How To Stop Caring About What Others Think of You

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Do you worry about what others think of you or what they might say behind your back?

If you do, then you are not alone. Nearly everyone has worried about what someone will think of them at some time or another in their life.

The fear of being judged is a common fear; nearly everyone suffers from it. But there is a way to get beyond this fear and to rise above it.

There is a way for us to understand where this fear of being judged comes from and what we can do to set ourselves free.

The good news is, you don’t have to suffer from this and there is a permanent way out! 

What Hidden Patterns Are Shaping Your Reality?

The Virtue of Paying Attention

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I recently attended a local bike coalition charity dinner and auction for the third year in a row as my husband is an avid cyclist. As we made our way to our table, I recognized two familiar faces. I smiled and reached out my hand to say hello but before I could the woman said to me, “Hello, nice to meet you. You must be new. I’m Virginia.” I was amused as I said, “We’ve met twice before. I’m Liz, I was here last year and the year before.” The woman looked genuinely confused but smiled politely and then hurriedly looked down into her phone to gauge where she was at in the online bidding war for her new bike bench.

As the night continued, I enjoyed small talk with the couple and asked about their previous year’s winnings, she, a light reflector jacket for cycling and him a new helmet. They both were surprised yet touched that I remembered such small details.

This experience happens quite frequently where I remember faces seen just once or recall a conversation nearly word for word. People tend to think that I have some amazing memory but in fact I simply pay attention. Wherever I am or find myself to be, I give total uncompromising attention to my present experience. This is not something that I consciously aim to do. This is a natural consequence and result of many years of meditation and subsequent slowing down of internal thoughts in order to allow the present moment to shine through.

Why Paying Attention Matters – Effortless Grace and Ease

Our bodies and minds are tools that we use to navigate this reality. Many people are so deeply identified with their bodies and minds that their awareness and attention is solely focused on these two dimensions exclusively. If all your energy is focused on your body (five senses including: sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch) or your mind (random thoughts, excited emotions, past memories and future projections) then that leaves very little energy to actually pay attention and be aware of your world.

Increasing your available energy to pay 100% attention to your present experience is what mindfulness, or a sustained meditation practice is all about. Spiritual or conscious evolution is essentially increasing your capacity and capability to be fully aware and attentive to your present surroundings.

One may wonder why paying attention is such a valuable commodity. The reason is because, if you offer uncompromising awareness and attention to your present experience you will navigate life without unnecessary negative consequences, pitfalls, or limitations.

A fully conscious person is not immune to negative circumstances or events, but their higher perceptions and increased clarity allow them more options to seek a solution to whatever challenge is currently presented to them. People that are heavily influenced by their body senses and/or internal thoughts do not have enough energy to clear the space for more options. Options come from clarity of mind and one can act far more efficiently, effortlessly and intelligently than those who struggle to see the forest from the trees.

Some years ago, when my grandmother was still alive, I received a frantic phone call from my aunt telling me that my grandmother was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. At the time my grandmother was 92 years old. I was sad to hear this, but I knew that my grandmother wouldn’t live forever and that her body was starting to break down and cancer had overtaken her normally healthy immune system. To my surprise my aunt then told me that my grandmother’s doctor recommended a mastectomy as soon as possible in order to stop the cancer from spreading. As I listened, I heard many thoughts pop up into my mindscape; ‘She is too old for such an invasive procedure’, ‘this sounds like an over the top and drastic solution’, ‘there must be another way to go about treating this’. I calmly described each of these ideas to my aunt, but she was overcome with emotion and almost desperate to get the appointment scheduled for my grandmother to go have her mastectomy immediately.

My aunt even went so far as to describe in vivid detail a nonexistent wound that would swell and fester and create much unnecessary pain for my grandmother. My aunt was very much sold on the idea of the emergency mastectomy and was defending her position by trying to convince me that this was the right direction to take. Yet, I remained calm and steady as I listened to her words. When I realized that my aunt wouldn’t listen to any other alternative, I simply said, “at least get another opinion from a highly credited geriatric oncologist to see what other options we have.” The phone went silent and my aunt had nothing to say. It never occurred to her to seek a 2nd opinion much less discover an alternative treatment.

A week later my aunt called me again to tell me that they went to see another oncologist at Loyola Hospital, and she prescribed noninvasive hormone therapy in order to shrink the small tumor. Both my grandmother and aunt elected for this option and things soon settled back to normal.

How to Develop A Clear Mind

We live in a physical universe governed by physical laws. Our bodies require food for energy and sleep for rejuvenation and repair. Money is the currency we use to live in a house, buy food, purchase clothes, and drive a car. We earn a living in various ways depending on capability, experience, and or intellect.

Developing a clear mind is no different from losing weight or earning a master’s degree. One needs to do the prescribed actions on a consistent basis in order to actualize results. The only question is, are you dedicated, disciplined, and motivated enough to put forth the necessary effort to live more consciously?

We don’t have to worry about beating our heart to pump our blood to our various organs, muscles and brain. Life and existence have taken this burden from us. Likewise, we don’t manage our breathing or think about consciously filling our lungs with enough oxygen in order to keep us alive. This happens for us and is a gift from existence to not be burdened with this internal process. Everything happens for us so we may free up our minds to explore creation as we see fit. Thus, it goes as no surprise that the most ancient and simple method for developing a clear mind is to watch our breath.

Watching our breath can be done anytime anywhere and it is done exactly as described. Watch. Your. Breath. It is that simple. We are not deep breathing; we are not managing the process. We are simply being aware of our breath. Being aware of this consistent process regularly trains the mind to be in the present moment. If we are in the present moment we are not thinking of the past or remembering a previous event or experience, we are not imagining a potential future, we are not participating in a nonexistent conversation with someone in our heads, we are not worrying, we are not debating, we are not fantasizing, we are not day dreaming. We are simply watching our breath.

At first one may perform this exercise sitting with eyes closed. This will lead one through the classic stages of Dharana and Dhyana (concentration and classic meditation) and perhaps Samadhi (various levels of bliss attainment beyond mind/body awareness). When you feel comfortable doing this exercise sitting down you can graduate to watching your breath as you go about your daily routine. To many this suggestion sounds impossible, but trust me, with enough practice this becomes a natural state of consciousness.

The Natural Excitement and Wonder Of Existence  

When you go about your day being aware of your breath you are in the present moment and seeing only what the present moment and experience brings to you. Thus, your level of awareness increases and your attention to detail grows.

You notice things you weren’t aware of before, the smell of flowers, the way the sunlight dances across the sidewalk, the gentle breeze through your hair and across your face. You hear a child laughing or a bird singing. You notice the insect crossing your path or see the wise old man watching you on the bench. You notice the woman talking fast because she’s nervous and needs assurance or the executive on the phone to a customer and sense he is telling a fib to get an unfair advantage. You notice the runner coming towards you and you can see, sense, feel and know their exuberance of being alive in a body that is strong, capable and free.

Life is full of excitement without looking for it. We just need to be attentive and the only way we can do this is to cultivate a mind that is clear, calm, and ready to work at our command – not the other way around.

If you would like to learn more about awareness, consciousness, meditation, or clarity please contact me for a free 30-minute discovery session where we can discuss your needs and what you’d like to bring more of into your life. I look forward to speaking with you!

What’s Beneath the Surface of Your Conscious Awareness?

How To Control Your Emotions

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We all know what it feels like to watch something on the news and instantly feel anxious, especially now. We feel that familiar spike in our heart rate, our palms get sweaty and our pupils dilate.

But we also know what it feels like to share love, kindness and compassion with another person. Do you ever notice how exhausted you feel after an angry outburst, but how energized you feel after showing love to another?

Emotions are vital energy currency. Each emotion either depletes our energy or vitalizes it. If someone indulges in negative emotions frequently, then they will look and feel exhausted. Therefore, it is important to really understand what thoughts and emotions are and how we can learn to consciously manage ourselves so we optimize our energy and navigate our day in the most efficient way possible.

In today’s video I offer some fascinating insight into how thoughts affect not only ourselves, but also our environment and how we can take responsibility for our emotions and learn how and when to spend our daily ‘spiritual dollars’ in a productive way. It’s all about education and then execution. So, let’s get into it!

You’ll discover:

– How thoughts are ‘things’…
– Evidence of how our thoughts affect water, plants, animals and small children…
– Why controlling our emotions is necessary for our physical and mental health…
– How our bodies chemically react to each and every thought and emotion we have…
– How to consciously choose what thoughts you want to energize…
– The most effective method to distance yourself from your thoughts and emotions in order to be more cool, calm and collected…

What Is Your Energy Revealing About You Right Now?

Magical Power Places – Sedona, Arizona 

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What Are Magical Power Places?

You may have heard of places like Machu Picchu (Peru), Glastonbury (England), Mount Shasta (California), Bali (Indonesia), Varanasi (India), Uluru (Australia), and many many more.

These places are considered sacred, spiritual, and powerful. Many people are actually drawn to these sites unconsciously thinking they are going because of the history, culture or natural beauty.

No matter how one comes to discover these magical power places, one cannot deny the mystical, magical and mysterious nature that these destinations naturally exude. 

Travel is wonderful for the soul because it opens you up to different ways of life, new scenery, and offers possibilities and opportunities to perceive life differently.

When you visit a magical power place your opportunity to grow and evolve is accelerated because the energy is more concentrated and uplifting. 

For those that are interested in spiritual evolution and conscious expansion, visiting a magical power place is an absolute must. 

First, the space itself is charged and helps one to be more sensitive and attuned to higher frequencies. This is nature’s way of giving you a natural ‘boost’ to your energy system and allows you to imbibe and take in the different energies much easier.

Second, there have been many people and cultures that have recognized the land/space as being high energy frequency and have maintained the sacredness of the land through rituals and traditions. These sights of worship, ceremonies, and meditation have all added to the energy frequency making it very potent for us to ride the wave of previous energy work.

Third, a magical power place always give you what you need at the perfect time and place for you. This means that chance encounters with certain plants, animals, or people are very purposeful and important to your spiritual growth and evolution. Repeated signs, coincidences, and unique inner experiences often magically find their way into your consciousness, inviting you to explore and discover at a deeper level.

Magical power places are an invitation to learn more about yourself, nature, energy, and existence. They are a gift to us, when we are ready, to follow our calling and absorb the energy of the sacred land, sea, and sky.

The Twinkling Wonder of Sedona – Bell Rock’s Masculine Vibe

Bell Rock, Sedona AZ

I’ve been wanting to visit Sedona, Arizona for many years. My opportunity came this past week when my husband and I ventured into the gorgeous Red Rock country for our first glimpse of Sedona’s magic.

Our first stop was Bell Rock. As we made our way up the trail we paused to contemplate which way to trek. Looking to my left I felt this path would offer less traffic and a greater opportunity for silence.  

The surrounding scenery was breathtaking and the hike was relatively easy. We had a great time winding our way up the rock going higher and higher.

After some time we found a little area that had a shady rock overhang and a small flat surface. We brushed away the loose stones, took off our hiking boots and socks, and settled into a nice meditation together. 

Meditating in a power place amplifies your natural frequency. Tuning into Bell Rock’s energy was immediate, intense, and felt like it had a purpose. Many have described Bell Rock as being ‘masculine’ in nature which means to say that it is outward focused, sharp and powerful. If you are looking for solutions, answers, creative insight or just seeking a way forward, then meditating on Bell Rock will offer you all this and more.

After our meditation we continued winding our way up Bell Rock. To my left I noticed a particularly curious tree. It was as much peculiar as it was magical. I felt drawn to its irresistible energy and quickly sat underneath its twisted shaded branches.

The connection was immediate. The tree vibrated a sparkling tingly quality of effervescent energy. It was like the tree was giggling or laughing. Sitting beneath her branches it was easy to imbibe her natural bliss.

There are so many little nooks and crannies that one can escape to on Bell Rock. It was as if each stone, tree, insect and bird held an ancient secret tucked deep within themselves that held the promise of revelation only if you took the time to sit and listen. 

Magic was certainly in the air and the twinkling wonder of Sedona’s captivating red rock had us enthralled.

Not bad for our first introduction to mystical Sedona! 

Laughing Tree, Bell Rock, Sedona, AZ

(The laughing tree! Notice how the limbs of many trees are twisted due to the intense energy vortex found on these rock formations.)

Cathedral Rock – A Call Back To Mother Nature’s Womb

Cathedral Rock, Sedona, AZ

The next day I felt a very distinct call to hike up Cathedral Rock another one of Sedona’s very famous rock formations. This time we set off early and were on the hiking trails by 7am.  

We made our way to the top which had breathtaking views and gorgeous natural scenery. But it was my experience on the way down that I will hold in my heart for quite some time.

As we made our descent I felt a pull to my right and found an area that was shaded by trees and out of the way. 

We settled in and began our meditation. 

Once the body and mind are settled and at ease, with little to no thought, then the land speaks to you.

Power Place Tip: In order to feel the energies of any power place, one needs to get into a meditative state. If you are a regular meditator then this is a very natural process but if you just started out then becoming sensitive to the energies may be a little more difficult. 

In my experience, I started to feel the energy from the earth rise into my body. Subtle vibrations of energy slowly started circulating through me and all around me. It was such a soft, graceful energy; quite different from the energy of Bell Rock from the previous day.

As I enjoyed this gentle energy I suddenly felt a rise of emotion course through me.

A heavy sob erupted from within me and I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks. I wasn’t sad. The energy was so subtle, so gentle, and so soft that it touched the very core of my being.

It felt as if I was being cradled, embraced, and enveloped in a very gentle, mother-like energy that was incredibly soft, nurturing, unconditional and forgiving.

Every fiber in my being felt this energy undulating through me. My heart felt like it could burst from the raw compassion being offered to me. It was so tender, warm, and infinite in it’s depth.

I remained in this energy state for quite some time simply enjoying being cradled, held, and loved.

Suddenly and without notice, I was given information about this sacred place.

I was shown that this place, Cathedral Rock, was like a ‘womb’ and those that are called to it find themselves wrapped in the gentle loving embrace of the feminine or motherly energy. I realized that whether consciously or unconsciously, all those that are called to visit Cathedral Rock are being called back into the womb; not of our mother but of creation itself.

This womb cradled me, rocked me, and gently whispered her wisdom to me. The emotional release felt cleansing, uplifting, and purifying.

After some time I knew that my journey was coming to an end. I asked, “Is there a message for me?” Immediately there was a response as if just waiting for me to simply ask:

“Dear One. Beauty. There is beauty everywhere; and not just in the obvious places.”

Just as this message came a small bird chirped a gorgeous silky trill right above my head on a branch above me.

The bird’s song was exquisite and pleasurable beyond words. I sunk into it like I’ve never sunk into a sound before. The very vibration entered me and I felt it as if I was it.

In that moment the overwhelming perfection of creation sent a shockwave through my being and I humbly realized that such divine ecstasy was given to me for FREE.

I didn’t have to do anything for it. It was always there, an unconditional love personified as nature’s perfection, always available, always present, always accesible.

I didn’t have to do anything to receive such beauty, such grace, such divine perfection. And yet, these everyday moments of nature’s divinity are everywhere, every moment.

The profoundness of such a realization was just overwhelming and I let out another sob from deep within my soul. Crying not of sadness but of deep appreciation, realization, and gratefulness to simply be alive.

At that moment, in an instant, I just knew the thousands about thousands of millennia it must have took for this simple creature to sing so effortlessly. I realized the complexity of creation, the perfection in the chaos, the magic in the mundane.

I was being reminded to never again look upon anything as ordinary. The Mother of Creation was reminding me that we are no simple happening.

Everything is a wonder; filled with infinite mysteries.

And such was the message from Cathedral Rock; womb to Mother Earth, Gaia, and Pachamama – beauty and perfection are everywhere.

What can one do with the realization of the perfection of creation?

I did the only thing I could do.

I raised my hands in namaskar mudra, a symbolic gesture of bowing down in reverence.

I gave thanks to everything that conspired for me to be here; to be alive, to exist, to be aware, and to appreciate all that I am and ever will be.

“May you unfold your being with folded hands.” – Sadhguru

Chocolatree in Sedona, AZ - Orbs

(After my meditation we stopped at the ‘Chocolatree‘ a nearby vegan restaurant where I took a shot of Guruji’s Grace a natural ayurvedic shot. When my husband tried to take my pic the camera refused to focus on me. Clearly I’ve attracted some higher beings in my aura that were riding the wave of bliss that Mother Gaia bestowed upon me. If you look closely, you can even see an eye in one of the orbs.)

My gratitude for this inner experience is beyond words and yet I attempted to put it into language for the benefit of my readers.

I am sharing this with you so that your heart may be stirred. So that you are aware that there is magic everywhere.

“Dear One. Beauty. There is beauty everywhere; and not just in the obvious places.”

Where in your life can you reconnect to the divine?

Your child’s laughter?

Your homecooked meal?

A reinvigorating shower?

The sunrise? Sunset?

Your favorite tree?

Your very breath?

Don’t discount the ordinary, mundane, or everyday experiences or things.

Within all of creation is beauty; infinite beauty, so says Mother Gaia. 🙂

With you in wholeness,

Elizabeth

What If You Could Read the Energetic Blueprint of Your Life?

Listening vs Talking

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One of my most watched youtube videos is The Art of Silence. In this video I talk about the incessant need of sharing and opining via talking, along with the energy consequences of this activity. I also introduce the concept of silence as a spiritual practice to evolve oneself and grow in maturity and conscious evolution. 

The need to constantly share has become more of an obsession with the advent of social media and the unexamined ‘social’ and ‘cultural’ norms of constantly updating one’s life status, thoughts, opinions, and activity levels.

In this world, everyone is fighting for the lead role on the stage of life. Pay attention to me! Listen to me! Watch this! Look at me doing this! See me, hear me, acknowledge me!!!

This is the ego, the unconscious, the unevolved aspect of ourselves that is desperate for attention in whatever form it can get it from. 

The internet aside, socializing and communing with others is equally fascinating.

People love to talk. They especially love to talk about themselves.

But did you ever notice that no one likes to listen? Those that listen are generally therapists, healers, helpers, and/or teachers. 

Those that find themselves in these roles tend to learn through observation, notice patterns, perceive the subtle, gravitate towards silence, prefer nature, and regularly practice self-contemplation and higher self-awareness.

The listeners of this world usually prefer solitude.

Why?

If you no longer have the need to constantly express and impress, then what do you have left?

What is left is life. Simplicity. Purity. Silence. Bliss. 

Satchitananda or Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss

What the ancients have long expressed as: Satchitananda or Truth, Consciousness, and Bliss. 

In the beginning, we stay silent to learn, to observe, to calm the feverish waters of the mind, egoic psyche, and karmic compulsions. 

As we abide in silence, we build greater and greater momentum as more and more self-awareness dawns. We notice things more, we pay attention easier, we come to understand others easily, we stay calm, our intuition grows, and our sensitivity to life expands. 

In the later stages, silence is no longer a disciplined practice but a call back home, our refuge, our center, our source of everything.

Learn to calm the waters of the mind. Practice silence.

Abstain from social media for a time. At first it will be difficult as the mind has an incessant need to share, judge, and compare. How else will you get your fix if you don’t find someone or something else to argue with or about?

Knowing this, give yourself some time to explore silence. At first, let it be a day without any social media updates, mindless flicking of Tik Tock or Youtube shorts, negative news updates, and gossip articles.

Explore this uncomfortable feeling and choose to do something else. Go outside and take a walk. Clean out that closet. Plant a tree, play with your children or pets. Start a new art craft or build something useful.

As you practice silence you gain more time. Time which can be used for self-exploration, personal development, and meditation.

Silence and solitude is not to be feared but to be explored to its depths. 

Do something different and try something new.

Mark Twain Quote on majority

If you are ready to explore silence and the depths of your being and would like a guide and mentor to help you on your path, please click the button below to schedule a discovery call with me. I look forward to working with you!

With you in wholeness,

Elizabeth

How Well Do You Really Know Yourself?

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Elizabeth Hancock CPC, CSC - Yogi, Mystic, Artist

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