emotions, reactions, likes, dislikes, dreams, and fears. Having a solid sense of self gives you a firm foundation for living in this world.

3. Support or teach others as often as you can. This can help you form connections with people while also giving you an opportunity to make the world a better place.

4. Consciously choose what you will allow into your being. The media presents us with visions of negative issues and at times just unnecessary topics. Be wise about what you read, watch, and listen to.

5. Acknowledge the beauty that resides around you. Whether you live in the Big City or a stereotypical suburb, there are natural and man-made wonders just waiting to be discovered by you.

6. Nurture your ties to your group of friends & family. If you don’t have one, create a one! When you have a network, you have a circle that you are a part of. Its members – loved ones, friends, or neighbors - can be a source of support, caring, guidance, and companionship.

7. See the larger picture. Remember that the way that you choose to live is not the only way to live. Widen your viewpoint by exploring other types of being through your own research, travel, and discussion.

8. Embrace the challenges that life presents to you, and challenge yourself often. After a time, even the most exciting jobs or lifestyles can seem like routine. Never stop incorporating new knowledge about whatever you are doing, and your life will never seem dull.

9. Move your body. In this busy world, it can be easy to live an inactive life. Movement reacquaints us with our bodies and connects us to the earth in a instinctive way. It also restores our energy.

10. Make time for stillness, silence, and solitude. The world can be noisy, and we are subject to all kinds of noises nearly every waking hour. We are also often "on the go" and unable to relax. Being alone in a peaceful place and making time for quiet can help you stay in touch with yourself.

Finding your inner voice

Within each of us, there are numerous voices often that compete for our attention. It can be difficult to decide which one to listen to, particularly when their messages are all quite different, sometimes conflicting, and even alluring. One voice, however, is the speaker of truth. Among all your inner voices, your true inner voice is the one which encourages you, gives you hope, and pushes you to trust and believe in yourself. Conflict within oneself is often caused by dueling voices inside of each one of us. As we move through life, we get mixed messages from the various aspects of ourselves. Some of our voices can speak so loudly that they drown out the voice of truth. Listening to your true inner voice – often the voice of understanding, support, and self-assurance - can help lessen and even resolve internal conflict.

If you’re looking toward the future but your faith in your ability to succeed in life is indecisive, you will benefit from finding and listening to your true inner voice. You can connect with it by remaining relaxed and alert, while listening carefully. If you have trouble distinguishing your true voice from the others, meditation may be helpful. You may hear many voices as you meditate, but the one you should pay attention to is the one that speaks to you with love, understanding, and compassion. It will strengthen your spirits and urge you to go after your dreams. And it will never cause confusion, remind you of past mistakes, or cause you to doubt yourself.

The more you listen to and believe in what your true inner voice is telling you about your value and your potential, the stronger that voice will become. And the more you disregard the voices that can interfere with your resolve to succeed, the quieter those voices will become. Saying no to the voices that are judgmental and make you feel ashamed will help you stop being critical of your failures and afraid of success. By finding and strengthening your true inner voice, you will be able to ignore internal conflict and pick out the one that speaks the truth.