There are no right or wrong decisions. You make choices. How do you know when a decision feels “right” to you? Sub-optimal decisions provide valuable feedback, which helps you move forward with a different course of action. With so many options, how do you know which decision is the best for you?

This human experience inevitably arrives with challenges. How do you respond when life throws an unexpected curveball at you? This could be a life changing health diagnosis, a car accident, or an unanticipated lay off. What tools do you have available to cope with, and make the best of your situation? What will you do with the basket of lemons that arrived at your door? Will you choose to make lemonade, or allow the lemons to sour your experience?

Tip #1- Accept the challenge.

Tip #2- Define the problem.

Tip #3- Ask yourself: Do I know anyone who has resolved this problem, or a similar problem?

Tip #4- Break down the challenge into manageable steps.

Tip #5- Remember the Big Picture. Life will have it’s ups and downs. For this one obstacle you are experiencing, there might be 9 other things you could be grateful for!

Carol is a mother to one daughter and a grandmother to three grandsons. When I first met Carol, she was teaching graduate and undergraduate courses at Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities, where she worked for 27 years. In her free time, she created a poetry course for people with disabilities called “Wright Now”. She taught an additional 3 years at Liberty Resources Center for Independent living. The course there was designed to encourage people to express their feelings about themselves and life in general. She is presently retired, but enjoys keeping herself active in teaching or advocacy.

Carol was born with a medical diagnosis of cerebral palsy, which caused severe physical limitations, however she is mentally unaffected. She utilizes a wheelchair for transportation, and has a team of personal assistants, who assist her with her daily care routine, which includes grooming, assistance with eating, and assistance with using restroom facilities.

The Universe is created from energy.  Energy is eternal. It is neither created nor destroyed. Energy manifested in physical form makes up matter, which carries different vibrations. High energies vibrate at a high hertz, or the unit of measurement for a frequency, while negative energies vibrate at lower frequencies. The Earth, your desk, and your body all vibrate at a different frequency.  

We will cover the Top 3 highest and lowest energies and what steps can you take to increase your vibrational energy.

If you would like more information about the Cultivate Your Inner Goddess Podcast, please visit www.cultivateyourinnergoddess.com

Cause and effect. Those are the two sides of the equation. Which side are you on?

The effect side- A person on this side of the equation feels that she is a victim of life and that things happen TO her. Nothing seems to go her way. She does not receive the outcomes she wants. She feels helpless and believes that other people or external circumstances control her life.

Paul answers the following questions:

1. Question: What are signs of emotional abuse?

2. Question: Is it easy to recognize these signs of emotional abuse while you are in a relationship?

3. Question: How do you know when it’s time to leave a relationship?

4. Question: Why do we fear being single?

5. Question: What are the components of a healthy relationship?

6. Question: What tips do you have for empowerment?

Below are the links to Paul Colaianni’s website and podcast:

https://theoverwhelmedbrain.com and https://loveandabuse.com

Thank you Neutrin05’s Longing for the podcast soundtrack

A New Year. A Time to Welcome a New Version of Yourself.

The new year of 2021 has arrived! It’s an opportunity to allow the door to close on 2020 and begin a new chapter. Some people choose to make New Year's Resolutions. I used to be one of the “New Year’s Resolutioners”, however I manage my goals more often than once a year now. Over the years, I’ve realized that people joined the gym, went for a month or two, and then stopped going. Gyms know this too! They love people who pay for gym memberships, but don’t show up to sweat and get their money’s worth. Others will start an eating plan, and give up after one week. Instead of worrying about the reset date of the calendar, why not worry about what you can control, which is Yourself... Today?

Take a moment to answer this question: (You can think about it, or write the answer down.) What is your motivation for giving? Is it any of the above? Is it none of the above? You might enjoy giving, as you find it rewarding to see the delight on someone’s else’s face as they open your gift. I believe the best gifts are ones given without expectation, or obligation. It’s a gift given without being tethered to an outcome. If the receiver offers a “thank you”, that’s a bonus, but a “thank you” is not required, if you give without expectation of anything in return.

When I ask that question, who is the first person to come to mind? Is it your sports rival? Is it your coworker who you feel like is constantly trying to one-up you? Is it your neighbor who lets her dog do his business on your lawn and never cleans it up?  

Would you be horrified if I told you that YOU might be your own worst enemy? You might be asking, “How is that possible, Grace? How could I be my own worst enemy”? Sometimes it’s not your actions, but rather the thoughts you have about yourself that are the most destructive.

There may be a critical voice inside your head that judges yourself harshly, and to a different standard than you hold others to. It is an internalization of expectations from your parents, society, and yourself. It is often accompanied by blaming, shaming, and judging thoughts. You might repeatedly beat yourself up for a mistake, instead of seeing it as an opportunity to learn and grow. You might be slow to forgive yourself and punish yourself for the past. Your inner critic may make you feel inadequate and unworthy.

Question: What are you holding onto, that may no longer serve you? Perhaps in the past, a relationship, a job, or even emotions served you well, however, today these same things might drain your energy.

You may have found comfort in your past- souvenirs, memories, or traditions. You fondly remember your birthday vacations with friends. You framed and displayed photos of you and then your boyfriend in multiple rooms in your apartment. All your friends know holidays are your favorite time of year. Fast forward to the present moment. The past is exactly what it is— it only exists in the past. It exists as a recording in your head. Your present might be an argument with your best friend, a boyfriend who dumped you a year ago, or the passing of a loved one near the holidays. How can fond memories be stark reminders of pain that exists in your life today? How long are you going to carry reminders of your past? More importantly, do these mementos serve your greatest good?