It recently occurred to me that it is impossible to get bothered by petty things if your mind is open. We typically think of an open mind as being accepting of other’s differences, which is true. But it is so much more than that. Right now, focus on expanding your mind so that it extends beyond your physical body. Try to get the feeling of actually extending your energy field outside the confines of your body, with a specific focus on the energy that usually resides in your head. With your energy extended, try to think about something that usually bothers you. If you are able to do so, you’ll notice that your mental energy had to contract to get that petty or specific. But an “open” or expanded mind and a narrow mind cannot exist at the same time!

When we keep our mental energy expanded, we are connected to our real selves, but when we contract our minds in judgement, we identify with the ego. It’s an interesting exercise and liberating too! Who wants to be petty and judgemental? Most people would rather feel connected to others and rise above small mindedness. Expanding your mind, elevates you to another vibrational reality – the one in which we are all connected and small things don’t matter.

The Detox Lifestyle Diet eBook is now available on Amazon!

The other day in yoga, the teacher announced that one of the students in our class had lost 50 pounds. Bravo! As we all know, that’s no easy task. And I was almost brought to tears when a woman I love and respect shared that she’s lost 25 pounds since reading The Energy Cure!

All this has me thinking about the psychology of weight loss. There are certain mental/emotional patterns that cause us to hold on to weight. The good news is that once we change these patterns, it is much easier to lose weight. Here are the three top patterns that cause people to hold on to weight and how to transform them:

1. Over-Giving: Working too much, socializing too much, being the “good friend,” listening to others complain – are all symptoms of over-giving. Make sure you’re not giving more energy than you can manufacture in that spirit/mind/body of yours. Set boundaries. Say no. Do only what you are inspired to do. Doing something for someone else out of obligation is a huge energy drain.

2. Harboring Resentments: Whatever you do, don’t let little resentments accumulate. They are very sticky and these sticky emotions attract calories. If we hold on to anything emotional, we need to somehow feed it. Look at every single resentment that comes up in your mind and either forgive or talk to someone about it. Nothing is meant to stick, we are spiritual vessels that are meant to be clear and POWA-FULL!

3. Need for Approval: Live by the saying, “What you think of me is none of my business.” The need for approval is the need for external attention and energy. This indicates a vortex in your emotional landscape that pulls energy in rather than allowing it to flow outward as it is designed to do. Sucking approval, affection, attention and validation from others can be replaced with giving approval, affection, attention and validation to yourself.

These three psychological steps will allow you to release extra weight, feel happier and shine bright like the sun, providing warmth and nourishment to those around you without even trying!

God Speed.

By the way, my new ebook – Detox Lifestyle Diet – is about to be released. Will keep you posted!

The other day I was in my car stopped at a red light. A conversation I’d just had was weighing heavy on my mind when I looked out the window and saw a bubble moving toward me! It was so random. There were no kids around blowing bubbles and no events close by where it could have come from. As the bubble moved toward my window, I looked up. What did I see, but hundreds of bubbles floating in the sky! They were just above my car and no where else. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It was like angels were allaround me saying, “Cheer up, we are here and we love you!”

My little trick for getting through conflicts with others? Create the conditions for love. Not on the outside but on the inside.

What does it feel like? Expansiveness, breathing and receiving around the abdomen area, then it rises up to the heart. It’s impossible to stay frustrated when your doing this. It really works. I’m not perfect at it, but getting better all the time!

Have you noticed things changing?

I keep getting a message from the universe. It is this: Everything that is not real is now falling apart and will be replaced by a new order based only on what is real.

What is not real? Anything based on ego. Materialism that feeds an identity built on status. Relationships that are superficial. A job that one hates but keeps for the security. The list goes on.

There are two ways we can approach this emerging order. We can either cling to our made-up identities, needs and pseudo security blankets or we can let them all go and embrace what’s real in our lives.

What’s real? Abundance is as close as your next breath and the eggs you had for breakfast. Love that is honest, generous and tolerant. And passionate expression of one’s gifts – regardless of the annual salary.

The new currency is energy. Everything false is only a shell that is devoid of energy. These hollow forms are crumbling all around us. So many have lost their homes only to find that they are living a life that has more meaning. My hair dresser who used to listen to clients talk about their new Gucci bags all day now hears stories of volunteerism.

This shift is not easy, as most of us have an entire belief system based on what the “ideal” life should be like – how we should look, how much money we should have, where we should live, who we should be with…

My belief is that 2012 is the end of the world as we know it. Not like in the movies, but ending nonetheless. Institutions based on greed will continue to fall, and the earth that is being robbed of it’s natural resources in order to feed insatiable consumerism will continue to shutter with grief, and the ocean that is being poisoned with chemicals will continue to roar. But the false world is being replaced by a new world that is shimmering with light and brimming with energy. Those who thrive are those who will gracefully embrace this new reality that is built on substance rather than form.

Our task is to take a rigorous look at any beliefs or behaviors we are holding onto that are based on false ideals and be willing to let them go. We can then surrender to the real and emerging currency of energy. By doing this, we not only help usher in the reality that is at our doorsteps and will take us over if we don’t let it in, but we experience the abundance that is our natural inheritance and the peace that passeth all understanding.

I’m thrilled to be attending the 2011 Imagine Peace Conference at Berkeley this year! Sacred for sure – we will be celebrating and manifesting peace on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

http://www.peaceconference2011.org/peace

The Energy Cure is now available in Bulgaria!

I was honored to be interviewed by Toby Christensen, also known as the healing drummer. He is committed to spreading peace through his drumming and teachings. He also features others who are doing the same thing. Check out this fun conversation we had about Portals of Peace at www.healingdrummer.com.

You might think I’m having a hard attack or participating in some kind of erotic activity by the title of this post, but in reality my heart is holding so much love that it feels like it’s going to burst.

Now let me be clear (said in the voice of Obama;), I have no shortage of love in my life, but my summer school students just put me over the edge.

I think what happened is that I decided to love them first. I saw the unique spirit and gifts in each of them – the edgy students, the charming students, the free spirited students and the courageous students. There were gentle giants and future stars in this class.

I won’t go on and on describing each one, even though I want to… But at some point the winds changed and they began pouring love in my direction. By the end of the class it was a full-on love fest.

I’m so honored to have people to “see.” To really see is to fall in love and what we put out there comes back to us tenfold, maybe even a hundredfold, which is why my heart is bursting.