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I’m feeling a little like a Kardashian this week! No, I’m not wearing a skin-tight bodysuit or flying my private plane anywhere (I’ll do that next week), but I am the proud owner of my own trademark! At last count, Kim Kardashian had 72 registered trademarks and a ton more pending, including applications to trademark her kids’ names. So it must be so easy to get one, right!? Nope, she just has truckloads of money and a whole team of lawyers, while someone like me — a solopreneur with limited resources — does not.

After nearly a year since filing, I now officially own the trademark for WingTips, the name of the art print gift sets I launched in early 2022 (pssst! they’re on sale for the first time ever). I have a very nice and expensive trademark lawyer who has navigated it all for me over the last year (so many steps!) and on the night before Thanksgiving, he emailed me to say we did it! I own the WingTips trademark outright! Now I just pray people keep buying them, lol! 

This is the reality of owning a super-small business. Every little thing — the paper I buy, the consultants I hire, the cost of postage — matters to the bottom line. So deciding to do something like file for a trademark? It’s a BIG DEAL for a little biz. It’s the kind of thing I wish people understood on a day like Small Business Saturday, when consumers are encouraged to support small businesses vs the big box retailers and name brands.

The honest truth is that the smallest of the small businesses don’t often benefit much from these promotions; it’s wonderful that people remember to eat at a locally-owned restaurant or shop at a local boutique, but it’s very hard for one-person businesses to break through the clutter of ads, promotions and social media. And this year, it seems harder than ever; supply chain issues, material costs, and customers’ expectations for frequent promotions and sales are making it hard for independent makers to stay afloat.

There are millions of people out there who are following their passions and using their gifts to create the coolest stuff, but who also have to do allll the things that go into running a business. So, as you “shop local” and “buy small,” I just want to humbly request that you remember the magic makers. So many good people making good things! Find a local craft fair. Buy merch from local musicians. Check out the websites of creatives you follow online. Need a jumpstart? I’ve got you! Here are 5 amazing magic makers you can support today…

5 MAGIC MAKERS I THINK YOU’LL LOVE!

ART BY LORI PORTKA

My dear friend, artist LORI PORTKA, has gorgeous new chiffon scarves and the sweetest new holiday cards in her shop this holiday season. Plus, everything in her shop — from calendars to cards to wood prints  — is 20% off during Thanksgiving weekend! And if you happen to be in Asheville, North Carolina, be sure to check out her studio! Visit Lori’s website here. 

FEELCLINGS BY JILL KRAUSE

Jill Krause, founder of Bufahlow, has been beautifully and bravely honest about her path through mental health challenges. Her journey inspired her to create FeelClings, which are like stickers — but not! They’re adhesive affirmations that can be applied to mirrors, windows, and other surfaces and peeled off to reposition! She also has created wooden air fresheners and ornaments with similar sentiments. Such great stocking stuffers! Jill’s shop is 30% off everything through Sunday 11/27. Visit Jill’s website here. 

ART BY SUSIE LUBELL

I have long loved Susie Lubell’s work, but her latest abstract paintings are so rich and layered and vibrant! Years ago, she packed up her family and her art career and moved to Israel, but she ships lots of her art to customers in the U.S. — from huge originals to custom ketubahs. She’s doing a Black Sabbath sale for 30% off through November 29; input the code BLACKISBACK. Visit Susie’s website here. 

FAMILY MOVIE JOURNALS BY JENNIFER BORGET

Mom of three Jennifer Borget turned her family’s love of movies into the coolest product — the Family Movie Night Journal! It’s a hardcover, interactive journal with stickers, categories, rules for sharing and more. So fun to capture everyone’s reactions and reflections on the movie they just watched, and then look back on them later. Great gift idea for any family of movie lovers! Visit Jennifer’s website.

JEWELRY BY KATIE WHITE DESIGNS

Katie White learned how to make clay polymer earrings while she was hospitalized, waiting for a heart transplant. Amazing right? She then turned her new passion into a business and has so many cool designs, ranging from cute fox earrings to cool modern designs like the photo here shows. Visit Katie’s website here. 

THANKS in advance to all of you who remember to support these and other magic makers out there. May your holiday shopping be fun and inspired!

With love,

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All those years ago, it was an assignment from my therapist, who was helping me work through the PTSD I’d developed during the traumatic birth of my firstborn. See, no matter how much therapy you get or meds you take, anyone who’s dealt with mental health issues knows there will be days when you need something more and right away; something at your fingertips to soothe you, lift you and heal you. This is the purpose of packing your own Spiritual Toolbox to pull out and lean on when you need it. I love knowing even superstar Pink has one tucked under her bed!

In partnership with the Child Mind Institute for Mental Health Awareness Month, Pink recently posted this inspiring “Dare to Share” video about her years-long struggle with crushing anxiety. She used to have panic attacks so bad that she’d go to the hospital for EKG tests — only to be told it was “all in her head.” In the excerpt I’ve posted here (just hit play), Pink shares what finally helped — including creating her own Spiritual Toolbox, which she still uses to this day.

Why does having a Spiritual Toolbox matter? When your mind has been hijacked by anxiety and depression, it’s hard to think of and find the things you need to self-soothe. So, having a physical kit packed with tools and reminders is a brilliant move for your well-being. To get you started (or enhance the one you already have), here are 8 items to set you up for success…

8 Must-Haves to Create Your Spiritual Toolbox

1. CHOOSE A GREAT CONTAINER. Find a thrift store suitcase, old chest or covered bin you love. Your toolbox should be something that delights you and soothes your soul whenever you pull it out. You could even line the inside with contact paper (I think a colorful geometric pattern like this is cool) or colorful fabric (here’s a tutorial on how to re-line a suitcase without a stitch of sewing needed!).

2. ADD SOME REFERENCE BOOKS. Even if you’re an avid reader, you may not be in the mood on your darkest days to dive into a deep read (but if you are, pack an old fave!). I highly recommend adding books that have inspiration waiting for you on virtually every page you open to, like books of poetry, photography, art or brief reflections. My go-to books for this include To Bless The Space Between Us by poet John O’Donohue and The Rumi Collection from Shambhala Library.

3. TAP INTO DIVINE GUIDANCE. To be reminded you’re never alone, provide yourself with ways to easily access spirited messages and love from above. Ask for guidance, and choose the page, card or print that calls to you. Some people might choose to include a deck of oracle or Tarot cards. Others may want a devotional book. Maybe I’m a tad biased (ahem), but I think a collection of WingTips with advice from the angels would be a beautiful addition since the back of each art print includes such affirming, in-depth messages; there are 11 different art prints and angel messages inside each themed set, including WingTips for Healing Your Heart and WingTips for Facing Hard Things.

4. INCORPORATE EARTH ELEMENTS. When we’re triggered and feel untethered, I think reconnecting to the powerful vibrations of Mother Earth can be really soothing and grounding. Pink says her Spiritual Toolbox includes crystals — and so does mine! I love to hold crystals and gemstones in the palm of my hand and imagine where they’ve been, how resilient they are and the energy from centuries of life on earth they hold. I especially love rose or clear quartz, amethyst and hematite. Not sure where to start? My friend Jen of Crystalline Light offers lots of great pieces, Lori Andrus teaches virtual courses on connecting with crystals, and Shereen Campbell sends out cool Crystal of the Month subscription boxes! If rocks aren’t your thing, you may want to include other natural wonders in your toolbox like dried flowers, carved or sanded wood, or feathers you’ve found on your path.

5. GET A JOURNAL TO RELEASE IT ALL. Even if you don’t keep a regular diary, having a journal in which you can specifically and intentionally work through your anxiety, rage or sadness can be really important and helpful. Get a journal (I love the affirming, artistic ones Compendium makes) and consider how you want to use it. VeryWellMind has a great overview of ways to process your emotions on the blank page, or you might want to try your hand at automatic writing to hear from the angels (I offer a tutorial on this in the Angel Resource Center).

6. PREPARE TO LAUGH. I wholeheartedly think every Spiritual Toolbox needs to include sure-fire ways to make you laugh. Sometimes it truly IS the best medicine; even Mayo Clinic says laughter a great stress reliever, lowers blood pressure and soothes tension in the body. To incorporate laughter into your kit, make a Laugh Track(er): keep a running tally of favorite comedy shows to revisit, list stand-up comedians to watch, and write out memories of the funniest moments in your life to remember. You could also pack books by comedians you get a kick out of (here are a bunch of newly-published options).

7. PACK SNACKS. No joke! When you’re in a stress response, certain foods and beverages can actually help. It’s not about stuffing your feelings down with food, but choosing things that soothe your senses and impact the chemical responses in your brain. So let’s pack a picnic inside your Spiritual Toolbox! Start with beverages: you could pack a bottle of water, several tea bags (chamomile and green tea are mood boosters, but my go-to is Good Earth Sweet & Spicy), or even a packet of hot cocoa. For food, studies show that our best bets are actually super yummy — including dark chocolate (I’m a fan of the Endangered Species chocolate bars), zinc- and potassium-boosting pumpkin seeds, sellenium-boosting Brazil nuts to decrease inflammation, and other nuts like almonds to increase our Vitamin E.

8. GET CREATIVE — FOR GOOD. Even if you don’t think you have a creative bone in your body, you totally do! Creative reflection and expression can be a wonderful distraction and mood shifter. When I was healing from post-natal PTSD, photography was a healer for me; I eventually started taking a photo of something beautiful every day for a full year, posting each beauty find on my blog. So consider including tools for a favorite pastime or for trying something new: Painting! Songwriting! Home decorating! Knitting! Cooking! Dancing! You are a magic maker — and your creativity can lift you when you need it most.

Creating your own Spiritual Toolbox is an act of self-care and self-love. Do it when you’re feeling pretty good so that it’s ready and waiting to lift you up whenever you’re feeling pretty yucky. I hope it helps, brave heart!

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The archangels are very powerful and can make amazing things happen in an instant. They use their divine abilities and oversight to ensure all angelic interventions align with and complement God’s plans in the universe and in your life. That is key — because even though they can practically move mountains, doing so would create a gigantic ripple effect on Earth, right? The same might be true for a request you make; so if you feel like the magic you’re requesting isn’t showing up, it’s likely because of the ripples it would create in your corner of the world — but that doesn’t mean the archangels aren’t assigning members of their angel teams to look for other ways to assist you.

 
Want to share this with others? Amazing! Thanks, earth angel!

Want to share this with others? Amazing! Thanks, earth angel!

Wish you could hear more from the angels? You can. Check out The Angel Sanctuary — a yearlong circle of wonderful women around the world, gathering virtually with Liv to receive the angels’ blessings and messages week after week.

When you lose someone you love (like a mom or grandma, you might think of them as your guardian angel, watching over you from above.

But do your loved ones actually become angels? 

The souls of our loved ones don’t sprout wings and inherit superpowers when they transition from here to there. They need time to adjust, reunite with others in spirit, review their earthly lives and soul’s purpose, and learn how to watch over us and send signs from above.

Think of them as “Spirit Angels” who watch over you and want the best for you.

But they don’t have the same power or “pull” as true angels, who possess divine wisdom and abilities, have not typically lived an earthly life, and solely exist to be a bridge between human beings and God.

So yes! Your grandma (or whomever you’re missing) is like your very own Spirit Angel, adoring and helping you from the Great Beyond, while God’s heavenly angels do the heavy lifting.

All of that adds up to this: you’re constantly surrounded by love. 

Want to share this with others? Amazing! Thanks, earth angel!

So, who and what are angels anyway??? Great question! You can see the original social media post here or read the text of it below.

Wish you could hear more from the angels? You can. Check out The Angel Sanctuary — a yearlong circle of wonderful women around the world, gathering virtually with Liv to receive the angels’ blessings and messages week after week.

Breaking news! You don’t need special gifts or abilities to be able to connect with your angels. I swear it’s true! Well, not the “breaking news” part; people have been connecting with the angels for ages. But we seem to forget how and why an awful lot. Yes, I’m super fortunate to have seen and heard my angels all my life. But that’s not actually necessary in orderto feel them, notice them or receive help from them.

Connecting with the angels is a very intimate, personal experience that manifests a little bit differently for everyone. It’s kind of like discovering your favorite music; while one person may be totally moved by a classical orchestra, another may feel more inspired by a country music song. That doesn’t make either type of music wrong, nor does it make either of those music fans misguided. Something in the music connects to something within that stirs their souls, and that’s all that matters. Same thing with the angels.

I don’t pretend to know precisely how the angels might come to you, reach out to you or help you. But I’ve got some insights on how you can become more aware when it’s happening and what you can do to strengthen your connection.

There are no rules.

First, I firmly believe you do not need to know the names of certain angels, what they represent, or what they look like. Your angels will simply come to you whenever you call them in, simple as that. They know what moves you, how best to get through to you, how to inspire you whether you know who they are, where they are or what they look like. I am well aware that some angel “experts” claim you need to know each angel’s name and personality, that there are specific ones to reach out to for specific needs, or that you must memorize the meaning of every potential angel sign. If that makes you feel more in control of your experience and comfortable as you engage with them, then you should find and follow that guidance. But from my perspective, those are all human-made rules that are too small and limiting for the giant possibilities the angels bring to us.

Never let anyone tell you they know, without a doubt, the inner workings of the universe or that they are the only mystic who can do what they do. The cosmos is sooo gorgeously complicated, divinely organized in ways we can’t wrap our human heads around; how could anyone proclaim themselves to be an expert on such matters? I am no expert; I’m just grateful for the insights and instructions I do receive.

So who are these angels anyway??

I get lots of questions about who the angels are and why they exist. Here is what I’ve come to understand over my lifetime of hanging out with them…

• The angels are messengers of God, sent to comfort, heal, love, and move some things around if need be or if we ask nicely. 🙂
• They are made of pure light, and absolutely delight in their role as protectors and guides — even if it seems like the humans they’re protecting and guiding aren’t listening.
• They are able to shape-shift, transform situations and create miracles as long as the ripple effects of that change do not drastically alter the course of your life or others’ lives and the things your soul chose to experience and learn here.
• Angels have not lived earthly lives, but are eager to help us make the most of ours.

And how can you connect with them?

Even when you’re not paying attention, your angels are close by — like invisible bodyguards and life coaches waiting in the wings for opportunities to keep you safe and nudge you forward. Say hi! You can acknowledge them out loud or in your head. Even if you feel like you’re imagining things, let yourself have fun with it and trust it.

Oftentimes, you go through your days unaware of their involvement in your life — from the synchronicities you call “coincidences” to the feeling in your gut you need to do something. Sometimes the angels try to get your attention or respond to your “hello” with signs they hope you’ll notice: a special animal, a favorite number, a gorgeous act of nature (like a rainbow).

One critical rule for interpreting the messages you receive is this: always assume each message you receive is sent by the angels with excitement and love, and the intention of putting you at ease. Never fear. Never judgement. Never impatience. Their goal is to calm you, uplift you and lead you into greater freedom. When you recognize these signs and situations have been potentially coordinated by the Powers That Be, say thank you! Let them know you are aware they are present — speak it, think it, write it down, whatever works for you! They will be absolutely delighted and eager to interact with you more!

You don’t have to do this alone.

You’re not crazy or weird for wanting to lean on your angels more. And it’s so powerful and helpful to actively engage with other human beings who are actively engaging with their angels! Nearly 3/4 of Americans believe in angels, so chances are good that if you talk about them, you’ll find others who are open to sharing their stories, too. Or you can seek out a circle of fellow believers who want to walk this road together. 

Whether you’ve been connecting with your angels for years or you’re just opening to the possibility of their presence, you are invited to spend 2022 with me, the angels and a whole circle of kindhearted kindreds around the world in The Angel Sanctuary!

In fact, since you were drawn to this post on how to connect with your angels, I want to give you a special discount: 10% off the program price. If you pay in full, use the coupon code CONNECT. If you choose a payment plan, input the code ANGELS at checkout. 

Bottom line: your angels are waiting in the wings for you to ask for their assistance, acknowledge their presence and forge a connection with them. I can’t think of any downside to opening up to their love, so let yourself do that today and everyday after.

With love,

You can use the round, black social media buttons to share this post with others. Thanks, earth angel!

I’m thrilled to be home after three days of exploratory appointments and tests at Mayo Clinic. I get to be home for the holiday and return next week. It’s a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility, but what has struck me most is how the whole place is populated with people walking or sitting in pairs — one patient accompanied by one support person. Maybe this is different when COVID isn’t rampant, I’m not sure. But right now, the place is teeming with partners in hope, all there for the same reason. There are pairs of spouses, siblings and friends everywhere you look — huddled together, socially-distanced from everyone else, hoping for insights and solutions to complicated health issues. It’s impossible to know what anyone is suffering from, what questions or worries are weighing on their minds. You just smile at each other beneath your masks, wish them well as you step off an elevator or depart a waiting room. It’s like we’re all living by that famous John Watson quote: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

It’s a potent reminder of how much suffering there is in our world, how hard being human is sometimes. But for me, it’s also so heartening to think of all the angels at work in a place like this. For every pair of humans shuffling through the hallowed hallways of Mayo, there’s a squad of angels waiting in the wings — ready to open doors, clear paths, inspire doctors, and comfort patients.

I’ve been so touched by all the people who have told me they’re praying for miracles for me. And I wish I had some amazing story of incredible healing to share with you now. But modern-day miracles don’t always (or often) work like that. We humans tend to think of miracles as flash-of-light, overnight changes — more Hollywood-inspired than divinely-inspired. They do happen, of course; some were even featured in Ken Burns’ documentary about the Mayo Clinic. I loved the miraculous story of how Mayo began. After a deadly tornado hit Rochester, Minnesota in 1883, Mother Alfred Moes — the leader of the local Sisters of Saint Francis convent — had a vision from God that instructed her to build a hospital with local doctor Dr. William Mayo as its director. She said the center would become “world renowned for its medical arts.” And we all know how that turned out!

Did that divine vision come out of the blue? Yes — so cool! But was it an overnight success? No. To make that vision a reality, Mother Moes had to trust it, tell others about it, convince Dr. Mayo to help her with it and then spend years gaining support, building the hospital and establishing it as a center of medical excellence that treats everyone from people like me to world leaders. I suspect Mother Moes had plenty of angels at her back, helping to pave the way to make that Godly vision a reality. But it did not happen overnight or with a sudden bolt of lightning. It didn’t happen without her following that initial guidance with passion and faith. Sometimes — a lot of times, actually — miracles are slow and steady, depending on us to be active participants in their manifestation.

Even though I’ve been in cahoots with the angels since I was little, I still forget this sometimes — especially when it comes to my own pain and uncertainty. I want the overnight miracle. I want the aha moment where a doctor suddenly figures out how to fix everything in one fell swoop. I want the Hollywood magic.

But, of course, that is not the trajectory. There are biopsy results we’re waiting on, more appointments to come, new medications to try, answers I don’t always love. Admittedly, I have had some moments when I felt a little down about the slow and uncertain path forward. But my smarty-pants angels urged me not to let unmet expectations serve as evidence that this path is absent of divine intervention or void of miracles. It’s just that I don’t get to decide what the miracle looks like, exactly.

The angels are constantly listening and watching, guiding and organizing — like expert event planners working behind the scenes. It’s up to us to notice the magic they’re making and when it feels like the universe is conspiring in our favor. It could be that someone “coincidentally” knows someone or sends us somewhere that leads us to the solutions we need. It could be that patients make progress the doctors can’t explain. It could be that someone else serves as an earth angel, surprising us with generosity. It could be that schedules inexplicably rearrange, opportunities show up (or intentionally dry up), new information arrives, a sign from above puts us at ease, or a vision we can’t ignore appears before us. So often, the miracles in our lives don’t even look like miracles until we have the chance to look back and connect the dots ourselves.

After our first long day at Mayo last Friday, I was feeling really tired and disappointed we didn’t know much more walking out than we did walking in. As we crept toward the parking ramp ticket booth, I looked up and the numbers on that car’s license plate jumped out at me: 777! It’s pretty rare to see three of the same number on a license plate — and the angels love to use numbers to get our attention. When we see three 7s in a row, it really is a bit like hitting the jackpot, sending the message that we’re on the right path, being guided by our guardian angels, and moving toward success. I felt a whoosh of energy zip through me as I saw those numbers, snapped a picture and thanked my own angels for the earthly reminder to be patient, to have faith, and to trust that miracles are in the works.

I am keeping all of this in mind, and close to my heart, as I continue my journey at Mayo. Before I walk into each appointment, I don’t ask the angels for a flash-of-light-miracle; I ask them to help me be fully present and curious, to inspire the doctors to be compassionate and innovative, and to help coordinate unseen details that will help me feel good.

You can do this, too, no matter what kinds of challenges you’re facing. Even when you feel all alone, the angels want to be your partners in hope — to pair up with you and take on each hardship together. There’s enough magic in the universe for all of us, there are enough angels for everyone, and there are all kinds of ways to collaborate with them. If you want to know more about how to recognize and connect with your angels, check out my resources in my  Angel Resource Center (The ARC). 

I hope that this season, as unusual and difficult as it may be, you can feel the angels at your back and magic in your midst.

With love,

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I have not been myself lately. I go from telling my kids to QUIET DOWN to begging them to SPEAK UP. My neck’s been stiff for a week, I’m even more absent-minded than usual and my ability to tolerate unexpected disturbances has sucked. This weekend, one of my kids asked me, “Why are you acting so weird lately?”  and I had to stop and really think about it.

Why have I been acting so weird lately?

Like many of you, I imagine, I’ve had a serious case of energetic whiplash. We’re absolutely fried as a nation, thanks to years of fever-pitched “breaking news,” bitter political battles, a president who all-cap tweets at all hours, and now very real crises fraying our nerves and impacting our lives — from civil unrest to a global pandemic. For a good long while, I did pretty well managing all the emotional turmoil of these times, but lately the collective vibration has taken its toll. The frenetic energy around election results, the grief over rising COVID-19 deaths, and the divided opinions on how to handle it all has a lot of us feeling overwhelmed and shaken up.

How could we not be weary? How are we supposed to stay centered?

Well, for one thing, it won’t hurt anything or anyone to back away from the dumpster fire for a little while and give ourselves the chance to regroup. Yesterday, I opened up the digital guide I released this past spring, The Human Sparkler Thrive Guide: Spirited Strategies for Braving This Shitstorm, and literally took my own advice. I was reminded of all the tools I have at my fingertips to return to myself, to get back to center.

One of the sections in the guide is simply called Be Quiet and starts with the story of my hubby Brad — a loud, expressive, creative extrovert — who’s learned and practiced how to create much-needed quiet, to listen more fully, and to give himself the space he needs to rejuvenate. When he feels off-kilter, he notices it so much more quickly these days and knows how to re-set his system.

Some of that started a couple of years ago, after he attended some leadership workshops led by a troupe of comedians from Second City in Chicago. He told me about a social experiment in which every attendee was paired up with another person to have a focused conversation. One person spoke at a time, while the other listened. But when the Second City folks told them to switch, the other person had to pick up the conversation using the last word their partner had used. Brad said it resulted in some really funny exchanges, but also an eye-opening experience. He said they all realized they were proactively letting the other person talk, purposefully not interrupting them, and listening intently to everything their partner said. “I needed to hear my partner’s last word,” he told me, “so I could quickly take the baton and build the conversation versus take it in my own direction.”

It was a great wake-up call for him on how little most of us actually listen. In a conversation, most of us are thinking about what our response will be, before the other person even finishes his or her sentence. “We’re talking at each other,” he said, “instead of with each other.” Boy, we’ve all witnessed that with politicians and media panels lately, right? But we’re probably all doing it in our own lives, too.

One of the things we’ve been conditioned to avoid, at least in Western culture, is “awkward silence.” We jump to fill the silent gap in a conversation, usually with meaningless small talk or an offer we don’t actually want to make, because of our fear of the vulnerability and intimacy that sitting in the quiet sometimes allows for. What would happen if we weren’t so quick to avoid an intimate moment, to give ourselves a chance to actually think about what we want to say? Could that “dead air” actually help us feel more alive?

Soon after attending those workshops, Brad happened to get laid off from his job and decided to put what he’d learned to the test beyond the office — at home, at networking coffees, and in interviews with prospective employers. One day, he returned from a lunch meeting feeling so thrilled that he’d put his phone away for the entire meal, and had fully focused on the person across the table from him. It was a modern age revelation: if he didn’t allow his phone to distract him, he could fully focus on listening and engaging.

To this day, he continues to be much more present than he used to be. He has found that mastering the art of listening and finding ways to quiet his mind at home — even just sitting on our front stoop to watch the world go by — has changed how he engages with others and keeps himself feeling more at peace. I’ve noticed him taking those breaks more lately, just soaking up some sunshine, stopping to converse with a neighbor or playing catch with the kids. He’s consciously separating himself from all the noise in our midst and reconnecting with what matters. Doesn’t mean he never gets flustered or frustrated, but that he’s able to move through those moments with greater ease when he creates quiet space, intentionally listens and gives himself a chance to re-set.

2020 has been wildly chaotic, but it also keeps extending invitations to us to rest, to listen closer, to take exquisite care of ourselves and each other. With fewer social gatherings and many people still working from home, there’s a tendency to want to fill that space — the awkward silence — with group Zoom calls, TV show marathons, trolling and scrolling through social media, and checking our devices regularly for panic-triggering headlines. We’re becoming more addicted to noise, drama, and pointing fingers at the expense of quiet self-reflection, meaningful connection and compromise.

But everything going on around us doesn’t have to alter everything within us. 

We have less than eight full weeks left of 2020. What if we gave ourselves a chance to find some redeeming value in this crazy year? What if we all commit to using these final weeks to lean into the quiet, to see what we hear when we really listen to each other and our inner voices, to look for ways we can grow through the chaos? Here are three ways I’m going to do this today:

I’m going to watch the rain. With storms in the forecast, I intend to take a few minutes to simply watch the raindrops fall, study the beads of water on my window and the puddles forming on the ground, listen to the rain and wind, and just be present for it.

I’m going to listen to my kids. If they have a story or a question while I’m doing something else, I’m going to stop what I’m doing so I can hear them fully and respond with all of me.

I’m setting boundaries. For me, quitting all of my news and social media consumption feels too drastic (though more power to you if that’s your plan), but there is no reason for me to check in on headlines or scroll through my feeds lots of times each day. This is a work in progress for me, but I know the less time I spend tuning in there means more time tuning in here.  

So how about you? What can you do today to quiet your mind and reclaim your personal energy? 

If you need some gentle direction, resources, stories and angel-guided mantras, you may enjoy The Human Sparkler Thrive Guide: Spirited Strategies for Braving This Shitstorm. Heck, it helped me this weekend! I wrote this 97-page downloadable guide when COVID-19 first hit, but now might be the perfect time to give yourself a break and find what’s waiting for you in the quiet.

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