Archive for March, 2011

Today is absolutely beautiful. Not unlike many other cool spring days the brilliant blue sky is host to many white feathery clouds. Splashes of yellow in the form of forsythia and daffodils dot the foreground to the backdrop of horses and cattle grazing on tender green fields of grass.
Mr. Cat is silently stalking imaginary mice and I can’t help but think, “Catch a REAL one!” while the dogs investigate the creek bed to see who has passed through in the middle of the night.
Oh joyfully, thanks to God, this is who I am. The animals, and this countryside that angels guard so diligently is my home and these everyday miracles are my life.
And today walking out across the fields I am even more aware of this gratitude and the beauty only silence can offer. There has been a huge shift that I am keenly aware of. I know I am no longer the same.
Standing on the hill the breeze is crisp and full of life, just like me. Strong and wise I stand there in the fullness of my identity. It is a powerful moment as I realize I have reclaimed another piece of my life that the house fire had previously stolen from me. The piece that had kept me a prisoner in my own home, on my own land too fearful to leave, reliving over and over the sight of coming home to smoke pouring out the roof.
I breathe in deeply and let out a big sigh and for the first time in many years remember what it is like to take a fully relaxed breath that is void of a massive painful ache in my chest.
I touch my heart and unscrew the invisible cords of negativity and then symbolically raise them up and way from my body. I ask for blessings of Reiki from the Holy Spirit to heal this wounded energy with it’s eternal light. The air softens, the birds sings and another chapter of grief has it’s ending.

Mid life is a hallmark for women. We have many victories under our belts. And just as we have won and felt immense joy we have also suffered loss and experienced painful grief. Because grieving is an inevitable chapter in our life the more prepared we are, the easier the read will be. When we educate ourselves and strive to keep our life as a balanced wheel we will navigate the potholes of crisis with smoother steering.

Today I am sharing 5 tips that will not only enhance your day to day living but help support you in times of greater need.

1) Don’t be a people pleaser – Learn to set and keep boundaries- nothing is more stressful in times of loss than the feeling that you must say yes to everybody’s request. Creating an equal flow between giving and receiving helps us give joyfully and receive graciously so that we don’t deplete our resources. In times of grieving it’s ok to receive more knowing when you are back on track you will have a cornucopia to give.

2) The body really is a temple. The body houses the incredible “you” so it is imperative that we give it the respect and thanks it deserves by making good choices about what eat and then making sure we nourish it with exercise as well. A key indicator that we are functioning on overload during the grieving process is extreme lethargy and brain fog or lack of concentration. When we fuel ourselves with good nutrition and exercise, our immune system will be better equipped to handle high periods of prolonged stress and sadness. Sometimes it is a great idea to enlist the help of a nutritionist, and or personal trainer to take the guesswork out of optimum physical health.

3) Live with passionate – Passion keeps the embers inside of us burning brightly. It evokes emotions of joy that are created deep within. Passion delivers reason and celebration. Engaging in activities we are passionate about in times of grief or sadness releases us even if temporarily from those heavy feelings so that we are able to refresh ourselves and continue healing. It’s like taking a min vacation or break from all that we are trying to find our way through and gently reminds us of the good things life offers.

4) Connect with your higher being – Never more prominent than in a time of crisis are we aware or unaware of the higher being each and every one of us is connected to. If you already feel that connection than allow yourself to draw closer to it. If you are unaware, then it is normal to ask questions such as “What do I believe in?” “Who am I?’ “Why am I here?’ As painful as loss and difficult transitions may be, they are often a space that can connect us to a more aware and higher quality of life. A coach who specializes in this type of work can often assist you in opening doors that at the moment may seem closed.

5) No woman is an island – Enlist loving support. Maybe it is family or friends, or maybe your church. It can be those that you share a hobby with. The idea here is to be with those who share commonalities with you in some capacity you care about. This may or not be the place to talk about what you are feeling but rather a place that supports you in other ways that are part of your life. It is people or a place that give you a “full” type of feeling and some feeling of relief.

I hope this helps you put together some very foundational pieces of living a balanced life everyday of your life.

Jennifer Shaw, the compassionate Grief and Loss/Mid Life Transition coach, eliminates her client’s deep emotional pain, helping them breakthrough through their fears of the unknown, and leading them to step confidently into a life of happiness and success. Jennifer gets to the heart of the matter utilizing her unique HEAL® Process, which combines the ability to ‘fine tune’ and create a custom plan for groups or individuals that delivers the results they desire leading them to achieve their ultimate goals and live a life of true purpose.

For more information on coaching through loss and mid life transitions and receive a complimentary session please visit http://www.jennifershawcoaching.com. Download your free e-book on how to survive any major crisis while you are there.

It is with much love and gratitude she shares this journey with you.