​Did you take that risk you’ve been dreaming of?
Did you climb your mountain and take a peek at the other side?
Did you go after that job promotion with honor and integrity?
Did you start a new career or learn a new skill?
Did you create a new program, platform, opportunity for yourself and others?
Did you make good on the promise to yourself to get more sleep and relax more?
Did you spend more time with your family and friends and learn the benefits of quality downtime?
Did you learn how to set boundaries and be clear on your intentions with yourself and others?
Did you spend a few minutes each day in quiet, self-reflection?
Did you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for your life?
Did you explore practicing more compassion and less judgement of yourself and others?
Did you help your neighbor out?
Did you practice accepting other opinions and beliefs and not creating more conflict?
Did you practice the golden rule?
Did you commit to being more mindful at work and at home and not be so reactive?
Did you learn how to stress less and appreciate more?
Did you learn that there is no such thing as perfectionism and doing your best was always good enough?
Did you give yourself permission to laugh, play and enjoy the simple things with a sense of curiosity and wonder?
Did you learn more about your kids and partner and what motivates them?
Did you limit your electronics usage and practice being more present in the company of others?
Did you read a good book?
Did you explore more time in nature?
Did you move your body more?
Did you make a commitment to your body to nourish it more with good, healthy, energetically charged foods?
Did you limit your time spent on violent, disturbing, fear inducing television?
Did you spend more time with things that fill your mind with good thoughts?
Did you show gratitude for all the little things in your daily life?
Did you reflect on all the things you had taken for granted?

Did you step outside your comfort zone this year and take a chance at truly living life?
 
For many of us, 2020 has been a year of great challenges. Some of us were forced to make big changes while others had the opportunity to identify and change what isn’t working in our lives. When we see that life isn’t happening to us but rather it’s happening for us, we can begin to grow and create on a higher level.  You may only be taking baby steps at first but there is a growing momentum that if you catch the wave, it will take you on the ride you have been waiting for all this time. Don’t waste it. Take this time to awaken to the deeper part of your compassionate, loving, creative self that is waiting to be explored!

Peace, love and pear!
Christine Porter

I’ve heard more and more people toss around the phrase “conspiracy theories” but aren’t they just different viewpoints? When did we learn that was unacceptable or bad for our society? Why is there so much anger towards people who disagree with our views?
 
We all have free will to explore what moves us. We are unique and come from different backgrounds with different life circumstances that mold us into who we are today. The only thing I hope for now, in this time of Great Awakening - our new world where everything’s turned upside down so we can expose what is no longer working for humanity- is not to contribute to the divisiveness and fight to try and change someone else's mind into believing what I believe. I am learning to find the patience, compassion and understanding to accept, not be afraid or demonize someone for thinking differently.
 
Different viewpoints, religious affiliations, cultural and political beliefs, these are what makes us unique as individuals. It fosters an open society. You don’t have to agree with people at all times, but to embrace this belief of individual diversity is to show compassion, respect and love for all of mankind.

When we rush to judgement and become highly reactive, whether in the boardroom at work, social media or at the family dinner table, our ego is taking over. The ego is that part inside of us that likes to keep us in fear and doubt, keep us small and unworthy and when things are going right, tries to creep in with stories of fear and failure. As a student and a teacher in the practice of Mindfulness and Being Present, I've explored the art of learning to slow down my reactivity, take a pause, witness what is rising within myself. The stronger the reaction, the bigger the wound.

Ask yourself, if in this moment you are trying to make others wrong in an effort to make yourself feel safe and right? Is this person or group threatening my belief systems? What is causing this reaction? Am I bringing a past story or trauma into this moment?  It is at this point you can begin to become more conscious and aware of your own motivations and trigger points and make better decisions as to how to proceed. The first step is awareness and acceptance for what is.
 
People and circumstances challenge us. You don’t need to, nor will you always agree. It’s a part of life and the human experience. To try and avoid this or fight to change it, is futile and frustrating. The most complicated, frustrating, sad and disappointing experiences don’t happen to us, they happen for us. It’s the way we learn about ourselves and the world around us.
 
Share your opinions without aggression. Share your facts and see if that person is open to exploring. Try not to go to battle. Make the assumption that we are all doing the best we can and look at this time as an experiment in a deeper consciousness rising.
 
Share this post if you agree with What We Hold True.

Peace, love and pear!
​Christine Porter
 

Every minute of every day we tell ourselves a story. Those stories can be uplifting and affirming or they can be self-defeating and negative. Are you even aware of your stories?  When you realize that your life is the outer reflection of those little stories, you will begin to choose your stories wisely. The first step is to become aware.
 
One morning I woke up and decided to give myself a 30-day meditation challenge. I wasn’t exactly sure how I would begin my meditation practice or how I would sit still for even five minutes every day but I was very determined to try. I was so sick and tired of feeling bad and not having a deep understanding of why. The same stories kept playing over and over again in my head. I felt stressed and anxious much of the time and wasn’t even sure why.
 
I started waking up a little earlier than usual and went and sat in my cozy chair and closed my eyes. I tried silent, deep breathing meditation one day. Another day, I tried a guided meditation. I fell in love with listening to high frequency music (528 Hz) on YouTube and felt myself drifting into a deeper place. For those of you who may not be familiar with this high frequency music, it is “healing” type of music that soothes and can bring about positive transformation.

Once I faced my fear, sat quietly on a regular basis and began listening to my intuition, that little voice inside me that was begging to be heard, I found the right path I needed to follow at this point in my life. It helped me discover a deeper part of myself that had been hiding in all the chaos of my life.
 
When I learned there is no right or wrong way to meditate, a whole new world opened up. The most important thing to do is get still. That’s it. Simply get still. Finding the way to quieting your mind comes with time. The notion of erasing all thoughts and clearing your mind is not really achievable for many of us – unless of course you are a Tibetan monk living in a monastery. As thoughts enter your mind while meditating, you will begin to see what is pressing on your mind and what might need attention in your life. Even the most painful ones hold so much important information for us. It helps to acknowledge, reflect and recognize the feelings and thoughts so we can make better, more informed decisions on what is best for healing ourselves. They are the road maps for our lives. Ignoring or denying them usually leads to suffering in the long term.

There are so many expectations for us first-time meditators and it rarely goes the way we had planned or hoped for. Try not to be discouraged or frustrated but find the beauty and excitement in the thoughts, feelings, memories and fantasy’s that are jumping around your mind, wanting attention. All are a part of who you are and they hold great importance, no judgement here. To be present or mindful is to bear witness to your thoughts and emotions and not cover them up or ignore them with frenetic activity.
 
Do you know what motivates you now? What you crave and need to feel more settled in life? What makes you smile and feel like you’re creating something special for yourself and others? What’s your true purpose or that special gift you have? Where do you want to be a year from now or even five years from now? What’s the next step? Do you know? That’s what meditation offers you on a deep conscious level; insight into your soul, your life, your purpose, your hopes and dreams.

What if you just sat in a quiet space for a few minutes and began to take notice of your thoughts as they enter your mind? What if you became the silent observer and notice what arises with each deep breath you inhale? Acknowledge, review, accept and bless it. Releasing the ego side of ourselves that judges and criticizes. Release the urge to be the perfect meditator, to do it right. Calming the “monkey mind,” that incessant chatter we all hear and starting to focus on the breath and asking life’s big questions; Who am I? Why am I here? What is it I’m being called to do with my life? How may I give back? Asking these questions of myself helped me get a clearer picture of my life and how I viewed the world. It doesn’t always happen overnight and in the beginning, it can feel really uncomfortable to be alone with that deeper part of ourselves. Turn off your computer and smart phone. Just sit quietly. Don’t worry about the outcome. Let go of the attachment of how it will get done and just set your intention to try. And try again.

We all deserve to be heard and seen. It only can happen when we are ready to show up for our lives. How to do this? Stop and sit in the stillness. Ask the big questions. Listen for the answers and be witness to what comes up. The Wisdom of You, that power place that is deep inside is begging to be heard. Go and follow those big dreams that lie inside of you. I will be by your side cheering you on!

My 30-Day Awareness Meditation Challenge:
One of the most gentle and approachable forms for a beginner is mindfulness meditation. The object is to observe the wandering thoughts as they drift through your mind. The intention is not to get too involved with the thoughts or judge them but simply be aware of them, let them pass and return to your breath. You can also practice a mantra you say each time your thoughts come up in an effort to refocus your mind. A mantra may be as simple as repeating; all is well or so it is.

​Set a timer for 5 minutes.
1. Sit comfortably in a chair, on the floor or a cushion. Try not to lay down, chances are you will fall asleep.
2. Close your eyes gently. Soften your mouth and make sure not to clench your teeth.
3. Make no effort to control your breath, just breathe naturally and fully, expanding your stomach with each inhale. Exhale fully through your nose.
4. Focus your attention on your breath, observe how your body feels. Breath into the tight areas and sink deeper into letting go of any areas that feel restricted.
5. If your mind wanders, observe your thoughts and release them by returning your focus back on your breath.
Repeat this meditation each morning before you start your day or in the evening before bed for a full 15 minutes. Increase your meditation time as you become more comfortable with your practice.

Peace, love and pear!
Christine Porter

* These and many other "big life" questions come from my Soulful Connections card deck. All 120 questions are designed to help you explore and discover your power and purpose.