Week Five: Re-Birth Day

Sunday was my birthday.  When I was having a brief "moment" about my age, my husband said I'm beginning again, and he was right. This is definitely a new beginning for me. I feel like I am starting everything anew.

My master plan had always been that once my kids were grown I would work full on with my businesses and writing. Although I've made some steps towards it over the years, I was putting it off fully until then. I was already working full-time at home, and I didn't want any more time to take away from my sons. I have no regrets for that decision, I wish I had even more time to spend with them. But now that I'm here, it feels different. When I was planning for a couple of decades in the future, I didn't consider that I was going to feel a little bit older! But part of that is from not taking care of myself, and not putting myself first or even in the running at all (these foot analogies come so easily without thinking). I think another piece of this is fear. Once finally faced with making that change and diving in, it can feel scary. 

These past five weeks of self care, not trying to fix everything, hanging back and letting everyone take care of themselves, and me, has been a life changer. I'm grateful that it wasn't more serious, but even more grateful that it happened so I could be forced to take a look at myself, my life and how I was neglecting myself. 


Every week before I start my new blog I think, nothing is happening, what am I going to write about? Then literally moments later a flood of new, wonderful things happen! It has happened every single time. It has shown me clearly that our needs are always taken care of and we're never alone. It isn't just about writing my blog, it's about life in general. We just need to ask, believe and receive. The help and answers might not always come in the package we expect, but we always get help, and it's always what we need. When I'm struggling with my writing, I look to the reminder I have on my desk. I have a statue representing Archangel Gabriel. Any time I ask for him to help me with my writing, so much comes to me. The writing is effortless and I am always so grateful for the help.

A few days after speaking with Sonia Choquette about my businesses and writing, a HUGE tidal wave of abundance came my way. I mean HUGE! It was something unexpected that will help me give readings to people as I had talked to her about, as well as many, many more ways to help people. It all is in line with where I have been headed, and it was a gift from the universe telling me I'm on the right path. If you start to notice the little synchronicities and signs that you are being given, it will open a floodgate. I have done this by prayer, meditation, writing in my gratitude journal daily, and saying thank you for these blessings often. I also continue to read and do courses by authors who speak the messages I am seeking. I believe this is possible for everyone. And it doesn't have to be for a spiritually-based business. We all have our gifts and reasons for coming into this world. Whatever it is that lights you up, ask for more of it. And be prepared to receive it!

Among others, I am currently working Sonia Choquette's Wake Up Your Spirit Course. Her courses are very motivational and inspiring. It gets you back in tune with yourself. I also read the Third Chakra section of Dr. Mona Lisa Schulz's book Intuitive Advisor. She described me to a T and provided helpful advice, including seeking the help of an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist for my weight issues.

Sonia's mention of my foot being about changing my path has made me feel lighter, more joyful, more positive that what I truly want is here. I feel tuned into it. I know this will happen. I just know. And I feel lighter and more energetic than I have in years.

These falls we encounter, like my foot injury are such a gift. It is not why is this happening to me, it's why is this happening FOR me. I am still giving it the rest it needs, using the massager, Epsom salt baths, meditating on its healing, and eating healthier by listening to my body. I'm down 7 1/2 pounds. It's funny how the foot seems so minor in these later blogs, but I know it was really just something to stop me in my tracks to catapult me further.

Thank you for sharing my my journey. Til next week...

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You by Kerri Richardson

I can't resist reading a new Hay House book, and how could I possibly resist reading something from another Kerri? I have been following Kerri Richardson on Facebook for quite awhile and enjoy her clutter busting tips, her many live chats, and following her adventures of building a tiny house with her wife Melissa. I was very excited to get my hands on her new book. 

What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You - Uncover The Message In The Mess And Reclaim Your Life arrived with a little over 100 pages, I thought hmm, this is slim, not your typical 250+ pages. But once I started reading, I realized something pretty spectacular, the book is clutter free! What could get across the point any clearer? When you read a book, especially self help, and the same message is repeated over and over again in slightly different ways, it can get very monotonous. You know the point could be wrapped up so much quicker. Well, Kerri did it! Kerri Richardson's book is filled with concrete steps to remove the clutter and get to the bottom of why it's there in the first place. She also provides her own personal stories and those from her clients too. 

What Kerri reveals in What Your Clutter Is Trying To Telling You, is far more valuable than just removing items from your home. Clutter is a symptom, and Kerri helps get you to the cause. Her book is a deep dive into the multitude of ways clutter clogs your personal space and your head space. Her book provides an easy method to break down clutter clearing in more manageable chunks. It takes away the overwhelm and provides an enormous sense of accomplishment in a short time.

While I read the book I also participated in a 30 Day Clutter Clearing Game that Kerri started on Facebook. This was also a fantastic way to ease into clutter clearing. For each day of the month, you clear that number of items (1 item for day one, 30 items for day 30, etc) and by the end you will have gotten rid of 465 items! Here's more details on Kerri's site: http://kerririchardson.com/clutter-game/. She also offers private coaching, group coaching and Clutter Buster courses. Kerri has endless ideas for clutter clearing. Along with her book, I highly recommend following her on social media to join her groups and live chats (links are below). The extra support helps so much. I am also an avid fan of her new Hay House Radio show on Mondays at 11AM PT. Definitely check it out, you can call in and speak to her too! 

Thanks to Kerri I realized that clutter is more than just objects, it can be in other things that weigh us down (including weight itself). She made me look at why I was really holding on to the extra pounds. I thought I was sabotaging myself for upcoming events in my life. I would start the diet because "x" event was coming up in a few months, but instead of losing, I would gain. Through Kerri's guidance, it became clear that it was the events themselves that I was protecting myself from. I am empathic, shy and sensitive, and new situations and different energies are difficult for me. The extra padding puts a buffer between that. It's definitely helpful to know the "why" when you are trying to make a change.

Another clutter trap was my art supplies. I have always thought "I am an artist" even though I haven't practiced it in a long time. I had art supplies in my closet as far back as high school and many from college. I felt like I couldn't let them go since "I am an artist" has been my mantra for years. I even bought a whole new set of art supplies well over a year ago to inspire me to create again. But it's still sitting in the same closet. Kerri helped me examine this. Is this something I actually enjoy? Through simple exercises, I have come to realize that what I thought was a fear of doing this again, may actually be that it's just not for me right now. I don't have to be an artist. Why would I create that kind of pressure on myself? I was able to let go of the high school & college supplies, and a stinky college textbook (I just don't like old book smell) And the best part is, I didn't have the attachment to it all that I thought I would. It wasn't hard to let it go. I kept the newer supplies, and before I decide if I will let it go entirely, I will try it out again, but with no pressure. I know now that I don't have to do or be anything other than happy.

I am the queen of lists. Through Kerri Richardson's book and the "Action Time!" steps, I was able to see how the lists were keeping me from having any fun. The lists never ended. So I've clutter cleared those, pared things down to what I really need to remember to do, and added in fun things on my list! I was also able to let go of Christmas items that had no meaning (or I didn't like), along with releasing the guilt feelings that whisper that I have to keep every memory forever. I let go of items that held negative memories. Going through the bad memories was only difficult at the start of the process (Who wants to conjure up bad feelings?), once I started working on it, and got things out of the house, I felt free and clear. Everything holds energy, and avoiding them and having them in my home, was not healthy. 

I let go of excessive wrapping paper, years old unfinished crafts (I have yet to remember what the googly eyes on rocks was all about), DVDs, kitchen items, school supplies, outdated food & medicine, clothing, computer cords, cookbooks, and more. Almost everything was donate or recycled. I paired down some of the school papers I've been keeping of my kids. Those memories are the hardest for me. I really felt like I needed to keep it all, but that was just something I put on myself, and now I am more able to let it go. I don't need to keep every single memory to remember their childhood or to honor them. 

                           

                            

What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You shows the common causes of clutter, provides a resource list of where to donate or sell items, and even provides a section on turning clutter into cash! Kerri also points out so many additional types of clutter that may surprise you, but once sorted through and released from your life, will make a positive impact.

Kerri encourages us to look at what is coming in to our lives as the clutter leaves, and I just love that! This awareness paired with gratitude brings so much more goodness into our lives. Throughout the last month and a half of reading the book and letting go of physical, digital and mental clutter, so many blessings have arrived. I received an invitation from an Instagram friend to participate in goodness packs she was putting together. This resulted in a large order for Kindness Cards and paper butterflies that will now be distributed around the U.K.! I also received an affiliate check from Hay House, a free life insurance policy, a new TV for my office (also free), and many other blessings of kindness and abundance. The best part is feeling lighter, a sense that good is flowing in my life, and I am putting more positive energy into the world as a result. This is an ongoing process, but one I feel confident and positive about thanks to Kerri Richardson and What Your Clutter is Trying To Tell You.

Here are some ways to reach Kerri Richardson and buy her book:
Kerri's book: Hayhouse: http://hhafftrk.com/?a=3653&c=6166&p=r&s1=  
Kerri's book: Amazon http://amzn.to/2Fq5Oxa
Kerri's website: http://kerririchardson.com/
Kerri on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KerriCoach/
Kerri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrioke/?hl=en
Hay House Radio: http://hhafftrk.com/?a=3653&c=1445&p=r&s1=

In Gratitude & Love,


Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

2017 The Best Year Ever!

Why will 2017 be the best year ever? Because every year to me is the best year ever! It really is a matter of attitude, and how you choose to see things. I choose to be grateful and to see the unlimited potential in the year ahead. My mind is bursting with ideas of what I want to accomplish this year. I'm going to list them, but I will have no regrets if I can't get to them all. My mind seems to have a lot more energy than my body at times! And who knows what other opportunities and adventures will present themselves this year?

So here we go!

ACIM - I started January 1st with something I have been wanting to dive into for a long time. I finally ordered A Course In Miracles (ACIM), and Hollie Holden decided to start a Facebook group called Presence of Love Study Group to support anyone wanting to do the course together. It was a perfect opportunity, so I joined the group and am up to Lesson 3. It is so easy to do, and I so look forward to beginning every morning with this inspiring experience to return to love. If you are interested in learning more, join her page, you can start the course any time.

Learning - I am finishing up the the last two weeks of the Ask Your Guides course by Sonia Choquette. Oh my goodness, I can not wait to tell you all about it. I just had another incredible experience yesterday getting to know specific guides, their vibrations, names, and signs from them. It was just magic and proved to me undeniably that we are never alone! 

My next courses will be Unlock the Secret Messages of Your Body by Denise Linn, 21 Days To Glorious, Fabulous Abundance (it's a great course I started awhile back and will finish!) and Doreen Virtues Certified Realm Reader course. So much fun, I just love to learn!

Reading - I will also be reading quite a bit this year (as always!). I'm finishing up Nancy Levin's Worthy and Denise Linn's Past Lives Present Miracles. Great books, and I'll be blogging about them of course. I have a bookshelf filled with more to read too. I want to continue learning about spirituality, growth, abundance, and I love autobiographies also.

Healthy Weight - I am going to reach my goal weight in the summer. I've lost 17 1/2 pounds and am on the road to better health!

Exercise - I used to exercise quite a bit and got off track last year. I have already started incorporating this back into my day, and will be getting back to the gym too! Yoga will also be a big part of this.

Garden Sanctuary - it's been a challenge getting plants to grow in the Texas heat, but my goal this year is to really create a beautiful sanctuary in our yard.

Clutter Clearing - I have started this, but I will make sure I get through the entire house this year. It feels good to clear the stagnant energy and welcome the new! Let the Chi flow!

Joy & Fun - I will be spending more time in the present, being joyful, spending time with my family, friends and enjoying life!

Getting Me Outta Here - I plan to get out more during the week. I work from home, which means spending anywhere from 45-65 hours a week indoors. Whether I take my laptop to an internet cafe, actually take a lunch break and go for a walk in the park nearby, or do something outdoors after work, I will definitely be breaking up my routine. The weekends will include excursions as well. I started getting out more on the weekends last year and will continue this trend!

Sanctuary Everywhere! - I've learned about creating an altar, creating a sacred space. I have that in my bedroom, and I love it. I meditate and pray there and it's quite beautiful. I also created an abundance altar in my office, and I have some sacred items on another table. One corner of my couch is another meditation spot, and I feel a beautiful, relaxing presence there. My car has spiritual & religious items in it, and has become a sanctuary for prayer. I really want that sacred space to be everywhere around me, for everyone. So, my goal is to make our entire home (inside and out) sacred. What that means to me, is that is gives off a peaceful, loving, welcoming vibration. I want all those who live here, as well as those who enter, and those who leave our home to feel love.

Prayer/Meditation/Gratitude - These have been a life changer for me, and I will continue with them. I want to bump my meditation up to twice a day, and be more consistent with my gratitude journal. I also want to keep the dialogue always open with my spirit guides (so when you catch me talking to myself, that's why!).

Writing - Once I actually sit down to write, it's so easy, so second nature. I want to continue to write from the heart because I truly enjoy it, and I feel like it's one of the things I'm supposed to be doing in this lifetime.

Suitable Gifts - I plan to continue to learn, create more products, reach more people, and grow this business I love so much. Suitable Gifts is my way to spread love, kindness, peace and joy. I also have a cat site (I love cats!) which I will reveal later this year (website and products still need a bit of work and organizing). I plan to get out more in the public with more shows, and attract more attention to this business through publicity. I want to get my YouTube channel moving along (like posting my first video!), and either starting a newsletter or at least sending out some emails to my email list.

Kindness...Pass It On Mission - I have so many ideas for this as well. I would like to put together Kindness Kits this year for the homeless, seniors, kids in the hospital, and kids who are hungry (possibly through schools). I am looking forward to making the Kindness...Pass It On Mission grow to help more!

Abundance - I plan to create more abundance in my life not just financially, but in friendships, relationships, love, kindness, joy, time, and more!

Past Life Regression - Oh I am so interested in past lives! I already had two readings where I learned about several of my past lives, but I want to discover them for myself. I am reading Denise's past life book as mentioned above, as well as listening to several of Dr. Brian Weiss' past life regression audios. This will be a fun year of exploration, and I can't wait to see what I discover and resolve in my current life!

Art - This is one of the things I love, but get intimidated to do. I have a ton of art supplies ready, and I'm diving in again so I feel like the artist I used to. Here we go!

Travel Goals - I have been wanting to do some serious travel since I was in my 20's. I kept pushing it aside, but I am going to start setting some goals for the places I want to see: Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England, France, and so much more. There are so many spiritual sites I want to see: Assisi, Lourdes, Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), to name a few.

Wishing for you, all you desire for the New Year and even better! Expect this to be the best year ever and your thoughts (then actions) will create it! Share below what your plans are for the New Year!

*Click on any of highlighted words in the blog for the books, courses, and more information!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

New Year's Eve Reflections

I am seeing so many posts on social media of people being so "done" with 2016. I've even said it myself, it felt like it was the year that everyone died. There seemed to be so much upheaval, tragedy, tumultuous activity (the election, oy). There was so much. But of course, those are the things that get the most attention on the news and social media. There was goodness, love, kindness, giving, and miracles happening too, there always is. And by now, you know where I choose to put my focus on (even if I stray for a moment or two).

If you are into numerology at all, you know 2016 is a 9 year (add up the numbers 2+1+6=9). It's a year of completion, of endings. It doesn't have to be a bad thing, it can be a time of forgiving and letting go. It also means that the cycle begins again and 2017 (2+1+7=10, 1+0= 1) is a year of 1. This is a year of beginnings, and I can already feel that it is going to be a fantastic year ahead.

Our year, our life can be whatever we choose it to be, depending on how we view it. I choose to see the good in it, no matter the circumstances. I have come to realize in what seems like the worst of times (I have had plenty of them), there is good in it. There is a lesson, there is a knowing that better times are ahead, there is an extreme gratitude in the knowledge that I am being taught and loved by a team of divine guides who have always been there, even when I didn't know it.

For me, this year brought incredible blessings, I met authors and beautiful souls don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz Jr., and Eben Alexander author of Proof of Heaven. I connected with Karen Kubicko, read her beautiful book Life Is Just Another Class about her past lives and had an incredible reading from her about my guides and past lives. I spoke with Hay House authors Liana Werner-Gray and Denise Linn, received wonderful advice and received a book The Earth Diet from Liana, and a course from Denise. Denise also tapped into a past life of mine where I acquired my foot pain. The course she gifted me, is going to help me resolve it. Skye Dyer noticed and acknowledged my #WayneDyerWednesday posts on Instagram that I started to honor her dad Dr. Wayne Dyer. From there, I connected with Skye, Serena and Saje Dyer and was able to thank them, and share with them how grateful I am to their dad. I got to know Kate Mackinnon and learned a new healing modality CST (cranial sacral therapy) through her amazing book From My Hands and Heart. I became friends with the most beautiful soul sisters and brothers on Instagram who are on a similar path, are kind, supportive, enthusiastic, humorous, and genuine. I reunited with three soul sisters I met at an I Can Do It! event in Austin in 2013. I met two of them in Austin for dinner, and one came to my town for the week. It was wonderful to catch up, I feel like we have known each other forever (we probably have!) I became even closer with my friends from my youth, even though we live so far away. One of them even visited this year for a week, and three of my other friends and I are planning a long weekend together next year. 

I took another step into public view with my business and participated in events to showcase my products. Sales doubled again this year. I learned more, worked on my website, blogged more, and wrote from my heart without fear of what other people would think. I worked with the amazing healer & Hay House author Abby Wynne (her latest book is How To Be Well) to create a special collection of her quotes on the products I sell. I also participated in a wonderful contest she created with her latest book and items from the collection. 

I worked more on the Kindness...Pass It On mission to provide intentional acts of kindness. I created Kindness tags to support the mission, and received more requests from all over the world for Kindness Cards. 

I really learned to take care of myself this year.  I started my diet with Nutrisystem and have lost 17 1/2 pounds so far. I plan to have the rest of the excessive poundage lost by this coming summer. I have learned to cook better food, do yoga, meditate and exercise. This will be a lifelong process not just a quick fix. I learned to take time for myself to do the things that bring me joy, help me to relax, and nourish my soul. By giving to myself, I am much more energized and joyful to give to those I love.

I received an amazing job offer through a beautiful friend I have known for years. It came when I wasn't looking for it, and it was the nicest surprise. The company has a group of fun, kind, hard working, and appreciative people that makes it a pleasure to be a part of. I work remotely, yet I feel so close to this group that are scattered around the country.

One of the toughest moments this year was losing my sweet kitty Pepper. We had her since she was a kitten, and she was such a love. She would hop on my desk while I was working, purr and snuggle up next to my laptop. She is a beautiful soul. I miss her sweet face and her adorable personality. It's not the same, but she's still here. Yes, I have had signs from Pepper. This may have to be another blog, she's pretty clever in how she shows me her presence. Pepper is a beautiful sign of our eternal nature.

I started a course by Sonia Choquette called Ask Your Guides. I am learning to connect and understand how spirit communicates with us. It's a four week course and I'm halfway through. I experienced a miracle in the second week. It was really for two people in my life who I love very much, and I won't give details because I honor their privacy. But it was something that wasn't right for years, and through the course I was praying for help. I learned to write to my helper guides, and I learned how to do automatic writing for a response back. The writing showed me not to panic, and not to interfere in the way I thought I should. I needed to relax, and know that it was going to be ok. I listened and I followed the guidance I received.  I learned to write an invocation to ask for help. Two days after the invocation, the situation was resolved. All is well, in fact all is better than well. There is so much help around us at all times, all we need to do is ask. We may not get the answer we expect, it may not be the way we wanted to do it, but the help we receive is for our greater good. We just need to let go, and trust.

I learned that what we put our attention on is what we draw towards us. The more I wanted to learn about spirituality, past lives, art, health, and abundance, the more it appeared. Books, authors, teachers, courses all arrived. This is happening for all of us, all the time, we just need to start noticing it. I learned how important it is to catch myself in negative thinking, and let it go. I also learned through keeping a gratitude journal, how the things there are to be grateful for double, triple, quadruple when you take the time to notice the good things that are happening. I write them down, I say thank you aloud when it happens. Celebrate all that goes right, it is far better than blaming the divine when something goes wrong. Life isn't happening to us, it's happening for us.

I am extremely grateful to all of my friends and family who have supported my business by purchasing items, sharing my social media posts, reading my blogs, and commenting. My business and my blog has been the deepest expression of what I want to share with the world, and your support has meant more than I can express. I am so thankful to all of you for your friendships, love and for being a part of my journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours. I know our paths have crossed before, and I am certain they will cross again as we all continue to learn, grow, live, and love. 

I have so many plans for the year ahead. I'm very excited for continued spiritual growth, business growth, joy and fun with my family & friends. I will expand upon it in my New Year's Day blog!

Much love to you all! Wishing you peace, love, joy, perfect wellness, abundance and all you intend for the New Year!

In Love & Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Gratitude and Weight Loss - My Journey

I have been planning to write this blog for some time now. How I write is based on how I feel. I write from the heart and when I get started it flows quite easily. When I feel blocked or stressed while writing, I know it's not the right thing. I think that is what has taken this one so long, there was a missing piece to it. Last night the final piece arrived, so here it goes!

I have been struggling with my weight most of my life. I have been overweight, healthy weight, overweight, healthy weight, and overweight many times over. I have thought about why, and there are so many reasons that I really should weigh about 5,000 pounds. From childhood abuse, stress, work overload, sugar addiction, being an empath, self sabotage, and more, I have built quite a padding to protect myself. Knowing where it stems from hasn't changed the eating habits. I really thought if I could figure out "why" the pounds would just melt off. Ummmm, no.

I'm not happy when I'm overweight. I am generally a pretty quiet person, but this tends to shelter me even more because I feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. When I am thin I feel vulnerable, awkward, and nervous when I feel that attention is being drawn to me. I have really spent time thinking about all of this, because wanting to be thinner and healthier means being able to deal with those feelings. And whatever weight I am at, I need to love myself anyway. I am not my body. I am a divine soul, as all of us are.

I have quite a number of plans for growing my business, and part of it starts in the new year with putting myself physically out into the public more. This plan has contributed to more self sabotage. The fear of success, the feeling of unworthiness and more piles on...and so do the extra pounds.

I even thought staying away from the scale would help. I do have obsessive tendencies when I start to diet, because off course I want the weight to come off overnight. I end up checking the scale way more than I should. I thought, I'll just stay away for awhile and I'll notice if I'm gaining weight by my clothes. Well, this proved futile since the next time I got on the scale, I gained 16 pounds! Yes, we're not talking a pound or two..16!!! So, I will use the scale, but not excessively.

After understanding some of the reasons why I was overweight, I prayed about it. I knew I needed help and couldn't do this myself. I needed my spiritual team to help me out. I prayed, and then I meditated. What started appearing in my life, were all the tools I needed. Health books like The Earth Diet, articles, courses, juicing websites, yoga techniques, and very supportive friends, it all kept pouring in. I read it all, I learned it all. But my weight stayed the same.

Finally I truly thought the answer was loving myself thin. I bought a new journal just to dedicate it to writing kind thoughts to myself and loving reminders when I made healthy choices. I knew that I needed a gentler approach. Worrying and beating myself up about it were not the answers. Rushing myself to lose weight was also not going to work...it never has. So I thought being kind to myself was the missing link. And it definitely is a part of it, you can't berate yourself or hate yourself into change. Yet, this still wasn't the final piece.

What I figured out after an evening meditation was a bit of a eureka moment. I had prayed and meditated on it, but I wasn't practicing gratitude where my weight issues were concerned. It's amazing that the answer can be right in front of you, but you don't notice it. I have changed so many aspects of my life through prayer, meditation, and gratitude. That has been my trifecta for change. It has helped me with my business, financial abundance, bringing me closer to wonderful friends in my life, and helping me find my spiritual tribe. Every aspect of my life that I wanted to create, I used these three practices without hesitation. I'm not sure why I left my health for last. But here we go, this is the beginning of real change.

So, here is how it's all going down from now on. Every morning I say a prayer, and the first thing I say is thank you for EVERYTHING in my life. The good, the bad, the ugly. Life is such a gift, and I am so grateful for it. How I brought financial abundance into my life, was noticing it and being thankful for it. "Thank you for the $23 I just received from Ibotta." Every little thing adds up. Every penny I found on the ground, I would say "abundance!" with joy and "thank you!" I still do this.There is something in the act of noticing and being grateful, that brings more, so much more. So in the morning prayer and throughout the day, I say thanks, live in a state of awareness for the abundance coming to me, and say more thanks. Now I will also be praying for help and guidance towards being the healthiest version of myself. And then I will let go of fear and expectation, and release it to the universe to help. Letting go of how you want the prayer to be answered allows for greater things than you could have ever imagined.

After the prayer, I meditate for 20 minutes. Meditation is such a great way to set a positive tone for the day and this is when the answer to the prayer begins to unfold. I often get ideas to help me while I'm in meditation. I'm not trying to think, they just pop into my awareness. Sometimes the ideas come throughout the day. These are gifts from the universe, and they are available to anyone. 

Now this doesn't mean I don't have to do anything and it just all just appears. I will get thoughts, ideas and urges to do things that will answer my prayers. Sometimes things will come into my awareness like books, lectures, and information to use on my particular issue. For abundance, so many ideas for my business just came to me as a gentle thought. But I had to also act on it. The answer to the prayer was the thought, part of being thankful was following through on it. It's very magical and fun when you start to feel the flow of the universe. Everything is there to help when you focus on what you want, and let go of what you don't want.

And the last piece as I mentioned in prayer is gratitude. My new "healthy body" journal will be filled with with all of the blessings I see. Some of them so far are "I am grateful for having the urge to exercise and following it through, and I am grateful for feeling the need to increase my water intake and doing so throughout the day."  The more I notice and acknowledge these blessings, the more appears and the more positive changes occur. Gratitude is also a reminder that we aren't going through this life alone. When we give thanks, we are acknowledging that we have the divine holding our hands.

Prayer, meditation, and gratitude can help with anything you are struggling with. 

The reason I share so much about myself in this blog is because there hasn't been one post where someone didn't tell me they related to it, or it helped them. Writing is how I work through things, sharing it is how I serve. I know I'm not the only one struggling with weight or something they are trying to overcome, and if there is any way sharing my struggle can help, I will do it. I feel the same way about my business and just about everything else in my life, if I can help, I will. So I will be continuing to blog about this part of my journey, the ups and downs, and my gratitude for it all. 

Thank you for reading and being a part of this. Thank you for your continuous kindness and support, it means more than I can express. Feel free to comment below to share your journey or any with questions!

In Gratitude & Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Assertiveness for Earth Angels by Doreen Virtue

I absolutely love Doreen Virtue and I've never met a Hayhouse book I haven't liked. As a recovering people pleaser, Assertiveness for Earth Angels: How to be Loving Instead of "Too Nice" by Doreen Virtue was the perfect choice as my latest read. This one actually screamed out to me. 

Doreen describes Earth Angels as highly sensitive people with an innocence regarding love and life, believing in God's loving power, gentle, caring, seeing the best in others, trusting, optimistic and more. She digs deep into the many pitfalls of being such a sensitive being, and how to learn to be assertive without being aggressive.

For as far back as I can remember, I have found myself giving too much, and yet still feeling like it was not enough. I always had high expectations for what I needed to do for others, but never held anyone to that impossible standard. I even helped people who were quite capable of helping themselves. After reading Doreen's book, I learned that my jumping in to try and "save" them didn't really do them any favors. They have their own path, and their own lessons to learn. I also learned that giving for the wrong reasons can cause resentment, fatigue, money issues, health issues and more. Pure giving, she teaches, is not out of guilt, feeling sorry or obligation. 

She discusses how to set healthy boundaries, how to handle professional victims, gossipers, martyrs, guilt trippers, toxic relationships, narcissists and sociopaths (who tend to take advantage of kind, giving people). 

I was an extremely sensitive and quiet child. Although I was often bullied, it was always easier to stand up for others. I could feel their pain and I didn't want them to suffer. I remember my college years and so enjoying going out with my friends. But I also remember not liking large crowds. Trust me, we had lots of fun together, but I also remember feeling drained (not from my dear friends, just the crowd around us) and needing time by myself too. I honestly felt weird for that. Now at 48, I am more sensitive than ever. I absorb everyone's energy, whether positive or negative. It wears on me. I didn't realize that is what was happening to me, until I read Doreen's book. I thought that I wasn't a strong enough person to have my own thoughts and feelings. I felt weak. That's not what it is. I'm empathic. Picking up on the feelings of my classmates when I was a child, was because I truly could feel what they were feeling. Needing quiet time through my college years (and now too), was because the energy I was picking up was exhausting me. I feel very grateful to Doreen that I can now feel compassion towards myself for who I am, instead of criticism. There are so many ways to look at a situation, and more and more I am taking the positive view. That is what is so wonderful about reading books like this, you can find who you really are, and let go of that negative voice.

Doreen shows how how to enjoy life instead of people pleasing. She talks about following your passion and shows how we can use delay tactics instead of working on our life purpose by overeating, compulsive shopping, addictive internet surfing, substance abuse and more.

She shows us how to shield ourselves from harsh energies with crystals, angel lights, clearing, grounding and trees (yes, go hug a tree, it heals!). Also, you will learn how to have more time and energy by exercising, stretching and releasing, and eating healthfully. 

There is so much wonderful information packed into this book, and what I love about Doreen, is that she is honest and caring. She guides us to be truthful with ourselves about our real intentions, and provides so many tools to live an authentic, positive, peaceful and purposeful life.

As you can probably tell by now, I highly recommend this book.

In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Angels - How to See, Hear and Feel Your Angels by Kyle Gray

I learned of Kyle Gray through one of Robert Holden's weekly shows on Hayhouseradio. I began following him on Facebook and Instagram, and was eager to read one of his books. One day on Facebook he mentioned that he was putting 30 signed copies of Angels - How to See, Hear and Feel Your Angels for sale on his website. I hurried to his site and was thrilled to purchase one just in time!

When my Angel book arrived from Scotland, I was grateful for the message inscribed from the author: "The angels want you to know that you are a huge force of love. There is so much goodness within it. Even though you many not see it - but they do! Let heaven guide you on the journey to self-love! <3 Kyle"

As I have been adding more and more time for myself to relax, I found that warm, candlelit baths with epsom salt, along with a cup of chamomile tea are quite wonderful. What better book to take along with me than Angels? I affectionately refer to my reading of this book as "Bath time with Kyle," since the entire book was read in the bathtub! These evenings were pure indulgence for me. Such a beautiful book, written from the heart. So much information, and worded such, that even an angel newbie like me could grasp.

Kyle takes us through the different types of angels, archangels, meeting our guardian angel, seeing, hearing and feeling angels, prayers, affirmations and more. The prayers and affirmations are beautiful, and as I read via candlelight, the bath become a sanctuary. It was luminous, spiritual, heavenly. 

I enjoyed learning how Kyle began on his beautiful path of connecting with the angels. He shows us how angels can help us in different aspects of our life: happiness, abundance, guidance, protection and more. We just need to allow them to help. Kyle also provides meditations, exercises and summarizes each chapter. 

He teaches us how to cleanse our energy through exercise, yoga and more. Perfect for my bathtime ritual, I also learned that a Himalayan Salt bath makes for an excellent detox. I did try it, and boy was I wiped out after! I could see how much I needed it. It's demanding on the circulatory system, so check with your doctor before you do this if you have any health issues, weak or poor heart circulation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to connect with their angels, or who want to learn more about them. It is a beautiful affirmation that we are never alone, we are supported and loved always, and we can always connect to them. Thank you Kyle for giving us the tools to do just that.

In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com