Friday, December 28, 2012

Bringing My Sexy Back


I Don't Need A Man To Bring My Sexy Back

I'm a powerful manifester. That's what everyone says — my craniosacral energy healer, my mind-body mentor, my yoga teachers, even me. What I've learned is that you can manifest the good stuff as much as the not-so-great. 

Whatever you focus your attention on, that's what'll come to you. 
 
"The Universe can't differentiate if you want this or that," says Gary, my big-hearted Scottish cranio guy. "It'll just give you more of what you're focusing on." 

Whatever we're looking at, that's where the Universe is following suit, so it's up to us to make sure we're staring in the right direction. 
 
We know this. 

But often, when it comes to love and dating, however, we're looking outward. 

Our focus is all outside of us onto someone else. We're wondering if he likes us, if he thinks that we're sexy (especially under the covers), or even if he'll want to marry us. 

As Laura Doyle, author of The Surrendered Single: A Practical Guide to Attractive and Marrying the Man Who's Right For You, writes, "Like children who look at their classmates' papers to see who's coloring in the lines, we sometimes look to a man expecting to find information that will help us make decisions about our own lives. When it comes to matters of the heart, though, the most valuable information will come from inside you."
 
I'm guilty of this, too. I worry so much about whether the object of my affections desires me in turn, that I forget to step back and check in to see if I even like him. 
 
Recently, I met a guy who seems to be great in many arenas, except for a couple of game-changers that are crucial to me (like chivalry and generosity). 

He's fun, active in all the sports I love to do, open to chatting about spiritual topics, loves to travel, and the list goes on. 

But, when it comes to opening doors and letting me enter a building first — essentially treating me like a lady or preferably a queen — he lacks in that regard. This may not seem like such a big deal, but the problems are: (1) I've actually brought it to his attention and he hasn't done anything about it, and (2) I believe it's in the little things that reveal a big lot about a person. 

Maybe another woman would overlook these things, maybe they're not such a big deal. 

But for a recovering people-pleaser like me, who used to believe that my needs were not as important as my partner's, I'm taking a stand. I'm being clear inwardly and outwardly, because if I want someone to treat me like royalty, I have to remember to wear my crown. 

I'm giving suitors several opportunities, but I'm also trusting my intuition and honoring what I ultimately want, because I believe my partner for life will want to do these things for the pure fact they make me delight.

Here's another reason it's important to me: because it is. 

That's a reason that's good enough for men to do what they do and want what they want, so why not women? I've spent a lot of my adult life pretending to "not be that girl" who gets all neurotic until I realized that what I've really been doing in the end is promoting masculine (yang) energy, which means that I'm not letting my feminine (yin) energy come alive and thrive. 

I. Am. A. Goddess. 

It's taken me a very long time to admit that to myself, but frankly, I don't need a man to bring my sexy back. 

I have it within me, and the more I acknowledge that simple fact, the more that other women around me will hopefully embrace their divine rights as well. 
 
A friend of mine recently said that if we want to get married and have children, we're now at an age where we need to be selective about the person who we're focusing our energies on. (I'm 34.) 

I understand that traditions have shifted and now there are all sorts of circuitous routes to get to where we eventually want to be. Just as our smart phones now give us different alternatives to get from point A to B, we still need to know where B is. Then, we can have fun getting there.
 
Now, when I get up in the morning, I get dressed to feel good for me. Lots of evenings, I put on hip hop tunes to dance scandalously in my room in front of a mirror, because I like feeling h-o-t. 

If someone outside of me notices all of these things I'm doing to make myself happier, then all the better! Most importantly, when I'm genuinely content, my smile radiates from my lips to my heart changing my whole demeanor and when I feel empowered, I smile at everyone — male, female, toddler, puppy — because who knows what the Universe has in store.

All I know is that he's out there, and rather than chasing after him, I'm attracting him to me. 

When you're chasing after something, by its very definition, that thing that you're going after is running away from you. 

Instead, stand still. 

Look within. Give yourself permission to be bold and brilliant, always focusing on the light within, so you can illuminate the path for your right person to find you. 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The seduction of making someone else happy.....that's happiness.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Say Goodbye to Bad Romance


Quit Bad Romance For Good

Being alone can get lonely. And if you choose to be single for too long, people may decide there's "something wrong" with you. What's worse is that you may soon believe that something actually is wrong with you. 

This was my story until I recognized that loneliness could be my greatest teacher.

Although I am currently single, I feel more love than I ever have in any romantic relationship. I am in the best relationship of my life…with myself. 

Seven months ago, however, I was in a very different place. 

My last serious relationship had been a repeat of every other romantic relationship I've been in: filled with drama, toxic energy and defensive behaviors. It wasn't until my last boyfriend that I took responsibility for my patterns and quit bad romance cold turkey. I recognized that I could never find true love until I fully loved myself.

The past six months have been a magical roller coaster, ranging from complete freedom to desperate loneliness. Throughout this time I have made it my full-time job to understand who I really am, what I need, and what I value.

In the past, I always put others first. I'd sacrifice myself in an effort to make the world happy. 

This didn't work. 

If I'm committed to creating a healthy, loving and expansive romantic relationship, I must first show up and treat myself with the same kindness I desire. 

In my quest to find answers I began to study other couples, people who are together and madly in love. What is their secret? What do they have that I don’t? 

After interviewing, researching and studying love, as well as lack of love, I have recognized the 4 golden truths to a lasting relationship. 

Here are 4 things healthy couples do:

1. They are 100% committed to being together

People who are happy and in a long-lasting relationship are committed to one another. Without a shadow of a doubt they have said yes to their life partner. Which means that, through thick and thin, they lean into one another versus second-guessing or looking outside of their relationship.

2. They don't spend time in dead-end relationships.

The difference between soul mate love and relationships that feel strained is that people on a mission to find their soul mate don't waste time in anything that doesn't feel right. Dead-end relationships can come in all shape and sizes: from waiting for your significant other to get over alcohol or drugs, to dating a married person, to having a secret relationship with a boss or teacher, or even being in a relationship with a person who disrespects you. Trust your own internal guidance system. If it isn't working or feels forced, it's not supposed to work. It is OK to let go!

3. They love themselves first and put me before we. 

I once dated a man who was more interested in looking at himself and complimenting himself than being with me. Let’s put ego aside for a moment because I am not talking about that kind of conceited self-love, the kind that often stems from deep-rooted insecurities. 

I am talking about an authentic expression of self. Being true to you, your mind, body and soul. Couples that stay together always play together, but come from a place of self-love and respect first and foremost. They do what they love and have healthy goals and hobbies. They don't make one another feel guilty for pursuing self-interests. Instead they lift each other up and support one another fully.

4. They show and accept their shadow sides. 

Every person has habits, insecurities and shadow sides. In relationships, we sometimes hide our true self in an effort to please the other person. This results in breakups, drama and divorce. The reality is the healthiest couples show their true self, including their dark fears, insecurities and allow themselves and each other to be vulnerable. And instead of running, they embrace one another and allow each person to be uniquely them, no judgment, only love.

Lessons in love are a lifetime journey, but I know this for sure, when looking for true love, don't ever put commitment before compatibility. Recognizing that this was my pattern, I realize my desire to be in a relationship outweighed the partners I picked. 

Learn from my mistakes and don't settle simply because you want a relationship, and never stay with the wrong person for the wrong reasons.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock


Saturday, December 22, 2012

Meditation....Sex....

Meditation & Sex Are Same to Your Brain
By MindBodyGreen
A new study suggests that your brain reacts the same way to meditation as it does to sex. Both dissolve our sense of self-awareness, separating ourselves from our ego.

The lead researcher, Gemma O'Brien found that people meditating and having an orgasm both experience "diminution of self-awareness" and "alterations in bodily perception."

When you meditate, the left side of your brain lights up and when you have sex, the right side of your brain lights up -- both experiences leading to a stoppage of mental chatter in your brain and helping you lose physical and mental boundaries.

You can check out more on the study at Scientific American.

So what do you think?

Who's ready to get their meditation on?!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

#happiness

Live a life that brings you joy,
laughter and playfulness.
...find a partner who can bring you the same.

~L. Leiden

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Love

Love that we cannot have is the one that lasts the longest,
hurts the deepest, and feels the strongest.

~ Fran Lebowitz

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

When others don't change


Seeing folks around you stuck in patterns that don't serve life, can stimulate a bundle of frustration and grief. You'd really like for people to see what doesn't work and make the change sooner than later. You'd like both of you to be able to enjoy the results of living from greater awareness, wisdom, and compassion.

When you make a change for the better, it's easy for the should jackals to come in and say, "Hey, I made this change. They should be able to do it as well." It's easy to forget all the little things that you did and experienced that got you where you are now. It didn't happen overnight. It's painful to see people stuck in patterns and know there is an easier and better way.  You think to yourself, "If only s/he would change . . ."

There are a couple of important things to remember here.  You can offer lots of empathy and honest expression and if you do so with the purpose of changing another s/he will sense that and invariably resist.  After the survival needs, autonomy is the first need people protect.  People change most easily when they are experiencing love and acceptance.
Your work then, isn't to change others.  It is to look into your heart and see if you want to connect even when they are not changing and regardless of whether they ever change or not.  Whether you choose to connect or not, your next step is to allow yourself to mourn the needs not met as this person stays stuck.  Just to let yourself feel the grief of seeing suffering without resisting the fact of your inability to change it for that person, this is the practice of staying connected to your heart.

Over the years this has been an intense practice for me with my family.  I get the opportunity to help so many people, but my family members aren't jumping up to receive help from me (at least not in the way I think they "should").  I have experienced so much grief and frustration wishing for their well-being and wanting them to change.  I just returned yesterday from visiting several family members in Colorado.  I got to experience the fruits of the practice of letting go of trying to change them.  My ability to stay present, enjoy them, enjoy myself, and feel an exchange of love was greater than it ever has been.  I came home nourished rather than exhausted as I have in the past.  I look forward to continuing to relax into more layers of acceptance and experiencing the richness this brings.
Take a moment now to reflect.  Is there anyone in your life you are trying to change?  Can you access the desire to connect even when they don't change?  Can you allow yourself to mourn in the face of the suffering of others?  Can you find your way to accepting their path and trusting something larger to guide them?

LaShelle Charde


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Creating Connection

You love your partner and are doing as much as you can to show it.  For example, you might think to yourself, "I will get all this stuff done around the house, so that she knows I care about her well-being and am committed to our lives together."  You work hard all day around the house.  When your partner gets home that evening, you are exhausted and a little grouchy because you haven't taken care your own needs.  Your initial attitude of love and generosity has transmuted into resentment.  You hear yourself thinking, "She better appreciate all I have done!"

Not surprisingly your partner doesn't have the experience of being loved by you, but rather, sees your state and decides pour all of her warm greeting into the cat who purrs and rubbs softly at her ankles.

Seeing this, your resentment builds.  You want that loving greeting.  You worked hard for it all day.

When these kinds of patterns are repeated over time, both you and your partner become convinced that the other doesn't care and a rift grows between you. 

There are a few simple ways to create connection in this situation.

1.  Look for the good intention.  Ask about your partner's intention behind their behavior and express your own.  Hearing how your partner was holding the intention to care for you even though what she was doing wasn't working, can go a long way toward reconnecting.

2.  Ask how to best love her or him.  Ask your partner how she or he most feels loved.  (Check out the book:  The Five Love Languages, if you need help here).

3.  Practice the Basics:  at the foundation of any strong relationship are these basic practices:
§       Speak and behave with your partner with as much respect as you would show a friend, co-worker, supervisor, etc.

§       Greet your partner eye contact and affection upon seeing her or him after time apart (before you greet the cat).

§       Everyday take time to listen to and express curiosity about your partner's experiences without judgment and advice giving.

§       Celebrate and appreciate your partner and your relationship at least five times as often as when you talk about what is not working.

Practice
Take time with your partner in the next few days and talk about which basics you are doing consistently and which you would like to do more often.

LaShelle Charde

Five Dimensions of Touch

The Five Dimensions of Touch: The Key to Bypassing Sexual Power Struggles  By Barry McCarthy, Ph.D. “Are we going to have sex or not?” ...