New Beginnings

"Spring nourishes new buds of potential, ripe with the promise of bright new blossoms of joy and purpose."~unknown



Nature demonstrates for us so perfectly how to dance to the rhythm of life. Our lives, as in nature, are dynamic, ever changing and evolving. When we are stagnant in our own lives we have left the joyous dance and the natural rhythm of life. We have stepped out of experiencing rebirth to new experiences, learning, and growth.

Spring has sprung in nature. New growth is occurring after a cold or snow-laden winter. Flower seedlings are moving towards the Sun reaching for nourishment, expansion and full potential. They become the peak of expression and offer others their beauty . Countless flowers, each individualized and unique. This occurs Spring after Spring. Never yet has there been a Springtime when the buds forgot to bloom.

May this Spring remind us to eloquently dance to the rhythm of life, face the Light and open ourselves to new experiences, growth, joy and most importantly Love! Offering our unique beauty, expression and Love to others. Nature has resumed her loveliness. Are you ready to revive your soul?

Happy Spring, Happy You!

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Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

There is Power in Feeling Powerless

Although we know there is much in life we cannot control, we also do know that we have the power to think, feel and choose. We are not powerless victims of our circumstances. We are powerful co-creators with God and have the freedom to choose what we will create and experience next.

Every moment gives us the opportunity to choose what we wish to experience. Being aware of our present moments by not looking back in anger or forward in fear gives us the power to choose new and fresh perspectives and therefore experiences. At times this seems impossible and no matter how hard we try we feel powerless. This is when the choice is to ask our Higher Power-God for help! It is in this choice that we find the power in feeling powerless.

You are a magnificent, powerful being. Be aware, choose the experiences that bring you a life of joy and peace. Know that even when you feel powerless the choice is to draw from the power that created you.

Affirmation:   I AM a powerful expression of the Divine.

http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Self-Acceptance

"One must accept their humanness and their godliness."

It is easy to accept the aspects of yourself that you like. Perhaps you have beautiful eyes, quick wit or are athletic. Or maybe you are good with numbers, musically talented or make friends easily. These aspects are easy to accept. What about those others? Perhaps you are unorganized, grumpy in the mornings, lousy at math, or uncoordinated.

Self-acceptance of the good, the bad, and the ugly is a pre-requisite to self-love. Without self-acceptance there is no self-love. Without self-love it is difficult to give and accept love from others.


All aspects of you are serving you on your soul journey. Love all of who you are. Be kind and gentle to yourself. The irony is as you practice self-acceptance, you will find the aspects that you disliked so much have less control or prominence in your life!


Affirmation:  I AM... Self-Acceptance.  I love all of Who I AM.  I let go of all judgment.  I accept all parts of myself.  I am gentle and kind to myself.  I AM... Self-Acceptance.

http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Blue Skies Await You

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if the simplest things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice for your soul is alive." - Eleanora Duse


In storms lightning flashes, thunder booms, rain pours and winds gust sometimes to the point of creating great fear in us and causing damage. Storms do come but they do not last forever. Blue skies always lie ahead.

Just as nature plays out its storms, we have storms in our lives. Storms are part of life, part of our growth and part of the journey.

Nurture yourself through the storms of life either through a connection with someone special, a thing or place. Know what brings you comfort and feelings of safety and bring it to you. Just as in nature, the storm will pass. Let peace and joy return. Your life has purpose. Blue skies await you!

Affirmation:  I AM...Safe!

http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Reawaken to CHRISTmas

If you are one of the brave ones who still says “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays”, good for you! But even when you say, “Merry Christmas”, do you say it in the spirit of what it really is or do you say it stressed to the max because of the added financial burden or seeming lack of time for tree decorating, shopping, baking, etc.? Every Christmas season (which seems to roll around faster every year), the challenge is to remember what “Christmas” is all about. Many would certainly say it is everything but “Merry!” I want to share with you what I believe a “Merry Christmas” represents along with one simple suggestion to make it the “Merriest” ever!

My favorite part from the "Sermon on the Mount" is when Jesus says, “Ye are the Light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your Light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (King James) Jesus’ birth and life was to help you to remember who you are. You have a Divine Spark of Light within to live a compassionate, powerful and miraculous life! The Christmas season is the time to reawaken to that Divine Spark of Light that lies deep within your heart – to remember who you are! As you do this, then you can shine your Light brightly throughout the Christmas season demonstrating a life of love and compassion as did Jesus! What better present could you possibly give to your friends and family?! It is the same gift God gave to you through the birth of Jesus – a Divine Light shining brightly into the darkness! A “Merry Christmas” is the “Joy” of you shining your “Light” brightly, beaming love and compassion as Jesus so perfectly demonstrated.

So how do you reconnect to that Divine Light within to have the Merriest Christmas ever? Here is what works for me: 10-15 minutes a day in meditation. Meditation has been proven to be the quickest, surest way to connect with the Joy within you. I’m sure many of you are now saying, “Oh sure…let me just add that to my list on top of shopping, baking, mailing presents, etc.!” But again, let me ask you…”What is a Merry Christmas?” Wouldn’t the brief but powerful time you spend in meditation be worth having the ability to truly experience a Merry Christmas? Also, many of you are probably saying, “I’ve tried meditation before, I can’t quiet my mind and not only that it kills my knees to sit in the lotus position.” Before you discount this idea, let me tell you there are many, many forms of meditation such as a journey meditation, strolling through nature, focusing on the breath, listening to soulful music and what works for one person may not work for another. Out of all the many forms, I’m confident one will work for you! The main thing is to take the time to remember who you are – to reconnect to that Divine Light within so you may shine your Light brightly as Jesus, not only throughout the Christmas season but every day!

Have a Joyous- Merry Christmas!

http://www.twentygems.com/
Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Gratitude

"Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot." - The Hausa of Nigeria

As Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts turn to gratitude. For some, it’s the once-a-year holiday ritual around the dinner table as each person states what they are most thankful for, i.e: family, health, job, etc.

Having an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, however, is nothing short of trans formative. That’s because of the universal law that states: What you focus on expands. In other words, what you appreciate appreciates. And, where attention goes, energy flows.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that help remind me to have an attitude of gratitude throughout the year!

"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality." - Alfred Painter

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." - G.K. Chesterton

"Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." - Doris Day

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward

"Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has plenty: not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some." - Charles Dickens

"Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road." - John Henry Jowett

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010

Inner and Outer Fitness

"When you reflect your Inner Self through your Outer Self, you touch the lives of others in positive ways. You help them to remember their true essence - their Inner Self."

A lady attended my class with a knee brace on her right knee. When I asked her what had happened, she said a sports orthopedic doctor told her that she had over-trained her quadriceps and under-trained her hamstrings, and this had actually created an imbalance resulting in displacement of her patella. Just as over-training one body part in your workouts can create an imbalance and an injury to your body, so it is when the focus on yourself is one sided. If your focus is all on the external, you can have feelings of discontentment and on-going restlessness. You will find you are always striving for the next external gratification to give your life a sense of passion and purpose. You may create strain in your relationships or simply feel ill at ease.

It is not an easy task to balance your Inner and Outer Self. You are bombarded with messages from the media that you must look a certain way. You are told your value is in your dress or pant size and the image you present to the world. You compare your body to others to see how you measure up. (A psychological study in 1999 found that three minutes looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful.) You are led to believe that your happiness lies outside of yourself. You think if you have a particular car, bigger house, more credentials or the perfect partner, then you can feel good about yourself. Yet, we have all experienced the people who have a glow about them even with all of their imperfections and bad hair day. Others are drawn to them like a magnet. These people clearly demonstrate inner fitness!

The question becomes then, how do you become fit on the inside? The simple truth is …Adapt a spiritual practice! To become physically fit, you must eat properly and exercise. So it is to become fit on the inside: proper spiritual nourishment and spiritual exercise! Here are three simple choices to implement daily for inner fitness:

1. Listen to Soothing Music – Take time from your day to sit back, take deep breaths, and digest soothing, peaceful music that quiets your mind and feeds your soul. Dr. Joel Robertson in his book, Natural Prozac, states “Music is one of the most powerful tools for changing brain chemistry. It alters our chemistry instantly, with no known negative side effects. If chosen well, music can be medicine for the mind and soul.”

2. Spend time in Nature – We spend so much time indoors, focused on the busyness of our lives. But much of what we need can only be found in nature along with the trees, bubbling brooks, and open sky. In nature we experience the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth. You can’t help but experience a different sense of self while walking in the woods or traversing a mountainside. When it is impossible to be outdoors, view beautiful nature footage on your television. “Visual exposure to natural settings has produced significant recovery from stress as indicated by changes in physiological measures such as blood pressure and muscle tension.” -Dr. Felf, ed. The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development.

3. Meditation – Don’t panic! You don’t have to sit in the lotus position trying to quiet your mind up to an hour. Benefits of meditation can occur in as little time as fifteen minutes a day and there are many different meditation techniques to choose from; guided, moving, sounding, or breathing meditations to mention just a few. When you take the time to quiet the mind chatter and listen to the voice of your soul, spiritual growth occurs by leaps and bounds.

Being physically fit adds quality and quantity to your life! But we are not only physical beings, we are also spiritual beings. One builds upon the other. Nurturing yourself daily will balance your Inner Self with your Outer Self. It will bring you more joy, harmony, and peace. Creating this balance creates a glow around your presence that others cannot help but notice. When you reflect your Inner Self through your Outer Self, you touch the lives of others in positive ways. You help them remember their true essence - their Inner Self!

 A meditative moment...C

Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2010 http://www.twentygems.com/

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