Ever heard the sentiment "like attracts like"? It means, if you are nice, nice people will be attracted to your presence. If you are kind, kind people will be attracted to your presence as well.
It's why society gets broken down into groups - likeness. Those who share similar experiences, cultures, etc will naturally group together. So, if you want kind, loving, generous, faith-filled people in your community, be a person who embodies those characteristics. When you have good people around you your life will be better (not perfect or without pain). Having a positive community is a key element of healing. Aromatherapy can be a key element in your healing journey.
Have you ever walked into a place you've never been before but you are taken back to a wonderful place in your life based solely on smell? THAT is aromatherapy - of sorts. As you inhale the essential oil scent(s) you actively engage your olfactory system - the part of the brain that is connected to the sense of smell. Your brain files away that scent and attaches it to the experience you are having. Not only that, but essential oils can evoke specific feelings and emotions. One of my favorite oils to introduce people to is Wild Orange. It is REALLY hard to be grumpy while smelling the scent of an orange. Why? Because citrus oils are known to elevate your mood. Take that anxiety and frumpiness! Of course, there are many reasons to use aromatherapy. My favorite reason is the fact that it is non-invasive. You can literally utilize aromatherapy anywhere and anytime. You can grab a lava stone necklace or bracelet. You can keep a diffuser in your car (electric or hanging clay). You can keep a roller bottle in your purse and apply it on your wrists. You can keep a spray bottle in your bathroom as an air freshener... win-win. You can use aromatherapy for the simple issues you face and for the layered issues you've accumulated over your lifetime. Did you realize that community is an element of healing?
Today, take some time to assess your community. Look for the positive influences: those who lift you up, encourage you, embrace you, accept you, guide you in love with grace, etc. Acknowledge those members of your community that are negative influences: who bring you down, insult you, abuse your boundaries, take without giving back, etc. As you assess your community, I encourage you to spend more time with those who positively influence you. It is proven that like attracts like. However, there are always going to be those negative people who want to be around you because of your positivity BUT they will drain your reserves. Create firm boundaries with those people and do not feel guilty for protecting yourself in this manner. You are worth it. I know many who attempt to drown out negativity with positivity and find themselves drained and pulled to the negative portion of the spectrum. Protect yourself. Learn to recognize, early on, what types of people drain you and then work to minimize your exposure. Exercise applies to our spiritual life as well. We must flex our spiritual muscles... the muscle of restraint, the muscle of Word reading, the muscle of intention, the muscle of patience... you get my point.
Meditation is an exercise as well. And exercise in quieting the mind, being mindful of our physical, mental, spiritual, emotional states. An exercise about valuing ourselves and caring for ourselves. A key element of healing is EXERCISE.
Before you think you need to obtain a gym membership, let me share simple ways you can exercise. Walking Dry brushing (not even really "moving" your body BUT it moves the lymph through your lymphatic/ garbage system) Extra up/down of stairs in your home Sit down/ stand up a few sets with your dining chairs Squats in the kitchen using your counter as support Sex (for you married folk) Now, if you can manage to sweat that's even better. Why? Because sweat is a way of your body detoxing - eliminating toxins from your cells through your pores. So, sweating... you can use a HOT bath with some essential oils, a suana, etc. Of course, if you have a gym membership GO USE IT. A rose bush: Do you see the beauty of the roses or the pain of the thorns?
A mountain: Do you see the adventure that awaits or the daunting task of the climb? A snowfall: Do you marvel at the formation of white powder in the sky and crisp calm that comes or just the work you have to do to clear the sidewalk? A hiccup in your plan: Do you see an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to show up and work or the glaring inconvenience? Do you see what I'm getting at? Often times the beauty around is also has some danger. Just about everything gives us an opportunity to flex our PERSPECTIVE muscle. We get to CHOOSE which we will focus on - the beauty or the danger. Choose beauty today, friends. Share that beauty with someone else so a positive perspective can ripple through our communities. Proverbs 11:27: Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. A loose translation of Prov 11:27 which states “Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.”
Healing is about putting up healthy boundaries for not only your physical body but also your emotional, mental, spiritual bodies as well. Be careful what you allow in through your eyes and ears as well as your mouth. Seek good today. Prayer... what connects us, so intimately, to the Creator. This is a significant element of healing.
It is okay to pray for struggles to be removed from your life. However, keep a right perspective regarding the answer of that prayer... and the timing of the answer. The Lord loves us too much to answer our request before we are truly ready. This can be a painful reality to walk through, yet it yields the very best result for the part of puzzle we fill. Forgiveness isn't just about forgiving the person who wronged you, it's about freeing you from the weight of that wrong.
Forgiveness is a blessing and intentional act that often requires practice because most people can't do it so freely or easily. Forgiveness is not always a one-time thing, either. I find that for many offenses I am having to forgive over and over again. I think this is because pain and grief are not linear. They are like waves that can come on strong or gently lap against your heart. Regardless of the strength, you are reminded of something painful. Some organs in the body in particular are related to the effects of withheld forgiveness. The throat, the respiratory system, the neck, the ankles, the back, and many others, are parts of the body that, when they hurt for no apparent reason, can indicate that the process of forgiveness hasn’t been completed. Could this be describing you? Confession: I have NOT mastered this. Each day provides many opportunities to practice forgiveness and it is up to me whether or not I flex that particular emotional muscle. |