How to Use Mindfulness to Transform Your Life

Ever notice there is always construction going on someplace? Just like the roads around here, we are all a work in progress.  Seems like there is always something to repair, reconstruct, or rebuild. The same goes for us. You'll know when a change is needed when you hit a rough patch - a relationship goes on the rocks, communication gets muddied, you feel down, depressed or lose your joy.

The good news is that tough times are actually opportunities for change, growth and renewal and this week I am sharing three ways being more mindful can help us transform our lives.  

            

1. Make time to self-reflect 

When we go through a tough time, the tendency is to want to move through it quickly, to distract ourselves, to distance from loved ones or to keep ourselves too busy to think. But this is the wrong approach. Tough times come to teach us something, to grow us up, to refine our character. The question to ask ourselves is "What do I need to learn from this?" and "How can I be better?"

2. Be More Mindful

Awareness is the first step to change. When we slow down our busy lives, we are able to be more mindful during our day. It will all get done, sooner or later but better to do it in peace than in a hurry. You know how when you take a nice leisurely stroll you notice the flowers, the sounds of the birds, the colors of the trees,  provided, of course, you are not talking on your phone. Ahem. 

Versus when you go for a run, all you can think about is your legs, your breathing and your feet. You don't really notice your surroundings. This too is being mindful in a different way. When we run, we focus on our body instead of the scenery, just watch out for traffic and deer. 

Life is not a race. We should not be rushing through it. We should be enjoying it and paying attention: to our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. This is what wholeness is all about. Making all of these work together in harmony. 

3. It's a Skill 

Practicing mindfulness is a skill we all can benefit from. It helps us to pay more attention to ourselves by shining the laser beam of attention on our thoughts and behaviors. 

When we shine the light on ourselves rather than focusing on what the other person said or did, we are able to see things more clearly. It is only then we are able to make positive changes because we can only change ourselves.  For more on mindfulness and meditation, check out my posts on this important topic. 

An Example
Let's look at over-eating for example or eating when we are not really hungry. I know I still struggle with these myself. Ask yourself these questions before you get something to eat. 

- Am I really hungry?

- When did I eat last?

- What am I feeling?

- What am I thinking about? 

Keep a diary of these thoughts and when you eat and you will see patterns in your eating that you can adjust to lose the weight. Often we go on auto-pilot and eat not out of true hunger but something else usually something emotionally stressful and we are trying to self-soothe ourselves with food or drink or a smoke. 

4. Take off the Pressure 

Personal story

I hate pressure. I don't do well under pressure. After retiring, I still felt the pressure. But where was it coming from? Me! Finally, I put up a sticky note on my kitchen cabinet that said "Stop the pressure." There was no need. Many of us pressure ourselves needlessly and this steals our peace and our joy. 

Change and transformation take time. Rome wasn't built in a day, right? Be gentle with yourself. Keep at it and keep the faith. Don't try and lean on your own will-power which is limited. Instead, lean on God. It is by his grace and through his power that we are able to overcome the obstacles in our path to growth and transformation. 2 Corinthians 12:19 says "My grace is sufficient for you". Hang on to that promise and you will be victorious no matter what you are trying to change because God is faithful. 

For Reflection 
What are you struggling with today? What can you do to be more gentle and compassionate with yourself? What is one step you can take to make the change a reality today? 

If this post resonated with you, join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free eguide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover your destiny. 

Until next time,  keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Know God & Yourself Better

It's Spring and you can't help but notice the new growth and new life all around us: the daffodils peeking through the grass, the blossom buds starting to appear on the trees, the empty birds' nests. Nature spends the winter in darkness, hibernation, and rest and now as the season changes and the sun comes out more, it is time for rebirth, renewal, and transformation. This is what Lent is all about - renewal, rebirth, and transformation. 

Yet to have these, we must put in the time. This Lent, has it been business or busyness as usual or have you made some time for self-reflection, study, and journaling? I hope so! 

Personal Journey

For me, Lent is a season to get to know myself and God better. The two of us are a team. I cut back on social activities and fleshly pursuits so that I can use that time (I prefer the morning)  to reflect and connect more with my emotional and spiritual self, with God, and with my purpose. The social activities will always be there, but Lent is a time to devote to my spiritual growth and that doesn't just mean going to church once a week. No, spiritual and emotional growth is an inside job and no one can do it for us. 

Time spent in spiritual pursuits is time well-spent. Journaling, prayer, reflection and solitude brings emotions and issues to the forefront where we can process them. Otherwise, they stay hidden in our sub-conscious mind and will continue to rob us of our peace and joy throughout the year. 

So let's talk a minute about God. 

Who is this God? 
If we want to know God, who He is and what he desires for and of us, there is no better way to do this than reflect on the personhood of Jesus Christ. After all, he is the embodiment of God (Spirit made flesh) and by studying his life, his words, and his actions, we can learn how to treat others, how to live a life of integrity, how to love ourselves in a balanced way and how to find our purpose.

People seek God in all sorts of ways, but sadly so many ignore the very person of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. At some point in time, we each must ask ourselves the question "Who is this Jesus?" and "Why did he die for me?"

Jesus is Our Example 
Jesus is the perfect example of a life well-lived; a life of service, sacrifice, and purpose. Jesus knew his destiny and dedicated each day to fulfilling it. He made it a priority to heal, to help, and to encourage those who were hurting despite the constant derision of those in power. He was a friend to the poor, the outcast, and the lonely. 

Most importantly, Jesus followed the will of God, not his own will, straight to death on the cross. Guiltless, he paid the penalty for all of our sins in one sacrificial act of atonement on the cross. Your sins and mine have all been washed white as snow. Who else can do that for us? 

When Jesus died on the cross for you and for me, the veil in the Jewish temple was torn which means there is no longer a separation between man and God for those who believe in Christ. We can now come directly to God, without fear, trepidation, or the need of an intercessor such as a priest or guru. No matter what we have done in the past, our sins are forgiven. We are redeemed and set free from our past, our mistakes, our guilt and our shame. And that, my friends, is worth celebrating! 

For Reflection 
If you have not considered Jesus lately, friend, I encourage you to take some time to get quiet this Lenten season and do so. Jesus was not simply another teacher or prophet, as some religions teach. He is the one and only Son of God, a friend when we feel abandoned and rejected. He is the incarnation of God on earth who died so that we can have true peace, joy, abundance, and an inspired life of service and joy. Will you get to know him this season?

If you enjoyed this post, do join our community. Simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide, "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice" as well as my weekly newsletter. We're all about personal development and spiritual growth and my goal is to help you heal, grow, and flourish. 

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within so you can discover YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Lent: A Time to Look In the Mirror

When was the last time you looked in a mirror? This morning? In your car? Many of us spend lots of time in front of the mirror: primping, styling our hair, and making sure we look just right before we head out the door. Now I am all for looking your best, but how often do we look inside and consider the fact that our inner person is even more important?

I think Michael Jackson realized this when he sang this powerful song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ocJNahTwok

On stage since a small child, Michael was always in the limelight. He had the glitz, the glamor and the fancy clothes. But as we all realize sooner or later, the glitz, the glamor and the lights fade all too soon and then where are we? When all is said and done, how much time have we devoted to shining up our souls? 

Lent is an ideal time to take a look within. 

It's a time to get alone and get quiet with ourselves and God. Too many of us are focused on outward success: money, possessions, fancy cars, jewelry, prestige. Now I have nothing against outward success but true success has nothing to do with money. How many of the rich and famous are inwardly destitute? Lonely, unhappy, and unfulfilled? Commit suicide? Look at Michael. 

True Success
True success  is about  growth, change, transformation, and becoming a kinder, more peaceful person. It's how we feel about ourselves, the steps we take to heal our hurts, pains, and insecurities, and then what we can do to make a difference in this hurting world of ours. This is what Lent is really all about; it is an opportunity to work on our spiritual and emotional selves and ask ourselves how we can become more like Jesus. We need to turn our eyes away from what the rest of the world is doing, and focus instead of what God would have us become. We need to realize the world lives in exact opposition to how God would have us live. 

Each of Us in On Our Own Journey 
We are each on our own spiritual journey, like I say in my books.  The obstacles we encounter in life are stepping stones to healing, wholeness, and harmony.  The rest will come when we get our priorities in order. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you," (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom of God, as it says in the Bible, is righteousness, peace, and joy. These are all inner, spiritual qualities. 

So, when was the last time you took a good look inside? What did you find there? Be honest with yourself but remember to see yourself and others through the eyes of love with compassion and mercy, just as Jesus does. We each have our own wounds that need healing but no one ever healed by shame, guilt, or condemnation. We heal by being loved and Jesus showed us how much he loves us when he died on that cross.

For Reflection:

Are you aware of what hurts or pains you need to heal? Where is there  brokenness? Is there someone you need to forgive this season? Spend some time this week with Jesus and ask him to heal your broken places and make you whole so you can move forward into YOUR DESTINY!

Love to hear your comments on this post. If you'd like to find healing, wholeness, and harmony and ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus you'll receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Start a Spiritual Practice" to learn some tools to help you grow spiritually and do pass on to a friend who may need healing as well. 

Until next time, remember you have the power to make that change!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

5 Tips for a Jubilant New Year

2024 is now a page in the history book. How do you feel about the year gone by? Did you accomplish the goals and dreams you planned? Are you better off today than you were a year ago? Are you filled with excitement about the New Year?

No matter where you are or how you are feeling as the New Year starts, get ready! The good news is when we start feeling stale, bored, joyless, or down and depressed, it is a sign we are on the brink of a transformation. The New Year is the perfect time to take a leap of faith into something NEW, EXCITING and maybe a little bit scary! This week I am sharing 4 actions we can take to get started on the right foot. Let's find out what they are. 

1. Leave Some Things Behind.

You know what it is. It could be a dead-end job or career decision,  a dead-beat boyfriend or relationship. Or maybe you just want to leave your old life behind and travel the world. After all, the world is your oyster!

If we want to make room for something NEW in our lives, we have to first let go of whatever is no longer bearing fruit it our lives. It's kind of like decluttering our closets. We only have so much time, energy, and money and it is important to be mindful of just how and where we spend these resources.

2. Forgive Yourself and Others 

This one is not always easy to do, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is possible. We all make mistakes. We say or do things in the heat of the moment that we later regret. Mistakes are learning experiences, but don't just blame someone else. There are always two sides to every story, and two people in any disagreement or conflict. Accept responsibility for your part and make the necessary changes. Hopefully the other person will do the same. Then you can forgive yourself and them and move forward. 

3. Welcome in the Joy
Joy is fuel that moves us forward into the NEW. Consider the joy factor when making any big decision. If there is no joy in it, it probably is not the right decision, person, job, etc. Moving forward in life involves trading the old for something new AND something better. We leave behind people and activities that have become stale, unhealthy, or unfruitful to open the door for new opportunities, healthier people, and activities that will bring us joy and purpose. 

Sometimes letting go means making tough choices. This is where the rubber hits the road and we have to really dig deep to find out what matters most to us. Life's choices become more difficult the closer we get to what we truly want from life. If you want to take back your life this year, I hope you'll order a copy of my ebook "Take Back Your Life: 5 Keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power". It is also available on Amazon and Apple Books and other online booksellers. 

4. Step Out in Faith 

If we want to transform our lives, we have to be willing to step out of the boat, in other words, our comfort level. 

Recently, several friends have married. They sold their homes and moved to new cities, two of them out of the country. They left behind their friends and families to pursue a new life with their chosen mate. I left a lucrative career in IT after 30+ years, to have more peace, creativity and fulfillment in my life. My son moved out of state to pursue his passion and dreams. Moving forward involves faith, courage and the willingness to step out into the unknown. If you'd like to learn more about strengthening your faith, check out my collection of books on spiritual growth here. 

5. Discover Your Destiny

I don't know about you, but I believe we each were put on this earth for a purpose. Not to just live a humdrum ordinary get-by life. You were meant for more than status quo! I love the way author Marianne Williamson puts it when she says, "You began as a thought in the mind of God". I recently heard it put like this, "You will only go as far as you can envision yourself going." or something like that. If we want to make a difference in this world, we have to have a vision for our lives. If we want to soar like the eagle, we must ignite the power within so we can discover our destiny. 

For Reflection
What is it that is no longer bringing you joy? Certain relationships? A nowhere job? A church or community? Unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns? Do a run through and see.

Are you pursuing your dreams and aspirations? Rising to new levels? Or are you content with the status quo? The same old same old? When boredom sets in and we lose our joy and zest for life, that is a sign it's time for something new. We were meant to fly like eagles and SOAR!

If you'd like to grow your faith, check out my true story "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony" available on Amazon and your favorite online bookseller. Or you can order the digital format by emailing me at arielpaz08@gmail.com for $3.99. 

If you feel motivated and encouraged by this post, enter your email in the box provided and you'll receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice". 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom.

Until next time, keep looking up and get ready to SOAR!

Ariel Paz 


All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this material, contact me at arielpaz08@gmail.com

How to Take Control of Your Life

We all want a life of peace, joy, and happiness. We want to live a stress-free, easy life that flows. So what gets in the way? Problems? Politics? People? These are all external factors that we have no real control over.

The reality is much of the drama, stress and angst in our lives we bring on ourselves. It is a hard pill to swallow, but if we really stop and analyze our problems, in many cases, we will see that our thoughts and actions are what cause us to suffer. The good news is these are both within our control. In other words, we can do something about them. Let me warn you - this post is going to give it to you straight. 

First, let's look at a few examples of how we make ourselves suffer.

We complain we are fat but then we eat a whole bag of chips, devour a carton of ice cream or eat an entire pizza.

We complain we are out of shape but then we spend the night glued in front of the boob tube instead of going for a walk or to the gym. 

We complain about our partner neglecting our needs but are we meeting his/her needs? Or are we too wrapped up in getting our needs met? Remember - it starts with us. 

We complain about our exes, the breakups and our singleness, but we neglect to make time to self-reflect and see what role we played in those relationships and where we might need to change. More importantly, we neglect to connect the dots between our upbringing and experiences to our current behaviors. 

We complain about our finances, but never make a budget or track our expenses. 

We moan about our upbringing and what a poor job our parents did so we stay stuck in our emotional ruts for years instead of seeking counseling to change our behavior and our thinking. 

We suffer because of what someone said or did to us but we fail to take action to stop it. It's called setting boundaries. 

Adam and Eve

Not much has changed in the human psyche since these two played the blame game. It's easier to place blame or look for an excuse such as:
 - "I don't have time to exercise"
 - "I don't have time to cook healthy"
 - "I don't have time to clean"
 - "I'm not in love with my spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend anymore"
 - "I act this way because of how I was raised"
- "Oh, I didn't want to hurt their feelings, embarrass them, etc".

- "He/she is the problem, not me."

You get the idea. All of these statements are either putting the responsibility on someone else's shoulders or making a flimsy excuse.  It is much easier to lay the blame elsewhere or make excuses for our lack of action but guess what? This keeps us stressed and stuck. We won't grow. We won't learn. We won't change AND we won't move forward in our lives.

What to Do
As a woman who has gone through some very tough stuff, (see my book, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony)  I finally said to myself "Enough is enough" to the mental and emotional suffering. The path to transformation and emotional freedom began with lots of self-reflection. 

I have become aware of behavior patterns and thought patterns and worked on changing them one by one. I've learned to say "No" to disrespect and unkindness when before I would have allowed poor treatment because I never knew I should expect better. I've learned to take better care of myself emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I've learned I need more space and solitude than other people, so I prioritize my quiet time. I've learned that I am responsible for my well-being and self-care not anyone else. I learned this from an ex-boss who told me "Take care of yourself first." I got it. 

Many people make the mistake of looking for someone else to take care of them and make them happy. That is too heavy a burden for anyone. As Abraham Lincoln once said "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be". 

Learn the Lesson
Experiences that cause us pain have a message. There is always a lesson in the pain. It is up to us to take the time to figure out what that message is. This is our personal responsibility. No one else's. And this is how we will grow and reduce the stress in our lives going forward. 

When we learn to take responsibility for our actions, our words and our thoughts, we increase our personal power. We no longer have to play the blame game or the victim role. We can take back our lives (see my book "Take Back Your Life: 5 keys to Reclaiming Your Personal Power") slowly but surely. In my next post, I will discuss the importance of forgiveness in taking back our lives so stay tuned. 

For Reflection

What thought patterns or behaviors have you inherited or picked up from other people that are not serving you? What behaviors are you tolerating? Take time this week to do some journaling and really do some reflection on your attitudes, thought patterns and behaviors that you want to change.

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

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom and until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

The Importance of Right Speech

Words. Words are critical for clear communication. Using the correct words help us in our relationships both business and personal. How many times have you heard "That's not what I meant"? Or someone gets mad because they heard you say something that didn't say? What about people who don't keep their word? This week I'm sharing on the importance of right speech. 

Right speech is a concept that refers to speaking the truth, refraining from lying and deceiving others, being reliable with your word, refraining from gossip, and communicating clearly. This concept is a cornerstone in most major spiritual traditions including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Toltec wisdom, to name a few.

Today we are going to focus on being reliable with your word. Since this blog is about wholeness and destiny, being reliable with our word is a key to being a person of integrity, which in turn is pivotal in moving forward into our destiny!

Personal Stories

A new friend and I had made plans to together for lunch. I asked her to touch base to confirm later on in the week as I have learned it's best to make sure both parties are still able to meet and nothing has come up. I never heard from this new friend to confirm. So on the day of the event, I texted her early. No reply. Later, she texts me and says "I'm here". When I arrived at the restaurant, she says "If I say I'm going to be someplace, I will be there", with a tone. Fast forward to the next weekend. Again, we had made plans earlier in the week and she left it with "See you then," as if to confirm. Well, guess what? On the morning of the event, I receive a text from her with an excuse why she had to cancel. Hello? I had to chuckle. 

Another acquaintance said this weekend, "I'll definitely be there". At the agreed upon time we were supposed to meet, I get a text from her with an excuse cancelling. 

Then we have the contractors who say "We'll be there Friday around lunch," and never show up. What gives?

It seems many people do not care about keeping their word these days. Now, don't misunderstand, I do realize things come up, but most of the time it's not last minute. And then we wonder why the world is in the state it's in. 

Keeping our word does matter. Our words are powerful. They have the ability to create or to destroy. They have the ability to bring us peace or suffering. They can make or break a  relationship. As author, Don Miguel Ruiz, puts it in his life-changing book entitled "The Four Agreements",

The First Agreement – BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD

Speak with integrity and say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Did you know the word "impeccable" comes from the latin words that mean "without sin"? Our words should be impeccable. But how many of us even realize the harm we do with our words? I had another long-time girlfriend that I entrusted a private matter to and asked her to keep it confidential. Sadly, she blabbed it to her entire family and when I confronted her about it, she got defensive and angry. She not only shared my personal story, she broke the trust I had in her, and destroyed our relationship because she could not accept responsibility for her actions. 

For Reflection

Are you impeccable with your word to yourself? When you say you are going to exercise, for example, do you?  Or do you give yourself an excuse? When you promise to yourself you are going to drink less, spend less, or whatever, do it! Be impeccable with your word not only to others, but to yourself and see how much more empowered you feel.

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 eguide, "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

If you'd like some new reading material, check out my books available from your favorite bookseller including Amazon, Apple, and Barnes and Noble, to name but a few. If you like to cook, or just want some new recipes, order your copy of my Mediterranean Mom's cookbook. Simply use Zelle or Paypal to email $25.99 and you'll receive your digital copy chock full of delicous recipes including gluten-free, paleo, keto, as well as ethnic. You're gonna love it! Use pattiel1108@gmail.com to purchase.  
                                

New Book Coming Out Soon!

So excited to share that my new book entitled "Ignite the Power Within" will be coming out soon. Once again, it is in ebook format but I will take orders for paperback copies. 

Stay tuned for more positive, practical and powerful wisdom on how to ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

17 Signs You Need to Strengthen Your Spiritual Muscle

You work out. You go to the gym. Do yoga. Bike. Run. Lift weights. Most of us realize we need to keep our bodies and muscles in good shape so we can handle the physical demands of daily life. What about the mental and emotional demands of life such as a job loss? A pandemic? A health crisis? Aging? The everyday stressors that mount up without us even realizing it? How do we handle those? 

Well, there is something we can do about these unforseen circumstances. Did you know we each have a supernatural power inside us to help lift the burdens of life? I call it our "spiritual muscle" and today I'd like to expand on this concept in a practical and down to earth way. 

What exactly is our spiritual muscle?

Our spiritual muscle is the mechanism or tool that provides internal fortitude to help us get through the trials and tribulations of life with confidence, courage, and endurance. It gives us the resilience - the bounce back - to endure the inevitable tough times life throws at us. When we have a strong spiritual muscle we are less likely to be tossed to and fro by the waves and storms that come our way.

 

How do I know if I need work on this? 

There are signs that alert us to the fact that we need some strength training in this area. Here are some of them:

1.You find yourself talking a lot about your problems to other people, instead of to God. 
2. You use food, alcohol, exercise, overwork to ease stress and anxiety and help forget about your problems.
3. You have a hard time making decisions.
4. You can't stand to be alone and need to have the television or the radio on all the time.
5. You feel stressed and anxious much of your day.
6. You worry a lot.
7. You focus more on accumulating material possessions rather than spiritual harmony and inner peace. 
8. You like to feel in control. 
9. You are often critical and negative.
10. You lack an attitude of gratitude.

11. You have a short fuse. 

12. You complain a lot. 

13. You have not healed from past hurts and pains. 

14. You dwell on the past, rather than living in today. 

15. You get anxious and fearful when troubles arise. 

16. You've lost the joy of life. 

17. You're not growing any more or moving forward in life. 

If you identify with a few of these, not to fret. This is a call to action. We ALL have areas to work on and I believe you were guided to this blog for a reason. We are all on a spiritual journey and our souls each have their lessons to learn. This is why we are here on this earth: to heal and then to discover our destiny so we can help others along their journey. It is an exciting time for sure! 

So how do we develop our spiritual muscle?

We develop our physical muscles by eating properly, lifting bigger and heavier weights, and learning new exercises and techniques. Our lungs, our hearts, and our muscles become stronger and we are able to handle the daily physical demands of life.

In a similiar way, we strengthen our spiritual muscle by digesting the proper spiritual food, experiencing difficult challenges, and learning new skills and thought patterns. In this series, I will be sharing these practices, tools, and skills. 

The goal is the same - to be able to handle tougher challenges without as much stress, anxiety, or fear. When we go through tough times, it is important to remember these are opportunities to strengthen our spiritual muscle - if we respond in the right way. 

For more on how to develop your spiritual muscle, stay tuned. You can also pick up a copy of my true story, "The Power of Faith", available at your favorite book dealer and heads up about my new book on spiritual growth, title still in progress. Am open to suggestions so do send your ideas along. 

For Reflection

Which of the list of items above do you struggle with? What qualities would you like to have more of? Patience? Confidence? Faith? Life is a school and our education lasts a lifetime, with pop quizzes here and there. 

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

Other Offerings

I am also on several other social media platforms. If you are a Pinterest person, check out the collection I've curated over the years on topics such as health and wellness, mindfulness and meditation, diet and exercise, natural healing, and much more. Click here to check them out. 

In addition, come follow me on Facebook and Instagram where I share posts from experts in various fields related to spiritual and personal growth. My handle is 

@ArielPaz08 

Until next time, stay tuned for more on strengthening your spiritual muscle so you can ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Feel free to use and share my content but please acknowledge me as the source. Thank you!

Ignite the Power Within: Step 2 Redesigning Your Life

Every year we get a chance to redesign not just our homes but our entire lives. The New Year provides a canvas we can paint anything on.  Do you want to see and be and do something different this year? I do. No matter how old we are, it is never too late to transform our lives. Growth keeps us young and vibrant. But where should we start? Today I'm sharing Step #2 to igniting the power within.

As I shared recently, we each have a superpower within us and it is up to us to nurture and develop it. We were meant to SOAR, to grow, to fly higher and to become all that we can be to fulfill our God-ordained purpose and it is never too late to find out what that purpose is. As author Marianne Williamson says, "We each began as an idea in the mind of God." Isn't that lovely? An idea in the mind of God. Yes, you do have a unique purpose in this crazy world of ours. I don't believe we are just here randomly to flounder through life until we die. 

Growth is a choice. 

Every day we have a choice - to stay the way we are or to grow. Just because you ate a ton of chocolate chip cookies yesterday, doesn't mean you have to do it again today. Just because you had a smoke yesterday, today is a new day. Do you want to learn to dance? To paint? Learn a new skill? It's a whole new world and you are the DESIGNER! It is never too late to learn something NEW!

Clean Slate time

If we want to move forward in life, we need to clear out all the old programming, beliefs, habits and thought patterns, and start with a clean slate. We might need to get rid of the negative people in our lives, too or at least minimize time spent with them. Then, we need to search within and find our unique gifts and talents and then - put them to good use. We have to start someplace. I never knew anything about writing and now look at me. Author of multiple books and this blog. Am I making a gazillion dollars at it? No. Am I enjoying it? Yes. Writing brings me joy because my intention is to help others heal, grow and find God and their destiny, because the two are closely related. Who knows, maybe someday it will become profitable. Wouldn't that be the cherry on top?

Starting with a clean slate means being open to new ways of thinking, seeing ourselves, others, and external events differently. How we perceive the world makes a huge difference in how we act and what comes into our lives.

Transformation starts within.

People often wait for their circumstances to change but real transformation starts from within. You've probably heard the saying "If you keep on doing what you're doing, you're going to keep on getting what you're getting" and that is the truth.

If we want to move forward in life, we have to make the effort to change and the most important area to change is our thinking. Our thinking determines our habits, our behaviors, and our destinies. In fact, the Bible says this "Be transformed daily by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). 

It Starts With Awareness
Now you may think you already have an open mind but I can guarantee you some thinking patterns need to change. Like all of us, you may still have some negative thought patterns lurking about. You may have some resentments that need to be dealt with. You may have a less than positive view of who you are. If we want to move forward in life and be more successful, more joyful, and more of service, we must change the way we perceive ourselves, others, and our circumstances past and present. 

Imagine putting your old thinking on a shelf for the time being, like a pair of well-worn shoes, while you try on a new pair of shoes. Like breaking in new shoes, it might feel uncomfortable for a bit.  Slowly but surely, you will enjoy the peace and freedom new ways of thinking will bring you. I can assure you, once you start on this journey, you will never want to go back to those old shoes.

Brain Science
Science used to tell us that the brain cannot be changed, but now we know better. We now know the brain can be restructured and regenerated. This is called neuroplasticity, and you can read more about in this article.  Keep in mind that the brain and the mind are two different things but are critically linked together.

Consciousness is Key 

If we want to have more peace and calm in our lives and in our world, and less drama, we have to become more consciously aware. We will keep reacting in the same old patterns until we become aware of them. Albert Einstein put it like this:

For Reflection 
Step #2 asks us to be open to seeing and processing life in a new way. As we unfold the next steps together, how we do this will become more clear but for now ask yourself this question: "Am I ready and willing to change my thinking?" 

If the answer to this question is yes, then ask yourself "What habit or thought pattern do I want to change?" Do I want to see myself as more confident? Healthy? Likeable? Attractive? Intelligent? Do I want to see each day as a new opportunity to move forward in my life? What we expect is what we shall receive. 

When we are ready to change our thinking, we will embark upon the journey of a lifetime. You will be amazed at how your life will begin to change when you change your thinking. You will see more miracles, experience more peace and joy, and see more of your dreams come true. I'm a living testimony. 

To hear this on audio, click here.

If you enjoyed this post and want to join this adventure and our growing blog community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" . 

More For YOU to Explore

In addition to writing these blog posts, I have compiled a collection of helpful information on a variety of interesting topics such as faith, spirituality, inner peace, prayer, healthy aging, beauty, fashion, mindfulness, delicious recipes, healing, and lots more. Pop on over to my view my Pinterest boards here. 

 

Thanks for reading. Pass this on to a friend and stay tuned for more on this transformational series. As always,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

8 Benefits of Cultivating a Spiritual Practice

When was the last time you felt stressed? If you're like most, stress is a part of our daily lives and it is a major factor in many health issues today. Our fast-paced lifestyle and goal-oriented society leaves little time for solitude, reflection, prayer and meditation. Yet, it is these very habits that protect us against the constant bombardment of stressors in our daily lives.

We all have 24 hours in a day and everyone seems to be so busy all the time. Yet, how often do we stop to consider if we're making time for the right things? Often, we're on auto-pilot carrying out our daily routines. What if we're not working on what would make the most difference in our lives? 

Today, I'd like us to press the pause button so we can think about that question for a few minutes. What is really most important in my life? Is it my friends? My career? My family? My finances?

All of these are important but what lies at the crux of being successful in any of these?   Maybe, just maybe, there is something more important above and beyond anything else. By far. And that is...

Developing our relationship with God. 
On a recent visit to Morocco, I happened to catch these devout Muslims worshipping at the 5 o'clock call to prayer. Speechless, I stopped in awe to observe. After, I asked a shop owner about the practice and he said people can pray anywhere. There was no need for icons or statues or candles. The faithful simply took off their shoes and dropped to their knees. Now you might not understand, agree or accept other religions, but this act of  sincere and humble worship struck me. How different would the world be if everyone stopped several times a day to acknowledge God? Think about it.

We are all spirit. As author and spiritual guru, Wayne Dyer, puts it, "We are spiritual beings having a human experience." I have studied most of the major religions and have found several principles they all have in common: compassion, faith, worship, giving, and service to name a few.

Rather than focus on our religious differences, wouldn't the world be a better place if we focused on common ground? This is what is so great about America - freedom to worship who and what we choose. In the end, each of us will stand before God and give an accounting of our lives so let's not wait till then to meet him.

Reasons why we need a spiritual practice:

1. Helps us become more peaceful, resilient, calm. 
2. Improves our relationshipswith others. 
3. Helps us connect to ourselves.
4. Helps us connect to God. 
5. Helps us handle life's problems. 
6. Provides hope in the hard times. 
7. Gives us guidance.
8. Helps us to grow. 
9. Helps us stay positive despite negative circumstances. 

When we put our main focus and energy towards our jobs, our kids, our relationships, everything suffers because our spirit is what infuses every aspect of our lives. It affects our emotions, our moods, and our energy. When we neglect our spiritual self, we are basically ignoring the very core of who we are. Then we wonder why the world is in such a state of turmoil.

Activity vs. Connection 
Sure we go to church, pray the rosary, give our tithes, go to yoga retreats. All of these are fine and dandy, but what really matters is am I developing a relationship with my spiritual self? With God?  Just as human relationships require time and effort, so does our spiritual relationship. If we want to reap the benefits listed above, we must make time to cultivate this aspect of ourselves however that manifests itself for each one of us.

Whether we realize it or not, our relationship with our spiritual self is truly is the most important thing in life, In fact, I would go as far as to say that our human relationships can only be as healthy as we are spiritually. In fact, we can only be as healthy physically and emotionally as we are spiritually.

For Reflection
Do you have a spiritual practice? Is it working for you? Do you consider spirituality an important part of your life? I once asked a good friend this question and her answer was "No comment". I know this isn't you or you would not be reading this blog. What actions can you take to improve your spiritual life? 

If you'd like to join our blog community, enter your email in the box provided and you'll receive my weekly posts. You'll also receive a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Have a great week and remember - keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

All rights reserved. If you'd like to use this material contact me at arielpaz08@gmail.com

4 Reasons We All Need a Spiritual Practice - Uvalde Shooting

Mass shootings seem to have become a regular occurence in our world these days. More people are buying guns to protect themselves. We have become almost numb to tragedy. People wonder why these events keep happening. Apparently the answer is not obvious to everyone but it is to me.

No, the answer isn't gun control. The answer isn't mental health treatments. These may help band-aid the problem but these solutions ignore the root cause.

1. Inability to manage negative emotions in a healthy manner.

Managing emotions is part of our spiritual growth. When we have no spiritual path, we have no resources to teach us how to control our emotions. Anger, jealousy, and resentment are all very dangerous emotions that we need to learn how to handle in a constructive - not destructive - way. None of us is immune and we must be conscious of when negative emotions are building up inside of us. This is where prayer and meditation can be very helpful. 

2. Loss of value for the sacredness of human life.

And why is that? Because they have turned their backs on God - the most sacred One of all. He is not allowed in schools anymore. They've taken the words "In God we Trust" off our money, out of the pledge of allegiance and removed the statues that serve as reminders of the principles this country was founded on.  If we don't hold God sacred, whose precepts teach us the basics of how to be a decent human being and the difference between right and wrong, what can we expect? Chaos! Which is exactly what we have and if we don't shift our focus, the situation will only get worse.

3. Denial of the existence of evil.

Evil does indeed exist - just take a look around.  To deny the existence of evil is to live in a polyanna state of oblivion. All is not well with the world and we were not born sinless, as some purport. Think about your most recent unkind comment, lie, rudeness, impatience. Think about when you thought badly about someone, yourself even. Think about when you look at things with lust or jealousy. None of these is from God. The bent of human beings is towards things that gratify the flesh and temporarily make us feel better about ourselves, make us feel loved, attractive, worthy. When was the last time you compared yourself to another? The truth is only God can make us feel loved, attractive and worthy. Why? Because he died for us, that's why. If that doesn't spell love, I don't know what does.

4. The prevalence of excess in our culture. 

Another sign we need a spiritual path is when we indulge to excess: overeat, drink too much, have too much sex, exercise or work too much. All of these are signs of unhealthy attitudes which lead to unhealthy behaviors. Just look at the opioid crisis. People are hurting emotionally and mentally and they seek to console themselves with a dangerous and deadly habit.

Case in Point 
I was talking with an acquaintance recently and he was telling me how many times he went dancing over the weekend, kind of bragging actually.

"I've been dancing every night," he stated. 

"How often have you been out?" 

"None, dancing isn't everything" I replied. 
"It's not?" he replied with a tone of sarcasm.
Now I have nothing against enjoying life, but sometimes, we keep ourselve so busy we don't have time to think about or deal with our emotional and spiritual issues. Months later, I found out this guy was convicted of killing his wife and was out on bail when I met him. 

The purpose of this post is not to judge or condemn anyone but to get us all to realize the importance of developing and working on a spiritual practice. In the same way it takes effort to exercise and eat right, it does take effort to maintain a spiritual path. But what are the alternatives? Get fat, out of shape, and live down, depressed, and hopeless or worse - take an innocent life. We are all capable of these acts if not by the grace of God.

For Reflection:
We can each make a difference in our own part of the world. Each change we make personally ripples into the great sea of humanity. What change can you make to manage your emotions better? Every step we take towards becoming a more loving, caring, forgiving, truthful, person will affect how we treat others which in turn will affect how they will treat others. Just imagine what it could be like here on earth. It is true that "the kingdom of God is at hand".

If this post made you think, consider joining our blog community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly encouraging posts plus a copy of my free e-guide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Ignite the Power Within Step 3:8 Tips for Breaking a Bad Habit

Bad habits. We all have them. Don't kid yourself that your seemingly perfect friend is flawless. She has hers too. Habits are tough to break, for sure, but they can be broken.  Today, in our continuing series on transformation, we'll talk about how changing our thinking and learning to let go can help us transform our lives.

Where do bad habits start?
Bad habits often come from a poor self-image. Some bad habits include over-eating, getting high, drinking or shopping to excess, biting one's nails, picking one's skin, etc. The list goes on and on. The media overemphasizes being thin, having long luxurious hair and a porcelain complexion. It is important to realize these are all just mind games to make us spend our money on their products. Being super-model thin, having extra long lashes or a peaches and cream complexion is not going to make us a better person but our society has been conditioned to place a high value on the superficial. True beauty comes from within a person, not what's on the outside. 

No matter how long we have had the habit, it is possible to break it. We have probably had them for quite a while so be patient with yourself. Here are some steps I am using to break one of my bad habits.

1. Make a decision to let it go.
All change starts with a decision and a change of mind. We must decide we are no longer going to tolerate a certain behavior and that we are going to make geting rid of it a top priority. It is hard to tackle a bad habit when we are busy focused on other things.  

2. Bring more awareness to the habit.
Instead of pretending it is not a problem, really focus on when you engage in the habit. As we said before, practice mindfulness. Be more aware of how often you do the behavior. It helps to write down when we engage in the behavior AND how we are feeling at the time. This helps bring the unconscious into the conscious. Keeping a log or a journal is great for bringing habits into awareness. 

3. Notice how you're feeling.
Emotions and stress have a lot to do with bad habits. We reach for the ice cream, the mac and cheese,  the chocolate or the glass of wine when we're feeling stressed and need comforting. Feeling our feelings is vital to connecting the dots and making positive changes. When we ignore our feelings, we fall back in the same negative patterns. Respect your feelings and give them the attention they are asking for.   

4. Substitute positive behaviors for the negative behavior. 
For example, instead of having that piece of cake or cookie, pick up a piece of fruit or go for a walk. Sip a glass of lemon water or hot herbal tea instead of alcohol. Stop yourself before you engage in the behavior by counting to 6 slowly. Then ask yourself if you really want whatever it is. If you do, go ahead and indulge and don't feel guilty. You are making a conscious choice and that is part of breaking the habit loop.

5. Be patient with yourself. 
Most bad habits took years to develop. Changing them isn't going to happen overnight and there will be setbacks. Forgive yourself, understand what caused the setback, and start again. Whatever you do, don't beat yourself up. That only enforces the behavior. Remember - tomorrow is a new day.

6. Develop a support system. 
Yes, I know it is embarassing to share your flaws with another person but we need support. Find someone you can trust and confide in them. Use the buddy system. Have them tell you something they want to work on and you can be the support for them and vice versa.  Don't try to go it alone.

7. Manage the stress. 
Stress makes us more prone to give in to bad habits: having that extra glass of wine, going back for seconds, chugging the beer, and heading for the bathroom mirror. When we are stressed, we have less self-control. We tell ourselves things like "I worked hard all week. I deserve this." What we deserve is to take better care of ourselves and to treat ourselves and our bodies with respect.

8. Watch the self-talk. 
Habits develop over time. We have internal dialogues that we might not even be aware of that perpetuate bad habits. For example, we might think "I ought to have perfectly thin thighs. But because I don't, I'm fat and ugly". Or "I can't put on a swimsuit because of these thighs." Men do the same thing. How many times have you seen a man wearing a cap on and when he takes it off, he is bald. Don't they know bald is sexy? These types of negative thinking patterns distort the truth about ourselves. We don't have to have perfectly thin or clear anything. We don't need a full head of hair to be loveable. We need to love ourselves exactly as we are while we are working on improving. Self-love and acceptance are crucial to making changes.

So there you have my 8 tips for breaking a bad habit. Give them a try and hang in there. You are not alone. We all have habits to break. When we make taking better care of ourselves a priority, we will see progress.

For Reflection 

What habit would you like to get rid of? Will you make a decision to make changing a priority? What are you saying to yourself about your habit? 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our blog community, enter your email address in the box provided. I'll also send you out a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

This wraps up our series on transformation. I hope you enjoyed it. As the busy season and the flu season ramp up, the topic for October will be on staying well and healthy as we prepare for the holiday season. We'll talk about health, flu prevention, sleep, and maybe some Ayurvedic philosophies thrown in. Do tune in! 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz