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5 Ways to Prevent Burnout

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It’s so easy to make up excuses when it comes to self-care. You could spend your whole day thinking about your desire to take it easy, or the need for a break, but you keep putting it off, putting everything and everyone else first. The next thing you know it, you’re running on empty, tired and run down. You feel like you’ve been here before… well… because you have.

What’s the pattern here? Where are you negotiating with your self about your true needs? Are you allowing others to run your day, job, schedule?

There’s always a way to find time to tend to the self. We need to put our self first or we will inevitably face burn out.

I have encountered burn out more times than I am willing to admit along my path. I get better at recognizing the signs now. The journey is always coming home to the self with love and care.

Some signs you may be on the verge of burn-out.

  • Irritability
  • Anxiousness
  • Poor sleep
  • Lack of concentration, motivation, and inspiration
  • Sadness
  • Feelings of overwhelm
  • Body imbalances (Aches, injuries, anything that starts to flare up and effects your physical health. As always, consult your doctor if there is a concern!)

 

There is always something to learn from your moments of imbalance. 

“If you wait until you are sick before you begin to try to focus more positively, it is much harder than if you begin to tell the story of Well-Being from your place of feeling good…but, in any case, your new story will, in time, bring you different results. That which is like unto itself, is drawn – so tell the story you want to live and you will eventually live it.” -Abraham Hicks

Life is a journey. A  journey that I, for one, would not ever want to miss. Being out of balance can be a delight because I am then reminded to revise my thoughts and actions to live in a better way.

5 Ways to Prevent Burnout

1. Self Care: Spend time in nature, do an Ayurvedic or superfoods cleanse (Always consult with your doctor before making radical changes to your diet, especially when there are underlying medical conditions) take slow walks, take a nap, deeper breaths, do more yoga, do less talking, read a book, be still, get more massages, laugh more, love more, worry less.

 

 

2. Positive Thinking: Shift your negative thoughts to thoughts of gratitude and appreciation. It can make all the difference. Perception is everything. You can think your way into a prison or you can think your way into freedom. Which do you choose? I love the poem “All the Hemispehres,”  by Hafez as he illustrates it so well…

All the Hemispheres

Leave the familiar for a while.
Let your senses and bodies stretch out

Like a welcomed season
Onto the meadows and shores and hills.

Open up to the Roof.
Make a new water-mark on your excitement
And love.

Like a blooming night flower,
Bestow your vital fragrance of happiness
And giving
Upon our intimate assembly.

Change rooms in your mind for a day.

All the hemispheres in existence
Lie beside an equator
In your heart.

Greet Yourself
In your thousand other forms
As you mount the hidden tide and travel
Back home.

All the hemispheres in heaven
Are sitting around a fire
Chatting

While stitching themselves together
Into the Great Circle inside of
You. ~ Hafez

3.Vacation: Even if it’s a couple of days, take time to respite.

A pause from your daily routine is necessary to reset and regain inspiration. If you simply can’t make time for a mini respite this month, ask yourself what sort of things you would be doing on that retreat. Would it be a spa day? A long walk? A healthy meal with wonderful company? I asked myself this a couple of years ago and started to implement vacation like practices in my day to day life by getting regular acupuncture, massages, taking long baths, electronics fasting, and long walks in nature, and it has made all the difference. If you are looking to schedule f a 9 day relaxing journey this September 12-20, 2020, Join me in Bali for a decadent Yoga & Meditation Escape. 

 

 4. Clear your schedule:

Make a list of everything you’re investing your energy in.

Also, know that it’s ok to say NO to that dinner party on Thursday night if you don’t really want to go. Allow your calendar to have to space to breathe. Some of the best experiences I have ever had were when I had not scheduled them. They happened because I created space for The Universe to deliver an experience. Now ask yourself: If I only had 6 months to live, what would I be doing? Gaining perspective on what truly matters will help you, overtime, refine your priorities. If there are things you can immediately shift and let go of, ask yourself: Why am I holding on to this? If it’s a career shift or something that may take time to shift, ask the Universe to provide you with clarity on how to make this attainable. Make a list of tiny steps you can take daily towards this great vision. In the mean time, know that everything you are doing is contributing to the bigger picture.

5. Receive:

A lot of really talented, genuinely good, capable people can have one fault.

They are great at creatingopportunities, getting things done, and taking care of others. However, when it comes to receiving, they have a major block. If that’s you… listen. From my own experience here. It takes a village. It just does. Every single person you see out there thriving has a team. Allow yourself to receive support and love from your community. Allow yourself to receive love and support from your Creator. The Universe yearns to provide for you. It will come in many forms when you allow it to come in. Practicing receiving. The next time someone gives you a compliment, say, “Thank you,” and breathe that compliment in. The next time someone wants to help you with your groceries to your car say, “Ok.” Allow. You deserve support, everyone does. The smallest acts of allowing can make huge differences in your life.

 

Take care of yourself. Remember that self-care should be your 1st priority. Your capacity to give will increase naturally when you give yourself the LOVE that you so deserve.

If you are looking for a lifestyle change and need support, I work 1 on 1 with people to help you improve balance and joy in any area of your life. My modalities include an entire lifestyle reboot using monthly sessions and remote energy work which are specifically designed to help you at the level of your needs. No two sessions are the same. Whether you are looking for guidance professionally, in your health, or otherwise, book in with me for a free 15 minute Integrative Lifestyle Coaching consult now.

Founder of Explorations of Self

Mom, Yogini, Lover of Life

#Godisgoodallthetime

 

 

A Shamanic Guide to January 2020’s Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

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This Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is re-calibrating and uplifting our heart chakra center as it is in the sun sign of Cancer which governs this energy center & our emotional body.

I had some lucid dreams as a child as well; dreams that I remember to this day, but ever since I started a daily meditation practice, my dreams have become incredibly vivid, especially around the New and Full Moon.

Dreaming led me on the path of Shamanism around the same time I started meditation, where I discovered, “Shamanic Dreaming.”

Tribal shamans took dreams seriously, working with their own dreams as well as those reported by members of their tribes. Various tribes interpreted dreams differently; for members of the Mohave tribe, dreams were sources of knowledge and messages from the Great Spirit, while the Iroquois Indians saw dreams as “wishes of the soul.” ~Corrosion Doctors

I have been led through a maze of Shamanic rituals from various traditions ever since I started really paying attention to my Full Moon dreams. Perhaps you have, too. These dreams hold great messages. 

I had synchronicities surrounding this heart dream the day of the dream and the day after in my waking reality. I later found out that the sign of Cancer is all about the heart chakra.My dream this month was all about the heart. No surprise, right? Yet, I am always surprised, because I get so excited about these miracles!

Experiences like this happen to me all the time. They are so common for me these days that I don’t even question it anymore. They are experiences that hold so much wisdom. I pay attention. I trust that the Universe is gently guiding me in all moments, and the sooner I pay attention, the more joy I will experience in life.

The moon cycles work closely with Spirit to guide us into a deeper awareness of our I Am Presence.

Ascended Master Saint Germain, believed by those adherent to the Ascended Master Teachings to have previously been embodied as Plato, Proclus, Roger Bacon, Francis Bacon, and numerous others, was quoted as saying:

“When one individualizes within the Absolute, All-Pervading Life, he chooses of his own free will to become an intensified individual focus of Self-Conscious Intelligence. He is the conscious director of his future activities. Thus, having once made his choice, he is the only one who can fulfill that Destiny — which is not inflexible circumstance but a definitely designed Plan of Perfection.” [13] When You, the ‘Mighty I AM Presence,’ will to come forth into an Individualized Focus of Conscious Dominion and use the Creative Word, ‘I AM,’ Your First Individual Activity is the Formation of a Flame. Then you, the ‘Individualized Focus’ of the ‘Mighty I AM Presence,’ begin your Dynamic Expression of Life. This Activity, We term Self-consciousness, meaning the Individual who is conscious of his Source and Perfection of Life, expressing through himself.” [1] (Source)

The moon helps us to shed old patterns or belief systems that can make us feel disconnected from our Higher Self or I Am Presence. Remember that you are never truly disconnected from this Loving Presence. However, there are ways to attune your physical and mental body to become more and more in alignment with your divinity. This is why we are here! To tune into our Divinity and discover + share it with the world in our unique chasm.

Shamanic practices are an integral part of my personal healing practices to this day. Shamanic rituals that require nothing more than breath and awarenesses of the power that is pouring out of us at any given moment.

You are connecting to your inner shaman anytime you connect to the unseen realms of this Universe through presence of your breath, dreams, energies, elements in nature, and so on.

The healing of this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is individualized for each of us. How can you know what The Universe is trying to tell you during this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse ?

Here are 3 steps to creating your own Shamanic Full Moon Ritual:

  1. Journal Your Dreams: Ask Divine to lovingly guide you in your dreams at the end of each day. Pay attention to your dreams all month long. Get a dream journal if you don’t have one already. Start writing down your dreams first thing in the morning. If you have a meditation practice you may be pleasantly surprised that dream recall may start to happen all throughout your day. As soon as a memory of your dream pops up, write it down. Take it as a message that you are meant to remember this. Don’t over analyze your dream, but DO write down what they mean to you. This will come in handy when designing your Full Moon Ritual.
  2. Self Care: What self-care regimes make you feel amazing? Is it a bath? Essential oils? Fresh pressed juice? Yoga? Dance? Massage? A walk in nature? All of these things? Great! The Full Moon energies are typically amplified 4 days before and 4 days after the Full Moon date. In the days leading up to and following the Full Moon, choose 1 or 2 of these self-care rituals and write them down in your planner. Create time for these as these are very important for your unique ritual. Taking care of our physical and emotional body is an important way to clear out psychic debris so that you can feel the PRESENCE of Your Creator.
  3. Get into the Receptive State: The Universe is always sending us loving guidance and wisdom!!! On the day of the Full Moon, thank The Universe for revealing potent wisdom for your loving benefit at this powerful time. Ask that you be shown clarity about your dreams and any other loving knowledge that will help you step into your Divine Purpose and Align with all of the LOVE that IS during this Full Moon ritual. Take a few moments in silence to listen to The Universe. Write down what is shared. Do not fret if you don’t get a sense for what it is. Sometimes God will show up through other people through out the day, a song, a certain quote that pops out to you while you are reading your favorite blog. Pay attention throughout your day with a soft, receptive, and playful energy. Trust the guidance that you are being given!!

These 3 simple steps will help you embody you practice your own unique Full Moon ritual. It doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else but you, just go with your inner LOVING guidance and more will be revealed!

–

For example:

My dreams have been about relationships, specifically close relationships, and my heart. While noting this, I have been preparing my body and mind temple to receive the healing with daily self care rituals in the days leading up to the full moon. I have been praying and meditating every morning, doing at least an hour of yoga every day, and taking candle lit, essential oil infused, bubble baths at night. I have been asking God to reveal to me the wisdom being shared in my dreams and asking how I can step into full alignment of my Divine Purpose during my morning prayer and meditation. The reveal? I have been gracefully led to an abundance ritual that involves journaling, affirmations, and service. I have had 2 past students reach out to me seemingly random with potent information for me. Both of them said that I have been on their mind a lot lately, and one even had a vivid Shamanic dream about me. She called it a, “Manifestation Dream,” and had specific advice for me to apply to my business. This excites me!!! That’s how you know it is meant for YOU! Does it excite you? Does it make you joy-filled and inspired? That’s God speaking to you. That’s your Full Moon Ritual.

Remember, the more consistent you are with daily prayer and meditation, the more you open yourself up to miracles from The Universe.

The Universe is always sending us LOVE and guidance. Are you paying attention?

Do you want more guidance on how to step into your power in a whole new way and live in alignment with your Divine Life Purpose? If you are seeking guidance in spirituality, starting our up-leveling your passion project & business, or desire to get in peak mind/body shape, email me at Explorationsofself@gmail.com or go here to learn more!

With much love and light on your journey during this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse,

Founder of Explorations of Self

Abundance Coach, International Yoga Teacher, Write

Mother, Surf Enthusiast, Lover of LOVE, The Joy of Being Retreat in Bali

Wish Granted, Now What?

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Your wish is granted.

You are incredibly loved and adored.

You are abundant and experience abundance in all forms.

You are radiance like sunshine.

You are remarkably talented and easily express your unique creative genius.

You are effervescent like the lunar glow.

You are incredibly intelligent and wise beyond measure.

You are JOY embodied.

Now what?

Where do you go from here?

You have been whole your entire existence.

Now that you realize this, what do you choose to spend your time on? What are you dwelling on? Who do you spend time with? What do you think about when you are alone? What expression do you wear on your avatar? Who’s life do you touch? What words do you speak.

What wishes are you granting?

Divine One,

You are the one you have been waiting for.

You are what you seek.

Rejoice in your brilliance.

Be present with your Creator.

The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you
Don’t go back to sleep! ~Rumi

Author:

Alana Roach , Founder of Explorations of Self

Loving mother, entrepreneur, yoga teacher, meditation teacher, international wellness retreats, writer, surf enthusiast

 

4 Steps to Manifesting Your Success in 2020!

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The spiritual journey is one of GREAT MYSTERY, and growth can happen both gradually and suddenly.  For the last few years, the collective has been going through what feels like an uphill climb through a thick fog. Has your inner clarity felt stifled up until recently?  There is always a reason for this. You are being prepped for greater vision. 2020 is The Year of Clear Vision. Punny? It is!! Yet true…

When inner clarity feels muddled, stay the course of loving awareness and do the next right thing. You are never abandoned. I believe that at some point, the Universe will take off our training wheels so that we can be prepared to surrender our egos even more, and throw our hands up in the air exclaiming, “Ok, Creator, I don’t know what to do. Please help.”

Ask and it shall be given you, because it has already been given. ~Course in Miracles

This next year will be a home coming for you. You will once again feel the nearness of your Creator because you, my friend, have been so incredibly patient and steadfast in your Faith. The fog is being lifted. Your mountain has been climbed. It’s now time to peer out at the beauty of this world with a fresh spirit and wide child-like eyes. Our inner child has been healing, and is ready to play and celebrate!!!

From my spiritual seeking, I have received wisdom that 2020 is the year of JOY. Earlier in 2019, I was guided by The Universe to put a deposit down on a yoga retreat center for a 2020 retreat in Bali and call it, “The Joy of Being.” After that, the Universe sent me 3 social media clients who were all intuitive joy  life coaches. You can’t make this stuff up. I was being guided to do this all year. Preparing the soil for you those who felt called to join me on this journey to sow their roots and blossom in the most incredibly JOY-filled ways. I feel really excited for this retreat. It’s already half way full and there are a few spots left. If you are feeling the call to come with me to Bali, you can learn more here.  

 

In Chinese Zodiac, 2020 is going to be a very prosperous and passionate year!

TheChineseZodiac.org says that,

“The Metal Rat Year is going to be a strong, prosperous, and lucky year for almost all Chinese zodiac signs. Everyone will show determination regarding their goals, aspirations, and even their hobbies. This is a great year for founding and evolving. Those who plan to buy real estate, to start a business or to invest money in a long-term project have great chances of being satisfied in the future. But, beware! This type of initiatives will only be successful if they are carefully planned.”

 

Are you trusting the inner guidance that you are receiving at this time, Old Soul? Are you ready to steep in your Divine purpose and delight your community with your gifts?

2020 is your year!!!

4 Steps to Manifesting Your Success in 2020!

1. Meditate: Meditation is a form of listening to your Creator. When we pray, we are speaking, and when we meditate we are listening. You have most likely already asked for guidance. Now listen. Often times it helps to create a sacred space or alter in your home to meditate every day. This area will become rich with meditative, sacred energy and it will become easier and easier to drop into a meditative state to hear your Creator the more and more that you use it. Sit between 5-30 minutes daily and listen… journal what you find.

2. Vision Board: 

After you have meditated, it’s time to get creative!!! Whether you like to vision board with old magazinesand a large poster board or use Pinterest! Vision boards give you a daily reminder of what you desire on this journey in every way!! According to an article written by Huffington Post: 

“Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do. According to the popular book The Secret, “The law of attraction is forming your entire life experience and it is doing that through your thoughts. When you are visualizing, you are emitting a powerful frequency out into the Universe.”

Whether you believe that or not, we know that visualization works. Olympic athletes have been using it for decades to improve performance, and Psychology Today reported that the brain patterns activated when a weightlifter lifts heavy weights are also similarly activated when the lifter just imagined (visualized) lifting weights.”

 

 

 

 

 

3. Get a mentor and increase your positive network: The most successful people in the world all have had mentors. When you surround yourself with successful and positive people who have what you desire, you up-level, too. Like attracts like. Spiritual mentors can help you get out of stuck patterns like procrastination or negative thinking, and can introduce you to new ways of taking action to achieve your goals. It can be easy to beat yourself up or get tapped out when you are walking the road towards success. It’s not an overnight thing. Mentors hold you accountable and cheer you on the whole way through your process and can introduce you to other positive and successful networks. The more cheerleaders you have, the better. If you would like to work 1 on 1 with Alana to be successful in your life’s purpose, you can learn more here.  

4. Do more of what inspires you. What lights you up? If you get stuck here, you can return to your vision board for inspiration. Do more of what inspires you. When we do more of what inspires us we tap into our bodies

When we find ourselves inspired our body produces higher levels of serotonin and dopamine…

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in movement, memory, pleasurable reward, and motivation. Serotonin is involved in well-being, appetite regulation, and the transmission of nerve

Impulse” (5). This means that the more inspiration, the more of such simulations.

On the other hand, if we are victims of circumstances and just getting by in life then we will stimulate a higher production of cortisol. You have probably heard about this neurotransmitter as well. It is most commonly known as the neurochemical related to stress.

In the long run what impacts our mood the most, either energizing or depleting us, are the chemicals in our body called neurotransmitters. Inspiration “juices us up” with good ones, while the lack of it poisons our body with stress. `(Resource: https://intentioninspired.com/how-inspiration-works/)

I wish you so much joy and personal freedom in this next year to fulfill your wildest dreams in serving your loved ones and the world at large with your unique Divine Purpose!

Love,

Founder of Explorations of Self

10 Mindfulness Tips For Driving Cross Country With Your Toddler & Pets

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I have been traveling internationally with my daughter since she was 5 months old. I have been single the majority of that time, but never really alone because I have had the Universe’s wind at my back, directing and protecting me the whole way. When you have an inner calling, follow it.

My daughter and I have been to Costa Rica, Peru, and Nicaragua several times over the last 3 and 1/2 years. I love traveling with her. Being alone with a baby or toddler opens up the most magical doors into the hearts of fellow travelers. You find yourself in this special club called, “Parenthood,” and other parents become your tribe when you least expect it. I have had mothers that I just met seconds before help me with my luggage, airport security help me dash lines, and women from all over the globe treat us as their own family when they barely even know us. The fact is, a parent knows another parent in a way that no one else does. It’s a very special bond. Just remember that when you are traveling alone with your child you are definitely not alone. I believe that when you have faith that God will protect and guide you, miracles will happen in unexpected ways.

I recently had the opportunity to go out West for a month to teach and assist a mother run yoga studio that specializes in Prenatal + Postpartum care for mothers and families in their community. If you are ever in San Diego and want to visit this studio, it’s called Nature’s Whisper. They have on site day-care and incredibly knowledgable, skilled yoga and wellness teachers. I give this studio 5 stars!! Seriously amazing.

…and you read that write. Me. I drove cross country. 1 toddler. 2 cats. What!?

Why? I wanted to see this country. Up until the moment I left, I had seen more of other countries than of my own. I feel really grateful to have had the opportunity to do so and last year it was one of my goals to see more of the United States of America, and let me tell you, I feel so happy that I did. This is a gorgeous country with so many different landscapes and cultures. It made me feel really in love with being here.

I drove from Maryland to California & then I drove back a month later. I learned that when thoughtfully planned, a parent can absolutely go the distance literally and figuratively, as I have noted time and time again with our international air travel time for my travel yoga and surf retreats.

I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education. Getting to know different landscapes and cultures creates a well rounded, respectful, loving, outgoing, and grateful little. 

Here are 10 Mindfulness Tips For Driving Cross Country With Your Toddler & Pets

  1. Set an intention. Just like you would with a yoga class, set an intention for this incredible opportunity to BE with your surroundings, your SELF, your child, furry friends, and with God. Write down your intention before you leave and carry it with you. What do you want clarity on in your life? What do you want to dedicate this road trip to?
  2. Create a playlist. Spotify, Audible, and iPhone Podcast/Music playlists were life savors. I had an array of different music, audio books, and podcasts for different moods and time of the day. Anything to keep my mind alert. A new favorite podcast that kept me laughing was, “Girls Gotta Eat.” Thank you girls for being such boss babes. You rock.
  3. Prepare food, first aid kit, tire chains, stops, and activities for your little. While you won’t be able to plan for every stop, be mindful of where the gas stations and food stops are. Superfoods were ESSENTIAL for my brain power. If you would like to learn more about this fortifying superhuman deliciousness that I have been personally using daily for over 2 years email me now at Explorationsofself@gmail.com. Prepare a lot of fresh food that you won’t be able to find on the road to keep your kid and yourself happy. Bring a lot of animal food. Stay hydrated by bringing a lot of water. Bring an etch-a-sketch, books, and whatever little toy friends your little loves to play with. You can’t be over prepared here! You will be on the road for about 40 hours total. The more you bring with you, the less pit stops you will need to make off of your chosen path.
  4. AAA. Life savor. 2 of my yoga students from home suggested I get AAA for road insurance and trip planning a week before we left. They helped plan my entire trip and booked my hotels. Having them book my hotels took so much off of my plate. They found pet-friendly places to sleep which gave me a goal every day. I knew where I was going and how many hours I would be driving which helped me mentally prepare for the day ahead. I suggest taking about a week for your trip. That will give you about 5-8 hours drives each day.
  5. Get an atlas & check the weather reports before you leave. Remember that your phone could stop working at any time for any reason. Get a tangible map. Look at that map before you leave, on some of your stops. Get to know where you are. Look at your route. Relying on technology alone is never a great idea when you are on your own. Be smart! Check the weather before you leave. Make sure you’re not going head first into a snow storm. Take another route. AAA can help with this as well, but make sure you look, too. Take the reins a bit here. Be responsible!
  6. Practice yogic breathing techniques. Not a yogi? That’s ok! Practice breathing slowly in through your nose for a count of 4 and out through your mouth or nose to a count of 4 if you start to feel anxious or stressed. This will calm down your nervous system while in traffic.
  7. Positive mindset. Day 1 or 2 is exciting. Beyond that it can become a little repetitive. Stay positive. Catch your mind in those negative loops and shift your thoughts to what excites you! For instance, “I am so excited to have this opportunity to do something not many people have done!”
  8. Yoga in the morning before you leave. I highly suggest doing yoga in the morning before you leave. Even if it’s a 5 minute sequence to open your hips and stretch out your hand, neck, back, legs & shoulders. This will help prevent physical pain, stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, and keep your mind alert!
  9. Make sure your animals stay hydrated. Keep those furry friends hydrated. Go to your local pet store and get travel friendly water / food, containers, relaxation foods (We loved these soothing hemp treats) litter boxes, toys, and travel carriers. We brought one of our kitties blankets as well so that they would have their scent on it and feel comfortable.
  10. Do not text and drive. Don’t TEXT AND DRIVE. Come on, now. Just don’t!!! Eyes on the road.

I am so happy that we were able to do this trip together. It brought us all closer together. My daughter will never be this age again and I savor every moment of it.

Believe in yourself. Whatever your reason for driving across the country, with a well planned trip, good FAITH, and a positive mindset, you will absolutely be able to reach your cross country goals with your family.

 

Join Alana for, “The Joy of Being,” A Yoga Escape to Bali, Sept 12-20, 2020!!! Mention this blog article and receive $100 towards your tuition! Email us now: Explorationsofself@Gmail.com or Register now: https://explorationsofself.com/retreats/

 

Love,

Alana, Founder of Explorations of Self

Mother, Yoga Teacher, Nutrition Specialist, Travel Retreats, Surf Lover, Writer

 

 

 

You Will Question Everything You Know When Aligning With Your Soul Purpose

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In the process of Becoming the most Divinely ALIGNED version of yourself, you will question everything you know.⁣
⁣
I am in process during this time in my life. I barely recognize the person I was emotionally a year ago. I have been stretched through spiritual and emotional growth so much this year, it’s unreal.⁣

& then I look back to 2 years ago….. & then 3, 4, 5…

I have grown mind/body/Spirit substantially every 6-12 months ever since I chose to embark on the Spiritual Path of unpacking old traumas, stale beliefs, learned and unconscious destructive patterns over 10 years ago.

I choose to believe with every fiber of my being that every single experience and relationship that I have had, completely & totally has been there for MY BENEFIT.

I choose to do the work with my Creator to heal facets of myself so that I can fly like the Phoenix and rise out of the ashes to newer Heights.

It’s not easy. The ego… everything that makes us HUMAN, loves to keep us comfortable, and yet, it’s much more challenging to stay stagnant in your Spiritual growth. Your most Spiritually Aligned Self is beckoning you to be liberated. In yoga we call this, “Mukti,” and in Hinduism & Jainism it is know as, “Moksha.” I quite like the definition of Moksha found in the Merriam Encyclopedia:

Definition of moksha

Hinduism & Jainism
: release from samsara and liberation from karma together with the attainment of Nirvana for the Hindu or kaivalya for the Jain : salvation from the bondage of finite existence

 

I don’t know about you, but YES, absolutely YES, PLEASE.

What a gift Self-Awareness & Self-Work is because it reminds us to continually empty ourselves of anger, resentment, and fear. It reminds us to look at the places within ourselves that scare us and give those places a name. In Tantric philosophy, The Tantric Goddesses started out as fearful beings, who reaped havoc as they were living in a constant state of fear. As soon as these beings were face to face with their own destructive habits, they were shown the illusion of what they were doing and gave each habit or Samskara a NAME. From that very simple, not EASY, but simple act, they began to surrender to the TRUTH or Satya. From that TRUTH they were shown compassion and thus became transformed into Mothers. They in essence began to Mother their own inner child…. these Mothers turned into Goddesses… Fully embodied in their Truth of Love and Light..

When you call out the underlying emotion, memory, or root of why you are experiencing a so called negative emotion or habitual pattern, you are shedding light on WHY. When we shed light on why and what disrupts or blocks us from inner PEACE, we can start to understand where this belief came from. Understanding is the root to all compassion. This becomes mothering. You begin to give your inner child the mothering it always desired and once you start to do this, you will begin to shine brighter than ever because your inner child will feel safe and supported. You will stop self-sabotaging and you will begin to self-heal. Healing will attune your mind, body, and Spirit to the vibration of gratitude and JOY.
⁣

“To be fully alive, fully human and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.” ~Pema Chodrun

I’m so grateful.⁣
⁣
Shedding the skin of who you once were to become the person you were always meant the BE takes time… be patient and loving with yourself. Roll with the tides of your evolution & TRUST that ⁣

Everything is happening in Divine timing… ⁣
⁣
✨Stay in the moment.⁣
✨Keep returning to your breath.⁣
✨Keep taking action daily toward your Soul centered visions.⁣
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What are you releasing to create space for the new YOU? Write it down, share it with someone you trust. Begin surrounding yourself with positive and loving community if you haven’t already. If you need support, I offer 1 on 1 Lifestyle Coaching, and do not hesitate to reach out: Explorationsofself@Gmail.com

Much love with deep honor for your Soul Aligned Path and Purpose on this beautiful planet,

Alana

 

Alana is the Founder of Explorations of Self, single mama, international yoga and dance teacher, surf and yoga retreats, happy digital nomad entrepreneur, lover of LIFE.

You Already Have The Answers You Seek!

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The truth is within. It’s not in opinions. You can’t find it through someone else’s filter, nor will you find it through your own fears. Creating time to BE with your Creator is essential to finding the answers you seek. Only you know what they are, and first, you must become still enough to hear.

🙏🏽☺️

I am navigating my own feelings around big transitions during my life right now. Sometimes I look back on what I’ve accomplished over the last ten years despite the challenges of the emotional heart that I have faced, and say to myself, “Good God, woman, look at you. I am so proud of you. You are STRONG & courageous. You must really TRUST your Creator.” Our life Path is not linear. I believe God is a Thee Wild Artist & if we choose to listen and trust God’s guidance, we will be taken on a fun, miraculous, delicious, delightful, not always easy, but worth it ADVENTURE.

🦋You are a masterpiece. Your life is an exquisite & unique expression of your DIVINE PURPOSE. It takes a lot of guts to do what you do and be what you came here to BE. Be proud of yourself. You, even in your lowest moments, are perfect & loved beyond what you could possibly even imagine👌
You got to where you are because of every moment that led to who you are right now.
“It couldn’t have happened any other way,” Joe Zumbo

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Cheers to new chapters. Are you entering a new chapter in your life right now? What are some emotions you are experiencing around this? I would love to be your guide during this transition. DM me for more info on Integrative Lifestyle Coaching 🥰🙏🏽💫

 

Love,

 

Alana, Founder of Explorations of Self

You’re Going in the Right Direction, Full Moon in Aries

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Journal Prompts for Oct, 13, 2019, Full Moon in Aries

 

What if you knew that you were and you ARE going in the right direction?

What if you stopped questioning your intuition and stayed the course.

Where would you end up in a year if you took more risks and followed your heart?

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As we approach this Full Moon on Sunday, we burst forth as a shimmering and colorful butterfly after years of some serious growth as a caterpillar and chrysalis. We delight at this new embodiment and yet, we are getting to know ourselves again. This can feel emotional. It’s totally expected. 

Some grieving can take place in the LIGHT of the person we once were, especially because this newer version of ourselves can resemble our old-self at times. We must stay compassionate for ourselves and others, because this loss can sometimes involve other people, places, and things. When we change, others might not change in the same direction. That’s ok. It’s up to us to decide to follow the Universe’s call for us to step into full alignment with our PURPOSE here on Earth, and trust that everyone else is following their own PURPOSE as well.

When we take extra special care to follow our heart, despite what others say, we continue honor our Spirit. No one else knows what’s best for you, so it is VERY IMPORTANT that you get clear on what is. Being a yogi takes you on an inner Exploration. Whether that was your intention or not when you first brought your hands to heart center in that yoga studio. You were brought there for a reason beyond getting physically healthy. Yoga touched you deep down inside. It did so for reasons beyond explanation. You keep returning to your mat, for a reason. Listen to your Inner guidance…

It’s important to sit in prayer and meditation every morning this weekend to listen closely to our Creator for what that is. No one else can tell you, but the Creator.

My devotional morning practice has led me to yoga, love, travel, building a business based on my passions, the birth of my daughter, leading retreats all over the world (For 8 years!!!), amazing people, wonderful relationships, and continues to do so now as I am leaping again with a big home relocation to somewhere sunny where you can come to my home town and have an amazing Yoga & Surf Beach Retreat year round. (Details coming soon!)

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A devotional prayer (Adapted from author, Tosha Silverman) can be something like this,

“Divine beloved, make me an open conduit for your PURPOSE today. Allow me to receive and give with complete ease and abundance. Allow me to know my own value, beauty, and worthiness without question. Let everything that needs to go, go. Let everything that needs to come, come. I am utterly your own. You are me, I am You, we are ONE. All is well.”

A meditation practice can be as short as 5 minutes (Or less!) Ideally we work upwards from 5, but I promise you, a few deep breaths in PRESENCE with the intention to listen to the Creator’s Guidance for YOU is enough. Establishing the discipline to make this your morning routine opens you up to Inner Grace to help give you a North Star throughout your day. Meditation master, Thit Naht Han talks about how just 3 conscious breaths can connect you to this all Persuasive Inner Wisdom. 3 breaths! That’s it. I am amazed by this. I’ve tested it out. It’s very true. Give it a try, let me know what you think.

Try this short daily, morning prayer , meditation, and journal ritual for 30 days in addition to your yoga practice (If you don’t already.) If it feels better for you to talk to Nature instead of the Universe, that works, too! Just keep an open mind and heart. I want this for you. You are amazing, and worth all of the Joy and Happiness in the Universe.

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Much love,

Alana

 

I offer 1 on 1 Spiritual Lifestyle Coaching <<<< to help you evolve to your next Level. 

I believe in you. 

New Moon in Libra 3 Card Spread

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✨Happy New Moon 🌙 Libra ♎️!!!!⁣

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🌌I pulled our Collective New Moon spread this morning & we are to remember that God is our SOURCE, and when we tune into THIS, we have UNLIMITED IDEAS AND CREATIVITY TO LIVE IN OUR WINDFALL OF ABUNDANCE!!! Yes!!!!!⁣
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🌹🤗It’s time to journal & manifest your inner most Joy fueled TRUTHS!!⁣

Get creative. A vision board is a great way to celebrate in ceremony of intention and visualization to manifest your CALLINGS in life. Cut out pictures of images that bring you JOY. Lay these out on a large piece of poster paper or stick them to a tack board! Have fun with this!⁣
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Things to meditate on whilst creating your vision board.

What if you live a life of magic and abundance? What if you LIVE A LIFE OF DEVOTION, LOVE, FULFILLMENT, ADVENTURE, AND LAUGHTER?

⁣(Inspired by Marie Manuchehri’s,”What If,” statements!)

What does that look like?⁣
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🌊Let’s play ✨🌞🥳🌙🌊🌌🤴🏽🧘‍♀️

 

Author: Alana Roach. Alana is the founder of Explorations of Self, single mom, business owner, international yoga & surf retreat leader, copy writerwriter, intuitive, nutrition specialist, social media artist & curator.

How Having a Baby Made Me a Successful Entrepreneur

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I was already half in the entrepreneur world when I was pregnant with my daughter. I got a taste of what this kind of freedom tasted like after running Explorations of Self Retreats and Blog for a few years already at that point. It tasted GOOD, and I trusted that if I put one foot in front of the other, all would fall into place for me to create the Lifestyle Design that I so craved, which was, to have the ability to work from wherever I wanted in the world and make my own hours. I knew that this would take a lot of consistent FAITH and foot work to fulfill this Divine mission. Every morning I prayed for God to use me for His will. I talked to God & asked to be guided to the right people and places at the right time to fulfill my MISSION here on Earth and in this lifetime.

I also had a deep knowing that I was meant to parent this baby angel in a mindful way. I would stumble across these incredible methods of parentings like, “Attachment Parenting,” through out my Doula trainings and Prenatal Yoga teaching even before I conceived my little girl. It was as if God was whispering in my ear, “Raise her like this,” or, ”She will really thrive with this.” I even had a dream about what kind of bed she was to have one night, a month before giving birth. Up until that dream I had never heard of floor mattresses in Teepees. I woke up from that dream like, whoa, I need to look this up. Thank Google. I found out that Montessori schools use this model of sleeping to encourage a sense of confidence and independence within the child. So, rather than a crib, which to me, felt like a jail, I got the floor mattress and the teepee. It was the most perfect sleeping arrangement ever. We both slept great. We still do 3 years later. She is the most confident, happy, loving, and courageous little girl that I have ever known. I am proud of her. I thank God for leading my parenting for her every single day.

With all of this being said, I knew that I would need to give my daughter a lot of close to me comforts. I wanted to be the one who woke her up in the morning and made her meals. I wanted to be able to play with her whenever she desired, and hold her whenever she needed her mother’s warmth.

This desire to bring my daughter with me where ever I went through her early developmental years was crucial in my sail’s catching wind into my full time Entrepreneur life as a digital nomad. I create my schedule. I dictate my hours. I am with my daughter all the time, and guess what? I LOVE IT. My daughter has been by my side on all of my international retreats & I would not want it any other way. I sometimes get the question, “What do you do with your daughter on your retreats?” I TAKE HER, YES! I also hear, “What happens when she is in school?” I CREATE MY OWN SCHEDULE! NO BIG DEAL! To every problem, there is a solution when we involve God.

If I decided to pick up and move tomorrow, I could. My online copy-writing , social media marketing , yoga retreats/teaching, fitness training, energy healing and lifestyle coaching skill sets allows me to do so. I keep evolving in my skill set the more that I do them. I am absolutely an expert in my field, and so are you, you just need to start believing it.

My point is, what you LOVE to do, you LOVE for a reason. God wants you to be HAPPY. What makes you HAPPY? Write it down. What makes your grateful today?! WRITE IT DOWN! The more that we anchor down into this moment with the blessings that we have been given, the more we will be happy. The more often that we find that happy place, the more often we will start to navigate towards that happy.

Small steps every day, ignited from your Heart-Centered truth, will absolutely set you FREE.

If you feel like you’ve had the desire to do something but haven’t because you thought it had to be done a certain way, then you are not alone, but guess what? God is a master Designer. If it’s been laid on your HEART to do something, then you have a mission to fulfill. Everything in your life will rise up to support you in this and more if you keep following your INTUITION. Prayer and meditation are the keys. I also suggest going for walks in nature, traveling, and doing more yoga (Of course.) Eat a healthy diet. Surround yourself with positive and uplifting people. Keep working on yourself & continue to evolve. You were meant for GREATNESS.

What do you feel guided to do? Let’s transform our lives together through Explorations of Self Community. 

Journal Prompt:

What limiting beliefs are holding you back from reaching your goals?

What are NEW EMPOWERED beliefs that you can set in place? Cross out your limiting beliefs and replace them with the opposite belief. For example: If my limiting belief was, “I have children, I can’t do that with children.” My NEW EMPOWERED belief would be, “Having children makes this even easier to accomplish! I look forward to inspiring my kids with this new way of being!”

 

Author: Alana Roach, Founder of Explorations of Self, LLC. Woman of BIG FAITH, Mom, blogger, copy writing, social media marketer, surfer, yoga teacher, meditation guide, barre & TRIBE Team Trainer, free~spirit.