healing

Reflexology & Essential Oils: A Gentle Partnership for Holistic Healing

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Reflexology & Essential Oils: A Gentle Partnership for Holistic Healing

There’s a quiet wisdom in our hands and feet—tiny pressure points that mirror every part of our body. Reflexology, the practice of applying gentle pressure to these zones, offers a pathway to balance, relaxation, and natural healing. When paired with the aromatic support of essential oils, the experience becomes a rich, sensory ritual that soothes both body and mind.

What Is Reflexology?

Reflexology is based on the idea that each area of your foot (or hand) corresponds to an organ, gland, or system in the body. By using specific thumb, finger, or massage tool techniques, a reflexologist can:

  • Promote Circulation: Encouraging blood flow to tired muscles and organs.
  • Balance Energy: Helping clear blockages in what traditional Chinese medicine calls “qi” or life force.
  • Support Relaxation: Activating the nervous system’s parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) response.
  • Encourage Detoxification: Stimulating lymphatic drainage and kidney function.

Many people report feeling deeply relaxed after a reflexology session, often remarking that it feels like a full-body release even though the technique is focused on the feet (or hands).

Why Add Essential Oils?

Essential oils amplify the benefits of reflexology in a few beautiful ways:

  1. Enhanced Relaxation: Oils like lavender or Roman chamomile help quiet the mind and deepen the sense of calm that reflexology invites.
  2. Targeted Support: Specific oils can be chosen to support certain areas—peppermint for headache relief, ginger for digestion, or eucalyptus for respiratory comfort.
  3. Nervous System Balance: Oils such as frankincense or vetiver ground and stabilize, helping the nervous system transition more fully into rest and repair.
  4. Ritual & Intention: Aroma activates our limbic system (the part of the brain tied to emotion), making every touch point feel intentional and sacred.

By combining touch with scent, you’re engaging multiple pathways of healing: physical, energetic, and emotional.

How to Practice Reflexology at Home with Essential Oils

You don’t need fancy tools or a professional massage table to enjoy a simple reflexology session. Here’s a gentle at-home ritual:

  1. Set the Space
    • Find a quiet corner, dim the lights, and play soft music or nature sounds.
    • Diffuse an essential oil blend that promotes relaxation—try lavender + bergamot or a premade “Calm” blend.
  2. Prepare Your Feet
    • Soak your feet in warm (not hot) water for 5–10 minutes. Add a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil to the water.
    • Pat dry with a soft towel and sit comfortably in a supportive chair.
  3. Choose Your Oils
    • For general relaxation: Lavender (nerve-soothing) + Roman Chamomile (calming inflammation).
    • For digestive support: Peppermint (stimulates digestion) + Ginger (warming, anti-nausea).
    • For stress relief: Frankincense (grounding) + Ylang Ylang (balances mood).
    Mix 2–3 drops of your chosen oil(s) with a tablespoon of carrier oil (like fractionated coconut or sweet almond).
  4. Start with Gentle Strokes
    • Warm the blend in your hands. Begin by gently stroking the entire top and bottom of each foot—this invites circulation and a moment to notice any areas of tension.
  5. Work the Reflex Points
    • Use your thumb to apply gentle pressure in small circles to these key zones on the sole of the foot:
      • Ball of the Foot (Chest/Heart Zone): Beneath the toes, along the pad.
      • Arch (Digestive/Abdominal Zone): The middle curve of the sole.
      • Heel (Pelvis/Lower Back Zone): The fleshy part under the heel.
      • Inner Edge (Spine Zone): Run your thumb along the inner arch.
    Spend about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each point, adjusting pressure to what feels supportive (never painful).
  6. Soften and Soothe
    • Finish with soft, sweeping strokes across the entire foot. Take a few moments to simply rest and breathe, allowing the oils and touch to integrate.

The Holistic Benefits You’ll Feel

  • Deep Relaxation: The combination of intentional touch and calming scent helps your nervous system shift into rest mode.
  • Mind-Body Connection: By focusing on your feet, you naturally turn inward, nurturing presence and awareness.
  • Improved Circulation: Stimulating reflex points encourages blood flow, which can ease muscle tension throughout the body.
  • Emotional Release: Essential oils can gently unlock stored emotions—pair that with reflexology’s balancing touch, and you may find a surprising sense of calm.

Even if you only practice once a week, you’ll likely notice incremental shifts: calmer evenings, a lighter mood, and more ease in your body.

A Gentle Invitation

If you’ve never tried reflexology before, start small. Spend just five minutes on each foot, using a favorite essential oil blend. Notice how your mind and body respond. Over time, this ritual can become an anchor—an act of self-care that grounds you back into your own body, your own breath, your own peace.

Have you tried combining reflexology and essential oils before? I’d love to hear what oils you reach for and how your body responds. Share your thoughts below or tag me in your reflexology moments!

Until next time, may you walk softly, breathe deeply, and find calm in every step.

If you would love to be part of my essential oil community and are ready to start using pure essential oils, shop here or email me for a free 1:1 consultation.

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The Power of Scent: My Signature Essential Oil Blend for Mind, Body, and Spirit

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“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” — Caroline Myss

The Power of Scent: My Signature Essential Oil Blend for Mind, Body, and Spirit

For many years, I have worn a signature blend of essential oils that has become more than just a fragrance—it’s a daily ritual, a source of balance, and a reflection of my journey. This unique blend of tangerine, wild orange, patchouli, lavender, and Roman chamomile supports my emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being in profound ways. Each oil contributes its own therapeutic benefits, creating a harmonious synergy that uplifts, grounds, and soothes.

Emotional Benefits

The emotional power of scent is undeniable. Essential oils can directly impact our mood and emotions, providing comfort, inspiration, and peace.

  • Tangerine & Wild Orange – These citrus oils are known for their uplifting properties. They promote joy, creativity, and a sense of positivity, helping to dissolve feelings of stress and stagnation.
  • Patchouli – This deep, earthy scent is grounding and stabilizing. It helps ease anxiety, encourages self-acceptance, and fosters emotional resilience.
  • Lavender – A universal oil for relaxation, lavender calms the nervous system, reduces feelings of tension, and promotes inner peace.
  • Roman Chamomile – Known for its gentle yet powerful soothing effects, Roman chamomile supports emotional balance and helps ease irritability, restlessness, and worry.

Spiritual Benefits

Essential oils have been used for centuries in spiritual practices, meditation, and rituals. My blend enhances my spiritual connection by fostering mindfulness and presence.

  • Citrus oils (Tangerine & Wild Orange) encourage openness and creativity, making them excellent for setting intentions and manifesting positivity.
  • Patchouli is often associated with grounding and connecting to the earth’s energy, deepening meditation and promoting spiritual awareness.
  • Lavender & Roman Chamomile help cultivate a sense of serenity, aiding in deep breathing and enhancing moments of stillness and reflection.

Physical Benefits

Beyond their emotional and spiritual impact, these oils provide tangible physical benefits that contribute to overall well-being.

  • Citrus oils are rich in antioxidants and support immune function while promoting a sense of alertness and mental clarity.
  • Patchouli has anti-inflammatory properties and supports skin health, making it a great addition to a personal fragrance.
  • Lavender & Roman Chamomile are well known for their ability to ease muscle tension, support restful sleep, and promote relaxation.

How I Use My Blend

I apply this blend daily as a personal fragrance, diffusing it in my space, and using it as part of my mindfulness rituals. Whether I’m preparing for a meditation session, winding down for the evening, or simply looking for a boost of joy and balance, this blend is my go-to companion.

Essential oils hold the power to transform our mood, enhance our energy, and create a sense of inner harmony. My signature blend is more than just a scent—it’s a reflection of my journey and a tool for supporting my mind, body, and spirit each day.

Do you have a signature blend that you love? I’d love to hear about the scents that bring you peace and joy.

If you love my content and want more tools for mindfulness & movement, check out my digital products on Buy Me a Coffee! Your support helps me continue creating. 

Lessons Learned

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They say we often learn the most during the hardest times. Having a total hip replacement earlier this year has definitely been packed with lessons. I have grown so much in the last couple months and despite the challenges, I am in some ways very grateful for this opportunity. It is my greatest hope that I will heal and continue to evolve into the best version I can, and also help others along the way.

My top lessons I have learned are:

  • Letting go of the “numbers” and instead listening to my body. For decades I have tracked my steps and calories to point of obsession. Since I am not walking as much, I have realized that the numbers are not a reflection of my worthiness or goodness. I have instead learned that tuning into my body and listening to how she feels instead of relying on an outcome or goal is way more joyful.
  • It is okay to receive. My whole life I have been one that relies solely on myself for success, accomplishment, comfort and most basic needs. I have learned the allowing others to give to me is not an indication of weakness. Instead, I have learned that receiving from others empowers both the giver and the receiver. How blessed I have been to be shown so much love.
  • Living equanimity is attainable. I chose the word equanimity this year and my intention was to remain steady no matter what life handed me. Despite infection, blood clots and many trips to the emergency room I was challenged greatly to remain steady and strong. Having daily gratitude is what has kept me steady. The intention that I set in the beginning of the year remains possible based on how I respond or react to the challenges I face. Remembering that I am in control of my thoughts is what grounds me.
  • Being more balanced. I have a tendency to give 100% to my work. I thrive in being productive and prior to hip replacement had very little time or energy outside of work. I have learned that I can work AND be balanced in other things that bring me joy.

Taking proactive steps every day to remain grateful is the key. The humbling this has taught me will propel me into something great. I encourage you to reflect on your own challenges and the lessons you may have learned through whatever life challenge you go through.

And for the millionth time–never dismiss what someone is going through because of their strength or project your experience onto someone else.

Maybe the greatest lesson is that my life may be different post hip replacement, and that is okay.

Hip Replacement Surgery

/ embracingspirit / 2 Comments

I have learned so much since my hip replacement surgery eight weeks ago. Some of the things I learned from the hip replacement process would be expected and others have been complete surprises.

My hip replacement on February 5th was much harder than I anticipated and it has been a true test of my patience and resiliency, so seeing the little shoots of green make their way through the hard winter soil is a good lesson for me to just stay the course. Sadly the course has made a major detour and I am heading back into surgery for a revision and to remove a large hematoma. I will be working closely with a team of doctors, including infectious disease, to make sure I am healthy and healing.

It is a devastating setback.

The major takeaways that I have learned from hip replacement surgery are:

  • Listen to your body
  • Trust yourself
  • Be patient
  • Fill your days with joy
  • Advocate for yourself

I head back into the throws of recovery from hip revision surgery this week so if it’s in your heart to send me some well wishes, I will gratefully accept them. If you’re curious about the details and would like to hear how the invitation to practice my word for the year — equanimity — is being played out. Take a listen to this.

My YouTube channel has a dedicated playlist of my hip replacement tips and tricks. I will be adding to them as we move along this time. I hope you find them useful.

Follow and subscribe for more goodness!

Movement is Medicine

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We have all heard it before, but I am here to tell you there is so much truth to it. Movement truly is medicine in its most natural form.

For years and years I have struggled with the effects of fibromyalgia and I have learned the more I move, the less I hurt. Many people who live with fibromyalgia—me included—would probably rather lay on a heating bad and hope the exhausting pain goes away, but the reality is movement will in fact make you feel better.

When we live the yoga lifestyle and endure challenges like this it’s imperative to pull our awareness into the sutras, or principles that enhance how we show up in the world. For examples, living with truth means we listen to our bodies and only do what truthfully feels right. It’s about not stealing from ourselves by overdoing (or under doing) it and taking away from healing process. It’s also about non-harming and being intentional with what we say yes to.

Each day since coming home from the hospital I have made a deliberate and mindful choice to move my body. It may be that my six directions of the spine is my max, or a simpler morning sequence, or I might add onto my physical therapy exercises by grabbing my dumbbells for some upper body endorphins.

Besides the intentional ways to get movement, it’s so important to realize the simple everyday tasks that count towards movement! Think back to your first few days home from surgery, or when you were struggling with illness, and the small victories that came with making your own meal or even showering! I am so thrilled that I am not as exhausted showering and getting dressed as I was just a week ago.

All the ways we navigate our day also count as movement!

  • Showering and getting dressed
  • Preparing an easy meal
  • Walking to the mail box
  • Emptying the dishwasher
  • Doing a load of laundry
  • Making the bed
  • Walking around the yard
  • Tidying up your space
  • A short trip to the market

Of course deliberate and intentional movement is important, but during this recovery time be sure to pat yourself on the back for the small everyday tasks that require movement and congratulate yourself on a job well done. Try to incorporate the yoga principles into your daily life and opt for staying aligned with who you are, and not what you happen to be going through.

You CAN do this and you ARE doing amazing.

Watch this—

With over sixteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is a E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Certified Trauma Informed Coach, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.

Tips & Tricks for Mindful Healing

/ embracingspirit / 2 Comments

How can we maintain our strength and equilibrium in the face of our greatest challenge?

When we are going through a health challenge it is so important to remember that mindful healing is a big part of the successful outcome we wish for.

Tips & Tricks to Mindful Healing

Each morning I sit and read something with the intent to be inspired or at the minimum give me something to ponder throughout the day. This morning I reached for my Yoga 365 book and today’s passage was so aligned with a video I created yesterday. In the video I talk about the mindful ways we can bring an added element to our healing process.

For me specifically with my recent hip surgery, I am implementing a few strategies that doctors do not necessarily tell you when you are faced with a major surgery. While I greatly appreciate the practical things that a person needs, it is the nuances of daily living that I believe go quite far in the healing process.

Our mindset will greatly influence our mental health during any sort of healing process, whether it is a surgery, an illness or a major life upheaval.

These six mindful healing tips are perfect for anyone:

Keeping a daily routine.

If you have always been a person who gets up and reads, or meditates, or journals, or prays, then keep doing that. Don’t sacrifice your spiritual practice because your physical body is working hard to improve. Also, if you are a person that gets up every day and puts a little makeup on, then keep doing that. Taking care of yourself and helping yourself to feel somewhat “normal” during this temporary healing time will do wonders for your happiness factor. Finally, getting dressed everyday and getting out of your pajamas (even if you wear comfy house clothes), the simple act of getting up and dressed everyday will send a message to your brain that you are in fact getting better. Plus, you’ll look better and when we look better, we have a tendency to feel better. I am a huge fan of lipstick and mascara and not a single day has passed that I don’t take the five minutes to make myself feel beautiful.

Develop a mindset of gratitude.


Each day I spend a few minutes in deep gratitude for the surgeon and for the implant in my body. Even though I still have a lot of pain and mobility is hard, I am mindful each day to thank my body for accepting this new joint and welcoming it into my body. I am grateful for my cells moving around my body to encourage healing. I am grateful for my strong muscles that are working hard to regain their strength to support the new joint. When we shift our mindset from a pain point to a gratitude point, our entire mental outlook can shift. Sure, it would be easy to sit in my 3 days worn pajamas and mope that my body hasn’t healed as fast as what others have, and I could complain that the surgery must have somehow gone wrong, and my immune system is overactive causing extra pain, OR I could embrace this new challenge through the lens of gratitude and be intentional about loving this new body part.

Speak kindly to yourself and others.

We have all heard that kindness is the path to a better world. Speaking kindly about yourself and to yourself during this time of vulnerability is so important. Falling into the trap of self-pity, or worse self-defeating language will only slow your progress. For the people who are helping you, they are doing their very best to make sure that you are healing and comfortable and if you are a person who is usually very self-sufficient, it can be emotionally draining on your family and friends to see you in a different way. Be kind and thank them for every small thing that they are now doing for you. We have a tendency to be hardest on ourselves and those closest to us so remembering to speak kindly will be a huge asset to you.

Setting up your space.

The doctor will likely give you a few tips to get your home ready for when you come home from surgery–things like remove loose area rugs, move items to waist level, get your medications refilled, have a grabber for picking up dropped items, etc. These are all great and much needed suggestions, however I found a few more things that have helped me feel better. I made sure that the items I use regularly like essential oils, diffusers, herbal teas, supplements, hand lotion, and other self care items are accessible. I created a space in my house specifically for this healing process where I have a comfy chair, a basket of healthy snacks, a stash of essential oils, books, my iPad, beautiful plants, and plenty of chargers within one room. This eliminates the constant need for someone to run get something for me AND it gives my space the homey and comfortable feel. Imagine trying to heal in a cold, dark, sterile, or dingy environment. Yuck. Make your space pretty and just what YOU like because you are gonna be there a while.

You have to have movement.

Any type of movement to get circulation going is so imperative. If you have had hip surgery like me, move your upper body. If you have had shoulder surgery, move your lower body. At the minimum move your spine in all six directions once a day. It literally takes five minutes and will increase circulation, get your chi moving and make you feel good which are all good things when it comes to healing. Movement is medicine.

Start a new hobby.

You might be thinking that a new hobby right now is too overwhelming but the distraction will shift your awareness from hurting to something productive and potentially fun. If you have never been a big reader, now is a great time to download your free library app and start borrowing books, or ask to borrow books from friends. Maybe you have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet. YouTube is filled with tutorials and Amazon delivers yarn and crochet hooks. Perhaps you have been wanting to take up writing your own blog on a topic you are passionate about. I have enjoyed crocheting, jigsaw puzzles on my iPad, digital planning, and making sourdough anything. The joy factor is increases while I am doing those activities and my mind is less focused on hurting.

Mindful Healing

These are easy ways to maintain your strength and equilibrium while faced with one of the hardest things you may ever go through. Mindful healing is something you can do! By redirecting my thoughts, speaking kindly, wearing my favorite shade of lipstick and clean clothes everyday, easy movements, eating healthy organic cashews and sipping tea, AND feeding my brain with wholesome hobbies while being SO grateful, I am on my way!

Best Of

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I have never been one to get wound up over popularity contests and certainly have never put myself in the running for a “best of” anything. Instead, I humbly go about my life doing what I believe I am here to do. I am the least competitive person you might ever meet, unless I am competing with myself. I generally pay very little attention to what other people are doing as it relates to comparing myself to them.

Each year our city offers a “best of” contest. For many this is a time for their businesses to be recognized as a great place to go and the awards are often hung up in establishments.

In my quest for to be more vulnerable this year, I decided to toss my name in the hat, but NOT as a yoga studio. I opted to steer away from the yoga studio category since my small studio hosts just a handful of. classes per month and the rest work is out in the community taking yoga into the world of assisted living settings. When I saw the category of “person who makes a difference” I decided that felt much more aligned with me and I decided to go for it.

When people ask the specifics of what I do, most people are surprised if not shocked that nearly every neighborhood in every community has homes that have been adapted to accommodate sometimes up to eight individuals with disabilities that require 24/7 care. These people might be living with a traumatic brain injury, dementia or other neurological condition that requires constant care.

Within that care system, I am blessed to bring yoga to them. I load up my car with straps, blocks, scarves and other tools and off I go. I currently serve over 50 different homes and see close to 375 people per month who are living in these homes.

Most of the time these residents have minimal outside world connection. They occasionally have a community outing but for the most part, they are isolated and with isolation comes loneliness.

Each day that I get in my car to commute (sometimes 200-300 miles), I am filled with excitement. I get so much from them that I often say that one day I will return to my beginning roots when I taught yoga for free and just do it because it is so rewarding. Thankfully I am very fortunate and blessed that I earn a living doing something that I love so very much.

What I do not love is the lack of awareness the world has for people who could be your neighbors. The lack of neighborly love and a desire to engage with others is maddening. Most of the homes that I visit have never met their neighbors. Imagine how fulfilled these people might be if you took your passion or hobby or gift and shared it with them? What if more people included them in the neighborhood cookie exchange or even an email list to offer the occasional help? Can you imagine the mutual joy that would come by sharing an audio book or a game of cards?

I want people to realize that as we all age there is a likelihood we will one day be having the same lonely experience in the last chapter of our lives. How can we as a world make a difference?

This is not about ME being the best of anything. This is about the BEST people I get to serve each day.

I want THEIR stories to be known. Please consider voting for me so that as the awareness grows on the lives living in assisted living, perhaps more people will choose to serve them.

VOTE HERE

**go to city life and scroll to “person making a difference” find my name (Stacie Wyatt, Embracing Spirit Yoga)

About Stacie

Stacie believes that it is her life purpose to share the gift of Yoga with anyone who is willing to say yes. In addition to raising a family and being an advocate for those with disabilities, Stacie is founder of Embracing Spirit Yoga which specializes in bringing adaptive Yoga into community centers and rehabilitation clinics. Bringing her depth of compassion to the mat–or the chair–she offers students the opportunity to grow as an individual in all aspects of their life. She is currently contracted in over 50 assisted living settings.

With over sixteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is an E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.

Stacie brings her personal life experience of raising a daughter with a disability and over 12 years working in special education to her everyday Yoga classes making them accessible and enjoyable for all abilities.

In addition to teaching classes at a variety of local centers and health clubs, Stacie also continues to offer Yoga and Wellness coaching individually to those seeking private sessions.

Being Honest

/ embracingspirit / 6 Comments

is being honest
about
my pain
that
makes me invincible.

Nayyirah Waheed

Most times when we do experiences pain, we deny it for a multitude of reasons. In my case I used to deny my pain so that I was always viewed as strong. I am still not super open about my personal pain but I am realizing more and more that may not be the way. Finding fellowship with others can add value to our lives and sometimes it’s nice to not feel alone.

Usually when we talk about pain, we talk about how much pain impacts us negatively. I mean, there is truth in that. Typically when we are experiencing pain, either emotional pain or physical pain, it doesn’t lend itself to creating the best life. And feeling weak is also not a fun feeling and sadly, it usually goes hand in hand with pain.

Over the years I have been on both sides of that spectrum. I have felt deep, emotional pain and deep loss and I have endured incredible physical pain that few really know about. I have minimized and usually have kept quiet about much of my pain. I have also created an amazing life and career that I believe would not have evolved without pain.

Certainly, at times I wish I didn’t have pain.

However for the most part, the pain that I have endured in my adult life has been nothing short of fuel to help me become the best that I can be.

Some of my first pain came when I realized that my beautiful daughter, who I dreamt of having a normal relationship with, (and doing all the things moms and daughters do), was born disabled. When realizing I would not be having those type of experiences with her, I was angry. I was deeply saddened and felt incredibly alone. I felt cheated and that life was unfair. I lived in an area of town that had a relatively upscale school system where the focus was on perfection, and her being different did not lend itself to being included. While other little girls were being invited to birthday parties, my little girl was being shunned, and people were leading their children away from her because she was different. Around the same time, this was happening, my marriage was falling apart, and soon I was a single mom with three kids and no job. Having opted to have children instead of going to college, I didn’t have many skills, other than being an incredible advocate for my daughter. I could’ve chosen to wallow in the crappy cards that I was dealt, and sit in sorrow for the loneliness and view what seemed like an insurmountable mountain that I was faced to climb all alone. Or, I could tighten up my hiking boots and get it done.

Long after my divorce when my children’s father died, I went through a similar feeling of isolation and loneliness. Even though I was in a supportive relationship at that time, his death put any last hope that I was not going to be the only parent that my children had. There was no longer any far fetched wish that he would decide one day to be involved.

A couple of marriages could be seen as failures, or they could be seen as amazing opportunities to see my part in the dysfunction of relationships, and begin to do differently. The breakups were grueling and I probably would still have pain if I chose to be the victim in them. Sure, I could give you a laundry list of all the things that they did wrong, but that would be another version of the same story where pain isn’t useful. Instead I learned to look at my part on the dysfunction and my own abandonment and anger issues. I chose to resolve the deep wounds and allow them to scar over.

I’ve lived with chronic pain for nearly 25 years. I first began to see a pain management specialist to manage my ongoing pain all the way back in 2007. At the same time, I was developing a deep love affair with Yoga. While I was hoping that the Yoga practice itself would help me manage my pain, and it has in many ways, it wasn’t the end all. Many failed surgeries and many failed attempts to reduce my pain could easily cause me to break. I could be sitting at home and complaining about what my body cannot do anymore, or I could be taking as many walks a day that I have time for while feeling the sun on my face and the breeze on my skin and feeling completely and totally alive. I could spend my days complaining about my pain or I could spend my days having compassion for those who also have pain. I could use my pain as an attention seeking tool to have people feel sorry for me, or I could use my pain in a humble way to inspire people to live their best life.

You see, we all have pain. And the way that you and I handle pain is individual. This isn’t a blast on those who maybe don’t see through the same lens that I do. I just know that my pain is what inspires me to get up every day and be the best I can for my students, my kids, those who I love, and mostly for myself.

One thing that I do know for certain is this – my experience with pain has shown me just how strong I really am. It is showing me how adaptable and innovative I am. It has shown me the very essence of my spirit. Had I not experienced the pain, I may not have ever witnessed this amazing woman who writes this post. Without becoming this amazing woman, I would not developed beautiful connections in the community where I could use the pain that I once experienced with my daughter to be an advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. I would not be able to sit with someone else’s physical pain because I wouldn’t understand it if I didn’t have my own.

Pain is not the enemy here. Pain is actually the gift.

My pain has made me invincible.

Here is how I used pain to turn it into some useful in my life:

  • I let go of expectations of others
  • I learned to love myself
  • I made time for me
  • I chose me
  • I let go of people who did not align with my greatest potential
  • I released negativity in my life
  • I surrounded myself with love
  • I began to pay attention to my thoughts, words and actions
  • I stopped complaining and gossiping
  • I let go of competition with others
  • I accepted myself and the choices I had previously made
  • I practiced daily gratitude which made me actively seek out good in my life
  • I forgave others and myself
  • I stopped doubting myself

Not sure where to start? I would begin by listening to the thoughts you have and the words you speak, especially about yourself. You might just see that shifting those two things to something more loving with start the process.

You got this!

Resistance, Surrender, Peace

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About eighteen years ago I was referred to rheumatology for a positive antibody test result. What came next, and over a series of extensive blood work and discussions, was that I had several autoimmune diseases and needed to start medication. This was long before I was an advocate for myself or was even aware that I had choices when it came to what I put in my body. So I started the medications with zero research, zero questioning and zero information.

I stopped them as quickly as I started them.

Something in me just knew that it wasn’t the right time for me. It was during this season of my life that I was also beginning what I refer to as my “wake up”. A period where I was moving from being an angry, heavy toxic woman to someone who lived peacefully and in alignment with her greatest vision. I embarked on a journey of wellness that took me from over 200 pounds to a mere 145 pounds, but more than the weight it allowed me to find my soul and live in a way that was perfectly fulfilling in every aspect.

After stopping the medication, I went full on resistance to anything my rheumatology doctor had to say. Every visit was a heated battle of wills, until one day when she basically fired me as her patient. I went a year or so before I finally chose to drag my little tail between my legs to see her, and asked for a chance to start over. We talked about diet, herbs and exercise and although she was not a huge believer in any of it playing a large role in auto-immune disease (AID), she agreed to listen to me rant about how I believed that my extreme exercise habits and strict diet was keeping my symptoms away. Were they, or was I so resistant to the medications that I refused to acknowledge the pain I was really experiencing day after day?

My every-three-month visits and lab work came and went for many years and I was determined to have a lifestyle that was everything living with AID isn’t–active, vibrant, and full of living.

My resistance began to shift into surrender about five years ago when I was starting to have more and more periods of pain and fatigue. I told my rheumo that I would trust her to tell me if my body was taking a toll and when it is really time to start medications, not just based on a positive blood test. She agreed to watch and wait. I agreed to finally trust her expertise. I surrendered to the idea that I would likely have to start mediations if I wanted to keep my active life, and my sanity. I was by no means ready to start the medication, but I surrendered to the inevitable time that it would be coming.

The time has come. My body needs the help of medication to reduce the amount of flare ups that I experience. I walked into her office last week in total peace for the decision. The day I took the first dose, I rode my bike for miles and miles and marveled at the young woman who had so much well -served stubbornness and the need to do it her own way for over a decade. I watched in my mind how she matured into a common sense surrender of what IS, and then the wise woman who has softened into peace.

I wouldn’t trade a second of my seasons and am definitely proud of how I have handled the huge decision to know when. Believe me when I say I wanted essential oils and meditation to be enough, but I am the first to say for me, it isn’t enough. Sure, those things are my #1 and #2 choice for anything going on in my life (physically, emotionally or mentally), but I also realize that there is a time when western and eastern meet and good things happen. The oils and holistic life is one I will never trade, but I am proud of knowing myself enough to trust when something else can be added to make my life even better.

Resistance served me well. Surrender allowed me the grace to know. And, peace welcomed me into her arms.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Crystals for Anxiety

/ embracingspirit / Leave a comment

Maybe it’s been an incredibly busy week, coupled with the unknown of the future and the overload of technology this week, or maybe it was the cortisone shot in my foot that has been ramping me up, but either way I have been dealing with anxiety lately.

For 18 years I have been wearing and using crystals for a variety of reasons and yesterday it struck me that since being home, I haven’t been wearing my usual crystal jewelry or putting them in my pocket. Crazy, right?

I immediately put on my rose quartz necklace and my moonstone pendant. I added a Labradorite bracelet and I had a much better day.

Check out the benefits.

Rose Quartz—opens the heart, promotes self-love, and blocks negativity

Moonstone—balances emotions, reduces anxious feelings, cools the mind

Labradorite—relieves anxiety and brain stress, strengthens the will

If you’d like some encouragement and guidance on using crystals, send me a message. I’d be glad to help…and I have a large stash I’d be happy to share.?