How to Recognize When God is Speaking to You

What do you do when you are faced with a challenging situation that is out of your control? Do you pick up the phone and call your friends? Run to your spouse if you have one? Do you fret, worry and talk about it every day? These are typical reactions to stressful situations, but there is a better way to manage them. Today I'm going to share a personal story about the power of prayer.

True Story 
The weather channel was predicting thunderstorms, heavy rain, and high winds for the next day when I had an important appointment to go to that was over an hour away. I don't like to drive in inclement weather and I would be driving smack in the middle of rush hour traffic. I debated about cancelling and rescheduling but was advised to keep the appointment which was somewhat of a legal nature. After much back and forth, I decided to keep the appointment and trust God to get me there and back safely. I have learned there is power in prayer so I sent one up that went something like this:

Lord, you know I don't like to drive when the weather is bad. Please don't let it rain on my drive to this appointment. Please keep me safe and help me get home safely. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

A short while later, I was on Twitter, (now X) which as you may know is a social media network. People post all kinds of photos, quotes, and links to articles. The feed is so fast and so populated, you only see a portion of what is actually posted. Lo and behold, a tweet comes across that said.

"He will give his angels charge over you and protect you wherever you go" (Ps 91:11).

I sat there stunned. I sensed God was talking directly to me through Twitter, of all things. A wave of peace and assurance immediately came over me. I knew God was giving me confirmation of His protection. Wow, God is on social media!

The next morning, my alarm went off way too early at 6:30 am. It was dark and I listened for the sound of thunderstorms but heard nothing outside my window. As I exited the covered garage, I was prepared for the windshield wipers to go on. Nothing. It was cloudy, but no rain. Another whispered "Thank, you, Lord" and drove onto the highway.

Then the rain started.
"Uh oh," I thought. Again, I asked God to not let it rain. Persistence is one of my character traits.

Although it took me almost 2 hours to get to my destination, the rain kept to a light sprinkle the entire time. No heavy winds. No thunderstorms. On the way home, again, light sprinkles only. I arrived in my neighborhood in good time and decided to treat myself to lunch at a Mexican restaurant I had been wanting to try. When I came out of the restaurant, it was pouring down rain. I had no umbrella with me yet I was ecstatic.

"Thank you, Lord, for holding off the rain for me this morning," as I ran to my car.

That evening, the weather guy on the evening news commented on how the weather pattern expected in the early morning hours had been delayed until the later afternoon.

All I can say is how thankful I was that it didn't thunderstorm. I believe God heard my prayers and answered them. There probably were a lot of other people who were thankful the weather held off too. Now you can say whatever you want, but I believe in the power of prayer. There are so many other stories I could share with you. If you would like to read them, check out my book "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony."

For Reflection
Do you make use of the power of prayer? When have you seen it work in your life? Drop me a note and share with us. People need to know that God hears our prayers.

If you'd like a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path, enter your email address in the box provided.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Find Peace in Uncertainty Times

Nothing is really certain in this world of ours. Everything is in a constant state of flux and turmoil. Just take a look at the stock market these days. It's easy to get off center and start to worry or become anxious.

Envision yourself in one of these scenarios. You've gone for tests and you're waiting for the medical report to come back. You lost your job unexpectedly or your spouse walks out on you. Your child is diagnosed with a serious health condition. As hard to accept as these can be, negative circumstances have something positive to teach us and that is how to live with uncertainty. 

There are lots of situations in life when we don't know what's coming next and we are forced to wait in a state of limbo. Time seems to stand still and we wonder what the future holds or if God is really paying attention to us or if He really cares. The answer to that question is a resounding "YES, He is and He does!" God is totally in control and has a purpose for everything we go through.

Personal Story:
God has allowed many situations in my life that have been extremely painful and uncertain.  If you've read my book, "The Power of Faith", you know I've been through a lot of ugly stuff such as: a bad marriage, an ugly divorce, financial ruin, health issues, rebellious addicted kids, dishonest dating relationships. And that was only the first half of my life. 

Sometimes I look back and wonder why has all this happened to me. But then I look at other people who are a lot worse off and I am so very thankful. In fact, a better perspective is to say "Thank you, God, for bringing me through all that stuff." Trials build our character. They build endurance, hope, courage, and faith.  After all, now I can write about the stuff I've learned. 

We don't know why bad things happen and it's normal to wonder how everything is going to turn out. The good news is we can relax. I know, easier said than done. Repeat after me: God is in control. Just relax. These circumstances may be a surprise to us, but they are not a surprise to God. He knows exactly what is going on. He has us in the palm of his right hand. Picture that for a moment - in the palm of His right hand. Gives you a certain comfort level, doesn't it?

How to Deal with Uncertainty
Now I am not trying to minimize whatsoever the stuff we endure in life but I have learned that learning to wait and trust God in situations is critical to maintaining my peace and joy during the rough patches of life. So what can we do to get through while we're waiting? Here are some techniques I've learned that help me and trust they will help you as well.

1. Set a limit on the amount of time you ruminate on a given situation. Do not let yourself be consumed by whatever is going on in your life or in the world around you. Ruminating sucks our joy and our energy and keeps us immobilized in a state of anxiety. Remember you are in control of your thoughts. 

2. Realize what is and is not in your control. 
Many situations that upset us are not in our control: the stock market ups and downs, the natural disasters, the fires, the viruses. As much as we would like to wave a magic wand and have all be well with the world, we cannot. The best we can do is to try to manage our own thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This takes enough energy. 

3. Remember you are not alone.
Others have and are going thru the same thing. You are not in this alone. Reach out for support. Don't be afraid to talk to others about what you're going through. I've found that when I open up, others do the same. We are all dealing with something and we all need a listening ear. God is the best ear we could have and his line is never busy. 

4. Don't rush ahead of God and take the situation into your own hands.
It could have disastrous results. Yes, waiting is tough, but if we don't wait on God we could get ourselves into a worse mess. God is directing our steps and His speed is usually SLOW. We want to remedy things NOW but God has something to teach us in our trials. I've learned that many situations in life I think are annoyances are really opportunities for me to learn endearing qualities such as Patience, Letting Go, and Surrender. God doesn't waste anything. 

5. Trust God.
Most of us have no concept of how much God really loves us, especially if we didn't receive the appropriate love, attention, and approval from our parents. But God makes up for all that. He loves and approves of us and he is watching over us all the time. 

Put it this way. Take the love you feel for the most cherished person in your life and multiple that by like a thousand (very rough guess) times. God loves each and every one of us and ultimately wants the very best for you and me.

6. Praise God.
Praise comes in many forms. It could be singing, praying, playing an instrument, thanking God out loud, quoting scripture verses. Praise is good for our souls and our spirits. It takes our focus off our problems and puts it back where it belongs - on God. It lifts our burdens and lightens our load. 

Praise also activates movement in the heavenly realms, believe it or not. There is much going on in the spiritual realm that we are not aware of. Something in the spiritual atmosphere changes when we praise God. 

For Reflection

What is it that you are anxious about today? Who or what is stealing your peace and joy? Lent is a good time to draw near to God thru prayer, journaling, and meditation. Spend some time today connecting with the Divine and see how much more peaceful you feel. 

If this post was helpful and you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly emails plus a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".

Do check out my many Pinterest boards full of helpful tips on exercise and diet, health, recipes, fashion, meditation, tea, prayer, and so much more.  Click here. 

Until next time, keep looking up and do leave a comment or forward this to a friend!

Ariel Paz 

How to Face Your Fears - Dealing with Covid

What is it that you are facing today that is causing you anxiety? A job issue? Health concern? Relationship troubles? Finances? Covid? There are many reasons to be anxious and fearful these days, but we do have a choice. Everyone is facing similiar battles, but some people don't seem to be as bothered by them. Why is that? Today I'm sharing on a tangent from our series although you will see next week that this post is related to step 2 to igniting the power within.  

As author and speaker, Joyce Meyer, states, "The battlefield is the mind" and that is so true. Our thought life is where our battles actually begin. Fears and anxieties are stored deep in our subconscious minds. As author Eckhardt Tolle, says in his book "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose", we each have a "pain-body" that is  an accumulation of old emotional pain or wounds, as I call them. Some people believe they are from past lives. Not sure what to say about that, but I do believe part of our purpose here on earth is to heal our souls, and the pain-body that is attached to them. This is one reason why I write about healing. 

I remember raising my two sons as a single parent and life seemed so overwhelming. I remember crying out to God in my moments of weakness and despair, pleading for help. "I can't handle this anymore, Lord." I was trying to do it all in my own strength instead of depending on the Lord. We all have these moments but what is actually happening? In my case, I was reliving the emotional pain of a chaotic, fearful and out-of-control childhood with an alcoholic father. The same feelings I felt as a child were resurfacing in the present moment. 

Something happened in our past that we may or may not remember that causes a short-circuit shall we say. Whenever a situation occurs in the present that is similiar in some way, the wire is tripped and our unconscious mind triggers the fear/anxiety response which in turn triggers some anxious behavior. It's a cycle that must and can be broken. The wiring can be fixed. But it takes courage. And faith. 

But realize this - we are never really alone in our battles. God is always with us and for us. God is on our side and no matter how alone, overwhelmed or helpless we may "feel", the truth is that God promises to answer our cries.

                    "Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am." (Isaiah 58:9). 

Romans 8:31 says "If God is for us, who can stand against us?". Isn't that great news? God is on our side. You have the power of Almighty God fighting your battles with you. So when you are down and out, when you are afraid of the uncontrollable, remember the words of the Apostle Paul: "for when I am weak then He is strong" (2 Cor 12:10) and also in the book of Joel 3 which says "let the weak say I am strong". By focusing on the truth in the word of God, we reprogram our minds. Instead of thinking, "This is overwhelming", I can think "God is going to help me through this" and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Slowly but surely the wiring (our thoughts) will be repaired and situations that used to cause anxiety will no longer do so.

For Reflection:

What anxious or fearful thoughts have been plaguing you lately? Are you worrying about what may happen? What if scenarios? Do yourself a favor and give those cares and worries to the Lord. "Cast all your cares (worries, concerns, anxieties) on Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Take control of your thoughts by staying in the present moment, not in yesterday or tomorrow. I encourage you to be courageous and stand up to your fears from the past. Do you want to live a life of fear and anxiety? I think not but the choice is ultimately up to us. When you have done all you know to do, then rest, pray, and trust. "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Until next time, thanks for reading and 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

12 Daily Tips for Living a Calmer Life

How are you feeling today? Relaxed? Joyful? Motivated? Or perhaps you are feeling stressed, anxious, or worried? Whether we like it or not, stress is part of life, but we don't have to let it take over and steal our peace and joy. This month, with everything that is going on in the world and in our personal lives, I am sharing on how to have more calm during turbulent times. I hope you will join me as we explore the many ways we can find more peace in our daily lives. 

We can't do much about external events, but we can control our inner lives and peace starts within. This week I'm sharing 12 tips on how to maintain our peace of mind during extra stressful times. Some of them you might already know so this will be a reminder to practice them when the going gets tough and we feel off kilter. So let's get started. 

1. Take a deep breath.
Oxygen helps calm the body and signals the brain to counter the fight or flight reflex. When we are stressed we tend breath shallowly through our upper chest. Try a few deep, long inhalations expanding your belly and your ribs. Exhale very slowly. Feel the immediate calm. Close your eyes if you can and concentrate on breathing through your belly and your ribs. 

2. Make time for solitude. 
Being around people all day long is stressful; all the talking and chit chat can be very draining. I like to remind people that God gave us two ears and one mouth so we would listen twice as much as we talk. Instead of picking up the phone to vent your frustrations, try talking to God or journaling. Solitude is a gift we give ourselves. 

3. Slow down.
The fast pace of life today is not only unhealthy, it is actually dangerous to our hearts, our brains, and our bodies. In order to live in the presence of God and in the present moment, we must slow way down and that means not only our lives and activities, but our thoughts as well. My mind can go a million miles a minute. Ask my mother. It takes awareness to slow our thoughts down and we can't do it if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. God's pace is slow, have you noticed?

4. Pray and meditate. 
A relationship with God, just like any relationship, is a two-way street. We need to talk and listen. Prayer is talking to God and mediation is listening. Make time to do both BEFORE things get chaotic. If I know I am going to have a busy day, I make even MORE time to pray in the morning. If my mind and my spirit are not properly prepared, there is NO WAY I'm going to stay peaceful and grounded. I remind myself that I am a child of God, that Jesus is always with me, and that all I need to do is trust and obey.

5. Disconnect.
Learn to appreciate quiet. It might feel awkward for a short time if you're used to constantly having the radio or television blaring, or the cell phone beeping and buzzing, but soon you will begin to enjoy it and your ability to hear from God will increase. Guaranteed.

6.  Go for a slow walk.
Even a short 15 minute break on a busy day can get you off the rat's wheel and into a more relaxed frame of mind. I know it seems counter-intuitive but believe me, a SLOW walk will give you time to focus on your breathing and quiet your mind.

7.  Watch the negative self-talk.
Capture the thoughts running through your mind at any given point during the day. Are they positive or negative? Or are you thinking things like "This XXX is going to be the death of me" or "This --- is  driving me crazy" or "I can't handle this". If so, replace that old recording with positive affirmations. You will get it all done and you probably don't have to get it all done right now. You will not go crazy and you can handle whatever life throws at you. There is always provision when you learn to trust God. 

8.  Repeat a favorite prayer, scripture verse, or mantra.

I use Scripture because there is power in it, but you can use whatever phrases you prefer. Whatever is calming to you, memorize it and repeat it regularly.  
Some good ones I use are:
-  "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything."
- "Lord, help me to be an instrument of thy peace."
- "Peace to all. Love to all. Light to all".

9. Keep your focus on God, not the universe. 
Some people believe in "the universe", which is an impersonal external force, but I prefer to believe in a personal, caring, friend named Jesus, who cares about me individually and sees everything that is going on in my life.
Remember this verse:
"You will keep him/her in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he/she trusts in You."  (Isaiah 26:3)

10. Be gentle with yourself.
Realize you are only human. You were not built to do it all. Take a hot bath. Go for a swim or a walk. Treat yourself to a nice cup of hot herbal tea or your favorite coffee. Learn to relax. Put your feet up and read a few pages of that book you've been wanting to finish. Take the pressure off  by scheduling less and relaxing more. This is a lesson I am learning as I am getting older. I cannot do what I used to do, so I need to be gentle with my body and my mind. 

11. Set limits. 
Learn to use that two-letter word 'NO' more often. We all have the same amount of time each day. No one sets our schedules but us. When I was raising my sons as a single parent, I learned things usually take more time and energy than I realized. I learned to build margin into my life so I wouldn't be so stressed out. Check out my blog post on it. 

Now that I am retired, I have time to relax more; to slow down from the frenetic pace of my former life and to relax and feel more at peace but it is hard to break old habits. Don't wait till you retire. Practice slowing down today. 

12. Forgive yourself and others. 
Unforgiveness is one of the main reasons we lose our peace. Ditch the false guilt. Realize you (or they) did the best you (or they) could under the circumstances and tomorrow is a  new opportunity to practice and to let go. Forgiveness is a daily practice. Don't get in the habit of carrying baggage into tomorrow. 

For Reflection 
Which of these tips can you implement today? Are you ready to make peace a priority in your life? Who do you need to forgive?

When we make peace a priority, everything else falls into place somehow. Post a comment and let me know what tips you use to keep your peace.

If you'd like to join our community, plus receive a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts of encouragement, motivation, and inspiration. Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/arielpaz as well for tons of info, recipes, exercise tips. and much more. Also, am so excited to share my new ebook, "Finding Faith in a World of Fear" on pre-order sale now on Amazon.com for a limited time only. 

Stay tuned for more on how to ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time - keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Finding Calm in a World of Chaos

Do you yearn for more peace in your life? Are the events of the world making you even more anxious? Life is full of peace-stealers and they come in a variety of forms. Today I'm sharing on this oh so important topic because peace is priceless.

How we lose our peace 

Stressful situations come at us unexpectedly. Some we bring them on ourselves and some are caused by other people. Our thoughts go off on worst case scenarios. Adrenaline shoots through our veins. Then we react or rather we over-react. Boom. We've just lost our peace. 

What is the igniting factor here? The thoughts we think in the moment, right? 

The key to staying calm is to be aware of our thoughts in the moment. I've read like 60 or 80 thousand thoughts pass through our minds during the course of a day.  It is easy to get stuck ruminating on problems and difficult situations but there are some things we can do to take back control of our minds and sleep better at night. 

1. Work on slowing down 
Now I know this is not the mantra of our society.  At least in the United States, it's more of a "Get it done yesterday" "I've got so much to do"  mentality. This may be productive in some ways but not in others. In fact, doing too much during the day can cause us to have restless nights. Even the Bible cautions us about doing too much during the day and not resting enough. Slowing down helps us to be more aware of our thoughts.

2. Practice meditation. 
Meditation in one sense means clearing the mind. Some people may poo poo this idea, but the mind, just like our computers needs to be cleaned of all its junk files, viruses, and cookies. Stuff accumulates and meditation helps us to reset, recalibrate, and refocus. If you want to learn more about it, enter the word "meditation" in the search bar. 

3. Give yourself the gift of solitude.
I don't know about you, but when I am around other people I find it harder to stay centered. I have to really watch what comes out of my mouth and how I react/respond to what other people say and do. By solitude, I mean no computers, no smart phone, no music. Just quiet. Some people have a hard time with quiet, but it is really a great way to get in touch with our thoughts and feelings. If we aren't aware of what we are thinking we are at the mercy of our monkey minds.

4. Replace negative thoughts

Scripture says to think on things that are "just, excellent, noble, pure, of good report". In other words, we are not to dwell on the bad things that happen. We are to dwell - say dwell - on positive, uplifting thoughts. Did you know the brain has a bias towards negativity? This is why we have to make an effort to think faith-filled thoughts. 

5. Get to Know the true source of Peace. 
In times of great distress, did you know you have a supernatural power to assist you? I admit, I often forget, but it works every time. It's a secret only a select few know about and I'm going to let you in on it.

The true source of Peace is only found in the person of Jesus Christ. Now, you may or may not believe in Jesus, but I can tell you there is power - supernatural power - in calling on the name of Jesus. When all else fails and I am at my wit's end, I call on the name of Jesus. It is amazing. I feel an immediate change in myself and in the stratosphere. I don't know how it works, but I do know it works. Give it a try next time you feel really stressed out. 

So there you have it - 5 practical steps to achieving more calm in a world of chaos. 

For Reflection 

Your homework is to stop and ask yourself this question several times a day for the next few days: "What am I thinking about right now?" If you find yourself obsessing over something, you're expending useless energy. Stop and replace it with a prayer. Guaranteed to work. What we can choose what we think about. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". If you are already a member, pass this along to a friend who might need it. 

In the meantime, stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and discovering YOUR DESTINY!

Ariel Paz

6 Ways to Free Yourself from Anxiety

Are you feeling anxious? Worried? Fearful? If so, you are not alone. With all that is going on in the world today, it is hard not to feel anxious. So many things are out of our control, but there is one thing thing that is within our control and that is our mind. Many people do not realize we can control our thoughts but we absolutely can. Our thoughts are what cause us to be anxious. So today I am sharing some tips on how to reign in our anxious thoughts and live with more faith, more peace, and less anxiety. 

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is basically worrying about the future. It takes us out of the present moment and into the realm of the "what if"s. We can be anxious about the weather, the elections, our retirement, our kids lives, our health. The list of worries is endless.  

Where are you right now? 
If we pay attention, we will begin to notice we have a hard time living in the here and now. Just yesterday, I mentioned to a woman at the pool what a lovely summer day it was and she replied "Well, next week they are calling for....".
To which I replied, "I prefer to enjoy today."
"That's right. Stay in the present." she said. Apparently she got my drift.

Jesus himself said this "Do not be anxious about tomorrow for today has worries enough of its own." (Matt 6:34).

When we leave the now, we go back to either the past or the future. We lose the joy of today because we are somewhere else mentally, and that place is usually someplace negative or that makes us feel that where we are right now is not as good as "the good old days". 

Personal story 
I remember a Thanksgiving meal I attended at a friend's house. After dinner, certain members of the family insisted on recounting stressful events that had happened years ago. I thought to myself "Why on earth would they bring this up on Thanksgiving of all days?" 

Because it had become a mental pattern for them, that's why. They were used to recounting these tales from the past and Thanksgiving was no different. If you are caught in one of these situations, try to change the subject to something more positive and get the energy flowing in the right direction again. 

Bad things happen, but we don't have to give them life by bringing them up and talking about them over and over. Process the event in your mind or by journaling, take any action you need to, learn the lesson and then let it go. There is absolutely no sense recounting negative events to others. I do my best to not recount difficulties to others unless I need advice on something or I am commiserating about the state of affairs as a mutual joke. We don't need to pollute the present moment by reliving something negative from the past. 

1. Watch out for unhappy people. 
Some people are energy-stealers. These people are unhappy with their lives and they want to suck you into their unhappiness any way they can. I have several people in my life right now who are unhappy. No matter what I say to them to try get them to see things differently, they refuse to change and the patterns keep repeating. At some point, after we have said our peace, given our advice or opinion, we have to let them be. People have to come to their own realizations. In the meantime, don't let them suck your energy. 

Emotions are contagious. When we hang out with negative, unhappy, complaining people we will start to feel negative and unhappy. Negativity drags you down. Don't let negative people make you anxious. Put a positive spin on the topic and watch how much time you spend with them. 

2. Catch Your Thoughts 
Both Christianity and Buddhism encourage us to take control of our thoughts and our minds. When we are aware of our thoughts, we are at the mercy of what buddhism calls "monkey mind". Our thoughts go from here to there and before we even realize it we are dwelling on something negative. This is when we need to catch ourselves. This is where mindfulness comes in. You can search on my blog for my posts on it. We need to take control of our thoughts, not the other way around. 

3. Watch Your Breathing 

When we start to feel anxious, our breathing becomes fast and shallow. To come back to the present moment and calm ourselves, we can start by paying attention to our breathing. Take a few minutes several times a day to just close your eyes and focus on your breath. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your chest or belly. Notice where your shoulders are. Where do you feel tension or tightness? Begin to become more present in your body and your breath and more aware of where you are holding tension.

I like to do some deep breathing along with my prayers first thing in the morning before I get out of bed to ground myself for the day. I'm trying to fit in an daily meditation session later on in the afternoon but so far it's sporadic. I think I might have to add a reminder to my calendar. 

4. Notice the Gift of Today
When I taught yoga, I used to tell my students "Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present". Once today is gone, we can never get it back. Don't allow the negativity or the stress from yesterday to steal the joy of today. 

Living in the present moment is a skill we can all develop. Instead of dwelling on the past or ruminating about the future, how about marvelling at the beauty of today? The trees getting ready to change their wardrobe? The smells of coffee and homemade soup. The sunshine streaming through your windows. The beat of your heart. The deer and the birds.  Each day - no, each moment,  is a precious gift we should not take for granted. 

5. Trust in Tomorrow
This is where faith comes in. We have two choices. We can either live in fear of tomorrow or in faith for tomorrow. I choose the latter. No, it's not being a Polyanna. It's choosing to take a positive outlook on life. It's training our brain. We get what we expect. If we are always expecting something bad to happen, that's what we will get. We have to direct our thoughts and our words towards a positive outcome, regardless of what we see. This is what faith is all about - believing BEFORE we see. 

6. Be Grateful 
Each one of us has so much to be thankful for each and every day. Even through the toughest of times, we can still find something to be thankful for, to appreciate, to enjoy. I think part of suffering is caused by dwelling on the negative. I learned so much from having chronic migraine. Pain can teach us much, so don't regret it or bemoan it. Yes, it sucks, but, like everything, it is a teacher.  What's more everything is a gift both the good and the bad. It is up to us to glean the gift. 

For reflection
This week, try and catch yourself when you leave the here and now. Take time to focus and meditate on your breath. This is a good tool to bring you back to the present. And remember, to notice the beauty all around you instead of taking it for granted.

If you enjoyed this article do sign up for my weekly posts by entering your email in the box provided. Your email is never shared and you will also receive my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" you are sure to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more positive and practice wisdom on how to achieve healing, wholeness and harmony and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Be Free From Your To Do List

Are you a list maker? Do you pride yourself on how many items you can check off on a daily basis? Do you often feel like you'll never get caught up or get it all done? I am and I do and this week I had a revelation that set me free from my to do list once and for all and I want to share it with you so we can live with more joy and less stress.

First, let's agree there is nothing inherently bad about to do lists. In fact, they can be quite helpful in keeping us focused on the many tasks we have on our plates. They can help us remember things and assist in prioritizing what needs to get done. However, to do lists can also put us in a form of mental bondage and cause us to be more stressed than we need be.

The pressure of looking at so many to dos and the constant crossing off and adding more is unhealthy. I know because I have been in bondage to my to do list since I was first married, then divorced and a single mom, and now flying solo. As a single parent raising two sons, it was imperative I be organized and efficient and my to do list helped me survive those years but now things are different. This week, I had a revelation. Now this might be obvious to some of you, but to me it was liberating.

No matter what our circumstances are in life, we can change the way we think about our to do lists. Instead of them hanging over our heads like a dark cloud, we can do these three things:

1. Let go of the guilt and pressure.
"Being caught up" is a harsh task master who fills us with guilt and condemnation. This inner voice keeps us on the to do treadmill. We are human "beings", not human "doings". We don't have to feel like we need to be "caught up" because the reality is, we never will be.

What we need is a mindset change. A reframing if you will.  Let go of the pressure and stop listening to that voice that clamors "You need to do this, this, and this today. You need to take control." Some things are not our responsibility and out of our control. Don't take on other people's stuff. We can take the pressure off by doing the most important things first thing in the day, and then whatever else gets done is icing on the cake! It's called "being in the flow". 

Of course, we do need to listen to the voice that says "You need to get organized" "you need to exercise" "you need to get your finances in order". We have to discern which is the voice of false guilt and which is the voice of conviction, but that is a topic for another day. 

2. Realize there will always be things to do.
The truth is there will always be something to do until the day we die because life keeps moving. Things change. The house needs repair. The car needs attention. We want to lose weight. As I tell my mom, "That's life". The sooner we realize that this is the reality of life, the better we will be able to cope with daily challenges. If we think life should be a smooth ride all the time we will be in for a rude awakening when something unexpected happens. 

Now we do have to keep up with our responsibilities but I'm talking about the frame of mind we have while taking care of those responsibilities. If we want to live less stressed and more at peace, we can change the way we think about our to do's.

3. Let go of perfectionism. 
We don't have to have everything taken care of and neatly under control. I've learned that much of the pressure I put on myself comes from a place of perfectionism which stems back to my upbringing and being a first-born child in an alcoholic home. First borns are typically the more responsible child and take on way too much. Everything does not have to be done today nor does it have to be done at a frenetic pace. Nor does it have to be perfect. As a counselor once told me, you don't always have to bring your "A" game. And neither do you!

I feel relieved just writing this post today. I believe I have turned a corner and hope this post will help you turn that corner as well. We can be productive responsible adults and still enjoy each day with peace and harmony.

I hope this post has encouraged you and if you'd like to receive my weekly posts enter your email in the box provided. You'll always receive a copy of my free eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" for yourself or to pass on to a friend. Do pop on over to Pinterest and check out my pins on a variety of subjects including delicious recipes, fitness and exercise, faith, mindfulness, relationships and much more. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/pins/

Stay tuned for next month's topic which is learning to surrender more and control less. Ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

A New Look at Anxiety and How to Identify It

Anxiety has gotten a bad rap in society. Millions of people suffer from a variety of so-called anxiety-based illnesses. Health care providers throw anti-depressants at their patients as an all-purpose panacea without spending time to get to the root cause. Today we are talking about anxiety to help remove the stigma and the shame, and to help us all get better at managing it. 

In the fear-driven world we live in, anxiety steals our peace and our joy and keeps us from achieving our goals and fulfilling our destiny! So, what is really going on here? Today we'll talk about a different way to view anxiety, what it stems from, and the signs we need to look out for.

First of all, anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of or feel guilty about, okay? Except in extreme cases, anxiety is a normal reaction that something is not right in our lives. Many situations and circumstances can provoke an anxious response, depending on our life experiences. Anxiety is our body and mind speaking to us, telling us something is out of kilter. If left unaddressed, long term anxiety can cause physical illness.The body reacts to what the mind is dealing with either consciously or unconsciously. 

Anxiety is a close relative of fear. Its other relatives include worry, doubt, and overwhelm. Anxiety is rooted in the core belief of self-doubt and that we are incapable of handling the circumstances of life. It is often a learned behavior. Many, including yours truly, learned to be anxious, from our parents. It also came from being brought up in a volatile, chaotic, alcoholic home where nothing was stable. For many years, my mom declared "I'm a worrier", as if it were a badge of honor. In her golden years, she has moved somewhat from worry into more peace, trust, and confidence. So what happened?

Studies have shown that the way we think forms neural pathways in our brains and the more we think in a certain way, the deeper these grooves go. The good news is it is possible to retrain and remold our brains when we retrain our thinking. Here is an article on retraining our brain.

Why are we anxious?
Anxiety can be our friend but like any friend, we have to set our limits with it. There is a message in our anxiety and rather than medicating the feeling away or denying its existence, a healthier approach is to acknowledge it and then to understand what the root cause of the feeling is. 
Do we have too much to do? 
Are we stressed about our finances? A relationship? 
Are we afraid to speak in public? Confront others? 
Are we feeling out of control?

There are a multitude of reasons why we feel anxious and it is up to us to figure out the root cause and then take action to address it, rather than pop a pill or take a drink.

Signs we are anxious
Here are some of the signs we are anxious:
1) talking too much and too fast
2) rushing from task to task
3) feeling out of control and overwhelmed
4) eating too much
5) insomnia
6) inability to relax
7) frequent headaches or digestion issues

Next time we'll talk about how we can handle this feeling in healthier more productive ways. 

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment or share with a friend. If you'd like to receive my weekly posts and a copy of my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", enter your email address in the box provided.

Until next time, stay tuned for more on how to have more peace in our lives and as always,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

10 Practical Ways to Keep Your Peace During Stressful Times

Stock market got you rattled? Work stressing you out? Weight out of control? There are so many things that can cause us to lose our peace, aren't there? It's easy to get stressed out in today's non-stop world. Yet there are some things we can do to stay calm and enjoy our day, despite what's going on around us. Today, I'd like to offer up some tips on how to keep our peace during the rough spots along the highway of life.

1. Take a deep breath.
When we are stressed we tend to take shallow breaths. Try a few deep, long inhalations and exhalations and feel the immediate calm. Close your eyes if you can and concentrate on breathing through your abdomen instead of your chest. Oxygen helps calm the body and signals the brain to counter the fight or flight response.

2. Make time for solitude.
Being around people, computers, phones, and lights all day long can be stressful. Talking drains our energy. Instead of picking up the phone to vent your frustrations, try talking to God, journaling, and meditation. Unlike some people, God is never too busy to listen. When we take time to get alone with ourselves, we disconnect from all the distractions going on around us. Solitude is a way to recharge our batteries. Learn to appreciate quietness. It might feel awkward for a short time if you're used to constantly having music or television blaring, but soon you will begin to enjoy it and your ability to hear from God will increase. Guaranteed.

3. Slow down.
The fast pace of life today is not only unhealthy, it is actually dangerous to our hearts, brains, and bodies. In order to live in the presence of God and the present moment, we must slow way down and that means not only our lives and activities, but our thoughts as well. My mind can go a million miles a minute. Ask my mother. It takes awareness to slow our thoughts down and we can't do it if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. When we slow down physically, we are able to slow down mentally as well. God's pace is slow, have you noticed?

4. Go for a slow walk.
Even a short 15 minute break on a busy day can get you off the rat's wheel and into a more relaxed frame of mind. I know it seems counter-intuitive but believe me, a SLOW walk will give you time to focus on your breathing and quiet your mind. Fast walking perpetuates fast-paced activity and thinking.

4. Pray and meditate.
The time to pray and meditate is BEFORE things get chaotic. Prayer and meditation are the ways we use to connect with ourselves and with God. Prayer is speaking to God and meditation is listening. If I know I am going to have a busy day, I make even MORE time to pray in the morning. If my mind and my spirit are not properly prepared, there is NO WAY I'm going to stay peaceful. I remind myself that I am a child of God, that Jesus is always with me, and that all I need to do is trust and obey.

5. Watch the negative self-talk.
Capture the thoughts running through your mind at any given point during the day. Mindfulness helps us to be aware of what we are doing and what we are thinking. Are our thoughts positive? Or are we thinking things like "This XXX is going to be the death of me" or "These kids are driving me crazy" or "I'll never get all this done". If so, it's time to replace the old recordings with positive affirmations. You will get it all done. You will not go crazy and you can handle whatever life brings at you. Negative, fearful thoughts only contribute to the feelings of stress and anxiety. We are in control of our thoughts. Don't let them control you.

7. Make time for self-care. 
Self-care is not selfish. If  you don't take care of you, you won't be able to take care of anyone else either. Realize you are only human. We were not built to do it all. We are human "beings" not human doings. Ignore the to-do list for a day. There will always be stuff to do as long as we are breathing on this earth. Take a hot bath. Do your nails. Treat yourself to a nice cup of hot tea or your favorite java. Put your feet up and read a few pages of your favorite book or magazine or take a few minutes to meditate and clear your mind. Take the pressure off by doing little things to care for yourself and recharge. 

8. Set limits.
Learn to use that two-letter word 'NO' more often. We each have the same amount of time each day. No one sets our schedules but us. When I was raising my sons, I learned things usually take more time and energy than I realized. I learned to build margin into my life so I wouldn't be so stressed out and rushed all the time. I developed a firm "Don't rush me" ethic. I didn't give it all at the job so I could have something left when I got home. I didn't climb the corporate ladder because my family was more important than any title or promotion. What is sapping your time and energy? 

9. Repeat your mantra.
Choose a word or a phrase that reminds you that you can handle whatever is stressing you out. I like to use verses from the Bible as they are powerful and God responds when we speak His word out loud.
Some good ones are:
- "This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it."
- "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything."
- "Lord, help me to be an instrument of thy peace."
- " I am enough". 

10. Strengthen your spiritual muscle.
Remember you have a power deep within you to help you overcome life's challenges. The power of Faith is a tremendous weapon against stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. When we practice strengthening our spiritual muscle, the circumstances of life will have less power over us.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

Start implementing a few of these tips every week and you will see results. When we learn to make peace a priority in our lives, everything else falls into place. I believe that is because God honors peace. 

If you found this post helpful and would like to join our community and receive my  bi-weekly posts, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more on handling the stresses of life, and having more peace and joy in our daily lives. Post a comment and share what tips you use to keep your peace and until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

3 Keys to Staying in Peace in a Chaotic World

What's stealing your peace today? The war? The news? The stock market?

With the world in such a state of chaos, it is a challenge to find peace and even more difficult to maintain a calm, relaxed state of mind and body. Every time we turn around there is some other crisis, tragedy, or natural disaster. Fear and anxiety threaten us at every turn: from the uncertainty and stress of the pandemic, to the threats and misdeeds of foreign powers, fires, and social unrest, to our own personal dramas and dilemmas. What a better world this would be if everyone made peace a higher priority. One of the goals of this blog is to help us all find and be more in harmony with ourselves and others. 

Peace is a gift that Jesus gave us, but people seek after it in different places. 

Jesus said "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Where do you look for peace?

Some people find it in a church, synagogue or sanctuary. Others find it at a yoga class or through meditation. Still others calm their minds and spirits by taking a walk in nature or playing a musical instrument. Human beings have the same basic needs. Every soul yearns to be at peace.

At my yoga class this morning, after the chatter of the world's events settled down and the instructor dimmed the lights. Candles were lit. Incense burned. The students were quiet and contemplative. Each absorbed in their own thoughts on their mats intent on clearing their minds and connecting with their intention and focus inward. It occurred to me how yoga class resembled church service in many ways.

In church, we are urged to do the same thing - to clear our minds, to be fully present, and to focus. As attendees folded and put away their mats and props, I was reminded of the solemnity of leaving church after taking communion. The feeling I have when I leave yoga class is similar to the feeling I have when I leave a good church service. Both yoga and church are about grounding, calming our minds and bodies, and finding connection: to ourselves, to others, and also to God. As more and more people flee organized religion and church attendance continues to decline, is it any wonder yoga has gained such popularity? The need for peace and connection still remains. 

The problem is that the calm feeling we gain from outside ourselves is temporary. What happens when we turn on the television and hear about the latest bombing, mass shooting, Covid variant or invasion? One aggressive driver, an angry phone call, or new deadline can steal our calm. How then can we manage to hold onto our peace?

1. Realize true peace comes only from a relationship with God.
When we come to know who God is and how he works, we will have more of an understanding of what is really going on around us and why. We can rest knowing that even when the world seems like it is spinning out of control, God is still in control and we can relax and trust. It is a learned practice and is never too late to start if we want to let go of the fear and anxiety that is omnipresent in this chaotic world we live in. 

2. Understand that peace must be pursued.
It doesn't happen on its own. We must be intentional about making peace a priority in our lives. If we want to see more peace in the world, it must start with each of us. If we fly off the handle when we're stressed, when someone cuts us off or ticks us off, or if we can't control our emotions, is it any wonder why the world is in such a state? Even worse, how do we expect our kids to act? Then we wonder why so many young people are shooting others with such disregard. We must set the example for future generations. 

3. Give ourselves more time to recharge.
And I don't mean by running to the gym or going out for happy hour. Life is stressful and things take more out of us than most of us realize, both energetically and emotionally. This is why I have found it is so important to have mega doses of downtime, When we slow down our bodies, we slow down our minds and allow the events of the day to register. Give yourself time to process them. Go for a quiet walk. Close your eyes and meditate for ten to twenty minutes. Take a leisurely swim. Write in a journal. The key is to slow down. It might feel awkward at first, but it is crucial if we want to stay in peace by processing the events and emotions of the day. You'll soon reap the benefits of a calmer, more relaxed body and mind.

For Reflection
Who or what makes you lose your peace? This week I encourage you to implement some of these techniques. Make more time for solitude and self-reflection. Start a journal of your feelings and emotions. Get in touch with yourself and with God and let me know how it goes. I enjoy hearing from you. 

If this post was helpful and you'd like to join our community and receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path, enter your email address in the box provided.

Stay tuned for more on how to find healing,wholeness, and harmony and until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

10 Reasons to Develop Your Spiritual Muscle

What is it in your life that you worry about? The future? Your health? Your kids? Your job? The stock market? Everytime we turn around there is some other disaster, crisis, or mass shooting that wrenches our heart strings. It's easy to feel hopeless and fearful but who wants to live like that? There is always something in life to stress over and there is a solution to help ease the anxiety that pervades society.

These days there is a lot of poo-pooing the idea of faith and belief in God. Many people have been turned off from "organized religion" and think of God as some strict punishing entity. Perhaps you are one of them. Others believe God is some distant heavenly body out there somewhere yet have no earthly idea how to connect with him. Still others doubt the existence of God as if this intricate created world of ours somehow was blown together by happenstance millions of years ago. I don't think so.

The fact is there is a God and it is up to us to get to know him. One way to do this is by developing the power of Faith. I like to think of Faith as my spiritual muscle. Just as we need to strengthen our physical muscles, we need to strengthen our spiritual muscle as well. Many of us work out and we wouldn't think of missing a yoga class, a run, or a bike ride, yet how often do we attend to the spiritual part of ourselves?

As some of you know, as a single mom of two boys,  I have been through many difficult and painful circumstances. If not for the grace of God and my Faith, I would not be on this earth today. In fact, I used to work with a beautiful single mom who had one son. We used to compare notes and talk about our kids. Often, she looked down and depressed. I tried to encourage her and talk to her about God.

One day, I heard she had died from an overdose of drugs. I attended her funeral. Her son was devastated. This is what hopelessness and despair can do. I did not want to end up like her and I certainly did not want to leave my sons without a mother. When we go through the darkest valleys, there is a better way.

It is the way of Faith.

Faith is what gives us hope to hold on, to keep on, and to stay strong. Life is tough and we were not made to go it alone. God is real and he wants to help us make it through the tough times we inevitably will face. Only God can make our crooked paths straight. Only God can fix the unfixable. Only God.

Here are 10 things Faith in God can do for you:

1) Give us strength to get through the challenges of life

2) Reduce anxiety when we don't know the outcome of events

3) Give us hope when relationships go awry

4) Give us power to achieve our goals and see our dreams come true

5) Give us victory over addictions and bad habits

6) Bring healing to sick minds and bodies despite the medical reports

7) Make miracles happen

8) Move obstacles we cannot move ourselves

9) Protect our children

10) Give us peace in times of crisis

Which of these do you need right now? If you need help developing your spiritual muscle, stay tuned for my upcoming posts. There are simple and doable steps you can take today to get stronger, have less anxiety, and more peace.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my bi-weekly emails plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path".  We are all on a unique journey and this e-guide gives a step by step process to follow to find yours.

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within and until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel