How to Find Balance and Harmony in Your Life: Steps to Embrace Your True Self and Create Positive Change

Did you know that 90-95% of illness and disease in the world today is caused by stress? According to Dr.Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. and others, less than 1% of disease is connected to genetics. It's a wonderful thing when science can help shed light on the fact that our thoughts and emotions are contributing, if not causing, our psychological and physical states to deteriorate. And if this science tells us how disease is caused, it can also tell us that our thoughts and emotions are directly responsible for a state of well being, harmony, and healing.

If you like the state you are currently in, and it works for you, no need to read further. But if you find yourself saying things like, "There has to be another way of living", "I'm so tired of living like this", "I hate feeling like this", "I want more joy and balance but don't know how", then read on and consider the possibility that YOU are in charge of your reality. Right here and now. Choose balance right now.

Some fundamental truths:

• Stress is NOT normal, nor is long-term stress okay on any level

• Stress is not your fault, nor should you feel any shame about experiencing stress

• The subconscious and conscious mind has taken upon itself story upon story in order to build the personality you THINK you are. This began at a very young age, and some scientists are theorizing that the prenatal state of the mother has a significant impact as well.

• Your thoughts create your reality

• You are not beholden to external circumstance in order to be happy and in balance

• You have been taught to believe you are not worthy of self-empowerment and harmony

• You have the power to change right here and now

• You deserve to be in balance and harmony because it is your natural state of being

• Coherence between mind and body is your choice, once you see you have a choice

When we believe that we have no power to change, that we are products of our environment, and that we are genetically destined to be diseased and disempowered, so it shall be. But if we don't realize we are thinking this way, and acting according to our thoughts, we cannot expect to be empowered to change.

In order to bring about positive change, we need to become aware of where we are right now. This can be called conscious awareness, and is done from the present moment. From here, we can accept our current circumstance without judgement. This is a neutral observation point, not a story. There is no narrator here. Only what is. This is being present.

The desire to change is an internal shift. It isn't the circumstance that needs to change or will bring change, it is our own state of being that brings change. When you change, circumstances change. The process, is very simple. Don't listen to complicated methodologies for balance. That is itself an oxymoron and points to involvement of the intellect. We don't need more mental gymnastics, we need less. Your intention to change is what drives you toward harmony and balance. It's powerful and it means everything. Put as much, if not more, commitment and energy into yourself than you would achieving a degree or being a helpful family member.

When I experienced a large shift in consciousness a year ago, which brought an unending sense of peace to this day, first I said to myself, "Not another ounce of anxiety is acceptable. I WILL change."

If you are still with me, you are ready for change. This is striking something within you that wants to change. As flint against stone creates the spark that ignites the fire, so shall this fire ignite within your heart of hearts. Fan this beautiful flame constantly.

I put together a simple guide to follow. Within this guide is everything you need to expand into balance and harmony within yourself. Each letter of the word "ALLOW" is part of a full process of expansion into balance. It will give you exactly what you need, and will cater to the unique qualities that make you, YOU. This is not one-size-fits-all.

The purpose of the below guide is to allow yourself (see what I did there?) a silent space to contemplate through each letter, as well as embracing the entire word, "ALLOW". Breathe deeply while doing it. Be this flow as often as you can, every minute of the day if you are so inclined! It is meant to bring into every day life and repeat in each situation that arises. It doesn't have to take long. If you are short on time, choose joy, whatever that means for you.

A.L.L.O.W.

A - Acknowledge and Accept:

As mentioned above, it is really important to accept what is appearing here and now. In this present moment, you are experiencing exactly what you need to experience in order to expand. Even if it is uncomfortable and you feel contracted and tight, it is a gift. Accept this gift without judgement or story. Step back as the neutral observer of your own life and simply see what is. No judgement, no shame, no guilt, no resistance whatsoever. It may take time, and that's okay. Breathe into this space. The neutral observer is YOU as awareness in Now. Accept all that comes into this space, even if the thoughts that come are stressful. Continue to step back from the mind and the story and resume your position as the observer. Just accept. This doesn't mean you don't want change, but what is here is already here and cannot be changed. Just accept all of it.

This sounds like, "I accept what is, here and now, and am grateful for what it is showing me. There is no past or future in this moment. I no longer choose to believe in mistakes. All that appears is to support harmony and balance."

L - Let Go of the Need for Control:

First, a background on the mind.

The mind wants control so it can constantly tell you who you are through external environmental circumstance. The mind is reading the environment from a distorted reality of the past. It brings forth stressful thoughts based on beliefs, ideas and emotions experienced in the past. It has nothing to do with right now. Most of our thoughts (it is said that we have upwards of 60-90,000 thoughts per day) are regurgitated loops and echos from our past that come into the now as an attempt to control outer circumstances and create an environment of safety and security. But it is misreading the information of the environment, and is presenting it to us as dangerous and filled with potential enemies.

So, what happens is that the stressful thought engages the fight-or-flight response in the brain, which in turn releases toxic chemicals into the blood. This fight-or-flight response is built to be a sprinter, not a marathon runner. It is not made for psychological protection over long periods of time. Rather, it is made to protect the body in times of severe danger as quick bursts of energy to escape or beat the crap out of someone. The brain shuts down all other centers and focuses solely on what is needed to SURVIVE. The body doesn't know the difference between a stressful thought, and actually being in physical danger. Long term stressful responses create disease and damage to the cells, as the receptors on the cells are reading the toxic environment of the blood. This knowledge can help you release the need to do or control anything. Given the track record of thoughts, let data speak for itself and show you that the current "control" of the mind isn't working for you. Why would it suddenly work in the future?

This is the exercise of this particular lesson: Give yourself permission to put forth NO effort whatsoever. Let go of the tension in the mind and body right here. You can rest in the knowing that life wants you to be happy and at peace. Control is an illusion of the mind and has never worked. You know it hasn't worked, because nothing lasts. Life happens despite the mind's attempt to control. Trust me when I say, the mind really wants to rest and be at peace. It's tired.

This sounds like, "Control is an illusion and it no longer serves me. I release all effort to control and rest in the knowing that I am in perfect harmony with what is. I choose differently right here and now. "

L - Love the Feeling of Love and Joy

After practicing the previous two steps, you should feel more spacious and calm, even if only a slight bit. This is the perfect entrance point for opening the heart space. Science shows that the heart has its own intelligence center

We all have something in our lives that has stayed with us since childhood and brings us the most joy of anything in the world. This can be an overall theme, or a single act. It can be as simple as the act of cooking, dancing, singing, artistic expression, speaking to groups of people about a particular subject, writing, helping animals, etc.. It doesn't matter what it is, but you know that when you are acting on it, you lose the sense of time and space, and your heart expands with joy. This thing is what makes us absolutely unique and gives us a unique purpose and voice.

When you focus on what you love, the body becomes flooded with positive chemicals. Even if you are only visualizing it! It's powerful and truly magical. THIS is what has the power to change everything. The more you allow (there it is again!) love as a state of being (it actually isn't a feeling or emotion but a state of being), the less room you have to lower states of being such as stress and disharmony. Love brings coherence between the mind and body instantly. And the more you feel it, the more balance becomes prominent and harmony remains constant. Every moment you can, bring forward in your imagination what you love most and truly FEEL it within the body. I cry regularly when doing this. It's overwhelming beauty.

This sounds like, "I am so grateful to share and create this expression of beauty and joy (be specific for your joyous act). I am the self I wish to be and I am worthy of this expression in every moment." See yourself being and doing this beautiful thing.

O - Open to More and More Opportunities to Act on Love and Joy

Now that you are flooded with positive vibrational frequencies, your life will begin to show you ways that you can act upon what you love the most. Synchronicity will come your way in the forms of symbols, opportunities, and personal exchanges. Your outer world will begin to reflect the harmonious inner world. The more you can FEEL what brings you joy, and the more you act upon that joy, the more momentum builds and the greater balance becomes a lasting state of being. The body begins to come into a state of homeostasis. The nervous system calms down because the stress hormones have been de-prioritized. CHOOSE not to focus on the negative. The mind will keep regurgitating old stories, narrations, and fears. Simply, become the observer again (back to step A), accept what is in front of you with no judgement, and say, "This way of thinking no longer serves me. I choose differently right now". Choose to bring forward that image and feeling of what brings you joy and love and you will be acting on the opportunity to be in a harmonious and balanced state. You have all the power to choose what you want to feel and experience.

This sounds like, "I am grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way today (acknowledging their arrival before time brings it to you). I deserve and create direct experience and feedback to further support my inner harmony and balance through loving expression and action. I choose to act on my joy."

W - Watch for Synchronicity

Be observant and be present as much as you can. Life is going to show you that it is listening, AND will provide you more opportunities to act as your authentic self. Synchronicity can appear as small and subtle as seeing a special bird that makes you feel joy, bumping into an acquaintance you haven't seen in a while but thought about, or finding a coin that means something to you. If it means something to you that links with your heart, that is synchronicity. Or, it could be as large and life-changing as a new job opportunity that will allow you to express more of your true voice, a move from one location to another, a new relationship or ending of an old one that no longer serves you, or an opportunity to speak in front of thousands of people and share your passion. It doesn't matter what comes to you, what matters is how you feel about it. The more you feel and connect with the joyous harmony and balance that is your state of being, the more opportunities and synchronicity will come up. And if they give you an opportunity to act on them, and you feel joy when you consider the opportunity, DO IT and BE that new balanced self.

This sounds like, "I am perfectly aligned with the harmony and synchronicity of life. I create and receive the signs life shows me that I am in balance and harmony with myself and others. My world reflects my state of being for the greatest good."

Expect this to work for you and expect that it has already happened. Be grateful that you have already changed, and are already more balanced and harmonious. It is your natural state of being to be in harmony with life. We have all we need to be who we truly are. Nothing is in the way because we are already that which we want for ourselves. Expect life (which is you) to reveal things your mind could neither imagine, nor execute. Be joyous with this! Have fun with it. Be light and laugh regularly. You are perfect already!

*If you found this helpful and feel you would benefit from further conversation and guidance, please see my website or reach out directly (mclainec@gmail.com) to book a session. It is my sincere pleasure and joy to share in the expansion and balance of all.