Getting Rid of Stress - And Whose Stress is it Anyway?

Sages, past and present, teach that there is nothing that we really need, that we are whole, connected beings of great beauty, strength and light. It is the covering over of this reality with identification with the ego-mind which tells us we are separate from All That Is.

The denser energies of doubt, fear, isolation and "not good enough" shroud our bigness and our light. Additionally, many of the modern day prophets and wisdom-holders tell us that we are in amazing transformational times, with portals to new and higher dimensions opening up at ever increasing rates. However, we can't access these higher dimensions with all of our extra baggage. Airlines now charge for it, but on that trip we won't get on the plane!

So, right and left I am witnessing everyone, myself included, being supported, and yes, sometimes forced into letting go of "stuff". It could be in the form of old ideas, relationships that are dragging us down, work that is not fulfilling, or even homes that no longer fit our lifestyle. It is sometimes quite painful to make these shifts. Our "stuff" has become a familiar old friend, despite the "stress" it causes us.

One question that can cut through a LOT of work, is this: Whose stuff is it? Whose thought, or feeling, or concept, are we struggling with? Is it even ours?? Or more intentionally, "I release any energies that are not mine, or are not for my highest good. I only work with energies that are for my highest good."

I have used this countless times in my healing sessions to find that it always leaves the client, and myself feeling lighter. Sometimes it is as if a layer of saran wrap literally peels away from my whole body. We are working so hard on our "Stuff" and often it isn't even "ours." What do I mean by this? It might be clearer if I let my client "Cheri" explain:

"For years I struggled with many emotional issues which caused me to seek counseling. I can honestly say that I was and remain in 'awe' from just one session with you for it was then you taught me about harboring other people's energies. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the 'stuff' I juggled for years wasn't even mine!! I gained a new perspective on my life and peeled away so many layers that even my therapist agreed that counseling was no longer necessary. I am able to re- establish my power by beginning everyday with the intention to release any energies that are not mine and are not for my highest good. Having the ability to identify the source of an emotion and then accept or reject it has made all the difference. I truly am a new person without the weight of someone else's world on my shoulders!

In summary, we often think we have a host of behaviors, reactions and thought patterns that are causing havoc in our lives. We have clearly identified them and are working on them diligently. The problem is, they are not even our thoughts. They originated with a parent, teacher, or elder. We gave over our power to these adults' thoughts and feelings, because after all, we were only little humans at the time. We didn't know any better.

If an adult told us we were stupid, we tended to believe them. But it didn't even need to be spoken. We absorbed the vibrations all around us: anger, hopelessness, worry, I'm not ok, etc. and began to assume that if we felt it or thought it, it must be true...it must be who we are. So many times lately I catch myself having a reaction to something, or find myself irritated. When I examine the underlying thought or feeling, I can trace it back to my parents and I realize I actually don't feel irritated by that person's behavior, that it was my mother's issue, for example. And voila, it becomes much easier to drop it.

But you don't need to know anything about an issue to let go of other people's energies. You can just intend to let go. Try this simple release teachnique:

· Sit quietly, feet on the floor and take a few deep breaths

· Call all parts of yourself back from wherever your attention was.

· Be present and bring your focus to the center of your head.

· Now add the intention to let go of anything, any energy, that is not yours.

· You can repeat the above intention: "I release any energies that are not mine, or are not for my highest good. I only work with energies that are for my highest good."

· Check in with yourself and your body and notice any changes

· Repeat daily or whenever you feel you want to "lighten up."