Section 1. Setting up Your Environment to Support Healing

In the last article, we talked about de-cluttering your environment as a way of purging energy and objects that are not conducive to your healing. In this article, the focus is on adding objects and structure to your environment that will best support you as you move forward. This includes areas such as your home, office, car, and meditation room.

Let's take a look at how each can be reorganized and refreshed to aid you in your journey.

Organizing Your Home

Your home is your castle, your refuge, and your fortress of solitude and reflection. It is the one place where you can completely let your hair down and relax. We often decorate our homes in the latest trends, with an eye for bold, eye-catching colors and furniture. However, those same elements could be hindering your ability to be totally at peace in your home.

Remember, everything is energy and has its own unique vibration. Some colors and elements will vibrate at a higher more energetic frequency and others will have a slower, more calming energy that is conducive to relaxation and meditation. Assess your home environment to see on which side of the spectrum you fall.

Here are a few elements that may hinder serenity:

Brightly colored walls and accessories, while visually appealing and cheerful, keep the body and mind in a perpetual state of stimulation and may not allow for deep relaxation and contemplation. Here are a few common bright shades and their mental/emotional associations:

• Red is a color that is, without a doubt, bold and full of passion. It can call to mind anger, unbridled love, or intense sadness. A color that often characterizes our most intense emotions and heated exchanges, while beautiful, it is not the best choice to bring calmness. Rooms with red and other brightly colored walls will also hinder sleep.
• Black is a color that is clean and uniform, but does not do much to lighten the soul. It can be gloomy and, if too prevalent, can even cause mild anxiety or depression. Despite its elegant appearance, black should be avoided on walls and in large accessories.
• Dark Purple is a regal color, but can also be heavy on the mind and emotions. It also signifies responsibility and heavy spiritual transitions, which may not be the best when you are looking to lighten your emotional and mental load.

Below are some colors that invite relaxation and peace of mind. You may want to use these as foundation colors for your walls, or splash them throughout your space as accessories.

• Green is the color of life. The most comforting elements of nature, such as trees, plants, and grass radiate this color and infuse the environment with freshness and vitality. Pale greens can be calming and allow us to connect with that part of ourselves that is waiting to sprout like a seed and unfurl into our highest self. Green signifies new beginnings and the endless circle of life.
• Light Blue can be very serene and comforting. It is the color of the bottomless oceans and clear sky, which we often look to for tranquility, guidance, and relaxation. Light blue can calm the senses after a stressful day and transport one into the realm of imagination and possibility.
• Sandy Beige and very light browns can be grounding and balancing colors. Reminiscent of the earth and beach, there is something primal, yet eternally comforting about these shades. They are neutral enough that it does not jar the senses and keep you awake, but also brings with it a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Assess your color scheme in your home. Are there elements that may be too stimulating? Even if you cannot make over the whole house, try to bring calming and rejuvenating elements to the places you most need to relax, such as your bedroom or meditation room.

Take a look around your living space and the items that are there. Do they make you feel happy, relaxed, or efficient? If you just have a bunch of stuff taking up space, it's time to clean house. The items you surround yourself with every day should be a joy to look at or provide comfort and efficiency.

For example, if you have old mini blinds on the windows, but you've always wanted linen curtains, by all means go out and get them. We often hesitate at fulfilling what we consider selfish and whimsical desires, but these are the very things that will help to lighten our moods and allow us to present our best self to the world.

If you are worried about getting rid of some elements or furniture before you can afford to replace them, know that when you remove the negative energy of an unwanted item, you open yourself up to the energy of what you really desire. Many people have stumbled upon excellent deals on what they really would like to have, once they cleared the physical and vibrational space.

A Safe Space to Commune

It is absolutely critical that you allocate a space in your home to engage on the important and personal work of healing yourself. You need a space with pleasant, relaxing décor and some measure of privacy. If you have a spare room, you can use pillows and throw rugs, along with plants, wall hangings and incense to make a quick and relaxing meditation room. Ensure that others in your home are aware of the purpose of the room and do not violate its sanctity or interrupt you while you are communing with your soul and the creator.

Food for Thought

What does your environment say to you? Is it relaxing, over-stimulating, or depressing? How might you make it more supportive of the state of mind you would like to cultivate?

Setting the Stage for Healing - Part 2

Establishing a Support System

Objectives

None of us lives in a bubble and we all require the aid and support of others to be successful in our lives, in general, and our healing journey, in particular.Taking the time to involve others from the outset and establish a trusting and supportive network of family, friends, and co-workers can be the difference between success and failure in meeting your goals.

This article will discuss some of the ways that you can reach out and involve those in your life to support and nurture you on your journey.

Section 1. Family Support

Your family members are the most important to get on board, as they are the closest to you, the ones you most likely spend the most time with, and who know your struggles on an intimate basis. Despite everything you may be going through, your family members love you unconditionally and, if asked, will step up to the plate to assist you.

Below are some prompts for discussing your healing journey with your family:

• Sit down and have an honest conversation with loved ones, including letting them in on what you are struggling with, and the fact that you will be making a concerted effort to heal yourself.

• State clearly what it is that you need from them to assist you on your journey.

• Share your current fears and hopes for your future. Allowing them to see your emotions around the situation makes it that much more real.

• Ask for ideas and input on how they feel you can achieve your healing goals within the family framework.

• Share that while you are uncertain about what exactly the future holds, the best gift they can give you is their love and support.

For many people, their friends are an extension of their family and may be even closer to them than some family members. These are the people who celebrate your achievements with fanfare and offer a shoulder to cry on when your circumstances seem hopeless. Having a few good friends that are cheering for you to overcome your obstacles to healing can be invaluable.

Make it clear to friends that you are embarking on a journey of deep introspection and healing, and at times, may not be available as you usually are. Let them know this is not personal, it's just what you need to do to focus on healing yourself.

When you do socialize, instead of going out to the normal haunts, let friends know if you would like to engage in more relaxing and intimate activities, such as a girls night in or a yoga retreat.

Schedule "check-in sessions" with you close pals. It can be easy to become absorbed in all of the new things you are learning about yourself and your progress to healing. Sometimes you may not realize that you have not spoken to close friends in a while. Set aside time to reconnect and share what you've been up to. Your friends will appreciate you reaching out and involving them, and will be more likely to give you space when needed.

During the process, if any issues come up regarding a particular friend, commit to communicating with them in an honest and loving manner. Most likely, they never realized they were contributing to your stress and illness and will take all measures to alleviate the problem.

Celebrate success! When you reach milestones or accomplish breakthroughs along the way to healing, let your friends enjoy those with you. Allowing them to see your progress and the joy in your accomplishments engenders more support, and may even prompt them to begin their own journeys.

Section 3. Support From Co-workers

For many, most of our waking hours are spent at work. The people there get to know you well and can have a marked impact on your level of stress, job satisfaction, and overall health. Depending on the type of relationship you have with your boss and co-workers, some of the tips below can help make your work life more conducive to your personal and health goals.

• If your health condition is severe, speak to your boss or human resources department about any employee services available, such as flexible schedules, sick leave, and employer-sponsored wellness programs or gym memberships. Get to know what resources you have available to you.

• Offices are hotbeds of gossip and idle chatter. Find a way to avoid these conversations, as they lower your spiritual vibration and do not contribute to healing. If necessary, gently explain to co-workers that you may be a bit distant, because you are doing some self-improvement and healing work on yourself.

• Identify a co-worker you can trust and let her in on what's going on with you. This way, she can support you and act as your advocate, if need be, without the rest of the office having to know the details of what you are going through. She may also be able to tag-team with you on projects and cover some responsibilities for you, if need be, until you are well.

• During this time of healing, do not take on any unnecessary projects or responsibilities that will cause additional stress, or minimize the time you have available for your own self work. Do your job, but don't overextend yourself.

There is a saying that goes, "If you don't schedule it, it doesn't exist." This is also true for the activities you have planned to support your healing. To develop a consistent and effective routine, you need to pick a specific time to be still and reflect, write in your journal, and repeat your affirmations.

One of the best times to commune with your soul and receive guidance from above is in the last few hours before daylight. This is the time when the barriers between us and the creator are at their thinnest, and we are more apt to receive guidance and answers to our prayers. Take advantage of the stillness of this time when the rest of your household is asleep. You will start your day with a peaceful and energetic outlook on life.

Be Gentle With Yourself

Lastly, always understand that this is a journey. Do not expect too much from yourself initially, or berate yourself for lack of progress. In fact, be sure to celebrate little milestones, like remembering something from the past that may be contributing to your current state, or successfully completing your affirmations for a week straight.

Acknowledging and celebrating little wins will motivate you and foster a habit of providing your soul with positive reinforcement and love, which it sorely needs in order to bloom. Part of this process is learning to love yourself, no matter where you are at this point in life.That love and self confidence will be the wind you need to rise up and tackle any obstacles in your path to optimal health and wellness.

Food for Thought

Are there people you can count on to support you in your healing? Are there others that you need to reach out to? Make a list and reach out in an effort to develop your support network.