Author Archives: Megan Antlfinger

Spirit Soaring Sensations

This weekend I had the pleasure of traveling up to Maine with one of my daughters for a soccer tournament. It was an energizing experience of sensory stimulation. Seeing the vivid display of colorful fall foliage along coastal marshes, hearing the cheers of fans and players as goals were scored, smelling the salty sea air as we strolled by lobster shacks, feeling the warm embrace of an old friend’s hug, and experiencing the immense heart-opening gratitude afforded from uninterrupted one-on-one quality time with one of my girls. Sometimes moving out of the daily routine into a new surrounding can help one to be more present. The gift of this is the ability to live more fully in the moment, which will give you a heightened awareness and appreciation for each sensory experience. We notice colors more, are aware of new sounds, can smell foreign scents, and overall grow our capacity to appreciate and feel gratitude for this thing called life. What would it be like if you were able to open your sensory awareness, and enable yourself to move out of the habits of daily living into a place of constant appreciation and heart opening gratitude that would help your spirit soar?

Did you know that more than 86% of your behavior is based on habitual patterns that you do every day without even thinking about what you are doing or experiencing? These habitual behaviors create dulled sensations that move you from one activity to the next without thinking, feeling or sensing anything… unless for some reason you are jarred out of the routine and quickly need to think or experience, usually for safety sake. What if you could awaken your senses to experience more vibrancy, feelings of aliveness or being energized?

Let’s look at 3 simple steps to make this happen today!

1. Intentional Living

Take a moment to set an intention at the beginning of the day to live in the present moment becoming fully aware and appreciative of each experience that touches your senses. “Stop and smell the roses” is one of those sayings that we often hear, but don’t take the time to practice. Sometimes it takes moving out of one’s comfort zone (whether on a trip or experiencing something new) to shift gears. The repetitiousness of your routines puts one into a trance like the dance of rhythmic living that leaves you moving on auto-pilot verses noticing the intoxicating, beautiful, and awe inspiring world around you. Setting an intention at the beginning of the day can help you step out of these habitual patterns and help you to move to a new, energizing and spirit lifting beat.

2. Sensory Awareness

Take this week to become fully aware of each of your senses within your daily routine. Maybe on Monday you choose to focus on what you smell. Observe the aromas wafting through the air; notice the scent of each new place you walk in or through and how different things smell. Often times our routines become so rote that we forget to notice. When we first moved to our new town every time I would walk outside I would experience the faint scent of sea air. Now, four years later, I don’t notice it unless I purposefully take the time, and have the intention to be aware of the salty smell. Do this for each of your senses.

3. Attitude of Gratitude

Taking the time to write about your experiences helps to activate the part of your brain that has fallen asleep from years of inactivity. Otherwise, this inactivity allows the habit-forming center of the brain to continuously be in use, and this repetition creates the same effect as an over-flexed muscle, which builds strength. Writing about your sensory experience helps to move you from the autopilot mode to an awareness approach that assists you in fully experiencing the richer, deeper, and more vibrant sensations that you were meant to enjoy. At the end of your day evaluate which miracles you experienced that created a feeling of gratitude. It is also important to be aware of the sensations that you might not have enjoyed. I love the smell of lobster boats, my daughter, not so much. The gift is in the awakening of conscious awareness.

Reflection and gratitude increase your awareness and move you from habitual routine to joyful creation. This helps you to draw more of those sights, smells, feeling and sounds to your consciousness and opens your heart to experience these inspirations at every turn.

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

What Does Your Home Say About You?

As I decorate for the different seasons I often take note of how I feel in my home. As I walk around my abode replacing summer accessories with fall foliage decorations or holiday trimmings with splashes of spring embellishments I take a moment to really notice my space and the messages it is sending me. This gives me the opportunity to determine if my space is supporting me or depleting my essence. It also gives me a great barometer for where I am at personally. If clutter has begun to pile up or my desk has cascading files, I know that I am in a state of overwhelm and it is time to shift gears. Let’s look at your home and determine what it is saying to you and about you. Your home not only speaks to you but it says a great deal about you. A Buddhist monk once said, “When you get up in the morning, the way you leave your bed, tells us what is going on in your head.” You can begin to understand yourself better by looking at your environment and determining what it is saying about you and to you.

Let’s look at a few ways to begin the process…

First, begin to notice your space overall. If you had to describe it in in a few words, what would those words be? Would you say neat, clean and organized or would you say disheveled, messy and cluttered? Would the words be serene and harmonious or chaotic and discordant? Finding the words to describe your space gives you the first clue about your internal environment. In my many years of working inside people’s homes I have witnessed a wide variety of examples of home spaces that reflect the inner environment of the inhabitants who live there. There is the teen whose room is a disheveled mess, (the one whom literally needs to hunt to find things at the bottom of mile high piles) which conveys that they are feeling a bit lost and probably searching for themselves. There is the mudroom that has labeled bins and color-coded calendars probably belonging to the type-A parent whose household runs seamlessly despite having six kids. Then there is the home of the overwhelmed and harried inhabitant, which is conveyed in the piles of clutter that demonstrate an outward representation of their internal barometer. Your home gives you information on your psychological state; begin to notice the clues that your home is giving you.

Second, observe the messages that the items in your home are sending you. Everything in your home literally speaks to you and your subconscious. It is your job to see, hear and identify the messages. Begin to look around your home and determine if the objects that surround you on a daily basis are sending you supportive, nurturing messages or life draining messages that deplete your vitality. When you walk by a piece of artwork that you picked up on your last vacation it may make you smile. As time goes on and the artwork fades into the background walls, your subconscious still takes note of the happy memories when you walk by the art and it uplifts your spirit. The same phenomenon takes place when you walk by items that hold negative memories. The expensive vase that was gifted to you by the relative who made unkind remarks year’s earlier triggers those energy-draining memories in your subconscious every time it comes into view. Begin to notice the messages that the items in your home are sending you.

Third, set an intention for your home. Do you want to live in a space of harmony and serenity? Do you envision your dream home as a clutter free oasis where everything is easy to find? I recently re-read an article on Rob Lowe in Architectural Digest. In the interview he explained that he had a vision or goal for his Southern California home. He wanted to create a space that was comfortable, kid friendly and welcomed guests to relax and enjoy themselves despite the grandeur of the home. He wanted it to be a space alive with energy. The pictures conveyed a space that captured the essence of his intention and goal. Decide what type of environment would best support you and set that intention for your home.

The fourth key is to clear your environment of the things that do not resonate with the intention you have set for your space or the one’s you have determined have negative associations. Look at every space and every item within the space and determine if it is aligned with your vision. If it is, great! If it isn’t, it is time to clear the clutter to make room for only things that support you and the goals for your home.

These four steps can give you a new way to access your home environment and inner environment. Learning what your space says about you can be an eye opening experience. Deciphering the messages your space currently holds can help you determine the intentions, goals and vision for your future space. Envisioning this aspiration will help you create the inner and outer environment of your dreams!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Clearing Your Path

T Harv Eker wisely said, “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” Looking at life through this lens can give you such incredible insight into your behaviors, habits, relationship, home, body and mind. Take 48 hours to notice how you do all the little ‘one thing’s. Do you procrastinate, rush, over-think, become scattered or distracted? These are a few of the many ways people show up in their lives. Taking the time to notice how you show up in yours allows you the opening to evaluate and determine if the way you do things is really working for you. It gives you the power of choice and the opportunity to change.

As you decide to keep or clear the behaviors that have become habits in your life you will notice how other areas begin to adjust as well. Cleaning or detoxifying one area of our life shifts our being-ness and clearings are manifested in other areas of our life. When the ripple of change, growth and awareness shifts in one area all other areas are touched. The way we show up can shift and be reflected in our home, body, mind and soul!

As I ran on the equestrian trails through New Seabury, past the inlets of Ockway Bay and along the shores of Nantucket Sound, I realized that how we show up in any area of our life is a direct reflection and representation of how we show up everywhere in our life.

Running down the slopes of the winding path I realized that I was holding myself back, assessing, before I allowed gravity to speed my pace and take me effortlessly down the trail. “Interesting”, I thought to myself. This was a direct reflection of how I sometimes showed up in life. Actually, if I was being honest with myself, it was a direct reflection of how I show up in this lifetime all the time. Instead of just allowing and going with the flow, I assess the situation. I make sure that I am going to be safe and not trip over something in my path. This hinders the natural flow, ease and momentum of my run and can slow the graceful evolution of synchronistic events in my life. Do you move with ease and grace down the slopes of your life?

I am up for the challenge of the short, steep inclines that stand in my way as I traverse up the sandy path. “Interesting”, I think to myself, do I enjoy the obstacles that life brings as much as I enjoy the conquest of the hill ahead? Is it the satisfaction of the accomplishment that makes me stride and strive along? How do you meet the hill ahead?

Little bugs bite at the salty sweat that trickles down my legs. The distraction stops me, for a moment, in my tracks. I refocus and continue along my journey. Is this similar to how I handle distractions in life? The realization that this was a distraction and awareness of it (or them) allows me to mindfully continue on my journey. Are you easily distracted from your vision? Can awareness penetrate through to your consciousness?

The distraction awakens my awareness. I set out on this morning run to detoxify my body, enjoy the wonders of nature around every turn that bring a sense of peace and calmness to my mind and to contemplate and connect to the Divine that nurtures my Soul.

As I return to the little cottage by the sea, I am intrigued that I have decided to do a bit of cleaning and clearing. Again, I think to myself, “Interesting”. I am actually looking forward to cleansing, cleaning and opening windows to let the sea air in to my home.

Cleaning or detoxifying one area of our life shifts our being-ness and clearings are manifested in other areas of our life. When the ripple of change, growth and awareness shifts one area all other areas are touched. The way we show up can shift and be reflected in our home, body, mind and soul.

This morning’s run let me witness how I show up for my journey. How are you showing up in yours?

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Overcome Overwhelm & Return to Optimum Balance

This year, more than ever, I have observed families and individuals trying to shift gears and move into high speed over-drive because of the demands that are inherent in the Fall season, and in the expectations that have been placed on them by others or themselves. This whirlwind of over stimulation, endless to-do’s, and need to be in constant motion, or productivity can tax our body, mind and spirit leaving us feeling drained, overwhelmed, and exhausted. This formula sets one up for sickness and sadness. Let’s look at how this happens and simple solutions to move from this unbalanced condition to a state of harmony, equilibrium and vitality.

In the last month we have accelerated from the gentle swing of summer sunshine energy to the ramped-up rapid frenzy of activities, school agendas and work deadlines. This increased pace that is a natural part of the cadence of growth and expansion during the Fall season has shifted into over-drive leaving the passengers on this speeding train feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Living in this perpetual state wears the body down by producing stress hormones that course through the body. When left on, stress hormones create havoc for the system overall, leaving you feeling run-down or sick.

For me, I hit the Fall season running. My pace wasn’t the 10-minute mile that I can sustain for miles upon miles. Instead, it was an all out sprint. Juggling new schools, a plethora of extracurricular activities, carpool schedules that needed organization, and a work trip that included 12-hour days and a red-eye flight home. This coupled with restaurant food and a lack of sleep led to the feeling of hitting a brick wall. My body finally took matters into it’s own hands and said, “We are stopping, NOW!” I succumbed to a flu that left me unable to move out of bed for 2 days. I tried to write during this down time, but found that my headache and brain fog would not cooperate. There is such divine magic in the human body! I still wanted to press forward even though my body was saying I needed a break. It then created an additional condition so that I had no choice but to recuperate and rejuvenate. When I finally stopped pushing, and took the position that I needed to rest, the stress hormones were able to dissipate and my body was able to begin the process of moving back into balance which allowed healing to occur. Let’s look at 3 ways to help you move from the stress and strain of daily living that can wear down the body and shift you into a state of vibrant vitality and harmonious calm.

1. Take a ‘Time-Out’

We all need the opportunity to recharge our batteries on a regular basis. You can do this by incorporating a ‘time-out’ into your routine whether it is on a daily or weekly basis… or, better yet, both! Find a few minutes each day to center yourself, become grounded and nurture you! For some, that might be taking a few moments in the day to sit quietly and read a book while sipping tea or enjoying a bath at the end of the day. Whatever that ‘time-out’ is for you, it is imperative to include it in your life. The amazing thing is, studies have shown that when you take a moment to recharge daily, you are able to be more efficient and effective as you move through your life.

2. Create a Sacred Spot that Allows You to Unwind

Your home can be a great source of comfort and support in your life. Creating a spot within your home that is a retreat, or sacred spot to help you unwind or recharge your batteries can have a huge impact on your overall sense of wellbeing. This special spot, whether it is your bedroom, bathroom, creative room or designated meditation place can have a tremendous benefit on your feeling of balance which impacts your health, harmony and happiness. Tune in to where in your home this special oasis exists and make it the best it can be to support and nurture you.

3. Superfood Fuel & Detox the Toxic Body Burden

Incorporating a clean eating lifestyle along with a regular detox program will allow your body to run optimally. Clean eating ensures you are putting ideal fuel in your body to allow it to run to its peak potential. Remove the toxins that build up in your body and become stuck from restaurant food, packaged food and the fun cocktails you might have enjoyed while looking at the summer sunsets. Detoxing gives you the opportunity to hit the reset button on your health and vitality! It clears away the hundreds of toxins that become stuck in your body from daily living. The build up of these toxins creates a toxic “body burden” effect, which induces a similar consequence on your system that stress hormones cause. Thus, leaving your body weakened and unable to fight off dis-ease, sickness and depression. Detoxing regularly and incorporating a clean eating lifestyle will help you to feel balanced, healthy and vibrant!

Use these three Home in Harmony Lifestyle Simple Solutions to help you maintain your equilibrium daily and turn to them during periods of stress and overwhelm. Take a few moments each day and gift yourself time to recharge you, give yourself wholesome foods that support great health, remove the inundation of toxins in your system with a regular detox program and create a special spot in your home that allows you to relax, unwind and rejuvenate you! These will help bring your body, mind and spirit back into balance, harmony & great health!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

The Toxic Truth & What You Need to Know

Did you know that the average person holds more than 700 toxic chemicals in their bodies? These toxins are inhaled from the myriad of chemical by-products that fill the air from industry or from the off-gassing of goods within one’s home. You also ingest these toxins in the foods you consume, the water you drink or a whole host of beverages that are anything but healthy. Once absorbed, ingested or inhaled these toxins can become stuck in the body throwing it out of balance, and causing a wide range of issues from depression and inflammation to weight gain and disease.

The toxic truth is that the over inundation of toxins in everyday living has dramatic implications for the body’s ability to remain in a state of optimum health, harmony and balance. Gaining the conscious awareness regarding toxins is the first step in regaining a balanced state within the body.The second step is to begin to take action to eliminate toxic items from your life and learn how to remove the toxins that are already trapped within your body so they don’t become stuck in your body and wreak havoc.

It is important to access your lifestyle to determine where, how and when you can design healthy habits that will decrease your body burden and toxicity levels.

Let’s look at some simple solutions…

The first solution is to understand the problem. The dilemma to understanding the problem is that weeding through all of the noise on what is toxic and what isn’t can be challenging. Big business is designed to manufacture and sell products to gain profit at the lowest price. That translates to many companies not caring about what goes in or on their products. Instead, the bottom line profits are what matters. Educating yourself about the toxins lurking in your life is the key.

The second solution is finding alternative healthy products that you can swap out for the unhealthy ones. Reading labels and understanding them is essential to creating a healthy home and ridding toxins from your life. Anywhere that you can make a swap you should consider it because not only does each unhealthy product create stress on your body system, but the inundation of so many toxins day after day is more than the body was designed to take.

Lastly, the third solution is making a habit out of the new, healthier products you have begun to explore. Lasting vibrant health and wellness comes from habitual behavior that promotes conscious choices made from an awakened state that support a healthy lifestyle.

Toxins are all around us, but they can be tamed with awareness through the education you can find in books, seminars or coaching. Decide how you are going to learn and grow. This will help you find the toxins lurking in your home and life.

Happy Soaring!

XOXO