Move Over Monsters, There's Something Meaner

As a kid, I not only believed in monsters, but I SAW them. They were each a different color; fluorescent red, green, blue... I clearly remember staring at them with the widest eyes. They were all lined up like an army of Crayola crayons.

With taunting laughter they reminded me of my worst fears…

“You're not safe”
“You don't fit into this world.”
“You aren't protected.”

They were cartoonish, and as I look back, they didn’t really look scary so much as they reminded me of my insecurities.

By the time I was in kindergarten, I had already absorbed some "monstrous" core beliefs that made me feel uneasy in my own skin. These beliefs were so cemented to my mind, I didn’t question them. I didn’t even know they were THERE. I just went through the motions of my life… while those meddling beliefs ran the show!

“You have many limitations.”
“There isn’t enough.”
“Love is conditional.”

As a teen, I stopped seeing monsters at night. But they definitely didn’t go away. They just took a different form – nightmares, anxiety, even flashes of existential despair. I still believed it was possible to feel truly joyful. I didn’t know how I would get there, but I had to find a way.

As I moved through adulthood, I found more happiness and healing, but there was still a major piece missing. I still hadn’t clued in on the dozen or so negative core beliefs were still sabotaging my best intended plans. No matter how hard I worked and how much I tried to fix things, when I had a negative core belief about it, my efforts were trumped.

Then, when I was 31, I met a woman who taught me about core beliefs for the very first time. She schooled me on how disruptive they can be. I went on to learn where they hide and how to find them! I began to understand their nature and loosen them up inside my own mind so they could be replaced with beliefs that made my life naturally flow better…and feel better.

“I'm safe and secure always.”
“I have a purpose and a place in this world.”
“I'm always protected.”
“Life’s possibilities are limitless.”
“I am prosperous and abundant.”
“I give and receive unconditional love.”

My sense is that at one time or another, every one of us has core belief monsters that silently haunt us. Whether it be beliefs we are not good enough, are not lovable, are not overflowing with prosperity, or are not vibrantly healthy, the monsters lurk.

Do you believe you were born to be powerful and monster-free? I think our monsters are just here to make us stand up and see how powerful WE really are. And a major part of becoming powerful is having POSITIVE core beliefs.

What monstrous core beliefs are spooking you from the inside out? With a little help, your negative core beliefs can be identified and changed out as systematically as a flat tire, using the assistance of your own inner Spirit and intuition!

So the next time you feel yourself getting afraid or tripped up by self-sabotage, just say, "move over monsters, there’s something meaner!" and begin replacing those pesky core beliefs with notions that jet you towards your greatest potential possible - inner peace and joy!

www.jennaforrest.com

Feeling stuck on an issue that's not getting resolved? Book a coaching session with Jenna. Sessions are done by phone (U.S. and Canada), video conference (international) or in person (Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.)

Please call 919-341-7723 or email to ask any questions or to reserve your appointment.

Say Goodbye to Mosquitoes the Natural Way

A Summer Tip for Environmentally Sensitive Skin

Let’s face it, the only thing worse than getting bitten by mosquitoes is putting on bug spray that doesn't feel that safe to your health.

I recently discovered a great natural alternative that works well: Tiger Balm.

Tiger Balm, found in drugstores near the muscle relaxers, works great for arthritis and rheumatism, muscle and joint pains, neck and back pain, tired feet, sprains, massages, and a warm up rub prior to exercising. But now another claim can be added to that list. This natural blend of essential oils like camphor, menthol, and clove bud oil keep the mosquitoes away in a similar way to citronella candles.

How to use it:
Tiger Balm comes in a tiny package, but you'll be amazed by how long it lasts. A little goes a very long way. Dabbing it on your ankles, wrists, neck, and inner elbows before going outside should keep mosquitoes away from your entire body. And it stops the itching from bites you may already have, too!

If you don't have Tiger Balm on hand, other menthol/camphor rubs and ointments like Vick's VapoRub and Watkins Menthol Camphor Ointment will work just as well.

Remember to Dance...Wherever You Happen to Be!

The Transformative Power of Simple Observation

Sometimes a simple observation technique can deliver the greatest feeling of relief from any stress, worry or unhappiness that you may be experiencing. It can also offer some clarity you are looking for if faced with an important decision. You can try this technique anytime of day, whenever you think of it:

Look around at your life and see everything you do and feel, every encounter you have, as if it is part of a theatrical play that you are starring in. Take some time to observe your set, performances, dialogue, cast and audience.

What is happening?
What audience is the play written for?
What is the setting of the stage?

As you see your life from the outside, be sure to look at it without analyzing anything or judging it. Just have some curiosity and enjoy the new perspective.

You might even see how the current performance of your life was originally created. And how your lines of dialogue fit in to make the whole show happen.

Now, just as you are really seeing your life like you've never seen it before, imagine that you turn around and somebody hands you a certificate of ownership over the entire production. That means you can come in anytime to be the director and make changes to the performance, the set, the music, the cast, the audience, the venue, etc.

This piece of paper helps you realize that you are never stuck with the same old script that just repeats. And it also reminds you that you have many, many choices inside any given situation. For example, you may be wanting to quit the play, curse the set, or ditch the leading man or lady. But what if you knew you had the power to re-script the production entirely? What would you create?

This observation technique should leave you feeling empowered, positive and creative. You are now aware that you are free to see your state of worry, indecision or unhappiness from a different, perhaps clearer, perspective. And you can take your life under your own direction.

Happily, there's nothing more you really need to do. Developing this "observation" perspective is powerful enough that the your next choices will happen naturally, with more wisdom and deeper understanding.

There is nothing simpler or more powerful than observing your own life. The greater levels of awareness that you gain by doing this will naturally translate to higher levels of inner peace and happiness.

Visit me online at www.jennaforrest.com.