Passionate Theme of the Day: High Vibes

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” ~Oscar Wilde courtesey of Feel Good Vibes

Today is commonly referred to as “hump day”. So in order to help raise you lovely, passionate people up a bit today, I’m sharing these tips on how I raise my vibe. I was tagged twice – once by Tigerlilly (Karen) from Allowing A Perfect Body blog and again by Debra at Debra Moorhead blog. Thanks to both ladies for choosing Gorgeous is an Inside Job as an article you are High Vibing!

Part of my mission here at PMP is to help others fall in love with life. This game is the perfect opportunity to share ways that help me fall even more in love with life each day.

I’d love for you all (esp. you quiet peeps) to participate in this game. It was started by Cardin Routh, from Optimist Lab and promises some link-love back to everyone that participates. What have you got to lose? Link-love AND good vibes…a dynamic bloggy combo if I ever heard of one!

Here’s 7 ways I raise my vibe:
1.Sacred Dog Walking – I have two babies. My Chihuahua Chance, and my Rat Terrier mix Trixie. I live on the 2nd floor of a condo, so at first I was kinda bummed at having to wake up early and walk these two (and they start stirring at 5:30). But then I shifted my perspective and realized what a beautiful experience 5:30 a.m. can be. I decided to take these 15-20 minute and turn them into my morning walking meditation.

I get really present and observe. I inhale and say thank you for my breath. I acknowledge the sun or clouds or whatever color sky is unfolding for the day. I take notice of the different birds singing, the crickets chirping, babies crying, other dogs barking, or alarm clocks going off. I notice if the grass is wet beneath my feet, if there is a chill in the air or if it feels humid and sticky.

I smile and say good morning to the (few) other early risers. I maintain my gratitude mindset and continue saying thanks all the way around my neighborhood. I also offer a blessing to others passing by me. It’s really become cherished ME time and I start my day feeling really connected to ALL that is. It’s a powerful practice.

2. Conscious showering – I know this might be TMI, but I really make an attempt to be aware of my body as I shower. Again, I take the gratitude concept and work it here. As I wash my hair I say thank you for the fact that I have hair. I say thank you for the fact that I live in a home that has running, hot water. I offer thanks for the soap and shampoo and other products that I am fortunate enough to be able to afford to keep clean.

I check in with my body as I wash each part and say thank you for moving and healthy legs, arms, feet, hands, etc. I also send positive, loving messages to my body as I moisturize after my shower. I mentally say, “Long and lean and strong and beautiful”. So many people (women especially) hate their bodies and send messages of self-hate (even unconscious ones). I am convinced that part of how I lost 20 lbs. last year was in part due to these mind-messages to my body each day.

3. Conscious eating – I can’t say I nail this one with every meal, but I am working on it! Before just diving into a meal (or even a snack) I say thank you for the all the people it took to get this food to me. I take a deep cleansing breath and inhale the smells on the plate or I the bowl before me. I say a quiet blessing for being abundantly blessed enough to eat healthy, nourishing food.

4. Bless couples – This is one I’m incorporating to help raise my vibe in attracting my perfect partner. I noticed that sometimes when I’d see lovers I’d get a pang of envy, which we all know can send us into a downward spiral of what we’re “lacking”.

Now when I see lovers kissing, holding hands, and opening doors for one another, or laughing and sharing special glances, I smile and send them love. I simply bless them and thank them for spreading their love into the world. It might sound cheesy, but I can’t wait to be one of those PDA couples, so I’m blessing right and left these days!

5. Read – Whether surfing the blogosphere, reading personal development books, noshing on savvy fiction, or savoring some yummy poetry, I can’t read enough! I’m a life long learner, and I gain wisdom, inspiration, creative jolts and juice for my soul through reading other people’s amazing words. There is SO much to read; sometimes I wish I could just download it into my brain. But then I step back and appreciate the act of reading. The fact that I have sight and can see the words across the page. It’s all too cool and I think reading saves lives. Read more!

6. Surrendering to spirit – This is one I’ve just started getting this year. As a recovering control freak, letting go and letting spirit/God/universe work through me has been one of THE biggest vibe raising practices. Instead of trying to steer the ship, I simply get clear about my intentions, hold that focus and let go…it may sound too simple, that’s because it really is.

We humans try and complicate things too much. If we are sure about what we desire, and focus our attention on that (“Energy flows where attention goes” ~James Ray) then we are setting ourselves up for success. We don’t have to worry about every single detail.

Isn’t that a relief? I took on the word “surrender” as one of my top emotional muscles that I wanted to really stretch this year. And I can’t begin to tell you how many amazing things have unfolded almost effortlessly. Try surrendering and see how it works for you!

7. Revel in the NOW – I really work at being present. If I feel myself drifting into an old story or off into fantasy land about my future, I look at a clock and say, “It’s 1:55 and I’m here NOW”. Then I focus back on whatever it is I’m doing at the moment. Playing with my niece. Having dinner with girlfriends. Chatting with a charming stranger at a coffee shop. Consulting with a student about their future career path. Listening to a client on a call. Noticing the lush, green tree outside my window and the contrast of the flaming red cardinal that loves to stop by my balcony for a serenade.

If more people were truly present in the here and now, we might see a decline in the use of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. When we live in the NOW, we can’t be bumming out about our past. When we live in the NOW, we can’t be wigging out (that’s a technical term) about the future. We simply focus on each individual moment and savor it. Each time we step out of the NOW, we rob ourselves of the precious gifts we have right in front of our faces!

Those are my top 7 high vibe practices. Now I wanna know what high vibe practices the following friends partake in:
~Dawud who asks the tough questions here.
~Adam from Monk at Work who penned The Power of Contribution
~My fabulous new friend and psychic soul-sista Lisa, who wrote How Choosing is like Pruning a Tree,
~Maria formerly of The Good Life, now Wealth-Prosperity, who wrote Embracing change in our Lives
~Kirsten, my favorite positive thinker - I couldn’t choose just one…just drive by for your daily dose!
~Wendy everyone’s favorite e-mom who shares a wealth of social media strategies here and
~Raymond at Zenchill blog and his post How to Make Life Easier

If you’re interested in playing but haven’t been tagged yet, here’s the rules of the game.

And if you dig this article you can high vibe it (like a warm and fuzzy high five) here.

OK passionate people, can’t wait to see your high vibes lists…get busy!

Peace and passionate vibes,
Kam