PERFECT DAY TIP #4: BE A SPIRIT JUNKIE

Today's Perfect Day Tip is about everyday spirituality. Spirituality for the modern world.

Gone are the days where being spiritual meant retreating in to a cave and meditating for hours on end. More and more people are waking up to the idea of everyday spirituality - bringing spiritual principles in to the moments of your day to day life in the aim of cultivating peace, flow and authenticity.

What feelings/thoughts/images does the word spirituality conjure up for you? What ever it is, let it go! We do not need to define spirituality or box it in to some stereotypical image. Spirituality does also not necessarily have to relate to anything religious either. It is an individual and personal practice that can be adapted and moulded by each individual to meet whatever it is they are needing. 

This is why I love the work of Gabrielle Bernstein. I have referred so many people on to the teachings of this phenomenal lady. She totally demystifies spirituality and breaks it down for the modern day woman (or man) in to manageable practices that can lead to transformational change. 

Integrating spiritual principles simply means shifting your perceptions and learning to see the world in new ways. It is not so much about what you are doing, but who you are being. Through a spiritual practice you can connect with yourself and others in a completely new way, and the way that you view the world shifts. As a result of these mental shifts, you will find that your physical, external world begins to reflect this change back to you and shifts start to occur. This practice is such a beautiful contrast to the standard action-focused way of living. 

MY CORE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES

As I mentioned, what being spiritual means to each of us is totally unique and different. But I would like to share some of the core principles that underlay my concept of spirituality. If some of these do not resonate with you, that is fine. This is about finding out what spirituality means to you.

HERE ARE MINE:

+ We have infinite potential. We can be, do or have anything we want. There are no limitations, except for the limitations that we impose upon ourselves.
+ At our core we are love. When we think from a place of fear, we are living in illusion and are not connected to our truth
+ Forgiveness heals all wounds
+ Everything is energy. We are made of energy. The energy that we give off will attract a similar energy. The energy of our thoughts and emotions alters the energy of our body and the outer world.
+ We are all spiritual beings on this planet having a human experience
+ There is a higher part of ourselves that we have access to. This is our inner guidance. It is our intuition. By tuning in and listening, we can receive guidance, messages and learning's

+ We cannot judge, blame or criticise others for things we do not like about them, as they are merely reflecting back at us the things we do not like about ourselves

+ What goes around, comes around. What you give out, you get back

+ Gratitude multiplies. Whatever you are grateful for will expand in your life
+ The world is our mirror. It reflects back to us what we put out. The outer world is a reflection of what is going on inside of us. All the people in our life are mirrors of the light and darkness that exists inside us
+ When live in flow, and we are willing to listen we will be guided to everything we need
+ We are all one. We all made of the same stuff. We are all equal. We are all connected.

+ Our purpose is to remember who we really are and to begin to create a new world around us that is filled with light, connection, love, consciousness, peace and joy
+ The universe is governed by universal laws, and by following these laws we can create a universe around us that is as exactly how we desire

When I live from this place, the world looks different. I experience more magic. Life seems to flow. Little things do not bother me. Peace comes easily. Happiness feels like my natural state.

EXPLORE WHAT SPIRITUALITY MEANS TO YOU

+ BE OPEN AND WILLING: Start by simply becoming curious. Are you holding on tightly to your set of current beliefs about the world, or are you willing to see things in a new way? Start to entertain the idea that perhaps some of the things you have come to know about the world, are not actually true. Start to explore some new concepts and try some new things on. Unless your mind is open, flexible and willing you will not be able to allow anything new in.

+ READ: Start reading new books. Simply walk in to a bookstore with the intention of gaining some new awareness of what spirituality could mean to you, and see what books you are lead too. Seriously, you will be lead. Gabrielle talks about how her first spiritual text, A Course In Miracles, literally fell or the shelf and dragged her to the counter.

+ CONNECT WITH NEW PEOPLE: Over the course of the past 10 years I have dabbled in and out of living and breathing my spiritual practice, but the times where it has been the strongest, is when I have had a community of like minded people around me. It can be intimidating at first to attempt to connect with new types of people and discuss unfamiliar topics. But if this is something you are seeking, it will help so much. Keep your eye out for local community events, meditation or yoga classes, free talks etc or simply connect with like minded peeps on the web!

+ MEDITATE: I have written about the benefits of meditation previously. But I am telling you now it is the number one way to begin to explore spirituality. Through meditation, you will find your self relax. Your mind will slow. You will be able to let go of some of your crazy, fearful thinking and reconnect with your truth. You may also begin to hear the whisper of your intuition which can begin to guide you and lead you. 

+ JOURNAL: The foundations of spirituality, lie in your relationship with yourself. A spiritual connection starts with a connection with yourself. Journalling is a great tool for this! Start by free writing about your thoughts and feelings. Tune your attention inwards and let what is inside you pour out. You may even write a question, and see what answer comes forth. By taking time to connect with yourself you will be able to develop a much greater awareness of the spiritual thread that flows through your life.

So, over to you. I would love for you to share your experiences...
+ What does spirituality mean to you?
+ What are your spiritual practices

FOLLOW YOUR HEART SERIES #1 - MELANIE COMMONS

This is the first post in the Follow Your Heart Series. This series profiles inspirational women who by listening to their heart and following their inner guidance have changed the course of their life to be one that is now filled with love, passion, fulfilment and bliss. 

The aim of this series is to provide support and hope to others who may feel that they are not on a path that is deeply serving them or who have lost connection with their true passion. It is my hope that you will allow the women in this series to serve as role models to inspire you to start listening to what your inner guidance is whispering, and to find the courage to follow the call of your heart.

The first woman to be profiled in this series is Melanie Commons. Mel and I met while we were both travelling through South America. I instantly felt drawn to her. She has an infectious positive energy, a warm open presence and an a beautiful, playful personality.

Melanie Commons - Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Tell us about what you do?
I am a Yoga and meditation teacher on the beautiful Gold Coast, Australia. I own Golden Yoga and run a boutique yoga studio in Burleigh Heads.

What do you love about what you do?
Everyday I get to wake up and teach Yoga to an assortment of gorgeous students. Yoga changed my life and I am lucky enough to be able to share this with everyone who comes in to my studio.

What does following your heart mean to you?
To me, following your heart means to listen very carefully to your inner voice. To allow yourself to be guided without question to what you intuitively know is right. We all have the strength and courage to do this but sometimes our superficial self (the ego, fear) stands in our way.

Was there ever a time that you were not doing what you loved or following your heart? Tell us about this.
I had a very dark childhood and was unable to deal with what happened to me for a long time. I suppressed deep emotions until it was too much to bear and I had to face my demons. I was living in Sydney and had many people in my life who did not have my best interests at heart. I felt trapped in a world where I was misunderstood and I knew I needed to get out. 
Without really knowing why, I broke up with my partner of 5 years, allowed many friends to disappear from my life, quite my job and decided to go overseas. I then went on a spiritual journey (which I am still on and will be on for the rest of this lifetime!!) which took me out of the life I knew and brought me to where I am today. Yoga has helped me to connect with something deeper, and help me realise that peace cannot be found externally. It is within us.

What was the turning point for you? What made you decide to make a change?
I would have to say the turning point for me was the realisation that I was living a fake life. I was pretending that I was happy when I was actually miserable. Yoga guided me within and allowed me to release the dragon! (I call my inner demons 'the dragon' hehe) Without this 'release' I believe I would still be lost and living a blank existence where everything is repressed and not dealt with. Now I can feel the plateau of peace and happiness and know that it was a rocky road, but gee it was worth it.

How exactly did you make this big transition?
As I mentioned, I literally left my old life behind! I packed up my 'Sydney life' and decided to move overseas. I travelled through South America and Europe for a year and then decided to move back to the Gold Coast to become a Yoga teacher and live on the beach. I have been back on the Gold Coast for almost 2 years and have been teaching Yoga and meditation for a year. 

There were many twists and turns along the way and I had a few struggles, but I learnt so much about myself! My old life now seems like a distant dream. My life now is full of healing and love and I am so happy.

Were there any fears/limiting beliefs that you had to overcome? How did you heal these?
Lots of fears, guilt, and lack of self-belief. I am still healing old wounds and working through some old issues. Yoga and meditation, reiki, kinesiology and deep self reflection have been complete life savers and helped me to let go of the attachment I had with the negative parts of my past. I had to relinquish my grip on fear and invite love and light in. 

How do you deal now with life's challenges?
I have learnt to respond rather than react. Being aware and present and taking responsibility for my actions, rather than placing blame on external situations or people.

What would be your advice for someone who is wanting to make the transition toward doing more of what they love or living a heart driven life?
Listen to what makes your heart sing. Listen to what makes you feel alive and passionate. Trust in yourself and trust that the universe will look after you if you follow your dream. Don't look too far ahead, take each moment at a time and enjoy the journey rather than feel anxiety about the destination!

What are your daily practices to keep you connected to your heart and your purpose?
Yoga, meditation, reading, writing, and spending time outside with my cat. It is the little things that keep me satisfied.

What core beliefs or philosophies underpin the way that you live your life now?
I am a strict vegetarian and I have been for over a decade for ethical reasons. Being kind to everyone and everything is a daily practice for me and makes me feel good. Being conscious and aware of my behaviour towards myself and other people keeps me grounded as well. Knowing that I am in control of how I feel and what happens around me allows me to reflect on my reactions and change what I do not like about my life.

Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Be kind to yourself! We are all so focused on treating everyone else well and we forget about ourselves. We are all perfect just the way we are and when you are feeling down or uninspired please remember this! Choose your thoughts like you choose your clothes everyday. Relax, put your feet up and laugh! Enjoy this moment, right now!

So, what is next for you?
I am currently completing my next level of Yoga teaching which will be finished at the end of the year, and I am looking at moving to a larger studio in the very near future..watch this space! Everyday I am inspired by my surroundings and the people in my life. I am not sure what the future holds but I am excited to find out.

Where can people find out more about you?
I write a blog online which is on my website www.goldenyoga.com.au and you can find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/GoldenYoga. Please contact me on info@goldenyoga.com.au if you would like to ask me anything xx