Category Archives: aging with grace

Life is full of waves. Embrace Them.

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I turn 70 this year.

Yep, the big seven-zero. And let me tell you, this weekend was a stark reminder of how time flies and how our bodies change along with it.

It all started on Saturday morning when I decided to join a drumming circle to connect with life’s rhythms. It was a great way to kick off the weekend. Afterward, I attended a workshop called “Connect,” which is part of the Discovery Seminars I coach. In Connect, the focus is on enhancing our understanding of our communication styles and how to more effectively connect with others.

All was going well until, out of nowhere, my right knee decided to make a grand entrance. And boy, did it make its presence known. It began with a little bit of swelling in the back and then… it started screaming, “I’m here!” By Saturday night, I could barely walk. The pain escalated to the point where, by Sunday morning, I was throwing up and couldn’t stand. Ouch!

Finally, after calling 8.1.1. for medical advice, and being told I’d best go to the hospital and have it checked given I’d been in pain for so many hours, we called an ambulance. My husband, who suffers from COPD, wasn’t able to help me get to the car.and I definitely couldn’t navigate my way there, even with crutches. My leg just wouldn’t bear the weight.

Fast foward to several hours in Emerg, I arrive back home late Sunday afternoon with my knee drained of excess fluids, some pain killers and a prescription for anti-inflammatories along with directions to RICE my knee for at least 72 hours. RICE, btw, stands for Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. Who knew?

Oh. And a diagnosis that makes my almost 70 years on this earth seem older than I think I am — Inflammatory Arthritis.

Ugh. I mean seriously? Arthritis can just decide to attack and inflame a joint at whim? Now that’s not fair. But then, my mother always told me, life wasn’t fair. Get over it.

Sigh. If only I’d listened to her advice, or at least when she’d cautioned me, all those years ago, to ‘be careful’. If only I hadn’t always thought I had 16 year old knees every time I attacked a mogul field and if only…

If only’s don’t matter in the here and now.

The fact is, there’s no use dwelling on the “if only’s.” I can’t change the past, and honestly, I wouldn’t want to. I loved skiing like a maniac when I was younger, challenging myself on mogul fields, cruising down groomed slopes, and floating through deep powder. It was exhilarating. And guess what? I can still enjoy some of it without trying to prove that my knees are still 16 years old. Because, well, they’re not!

What matters in the here and now is how I navigate what is here. Now.

And that is my choice. I can do it with denial. I can do it with anger. Or… I can do it with grace.

I choose grace.

By embracing grace, I open myself up to life as it is, not as I wish it to be. I can appreciate my body as this incredible vessel that has carried me through so much and still has plenty more to go (hopefully) before I take my final breath.

So, here’s to cherishing the present, embracing our limitations, and gracefully riding the waves of life.

I mean, it’s been an incredible ride thus far, I’m looking forward to all the adventures yet to come!

Status Quo and Other Steady Spaces

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Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Let’s just keep things the way they are”? It’s easy to fall into the comfort of the status quo, where everything feels familiar and safe. After all, why change or fix something if it isn’t broken or working just fine, right?

But then, life happens. Unexpected events occur, and suddenly, everything is turned upside down.

It’s during these interruptions that we face a crucial choice: do we resist change and cling to what we know, or do we confront our fear of change and embrace new possibilities?

Maintaining the status quo is like finding your balance on a boat. When the waters are calm, there’s no need to question your steps. But when the seas get rough, you have to adjust your stride, find stability, and hold on tight.

Don’t get me wrong, the status quo has its benefits. It gives us space to breathe and assess our surroundings. But if we look closely, we may discover pockets of unease or areas where our lives have become overgrown with dissatisfaction.

Yesterday afternoon, a group of strangers walked into the Discovery Seminar Room to explore how the status quo is holding them back from living their best lives yet. For some, all it will take is a shift in perspective to see their lives and surroundings in a new light. Others will need to dig deep, challenging the limiting beliefs that are keeping them stuck in the past.

For all, it will be a journey into self-discovery where they uncover the incredible beauty of their human essence. Because, no matter where they go with their own personal discovery journey, in the end, they will all find a beautiful truth—they are worthy of love, deserving of joy, and free to take this adventure of life unhindered by regrets or the baggage that was holding them back from living the life of their dreams.  

In all our lives, the status quo we cling to so tightly is often the very barrier preventing us from experiencing a life filled with passion, joy, deep, meaningful relationships, inner peace and self-acceptance.

So, the next time life throws you a curveball, consider letting go of the familiar. Embrace change as an opportunity to uncover your true potential and live a life that resonates with authenticity and fulfillment.

Remember, change may be challenging and purposefully setting out to discover the things that may be holding you back in life may feel daunting, but it opens doors to a world where you can truly, madly, deeply fall in love with yourself.

And loving yourself truly, madly, deeply is the gateway to life unbounded!

From Where I Sit

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From where I sit, green leaves kiss a periwinkle sky etched with unwritten stories full of fluffy white clouds of possibilities.

From where I sit, bird song embraces the silence opening it up to new harmonies in the mystical key of life unfolding.

From where I sit, life opens up into a limitless vista of the long and winding road leading the way to adventurous roads full of mystery and magic.

From where I sit, my heart dances with a song of joy.

____________________

As I lay in bed drifting in and out of early morning slumber, words pranced through my mind like a string of rainbow-coloured streams of ribbons trailing from a child’s bicycle handles.

I let the muse carry me away without censure.

Sometimes, playing with words greets me with it joyful expression of a brand new day meeting the sun’s smiling face in the morning. There is nothing I can do but dance wild and free with the words.

This is not a day to look down, or back. In this blissful moment, unexplored avenues open up and I step joyfully into life’s shimmering possibilities.

Ahhhh. Ain’t life grand?

The Path Unburdened – a poem

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I slip into meditation this morning, my mind wanders, the muse beckons, a poem appears…

It is, I think, from a remnant of a dream that filled my sleeping moments last night.

The Path Unburdened
©2023 Louise Gallagher

I am walking down a tree-lined path 
a path that only I know of
golden light  beacons
like a beacon of hope
calling me to move forward
free of the mist that veils what lies behind me
The mist cling.

For too long I have carried all that lay behind with me,
valuing it like a precious bundle of maps showing me the path forward.

This place I stand
It is familiar to me
warm, inviting, embracing,
I want to carry its essence with me 
and gather up all I see and feel and know and experience
these are the moments I must remember, I tell myself
and place them carefully in the safety of my bundle.

My load grows heavier
I take another step
and then another step
weighted down by the load I carry 
I lose my sense of purpose in each step
the road ahead becomes less sure
and I stand still, as hopelessness embraces me.

I cannot breathe and turn to look behind me
the mist has gotten heavier, the way back obscured
I turn back to the path in front of me
and see, a light beckoning in the distance 
shimmering in the beautiful mystery of what is yet to be revealed
in the unseen path before me.

And still, I hesitate
I feel the heaviness of the burden I carry on my back
Dare I let it go?
I take a breath and close my eyes
the light ahead shimmers in the darkness
I set my bundle down

Lighter now, I look with awe at the ground upon which I stand
It is paved in leaves of gold set with precious gems of many colours.

I look ahead and see the path before me
For as far as I can see, to the point where the horizon meets the path
golden light radiates. Welcoming and inviting.

There is only one way forward
I must step beyond the beauty of this moment,
trusting the path will be revealed 
with every step I take, unburdened by what lies behind me.

I leave the bundle full of many maps and untaken journeys on the ground 
and step forward.
There is only one way to walk this path
unburdened by the load of past regrets, road not taken, dreams undreamt
to lie, fallow, along the path
I cannot change the things I’ve done, 
or cast aside in my rush to move along
I cannot change what was and can never be again.

I step forward, unburdened and free, 
Shedding the weight of what came before and now lies behind me,
I carry on, trusting the path will be unfold
with each unburdened step I take leading the way
into the exquisite mystery of what lies before me.

Proud Mary

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In 2006, after my youngest daughter took the Choices seminar, following her
sister and I who’d gone through earlier the same year, we would always go to
the Family Dance on Saturday night.

It became our tradition.

As did, dancing to Tina Turner’s – Proud Mary.

The music would start, the girls and I would step into the middle of the dance floor as
everyone formed a circle around us. Nice and easy. Movin’ and groovin’ Rollin. Rollin’. Rollin’. as the music sped up and Tina belted out the words of the song. Nice and rough.

By the end, and it’s a long song, 100 people would be gyrating wildly to the
pounding music as we pulled the rest of the room onto the dance floor with us.

Out of breath. Hearts pumping. Smiles wide. We danced and laughed and flung
our heads back and twisted and turned our bodies as we lifted our arms into
the air, fist pumped the air above our heads and gave our all to the music and
Tina Turner’s urgings to keep Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’.

At the end of the song, the three of us would hug and lean on each other as
we stood celebrating six minutes of wild dancing as if no one was watching.

People were watching. Our Proud Mary ‘routine’ became a staple of the dance.

It was wild fun. A moment in time that stood still as we moved into the
empty spaces of our bodies and filled every cell with the exhilaration of wild,
abandoned movement.

Over time, as one daughter moved away and the other became involved in other
areas of her life and had less time to come to the dance, I would still dance
it with anyone in the room. But our Proud Mary moments together at the dance
past on.

Yet still, we carried the rhythm and the music with us. We danced it at C.C.
and my wedding, at karaoke one night where a group of “just us women” had gone to
celebrate my eldest daughter’s upcoming nuptials. In fact, that night, as the
three of us were prancin’ and a dancin’ (the youngest daughter and I always let
her older sister hold the mic – she knew how to use it well) a friend text his
sister, who was at the party with us, to say he’d just received a text from a
group of guy friends who were at the same pub where the girls and I were dancing to
Proud Mary. The friend, not knowing the relationship between us and his friend,
sent a video of the three of us with a comment about how his friend was missing
out! There were crazy women performing Proud Mary!

At my eldest daughter’s wedding, she and her sister slipped away to don
white mini-skirted fringydresses, a la Tina, and when they returned, the music
started, nice and easy, and the three of us started to dance, Rollin’. rollin’. Rollin’. and then, with wild abandon, nice and rough. It’s our schtick.

Proud Mary is my anthem. My call to action. My heartbeat’s yearning.

Once, at a course I was taking, each of the 20+ participants were assigned a
song they had to sing and dance to, alone, in the middle of the floor, with
about 40 to 50 people watching. The facilitator did not know my connection to
Proud Mary — but there it was, the song she picked for me, the song she felt I
needed to embody to stretch myself beyond the comfort of my known way of being
in the world.

The facilitator was very wise. She knew the dancing part wasn’t my stretch.
It was the living into the legacy of Tina Turner I needed to embrace. To keep
rising up, claiming my right to be powerful. wild and free..

Whenever I’m asked, “who do you admire and if you could, would ask to be your
mentor, or to at least sit down and share a meal with you?” Tina Turner is
always at the top of my list, ahead of Madeiline Albright, Gloria Steinem, and
other powerful women.

Tina epitomized rising up from a trauma-riddened past and leaving the
destruction behind. In everything she did and said, in every movement, every
song, she declared her freedom with wild abandon. Her power was in her decision
to walk away and rebuild. To reclaim not just what was lost in her relationship
with Ike Turner, but in living her life to other people’s demands and
expectations.

Frank Sinatra may have sung, I did it my way. Tina Turner lived it.

Thank you Tina for teaching me (and the world) how to live wild and free, being
true to who you are, singing and dancing as if no one is watching, doing it your way.

#ProudMary #TinaTurner

How to get responsible for your legacy: and other acts of lasting kindness

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The #dailypromt-1945 WordPress presents when I log into my blog this morning is, “What is the Legacy you want to leave behind?”

The card I pull from my Deep Conversations box reads, “Where is your fear of responsibility preventing you from taking the next step?”

My mind quickly leaps to a response, “Not taking care of the legacy I want to leave behind.”

Can it be so easy? The answer that is. Not the answer to the answer, because seroiusly, the question behind the question, My Morning QBQ, is much deeper, more challenging, more elusive.

Taking responsibility for self, let alone one’s legacy ain’t easy

We’re human after all.

When I think about the concept of legacy, it feels both awe-inspiring and overwhelming. It’s like gazing at a vast landscape, stretching out before me, waiting to be shaped by my actions and choices. It’s the mark we all inevitably leave on the world, the imprint we make on the lives of others, long after we’re gone. It’s a reflection of who we are, our values, and the impact we’ve had.

But when confronted with the question of what legacy I want to leave behind, I can’t help but feel a pang of uncertainty. How do I even begin to define it? Is it the achievements and accolades I accumulate? The relationships I nurture and cherish? Or perhaps it’s the values and principles I live by, the positive change I strive to bring about in the world?

Thoughts swirling, I glance again at the card I pulled. The question behind the question shimmers. “What about your fear of responsibility? You know, that invisible force that holds you back from taking that next crucial step towards shaping your legacy?”

Seriously? Shaping my legacy? Who said I wanted to leave one, let alone be responsible for it in the first place? And suddenly, it becomes clear that this fear is not something to be dismissed lightly.

Responsibility can be a weighty burden, a call to action that requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to confront our own limitations. It demands that we take ownership of our choices, our actions, and the consequences they bring. It urges us to step out of our comfort zones, to embrace the unknown, and to face the possibility of failure head-on.

Yet, despite the challenges it presents, I cannot escape the truth–Taking responsibility is the key that unlocks the door to the legacy I want to leave behind. It is the driving force that compels me to make a difference, to leave a positive impact on the lives of others, and to contribute to something greater than myself.

If only it was a simple as just acknowledging the answer.

Like so many things in life, the real complexity lies in the journey towards fulfilling that responsibility. It requires self-reflection, introspection, and a willingness to confront y deepest fears and insecurities. It demands that I be honest with myself and recognize and remedy the areas where I fall short.

Dang! This taking responsibility for yourself is no small feat. It means acknowledging your flaws, embracing your strengths, and constantly striving to grow and improve. It means recognizing that you have the power to shape your own destinyand that your actions, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect on the world around you.

As I reflect on the question of legacy and responsibility, I am reminded of our shared humanity. We are all imperfect beings, navigating the complexities of life, learning from our mistakes, and striving to leave a positive mark on the world (hopefully). We are bound together by our capacity for growth, compassion, and the innate desire to make a difference.

This journey of self-discovery comes with an enormous responsibility. In that responsibiity we must remember to be gentle with ourselves. To embrace the challenges, the setbacks, and the moments of doubt as opportunities for growth. And, to strive to leave a legacy that not only reflects our values and aspirations but also inspires others to embark on their own transformative journeys.

Because in the end, it’s not just about the legacy we leave behind, but the impact we have on the lives we touch along the way. And no matter how big or daunting it may feel, that is a responsibility worth embracing.

In The Flow

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It’s called being in the flow. It’s that magical state where time loses its grip on you, and you find yourself completely absorbed in whatever you’re doing.

I’ve been experiencing it a lot lately.

As I delved into research and worked on my book, I became fully immersed. Every fiber of my being was engaged.

At first, I attempted to listen to a podcast as I often do while creating an art piece. It turned out to be a misguided idea. When I write, I need to let the words flow, and having someone else’s voice in my ears distracts a part of my brain, draws my attention away from being present to the creative process..

The same goes for music. When I’m in the studio, adding splashes of color and texture to a canvas, I adore listening to songs with lyrics. They ignite my desire to dance and sing along. My splashes of paint become more free, more expressive. But when it comes to writing, the fewer words, the better.

Classical music and new age compositions work wonders for me. The only exception I make for music with lyrics while writing is the recordings of 13th Century composer and convent Abbess Hildegard von Bingen. Her music stirs my imagination and liberates my writer’s mind from any creative blocks.

Her melodic chants soothe my soul.

Entering the flow-state is a powerful experience. It enriches my being, causing time to fade away. All that matters is the present moment, the only place where I want to exist.

In that realm, magic happens. Wonders unfold, and I am awestruck by the mystery of it all.

Ah, the mystery. It weaves through life, creative pursuits, and the words that appear on the page seemingly of their own accord. As I sit here, fingers dancing across the keyboard, focused on my one task, I lose track of time and space, surrendering to the flow.

That’s the beauty of the flow-state. When I am immersed, my soul dances. My spirits soar. Ideas appear as if of their own volition as words flow out to express themselves without my thought-ridden ministrations hindering their appearance.

Now, my bathroom… well, let’s just say it is suffering from my lack of attention. It’s a disaster zone!

Okay, perhaps it’s not that terrible, but you get my drift…

When was the last time you slipped effortless into ‘the zone’?

When was the last time you granted yourself the gift of immersing in something you’re passionate about, allowing your creative nature to flow freely as you mind (and body) dance with abandon in the pure joy of being so engaged, there is no time, just you and your endeavours?

The flow-state isn’t limited to the realm of arts. It can manifest while solving a scientific equation, baking, walking the dog, running, or riding your bike. All of these activities, and more, have the potential to draw you into that state of flow.

It’s different than mindfulness or meditation. You’re not trying to still your mind and simply sit quietly. You’re consciously bringing your attention to whatever you’re doing so that you can create or build something, find a solution to a pressing problem or mystery, or simply learn something new.

I hope you embrace it often. There’s no judgement in flow state — only the doing.

Let it all flow like a river, finding its path effortlessly.

And if you want to know more about flow-state — the brain even behaves differently when you’re in it — this website has some great information including ideas on how to enter it’s healing and creative spaces.

Isn’t Life Grand?

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I woke up feeling lighter this morning. Excited to greet the day.

In the cozy embrace of my bed, I reveled in the serenity and tranquility that enveloped me, basking in a delightful sense of lightness.

Then, I rose and entered our ensuite, and was greeted by the sight of last night’s pep-talk on the mirror.

“Ah, that’s right,” whispered my mind. “You’ve got this.”

A smile spread across my face. Indeed, I do.

For the second night in a row, I had almost talked myself out of writing on the mirror before bedtime. The search for my glass-writing crayons seemed like a daunting task, potentially leading to the upheaval of my studio. But then, a brilliant solution dawned on me—I remembered keeping a set of gold and silver crayons in the kitchen drawer, reserved for those moments when I wanted to help guests keep track of their glasses.

Problem solved.

Mission accomplished.

This morning, I reveled in the rewards of honoring my commitment. And, because I know deep down that “I’ve got this” (primarily concerning the book I’m writing, but with additional benefits as well), after embarking on Beaumont the Sheepadoodle’s first early morning saunter (thankfully, the smoke has diminished, enhancing both the visibility and enjoyment), I strolled into the kitchen and whipped up a batch of scones, four dozen chocolate chip cookies, and tidied away all the dishes—all before 8 am!

What a marvelous way to kickstart my day—feeling invigorated and empowered. It simply required following through on a commitment I made to myself — the added benefit is my beloved has treats to greet him this morning and I have sweet delights to share with a dear friend who recently underwent a knee replacement. The first week of her recovery has been challenging, and now I have the chance to brighten her day with homemade delights infused with love and gratitude for our friendship.

Isn’t life simply grand?

Evenning Rituals

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I have a fondness for rituals. They act as my anchors, keeping me steady and in the flow. They forge a connection to something beyond myself, a collective unconscious that intertwines us all.

One of my treasured bedtime rituals is the “3 Things” practice. It serves as a serene reflection on my day, guiding me towards calm, gratitude, and a sense of flow. Before slipping into sleep, I embrace three aspects for which I’m grateful, three moments of grace that touched my day, and three dreams I wish to carry into the realm of dreams and write them down in my journal.

Recently, I introduced a fourth ritual that precedes my “3 Things” practice—I write down three worries, things that haven’t pleased me, or instances where I could have ‘performed ‘done better’. Once penned, I crumple up that piece of paper and toss it into the wastebasket.

This act of discarding is symbolic, urging me to release the self-limiting narratives I tell myself—the thoughts that hold me back and hinder my moving freely through each moment. By throwing them away, I relinquish the power they hold over me.

Yesterday, I had a heartfelt conversation with a kindred spirit—a beautiful soul seeking ways to rise above the darkness, to believe in their own luminous heart. We explored uplifting ideas, discussing what they were doing or not doing to stay in the light.

During our conversation, I shared a personal practice of mine: leaving love notes to myself on the bathroom mirror using washable glass crayons. “I haven’t actually done it in quite awhile,” I confessed. We agreed it was a good time to ‘begin again’. Always begin again.

As we talked about the love-notes on the mirror further, we came up with another idea. Before going to bed, write yourself a ‘pep-talk’ on the mirror. That way, the first thing you read in the morning will be your pep-talk.

What a great way to start a day, we both agreed and committed to do it.

Later, as I followed my nightly rituals, I remembered my commitment to give it a go. Already in bed, I chose not to go downstairs to my studio to fetch my glass-writing pens. It was more effort than I felt like expending in that moment and like Scarlett O’Hara, who famously said, ‘I’ll think about that tomorrow,’ I gave myself an excuse to not do the thing I needed to do to care for myself in the moment.

And that’s how easy it is to neglect the commitments that nurture our souls. It’s as simple as granting ourselves permission to deviate from our own journey, evading accountability and disregarding the actions that empower us to live boldly and be our best selves.

It may not seem like a significant transgression—I reassured myself this morning. But is that really true?

What if it isn’t solely about failing to fulfill a commitment, but rather, that this “not doing” forms a habit of disregarding the actions that nurture and love myself?

What if, in the act of “not doing,” I unconsciously tell myself that I’m not worth fighting for? That I’m not deserving of my own commitment?

You see, it’s not that I don’t want to engage in those practices—it’s the message my brain receives in the act of “not doing.”

What a fascinating awakening this morning. Not only do I have an opportunity to do better, I’ve also effortlessly identified one of my three things to write-down on the list of thoughts I refuse to carry with me into my dreams tonight.

I am grateful to have woken up to this chance to create a better world within myself today. It serves as a reminder that every journey comprises small steps—each step propelling us either closer to the state of being we desire or further away from our optimal selves. Last night, I took a step away from my desired state.

Some may argue it wasn’t a big deal. Yet, what if the significance lies not in the specific act I failed to complete but in how this “not doing” becomes a habit of neglecting the nurturing and loving things I know are vital for my well-being?

Let this morning’s revelation be a catalyst—an opportunity to cultivate a deeper sense of self-worth, commitment, and conscious participation in my personal growth.

How to Drain the Brain and Unclog Your Life

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I love to start my morning with a bath. It’s as if the physical act of pouring it, testing the temperature of the water to get it just right, and then, sinking into its warm, sudsy depths unlocks my thinking, and my day.

Yet, here’s the thing, after a half hour of soaking my body in its sudsy warmth, the water begins to cool. I have to make a choice. I either have to add more heat and keep soaking, or get out and start my day, letting the now not so welcoming waters drain away.

Some mornings are made for soaking. Others are made to get up and dance.

Whatever my choice, leaving the water to stagnate in the tub is not an option. I have to let it drain away.

What if, our brains are like a bathtub? We fill them and fill them with the flotsam and riff-raff of life, soak ourselves in every thought that arises and then, instead of letting the not so ‘clean’ thoughts drain away, we just keep adding more and more negativity. In all that darkness, we become lost in the murky depths of the stagnant waters of our thinking?

What if, to live with more balance and joy in the beauty of now, we need to pull the plug on our thoughts, grab a plunger and start draining the brain?

Just as in writing, where it’s essential to drain the story of excess words and unnecessary details, in our life journey, it’s crucial to divest ourselves of all the mental clutter that weighs us down. Negative thinking, limiting beliefs, and doubts can seep into every aspect of our lives, from our relationships and career to our physical and mental health.

Draining the brain isn’t about suppressing or denying these thoughts and emotions. Instead, it’s about acknowledging them, examining them, and then letting them go. It’s like giving your brain a deep tissue massage, kneading out the knots and tension until it feels lighter, clearer, and more relaxed.

And, bonus! As we drain the brain of negativity, doubts, and limiting beliefs, a beautiful transformation takes place within. We become more receptive to the wonders of life, better equipped to handle challenges, and open to embracing the joys and sorrows that shape our journey. With our minds running clear, we’re free to dance through life’s melodies, finding solace in the ebb and flow of the exquisite nature of our human existence.

How to drain drain your brain

1.	Identify the negative thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back. Write them down and examine them objectively. Are they based on facts or assumptions? Are they helping or hindering you?

2.	Challenge your negative thoughts and beliefs. Ask yourself: "Is this really true?" "What evidence do I have to support this?" "What would happen if I let go of this belief?"

3.	Practice mindfulness and meditation. Take a few minutes each day to sit quietly, focus on your breath, and observe your thoughts without judgment. This can help you become more aware of your negative thinking patterns so that you can practice releasing them.

4.	Surround yourself with positive influences. Fill your balcony with friends, family members, and mentors who uplift and inspire you. Read books, listen to podcasts, and watch videos that promote positivity and personal growth.

5.	Finally, be patient and persistent. Draining the brain is a process that takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away. Keep practicing, and eventually, you'll start to feel the weight lifting off your shoulders.

Remember, draining the brain isn't a one-time event. Just like a drain, our minds can become clogged again if we're not careful. But with practice and awareness, we can learn to keep our brains clear and our lives more balanced in the beautiful flow of our lives unfolding in wonder and awe, day by day.

So grab that plunger and get to work! Your brain (and your life) will thank you.