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I'd like to share the ways in which I have been able to open up my own channels. This has been a process of trial and error for me over the last 15 or so years-I've tried all of these methods at various times and continue to work with those activities that resonate most on a day to day basis…I would suggest that you look at the various tools I've outlined and begin by deciding to become consistent in practicing the ones that you have the least resistance to…and go from there…Enjoy the journey within!

Quiet Your Body and Mind

Physical Activity

Prayer

Pay Attention To Your Body

The Importance of Honoring Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

Be Creative and Have Fun in the Creative Process

Trust Your Intuitive Guidance and Find Support For It

Quiet Your Body and Mind

Find a practice that you can commit to that will allow you to still your mind and body. It's vital to empty your mind of its "noise" -showing itself so often in the form of worries, concerns, and endless other lower energy fillers. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through meditation. Meditation is simply a matter of getting into a comfortable position and breathing.

Step1: Get comfortable

Step2: Take a deep breath in…then release slowly

Step3: Focus on your breath as you allow your mind to quiet down. As thoughts flow through, gently return to your normal breathing.

That's it! If however, you find focused meditation too daunting or difficult, choose any "meditation-like" like activity that will allow your thoughts to slow down and relax. Good alternatives are: walking, gardening or landscaping, driving (without the radio),daily commuting to work, household chores, taking a shower or bath…

Just a few minutes at a time is a gold mine of opportunity for your Higher Self to start speaking to you. One of the most important things I've learned from my teacher Sonia Choquette is that the voice of your Higher Self is subtle. It won't yell and scream to get your attention. So why not turn off the tv and start listening?

Physical Activity

Exercise is often pushed as a means of getting the physical body strong and healthy, but actually it's also essential as a means of getting us back into our bodies so that our Spirit can speak to us. Endless ideas and divine inspirations have a way of pouring in when we get our minds out of the way through exercise. Have you noticed all the wisdom that has a way of "popping in" during a good workout? It's not just the serotonin at work -- it's your spirit coming alive. If you haven't yet experienced this for yourself, give it a try and don't be surprised when you find yourself creatively inspired in new and exciting ways.

Prayer

We need to ask for support and help more often. Somewhere along the way, many of us have been taught that's only noble to ask for help on behalf of our loved ones, or we believe that we should only ask for divine assistance in a crisis. Not so! We are constantly supported by our loving God through an unlimited number of non-physical helpers. By asking God, our angels and guides specifically for what we need, we bring to us all the loving support that is constantly available to us. Inspirations, people and situations will then open up to us that otherwise might stay blocked. Jesus said it Himself, "Ask and you shall receive". Learn to ask and do it without guilt. God wants us to be happy, productive, and supported. Trust that you deserve all the help that's available to you in the Universe and confidently express your needs and desires to God at all times.

Pay Attention To Your Body

Listen to the wisdom of your body…Notice all the messages that it continually gives you in its physical sensations and responses. Pay attention to the foods that fuel it properly and eat more of them. Same goes for the proper amounts of sleep, exercise, and recreation time that is vital to the balance of your body and soul…Become highly attuned to the messages and signals your body is continually giving…Your body is your greatest psychic receptor and is always leading you in the proper direction -yet, we so often disregard the clear warnings or messages it is imparting and instead defer to the "intellectual" reasoning of our minds and egos. I'm not at all suggesting that we don't consider our choices and decisions in a thoughtful way---Not at all…I am however, pointing out that so often we can rationalize our way through different situations, while at the same time, ignoring our bodies clear messages to change course in our lives..They don't call it "gut instinct" for nothing…Our stomachs can get tight in response to unhealthy situations. Our bodies also suffer when we neglect ourselves and ignore self-care…Honor yourself and your body by treating it with the respect it deserves

The Importance of Honoring Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

A message that appears to be the backbone of everything I have incorporated into my life in the last several years has been the message, "honor yourself".

Several years ago, while raising my newborn son and toddler daughter, I found myself on a rollercoaster of highs and lows, both emotionally and physically. I had a difficult time finding a state of balance. I was overwhelmed and lived generally in a reactive state to the circumstances in my life. One day, during a migraine headache attack, I was forced to lay down in a dark, quiet room with my eyes shut. Because I was frustrated, and not understanding the message my body and spirit were obviously trying to give me, I asked my body (and spirit), "What are you telling me?" The response was, "You need to honor yourself better." I was stunned to get such a profound message--and equally suprised that it was articulated so clearly. What did that mean? It was a simple statement, yet I didn't know where to start in understanding and incorporating this message into my life. As synchronicity would have it, I had ordered a book the week before, which arrived the next day. The book specifically spoke of the principles of honoring the self, others and God. I was ready to start.

The moment we decide we are ready to move out of patterns that do not serve us, and let go of control of the outcome, the flow of synchronicity opens up. It's actually very humbling (and empowering at the same time) to know that God meets us halfway with regard to our efforts toward growth and positive change.

Since that day, I am aware and observant of where the circumstances of my life throw off my decision to "honor myself". I notice when I get derailed, and do my best to quickly restore my balance. This is a process -- one that will never end. I am grateful to be reminded that we are in constant growth: always the teacher and the student.

Interestingly, within the year of that first message, given to me through a migraine headache, I found myself once again being given a similar new instruction on how to live my life more authentically. The next message was, "live by your own authority". Again, this was a new concept for me, but vital in pointing out that in order to live a life of truth and purpose, I would first have to be motivated by the power of my personal integrity and choice. I've learned it's critical not to be motivated by what others expect from me, but instead follow my inner wisdom and be led by my spirit. Living by this truth has been a progression and a liberation. Through this, I've learned that my life is meant to be lived with honor and respect for myself. I understand that it is not selfish or immoral to put my own needs, as well as the needs of my family, first and foremost. When we honor ourselves first, we are able to give freely and without expectation -- we're giving only through love. This is the way in which I strive to live, since it allows me to stay balanced, connected and fully grounded. Through this approach, life becomes much more genuine, secure, and fun!

Be Creative and Have Fun in the Creative Process

Engaging in creativity is a superb way to allow your intuition to grow and thrive. The spirit loves to play and engage in joyful expression!! In this way, our spirits support us as we allow our inner artistic genius to come forth. It doesn't matter what form of creativity you partake, it only matters that you have fun and lose yourself in the process. Sonia Choquette teaches that this is an absolutely essential tool in heightening our intuitve sensors, and I have experienced this for myself. This is because once again, the mind moves out of the way and we move into our hearts. Our hearts will always lead us in joy-filled action if we allow ourselves to to be creative and expressive for fun! Listen to your heart and where it leads…Take an improve class, paint, draw, or play an instrument….Sing at church (or in the shower!), and take the salsa lessons that have tempted you in the past, but were dismissed as too inconvenient…Make the time! Ask yourself -- what would make your heart sing?? Then commit to it and do it!

Trust Your Intuitive Guidance and Find Support For It

It is vital that we give our intuitive guidance a voice…It is also an absolute necessity that we stop censoring it as well. Guidance of the Higher Self is so respectful of our free will that it will go underground until it is acknowledged in some capacity if it is continually disregarded and censored . Voice your hunches and intuitive flashes, if only to yourself, and watch more guidance increasingly flow in. Your Spirit needs recognition and just by allowing yourself to voice your guidance, you will strengthen it. Once you start voicing your intuitive feelings, take it a step further and trust your new insights…If you feel uncomfortable sharing your insights with others, make a record of them in a journal. I've found journal writing to be an invaluable means of acknowledging and honoring the voice of my soul-and have been journaling for years as a means of sorting out my thoughts and feelings…as well as using this as a tangible way of allowing my Higher Self's wisdom to "win out" over the melodrama of my ego…Whenever I've looked back on the journal entries I've written during intensely difficult times in my life, I'm always humbled and surprised to see the wisdom I've extracted from the experience... Instead of focusing on the problems, so often I've seen my own objectively spiritual perspective relating to the obstacle I've been working to overcome. I can not stress enough the value of keeping a private journal. Journaling is a powerful way to demonstrate that you honor and support your own inner wisdom, and it will serve as a tangible validation that you knew more than you thought you did about your own problem solving abilities. You'll also notice how many intuitive clues you've picked up along the way that you may not have paid attention to otherwise.

Once you've started honoring and trusting your insights in a meaningful way personally, it is also important that you choose to spend time with people who will support your ability to express yourself intuitively. You do not need a lot of people to share this aspect of yourself---just a few trusted friends or family that you can confide in every so often. I admit that it can be intimidating to share your newly emerging intuitive guidance with some people…I would recommend that you only share these insights with those people who won't disrespect or discount your hunches or impressions…Remember that many people are not open to their own inner guidance, and will likely be skeptical of your inner nudgings as well…You don't have share everything about yourself to those people who may not be capable of supporting you…Be discerning and trust in your ability to attract and be directed to those people who will encourage you on your Soul path. Pray to be guided and supported, and have confidence that you will be.

Contact: tania@soulfinding.com