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I am all about cultivating good habits that contribute to a successful lifestyle. My life's goal is solely to grow as a better daughter, sister, friend, a better business woman and hopefully wife and mother. Whether the behavior has to do with financial responsibility, interaction with others or adding intentional actions to my daily routine such as daily prayer, journaling, exercise or better eating habits, Im always in search of something to keep me centered.
Sometimes it's hard for us to remember that we are living, breathing beings that don't run on gas, can't be plugged into a wall to recharge or powered by solar energy. Occasionally, we need to force ourselves to turn off the television, turn down the radio and put away the electronic devices to focus on recharging an essential part of ourselves...our minds. That's why I chose 21 days of meditation!
Apparently, the number 21 represents how long it takes to break a habit...or even create one. 21 times of repetitive behaviors is all it takes to create a lasting impression on our subconscious thoughts. Since we are creatures of habit, we naturally gravitate to the same things that we've always done...queue the saying "practice makes perfect" so why not practice more favorable thinking.
In my search I ran across a 21 day challenge called Desire & Destiny hosted by Deepak Chopra and Oprah! They've given us some time to prep before the actual journey starts so I'll be frequently updating on what I'm doing to prepare! I have no idea what to expect along this journey but my mind is completely open and I'm so ready to see where it takes me!
Misconceptions of Meditation
Shortly after I introduced this challenge, a few people voiced their apprehensions on participating for a number of reasons. One reason being, they assumed meditation was exclusively related to the practice of a specific religion, either Hinduism or Buddhism.
The truth is, plenty of people from different religious backgrounds can and do practice meditation. Meditation simply means "to think deeply" or as Merriam-Webster would define it, "to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness." I like to think of the word meditate in the same context that people use the word pray. Muslims pray and so do Christians, however the manner in which they do so may of course be different.
Another misconception is that mediation has to paired with yoga; let me just say it absolutely does not have to. Including yoga in your meditation session is just an example of your style of meditation. Some may use yoga as a physical extension of their mental experiences during meditation, however it's not mandatory. I think that yoga may even be a distraction from the actual experience if you don't already practice yoga on a regular basis.
No matter what you've heard about meditation, I encourage you do do some research of your own and decide whether it's something that you may interested in. Don't let the myths of the matter prevent you from experiencing the mental and spiritual benefits.
No matter what you've heard about meditation, I encourage you do do some research of your own and decide whether it's something that you may interested in. Don't let the myths of the matter prevent you from experiencing the mental and spiritual benefits.
Desire & Destiny begins on July 17th
Click here to register for free!
Here's a list of things to do before the challenge starts!
1. Mark your calendars for July 17th!2. Download FREE eBook here!
3. Use your resources to prepare!
4. Get a journal!
5. Arrange your schedule to allow for 20 minutes each day!
Each day has a customized audio message and encourages journal entries for each experience!
Day 7
Day 8
Day 13
Faithful Me
Day 14
Grateful Me
Day 15
How Can I Serve
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Day 1
Our deepest, most heartfelt desires are like stars in a constellation… brilliant, twinkling lights that show us the way and create pathways to our true destinies. It is our soul’s mission to connect with, cherish, and realize our desires in order to live our lives to the fullest and make our greatest contributions to the world. In fulfilling our heart-held dreams we flourish, serving ourselves and others from a place of bliss, generosity, and love. Our journey starts at the beginning, in the center, as we go within to listen to our deepest truth. (excerpt from 21 Day Meditation Experience)
Day 2
In today’s meditation, we explore the concept of Karma, the ebb and flow of energy in our lives. We discover that with awareness, we have the opportunity to mindfully harness this natural current to create a life where our dreams and desires open with effortless ease.
So often we hear about good Karma and bad Karma, but in reality, Karma is simply a reciprocal exchange – what we give, we receive in kind. Through meditation, we connect more deeply with the present, increase our awareness of “what is,” and emerge from the silence with a sense of balance and a desire to make right, conscious choices in our lives. In this way, we begin to recognize our own undeniable role in creating the story of our lives and start to make choices that are most nurturing for ourselves and everyone around us.
Day 3
The Spiritual Law of Least Effort tells us that we can do less and accomplish more, an idea that seems at odds with what many of us have been taught throughout our lives. We’ve been told that success is the result of hard work, struggle, and sacrifice. In today’s meditation, we tap into the ever-present flow of natural ease that is available within, as we plant the seeds to live our destiny each and every day.
The universe has infinite organizing power, and as conscious beings, we have ready access to this realm simply by spending time in stillness and silence. The same consciousness that orchestrates the myriad rhythms of the whole world dwells within each of us. As we cultivate present moment awareness and remain open to the many opportunities life offers, we open to the power within us to realize all our dreams with effortless ease.
Day 4
All around us are messages that lead us to believe our lives are ones of scarcity and lack, and that competition with one another is the only way we can truly succeed. However, when we begin to witness the true abundance of the world – whether standing in the middle of a majestic forest or scanning the shelves at the grocery store – we come to understand that the entire universe presents itself to us and is ours to enjoy.
In order for us to truly experience everything the world has to offer, we must first come to appreciate all that we already have. By being truly grateful, we open the door to all the power, wisdom, and creativity of the universe, connecting ever more deeply with pure consciousness and its ability to usher anything we can envision into our lives.
Day 5
What lights you up more fervently than anything else in your life? Listen to whatever immediately comes to you – these are signs leading you to your true passion, your most heartfelt desire, and ultimately your destiny.
When we heed the call of our deepest desires, we fulfill our true destinies. Children do not shy away from their passions; they effortlessly live from a place of wonder, play, and delight. For many of us, we’re taught that we must abandon our natural passions as we cross the divide between childhood and adulthood. And yet, passion is what drives us to be the very best individuals we can be.
Today, through meditation, we reconnect to our internal spark and begin to gently release those long-held stories about who we should be and become more intimately re-acquainted with who we really are. Together we practice shining brightly as the individuals we were born to be as we freely share our gifts with everyone we meet.
Day 6
In life, it is fairly certain that we will each experience difficult and challenging passages. Within each of these moments we are given a special seed of opportunity, a gift. Many times, this point of view can be difficult to embrace in the midst of what appears to be a setback. Today, we spend our time together opening our minds and hearts to the blessings that come to us in disguise.
In the stillness of meditation, we begin to gently release ego thoughts connected with success and failure. We begin to trust the movement of life, knowing that the universe has much grander plans for us than we could ever fathom. Each step along the path of life – regardless of the destination – is an exciting part of the adventure. The moments themselves are the gift; the journey itself, the rich reward.
Congratulations on completing the first week of our journey together! During this time, we have taken the important first steps toward initiating transformation by connecting with who we really are. Our awareness has expanded and we’ve opened to our authentic and divine nature. We’ve learned to honor our passions and long-held dreams while freeing ourselves from the limiting thoughts and beliefs that hold us back from the life we desire. We are now more open to our infinite potential, our destiny.
In today’s meditation, we embark on a powerful journey designed to help us gently release our fears, clearing the way to greet each moment with a sense of strength, connection, wonder, and freedom. As we experience this special guided meditation, we encourage you to connect with your true self and the deep understanding of your abiding relationship with the infinite.
Welcome to the second week of our 21-Day Meditation Experience, Desire and Destiny. Last week, we focused on understanding who we are, connecting with our essential nature and divine essence. Today, as we invite abundance and clarity into our lives, we begin to explore what it is we really want in this lifetime. This awareness guides us to the steps on the roadmap toward living our destinies.
We may carry long-held beliefs about our identity and character that were given to us by others. These ideas influence our perceptions about what we want in life. Today, as we meditate together, give yourself permission to let go as you sink into meditation. Let your heart and soul speak to you as we travel within to hear our inner song of truth. Breathe deeply and receive on this day filled with transformational opportunity. Today we let our hearts lead the way for all of the answers we seek live within – all we have to do is listen.
Day 9
It’s difficult to arrive at a destination if we don’t know where we are headed. This is equally true for our life journey. In order to realize our deepest desires, it is essential to identify exactly what we want and stay focused on that intention with dedication, focus, and awareness. At the same time, this practice requires us to let go of attachment to any single outcome, opening us to abundant possibility.
Today’s meditation centers on bringing our heartfelt desires into crystallized focus and putting our heart-centered attention on what we envision. In this way, we align ourselves with the universe to reach our intended destination, clear on what we hope to achieve and open to all opportunities that help us realize our dreams.
Day 10
It is not uncommon to set a goal and then push forward with our eyes so fixed on the destination that we become unaware of the terrain on which we travel. In today’s meditation, we practice navigating the path toward our destination with fluidity and balance, remaining attentive to our goal with present moment awareness. As we do so, we take a powerful step toward realizing our dreams and living our destinies.
In our passionate pursuit of our life’s purpose – our destination – we have the choice to stay present in the Now, which increases our awareness of the many supportive cues and opportunities that arise along the path. Staying connected to the present enables us to enjoy every moment of the journey – the people we meet and the experiences we can enjoy with them – enriching us as we live out our deepest, most heartfelt desires.
Day 11
Over the past several days, we’ve defined what we want in life, responded to our heart’s deepest dreams and desires, and opened to the many opportunities that arise in the present moment. In today’s meditation, we learn more about developing clear intentions for our lives.
We believe that attention energizes and intention transforms. We are the masters of our own lives, our realities, and the universe offers us what we ask of it. Therefore, as we place our attention on what it is that we want, we set our intentions to orchestrate everything in our lives to help us achieve our goals. As we become receptive in this way, the universe conspires to support our every step.
Day 12
When we choose to follow our hearts, we make life choices that seemingly open doors for us without force, and are then aligned with our inner knowing. The path is revealed with ease. Other times, we may “over-think” our decisions, choosing the guidance of the mind over the messages of the heart. In these moments, our paths may become filled with obstacles that hinder us at nearly every turn.
In today’s meditation, we connect deeply with our hearts, our most trustworthy inner guidance system. As we relax into our heart-center, we access the wisdom of the whole universe and the blueprint for true happiness. The invitation is to silence the chatter – to gently release thoughts, judgments, distractions, and pressures – in order to truly hear our heart’s desires and messages. Only then can we source our inner inspiration and realize not only our dreams, but our destinies.
Faithful Me
When we hold tightly to a goal, we often find it to be elusive. We may say to ourselves, “I want this so badly. I can see my goal. Why can’t I reach it?” The answer lies within the fine art and practice of detachment.
As we detach from the outcome of whatever we desire, we let go and gently surrender to the wisdom of uncertainty, which holds our freedom from the past, the known, and the limitations of any preconceived notions. In our willingness to step into the unknown – the field of all possibilities – we give ourselves over to the creative mind that orchestrates the dance of the universe, trusting that what we desire will come to us.
Day 14
Grateful Me
Congratulations on completing the first two weeks of our 21-Day Meditation Experience! Spending time in silence is an act of powerful self-nurturance. Through meditation, you are connecting more deeply with your heart, understanding its desires, and clearing a path to realize your dreams.
Today’s meditation focuses on gratitude. When we appreciate all that we have in life, our egos step out of the way, inviting even greater abundance into our lives.
Practicing gratitude for our lives as human beings – for the air we breathe, our magnificent bodies, and the beauty of being alive – is a wonderful place to start. From this point of view, we can expand our gratitude outward like ripples in a still pond, appreciating everything and everyone that touches our lives.
How Can I Serve
Today we delve more deeply into what it means to be of service. When we serve others from a place of love, we are also serving ourselves.
For many of us, when we think of service, we envision great feats, sacrifices, large philanthropic donations, and other grand gestures. While service can be all those things, it can also be much more accessible in our daily lives. Giving to others through service is simply recognizing what you do best in any given moment and offering that as a gift to someone else. For instance, today you may notice someone who looks like they could really use a warm smile and, in that moment, you offer a smile in service to brighten their day. Giving can be that simple.
Day 16
Uniquely Me
The expansion of happiness in this lifetime is our birthright. Finding what it is we are meant to do and be, and identifying that which brings us the greatest happiness is our highest purpose in life. This is our Dharma, our truth, and our destiny. Each moment presents us with a unique opportunity to express ourselves in ways that only we can. When we answer the call of our heart in each moment, we have the opportunity to experience pure joy.
Today’s meditation explores what it means to live blissfully in each moment, understanding that the true reward is not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but the journey along the rainbow itself. Allow the bliss of being who you are, living as the unique soul you were born to be, carry you along the path of this lifetime and you will be living your life to the fullest.
Day 17
Inspirational Me
Think about the people and experiences that truly inspire you. What is it about them that makes you feel this way? For many of us, we are inspired when we feel something we have never felt before. We feel uplifted when we gain a new insight that changes our perspective completely and when we learn something new that forever transforms us.
Each of us has that power to inspire other people. Within all of us lies a wonderful teacher, a soul that greatly inspires others to seek the highest good and to engage fully in life, merely by expressing our authentic self. Embrace that inner teacher and know that you have something very valuable to offer everyone around you. Share your lessons freely and receive wisdom from others with openness, joy, and love.
How often have you had the experience of struggling to remember a person’s name, only to have the name effortlessly revealed to you when you were engaged in something entirely different? The same thing happens when we wrestle with our minds for ideas or solutions. Once we let the challenge go and engage in something that frees our minds, the lightning bolt strikes!
This is the value of play. Play opens the pathways for creativity to flow freely. When we are engaged in play, we connect with the heart, rather than leading with the mind. As we access the essence of pure potentiality, transformative ideas and solutions come to us spontaneously, and we are boundlessly creative.
In today’s meditation, we spend time reconnecting with our true bliss, that part of ourselves that many of us best remember from childhood. Think about what it was that brought you the greatest joy, that made time fly, and that you could do forever without a care in the world. That is an expression of bliss.
While our childhoods may be behind us, our opportunity to reconnect with our bliss is right in front of us, ours for the taking. When we find ourselves engaged in the activities and with the people who make our hearts sing, we are grounded in the present and deeply connected to pure spirit.
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