Hey guys!  Happy 2013!  As a teacher for many years, I found it was best to find where my student’s individual level was and then nudge him/her a bit further….The idea is to push someone, without setting them up for failure.  I always think of this in yoga, where I am doing a pose, and then I push myself to hold a few seconds longer…not a minute longer, because I will probably feel discouraged and fall.  This way, I am getting the benefits of the pose, and then some, while also feeling good about myself.  I use the same principles when making resolutions.  Cook never? Don’t resolve to cook every night, resolve instead to cook 2-3 times a week.  In this way, you are both benefiting and achieving, without being overwhelmed, and less likely to throw your hands up in helplessness.

What are your Resolutions for 2013 and how can I help? Another major indicator of success is support and accountability.  I am here to help ensure that you reach your goals.  Maybe there is something standing in your way first…let’s deal with it.  Maybe you are feeling unmotivated? I’ll light a match under your ass!

What do the Elections have to do with Family Constellation Therapy?
A LOT!  
One of the main principles of FCT is the need for everyone to belong.  Another principle is that, like them or not, we get a lot of beliefs from our parents.  I am fairly political, and I can directly correlate that to my mother.  We grew up watching Phil Donahue together (remember him?).  Children look for ways to “belong” to their family and tribe and politics is one way we achieve this.  The older I get, them more like my mom I become (sound familiar?).  On a soul level, one of the ways that I bond with my mom, and feel closer to her, is through her political views.  So yesterday, as I was a cheerleader for my “team”, I was, on a deeper level, feeling more united with my mother, which was even more of a reason to celebrate.
A secondary tribe that we have is our friends and community, which no doubt, is also very important to find our place of belonging.  While living in Indiana, I was not nearly as verbal about my political beliefs as I am here in NY.  For the most part, in NYC, I know my views will be received and that I will have a tribe that agrees with me...in Indiana, if I stuck my neck out, I would have been abandoned by my tribe, and worse, attacked.  On a soul level, I would have felt unsafe and possibly that I would die, based on biology.  Keeping this in mine, it is nearly impossible to try to change someone’s political view, because in essance, you would be asking them to betray their tribe…not likely to happen or else they might get kicked out and left “to die”.
So, I am curious...do you adopt the same political views as your parents? How about your secondary tribe? Has that made you feel closer or more vulnerable to your tribes (depending on your spin)? Please let me know!
Now, between the hurricane, the election, and the imminent nor’easter, I suspect most of you are EXHAUSTED!  When there is an external hurricane and roller coaster, there comes an internal one as well, so don’t be so hard on yourself is you are shaken up…it is normal and hopefully, the dust will soon settle.  Practice good self-care the upcoming weeks and perhaps consider joining one of our exciting healing opportunities!

Exciting announcements and opportunities for healing:

Due to Hurricane Sandy, the retreat was rescheduled to Dec. 6-9!  We now have two spaces left, so if you were feeling the pull to attend, but for whatever reason, could not, now is your opportunity just in time for Christmas, Chanukkah, and the New Year!  Please click here for more info, and watch these videos one, two!  You could even purchase this gift of healing for a loved one for the holidays!  

Next Wed, Nov. 14, I am holding a general group family constellation session.  Work on whatever suits your fancy!  Please sign up ASAP to save your spot!  Info:  $50 ($20 deposit, and $30 at door), at Address: 520 Eighth Avenue (Bet. 36th & 37th Streets) 16th Floor, New York, NY 10018, Room 17A (take elevator to 15th floor and head upstairs).

I am re-launching my very successful 90-day intensive, starting Jan.1, 2013!  This program is especially designed to unstick you in health, career, and relationships! Start the New Year with a BANG!  Until Nov. 26, I am offering $197 off the program costs.  Read more info here, and then feel free to call/email me for a free 15 min discovery session to see if this program is right for you…oh, and don’t forget to read here for some thorough and awesome client testimonials about the program!

Election Elation Special–$25 off an in-person session next week in my Manhattan office (Nov. 14 or 15 only).  Must mention this discount when you make your appointment!

Thanksgiving Gratitude Offer— $30 off a phone session Nov. 23-27!  Must mention offer at time of scheduling.

Also, exciting news!  I went back to school a couple of weeks ago to get certified at a holistic health coach.  As most of you know, I suffered from an eating disorder for 15 years, and now feel so liberated and have such a desire to liberate other women in this department.  In about 6 months, I will be able to start with health/nutrition coaching!  Also, I am really enjoying the program I am in, because it is not geographic or time specific, so I can go to school even in my busy schedule.  If anyone feels called to maybe join the program (offered on a rolling basis), I’d be happy to talk with you more about the school to see if it might be a good fit for you.

Alright angels, I know this was a long email!  So much going on–I even have a few more exciting things which I will reveal in the next email, so not to overload you…don’t want you to pee your pants!  I leave you with a reminder about our personable responsibility in continuing to uplift the United States and the world…Obama is a strong man, but he cannot do it alone.  What is one action step you can take this week as a contribution? Put it in your calendar, and do it..there is plenty to be done..even on a local level with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Additonally, need a laugh? I made this silly 1 min video with my pups…hopefully it will help lighten the mood!

I’m wishing you all a beautiful timespan between now and my next newsletter.
Much love,
Natalie

Am I Happy With Where I am?

Am I where I want to be?  Boy, a seemingly easy question is surprisingly loaded and tough to grapple with.  It is, in essence, asking if you are happy with yourself.  In saying “yes”, you don’t want to imply that you are settling, but in desiring more, you don’t want to insinuate that you are ungrateful and an-accepting of yourself and your journey.  So, I will answer this question by using the operative word “now”.  I am happy where I am right “now” and thrilled as to where I am moving towards.  I am excited about exploring and being in a new space continuously throughout my life.  The important thing is, whatever space you are in, you need to own it and live in the present.  How you spend your day today, is how you spend your life.  Therefore, if you are pining for something new, daydreaming, living the “when I, then I’s” (When I get my man, my car, my body, etc, then I will be happy, proud, etc.). In my early years of middle school, high school, and college, I wore many hats and had many gigs.  I was a toll booth attendant, a busser, a waitress, a golf-course beer chick, a childcare provider, a pet sitter, a lawn mower, a gardener, a writer, a doll shop saleswoman, a salon receptionist, an ice-cream scooper, a chiropractic assistant, and a migrant farm-worker protector.  Through all of these dabbles, I proudly wore my hat (well, except at the ice-cream parlour when we had to wear a cone on our heads–it tainted my cool-girl image).  The point is, none of these were my “dream jobs”, but I chose to find something dreamy about every one of them.  I accepted the space I was in, embodied it wholly, gleaned the lessons I needed to learn (scooping is a great skill to have) and moved onto bigger and better things.  It is easy to desire what others have to see assume that the grass is greener on the other side.  At times, I regress and falter as well.  Every time I ride my bike down the Hudson River and feel teh fresh air bolwing through my hair, my shirt billowing like the sails on the water, I wonder why I ever moved away from Manhattan to Brooklyn.  However, when I have a meeting in midtown, and I have to fight through a sea of tourists and camaras, I slump down in my couch in my apartment in Brooklyn, feeling as if I narrrowly escaped death and question how I eeI have to believe that this embracing of life “now” and growing and evolving along the way, has actually paved the way for my actual dream job and destiny.  By saying yes to where the arms are wide open to me, I have come to a place where I am happy where I am at on all levels–emotionally, physically, spirtually, geographically, and relationshiply (should be a word).  

Hello and Happy Spring My Dear and Flowering Flowerets!

Spring is the season to clean up shop!  Out with the old and in with the new!  Say “Sayonara” to those outdated and seedy MC Hammer pants!  There is a reason why spring cleaning is such a popular phenomenon this time of the year.   It is a natural and conducive time to cleaning out the cobwebs, or any thing that no longer fits or serves you at this moment of your spiritual evolution–physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.  Spring is the season to be recalibrated, reactivated and reborn.  A time to rejoice and yell out, “hello world, here I am, brand spanking new…polished and hot!”.

Hello my Darling Love Saplings,
Valentine’s Day is Fast approaching, and for some, is met with mixed reviews.  I feel similarly due to the fact that a lot of pressure is put on one day, when in reality, everyday is Valentine’s Day!  There is much debate on the true origin of St. Valentine and this day, though many say it originally started out as a feast to celebrate acts of love.  You see, St. Valentine secretly married Christians, during a time when men were ordered to remain single because it was believed that married men made bad soldiers.  The first Valentine that was sent was believed to be sent to the jail keeper’s daughter, whom St. Valentine befriended and healed….sans romantic love.  The point is, Valentine’s Day is a festival of LOVE…LOVE in every respect!  Somewhere along the line, it became transformed into Hallmark’s dream come true, targeting couples, and guilting men into succumbing to the bombardment of red, pink, and sparkles.  I’m not complaining about this, being a chick :), but, I just don’t want to loose sight of the true essence and meaning, which is LOVE.  Anybody and everybody should feel free, and elated to celebrate Valentine’s Day, regardless of their romantic status! LOVE exists between all living things on such a deep level, and everybody is a channel for sending and receiving LOVE.

Spring into Your True Spirit
Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”  ~Robin Williams

Each season presents a rhythm or a beat with which coordinates with our natural life’s cycle.  This rhythm gets expressed every calendar year, and through various times in our lives.  March 20th marks the spring (aka vernal) equinox, where we benefit from the very auspicious event of the sun passing over the earth’s equator.  It is probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on this day.  Likewise, this period will also be a time of letting the sun shine on the glorious edifices which you have built for yourself. Let’s get this party started!
Alas, spring is here, albeit in like a lion.  I have to say though, it comforts me that the lioness makes her entrance, because for me, Leo/Lea is the epitome of strength
and foundation.  Spring represents a period of new growth in our lives.  This is where you literally reap the benefits of the last two seasons. In the fall, you had the wisdom to let go of what no longer served you.  You let those leaves drop effortlessly and with grace, choosing what you did not wish to hibernate with in the long, cold winter months.  Although winter was tough for most, due to the extreme weather variations, the tragedy in Haiti, and the growing economical “downfall” (I put downfall in quotes, because over the last year, I have witnessed so many people beginning to walk in their dharma and choose to follow their life path due to unstable jobs, etc., therefore, not necessarily seeing the situation as negative) you chose to have faith in the process.  You chose to let that barrenness represent the infinite embryonic creative possibilities, and to be comfortable with the fact that during the long nights, and short days, the majority of the transformation was taking place underneath the surface deep into the earth’s core (your core) in a silent, but masterfully productive manner.
Now, dear sapling, your time has come to burst through, forward and upward, to show the world what you are made of and what you have to offer.  You are a no-limit soldier marching forward, fearlessly and resiliently, in your life’s purposeful path!  From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, the element that governs springtime is wood.  When you think of the attributes of wood, you think of strength, foundation, solidity, stability and foundation.  Wood comes from trees which are grounded, and living, and have the innate intelligence to gravitate towards the light.  This is you, stretching towards the love and the light, embracing that which feeds and nourishes you, and shying away from that which wilts you (namely situations and people which impart fear-based thinking).  There is no coincidence that most lovers unite (or reunite) in the spring.  We notice that people literally start coming out of the “woodworks” so to speak, ready to embrace the world again with new life and vigor.  After a period of incubation and renewal, the caterpillar emerges a butterfly; untethered and unrestricted by debilitating fear.  The warmth and the light of day start outnumbering the dark, thus transmuting a barren landscape into that of a thousand splendid shades of green.  This is your time to shine, dear sapling.  You have the right to claim and stand solid in your space in this world.  You have the right, and support, to exercise your truth.  Voice it, share it, show it, SHOUT IT!  “Hello world, here I am.  Rejuvenated and ready to show off my beautiful flawless leaves.  My soul is anxious to radiate.”  Now, go on, and grace and bless us, with your true beauty and essence!  Party time!

Toolbox*

In order to really take advantage of Spring’s kick in the butt towards new growth, there are a couple of all-natural tools that can help you. Your liver and gall bladder are particularly vulnerable during the spring months.  You can reinforce these organs by tracing those meridian lines, and flushing the associated neurolymphatic points (I will be doing an upcoming workshop on this, so stay tuned at http://blog.sproutinglove.com/).

In addition, taking Milk Thistle as an herbal supplement can greatly strengthen and detox a weakened liver*. Another herb which is known for it’s renewal properties is lemongrass.  Soaking in a tub of lemongrass, or just inhaling or rubbing lemongrass on the temples or soles of the feet will invigorate the soul’s passion and purpose.  (I make a Lemongrass bath salt which is designed to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul and is perfect for the rhythm of spring http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AXKEHsQGKKfuZGdncWQ5emRfMTNjZnNxdGRkOA&hl=en )

You are what you eat, so with memories of winter fading, tender shoots, young sprouts and fresh greens begin pushing their way through the warming soil. Green peas and firm asparagus are at their peak. Plump red strawberries and fragrant pineapples sweeten market shelves. Eating what is in season will help you channel more life-force energy (chi) in the springtime.

Crystals are also a great implement in healing work, as they come from the earth’s surface and are significantly charged for various needs.  Like their counterparts in the plant kingdom, the green crystals represent “growth” and “renewal”.  Nature is fertile and nurturing and naturally gives in to these cycles of life.  Hold onto any green crystal or tape it to your body(moss agate, emerald, aventurine, green calcite or tourmaline, malachite-chrysocolla to name just a few) to vibrate with Nature’s healing properties .

The most important tool that I live by is meditation.  In a relaxed state (if possible, surrounded my mother nature and things that are growing) sit and focus on your third eye, and repeat one of the following mantras or a variation that resonates with you:  “I move towards the light”, “I grow with my soul”, “I am a no-limit soldier”, “I let the world see the real me”, “I am thriving in my soul’s purpose”, “my path is that of love and light”, “I flourish as I live my truth”.

*These tools are suggestions and are not necessarily a substitute for medical attention.

What this world needs right now is morale…we need to get animated, inundated, motivated, but in a good way.  Enough with the depressing news.  This doesn’t mean I am suggesting we become ignorant or oblivious to what is happening in the world.  It just means we don’t harp on it, have it be in our face, the first thing we hear in the morning, the last thing we hear before bed….all negative news…this infiltrates our dream state, awake state, and everything in between.  Oprah gets it.  She gets energy.  She had to think positively to get where she is today.  She endorsed “the Secret” which, along with other faces (Law of Attraction/Abrahams,etc.) which all testify to the fact that, as Mike Dooley would say, “Thoughts become things…chose the good ones”.
So, with all of the negative news going on, that becomes the topic of conversation…and it is contagious.  People in coffee shops, the subways, the streets, everywhere lamenting about the shitty economy, there are NO jobs, blah blah blah…constantly reinforcing their truth to the universe…and the universe has no choice but to reinforce it back to them.  We know that when you boil it down, there are two “emotions” or ways of living…in love, and in fear.  Both are pretty freakin’ powerful, but love is the only thing that is real.  Fear is based on hypotheticals..the “what if’s in life.  I’m sick of giving fanciful things so much credence and power.  For a living, I am an intuitive healer…I work with energy everyday.  I try really hard to reverse and transmute energy into love and light…I see how detrimental negativity is to people on all facets of their lives…affecting not just themselves, but in turn, the whole planet!  On the other hand, I have witnessed many miracles in the form of shifts of perception, which, in turn, have opened up a whole new Pandora’s Box for people…a box of love…this then affects everyone around them and then around then until there is this exponential chain of love going on….it is so beautiful, and you can almost hear the universe give thanks and sigh in relief…
Each time one person becomes more aware or conscious, it shifts the universal consciousness…after all, we are all connected.
I have many many dreams…we all do.  But one that I feel is vital, is to start shifting consciousness and awareness.  I want to be a part of this.  As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in this world”.  I practice my own tools, tips, meditation, etc.  to be as good of a channel I can be for the universe.  I know that my decisions and mindset affect the universe…not just me.  I know that other people want to be a part of this…they might just not know how…now they will have a show that they can tune into every morning…their cup of Joe becomes a love shot…this is how they will start the day…this will set the mood/stage for their day…inspired, uplifted,and motivated to live in the love and the light…not fear.  Please be a part of shifting our universe.
Sending much love and light,
Natalie Berthold
www.sproutinglove.com

April Showers Bring May Flowers

We live in a world where we want our cake and eat it too!  We want to exerience the beauty and splender of the blossoming flowers and greenery, yet we moan and groan when it rains.  Likewise, we want to live our best life, yet we aren’t too keen on experiencing the growing pains which lend themselves to lessons learned.  For many, we desire the best relationship, but we don’t want to work for it.  We yearn to be skinny, yet we aren’t willing to give up the junk food. We want to enjoy the diversity and livliness of NYC, but don’t want to deal with the prices and over-crowdedness.  Living in this way, in an adversary world, creates much turmoil in our souls.  We literally have two options in life: Accept something wholly, or change it…that’s it. We cannot have the fat-free muffin with all of the taste, and we cannot have the blossoms without the rain…literally and figuratively.

So, this spring, just as much as we crave the temperate weather, the blue skies, and the beautiful budding flowers, we must accept everything that comes with the spring.  All things possess the yin and the yang.  We must welcome the “dark side” so to speak, to see the light.  Believe it or not, non-acceptance is one of the most harmful and debilitating things we can do.  There is an old spirtiual story of a young warrior who moves to a cave to contimplate his “demons” or his “dark” sides.  He tries various methods to get rid rid of them…he’s mean to them, he’s nice to them, he tries to trick them…finally, all of his demons had left, except for the BIG DADDY!  This guy wasn’t going anywhere.  We all have our BIG DADDY (the one thing we cannot seem to shake, damnit), so I know you know what I’m talking about.  Finally, the young warrior sighed, surrendered, and fully accepted this demon as a part of him.  He stopped fighting it.  And guess what, the Demon disappeared.  The demon just wanted to be acknowledged and accepted whole heartedly…almost makes you feel bad for the little guy (notice he’s little now because he can no longer control and torment you).  Acceptance, therefore the opposite of rejection, refusal (to believe) and denial can set you free.  Acceptance keeps everything in balance…After all, we would not have these gorgeous tulips, magnolias and cherry blossoms that adorn our city right now without the rain showers.

The spirit of the flower incarnates to bring beauty and smiles to our faces.  Nature heals us through letting us marvel, with all of our senses, at the color these beings (yes, beings.  All living things have a spirit) selfishly bring into our lives.  The rain is an essential ingredient to the growth of these plants–without it, we cannot appreciate the allure and equisitness of spring, if we didn’t have the drab barron winter to compare it to. We often seperate ourselves from nature, but we are all one in the same.  We too are nature, and possess a unique beauty and misson.  Our purpose in incarnating is also to bring smiles to people’s faces and to learn from adversity.   In our lives, we also have rainy days which are crucial for our growth and development.  The significant other who broke our heart, the child who tests our patience daily, the loss of a job or a large sum of money, and even the death of a loved one, all serve as brilliant rainy days to help us grow.  All of these rainy days provide us the opportunity to germinate, develop and flourish in a very deep way.  In truly accepting and learning from these lessons, we can continue to evolve as a more seasoned and mastered soul.

I invite you, dear floweret, this April, to embrace the rain as nature does.  Look at those “painful” situations, those rainy day moment in your life, and truly offer them thanks.  Appreciate these opportunities to flower and bloom as a human, and therefore, on a soulful level.  Embrace these lessons, suck them in, integrate them, and transmute them into lovliness and grace the way the flower so readily and graciously receives the rain.  Truly allow these April showers to bring about your May (and beyond) flowers.

Tips:

1) Bring out your inner, innocent, oblivious and wide-eyed child self.  Embrace, literally, the rainy day by jumping in puddles and splashing about.

2) Take a rainbow shower! On a hot day, nothing is better than riding your bike along the Hudson (or another body of water) while it is pouring rain.  Ask the water to cleanse and purify you.

3) Meditate in the park while it is raining, and ask the rain to rinse anything that no longer serves you and “see” and feel it being washed away to be drained and transmuted into mother earth for a higher purpose.

4) Water is the element of the 2nd chakra (Sacral Chakra) which governs emotions, sensuality, sexuality and creativity.  Allow the rain to hit your lower abdomen and ask that it heals any imbalances in this area.

5) Meditate daily in nature and ask the flowers, plants, and trees to assist you.  Ask for guidance on a “rainy day” moment or event in your life that you need to work through, become aware of, and release.

6) Cleanse your neurolymphatic points and meridians by receiving some delicious hands on healing.  Attend my Spring healing circle, (this  and other workshops) by visiting http://blog.sproutinglove.com/

2011 New Years Revolutions (not Resolutions)

Every year, millions of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions, and millions of Americans fail.  In recent studies, between 85-95% of Resolutions fall flat….most of them before January is over.  There is a myriad of reasons why, but typically, we bite off too much, and we choose a behaviour that we are so hardwired for, not even Neo from the Matrix could decode it. Are we supposed to just throw up our hands in despair?
No! Why not just set ourselves up for success!

Making New Year’s Resolutions is uncommon in most countries.  Many countries I have visited have made fun of us for participating in this maddening and torturous habit every year–focusing on what we are not doing well, and trying to change that.  The majority of other countries around the world do cute little rituals involving good luck tokens, usually involving food.    For example, in Spain, the Spaniards eat 12 grapes at midnight, to represent good luck for the 12 months to come.  The Norwegians make rice pudding, and hide an almond for the “lucky one” to ingest.  The Americans, well, we drink a lot, wake up hung over, and make lists of shit we suck at and go through extreme measures in the beginning of January to “do better”, only to fail miserably and further perpetuate the cycle in our heads of how big of a loser we are.

The history of New Year’s resolutions dates back to 153 BC when Janus, a mystical Roman King, had two faces..one for peering in the past, and one for looking into the  future.  Janus (January) became the symbol for the New Year, and most people honored this fresh start by looking for forgiveness with enemies, and exchanging gifts with family and friends.  We, on the contrary, make this “fresh start” by making enemies with ourselves.  We put all of our blood sweat and tears into something for about 2 weeks, and then throw up our hands, saying, “f&ck it, in surrender.  Why do we continue this loosing battle, year after year?  Why not create a New tradition? I call it “New Years Revolution!”  You revolve, or go back, to being who you really are!  The best way to do this?  Bring more JOY in your life.  In recent years, I’ve led workshops on focusing on what we did do well, and continuing to grow those behaviors, thus crowding out, or leaving little space for the less desirable behaviours.
At our true essence, we are all joy-filled, passionate, unabashed love bugs.  Upping the ante on those types of activities that remind you of this, will naturally make you a better person….no need to nitpick on everything you aren’t doing, or could improve upon.
This new years, why not try to make resolutions , or revolutions, that are FUN and that you can keep! Revolutions that we can WIN at, not lose at.

Step 1:  Make a list of all the things you find joy in and that remind you of the bright-eyed, innocent, child-like goober you once were and really are:

*puppies
*wet puppy noses
*dancing
*plucking out gray hairs
*yoga
*frolicking in nature
*licking frosting out of the canister
*listening to music
*cooking a healthy meal
*making living room forts
*traveling
*playing hopscotch
*buying fresh flowers for the home
*spying on the neighbors
*making sweaters out of bellybutton lent
*being touched (ie. massage, boyfriend time, etc)
*etc.

Step 2-Allocate a reasonable amount of time to each joy-filled event.

Hopefully, like me, you can think of a shitload of things that make you happy.  For this reason, I recommend that you prioritize.  In your list, order them from the most stupendously orgasmically enjoyable, to mildly enjoyable.  Then, focus on your top 5!  For each of those top 5, pick an amount of time to dedicate to it in 2011 that is both attainable and achievable.  Remember, we are creating New Year’s Resolutions/Revolutions that will LAST.  This must be something that is do-able, or else you will give up.  So while it sounds wonderful to say, “I will travel every day of the year”, or “I will be around wet puppy noses every 5 minutes”, these are unreasonable goals, and you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
On the flip side, you don’t want to cheat yourself.  Saying, “I vow to dance once a year”, is too easy, and you are robbing yourself of joy.
A more reasonable expectation would be something like, “I will get a mani/pedi every month”.  This is maintainable, and wont break your time and money bank.  It brings joy and relaxation in your life, and gives you something to be grateful for and something positive to focus on.
Everything else on your list, (#6 through #1, 349, 645) become icing on the cake.  This is like bonus points.  If you’ve ever done Weight Watchers, the extra activities you do on the list are like “free foods” or flex points.  You can have an unlimited amount as long as you’ve already achieved your top 5 for the week/month/year.  The more (joy) the merrier!

Step 3- Make your Merriment Goals Visible
Make a sticker chart, coupons, a spread sheet, tally chart…whatever organizational tool you need to hold yourself accountable, of your Top 5 That Make You Jive.  Post this somewhere where you will see it daily.  Include the time goal you have set with it (Ex- Take a trip every 4 months, Tickle a baby every 5 weeks, etc.).

Step 4-
Do them

Step 5-
Experience more JOY in your life, thereby crowding away your crumby aspects

Step 6 – Share the JOY with others.  (recommended, but optional)
See how positivity is courageous.  Know that you are contributing to a healthier happier universe, by taking care of yourself.  Feel good about effortlessly sending out good vibrations to others.
Also, we could learn a little something from the Romans…we too could try to make amends with all enemies and frienemies.  Life is short.  Why carry around so much baggage of anger, pain and bitterness?  It’s all about the HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!

HAPPY NEW YEARS READERS!  MAY YOU ALL RE-MEMBER YOUR CHILDLIKE JOY AND INNOCENCE IN 2011.  MUCH LOVE AND LIGHT TO ALL! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Grateful is Essential

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can’t believe we are already at this point of the year again…a time when family and friends gather around to feast and to give thanks.  This is such an American tradition, as I have traveled around the world and everyone asks me about the spirit of Thanksgiving and all of the food that is involved…they truly find it fascinating…and it really is!  The wonderful thing about tradition is that it unites and bonds us together and creates an ‘excuse’ to visit family and pig out.  Sometimes, however, with tradition, it becomes so rouitinized, that we do it on automatic pilot without really thinking about it.  What is Thanksgiving really about?  A lot of lives were sacrificed precipitating this holiday, so it really is an opportunity to reflect on how we are grateful.  I base a lot of my work on Family Constellation Therapy, and in this therapy, it is important to acknowledge and be grateful towards our parents and all of the ancestors before them, back to divine mother and divine father–if not for anything else than to be grateful for our lives–which is, of course, the greatest gift of all.  This Thanksgiving, take a time-out amongst the cooking, feasting, arguing, traveling, stuffing of the face and really sit down and offer, from your heart, sincere gratitude for life.  Then, I often have my clients keep a gratitude list.  Gratitude makes the universe  do cartwheels and want to send you more.  However, as I mentioned above, doing things rouitinly can loose its power and put you on autopilot…much like doing the same commute to work everyday.  So, instead of writing down the routine crap: I’m thankful for my health, my bed, my puppy, etc (all good stuff, but too rputinized), I challenge myself and client to write 3-5 original things daily specific to that day, along with how it made you feel.  For instance: I am grateful for the Pumpkin Chai late and how warm and fuzzy it made me feel inside, I am grateful for the quarter I found on the ground to remind me of how financially abundant I am, I am grateful for the subway arriving just as I rounded the corner onto the platform…another reminder of how abundant I am with time and how I have all the time in the world.  I am grateful for the couple who was holding hands on the subway beside me…it reminded me of how we really are surrounded by so much love in the world.  Lastly, I am grateful for the blister that formed on my food, reminding me that my body is working overtime to serve me and prevent further damage (raw skin).  Feel free to download a print this daily journal I made Conscious Gratitude Journal
By doing this, you will begin to bring your awareness to all that you have and are enveloped in, instead of all that you lack.
And, as a token of my gratitude for you guys, I have a super special offers this month, of buy 1 session, get one session ½ off!  That is a savings of $45!  (Offer valid Dec. 3-Jan.5).  In addition,  you don’t want to miss out on other juicy offers as delicious as aunt Gilda’s Thanksgiving turkey!  You can check those out (below).
I wish you a safe and bonding Thanksgiving, full of thanks and grace.
Gratefully yours,
Natalie

Make the Most Out of What You’re Given!

Winter hasn’t been the friendliest this season and people are starting to get restless!  My skin is so white that I am camouflaged in the snow, my feet are in a constant state of pruniness (my fault for being too cheap to buy good winter boots), and my puffy coat, or as I affectionately call it, “my wearable sleeping bag” is getting so used and abused, there are feathers following me every where I go.  In any event, I have to say that I am enjoying the GOOD that comes with Winter Time.  For one, I am relishing in hibernating.  It is only natural and I don’t have to apologize for following nature’s natural rhythm.  In this time of inwardness, I have taken the opportunity, albeit painful, to look within and dig out the cobwebs that I am not interested in bringing with me this spring.  Furthermore, when I am feeling frisky, I love that I have a winter wonderland in my backyard (Prospect Park) to frolic in, make snowmen (above) and snow-angles.  I have never seen such pure joy on the faces of dogs as they gleefully (and peefully) make yellow snow…and on the faces of young ones as they sled down a 3-foot mole hill, only to do it again and again with the same excitement as if they were going down a huge mountain.  That being said, I love watching the parents (and nannies) as they patiently (and freezingly) stand there and watch as the child does this over and over again.  This is life.  Shit happens, and you have to make the best of it.  Just remember, this too will pass!  Speaking of Best of it, I’ve got the best of it coming up, from workshops, to bath salts, to specials to COSTA RICA!  So read below and join us!
Much love this remaining winter,
Natalie