@Irene Higgs I'm so glad to have met you here and look forward to getting to know you better. I'm curious to know more about your decision to choose a spiritual journey over therapy. That was brave!

Hi! My name is Tricia, and I met Laurie last month at the Align retreat in Portugal, where, thanks in large part to the safe environment she created with her co-facilitator, I had some profound energetic experiences. I have been on a spiritual path in earnest since 2018, after a disastrous second marriage, though looking back on my life I can see that I’ve always felt like a puppy in a pen, sniffing along the perimeter for a possible way out - and freedom. I’m excited to be part of this community and deepen my understanding of the truth. I’m wanting to remove blinders that may be keeping me from experiencing deeper love. I know there is more love, and I want to feel it! And, I’m nervous that I might not ever get there. For fun, I like to write, read, redecorate my house, hike, practice yoga, and drink warm beverages 😊

1. When facing challenges, I try to NOTICE what I’m feeling and identify any patterns (victim, invisible, powerless, etc.) Then I try to let myself feel the uncomfortable feelings without judging myself (or anyone else) as bad or wrong. Then I try to bring in a different feeling that frames the situation in a more positive light. These might be one of the seven qualities of love, compassion, patience, sharing, gratitude, humility or happiness. Example: I arrived home from a long trip overseas last night and when I got settled all comfy on my sofa, ready to relax with a hot chocolate and my book, I could hear my neighbor upstairs in a rage. She was screaming and crying, and from experience, I knew this was going to last for much of the night, which it did. At first, I felt anger and resentment that my peace was being shattered, but instead of rushing through this feeling, as I might have done in the past, I sat with it and allowed it.  Then, I consciously CHOSE to feel patience and compassion in the place of anger and resentment. I also chose to feel grateful for my own healing, safety, and peace, and I checked in with my intuition to see if perhaps I could do anything to help my neighbor. I got a strong no, so I chose to honor that, and I did not feel guilty or worried. 2. When I catch myself focusing on the past, I remind myself of advice I found printed on a tea bag label: “When the past calls, let it go to voicemail. It has nothing to say.” When I catch myself focusing on the future, I remind myself that it’s not my job to figure out the future, and by focusing too intently on it and how I might get there, I am cutting off the flow of magic that is otherwise conspiring to bring me delights.I believe these simple practices open up possibilities for me in the now. 3. I connect with my inner self every day through meditation. I am not sure how to deepen this connection and rely more on my inner guidance. I’d really love help with this!