Flourish Awakening Counseling

Some of the most simple adjustments can drastically change how we experience life. Check out this list of 21 natural things that you can do to lift your spirit:
 
1. Get Some Sunshine
Multiple research studies show that sunshine can boost our mood by naturally increasing levels of vitamin D. Twenty minutes of sunshine in the morning can lift energy levels and help improve your motivation for the day.
 
2. Uplifting Music
Music strongly effects our mood and boosts confidence. It has also been shown to activate the reward pathways in the brain and increase our self-awareness and ability to connect with others.
 
3. Smile
Not only is smiling contagious but it has also been shown to release chemicals in your brain that improve mood, reduce pain, lower blood pressure, and even lengthen your life. Research also shows that it does not matter if the smile is fake or authentic. If you don’t feel like smiling, the simple act of holding a pen or pencil between your teeth can create the same effects.
 
4. Breathe
The simple act of breathing can significantly reduce stress, improve your mood, and enhance your body’s ability to adapt to the environment. When we breathe deeply and slowly into the lower abdomen we trigger the parasympathetic nervous system that controls our relaxation, digestion, and sleep response. It is the easiest and most natural way to rebalance our body and soothe the mind.
 
5. Create
Whether you enjoy painting, drawing, writing, or building websites, the act of creating has been shown to have significant physical and psychological benefits. In addition, singing and dancing have been shown to improve immunity, cognition, and social connection.
 
6. Laugh
Laughter is another “built in” healing mechanism that has been shown to improve immunity, strengthen cardiovascular health, reduce depression and anxiety, enhance memory, and reduce stress. Similarly to smiling, the body cannot tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter. Laughter Yoga and Laughter Meditation have also become increasingly popular ways to release stress and feel good.
 
7. Give Thanks
Gratitude is a powerful practice that can shift your perception and mood quickly. It has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety, improve sleep, and predict better overall health. A simple daily gratitude practice can create lasting ripples of change throughout your life.
 
8. Get Outside
For most of us, our environment has drastically changed in the past 20 years. The air is not as clean, we find ourselves in the car more, and surrounded by buildings. Being in nature is a great way to lift your spirits and discharge stress. Research shows that getting out into nature can improve moods, release stress, and help us feel more connected to life.
 
9. Grounding
Some scientists speculate than an increase of physical illness and mental health issues are directly connected to our disconnection with the Earth. Connecting to the Earth, which some refer to as “Earthing” has been shown to have enormous mental and physical health benefits. To see a fantastic article by the Chopra Center on the healing effects of Earthing click HERE. Get outside and put your feet in the grass!
 
9. Move Your Body
Researchers have known for many years that physical activity reduces anxiety and depression, improves physical health, and enhances overall quality of life. Physical activity releases chemicals in your body that help you to feel better and adapt to stress more effectively. Even walking inside a building boosts mood and helps facilitate engagement with life. 

10. Eat Photonic Foods
A special type of photography called Kirlian Photography is able to give us a glimpse into the healing powers of food. This type of photography enables us to see the energy fields of plants, fruits, and vegetables among other things. In comparison to other foods, organic uncooked foods emit higher and more balanced forms of energy. To see an image of Kirlian Photography click HERE. To see a video on the difference between cooked vs. raw foods click HERE. 

11. Declutter
Our outside environment is often a reflection of our internal environment. A great way to feel refreshed and uplifted is to declutter or change around furniture. Decluttering has been shown to enhance concentration, boost creativity, and improve sleep. Purging belongings that we no longer need can bring feelings of relief and excitement for something new.
 
12. Connect
Social connection is a basic human need. Having friends can help improve your mood, health, and longevity. Consider reaching out to that old friend for a quick chat. Even though the phone may feel like it weighs 10,000 pounds, you will feel undoubtedly feel better afterwards.

13. Mindfulness
Mindfulness programs are being implemented into almost every hospital system and mental health program in the country. Research has shown that mindfulness interventions boost mood, improve physical health, and reduce stress. The simple act of coming into the present moment helps you to disconnect from worrisome thoughts to reduce stress. Mindfulness can be as simple as taking 5 slow breaths or watching the trees blow in the wind.

14. Day Dreaming
Thinking about what you want in life can lift your spirit and generate hope. Many also believe that you can create the reality you experience through the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction is the belief that what you focus your attention on, and what you emit to the universe through the radiance of your emotions, returns to you and makes up your life experience. Oprah Winfrey credits her success to the Law of Attraction and continues to speak about it regularly. Watch a video of her  interviewing Law of Attraction expert Abraham Hicks HERE.

15. Connect to Animals
 Animals can add greatly to our life if we take the time to enjoy them. Animals move at the pace of nature and can help us to slow down, be present, and reduce stress. Oxytocin, the love hormone that reduces stress and anxiety, is released when we pet and connect with animals. They also teach us the lessons of unconditional love and genuine listening.
 
16. Self Mastery Tasks
Self-mastery tasks are small accomplishments that help boost mood and increase self-confidence. These tasks can be as simple as playing a game of Sudoku, completing a full coloring page, cooking a new recipe, or shooting a basket with a crumpled piece of paper. If we give ourselves small opportunities to succeed, we are more likely to trust ourselves during larger opportunities for success.
 
17. Honor Your Feelings
Many cultures promote “happiness” as normal leaving some people feeling broken or lost. The truth is, being human involves a broad range of emotional experiences, none of which are wrong or unhealthy. Just because you are feeling down does not necessarily mean that you need to fix it right away with distraction or medication. Pretending that the negative emotions don’t exist generally leads to greater distress. The best thing you can do is to honor whatever experience you are having and allow those emotions to be present. The bottom line is: what we resist persists, and what we allow transmutes and transforms.
 
18. Listen To Yourself
 Life is moving very fast for most of us. Taking small moments of time throughout your day to listen to your body and spirit can help you to correct course before a crash. Take time to listen to your body and do what feels right despite the social pressures to do otherwise. If you feel like staying in tonight and going to bed early then do so. If you need a break from kids, reach out for support. If you need time off of work, take it. Life is too short and your body and spirit will begin to break down if you do not take the time to listen.
 
19. Eat Chocolate
Dark chocolate that is. Chocolate with high percentages of cacao can improve cardiovascular health, improve memory, and reduce stress. Cacao contains a chemical called anandamide, which is known to induce euphoria. Chocolate has also been known to open the heart, induce relaxation, and enhance connection with others.
 
20. Random Acts of Kindness
Research has shown that small acts of kindness can reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and increase happiness. When we are kind to others we also motivate others to do the same. Kindness can come in many forms including a smile, saying “hello”, or picking up something that someone has dropped. Imagine what the world would be like if we all focused on being kind to each other.
 
21. Meditation
Many research studies have examined mediation and the benefits are numerous. There are several different types of meditation and there is not one form that is necessarily superior to others. Transcendental Meditation has the most research behind it but other meditative approaches have not adequately been researched due to lack of funding. Meditation can be as simple as paying focused attention to your breath or the movement of your body during walking or yoga. Most regular meditators report that meditation has drastically enhanced their lives.
 
Implementing just one of these items can lift your spirits and improve your life. If you are interested in learning more about mindfulness, meditation, or how to find balance and peace in your life, reach out to Dr. Starr MacKinnon at Flourish Counseling today or Follow Flourish on Facebook. 

Spiritual Awakenings can be gradual or sudden and often involve a significant change in perception. Ultimately, a Spiritual Awakening is the realization that we are spiritual beings with the ability to enact creative influence over our experience, and that our life is directly affected by the cosmos, each other, and what we choose to focus our consciousness upon.
 
People all over the world are beginning to awaken. They are questioning themselves, the world we live within, and the nature of reality. If you are one of these people, you are definitely not alone. There are multiple levels and speeds of awakening and it can often involve a certain amount of grief, isolation, confusion, and turmoil. In addition, the current religious, spiritual, and self-help communities are not adequately addressing the experiences and symptoms that people are struggling with.

We are now living in a prophetic time of transformation. The ancient Egyptians and Mayans had a detailed understanding of how complicated astrological cycles functioned. They predicted that in 2012 we would begin a new cycle, which would bring about great changes to humanity. The period that ended in 2012 was characterized by dualism, separation, materialism, and scarcity. The Mayans and Egyptians believed that after 2012, we would enter a “New Age” characterized by peace, compassion, unity, and equality.

These cycles of time are also closely tied to cosmic and solar activity. Modern science can validate these predictions and we now know that heightened solar activity is directly related to periods of time involving revolutions, wars, and changes in consciousness. The cosmic energy presently affecting our Earth and human consciousness is creating a large amount of chaos and upheaval. Old systems are crumbling and a new paradigm is emerging, which happens cyclically throughout history.
 
In the past 20 years, quantum physics has also demonstrated that at the smallest observable level that all matter including you and me are made of vibrating energy particles. Einstein believed that the vibrating particles that make up reality are interconnected forming a “fabric of consciousness.” Science has also been able to document this through phenomenon through experiments on Quantum Entanglement, and mass consciousness experiments such as the Maharishi Effect. Quantum mechanics has also demonstrated that our universe is made up of undefined potentiality until it is defined by consciousness viewing it.
 
This means that everything in the universe is made up of the exact same energy and is interconnected. More and more people are awakening to this truth and are taking action to positively affect our personal and collective reality through focused consciousness. More and more are also questioning our current systems and social constructs in the realization that it is time to change and evolve. We have known for many years that changes in solar activity directly affects mental and emotional health. As the frequencies elevate and solar rays intensify, our shadows come to the surface for resolution.
 
As more and more individuals choose to go inward to move through the shadows to reach peace and clarity, these effects ripple throughout the fabric of consciousness improving life for all beings. Going inward rather than outward for answers is the only way we can come to know ourselves fully to achieve peace and fulfillment. Although many spend years seeking clarity and relief outwardly, the only way out is in.

​If you are questioning the state of our world or struggling with intensified anxiety, depression, confusion, anger, grief, or unusual metaphysical experiences, it is possible that you are having a spiritual awakening. If you want to learn more about having conscious creative influence on your life experience, or taking your spiritual awareness to the next level, contact Dr. Starr MacKinnon at Flourish Awakening Counseling or follow Flourish on Facebook.