If you were going to give it a try how would you play with your shadows? Where would you begin? Would it feel scary, coaxing you to run and hide under the covers? Would you write a play and use shadow puppets to play the main characters? Would you walk forward and back enjoying this darker reflection of you on the sunny sidewalk of life? Would you try to catch him or her? Or simply appreciate the shadow’s existence, the knowledge of that being enough to release its power? In this post I share how playing with shadows can give your life an upgrade and the ways in which I’ve been doing it lately! How do you explore the dark sides of your self?

Affirmations are one tool I LOVE to use when creating the life of my dreams. They keep me on track and remind me that anything is possible. However, there are some tricks to creating an affirmation that works for you. If your affirmation isn’t believable - mind, body, and spirit - it will get you nowhere. So, read on to learn a few tricks to making your affirmation attainable.

1. Create an affirmation that honors the process of unfolding. Like a rose unfolds in the sun, we too transform by opening ourselves up, layer by layer. So, if you’re feeling like you want to pull yourself out of the funk you’re in create an affirmation that eases you in to the next best state. A couple examples of this are:

“My body, mind, and spirit are awakening to new possibilities.”

“I am feeling more energized day by day.”

“I am always guided toward my highest good.”

These affirmations are not tied to a concrete measure and therefore allow you to ease in to possibility. I find this settles the nervous system and creates an opportunity to open up to more - body, mind, and spirit. Give it a try and observe the ways you become guided to manifest your desires.

What does it mean to show up? For ourselves? For the other? What does that look like? What consequence does it carry? What truth or lie? Is it understood? Misunderstood? What do either of those mean? Do they matter?

Lately these are the questions begging my attention. This is where my mind goes when I attempt to communicate and am misunderstood.. When I am intending to show up for the other.. When I am practicing noticing. Through this process of noticing and seeking I often begin to observe the shadow as she dares me to look her in the eye and better understand her inner workings, my inner workings. She wishes for me what I wish for myself, that I live my deepest desires. And, as scary as it may seem, I must look at her, see and understand her, in order to make my dream a reality.

My latest blog post takes a deeper dive into the art of showing up and why revealing more of our shadow is an integral part of that practice. Visit the blog for inspiration as you explore these ideas for yourself. And, as always reach out if you want some support. XOXO

Big Love ~Amanda

Is quarantine getting you down? Whether you suffer from a diagnosed depressive disorder or natural bouts of depressed feelings brought on by environmental stressors, the stay at home orders may be taking a toll. Scientists have now even coined the term “quarantine fatigue” for the challenging feelings some of us are experiencing right now. I’ve been open about the fact that I can struggle with depression from time to time and while Spring is usually the time of year when I notice a lift in my mood, the stay at home order here in Ohio has definitely brought on a second round of blues. In this post I share how I’m finding my way, including a piece of the last conversation I had with my psychologist (a very kickass woman I might add). Whether you are feeling a little blue, struggle with depression, or know someone who does I hope you find this post comforting, like a warm hug from a close friend. Big love!

Hello there! In today’s post I’m sharing why I gave my vegetarian diet a break and how I leaned in to meat-eating. While this post is about my journey away from vegetarianism, the underlying message is about much more than food. It’s full of nuggets that will help you tune in to your own intuition, creating a more inspired version of yourself. I’ve also included a link to an older post, Nurturing Nourishment, that takes a deeper dive into the bigger picture of food sourcing, environment, and human health. I hope you enjoy both and pull from them your own inspiration! On that note, will you join me in committing to more mindful and intuitive choices this holiday season, whatever that looks like for you? Cheers and Happy Holidays! XOXO ~Amanda

Compassion. So simple yet so complex. While most of us would probably say that compassion is a necessary good in the world, something we should extend toward all, it’s also likely that most of us don’t actually share compassion as often as we could. The reasons for this are vast - getting caught up in our own belief systems, so much so that we hold anger toward those that oppose us; getting tired of being hurt; feeling angry about life and all the wrongs done to us; on and on. However, the more research I do about compassion the more I see that none of these are reasonable excuses for withholding the very thing that most all religions call us to do- offer compassion to those in need. If you’re struggling with offering compassion in some area of your life this post will hopefully unwind your hangups with offering compassion when you feel it is not warranted. I also share philosophical reasoning behind why offering compassion ultimately works toward the good of all and I’ve even included a simple meditation for unlocking greater compassion in all our lives. I truly believe that releasing the judgment holding us back will improve our heart, health, and happy. It’s all connected! So read on to create greater synchronicity in your life, cultivating vitality and joy!

Sometimes, it seems we get stuck on autopilot and before we know it the very things we put in place to make our life easier and more vibrant are actually causing panic and overwhelm. While I love a good routine (I am a Taurus after all) it can sometimes get the best of me. Maybe my body would benefit for (gasp) something other than Bulletproof Coffee every now and then. Maybe I don’t need to do the exact regimen my physical therapist laid out for me day in and day out. What if my body wants a break from a certain supplement? How do I handle it when my to-do list is too long and seems never-ending? What about all those obligations? It all comes down to presence.

Lately I’ve found myself feeling more overwhelmed than usual and a big part of the issue has been ME. I’ve been second guessing my intuition, trying to do too many things at once, and looking too far ahead on my schedule. Sure, I’ve had a lot to do and probably over-scheduled myself in a few areas, but that wasn’t really the problem. The bigger issue was that I was not paying attention in the moment and I was definitely not practicing presence. When I realized this I began to make adjustments and everything got easier. Would I put an adaptogen in my coffee? Follow my intuition. Long week of appointments and obligations? Focus on one at a time. Staying present makes a huge difference in my life and I think you’ll benefit too. It is one thing we truly can control and has many positive benefits, mental and physical health upgrade included. So, if you’re interested in bringing a little more ease to your day, read on to learn what I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed and how I come back to myself when I’m spinning out. Enjoy! XOXO