Tag Archives: Morning Prayer

Do You Have A Spirit Spot?

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Do you have a “spirit spot” or what I also like to call a “place of peace”? 

This morning as I was meditating, praying and writing in my journal, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for my “spirit spot”. I knew I had to share this with you on this beautiful Sunday. Seemed appropriate. When I started on my spiritual journey about 12-13 years ago, I found that early morning was the perfect time for me to pray, read and seek God. I am naturally an early bird so it was easy. As I began to see how this practice was transforming and strengthening me, I became addicted to my special morning time. On the mornings I was rushed and skipped it, I would be cranky, short tempered and anxiety-ridden the rest of the day. Now, I do not give up my morning ritual for anything or anyone! With all the people and responsibilities we have, it’s vital to start the day in peace (not frantic with anxiety) and equipped to handle it all.

 My “spirit spot” ended up being the couch in the living room complete with a comfy blanket, coffee, candle, Bible, books, journal, highlighter and my furry daughter, Zoe. Now, I realize that this spot works for me because I don’t have kids. A “spirit spot” can be any place YOU can get quiet, connect and feed your spirit. This could be a specific room in the house, on the patio overlooking the pool, a park bench or even in the shower or on the yoga mat.

One of the first things I discuss with my lifestyle mentoring/coaching clients is how they start their day. A common theme I have found among women who need my help, are disconnected from their spirit and constantly exhausted is that they jump out of bed to screaming kids or they hit the snooze button a million times.

If this is you- do you feel a rumbling of anxiety in your gut for the rest of the day? 

Then, I highly recommend getting up a bit earlier than your family. Even just 15 minutes earlier will transform how the rest of your day goes. I PROMISE! Is there a spot in your home where you feel calm? A spot where the minute you sit down you exhale and feel the stress drain off. This could be the perfect place of peace for you. If not, create one. Place things around you and in your view that create a sense of joy, peace and comfort in you. My spot in the living room has things that stimulate my senses in a positive way….

  • Furry blanket that is comforting, safe and cozy. (I skip this during the heat of Summer, of course!)
  • My baby girl Zoe, loves to lay in my lap which creates love and connection.
  • An aromatic candle which creates a calm zen atmosphere.
  • Fresh flowers- usually an orchid- which represents love, luxury, beauty and strength.  
  • Photos of my family and dearest friends which always reminds me to pray for them & send them positive thoughts. 

 

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Remember, it’s just as important what we feed our physical body as what we’re feeding our spirit. When you feed your body junk- ice cream, cookies, fried foods, preservatives- you become overweight, sluggish and become a breeding ground for diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and more. You become what you eat. 

What you feed your spirit- YOU BECOME. Do you feed your spirit junk like too many violent/sexually immoral shows & movies, trash mags, too much voyeuristic time on social media and surrounding yourself with gossipers/backstabbers/criticizers?  Trust me– I am not perfect at this and indulge in some ridiculous, mind-sucking reality shows from time to time — but, I am cautious of how much time I spend on things like that. It’s important to be so in tune with your spirit, that you notice when these things are altering your character, behavior and your manner of speaking becomes negative.

Again, this is why it is crucial you begin the day filled up on positivity and peace. As the day goes on, we are bombarded with negative images, tragic news and perhaps a gossipy friend. If you begin the day depleted, whoa- no wonder so many women battle anxiety. I did for a long time!  Sistas, it’s no way to live. 

Please share your TWO CENTS on this subject and make a comment!

Share, tweet, like this post if you found it inspiring.

Love, Tiff xo

 

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Prayer, Positivity + Patent Leather

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Happy Humpday Hotstuff!  Today’s post has a dash of everything to jazz up your heart-space, your mind and your wardrobe!  Ready? Let’s get started….

For the past few weeks I’ve felt a beautiful shift and the urgency to go even deeper in my Spiritual life. I feel like a Spiritual Sponge and want to soak up new teachings, ideas, tools and practices in order to keep growing and understanding my true purpose and what God has planned for me.  I believe we are a “work-in-progress” until we take our final breath and there’s still so many old mindsets from the past that I wish to overcome and concepts that no longer serve me and my highest good.  Woohoo for outgrowing old mindsets!  It’s a liberating time as well as a challenging one and many times, we get bogged down in the complexity of it all.  I often judge myself and over -analyze what I’m thinking.  But, the truth is…it is all quite simple.  We need to just open our hearts, be like a little innocent child and then just LISTEN.  Have you felt what I’m describing?   All of these concepts are brilliantly taught by one of my fave Spiritual teachers, Marianne Williamson.  She has a gift for articulating profound Spiritual principles into easy-to-comprehend teachings to apply to your life.  I recently watched older episodes of her appearances on the  “The Best of The Oprah Show”  on OWN and I highly recommend that you do yourself a favor and watch it!  Life-changing.  I have read many of Marianne’s books and they are the type you need to read every few years.  I wanted to share this beautiful Morning Prayer from her book, ILLUMINATA.  If you struggle with getting your day started right and then continuing to come from a place of Love VS. Fear throughout the day, I encourage you to print this out and read it every morning:

Dear God,
I give this day to You.
May my mind stay centered on the things of spirit.
May I not be tempted to stray from love.
As I begin this day, I open to receive You.
Please enter where You already abide.
May my mind and heart be pure and true, and may I not deviate from the things of goodness.
May I see the love and innocence in all mankind, behind the masks we all wear and the illusions of this worldly plane.
I surrender to You my doings this day.
I ask only that they serve You and the healing of the world.
May I bring Your love and goodness with me, to give unto others wherever I go.
Make me the person You would have me be.
Direct my footsteps, and show me what You would have me do.
Make the world a safer, more beautiful place.
Bless all Your creatures.
Heal us all, and use me, dear Lord, that I might know the joy of being used by You.
Amen.

Here’s a candid video sharing my thoughts on not beating yourself up if you have negative thoughts– because they can actually be a GREAT MOTIVATOR!

Quick style tip to keep in mind when you start shopping for new fall items: Rock patent leather preferably in the Burgundy, Wine + Red family!  Either a great jacket, boots or handbag will jazz up your wardrobe for Fall 2012!

Please invite your girlfriends to join the Style Sisterhood!  We are all growing and getting more fabulous together.

Walk Tall.  Be Unapologetic for Your Fabulous-ness.

Love Yourself.

xo, Tiff