Is pain taking over your life?

I understand all too well about life altering pain! I’ve had times when a part of my body hurts so much that it’s all I can think about.

I remember what transpired in my garden when I lifted too many heavy pails of water one afternoon. I should’ve known better. Right? Well, I injured my shoulder and arm by doing too much.

We’ve all done it. And afterwards, we can be so hard on ourselves! “Why wasn’t I smarter than that?”

But when the pain really kicks in and starts to affect how you’re thinking and what you decide to do and not do, it’s time to investigate possibilities of “what can I do about this pain and help my body heal?”

It’s one thing to have pain resulting from a physical injury like what I just described, or pain from a physical ailment. We can usually wrap our minds around those kinds of issues that create pain in the body. And if we don’t push our body to keep on doing, and if we help the body let go of the inflammation, we can often help healing take place.

It will usually take some extra attention, and of course, I’m suggesting you make use of self-help acupressure to help get on the other side of a pattern of pain.

Emotional Anguish

What if you’re living with the pain for so long, and it just becomes what you expect? And then what happens if your mind and emotions play into that way of being?

What if the pain is happening because of emotional trauma, like losing a loved one or exposure to violence? Or what if the pain is a result of feeling lost and isolated and maybe anxious and depressed?

That kind of pain can be just as debilitating because it’s often harder to figure out what is hurting and how to fix it.

Pain can create such deep, intense feelings that the senses get all caught up in “this way of living.” Well, your body would appreciate if you had another way of dealing with it and helping it not go in that direction.

You CAN change the patterns of how you talk to yourself and how you treat anything going on in your body and help it release old physical, mental, or emotional traumas.

Read on…

Self Conversations

Here are some possibilities of conversations you could be having with yourself about emotions and feelings in association with living with pain:

** Concern and worry

“What is happening with my body?  What do I need to do to get rid of this pain?”

This state of unknowing can lead to extreme nervousness and then confusion. And then it becomes almost too easy to go to “what am I doing wrong?” And, when you get caught up in that place, you start questioning yourself about almost everything?

When you’re stuck in that negative mode, it’s important to change your way of thinking to “what are some other possibilities?” That way you’ll increase your chances of getting answers as to how to take care of the pain and many other issues going on in your life. You and your body are now living in the space of believing that you ARE doing everything right to take care of you.

** Major fear that life is going to get really impacted

“What will happen if this pain doesn’t go away? What if this leads to something even worse?”

That sense of “feeling and being out of control” can lead to anxiety. And that’s one pattern we want to help our bodies not experience because it will cause aggravation of pain. Anxiousness is more like a “moment in time.” Being in a state of anxiety can become an issue that can become a project that then needs to be remedied.

The key is to help your body recognize that you and your body together CAN change the trajectory of thought patterns and improve your emotional state of being.

** Frustration and anger

 “This pain is driving me crazy. I’m so frustrated that I can’t do what I want to and need to do.”

Significant irritation at how you have to live day-to-day with pain can create belief patterns that cause you to feel like you’re unable to change something that could make a difference in your activities, relationships, and life – personal or business.

** Sadness and grief

“Life is so empty, and I can’t find a way to be happy.”

When pain takes over your day-to-day existence, you can all too easily begin to “miss how things used to be.” When the energetic body recognizes that you’re missing an integral part of yourself and can’t locate what you’re searching for, the body starts feeling like something has been lost. Then comes a state of sadness and grief for what’s missing.

A life that doesn’t seem happy creates an unhappy body. A body that’s experiencing lots of pain is most likely not in a state of experiencing joy and happiness.

** Trying too much and trying too hard – efforting

“My body doesn’t want to do what I need it to do. Everything seems too hard to do, and there’s just not enough time to do it all.”

When pain takes over the body and causes life to feel overwhelming, even expected and often simple daily activities take too much energy and can deplete your overall vitality. If you had vitality and the ability to be an “energizer bunny,” and now that’s missing, you and your body are experiencing a significant sense of loss and not knowing how to live in the world.

Energy Balance

So why this lengthy description of emotions and feelings when we’re discussing pain?

Pain causes so much “stopping us in our tracks” that emotions need to be addressed as we travel the journey of helping our bodies release the symptoms of pain and what is holding the pain IN the body.

When you dive into all that can be affecting your body, you’ll travel through all the systems and places that are being reactive –

• Respiratory
• Digestive
• Elimination
• Muscular
• Skeletal
• Vascular
• Cognitive
• Emotional

Additionally, you will connect with your

• Adrenal
• Endocrine
• Immune
• Lymphatic
• Nervous systems

so they can easily support your WHOLE body fully.

For instance, you may notice that when you’re experiencing a stretch of pain, it’s harder to get a full inhale and exhale. Your breath MUST open up to help spread the energy and be able to let go of ALL that’s in the way of change and healing.

Breath

Do this energy flow to open your breath AND to release the tendency for inflammation to be present in the body when there is injury, ailment, trauma, distress, and the emotions that are talking back. Doing this energy flow will also help your body rediscover easy and comfortable movement:

Right hand – hold fingers on the left elbow

Left hand – hold fingers on the right elbow

Left hand – move fingers to the base of the right front ribcage

Right hand – move fingers to right chest below collarbone

Inflammation Release

Do this simple energy hold to remind the body that inflammation can let go and not be a pattern.

Left hand – hold fingers on the outside of the left knee

Right hand – hold fingers on the outside of the right knee

Be in Flow

Follow with this simple energy flow to remind your body to be in flow and breath and calm!

Right hand – cup your sternum directly below the collarbone

Left hand – hold your fingers on your tummy below your navel

Use these acupressure flows using light gentle touch to get back into an energy balance for your body, mind, and emotions.

What I just shared with you is just the tip of the iceberg that I will be covering in the upcoming THE GREAT PAIN ESCAPE workshop!

_{>> Get all event details and register<<}

Hats Off to You Mom!

We all get it. Moms like you have lots on their plates to keep life happening, so Hats off to You, Mom!

First off, it’s everything that NEEDS to get done for the kids – school commitments, after-school activities, and keeping the kids on track with “doing well” at whatever they’re involved in, plus homework and their “I love doing this, and I can’t skip it.”

Sometimes, it seems like way too much getting juggled.

What if you’re caring for a parent or someone else, that’s another timeline that must be included in your day.

And let’s not forget the long list to take care of in your own life:

• work and its requirements
• time with your partner
• connecting with friends
• after-work activities
• exercise program
• quiet time
• sleep
• self-care

You get it – the list is crazy. How on earth do you do it all?

Ask Yourself This

Besides focusing on all the things, take a moment to reflect on yourself.

• Do you ever get to the space of feeling anxious about “too much and not enough time?”
• Do you ever tell yourself that you’re not doing everything good enough?
• Do you give yourself a lecture that it’s time you make some changes and make them now?

All of these are “anxious-making stuff,” and create havoc in your mind, your state of being, and potentially in your physical body.

• Do you notice that you’re holding your breath or clenching your jaw?
• Is your neck taking the brunt and holding up the weight of the world?
• Is your lower back feeling tight and sore, and is it hard to turn, lift, and stretch?

Maybe your body is experiencing one of those glitches or something else.

• Do you sometimes feel on edge, and maybe it’s hard to hold back an angry comment?
• Does your head hurt with the “too much to do” and the mind chatter it all creates?
• Does the mind chatter take over, and you find you’re being super hard on yourself and maybe others?
• Or do you feel like you’re just super tired and don’t know how to make it through the day?

If any of that is happening, that anxiousness is being experienced as a pattern in your body. And if you’re expressing yourself with angry comments or fretful impatience, it’s being noticed by others, including your kids.

If your kids see you being impatient and on edge, that is anxious behavior that they may very well model when they’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

The greatest gift you as a mom can give to your kids is modeling a way of being that is calm, no matter what is going on. When you show up composed, unruffled, and relaxed even when there is craziness in the day, they WILL notice and SEE your behavior as a soothing and peaceful way to be.

My Mother’s Day Gift to You

In the spirit of Mother’s Day, it’s time for YOU to receive a simple, easy way to “just be” and have your body experience breath and calm.

So, here is my gift of “just being.” And everything I share with you will work for everyone else in your life, including your kids, their teachers, your partner, and your best friends. Feel free to share what I’m going to suggest.

Following are some super simple self-help acupressure tips you can do anytime, anywhere.

Your body will start saying, “Do this,” and you’ll find that you and your body have created new habits that will make you feel better, healthier, and happier.

For each of the ‘poses’ below, use your fingertips with a light, gentle touch on the points I suggest, and hold each step for several good breaths.

So here you go!

To expand breath, ease anxiousness, assist with clarity and focus, feel stronger, have more vitality, and just feel good:

1. Give yourself a hug – just hold your fingers on the upper arms above your elbows.
2. Cup the back of your head using your right hand with fingers on the opposite base of the skull. Then cup your forehead using your left hand with fingers on the opposite side.
3. Cup your sternum below the collarbone (thumb on one side and fingers on the other). With the other hand, hold your fingers on your tummy.
4. To create more room for everything, including your neck and shoulders feeling more spacious and able to hold up your head and DO everything more easily…
   With your right hand, cup your left shoulder near your neck
   Place your left hand under your left sit bone or near it
   After a few breathes, switch hands.

5. Cup your fingers, one at a time (first one hand and then the other, starting with the thumb). This routine is called jumper cabling, and it helps to increase breath and balance emotions.

Keep Going!

Are you interested in knowing an energy flow pattern that takes less than 10 minutes? This energy flow can be used throughout the day, and it can create calm and breath as it works with every system in your body to bring balance and vitality.

It’s called the Daily Clean Your House Flow® , and it’s my gift to you and your family!

Hey Mom!  Give yourself a Happy Mother’s Day gift. Bring on the breath and calm and peace. Feel balance and harmony throughout your whole body.

Everyone in your life will appreciate you even more because you’re taking care of yourself. Enjoy your day and every day.

And LOTS of hugs! YOU deserve to be loved! 

Ultimate Holiday Survival Bootcamp

Celebrate the holidays, have fun, and be calm

This is my gift to you!

All you need to do is set aside the time to join me!

You can feel better FAST if you know how to balance your body

Spend time with me – and you will be ready to experience holiday magic

You will no longer feel like you need to survive the holidays!

Let go of all your challenges – even around “holiday stuff”

Give yourself the gift of joy and calm!

You will experience Easy Self-Help Acupressure and learn:

• How to get and stay healthy and be productive
• How to be centered and grounded – even during holiday events!
• Creative ways to be in gratitude and appreciate yourself
• Balance, gratitude, joy, and magic can happen at the same time!

Register and get ready for a happy, healthy holiday.

Share the Ultimate Holiday Survival Bootcamp with your friends and family.

Break the Stress Habit Week 3

Mindfulness begins with your body. Energy flows bring attention to your body and free your mind from chatter—or at least slow down the side conversations.

Learn 3 energy flows to interrupt your stress habit:

1. Amp up Focus
2. Deeper Sleep
3. Joyful relationships

Stress is a storyline you can rewrite for a happier life.

Included in your registration:

• Handouts
• Workshop Recordings

Register for the workshop and break your stress habit.

Three Wednesdays: April 28, May 5, May 12
6:30-7:30 pm PDT

$197.00 is a small investment in your wellbeing.

Register now at http://bit.ly/StressHabit

Break the Stress Habit Week 2

Mindfulness begins with your body. Energy flows bring attention to your body and free your mind from chatter—or at least slow down the side conversations.

Learn 3 energy flows to interrupt your stress habit:

1. Amp up Focus
2. Deeper Sleep
3. Joyful relationships

Stress is a storyline you can rewrite for a happier life.

Included in your registration:

• Handouts
• Workshop Recordings

Register for the workshop and break your stress habit.

Three Wednesdays: April 28, May 5, May 12
6:30-7:30 pm PDT

$197.00 is a small investment in your wellbeing.

Register now at http://bit.ly/StressHabit

Break the Stress Habit

Mindfulness begins with your body. Energy flows bring attention to your body and free your mind from chatter—or at least slow down the side conversations.

Learn 3 energy flows to interrupt your stress habit:

1. Amp up Focus
2. Deeper Sleep
3. Joyful relationships

Stress is a storyline you can rewrite for a happier life.

Included in your registration:

• Handouts
• Workshop Recordings

Register for the workshop and break your stress habit.

Three Wednesdays: April 28, May 5, May 12
6:30-7:30 pm PDT

$197.00 is a small investment in your wellbeing.

Register now at http://bit.ly/StressHabit

Get Frustration Out of Your Picture!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

One of the most frequent phrases I’ve heard lately is, “I’m so frustrated!” Are YOU frustrated and finding that it’s hard to stay focused, handle everything on your plate, and get things accomplished? It only makes sense if you find yourself in that place! We live in a world with high levels of uncertainty, confusion, stress, and disruption. Most people find it easy to get distracted by the troubles going on around them. They want to get things done. We’re in for more unsettling moments for a while longer, so it’s pretty essential to get on the other side of the frustration.

Change Your Patterns

You can lower the temperature in the room and make it through the commotion. It would help if you were kind to yourself, remain calm, figure out what needs to change, and give yourself time to implement the changes. To help you let go of dissatisfaction, let’s consider some ways that allow you to feel relaxed and experience ease.

1. Make a list of what you love to do to relax
2. Designate times during the day that are all about “relaxing and taking care of me.”
3. Have a meditation practice
4. Have an exercise program
5. Eat sensibly
6. Get restful and rejuvenating sleep
7. Plan, organize, and prioritize what you want to and need to accomplish; make it realistic
8. Explore ways to balance your emotions and feelings

Balance Emotions and Feel Empowered

Feelings are important because they give you information about what you need to address before getting bigger and taking over. Whether it’s frustration, worry, fear, sadness, or efforting that is creating upset, you can help minimize these discomforts before they take your breath away.

You CAN manage and balance your emotions throughout the day, so stress doesn’t have room to hang out!

Here are some ideas for you:

1. If you don’t know about it, the Daily Clean Your House Flow is a nine-step self-help acupressure flow that you can do in 10 minutes a day. Many folks spend over 10 minutes because they find it a super-simple way to relax, meditate, experience deep breathing, let go of many aches and pains, and balance emotions.

2. Jumper Cabling, the last step of the Daily Flow, is all about balancing emotions and taking the punch out of stress. Gently cup each thumb and finger—each connects to helping the body experience calm and ease.

Get Frustration Out of Your Picture

To reduce frustration and the effects of frustration:

1. Cup the middle fingers
2. Right hand—hold fingers at the right base of the skull
   Left hand—hold fingers at the outside of the right wrist.
3. Right hand—cup the forehead with fingers on the left side
   Left hand—cup base of the skull with fingers on the right side

To get the step-by-step of the Daily Clean Your House Flow, look for the purple button on my website “Learn the Daily Flow” and click the button to start your free download.

Please let me know if you have questions! And I’d love to hear about the results you get when you create YOUR daily practice of balancing your energy!

I wish all of you a beautiful, prosperous, joyous, and VERY Happy New Year! It’s possible when you allow yourself to experience life with ease and calm.

Hope, Faith & Energy

Photo by Inna Lesyk from Pexels

Hope, Faith & Energy

Are you feeling at odds, unhappy, maybe lonely? Are you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what you should do next to clear the to-do list? Perhaps you’re also taking care of others, and you have their feelings and needs to look after, too.

If you have all of that going on and even more “stuff,” you might experience a sense of hopelessness, feeling that it’s never going to change. And, with all of that, you’re most likely experiencing some fatigue. Dealing with it is just too much!

Look at everything that is going on in this crazy world. COVID-19, social distancing, massive civil unrest, fires or hurricanes or flooding depending on where you live, evacuations, destruction, the election. Okay. The list is already too long, especially since each one of those can create stress and anxiety and the feeling that “it’s just too much.” No wonder we hear the phrase “pandemic fatigue.”

Kids are Feeling Stressed Out

What’s sad is that children are experiencing the same stress, overwhelm, not knowing what’s coming next, frustration, and sadness. They feel exhausted by social distancing, not being with their friends, and feeling hemmed in.

How do we cope and get on the other side of it? It’s super important to help our bodies get to that place. Otherwise, our bodies will think they are in constant trauma.

Trauma Adds Stress

Trauma and the effects of trauma bring us to a place of being on edge, wary, confused, even holding our breath. Energetically, trauma causes the energy pathways to get blocked and stuck. Energy needs to move, and it needs to change. Otherwise, our bodies will manifest “projects” that can cause unhealthiness and chronic fatigue. (Instead of problems, let’s use the word projects. They’re more fun to work with, and they have a beginning and an end).

Tips for Reducing the Effects of Stress

I have some easy-to-do ideas on how to get on the other side of it all.

Number One

We can help our bodies get out of confusion and create calm. You can do easy self-help acupressure to let go of fatigue and develop physical, mental, and emotional balance. It will help you sleep easily, feel healthy, be happy and joyful, have clarity and focus, increase self-esteem, and feel optimistic about tomorrow and beyond.  That’s where hope and faith come into the picture! (There’s a link at the end of the article to get you to easy self-help energy tips).

Number Two

I think we need to take Oprah’s advice that I read in her recent Inspiration Newsletter. We need to embrace hygge, the Danish art of coziness. Danes rank as the happiest people in the world, even today.  How do they get to that place?

Photo by Daria Rem from Pexels

What the Danes Do to Feel Happier

The Danish make sure that several essential elements are part of their daily lives, including relaxed thoughtfulness, meditation, and time spent with others. And, yes, we can spend time with others without actual physical contact. Now more than ever, we need to create time with others that create an atmosphere that is warm, relaxed, friendly, down-to-earth, close, comfortable, snug, and welcoming. It is like a friendly hug—but without the physical contact. In this situation, you can be yourself and relax completely. Therefore, the art of hygge is also the art of expanding your comfort zone to include other people.

So, I guess we have to do it with social distancing and maybe even over Zoom. No matter what, create the time for cozy togetherness! Our bodies, hearts, and souls hunger for it!

Another significant element the Danes bring into their lives is “living lights.” They make use of candles to bring light and create sunny smiles.

Maybe this year, we need to make sure we put up those holiday lights for the color and the sparkling lights that bring those big smiles. As many of you know, I love Christmas. What I also know is that I need those lights as the days get shorter and shorter. And, even though very few people will see my Christmas extravaganza, it just might be the year it all gets displayed.

Read more about Embracing Hygge:

http://www.oprah.com/health_wellness/how-to-embrace-hygge#ixzz6cNxufzLL

Hope and Change

Another piece we need to be aware of—change wants to happen, and it needs to happen. The body you walk around in is in constant flux because it’s energy. A body in energetic balance will quickly experience the change, and it will be a positive shift. The trick is to be creative in appreciating ourselves and find enjoyment within the shift. Maybe the difference is merely relishing an accomplishment.

Consider using this simple worksheet to help you see the changes that you can implement. It uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which uses your mind to notice the good stuff. It focuses on behavioral changes in your daily life, for instance, tracking your emotions according to your activities. So, it’s learning how to notice when your body is giving you a message.

behavioral-activation quiz

If you would like to learn more about behavioral-based therapy, visit the Therapist Aid website.

Your Key to Hope, Faith  & Energy

To help your body thoroughly experience change and get messages, go to my website and click on the purple button, “Learn the Daily Flow.” You will receive self-help acupressure suggestions that will help your body experience balance and harmony. Included is the Daily Clean Your House Flow® and energy tips to expand the breath, let go of frustration, achieve focus, boost motivation, and increase productivity. Now, those are some changes your body will appreciate!  And you are fully experiencing hope, faith, and energy. Enjoy the movement and the difference!

Keep Your Breath Moving!

Finding Joy and Ease Amid Our Topsy-Turvy World

Topsy Turvy

It is not unusual to discover new crisis announcements every day during these troubled times. Dire proclamations provoke deep unease and may put you in a state of hyper-vigilance. And repeated disturbing news may create a sense of anxiety that takes your breath away. What happens if you burden yourself with anxiousness and dread? The trick is to acknowledge the sentiments that come up for you and help your body let go of harmful reactions.

I want to give you some of my favorite self-help acupressure tips to do that!

These easy-to-do acupressure movements will:

• expand breath
• let go of anxiety
• reduce stress reactions
• help you sleep even with so much on your mind
• and boost your immune system.

Energetic Balance

Your body prefers to be in energetic balance. You need to help your body experience balance and harmony. You are training your body what it feels like to be in balance. When you do, your physical, mental, and emotional bodies will take better care of you.

Help Your Body

A daily practice of easy self-care acupressure helps your body. A balanced immune system can fend off anxiety and stress despite what is happening in the world.

Hold your fingertips on the following acupressure points with a light and gentle touch for several good breaths:

1. Open up your breath. Give yourself a hug by holding your fingertips anywhere on your elbows or upper arms. You’re holding energy points that connect with lung and diaphragm breath. This will expand your breath. You will experience a full inhale followed by a purging exhale.
2. Bring on better sleep! Hold your fingertips on the base of your skull and you will connect with a “sleep center.” Follow with jumper cables—cup and hold each thumb and finger with a light touch.
3. Boost your immune system and it will better be able to take care of you!

• Right hand—cup right shoulder with fingertips where neck and shoulder come together.
• Left hand—hold fingers at left chest immediately below the collarbone.
• Switch hands.

Prepare your body for difficult times

Make the Daily Clean Your Houseflow your go-to daily practice for balancing your energy. A daily practice makes your system more receptive to nurturing.  Many of my clients start and end every day doing the Daily Clean Your House Flow—a 9-step self-help acupressure flow that provides your body with a firm foundation. The flow supports all the organs and systems of the body. You are preparing your systems for performing at optimum levels—bringing stability, strength and vitality to your entire body.

You can find the Daily Clean Your House Flow on my website, deborahmyerswellness.com. Click on the purple button “Learn the Daily Flow” and you’ll get a PDF of the 9 steps, and more energy tips.

I encourage you to view the animated video of the Daily Clean Your House Flow. I created it for kids, and adults love it as much as any kid. Watch it in its entirety on my website at deborahmyerswellness.com/covid19at no charge. I want anyone who is searching for a way to let go of stress and anxiety to enjoy free access during this distressing, unnerving time. Do your body a favor and check out the video. You’ll see why kids, parents, and teachers love this 6-½ minute video for helping to create a more carefree and happier body.

Spending time every day taking care of YOU assists your body to get to that place of balance and harmony. Your body will know you are taking care of it. A daily practice might include self-help acupressure, meditation, exercise, walking, enjoying Mother Nature, gardening, singing, dancing, resting when you need to, reading, writing. The list of what could be part of your daily practice is up to you. Choose the activities that help your body feel better and more vital, including what brings a smile to your face.

My desire for you is to experience joy and ease!