Take A Bliss Break®
A Bliss Break® is an easy mental exercise you can do to reduce stress, manifest peace and capture joy in your life. Each idea typically takes less than ten minutes, doesn’t cost money and can be done anytime, almost anywhere. Here are three samples for you to try!
Light The Way
Light The Way
July 5, 2022
Candles have been used for over two thousand years for everything from daily tasks to sacred rituals. Light The Way is a Bliss Break® candle ritual for placing attention on what we want to draw in or to release. Many major religions “light a candle” as a form of prayer and this is essentially the same concept.
•Gather a pretty candle (or four or five!)
•You will need a lighter of some sort and a place to sit
•Sitting in front of the candle(s) begin to breathe deeply
•Notice your body relax and your heart open
•What comes to mind? Maybe a situation, a person or a dream?
•Hold that thought while you light the candle
•Now speaking aloud, positively speak anything that comes to mind around this thought
•Remain open and allow thoughts to flow out, almost captured by the flame you are speaking to
•Take more deep breaths and relax a moment
•Gazing at the flame, state anything else that is calling to come through
•Continue breathing and speaking as long as you feel you need to
•When you have a sense of completion, gently blow out the candle(s)
•Place your hands in a prayerful position and give gratitude to this placing and releasing of your intention, affirming what already is
There are few elements that are essential for life, fire is one of them. Not only do we use it to cook and stay warm, the forest requires it to spawn new life by forcing seed pods to open. Fire is one of the most expressive and most ancient of symbols in rituals. We have a flame that burns in the sacral region of our bodies and can create heat by simply rubbing our hands together. We burn incense, loved one’s bodies after they pass and tinder to light the way. Lighting a candle can be an act of peace, prosperity and patience any time of day.
Resources for Expansion Include:
• Explore what fire means to you. Write or discuss how it shows up in your life. Do you judge it as good or bad? Do you love it or experience fear around fire?
• Maybe you buy candles but never burn them? I once saw an unusable fire place filled with candles of all colors and sizes. It was amazingly beautiful and had a hearth grate that kept kids and animals safe. This would be easy and inexpensive if you visit a thrift shop
• Where could you use more fire in your life? Study your 2nd Chakra to see how to light your inner fire.
Water
Water
June 5, 2022
One refreshing Bliss Break® idea requires just a few minutes and a glass or bottle full of water. Breathing deeply and sitting quietly, identify what it is that you need in your life. Is there something you think or feel is lacking? Do you need love? Would energy help you? Do you crave gentleness? Perhaps what you need is motivation, clarity or happiness? Ask for anything…
• Taking long deep cleansing breaths
• Take a sip of water thinking that you are drinking, just what you need, “Happiness”, for instance
• Allow your mind to follow the water as it goes down your throat and into your stomach
• As it settles into the stomach, go ahead and take another sip of water
• Watch the “Happiness” as it flows down, assisted only by gravity
• Consider what “Happiness” tastes like
• Take another sip, What does it look like?
• Contemplate its color, consistency and its mass.
• Take another sip of “Happiness” and consider how it makes you feel
• Continue to sip the “happiness” until the container is empty
• Acknowledge deep gratitude for the life affirming and abundance element of water
What’s so amazing about this technique is that you are able to supply your body, mind and soul with exactly what it needs, figuratively and literally. Consider that water is an element of cleansing, yet most people don’t take in enough water for maximum health. If this Bliss Break™ supports you, try discovering other ways to incorporate water more fully into your life. Take a shower after a challenging experience, just to neutralize the energy you are holding on to. Go for a swim or soak in a relaxing bath or hot tub. Place a small fountain in your work space or get a fish bowl to enjoy. Water is paramount to sustain life, use it wisely.
Resources for Expansion Include:
• Find a recreation center, near you, to swim or soak regularly
• Fill your home or work space with water related, new age music you find at www.youtube.com
• Learn about your third chakra or power center in your belly
Just Breathe
Just Breathe
May 5, 2022
This Bliss Break® takes you immediately from your head to your heart. When emotions run high, when fear grips you or your intrinsic motivation eludes you – just breathe. Breath is the cornerstone of life as we know it, yet it is given little attention and often taken for granted. Yet when we focus on the breath our entire body responds, as does our heart, mind and soul.
• Seat down with your feet flat on the floor
• Place your hands, palms up, on your lap
• Lengthen your back and neck
• Draw a deep breath in through your nose to a count of four
• Hold the breath to a count of four
• Release the breath to a count of four
• Pause to a count of four
• Take another breath in for four
• Hold for four
• Release for four
• Hold for four
• Repeat the practice for as long as you would like
• When you are finished thank the plants and trees for providing abundant and free life giving oxygen
Most of our life is spent taking shallow breaths. You will likely notice how often you hold your breath when life becomes challenging but the gift is to remember to breath. Notice how much tension was released from your body. Did this exercise clear your head? Can you think of times during your day that you can easily incorporate this practice?
Resources for Expansion Include:
• Try this process the next time you are frustrated sitting intraffic, a long line or listening to an angry person.
• Use this practice before meditation, during yoga or on a morning walk.
• Make a list of all the times deep breathing has served you in the past and each time you successfully use it going forward. This will provide evidence to you on how powerful you truly are.