Dr. Ha, my acupuncturist here in LA, gave me, what my mom would call, ‘a what for’. He told me I am sacrificing my health for the sake of trying to help everyone else. That is why I am here, to get myself back on track and to learn to say no, even if I may want to help and participate and be wherever I possibly can be all at the same time.
I followed up acupuncture with a brilliant yoga class with Bryan Kest, who gave me the same message in a gentler way, that sometimes it takes more strength to back off, to take it easy, than it does to push to your edge. I met with my meditation teacher this afternoon to have some questions answered and as the sun sets, I am off to yoga with Shiva Rea, another yoga rock star. I will be home and in bed before 9. I clearly take taking it easy very seriously.
Someone telling me to take it easy and not work so much, sounds like a really fine and dandy idea but where do you start with that kind of advice? Well as I was drinking my cup of tea and contemplating this, I had the desire to turn on the TV and there was Wayne Dyer with the answer to my question. He said (and I am paraphrasing) when we go to sleep at night, we spend our last five waking minutes going through our day. Most often, we spend that five minutes thinking about the crappy bits, the tough spots or the holy crappola that is coming for us tomorrow. We then go to sleep and marinade that shite in our subconscious for 8 hours ensuring that when we wake up, all the crap and bad habits we experienced the day before and all the crap and habits we need to battle will surely be meeting us that day.
The solution: For five minutes before bed, think of the great. Think of the abundance you want in your life, think of specifics, attach feelings to it. The trick here is 1) it has to be doable and 2) it has to make sense.
Have you ever dreaded something so much, had it happen and then said, “I knew that would happen”? Use those powers for good instead of evil! You have heard it before but here is my pre-holiday-stress-time-reminder that our thoughts become our reality.
Recipe For Abundance
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Ingredients
- 1 mindful of positive thoughts
- 1 dollops of positive feelings
- 1 subconscious mind, relaxed
- Rest
Directions
- Think positive thoughts for five minutes before bed, with feelings attached
- Go to sleep
- Marinade the subconscious mind for 8 hours (This is where the universe takes over in its wonderous mysterious ways and does its deliveries)
- Reap the benefits.
Now the burning question, what does the above photo have to do with any of this? I took that photo from the airplane on my way here. At one point, I looked out my window, enjoying the five hours where I could do absolutely nothing and low and behold, look what I received: A beautiful gift.
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Thanks, Meghan. This really spoke to me today, most likely because I really needed it to.
Seems like good advice especially in this busy and often stressful time of the year.
Thanks for your comment on my blog. I hope you enjoy the muffins.
Meghan, how have you gotten off track health wise? Has your health deteriorated at all because of all the work you’ve been doing? I hope all is well and you’re restoring your way to your norm.
Great post, truly insightful! Thanks and good luck in LA!
This really was what I needed to hear today. While I can’t get out to sunny California, I’m definitely taking the next couple of days a little easier and going to try to say “no” to a few things in order to recharge.
So glad you are getting some R&R! I have learned to say no and back down on activities — all thanks to my adrenals — they were in stage 3 exhaustion (screaming for me to slow down) and that was 8 years ago. Enjoy your LA visit!
Thank you Meghan. Great recipe for creating both serenity and abundance.
To quote motivational speaker Craig Harper- “Chaos is optional, even at this time of year. ”
Hope you emerge from these wonderful sessions completely revitalized. Take care!
This is excellent advice, and couldn’t have come at a better time!
I live in Orange County 50 miles south of LA. Isn’t the weather great this week for you???? Your days sound lovely, relaxing and fulfilling. You have really been working on your business a ton this year. I admire you on so many levels. But I also wondered “how in the heck does she do it all”. The pressure??????
Right before I got cancer I was on the high of life. I had everything “going my way”. Life was perfect. You know all those things we say to ourselves when our ego is on fire!!!! BUT my body was exhausted and my stress levels were off the charts. Two years later, after some real stress, I catch myself over-extending and have to get rest, real nourishment and yes, do yoga. You are playing in LA with the Rock Stars of Health. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!! As I take my 5 minutes of quiet today (Ihave a 3 and 6 year old), I will pretend I am in Shiva Rea’s class, after a long walk on the beach and some fabulous raw food. Oh life is good ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and you must watch Wayne Dyer’s “The Shift” . I LOVE it.
This post really speaks to me! I suffer from (pretty severe) seasonal affective dissorder. I am usually a pretty positive person but lately, I’ve been very negative, and focusing on the bad. And the more I’ve been doing that, the more “bad luck” was happening to me and the more focused I was on it. Thank you for giving me a concrete way I can turn this mind frame around. I really needed that!
Enjoy the rest of your time in LA!
you took the words right out of my blog (mouth)
haha
I am just at that egde…where my body is screaming for me to sit for a bit…work, commute (50 m each way) baby, family, cooking, cleaning, exercising and jeez louise..CHRISTMAS.
it’s taken it’s toll…
YES YES…REST…the message is loud and clear!
the universe is amazing!
great recipe btw!
Ladies! Haven’t you learned by now that I am mind/life reader
Now let’s all just take a deep breath… and ahhhhhh
Good for your Meghan!
Please continue to be good to you! Glad you’re setting a good example for us all
Heart you.
i miss you
I LOVE that book Meghan! It really helped me to recognize that my biggest challenge is slowing down and taking charge of my health instead of taking charge of everything else. I want to come to Toronto next time gabor Mate is there…. I have missed him a few times but would love to hear him speak. Enjoy your time in the sun.
I am so happy for you! The fact that you can remind yourself to slow down and breathe even when you are so successful and busy is an amazing trait you have and something you should be so proud of. You are a wonderful healthy role model.
Maybe over the next month off from school I will push myself to commit to doing the same thing. A week away from everything just to breathe and relax.
Why not take a break from blogging during the rest of your time away? Disconnect all those pesky electronics and truely, completely focus on YOU! You deserve it. Unless the workaholic in you won’t allow it.
Seriously though. Read a book. Write in a personal journal. Make some art, even if it’s in the form of a sock puppet. Then share with us when you return. ESPECIALLY if you make a sock puppet video. Making Sock Puppets in the Kitchen!!!
Maybe I just need to switch to decaf…
Beautiful post Meg. And clearly you are a mind reader because this is exactly what I need right now. I feel like my world is spinning and I’m along for the ride. I’m going to take your advice on the 5 minute bedtime recap because I think that will be truly helpful.
So happy that you’re spending so much great time with loving friends and teachers. You deserve it! <3
any room for me in that yoga class? it is pouring rain out here today. I need some sunshine. enjoy Meghan.
Your posts are a breath of “Sunshine” something we always have out here in sunny Cal (well almost)! Enjoy your getaway;)
A well-timed blog. This is exactly my biggest issue – finding 5 minutes to stop and and just be. To aid my journey I have downloaded some meditation guides and music onto my ipod so I can use the 40 min train ride for something productive.
I hope you enjoyed your relaxing time away. I feel a bit more relaxed just reading through your holiday blogs and looking at your pictures.
xx
No, no, no. Thank you for your concern but I am a-okay. My health is tip top, I was just tired out and needed a top up of some nourishment. I learned my lesson the hard way three and half years ago- that you can keep pushing and pushing until things get to a crisis point, or you can answer the call early, when you feel like you might be slipping. You know- like grabbing hold before you fall. Most of us wait until we get hit over the head with a 2 x 4 before we stop. I feel fantastic and have been thoroughly enjoying my rest.
Glad to hear that!
I highly recommend a book to you that I am reading right now called “When The Body Says No, The Cost of Hidden Stress”. It is a bit scientific but I think you might find it really interesting given your experience. And I don’t feel pressure with building my business. I love it to bits! That’s the challenge- how to balance out when you are head over heels in love with what you are doing.
Will play with on Saturday at the raw holiday shin diggy… media passes were sent my way
I love how you said you will “push” yourself to do the same thing. The thing is that what we need to do is absolutely nothing. Just stop. No pushing needed.
I heart writing!