Tapping into the Power of Appreciation

It has been said if we were to utter one prayer, and that prayer was of gratitude, it would be enough. It has also been said, appreciation, even more than love, is the animating force of the Universe. Just as the sunflower turns its face towards the sun, we as humans align with our Creator as we utter our heartfelt thanks.

It is a simple truth as we give thanks, we raise our vibration. This in turn helps us attract improved circumstances, positive opportunities, prosperity and synchronicity. But before I could teach this concept, or believe it, I had to learn it.

Years ago I struggled with depression, poverty and failed relationships. I meditated and asked my soul "Why?" I received this message: "Because you are paying attention to what is bad and wrong, rather than good and right." It was true. I was focused on the past and my "sad stories." But as I told those stories, I was attracting more of the same story. In that moment I realized if I wanted something different, I was going to have to do something different. Gratitude was the practice that helped me turn the steering wheel of my life in the direction of an empowered, prosperous and positive future.

These are the seven simple steps that initiated my transformation from victimhood to authentic power.

1. I purchased a "gratitude journal" and before getting out of bed in the morning, I wrote down anything and everything I could think of I was grateful for.

2. I began to consider, claim and write down all the things I appreciated about myself.

3. I committed to saying "thank you" to every person who gave me a compliment, held the door open, offered a kindness, service or consideration of any kind.

4. I mailed thank you cards and hand written notes to all of the people I loved and appreciated.

5. I volunteered for Hospice (volunteer work opens our hearts and moves energy in an extraordinary way!)

6. I started to pay attention and express my appreciation to the Universe for the beauty and abundance of nature and this world.

7. I ended each day lighting a candle, counting my blessings and for five minutes allowed myself to bask in the energy of grace, graciousness and gratitude.

Though the steps were simple, they started to shift my life in a powerful way immediately. Several years later I am living a prosperous, love filled, and glorious life. I am vibrantly healthy and have manifested the man, and the career, of my dreams.

Appreciation was the simple, yet powerful practice that opened my heart, raised my vibration and shifted my trajectory from a downward spiral, to an upward ascent. Spiritual law dictates, if you commit to yourself, and apply these simple principles, they can do the same for you.

Why Journey to Center?

People sometimes ask me why the name of my radio show, blog and website is “Journey to Center.”  What this means is the desire and intention to relax and reside in the very center of ourselves; the sacred space within.  When we live from our center, we are aligned with our soul.  It is like abiding in the safe haven within the eye of the storm. And though life still happens, and storms may still occur, from our center we can witness chaos without being consumed or beaten up by it.  Center is the space of equanimity and clear connection to the Divine. 

Have you ever had the experience of being “in the flow” or “in the groove”?  From this place life works easily, you feel happy for no particular reason, you witness miracles, beauty and synchronicity.  You also naturally attract awesome people and wonderful opportunities.  If you can relate to any of this, in those awesome moments, you were living from your center, and aligned with your soul self. The hard part of being human is getting back to that space once we step out of it!

This is exactly why I love to have conversations with other seekers/finders of consciousness, why I meditate, why I spend time in nature and why I paint mandalas. These are tools and activities that support me in coming back to center.  However, it often seems the further removed we are from this place, the more we resist doing what we need to do to get back to it!  It can be so compelling or enticing to go shopping, start eating, drinking, get on the phone, or watch some ridiculous television program. 

Yes, to live from center takes discipline. Are you going to meditate today?  Or are you going to distract yourself from yourself and go shopping?  It can be like getting physically fit, are you going to the gym today?  Or laze around and indulge in too much food.   Balance is key, but we need to spend 20 minutes in meditation and 30 minutes in the gym to have the fruits of those labors manifest.  To get to one’s center is simple...but it is not always easy.  The ego and/or personality does not like it very much, for the ego so enjoys indulgence and the illusion of control.  But our soul-self loves it! 

I found once I committed to my soul self, and let it take the lead, my life seemed to work more consistently with more grace and ease; and with less drama and chaos.   I find if I take care of my relationship my soul, the rest of my life takes care of itself.

So, what are some of the things you do to come back to center, to find your groove and to take good care of your Self?  How do you find your balance and the sacred space of peace within?  I would love to hear from you and begin our conscious conversation!

Also, listen to any of my podcasts on Empower Radio with my amazing experts and share your thoughts!

Blessings of grace, ease and sweet sanctuary!

http://www.empoweradio.com/home/shows/377-Journey-Center-with-Tammi-Baliszewski.html

Which Do You Choose? drama or Drama?

Have you noticed? Lots of people seem to enjoy drama. I think many believe they will be bored without it! I have to admit, I can relate. In my 20's and 30's I thoroughly enjoyed the really high highs... and perhaps even the really low lows. Many of my conversations with friends started out exuberance, passion (and probably more volume than necessary): "OMG, you won't BELIEVE what just happened to me!" Life was a roller coaster, and given a choice, I doubt I would have wanted it any other way.

But then I grew up, or simply got tired of the circus that had become my life. I finally set a new intention. Rather than seeking passion, I wanted peace. I love this quote from Thomas Merton: "Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony." I have certainly found this to be true for me.

As I surrendered the drama with a little d, I started to experience Drama with a capitol D: The drama of synchronicity and authentic heart connections with others. I began to revel in the exquisite beauty of nature and enjoy the healing energy of silence. As I started being more gentle in my life, life became more gentle with me.

This new way of being does not mean drama never occurs. I still experience challenges, misunderstandings, and frustrations. But what it does mean, as I move through uncomfortable situations, there is the presence of grace. I have found I enjoy greater patience and deeper faith: faith that life is good and that I am continually loved and supported.

I believe offering up my little drama to the Universe, helped me moved in more direct relationship with the Universe. Rather than dancing a dysfunctional dance with other people that also desired little drama, I am now waltzing with the Divine!

When asked how I moved from drama to Drama, I share these simple steps: 

1. Set the intention to surrender the little drama.

2. Invite peace, gratitude, gentleness and sweetness into your life.

3. Start and end your day counting your blessings and all that you are grateful for.

4. Meditate for 5-20 minutes a day.

5. Spend more time in silence and in nature.

6. When drama comes knocking, don't answer the door! (In other words if people try to engage you in dramatic conversation, change the subject or simply don't engage!)

These six simple steps can transform anyone's life dramatically (forgive the pun) within a week. IF they are ready and IF they really want to.

Despite what many believe, little drama does not make a person feel more alive. Vibrant aliveness comes from our connection to our life force. With that being said, Peace is not for everyone, but I sure know it is for me! If it's for you, give these 6 simple steps a try and then be in touch with your stories!

For more information about Dr. Tammi, for a free downloadable guided meditation, to purchase her books "Manifesting Love From the Inside Out" or "Manifesting Prosperity From the Inside Out," or for personal assistance, visit her website at http://www.tammibphd.com You may also listen to her weekly radio program "Journey to Center" on http://www.Empoweradio.com

The Wisdom Within

People that come to see me for counseling are often motivated by intense pain, confusion, hurt or fear.  I ask them to claim their intentions about what they want, where they want to go and how they want to feel.  My intention is to take them as far, high and deep as they want to go, because in truth, we can never exceed that intention.  I may want for someone to be happy, healthy and fulfilled, but if they only want temporary relief that will be the destination. 

Often once intentions have been claimed, and IF they really want to “go for it” we often end up doing guided meditations. This process helps access subconscious blocks, clear limiting beliefs and heal childhood hurts.  Guided meditations are also a powerful way to access one’s own inner wisdom and find the “right” answers to one’s personal questions.  Sure, it is compelling to go to a psychic, and it is great to experience the advice from someone we respect, but when we tap into our own wisdom, it is truly transformational and can change our lives in an instant!

Though I love to share my opinion and perspective about how life works here on planet Earth (and sometimes I do) it is so much more powerful to hold space and allow a person to find their own truth.  Every single one of us has profound wisdom and knowing within, however, most of us were not taught how to access it.

Did you grow up hearing any of these kinds of statements? Do what your told; I don’t care how you feel; clean off your plate, children in China are starving!  Money doesn’t grow on trees; You did that wrong; Your bad; That’s stupid.  Or did you ever just feel you were not that valuable, important, listened to, or loved? If you can relate to any of these examples, it is likely the loving voice of your inner wisdom fell silent and fear based beliefs started to take up residence in your psyche.

The good news is, despite any inaccurate information you heard or began to believe, that wise, wonderful, loving voice is still inside of you.  And the GREAT news is you can begin to access it through the silencing your intellectual, thinking mind, and listening for the still small voice of the heart.  Some of the ways I have found to effectively do this is to set my intention, light a candle, play some soothing music, or sit quietly in nature. Next, I focus on my breath.  Once my “monkey mind” relaxes (which can take from 2 to 20 minutes, depending on how crazy the monkey is feeling that day) I ask the question I want the answer to.  Often I need to be patient, but eventually, (or sometimes quickly) an answer or information drops into my awareness, which sounds and feels very different than what my conscious thinking mind conjures up.  With this information comes profound AHA’s, epiphanies, clarity and peace.

Do you have questions you want the answer to? Are you confused about the nature of physical world reality, relationships, or money?  If so, try this simple technique and see what happens.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  If you are challenged in accessing your wisdom, please be in touch with me and I would be honored in supporting you turn up the volume of that still small voice within.

You have more power than you think! You have more wisdom then you know!  Turn inward with the intention to activate and hear your own inner brilliance and let me know what happens next! 

Who's in the Driver's Seat of your Life?

It is true, I will admit it: for years I wanted to live a big bold, blow it out of the water life.  And I did!  It was fun...until it wasn’t.  After being with my big, bold, famous, blow it out of the water, fiancé for a couple of years, things started not feeling so great.  I ended up with health challenges, debilitating fatigue and depression. I sought help from many medical professionals: allopathic physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, holistic doctors. I prayed, I meditated, I went to retreats, I did cleanses, treatments, pills, herbs, vitamins...you name it I tried it.  But nothing worked. I still felt horrible, sick and sad.

Then I stumbled on one of those magical books changes your perception of life, and yourself, forever: “Coming Home: The Return to True Self.”  I was fortunate enough to find the author, Martia Nelson, and experienced a life altering session with her.  She said to me “Tammi, your ego wants this big, bold, blow it out of the water life, because it mistakenly believes THAT is what it will take for you to feel vibrantly, vitally alive.  But what your soul and True Self wants is to go into the realm of subtleties.” Martia invited me to surrender to my soul. I thought to myself: “Crap! No!  Say it isn’t so!”  I loved LA!  I loved shopping on Rodeo Drive, I loved red carpets and private jets!  Well...at least my ego did.

In the end I had no choice but to surrender. My health and my soul insisted.  My ego begrudgingly got into the back seat of the car of my life, and my soul slipped into the driver’s seat and firmly took a hold of the steering wheel.  And yes, life took a very different direction. My famous fiancé, replaced me and I went back to school.  I began to study subtle holistic practices: Cranial Sacral, Polarity Balancing, Hypnotherapy and Spiritual Psychology.  Though my ego did not like much of what was going on, I believe my soul celebrated. As a bonus, I started feeling healthier, more present and more alive.

I began to see, feel, and experience life very differently.  The colors took on deeper and richer hues, I began to notice the birds, the clouds - and people! For so many years, without even realizing it, my ego was saying “look at me!  Aren’t I pretty? Aren’t I great?”  Now what I found myself naturally doing was, “Wow look at you!  You are beautiful!  Aren’t you AMAZING?”  My life went from “What can I get, to what can I give.” And I have to say, it feels so much better!

Today I no longer struggle with my health, I feel vibrantly, vitally, wonderfully alive.  And though I love an occasional dinner with friends in Beverly Hills, or a nice party, for the most part live a pretty quiet life with my “soul chosen” husband. I write books, I have a counseling practice, I do a radio show.  I enjoy feeding the ducks and the humming birds. I love kissing elk and hugging horses.  I paint, I teach, and yes, I stop to smell the roses. In other words, I live in the realm of the subtleties.  Another thing I have found, is that there is magic, miracle, sparkles, beauty, deep love and great joy in this realm! 

What I know for sure is inviting my soul to lead is what lead me to this place.  Another thing I know, is surrendering to ones soul can be scary, full of unexpected twist and turns and disorienting adventures. It takes courage and faith to go into the mystery of unchartered territory, but in the end to be fully vibrantly alive we MUST be in partnership with our soul.

So, are you partnered up with your soul and True Self? Or are you still trying to figure things out by yourself, and from the level of your ego and  intellect?  Are you more concerned about what you can get or what you can give?  Are you still seeking “big and bold” in order to feel alive, or are in touch with the realm of subtitles?  

My hope and prayer for you is that you are feeling joyful, “on track” and vibrantly, vitally wonderfully alive!