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Use Reflection With Sacred Pause To Gift Wrap The Year

Use Reflection With Sacred Pause To Gift Wrap The Year

by | Dec 1, 2024 | Self Development

Practice Sacred Pause To Plant The Seeds Of Intention (rather than resolution)

From a spiritual perspective, December is the last month of the year and carries a vibrational essence of reflection and closure. It gives us a unique stillness to reflect, dream and wish for future renewal and regeneration possibilities.

Unlike the forced encapsulation of winter, where the energy is frenetic and full of fight, the Australian December is quiet and very still. In fact, the first two weeks of December deliver us what some refer to as a sacred pause, amongst the busyness of the silly season.

If you allow it, the last month of the calendar year can become exceptionally quiet. Imagine allowing yourself to immerse into this powerful vibration of nothing (read that as no-thing) to get in the way of reflecting on yourself, away from the turbulent external winds of the outside world.

Whilst December weather is often warming up for those of us in the southern hemisphere, it is littered with electrical thunderstorms and shifting air currents. December sends whispers on the wind, and this breeze is a gift to gently remind you to consider what is in your best interest.

When you consciously step out of the hoopla of social engagements and step into your heart, the sacred pause can become activated. Sacred Pause is a mindfulness technique deployed in yoga and meditation. It’s simply a deliberate time to be present with yourself. The practice involves purposeful breath work and a mindset whereby you check in with your current thoughts and feelings — to show up for and to yourself.

You started this year, and have arrived no doubt at a different destination than what you may have expected. You can use the sacred pause to reflect, love and release what perhaps no longer aligns within the space you have arrived.

You can adore and worship those defining moments that caused or allowed you to change direction or speed. It is a choice to remain rooted in pain or recognize you’ve walked the path of learning.

You may not realize it is beautiful, but you are exactly where you need to be for further growth and evolution.

During December you get to look back over your shoulder and honor the footsteps you’ve taken. Reflection allows you to relish your growth and revisit your lessons, which have shaped your capacity to stand a little taller, and perhaps now hold more wisdom.

Consider the following journal questions during your own Sacred Pause

  • Reminisce on this year’s intention that you set yourself earlier this year — did you align to the frequency of what you wanted to be?
  • What new endeavor have you commenced this year? Did you succeed or is there more to learn?
  • Where possible actively seek ways to tie off loose ends and wrap up unfinished business?

Once you have revisited your heart, you’re in a position of very high vibrational power whereby you can reignite and reconnect with your true north — your purpose. This is the vibration whereby you can plant the seed of a revised or new intention. The energy of these first two weeks of December is ripe for you to fertilize fresh ideas, creativity and wonderment.

Amplify your energy, by carving out moments to clear your space of any physical or emotional debris. Clear out, let go, delete and release anything that may obstruct what is meant to now come into your space, your world, and enrich your life.

This is a time to intuitively prepare for future chapters. Imagine you can now edit future editions of what is yet to be written.

Ask yourself how you want to be defined as you step forward.

The reference to the wise woman who does not succumb to the craving for new, shiny or bright unless it is intrinsically within you and linked to your heart and your soul-led purpose. I have always interpreted this phrase for me to feel what is required, rather than think or wish for it.

Allow yourself to create a heartfelt vision. Grant yourself permission during your sacred pause moments to see, feel and imagine touching this future version of you. These imaginings become your future self and next year’s intention.

A resolution is merely a dream, the intention is comprehending the steps you require to live the life you want.

Conclusion

May this month be filled with ease you allow yourself grace to find peace with that which remains unresolved, unlearnt or not quite embraced. Utilize sacred pause moments to connect to all things that bring lessons, growth and expansion for your vital essence. These reflections are the things that will enhance the experience of your reflection, and the closure of this year. Practicing sacred pause enables you to release, let go and shine from the core of your essence.

Want to read more like this?

This is My Roar – signed copies of my first published book can be purchased from this website.

  • Self Reflection – A little Look Within – click here
  • 8 Hot Tips How To Journal – click here
  • Can You Risk Not Stepping Up To Mother yourself? – Click here

Listen to the audio version via the “I Am Change-ing” Podcast – click here

First published with WordGarden, a Medium Publication. Click here this piece.

About Karen

Change Facilitator

Karen Humphries is an advanced Kinesiology Practitioner, Wellbeing Coach, Hypnotherapist (including psychotherapy), Resource Therapist (Ego State), Intuitive Meditation Facilitator, and trainee Counselor (Mental Health).

Karen is a published author of This Is My Roar.

She is a self-confessed laughaholic.  She loves being of service to the world with her humorous and positive approach to life, encouraging people to ‘choose to change and bloom from within.’ 

Karen Humphries, Change Chick, Change Facilitator, Kinesiology, Wellness Coach, Australian Bush Flower Essences, LEAP Facilitator, Trauma, Public Speaker, Cancer Ambassador, Blooming From Within, Traralgon, Victoria, Gippsland

Create A Guiding Word

Create A Guiding Word

by | Dec 31, 2023 | Self Development

How To Boost Your Annual Intention

In your reflections on the year coming to a close, have you felt frustrated or stuck? Perhaps you’re feeling uncertain about how to steer your unique truth north and feel like you’ve lost your way.

As a component of creating my Annual Intention, I always find myself returning to a Dharma ritual I’ve practised for nearly two decades.

Dharma is a Sanskrit word which translates to ‘right direction’. Therefore when you actively explore your dharma, you are immersing yourself into a quest to gain perspective of your purpose, passion and power. This exploration is an assessment of whether you are pointing true north in your journey to life and fulfilling your highest purpose.

Combining your reflection of what you’re in control of, and what lessons you’ve learnt during the year just past creates the perfect foundation for identifying a guiding word. This word will bring you back to the intention of where you want to be in life.

Your dharma isn’t something you search for or find outside of yourself. It’s a feeling that resonates deeply and speaks only in your heart. Your dharma is your rhythm. It’s just like the wind rustling through the trees, playing a sacred symphony of sound. That song is ever-evolving, and so too are you.

“Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to share with others. It’s not a failure if you realise it would be helpful to have a guide light your path and find your way forward again!”

I utilise a combination of intuitive heart meditation to activate my soul vision. I weave a combination of NLP and hypnotic suggestion to shift negativity out of my belief system. I work from within my heart, for this is where I find my light to activate my truth.

I adore working within a group and harmonising the collective energies. Sometimes the guiding word just drops in, landing purposefully within my heart. Other times, the meditation reveals omens and clues that can reveal themselves with post-meditation journaling. 

I often find myself surprised that when I dedicate heartfelt attention to my life and those desires for more joy, happiness and health, how easily that singular word will float into my conscious awareness. That guiding word holds an enormous amount of power.

The repeating and reconnection of this word throughout the year, re-activates your intention made within my heart at the beginning of the year. Revisiting this word invokes the magic of my resonance. 

Using this guiding word is like a positive anchor to all you are becoming.

The meditative power of defining your dharma comes through observation and reflections on your precious life. Through gentle exploration, you easily understand how you can honour your life path or dharma.

The guiding word can be likened to that of creating a mission statement. You use it to remind yourself of how to remain on a true course, always pointing north.

Acceptance of our dharma provides an energetic space to expand and create balance in our lives. The dharma intention you create enables you to build the platform from which you ground. Re-evaluation of your dharma is like inspecting the footings of your home, ensuring strength and support to move forward.

I love implementing an annual guiding word, for it can weave miracles into your life. I’m reminded of the brilliant quote by Gandhi that tells the tale of how a word can influence your entire life.

“Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.

Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.” ~ Gandhi

Regularly referencing your guiding word, reactivates your annual intention. It directly connects you to your exploring your dharma. This creates kindness and a gentle exploration of aspects of life that may be holding you back.

Remember your Dharma is that little voice within you, that tugs at your heart, that niggles away to grab your attention. It’s the whispers from your gut instinct of what is your true path. 

Following your Dharma can lead you along your life path as well as day-to-day. The key question is do you listen to the messages your heart sends you? Using your guiding word will align you directly to this path.

Coming to understand who you are is a process. It takes practice to slow down long enough to pay attention. You have an entire lifetime to figure out who you are — and that is an evolution in progress. Having simple tools like a guiding word can gift you a little helping hand along the way!

When I reference my guiding word, I am instantly transported into the vulnerability of my full Dharma, I am enough. I recognise and understand the fear associated with exploring deep within and do it anyway. 

First published with Illumination, a Medium Publication. Click here this piece.

Want to read more like this?

This is My Roar – signed copies of my first published book can be purchased from this website.

Self Reflection – A little Look Within – click here

8 Hot Tips How To Journal – click here

Ask Yourself The Hard Questions First – Click here

Two Magical Questions – Click Here

Create Change in 2024 With Intention – Click Here

About Karen

Change Facilitator

Karen Humphries is a Kinesiology Practitioner, Health & Business Coach, LEAP & NES Practitioner, Intuitive Meditation Facilitator, and published author. She is a self-confessed laughaholic.  She loves being of service to the world with her humorous and positive approach to life, encouraging people to ‘choose to change and bloom from within.’ 

Karen Humphries, Change Chick, Change Facilitator, Kinesiology, Wellness Coach, Australian Bush Flower Essences, LEAP Facilitator, Trauma, Public Speaker, Cancer Ambassador, Blooming From Within, Traralgon, Victoria, Gippsland
Create Change In 2024 With Intention

Create Change In 2024 With Intention

by | Dec 28, 2023 | Self Development

Have you ever created a NYE resolution whereby you successfully achieved a successful outcome? No? Me either!

It’s taken me a bit to figure out the reason why resolutions don’t work.

At a societal level, traditionally we have chosen resolutions to negate something unwanted in life. However, our modern culture understands so much more about psychology.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a resolution as a firm decision to do or not to do something and an intention as an aim or plan.

Resolutions are flawed for several reasons including:

  • they are only mental thought that have connected to a negative default position — something you no longer want;
  • they are based on something you desire in the future, rather than right now in the present;
  • are often vague and have no delivery boundary in the future
  • often based on a comparison you’ve made with something that someone else has or does;
  • they lack room to amend or reconfigure the deliverable outcome, it’s all or failure;
  • their start date and time are very specific, with no flexibility for planning and implementation;
  • there is no flexibility nor invitation to explore the feelings, beliefs or habits that maintain what it is you are trying to change.

For example, that moment that you decide to quit smoking on a whim. The resolution does not address why you are smoking in the first place, nor does it address why you maintain the habit. It also doesn’t include an alternative plan to reduce if quitting cold turkey becomes too much.

The resolution based on a thought, does not set you up with a proactive plan for a positive achievement outcome. Additionally, the resolution doesn’t attend to anything in your emotional department.

There’s the power of creating an intention over a resolution. An intention is a process by which you connect to a positive and desired feeling, something you want. The resolution statement is often a default from avoiding a feeling, sensation or habit you don’t want in your life.

Stating or naming the resolution as the fireworks explode at midnight is easy. It’s almost a token gesture. You are simply identifying the desired change status you want in life. But there is no substance or basis for the commitment you are so flippantly stating.

The negativity that comes with resolutions, smacks you up the backside of your head by the end of the second week of January — if you’ve made it that far. The reason resolutions fail so quickly is that they are only a statement of what you want. There’s no plan of action, no support, no backup.

It’s important to recognise the definitions as you form your intentions. Your intention should guide your desired action that leads you towards the desired goal or outcome.

Remember resolutions are simply the destination of the outcome you desire. An intention frames the stepping actions of your desired outcome. The intention plan acts like a roadmap for how to arrive at the desired destination.

I am fondly reminded by the abundance of emails I have read this week, that you do not have to have 2024 all worked out by the 1st of January. The beauty of the annual intention is that you can take as long as you like to achieve your desired outcome.

It’s the Yuletide Season, whereby the twelve days of Christmas forecast the future twelve months. There is something really special about carving out space to reflect and release the expiring year with all its experiences. Reflect on the lessons learned this year, before opening up yourself up to more dreaming and deeper desires. Utilise an intention that allows you to create the plan and the energy for your desired change.

First published with Illumination, a Medium Publication. Click here this piece.

Want to read more like this?

This is My Roar – signed copies of my first published book can be purchased from this website.

Self Reflection – A little Look Within – click here

8 Hot Tips How To Journal – click here

Can You Risk Not Stepping Up To Mother yourself? – Click here

About Karen

Change Facilitator

Karen Humphries is a Hypnotherapist, Kinesiology Practitioner, Health & Business Coach, LEAP & NES Practitioner, Intuitive Meditation Facilitator, and published author.

She is a self-confessed laughaholic.  She loves being of service to the world with her humorous and positive approach to life, encouraging people to ‘choose to change and bloom from within.’ 

Karen Humphries, Change Chick, Change Facilitator, Kinesiology, Wellness Coach, Australian Bush Flower Essences, LEAP Facilitator, Trauma, Public Speaker, Cancer Ambassador, Blooming From Within, Traralgon, Victoria, Gippsland

Two magical questions

Two magical questions

by | Dec 28, 2023 | Self Development

Two Magical Questions To Explore The Start And Define The End – How To Create A Meaningful Intention

You must first understand your starting point to generate any meaningful change in your life. It’s called the present moment, or today. The starting point of change begins where you are right now!

Just two quick questions before you continue scrolling…

As a Change Facilitator, I spend every single client and group session asking people the following two questions.

1. Where are you at today?

2. Where do you want to be? 

In other words, have you gifted yourself time to reflect on the year that is drawing to a close?

We’ve had almost 365 days of experience. Jump into your journal and explore the centre of your feelings, yep we’re working in the heart, not your head. 

How well did you thrive or survive 2023?

What were those experiences like for you? Try not to think of those experiences as good or bad, but rather did you have the tools to face the challenges brought to your door?

Did those tools sustain you to move through the experience or merely survive it?

What did you learn about yourself or others or situations?

Did you reach a point of desired change where you’ve now decided it is time to stand up? Is it time to step forward? Is it time to change?

If you’ve answered yes, but are uncertain of ‘how’ don’t stress. Just trust that the decision to draw the line in the sand is a good one! 

Exploring what was pleasant, or not, what you would repeat and do again, or not, is a gift of awareness. Identifying feelings associated with a specific experience supports you to create boundaries, review beliefs and refine your understanding of the world you live in. Your feelings will enable you to create a firm boundary.

For those wanting to deep dive a little further, there’s a fabulous tool called the Wheel of Life (WOL). Traditionally the WOL coaching tool enables you to quietly reflect on many facets of your life from wealth, health, relationships, career etc.

The WOL exercise is generally used to support your reflections on your recent experiences (like the year just done) and discern what you’re actually in control of. When using this tool with clients I’m sure to remind individuals to gift themselves permission to be kind as you deep dive. 

Allowing yourself to discover what you might not be in control of, and perhaps what needs to change in terms of behavioural patterns is a powerful, yet confronting activity.

“THIS WISDOM IS GOING TO HELP GUIDE YOU WITH WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO IN THIS NEXT YEAR OF YOUR LIFE.” — Mel Robbins

Identifying information about what you’re in control of is extraordinarily powerful. It allows you to decide whether you continue forward in the same way. If your recent experiences were not positive, then perhaps ask yourself whether you want that to continue — regardless of whether you know what action needs to be taken to make a change.

To generate energy for change on a physical, mental and emotional plane, you must first know where you’re starting from. Knowing the start will naturally steer you into a direction of change, in other words, flowing into the space where you want to go next. 

Mel Robbins recently released a digital download WOL whereby she encourages the reader to reflect on your past year using the premise of the following questions:

  • What’s working in your life right now?
  • What’s not working?
  • What are you willing to do the work for to have change?
  • What are you not willing to do the work for?

Answering these simple questions can help you to define the potential boundaries of change. Remember, some things may not be able to be physically changed, for example, the death of a loved one. However, your reaction to an event or experience can be changed. 

So during your reflection of the year just past, be honest with yourself and explore what was hard. The ‘hard bits’ are where you did some intense up-skilling and possibly learnt some life lessons. 

Identifying the shitty bits enables you to discern what you need moving forward. And perhaps most importantly reflecting on those moments gifts you an awareness that you are far stronger than you ever imagined.

Without realising it, you have grown in the last 12 months. You’ve changed. You have developed your kind of wisdom just by navigating the path of life.

“WHEN YOUR GOALS ARE INFORMED BY THE THINGS YOU’VE STRUGGLED WITH, THOSE GOALS TAKE ON A RICHNESS OF MEANING.” — Mel Robbins

Exploring the psychological space where are at today, through reflection of the year just past enables you to readily identify a starting point of your life as a whole. Consider using the Wheel of Life tool, or Mel Robbins digital downloadable (click here) and explore your life — relationships, health, wealth, love etc.

Allow your answers to surprise you, as any identified area for change is your destination moving forward. It’s that simple and complicated. 

Gift yourself an hour to ask yourself where am I now, and what is my intended destination? I encourage you to then reflect on any aspect of your life where you’ve identified a source of stress or low score. In other words, where do you want to be? 

Asking yourself frank questions like “What am I in control of?”, and “What can I surrender and just go with the flow?” allows you to fine-tune the road map to move forward. 

The ultimate destination of your reflection isn’t to win a million dollars. You only end up with the same challenges you have now, and a million dollars worth of bills.

Your intended destination should be what will make you happy in the various areas of your life. When you identify what your desired happiness looks and feels like, you can then draw up an action plan of how to achieve it.

First published with Illumination, a Medium Publication. Click here this piece.

Want to read more like this?

This is My Roar – signed copies of my first published book can be purchased from this website.

Self Reflection – A little Look Within – click here

8 Hot Tips How To Journal – click here

Can You Risk Not Stepping Up To Mother yourself? – Click here

About Karen

Change Facilitator

Karen Humphries is a Kinesiology Practitioner, Health & Business Coach, LEAP & NES Practitioner, Intuitive Meditation Facilitator, and published author. She is a self-confessed laughaholic.  She loves being of service to the world with her humorous and positive approach to life, encouraging people to ‘choose to change and bloom from within.’ 

Karen Humphries, Change Chick, Change Facilitator, Kinesiology, Wellness Coach, Australian Bush Flower Essences, LEAP Facilitator, Trauma, Public Speaker, Cancer Ambassador, Blooming From Within, Traralgon, Victoria, Gippsland

What Is My Dharma?

What Is My Dharma?

by | Jan 7, 2022 | Self Development

Welcome to the personal journey of your Dharma

Have you ever wondered how people manifest anything they want?

Does that leaving you scratching your head wondering where you are at in life?

Dharma is a Sanskrit word which translates to ‘right direction’. Therefore when you actively explore your dharma, you are immersing yourself into a quest to gain perspective of your purpose, passion and power. This exploration is an assessment of whether you are pointing true north in your journey life and fulfilling your highest purpose.

Your dharma isn’t something you search for or find outside of yourself.

“Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to share with others” – Unknown source

Exploring your dharma enables you to:

  • Define your dharma through observation of you living your precious life
  • Understand how you honour your life path, or dharma
  • Create a mission statement to remind you how to remain on true course, always pointing north.

When we are connected to our dharma, even though life can throw us experiences that generate emotional high or low responses, we can remind ourselves of our true purpose. This enables us to celebrate the wins, to accept the defeats or lessons being learnt.

Acceptance of our dharma provides an energetic space to expand and create balance in our lives. The dharma intention you create enables you to build the platform from which you ground into. Re-evaluation of your dharma is like inspecting the footings of your home, ensuring strength and support to move forward.

Embracing our dharma creates a desire, deep within, that keeps us pointed to our true north. Your dharma starts with connecting to you heart space which seeds positive thoughts.

You might be scratching your head wondering where you could make a start on exploring your dharma! Let me share some tips!

“Your dharma is not a career, or a project, or a certain role you play. It’s the unique vibration that your soul carries to everything that you do and every way that you are.” —Sahara Rose

10 Tips to Discover Your Personal Dharma

1. Pay attention to shows up (ie synchronicity)

The universe / god (call this what you want), is very good at guiding you, giving you a nudge or two and even providing a trail!

I recommend you pay attention to what or who keeps showing up in your life. When someone or something shows up over and over, it’s likely that this is tied to your dharma.

2. Accept invitations from spirit

You can label these invitations ‘callings‘. The invitation calls to things that you feel deep inside, that guide you. The trick with callings is to remind yourself that sometimes they don’t necessarily make sense to anyone else but you.

Remember this is often a gut based feeling, rather than something you’rethinking. Callings are preparation for connecting with your dharma, or life purpose.

4. Your journey path is not a straight line

The path to your connecting with your dharma is not straight, and can spiral into a myriad of directions. It can even feel like a rollercoaster of ups and downs!

Spirit has a funny sense of humor. For just when you think you’ve connected with your dharma, spirit is likely to throw you a curve ball with a new challenge and lesson to learn.

Let me give you the tip, it helps a bunch to flow with this process, and where required, surrender to the notion that the journey isn’t always forward or as you expect.

5. Make friends with the unknown & unexpected

It’s important to know that connection to your dharma can be push or pull you into a myriad of directions that aare unexpected, unknown and ometimes uncomfortable.

There’s no point trying to control the path that you’re on. The trick i becoming a mastermind at going with the flow.

6. Create a connection ritual that aligns you to spirit

The trick with this tip is to figure out how best to nurture your soul. Implement simple small actions like yoga, meditation, coluring, painting or walking in nature.

I find any activity that connects you to your heart space is all it takes to align to your truth. Your heart space is where you’ll locate the information about your dharma.

7. A cup of courage is required to walk on the wild side

Discovering your dharma is sometimes not a cake walk. It requires you to embrace your moxie!

I encourage you to call upon a higher level of universal trust. Here’s another way of looking at this connection … you are a precious child of the universe. So when you commence connecting with your dharma, you are rejoining your spiritual tribe.

8. Be patience and kind with your self

Your dharma is not something you can catch, take a pill, make magically appear,  or generate a quick fix.  Connection with your dharma is a life long  journey.

They key is to take small steps, then stride,  then leap, and then allow yourself breathe deeply.

You know the old saying, patience is virtue.

Wrap Up

According to Sahara Rose “if you’re not living your dharma, you may experience feelings of being stuck—like you’re taking action, but not really moving forward. The future doesn’t excite you. You’re surviving rather than thriving.”

Does this resonate for you?

The symptoms of stuck can feel like anxiety, depression, unworthiness, or just feeling off and not yourself. I know from personal experience, that when you are live life in accordance with your dharma, you learn to experience the sensation of acceptance with who you are. You learn to enjoy expressing and sharing your unique gifts with the world. There is so much personal power associated with this connection.

Perhaps by sharing these tips is you can see your callings, journeys and even seeming missteps can be coalesced into a pathway toward your personal dharma.

Maybe the next time you hit the pause button and take time out for yourself, ask yourself the following question – what is the change that you so deeply want to see in the world?

Any answer is an important clue to discover your personal dharma, your sacred duty, your mission here on earth. The more clues you discover, the greater  the opportunity to shine your light bright!

If you are inspired, I invite you to book at Dharma Meditation Session and explore your why!

Want to read more like this?

Self Reflection – A little Look Within – click here

8 Hot Tips How To Journal – click here

Can You Risk Not Stepping Up To Mother yourself? – Click here

How To Stop Making Excuses & Start Living Your Best Life – Click here

About Karen

Change Facilitator

Karen Humphries is a Kinesiology Practitioner, Health & Business Coach, LEAP & NES Practitioner, and self-confessed laughaholic. She is an avid Breast Cancer Advocate residing in Gippsland Victoria Australia. She loves being of service to the world with her humorous and positive approach to life, encouraging people to ‘choose to change and bloom from within.’ 

Karen Humphries, Change Chick, Change Facilitator, Kinesiology, Wellness Coach, Australian Bush Flower Essences, LEAP Facilitator, Trauma, Public Speaker, Cancer Ambassador, Blooming From Within, Traralgon, Victoria, Gippsland