Botanical Effects

Botanical Effects^® is Mary Kay’s first botanically-enriched skin care line.

Botanical Effects™ Skin Care is perfect for women who want to feel good about how they care for their skin while caring for the planet without sacrificing quality, value and results. Botanical Effects™ Skin Care is for the woman who is looking for a personalized approach to caring for the basic needs of her skin and isn’t yet concerned about the signs of aging. 

Taking care of your skin should be simple. Easy. Tailored to you. Meet Botanical Effects™ Skin Care. A simple regimen infused with the goodness of botanicals personalized to your skin type to bring out its healthy radiance. Now you can take dry, dull skin or oily skin to soft, hydrated happiness.

Your lifestyle can have a big impact on your skin. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, drinking plenty of water and wearing sunscreen every day can contribute to healthier-looking skin. And washing your face every night before bed with a simple skin care regimen to remove makeup and impurities is a healthy habit that’s never too soon or too late to start.

Helps restore skin’s natural balance to leave it feeling smooth, hydrated and nourished. Restores skin’s natural balance so it looks radiant and healthier. Gently exfoliates as it improves skin texture while replenishing hydration. Moisture-rich formula helps maintain skin’s moisture level, leaving it feeling comforted.

Botanical Effects™ Skin Care – Formula 1 (Dry Skin)

Key ingredients and functions:

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum): Powerful antioxidant that is known to defend against environmental damage while helping to calm and soothe skin.

After researching Milk Thistle (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered:

Silymarin is the main active ingredient in milk thistle. Silymarin is both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

My good friend, Karen Stephenson, has on per webpage the following information, please check out her page, it is amazing!! http://www.ediblewildfood.com/milk-thistle.aspx

“For over 2,000 years people around the world have enjoyed milk thistle in their diet. Just about all parts of the plant have been used as food with no reports of toxicity. Although it can be used as food, milk thistle is better known as having medicinal benefits. It is a great tonic, increases appetite and aids in digestion. It is used by many people, including those who were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the liver. Milk thistle is used internally in the treatment of liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, cirrhosis, hepatitis and poisoning (including mushroom poisoning).” Fields of Nutrition has medicinal benefits and vitamin/mineral content of Milk Thistle.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Milk Thistle and I encourage you to research it further.

Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenorii): Also called the “longevity” fruit or Monk fruit, it’s known to contain potent antioxidants and also believed to help promote healthy skin.

After researching Luo Han Guo (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/monk-fruit.html):

• Allergy Relief: When our bodies experience something to which we are “allergic”, our body’s mast cells release a number of chemicals into our system, one of which is histamine. This is what causes allergic reactions like inflammation, irritation, coughing, and every other symptom of allergies. The extract of monk fruit has been proven to prevent this activity of mast cells, reducing the histamine and eliminating common allergies. This chemical is also connected to reducing asthmatic reactions, which can save lives.
• Anti-Aging: There is a unique statistic about the regions in which monk fruit naturally grow; there is a much higher than average number of centenarians per capita. In other words, people who regularly use and consume monk fruit seem to live longer. Obviously, this is based on population statistics, but the antioxidant properties of monk fruit do have an effect on the general “breaking down” of the body as we age, making this a powerful anti-aging fix.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Monk Fruit and I encourage you to research it further.

Flax seed extract (Linum usitatissimum): Flax seed is one of the richest plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to help moisturize and help relieve dry skin of discomfort.

After researching Flax seed (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (http://www.bustle.com/articles/56520-these-flax-seed-benefits-for-hair-and-skin-are-the-perfect-way-for-vegetarians-to-get):

Flax seeds have a high anti-inflammatory value and increase the production of oil in our skin — don’t forget, though, that some oil is important. For those with sensitive skin or allergies, flax can be awesome for anytime you step out of Sephora/Body Works and realize you have bumps on your neck from all those fragrances.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Flax Seed and I encourage you to research it further.

Sea kelp extract (Macrocystis Pyrifera): A type of sea algae, sea kelp is a known source of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids important for moisturization and skin balance.

After researching Sea Kelp (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (https://111skin.com/blogs/blog/17887552-what-are-skin-the-benefits-of-sea-kelp-extract):

It is often used in facial serums, eye creams and night creams because of its potent anti-ageing properties. Marine plants are very resilient as they have to survive in extreme, often-changing, environments, which makes them very valuable in skincare. Brown algae helps prevent damage to amino acids and protects the cell’s membrane. This further protects against damage caused by free radicals, highly unstable molecules which accelerate the ageing process by attacking healthy cells and damaging collagen. The extract can also ‘re-organise’ the cell membrane to reverse cell damage and restore them to their healthy state. If you have dry skin or suffer with flaky patches then you should also look for skincare containing Sea Kelp Extract. Due to its high iodine, mineral and antioxidant content, kelp is believed to help moisturise and soften the skin, and help it retain that moisture. Kelp also contains elements that easily penetrate the skin to remove toxins, soothe and hydrate the skin, and it also aids in keeping it smooth. If you suffer with breakouts then Sea Kelp is beneficial, it has anti-inflammatory properties which will help reduce the inflammation that causes red, painful breakouts.    

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Sea Kelp and I encourage you to research it further.

Botanical Effects™ Skin Care – Formula 2 (Normal Skin)

Key ingredients and functions

Silymarin (milk thistle) (Silybum marianum)

Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenorii)

Frangipani flower extract (Plumeria Acutifolia) : The frangipani flower is known for its calming and soothing benefits and is an antioxidant that helps protect against environmental stressors.

After researching Frangipani Flower (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (https://siannaphey.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/frangipani-plumeria-in-healing-and-symbol/):

Moisturizing on the skin (used by massage therapists to moisturize during massage). Soothes dry and cracked skin, absorbs easily and helps keep skin soft. In India the oil has been used as the treatment for itches and fevers. It is believed that Mayan people added it for skin treatments.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Frangipani Flower and I encourage you to research it further.

Water lily extract (Nympheaceae): An antioxidant, the water lily is reported to be a source of minerals that are important for healthy skin.

After researching Water lily (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered, allot of skin care websites with Water lily(https://www.aroma.bg/en/beauty/cosmetics-ingredients/water-lily-nymphaea-alba-l-46/):

Beauty benefits:

• Strong nourishing, moisturizing and regenerating effect on the skin
• Brightens complexion
• Strengthens capillaries
• Soothes irritation, redness, infections, skin disorders
• Helps removal of fine lines, wrinkles, scars
• Regulates pH
• Thickens and revitalizes hair
• Treats hair loss

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Water Lily and I encourage you to research it further.

Botanical Effects™ Skin Care – Formula 3 (Oily Skin)

Key ingredients and functions

Silymarin (milk thistle) (Silybum marianum)

Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenorii)

Kanuka extract(Kunzea Ericoides):Sources of this botanical  extract are well known for their purifying benefits that may help prevent pores from becoming clogged.

After researching Kanuka (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (http://ecologyskincare.com/nz-wild-harvested-kanuka-oil/):

• Kanuka oil has incredibly powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• It is also a powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.
• Also useful against acne-causing bacteria on the skin. 
• Helpful in combating skin infections and skin irritations.
• Has been shown to help improve the appearance of burns, mild sunburn, scalds, insect bites and stings, cuts, abrasions, blisters, acne, dermatitis and dandruff.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Kanuka and I encourage you to research it further.

Guava extract(Psidium guajava): Known source of salicylic acid, guava is an exfoliant shown to slough away dead skin and help unclog pores to reduce surface oil.

After researching Guava (this is not Mary Kay, solely my research) this is what I discovered (http://www.livestrong.com/article/514943-the-benefits-of-guava-for-the-skin/):

Guava has: Vitamin K: which treats skin discoloration, such as dark circles, spider veins, rosacea, acne irritation and overall splotchiness, with vitamin K. It heals because it improves blood coagulation, which is impaired in cases of skin redness and irritation. Vitamin C: for skin healing because it contributes to generation of collagen, the substance that gives skin its firmness and reduce the impact of aging. Lycopene: an antioxidant that protects healthy cells from toxins that accumulate in the body due to metabolism and environmental pollution. The damaging effect of toxins includes premature aging, because they damage DNA in charge of growth and development.

There are a number of other wonderful benefits of using Gyava and I encourage you to research it further.

Mary Kay and I suggests that you use the products in this sequence: Cleanse, Freshen and then Hydrate. When adding the Mask into your routine you would Cleanse, Mask and then Freshen and Hydrate. 

When you purchase the skincare line you receive the following:

• Cleanser

Cleanser: Apply to wet face and neck. Rinse or remove with a warm, wet cloth and pat dry. 

• Freshen

Freshen: Spray directly onto a cotton ball or cotton pad until moistened. Apply to face and neck, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Repeat until cotton ball or pad shows no trace of makeup or dirt. 

• Mask

Mask: Smooth a generous amount onto clean skin, avoiding the eye and mouth areas. Leave on for 10 minutes. Remove with warm water or wet facial cloth. Can be used 2-3 times per week. Avoid use on irritated skin.

While it  does suggest to use the Mask two times a week, some customers found it a little rough on their sensitive skin. First, try the Mask once a week or once every two weeks and see how it feels on your skin.

• Hydrate

Hydrate: Smooth on clean face and neck using upward strokes. 

At first you may find a little bit of extra work from your previous routine of washing your face but, I promise using Botanical Effects will become enjoyable. The steps for the line are very easy and the product has a nice clean scent. I don’t mean clean as in that manufactured cotton scent; it doesn’t have a scent and that’s one of the things all customers like about it.

The only negative thing that I could find online about Botanical Effects line is that when the Cleanser package is standing up on the counter or in the shower the cleanser inside collect in the cap. The formula isn’t as thick as other Mary Kay products. It’s an easy fix though, just lay the Cleanser on its side and no more ooziness! But, I know Mary Kay and I am sure they are working on this and will be corrected shortly. Or who knows it maybe already fixed…

This is why I became a Mary Kay Consultant an this is why you benefit from having a Mary Kay Consultant, you can call me up anytime and I will help you find a morning and evening routine that works for you….I will do all the research for you and make your skin care routine specialized and uniquely for you. See, that’s why it’s beneficial to use a brand like Mary Kay – personalized service by someone who cares about you.

Love Vanessa 💜

Happy September!!

http://www.marykay.ca/vanessadeslaurier

 

 

Learn to Look and Begin Shifting Towards

“The only true voyage of discovery…would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes.” – Marcel Proust

How can we start to see more clearly? First, we need to learn how to pay attention. The mind is so used to wandering off, a good way to train is to practice placing and re-placing it on an object such as the breath.

“The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention, over and over again, is the very root of judgement, character and will…An education which should improve this faculty would be an education par excellence.”

Pay Attention
Learning to pay attention is like a camera that doesn’t seem to be working. If the picture you take of your bedroom is fuzzy, do you go and buy new furniture? Or do you examine the settings on the camera, and how you’re holding it?

The camera of the mind is powerful, and yet most of us don’t learn  how to use it properly. We spend so much of our time trying to change our life circumstances and so little exploring how to perceive them with skill. We’re constantly rearranging the furniture in our mind and then taking disappointing pictures, rarely considering if there’s an issue with the lens, or our positioning. 

“Don’t turn your head. Keep looking at the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you.” – Rumi

If we can approach what’s happening with courage, curiosity and cheerfulness, we’re developing real power, no longer dependent on circumstances to make us happy. When we make friends with our enemies, we no longer have a reason to fight.

Say “Yes” to the present moment. Once I have developed a foundation of attention and awareness, and I am working to stay present and embodied, there’s a further step I can take. I can develop my mental approach, even when things are difficult. When we fall off what we don’t want to face, it drains our energy and obscures our view of reality. In letting our defences drop, I release myself from struggling with the parts of life that I don’t like. As the old saying goes, what we resist, persists. It will present its self in the form of depression, chronic pain, fatigue or anger…

Turning Towards Difficulty Meditation

This is called compassionate abiding, staying present to what ails us, we allow ourselves to notice, approach and fully feel what’s here, offering a tenderness of heart to what we may formerly have demonized.

Opening to the difficult can’t be rushed or forced. Acceptance and compassion are essential components of turning towards. 

Love yourself and be kind on your journey to mindfulness.

Love Vanessa 💜

I am a Mary Kay Consultant!!!

I am now a Mary Kay Consultant:

• signed up on Monday evening, August 22, 2016;
• received my email from Mary Kay Cosmetics on Tuesday morning, August 23,  notifying me that I am a MARY KAY CONSULTANT!!; and
• Wednesday, August 24 received my kit.

I am excited, scared, anxious, but 95% excited!! I am ready to make a difference in women’s lives, and mine!!

“I am a master booker. I am a booking magnet. My warmth and chrisma draw women to me, even over the phone. Women want to learn what I can teach them. My datebook is loaded with selling appointments. Booking gets me to Star Consultant status. I love to book. I am consistent and persistent. I am a top performer. I am drawing sharp quality women to me. I am attracting women who want more and are willing to work for it to my team. I am a magnet for business partners who take responsibility for their life and are true leaders in their own rights. My team is growing larger and stronger every montg. We are exploding to the top. We are unstopable. I am a master recruiter! I deserve the best life has to offer.”

10 Reasons to Join MK

I am working towards my pearls, I have earned my pearl earrings, next my pearl bracelet and finally my pearl necklace!!

MK – Perfect Opportunity from Nadia

In a nut shell ….
Priorities – Faith first, Family second, Career third 

Golden Rule – “do unto others as you have them do unto you.”

No territories – we sell anywhere in Canada and easily place a Ship Direct order & still earn 50% on the sale.

No Sales Quotas … we are all busy – don’t need added pressure of having to sell a certain amount of product each day or month – no pressure as no quotas

Training & Support are provided by me, my director & Head office. 

We dress for success – skirt or dress – people see you dressed professional – they respect you and treat you professionally.

MK Why Mary Kay

Kit is $75.00 (no tax) plus $8.75 shipping

Comes with business supplies – mirrors, face clothes, books, magazines, etc & Full Size Products – Cleanser (Value $30), Moisturizer (Value $35), Satin Hand Set (Value $51) & 2 – CC Creams (Value $44)

MK Marketing Plan – Connie

MK Career Information

Now that I am independent Mary Kay consultant, if anyone is looking for any Mary Kay Products, I would love….and be more than happy to help you! I am not here to take away customers from their current consultants, rather if you are looking for a new consultant, I can help you! If I do not have your product in stock, I will order it for you and either deliver to your house, or meet you somewhere you are comfortable! I look forward to serving you your beautifying products 🙂 

I also offer free facials, my datebook is clear but won’t be for long 😘

I am now working on my Perfect Start and Power Start.

Believe me – it is one of the Best things I have ever decided to do, as I haven’t been a consultant a week and I am already having a blast!!!
http://www.marykay.ca/vanessadeslaurier

Love Vanessa💜💜

Two Arrows

When talking about stress 2500 years ago, the Buddha used an analogy to describe our predicament in life that is still true today, “we are struck by two arrows”. 

The first arrow represents all the inevitable pain we experience. This includes the frustration of a dead-end career, sadness of a failed relationship,unbidden thoughts repeatedly reminding us that things aren’t going the way we want etc……..

We don’t consciously choose these unpleasant events, sensations and thoughts, and once they’re here, we can’t prevent them from happening.

The second arrow represents how we react to the first one. When we experience an unpleasant event, which most of us try to resist it or run away from it. This represents our reaction to “fight or flight”.

For example, if we are hurt by unkind words, we may feel an anger that lingers. We may begin to obsess about what we should do, or why our current strategies aren’t working. And begin to solely focus on the anger and how to be rid of it. We become obsessed with it.

So what can be done??? Practice, practice, practice staying present to thoughts and sensations, by noticing how automatic stress reactions arise in our bodies, and how we tend to resist or identify with them.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself as I am, then I change. We cannot move away from what we are, until we thoroughly accept what we are. Then change seems to come about almost unnoticed.” – Carl Rogers
If I don’t want to be drawn into automatic reactions, I need to rehearse my ability to stay present, not just at a cognitive level but by working with my whole body daily. By bringing my mind into my body, I create the possibility for true healing. Our bodies are always in the present it is our minds that wonder into the past and future. What an amazing being we are!

“Much of the insanity of the world comes from people not knowing what to do with their feelings.” – Jack Kornfield

When I remain still and follow my breath, I choose not to follow the powerful dictates of thought and sensation, I am rehearsing being present. I am watching what’s happening and I am gently unhooking from the powerful energies that impel me. Practice, practice, practice with the sensations in the body and eventually you will develop steadiness and create good and health habits for your mind.

Our human capacity for awareness enables us to work consciously with stress. We have a larger pre-frontal cortexes then any other animal, which seem to be important in working to manage our autopilot reactions. But, our bigger frontal lobes enable us to reflect and plan, when stress occurs we’re often driven to think about it, reliving stressful situations over and over again in our minds as we work out what we could have done differently. As we keep on churring things over in our mind, we are hyper-alert, as our attempts to solve the problem keep us focused on the sense of threat, and the fact that it hasn’t been resolved. Then comes anxiety and with our attempts to find a solution to stress we actually keep the feeling of stress alive…WE ARE STRESSED…chronic stress doesn’t resolve easily, and because we are driven to keep worrying and ruminating, even when there is no solution at hand, the fight or flight reaction starts to become maladaptive. We feel tense all the time, we get tired from lack of sleep and we stay on hyper-alert, over-sensitive to any small problem. And then we meltdown over the smallest problems.

Neuroplasticity works both ways, everything we practice becomes a habit, positive or negative. The more we react unskillfully to stress, the more prone we are to get stressed, and the less able we are to choose the same responses. Overload leads us into greater automaticity, to more unconscious reactions and to more suffering. 

When we get stressed for prolonged periods, we may become prone to anxiety disorders, depression, chronic fatigue, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, heart problems, diabetes, reduced immune response and any number if other mond-body disorders. We might develop addictions to substances, or behaviours that promise short term relief from our stress but which end up stimulating further cravings for pleasurable “hit” or our next “fix”, and leads to further unhappiness.

Mountain Meditation

When we are trying to “relax”, we are subtly rejecting our reality, and attempting to get into a different state of being.

When we practice mindfulness, we are inviting ourselves to “let go” of trying to be calm and instead respect what is actually happening, even if that means opening to tension, agitation, pain and fatigue.

When you realize how amazing the body is, YES I AM AMAZING, and how powerful we are, we can allow our body to its present moment. The tension drops from our bow and the second arrow will fall to the floor unshot!

Relaxation happens not by struggling for it, but by allowing the mind to come into the body. The body might still feel tense or uncomfortable or sore, and we might still have unpleasant thoughts running round in our minds but, we are dropping the attachment or resistance to these mental and physical events.

This will change everything, we are no longer in opposition to what is happening!

We will begin to work with, rather than against, our patterns or minds and become one with the body and mind.

Happy Wednesday🌞

Love Vanessa 💜

The World is my Classroom

Keep in mind that the world is my classroom and people are my assignments.

Life is a daily learning process. Every experience on my movie screen of life gives rise to one of two choices, I can learn through the perception of love or I can learn through the perception of fear. Each instance is a spiritual encounter providing an assignment in which I can choose to heal or to stay stuck in the bondage of my past. If I choose to show up for these Universal assignments with a willingness to heal, then many miracles will be presented themselves to me. But if I am unwilling to show up for these assignments, I will stay stuck in the stories and experiences that do not serve me, and live in the past of fear.

Recognize my assignment and call it by its name.  To witness that what may seem to be a terribly, uncomfortable and unwanted situation is actually the Universal giving me an assignment. Witness my life’s craziness and call it by its name: fear. Then accept that the fear has shown up in this way as an assignment for healing and growth. Take a deep breath and honestly look at the situation that’s causing me so much pain, and identify all the ways that the person or circumstance are triggering my fear-based beliefs. Love  myself for having the strength to witness this instead of running from it. Be proud of myself for seeing it as an assignment and do not judge myself or criticize myself.

Honor my feelings.  Showing up for the Universal assignment requires my willingness to feel the pain it triggers so I can heal from the past. Many folks on a spiritual path skip this incredibly important step. It’s easy to throw an affirmation on top of my fear or try to will it away. But, underneath all our difficult experiences are unfelt anger, resentment, and fear. The practice of healing long and held suffering begins the moment I acknowledge the suffering is there. Give myself permission to witness my rage, my anger, and my hidden resentments. Take some time to honor the feelings that live below the stories I’ve been projecting on my life. Underneath all my fear-based projections are deep, hidden wounds that I’ve been ignoring because I am afraid of feeling that old pain. Instead of allowing the pain to be present, I project it onto other people, my circumstances, even my physical body. The fearful part of my mind will do whatever it takes to distract me from feeling this pain and because the moment I start to feel it is the moment I start to heal it. Meditation always helps me with this and the body scan meditation. I cling to fear out of habit. We’re convinced that it’s safer to deny my uncomfortable feelings. But what I repress will persist no matter how good I get at avoiding it. While it may seem terrifying to face my deepest wounds, there is always freedom on the other side. ALWAYS!!

Call on compassion.  I will begin to notice a sense of peace set in as I begin to feel my feelings, which unshackles me from fear. The pathway to healing old wounds is through honoring myself for all that I’ve been through, acknowledging the conditioning that I’ve experienced, and compassionately loving myself back to peace. Compassion is the antidote to anger, resentment, and fear. Compassion gives me permission to let go and allow deep healing to begin. The process of compassion begins with my self-talk. How would I speak to an innocent child if he or she was coming out of a meltdown? Think about the loving words and energy I would offer them. Then apply this same degree of love to myself. “I LOVE MYSELF.” Take a moment to write down some ways that you could speak to yourself compassionately. You know me, always journal work.  Fear comes from a belief that I’m not good enough. “V, you’re back in that old belief system again. These stories are so painful for you, and I honor you for how you feel. I understand how tough it must be to go through this. I have so much compassion  and love for where you are in this moment. It’s safe to feel these feelings. I love you.”

Accept that I cannot avoid my assignment.  It is all about accepting that I can’t avoid the assignment, I can only postpone it. If I don’t choose to accept my assignment today, it will continue to present itself in new relationships and experiences until I do accept it. If I don’t show up for it, it will continue to show up for me.  Running from fear is like running around a track. I’ll inevitably wind up back in the same place again and again until I truly accept it. So instead of following fear, I recommend showing up for the assignment with grace and beauty. Be willing to show up for your assignment once and for all. And trust that the Universe never gives you what you cannot handle.

Place my faith in the Universe.  This is designed to help me learn to rely on the Universe for support and guidance. The Universe will never give me anything that I cannot handle. No matter how difficult my universal assignment may seem….and I have had some difficult assignments over the years, I can find comfort in the fact that the Universe is always supporting what is of the highest good for me. By embracing the Universe as my support system, I am no longer relying solely on my own power to solve my problems. Begin your new faithful relationship with the Universe by asking for help.

Take care of my side of the street.  Once I’ve accepted my assignment and surrendered it to the Universe for healing, I feel lighter. I feel a sense of release in knowing that I’ve begun the process of healing my old patterns. We’re often afraid of being vulnerable, but vulnerability is incredibly powerful. It creates genuine connection. When I am ready to clean up my side of the street, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. More you accept the lighter you become.

Welcome healing yourself.  All you need to do is have the willingness to accept the assignments, to show up for them, and pray for it to be healed. You will be amazed by the miracles that will unfold. The Universe will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. All the greatest healing I’ve experienced in my life has come from an experience that the Universe placed in front of me and not something that I made happen. That’s the beauty of your spiritual path. When you surrender and allow the Universe to do her thing, true healing is presented to you. In every moment the Universe is conspiring to bring you toward right-minded thinking and the energy of love and positivity. It’s your choice to lean toward love or lean toward fear. Begin now by accepting your assignment from the Universe.

Freedom from your past is available to you when you show up for your assignments in the present.

 Love Vanessa 💜

A New Day

“I let go of the old and open myself to the new.”

Often, I tend to cling to old patterns, old habits and old thoughts that may be holding me back. It is these attachments that can keep me from living fully. 

When I allow myself to open up to the many blessings that exist within the vast sea of infinite possibilities surrounding me. As I become mindful and begin enjoying what life has to offer me. 
When so-called negative experiences present themselves, I frequently tighten up and form an armor of resistance around me, thereby closing myself off from the magic inherent in the unknown. By always being open to new possibilities, I allow the Universe to harness all its forces to help me in the best ways possible. 

I sit quietly and center myself, breathing deeply and fully. I feel myself firmly connected to the earth as I let the spirit flow through me. I let go of busyness and of anything that may be overwhelming me. I open myself to the new, to new possibilities, to a new day, and to the fresh new cells being constantly created in my body with every breath I take. I feel the refreshing inspiration of new opportunities coming my way. I welcome this new and wonderful time in my life and see it filled with goodness, creativity and peace. I let go of the old and allow the new to come gently into my life. 

Meditation and mindfulness is changing my life in a positive way.

Love Vanessa 💜

Planting Seeds

“No one can help you, not even your most loving mother and father, as much as your own mind, well trained.” – Ths Buddha 

A happy and healthy outlook to both myself and to my life affects my mind in many noticeable ways. I do not get such a mindset by ignoring or denying negative feelings and pretending to be happy. Rather, I do get it by becoming a good gardener, methodically and carefully removing the weeds of discontent while cultivating beautiful flowers. 

It’s important to understand that mindfulness is not a quick fix, it takes time to learn, and its rewards don’t always come immediately. When we slow down and look at our minds and bodies, we might not like everything we find.

Qualities such as kindness, compassion and forgiveness are the seeds we want to plant in order to cultivate a beautiful garden. But the self-centered ego’s need for grasping, gaining and selfishness easily buries them. We are all capable of losing our cool, getting caught up in hot emotions and causing harm. When we only focus on our own concerns and problems we become too self-engrossed to really acknowledge anyone else’s issues. These are the weeds we need to pull up, as are moments of closed-heartedness or anger, self-doubt and insecurity. We can bring mercy and tenderness to those places, to the wounded parts, so the fight within us can come to an end. And when we step beyond ourselves, then the ability to cultivate kind and caring qualities becomes possible. 

Unlearning old habits and developeing new ones takes patience anf effort. Meditation is hugely important in this, it helps to meditate each day, whether the weather of our mind is broght or gloomy.

“By training the mind, we can actually change the brain toward greater contentment.” – Dr. Davidson 

A regular practice of meditation can produce discernible changes in the brain in a matter of just eight weeks, which indicates that we can quite purposefully and systematically develop qualities such as kindness and compassion. ‘Be Good and Do Good’ is a great mantra for this! 

Pulling Weeds Meditation
Find a comfortable and upright place to sit. I had times meditate in the tub as it relaxes me and I can release my stress from the day right down the drain. 

Take a few deep breaths, then watch the flow of your breath as it enters and leaves. Bring your focus to your heart, and as you breathe in feel as if your heart is opening and softening; as you breathe out, release any tension or resistance.

Now visualize yourself walking in a beautiful but overgrown garden. All sorts of colorful flowers surround you, but among them are numerous weeds. You find a place to sit amidst the plants and with awareness you mindfully begin to remove the weeds. Each one represents a negative aspect of yourself or your life. Name it as you remove it, and watch it leave your mind as you discard. 

The more weeds you remove the lighter you feel, as if a weight is being removed from you. As you do this, the flowers are growing stronger and brighter. Stay here as long as you like. You may not have time to pull up all the weeds, so before you leave promise that you will be back again to remove some more. 

When you are ready, silently repeat three times, “May I be happy, may my mind be like a beautiful garden.” Take a deep breath and let it go. Then fill the rest of your day with kindness and smiles.

What weeds do you need to pull out of your garden?

Certain qualities are useful as we travel together on the path of mindfulness. Just as seeds can flower when tended, so these qualities can grow as we nurture them. Don’t try to force them to grow in you, our job is to take care of the seeds.

Love Vanessa 💜

Medicine of Mindfulness

“In our world, everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy

Many of us, including me, live our lives hurtling through our days, feeling driven, rather than in charge. We just wonder through and remember about half of what we do, the other half we are on autopilot.

Mindfulness means an open-hearted awareness of what’s happening, and learning from what we find. This comes first of all from paying attention to the senses. Rather than getting caught up in ideas, we tune in to our world with awareness of sight, sound, feeling, taste and smell. You begin to observe your misinterpretations that create stress, anxiety and depression.

My mind seems to always be thinking and wandering. When I start to pay attention and become aware of this, I have been able to bring it back to the present moment in allot shorter time. I always acknowledge the wanderer and notice my feelings and thoughts before bringing myself back.

Mindfulness begins when we move from a mode of doing and thinking, and into a way of being, where sensing takes centre stage. Because most of us aren’t used to working with our senses in this way, it helps to practise. For this five senses practice, the only equipment you need is yourself, a chair, and a glass of water. Allow about three minutes for each stage (15 minutes in total).

For a guided audio version of this practice, please visit http://www.edhalliwell.com.

Feeling. If possible, sit upright (although not stiffly so) on the chair, with your back self-supporting and feet on the ground. Let your hands come to rest on the thighs, and, if you like, close your eyes. What sensations do you notice? How are your feet feeling? Can you feel the weight of your sit bones on the seat? How about in your back – what sensations are here? Do you feel air on your face? What temperature is it just now – warmer or cooler? And what about internal sensations? Are you noticing any aching, itching, or buzzing? Or maybe there’s not much sensation at the moment – a numbness, perhaps? Be aware of the location of any feeling (or lack of feeling), and whether it’s changing in intensity. You don’t have to try to hold on to or get rid of sensations, or even to name them. See if you can just allow them to be experienced. I normally start to feel itchy.

Hearing. Now, as you let body sensations fade into the background, allow sounds to be noticed. What are you hearing? You don’t have to go searching for sounds: wait for them to come to you, as if your ears were microphones, receiving and registering vibrations. Louder, softer, closer, further away, short or long sounds? Or sudden, repeating and continuous sounds? Are they high or low pitch? Perhaps there’s silence, or gaps in-between sounds – are you noticing these too? Open your microphone ears and let hearing come in, whether the sounds seem pleasant or unpleasant. Whatever symphony is playing right now, can you let it be heard?

Seeing. Now open the eyes to seeing. Rather than fixing on what you can see as ‘things’ (e.g. table, chair, book, carpet, etc.), see if you can let the visual field be colours, shapes, shades, or lines. Allow the eyes to linger rather than darting about. Be interested in depth and height and shade. If you find yourself thinking about what you’re seeing – drawn into a memory or a concern, or automatically giving things a name as they come into view – that’s fine, just acknowledge that the mind has wandered into thought, and gently come back to seeing.

Smelling. Perhaps closing the eyes again, allow yourself to smell. Whether what you’re smelling seems nice or not so nice, let there be a connection with the odours. Is there more than one fragrance, and if so, how are they mixed together? If there are no smells, what’s the smell of ‘no smell’? The in-breaths don’t need to be deep – see if you can let breath happen naturally and offer curiosity to the coming and going of smell sensation. Isn’t it amazing to have a nose?

Tasting. Pick up the glass of water, and take a sip. Notice the arising of sensation on the tongue as the liquid makes contact. How does it taste? Clear, cool, refreshing? Let the describing words fade into the distance, allowing the sensation of taste itself be known. Gently swirl the water around your mouth, and notice if the flavour changes – perhaps as it mixes with saliva. Does it become warmer, duller, thicker? Let these sensations be experienced. Decide when you’re ready to swallow the water; notice the dissolving of taste – does any trace remain, and if so, for how long? Now take another, maybe bigger, sip and repeat – are the sensations the same, or do they seem different? What, if anything, has changed?

When you’ve practised working with each of the senses, you might reflect on any differences between this way of sensing and how you normally relate with your environment. If it seems different, how so? What were you doing that made it this way? Be interested in the answers that come up. Is the quality of your experience changed by how you attend to it?

Over the last couple of weeks I have been giving different mindful practices, pick what works best for you. Ask yourself what are your intentions for exploring mindfulness? What would you like to learn?

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”- Oscar Wilde
Love Vanessa 💜

Obstacles to Overcome

“Peace of mind is not the absence of conflict from life, but the ability to cope with it.” ~Unknown

Mindfulness is allowing me to become more aware of my thoughts and reach a sense of inner peace. As my awareness is beginning to increase, so is the peace and joy in my life. The more familiar I become with my inner workings of my mind, the better I am starting to feel. I’ve been through a lot of challenges in my life, such as going through brief spurts of depression. I’ve felt like I wasn’t good enough, and that life wouldn’t work out the way I wanted it to. In every one of these cases I let my thoughts run wild and run my happiness or unhappiness. I started focusing on the negative instead of on the positive, and I think many people have the same tendency. So there have been both ups and downs, but in the end they have all been there for a reason. And with each “bad period,” I’ve learned more and more about myself. I’ve learned more about what works and what doesn’t, and they have all been blessings in disguise. I have wanted to give up many times, but I’m glad that I kept going. Truly living in the present moment isn’t easy, but it is highly rewarding. The best way to move forward on your own path to “here and now” is to understand the potential obstacles and plan in advance how you’ll deal with them.

Mindfulness takes ongoing effort. Mindfulness takes a lot of work, but the good news is that the longer you practice, the easier it gets, and the more joyful your life becomes. At first, your thoughts will be in chaos, and everything will seem out of control. Your situation will feel helpless, but the more you focus on being fully where you are, the easier it will be to find peace of mind in the moment. Mindfulness is best practiced throughout your day, it is a daily practice. It’s not just for when you sit down and meditate. Focus on being mindful of your thoughts when you’re doing everyday tasks and it will be easier to remain mindful when things get tough.

There will always be distractions. When you’re on your journey to becoming more mindful, it seems as if the universe starts throwing stuff at you left and right just to give you challenges. The distractions could be problems in your life, drama in your relationships, or old negative beliefs popping up out of nowhere from your past. These are great opportunities to practice present moment awareness. They will help you become stronger, better, and more in tune with yourself. The problems and challenges we face are teachers in disguise. I know they don’t feel like teachers at the time, but they are, they are our life lessons. They are there to help you grow and to realize who you truly are.

Progress doesn’t always come quickly. Progress may seem excruciatingly slow, like watching paint dry. There will be times when you attach to things and situations that you want, which will make it difficult to be fully in the present moment. It’s impossible to be mindful when you’re dwelling on the past or obsessing about the future. We all do those things sometimes. I’ve experienced it countless times in my own life. The more I want something, the more I fixate on not having it and wanting to get it. Once I release the attachment and focus on being grateful for what I have in the moment, my life seems to shift, and progress seems to happen naturally. And prosperity seems to flow.

You may want to give up. Like with any worthwhile journey, you will feel like giving up and throwing in the towel multiple times. But it is during the times when you feel most frustrated that you are often on the verge of a breakthrough. Just hold on a little longer. Our lives are very similar to the seasons. We go through cold, dark winters, and joyful, expanding summers. It all comes and goes. It’s the ebb and flow of life. When you realize that the challenging times are there to help you grow, you will automatically feel more peaceful and relaxed.

Your goals may challenge your mindfulness. Having goals is fantastic, essential even, but when you become overly attached to them, something bad happens, just like we talked about above. You know that you’re too attached to something when you start feeling frustrated, angry, and negative. Attachment muddles our clarity. You’re likely pursuing your goals because you believe they will make you happy. Remember that when you start letting your goals pull you into a stressful state of mind. If you focus on the good things around you, you’ll feel that happiness that you think you need to chase. This will make you much happier in the long term, and, of course, right now. Goals help but they aren’t the only thing that does.

You might forget that the journey is the destination. Most people miss the fact that the reward is in the journey. Have you ever noticed that when you reach a goal, it’s not as exciting as you thought it would be? Sure, it feels great to hit a milestone, but if you do not replace that goal with another one, you will soon find yourself feeling unfulfilled. That’s because we are goal-seeking mechanisms. Humans need goals so they can have a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It is in the journey that we learn, grow, and become better. When you’re practicing mindfulness, remember that there is nowhere to arrive at. If you focus on what is going on right now, the rest take care of itself.

Sometimes you’ll want to be anywhere but in the now. Even the most enlightened masters on earth have to deal with difficult situations and chaotic thoughts. The difference is they have learned to accept the moment for what it is. When you do this, you become the guardian of your inner space, which is the only way to feel good inside and find peace of mind, right now.

Good luck!

 Love Vanessa 💜

Mindful Walking-My Favorite Kind of Mindfulness

“Our way to practice is one step at a time, one breath at a time.” ~Shunryu Suzuki

Sitting meditation has always been challenging for me, I honestly can’t sit still it is like I have ants in my pants. Lying down on a yoga mat seems to work better for me but, I do sometimes fall asleep. But, walking meditation is a simple way to connect with my spirit, my soul and mother earth in a very grounded way. This is honestly my favorite new way to meditate mindfully.

Many of us, including me at times, take the benefits of walking for granted almost like it is a chore. Each day I limit the steps I take by driving, taking a go train or sitting for long periods of time at work and at home. But walking even a few blocks a day has unlimited benefits, not only for my health, but my spirit as well, for as I walk, I connect with the earth. Mother Nature is amazing, her beautiful flowers and their smells, her little creatures working everyday. Birds singing among the concrete jungle we call downtown Toronto.

Even when I am walking on concrete, the earth is still beneath me, supporting me. Walking lets my body remember simpler times, when life was less complicated. When I was a kid, there was a day that went bye, excluding winter, that I wasn’t outside in the grass barefoot! This helps me slow down to the speed of my body and take the time to integrate the natural flow of my life into my cellular tissues. Instead of running from place to place or thinking about how much more I can fit into my day, I am going to walk and allow myself to exist in the moment. Gives me time to smell the roses, and I love smelling the roses.

Each step I take can lead me to becoming more mindful of myself and my feelings. Walking slows me down enough not only to pay attention to where I am in my body, but also to my breath. Taking time to simply notice my breath or breathing while I walk, through the length of my inhales and exhales, and becoming attuned to the way in which I breathe is taking a step towards mindfulness. When I become more mindful, I gradually increase my awareness of the environment around me and start to recognize that the normal flow of my thoughts and feelings are not always related to where I am in the present moment. Gradually I will realize that the connection I have with the earth and the ground beneath my feet is all that is. By walking and practicing breathing mindfully I am gaining a sense of calm and tranquility, the problems and troubles of the day slowly fade away because I am in the ‘now’.

The simplicity and ease of a walking practice/meditation allows me to create time, space and awareness of my surroundings and of the wonders that lie within. Taking a few moments to walk mindfully each day and become more aware of my breath will in turn open the door for the beauty of the world around me to filter in.

This is my new favorite form of mindfulness and meditation. It helps me de-stress from a long day at work and helps in Be Vanessa and Be Mindful.

 Love Vanessa 💜