Image by FriskoDude via Flickr

The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings…

As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become.

From the Dhammapada (sayings of the Buddha)

That’s all I’ve got for today, but I believe it says it all!

Love, Kat

Related articles by Zemanta

• Two Simple Ways to Form New Habits Without Really Trying (zenhabits.net)
• Practice Awareness and Stress Less (the-secret-resource.com)
• Surrender to Receive All Your Heart’s Desires (itakeoffthemask.com)
• Manifest Your Magnificence Review (momblognetwork.com)

I have a lot of favorite yoga poses, but if I just had to pick one it would be Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II).  It appears fairly simple, but so much can be achieved in this pose (so much can be felt in this pose if you hold it long enough!!).

At first, it’s all about just trying to stay in the pose while your thigh and shoulders are screaming at you, but once you find proper alignment and connect with your breath, Warrior II is so peaceful.  It’s like a peaceful warrior; strong, focused, and courageous!

With practice, you begin to feel how strong the thigh is and come to appreciate it, and the shoulders are there, but you’re relaxed.  This feels good.  You keep holding.  Then maybe it’s not so good, but wait I’m thinking about my thigh.  Breathe!  Okay, feels better.

As thoughts like this go on in your head, you must remember to breathe.  It’s with the breath that this pose becomes meditative.  And, it’s the breath that allows you to relax when you’re in an uncomfortable position.  It’s the breath that allows you to just be in the pose, rather than doing the pose.

Here’s some alignment points (based on the picture above):

• The left leg is bent to a 90 degree angle.
• Weight is on the center of the left heel, and the toes relaxed (knee is stacked over the heel).
• Open the hip by taking the left knee towards the left “baby” toe.
• Lift the left hip crease off the left thigh (this will help get the spine vertical).
• Outside edge of the right foot is grounded down.
• The spine is extended upward in a vertical line.
• Arms are open out extending in both directions, feeling the arms strong and long (so to gain space in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints).
• Shoulders are relaxed down, away from the ears.
• Gaze is out over your left hand.
• Hold & BREATHE.
• Then hit the other side!

Physically, Warrior II will increase your stamina, and strengthen your legs, ankles, and arms.  It’s great for stretching and opening your chest, shoulders, hips, and groin.  It relieves backaches, great for flat feet, and get this…infertility!  It even helps with carpal tunnel and sciatica.

Practice Warrior II often…it’s a great spiritual teacher!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (naturalmedicine.suite101.com)
• Think of Your Workout as Active Meditation (fitsugar.com)
• Stop! Slow down to access faster vibration. (using-spiritual-energy.blogspot.com)
• Mindfulness Meditation: Reducing Anxiety by Focusing on the Present Moment (psychcentral.com)
• Win this beautiful amethyst and Czech glass necklace made by me! (dailygratitudeblog.blogspot.com)
• Fertility expert warns ‘don’t rush into treatment’ (telegraph.co.uk)

I’d love one.  Thanks for asking!

Okay, so here’s the deal.  My post today is about IBC (not to be confused with IBS or the root beer).  I’m talking about IndyBizChicks.com.  This cool company is ran by this “chick” named Crissy Herron.  She’s having a contest to give away a power publicity makeover.  (Think this is one of her publicity stunts??)

Here’s what I’m going to win:

It’s a six week session that will include:

• Define your target market – and learn how to reach them!
• Give your website an evaluation and make sure it is as profitable as it can be
• Learn how to write an awesome press release
• Build a media list, press kit, and press room
• Learn about social networking, article marketing, JV partnerships, and MORE!
• Build a marketing plan to help you rock it out in 2009!

I’m at a place in my life where I’m ready to take what I do to the next level.  My yoga journey is where it all started.  That’s how I got into all this cool spiritual stuff.  My yoga practice taught me to be present and to connect to my true self.  Once I found this place within, my life started to shift.  I became more grateful and more aware (among other things!).  I went for years not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but now I know and wow…it’s such a cool feeling.  It’s a relief, to say the least.  So coming from this place within me that is light, is positive, is love….I’m ready!  I believe the combination of yoga teaching, jewelry making, and spiritual blogging mom all come together beautifully through my website. Everything I do on my site (and in my life for that matter) is done with the intention of teaching and learning how to live life easy.  How to go with the flow and enjoy the ride.  And this, Crissy, is why I’m ready to rock it out in 2009!

You can enter the contest too, or just pay her

Go here – http://indiebizchicks.com/wp/power-publicity-makeover/

Thanks Crissy!  I can’t wait to work with you~

Related articles by Zemanta

• Marketing for Conscious Entrepreneurs (the-secret-resource.com)
• Marketing on Facebook Part 2 (mjroseblog.typepad.com)
• use your words to change your mind (bripblap.com)
• Get Your Press Release to the Right People (bizzia.com)

Image by Hamed Saber via Flickr

I love being aware of the Law of Attraction (LOA) at work. If you’re familiar with the LOA you know that it’s working whether we know it or not. Well, it gets even cooler when you see it happening!!

Here’s the LOA at it’s finest. I received an email from a friend of mine this morning. I didn’t have time to read it so I just left it in my inbox. When I sat down to do this blog post, or at least attempt it, I was thinking about what I should write about and more so do I have enough time to devote to writing a post today (I have 2 small kids and I can’t have them watching Dora ALL day long!). Everything that I thought to write about I knew would take a while, so I decided to just let it go. Now, since I have all this “spare” extra time I decided to open my friends email and read it.

The email was a Powerpoint presentation on Great Advice. Thank you, Gail! Now I have a blog topic!! (Let’s hope I can type fast… Dora’s almost over!!)  And, thank you to whoever put this Powerpoint presentation together.  Good stuff!

1. Walk 10 – 30 minutes everyday, while smiling.
2. Sit quietly for at least 10 minutes everyday, in isolation if necessary.
3. Upon arising every morning, one must immediately say “My goal today is…”.
4. Listen to quality music everyday. This is nourishment for the soul.
5. Live with the three “e’s”: energy, enthusiasm, and empathy.
6. Play more games than last year.
7. Read more books than last year.
8. Look at the sky at least once a day, appreciating the majesty of the world that surrounds us.
9. Dream more while awake.
10. Eat more foods that come from trees and plants. Eat less manufactured foods.
11. Eat berries and nuts. Drink green tea, plenty of water, and a glass of wine each day; toast something beautiful in life, and if possible in the company of a loved one.
12. Try to make at least 3 people laugh everyday.
13. Eliminate clutter in the home, the car, and the office. Let a new energy enter your life.
14. Don’t spend your precious time immersed in rumors, things from the past, negative thoughts, or things beyond your control. It is better to invest your energy in the positive present.
15. Life is a school and we are here to learn. Problems are lessons that come and go; what we learn from them will serve us our entire lives.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.
17. Smile and laugh more often.
18. Do not let an opportunity pass to hug a friend.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating someone.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. Nobody else does.
21. It is not necessary to win every argument. One must accept that the other person is not in agreement, and learn from his position.
22. Make peace with your past, so as not to ruin your present.
23. Don’t compare your life with others. You have no idea of the highways they have traveled during their lives.
24. Nobody is responsible for your happiness, except yourself.
25. Remember well that we have no control over what happens to us, but only what we do.
26. Learn something new everday.
27. What others think of us is not completely under our control.
28. Appreciate your body and it’s marvels.
29. Whether the situation is good or bad, it will change.
30. Work will not take care of us when we are sick. Our friends will. Stay in contact with them.
31. Reject everything that is not useful, amusing, or beautiful.
32. Don’t lose time. We already have all the things we need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. Nothing is as important as sitting, standing, getting dressed, and helping others.
35. Have fantastic sex, always in harmony with the other person.
36. Phone your family regularly, and tell them “Hi, I was thinking of you”.
37. Each day before going to sleep say: I am thankful for_________. Today, I succeeded in _________.
38. Remember that we have too much that is good to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the voyage. There is only one chance to be successful.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Steps to activate the law of attraction. (using-spiritual-energy.blogspot.com)
• Two Simple Ways to Form New Habits Without Really Trying (zenhabits.net)
• 10 Steps to a Zen-like Working Environment (cheerfulliving.com)
• Creating Spaces for Success (crystalsquest.com)

As I’ve gone through my spiritual journey (and still on it!) I’ve learned so much.  Early on, though, there’s one thing I learned from a book by Don Miguel Ruiz called The Four Agreements that really changed my life.  Actually, his entire book changed my life, but one the the agreements, in particular, made my life easier!

DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY

“Nothing others do is because of you.  What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.  When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

This is a HUGE statement!

Have you ever tried to do something only to have someone tell you what a terrible idea it is?  Have you ever been cussed at and wondered what the *%$? you did?  When you begin to understand that it’s not personal, you begin to have less stress in your life, and like the book says, you begin to suffer less.

I remember when my husband and I were just dating and he told me he “needed some space”.  What?  Really?  That freaked me out.  I took it so personally.  I would sit and stress about what I did wrong, and I truly suffered over it.  I felt awful.  Now, looking back on it, it had absolutely nothing to do with me.  He was going through whatever he was going through and it wasn’t about me at all.

It’s so refreshing to know that whatever someone says or does is not about you.  That person may be having a bad day and take it out on you, but if you know that it’s not you, it’s them, then it makes your life so much easier.  What that person most likely needs is compassion, rather than you yelling back, getting defensive, or copping an attitude.

I know this is easier said than done, so here’s a few tips to help you let it go and show compassion.

1.  You are inherently a good person, so have confidence.  What others say to you or about you does NOT define who you are!

2.  Take a few deep breaths before responding or reacting.  This will give you a few moments to relax and get grounded.  And, in that time the other person may cool down a bit too.

3.  Ignore the situation.  If you stay positive and don’t give attention to what the other person is saying or doing, this may actually help that person, and it’ll no doubt help you.

4.  Realize that the person may be exhausted, pressured, or just immature so what they really need is your help, advice, or a shoulder.

So the next time you’re feeling sensivite, just remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” When you take things personally, you’re allowing someone else’s opinion of you be more important than the opinion of yourself.  What you think and believe about yourself is so important.  You are worthy.  You are love.  You deserve the best.  So don’t take anything personally!!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Personal Suffering and the Experience of Compassion (digitaldoorway.blogspot.com)
• 8 Secrets to Settling Disagreements (drivenleaders.com)

If you were to walk into my bathroom right now and look at yourself in the mirror, not only would you see your beautiful self but you’d also see this:

Gratitude

$$$

What is your relationship with the present  moment?

Abundance

Ease

All you have to do is feel good now!

Only good things come to me!

What do I want?

I wrote all this on the mirror with red lipstick so that while I’m brushing my teeth, my hair, or washing my face I can be reminded of these things.  I love starting & ending my day with the awareness of the present moment, the awareness of all I have to be grateful for, and the awareness of the things I want to manifest in my life.

It’s so easy to go throughout the day and never once be conscious of your breath.  For that matter, it’s so easy to let weeks, months, and years go by without ever getting out of your head.  We tend to live in our thoughts, and when we do that we’re either thinking about the past (I can’t believe he said that to me!) or worrying about the future (if I don’t get this job, how am I going to pay my bills?).  There’s such a peace when we get past all that head stuff!

Being a yoga teacher and a student to spirituality, I know to pay attention to my breath and get present, to notice how I react to things, and to be aware of how I am thinking and how I feel, but it takes more than just knowing these things.  It takes practice…and lots of it!  I’m not going for perfection, just that place where I’m in touch with my Being.  That place where my Being (true Self, Higher Self, Spirit) is leading me in all I do so that life is easy and I’m just going with the flow.  I want to be in a place where opportunities comes my way and I’m awake enough to see them.  I want my actions to be inspired by my Being, not a reaction out of fear or stress.  I want to always be learning.  And, I want to live in peace!

I say all that to say this:  I have created another way (besides my bathroom mirror) for me to remember to connect to my Being.  I started making charms that I call BE Charmed.  These charms can hang from just about anything.  I have one on my yoga bag, one on my diaper bag, and one on my handbag (they make great keychains too).  The idea is that when you see your charm you connect to your breath and find your stillness.  You’re not thinking, not judging, not doing, you just BE Charmed!

If you’d like to be reminded of the present moment, or even have a personal affirmation you’d like to repeat, then these are for you!  You can either order one, that I’ve already made, from my website or send me an email and I’ll custom one for you.

Until next time, Be well and BE Charmed!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Yoga Techniques Practices For Beginners (healthlifestyleforever.com)
• Why Show Gratitude When We Can Be Selfish? (healthmoneysuccess.com)
• Practice Awareness and Stress Less (the-secret-resource.com)
• The Use of Affirmations As Positive Brainwashing (the-secret-resource.com)
• Using Positive Affirmations Effectively (the-secret-resource.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Today, I sit outside on the patio taking in the slight breeze, sun, and perfect weather.  I love March.  It’s a time to reawaken, and a time for growth.  It’s a time to clear out the cob webs, not only in our closets, but in our minds.  Just like the tulips bloom, so can our minds!

I want to share with you a story I really enjoy and get a lot out of.  I hope you do too~

This story is about a farmer who worked really hard every single day to earn a meager wage for him and his family.  One day he saw a couple of men walk across his land and they stopped when they came to a stream of water.  One man scooped up some of it and drank it, and the other man put some of the water into a canteen.  The farmer was puzzled as to why anyone would be interested in the water .  The cows weren’t even interested because of the scum and filth that was in it.

A few weeks later a man called the farmer and offered him a great price for his farm.  The farmer thought this guy must be crazy.  How could he ever get his investment back by farming the land that the farmer had for years.  The farmer gladly sold the property and moved.

Well, it wasn’t long before word spread that oil had been found on that land, and millions of dollars was made because of it.  The farmer, however, remained poor and worked so hard because that’s all he knew.  He could only see that farm as stones and dirt.  He only knew how to scratch the surface and till the soil.  Nature had given this man an abundance, but he could only realize a small portion.  Man will always remain poor if he only demands a meager living, and sees life as a struggle.

Throughout my life, I’ve ran across many people like this.  They believe that life is hard, and it’s a daily struggle to make ends meet.  They work so hard living check to check.  And…(this is what really gets me), they teach their children this!  That yes, life is hard and you can’t have everything you want.

Since I have an economics degree I have to add a little supply and demand talk in here!  Demand determines supply.  We demand a more fuel efficient “green” car…automakers supply us with those now.  We demand a faster internet connection, we are given that.  We must open our minds and let it expand.  We would never have a “green” car or speedy internet connection if someone hadn’t educated their mind to open and to realize there’s something greater out there.

Supply is not the issue here – demand is!  Whatever it is we demand, it will be supplied.  If you ask any scientist, he will tell you there is plenty of food.  If you ask any farmer, he will tell you there is actually an oversupply of crops.  If you ask any miner, he will tell you there is way more silver, gold, and diamonds than is being demanded.  The supply is here.  Can we just open our minds a little, or a lot, and see that we may actually be sitting on abundance, sitting on all this undiscovered supply?  We just have to get out of our own way.  It’s right there waiting for us.

If the family struggling on a daily basis believes this is just how life is, then they don’t demand much and thus are not given much.  So, just like the farmer, we can choose to just scratch the surface OR we can be willing to break away from what we believe (life is tough), open our mind, and demand a great life, demand abundance.  It’s here waiting for us, we just have to step up to the plate!  Are you ready?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Get Happiness Now! (selfimprovementsites.com)
• How to Create the Abundance Mindset (cheerfulliving.com)
• Change Your Thinking (ambianceofwellbeing.blogspot.com)

If you watch the news, read the papers, or listen to any news media you’re sure to hear how bad the economy is right now.  This is why I don’t do these things!  It seems as if everywhere you turn there’s talk of bad things – worry of loosing jobs, homes, and cars.  I don’t want to hear it, and I choose not to!  And because of this…my personal economy is great!

Yours can be too, if you will put the work in.  Here’s what I mean:

Say there’s rumors flying around your company that layoffs are on the way.  Everyone is in a panic.  The water cooler talk is so dismal that you can’t even get things done because your mind is so full of fear.  What do you do?  First, you have to stop all the craziness flying around in your head.  You must go back to work and realize that you are an asset and you can create whatever it is you desire.  You must BELIEVE this.

When you live with fear, worry, and doubt you close yourself off to anything good.  This is so limiting and it brings about stress and anxiety, which then produces more fear, worry and doubt.  You have to realize that there is absolutely NO lack or limitation, only complete abundance.  There’s more than enough money, food, and prosperity to go around.  It’s our mind that limits us and tells us we have a finite amount of resources.  And, on the same token, it’s our mind that can expand and grow and create; giving us all that we desire.  When you begin to relax, the mind opens.  An open mind can and will receive.  There is an infinite supply of resources.  You just have to understand it and believe it so that eventually you see it!

When your mind focuses on the positive and you ignore the rumors and let everyone else fret over “the situation”, then things will all work out for the best.  If you go about your business and work as if the economy is booming  and you expect your work situation to improve, then it will.  Your employer will either see how valuable you are and keep you, or maybe you are let go, but another door will be open for you immediately.

Okay, so I hear you saying “Yeah, but this is reality.  Our economy is in a depression right now, companies are closing down and the market is crashing.”  (I really have no idea what’s happening out there since I don’t watch or read any bad news!  See “Katland” blog).  So, here’s what I have to say to you – you determine your own reality.  We all perceive things differently, and whatever we think about something is our reality.  It’s like you’re a magnet and you attract to you whatever you’re thinking.  If you’re thinking how bad things are and how you’re about to get fired, then guess what?  However, if your thoughts are constructive and good, then you’ll attract to you those good things.  It’s the Law of Attraction, and it’s a universal law, which means it’s happening whether you know it or not.

Here’s the work you’ll have to do.  You have to become aware of all the negative things you’re consuming.  You have to become aware of what negative things you’re telling yourself.  You have to immediately, the moment you’re aware of that negativity, change your thought to a positive one.  Then, you have to believe in your positivity and expect it.  This takes work.  It takes dedication, and it takes an open mind.  It takes a willingness, an allowing, and a surrendering.

I promise – it’s so worth it!

Related articles by Zemanta

• use your words to change your mind (bripblap.com)
• Stop Begging! Start Manifesting by Bob Proctor (the-secret-resource.com)
• How to Create the Abundance Mindset (cheerfulliving.com)
• Cornucopia of Abundant Gratitude & Love~Happy Thanksgiving! (earthharmonyhome.com)

Awareness – I love this word.  For me it’s what has changed my life.  Well, not that my life has changed so much necessarily, but how I look at my life has changed.  Well okay, maybe it has changed my life!

Awareness has made me see things more clearly.  It’s the awareness I have of my breath and the awareness of what’s going on in my head that has given me the freedom to live easy.  It’s awareness that has given me the freedom to live stress free.  Yes, I said it…stress free!  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not perfect.  I do have moments of stress, but it’s just for a moment.  When I become aware that I’m stressing, I stop.  I realize what’s going on in my head (I’m making up crazy scenarios of what I think is going to happen but never does), and then I decide what to do.  I can either keep freaking out, or I can change my thoughts to more positive ones.  I can choose to shift my thoughts so I relax.  For example, I think about the love I have for my kids or all the things I have to be grateful for.   However, if the situation that is stressing me out has a really strong pull on me (I’m sure there’s lots of that going on in this “bad” economy…that’s another blog topic!), and I can only think of my loving kids for so long (haha) then what I do is I keep coming back – coming back to my breath, coming back to my happy thoughts, coming back to my awareness.  Eventually, you realize that the stressful situation is either out of your control or something that you can act on (when the time is right).  BUT, either way you must become aware of how that stress has a hold of you (how are you reacting to it?).

If it’s something that is out of your control, then that’s just it.  You become aware of that fact and then you let it go.  If it’s something that you can act on, then staying aware will keep you in your positive thoughts (if that’s what you choose).  Those positive thoughts are crucial because that’s what will give you the inspiration for your actions.

There’s also an awareness of how you feel.  Physically, you become aware of how your body feels (this is where I plug my yoga classes).  My body holds a lot less tension because I’m aware when I have my shoulders scrunched up to my ears, or when I’ve got worry wrinkles on my forehead.  But then there’s also this awareness of how you feel emotionally.  When you get down to it, there’s really only two emotions, good or bad.  So if you can always get back to feeling good (positive thoughts feel good), your life becomes easier.  Believe it or not, life really is simple!  It really is easy!  It really can be stress free!

It just takes practice.  Awareness takes practice!  It’s a continual remembering to be aware.  So the more you practice being aware, the more you remember to do it.  The more you remember to do it, the more it becomes a part of your life.  The more it becomes a part of your life, the better your life becomes.

If you want to live a stress free life like I do, awareness is one of your best friends!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Awareness and Wisdom (itakeoffthemask.com)
• Chill Out: Anger Is Bad For the Heart (fitsugar.com)
• You are not Alone – Coping With Stress & Anxiety (articlesbase.com)
• Stress Management and Relaxation (mindbodyfitness.suite101.com)

Image via Wikipedia

I love to read all kinds of books, which is a relatively new thing for me as I didn’t read a single book in high school (unless you count cliff notes as being a book…which I did at that time!).  However, I tend to gravitate towards non-fiction books.  Having two small children and being addicted to t.v., Facebook, and the internet, in general, I don’t have too much extra time to read so when I do I almost always go for something that’s going to open my mind!  If you’re ever out looking for me in a B&N it’s a pretty safe bet to say I’ll be in the self-improvement section…or at the Starbucks!

So, here’s a list of books that I’m absolutely wild about!  I’ve read these books at least 2 times each, and some of them even more.  Like I said, they’re books that will open your mind so reading them over and over again you tend to get a better understanding and you pick up on things that you may have missed the first time.

A Return to Love – Marianne Williamson

A New Earth – Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

The Law of Attraction – Ester & Jerry Hicks

The Traveler’s Gift – Andy Andrews

The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz

Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Working with the Law – Raymond Holliwell

I was going to try to put these in order of most favorite, but that’s impossible to do!  They’re all really great, must have books.  Most of these authors have written multiple books and they’re great as well.

I would love to hear your suggestions to, so feel free to leave a comment and list your favs!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Oprah’s Teacher Says Overcome Your Ego (abcnews.go.com)
• 15 Simple Ways to Overcome Anger (thinksimplenow.com)
• The 11 Forgotten Laws – Bob Proctor Interview (the-secret-resource.com)
• Six Minutes To Success Review (secondprinciple.com)