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Are you feeding your faith or your fears?

emyminzel

They say, what we focus on, grows. Which is why I have been choosing to focus on good, even though I know darn well there is plenty of darkness in the world. I want to grow the goodness in myself, my family, friends, community and even the world if possible.

It seems like a lofty goal doesn’t it?! I mean, who do I think I am, to be able to affect global change for goodness sakes? I am just little ol’ me, a middle-aged woman from rural Minnesota with a humble job and no real connections to ‘greatness’ as defined by society.

But isn’t that the best part of it all? Even though I am just me, a regular Jane, I am choosing to nurture my environment in hopes that the love I have inside my soul will ripple out into the world around me. Listen, I fear plenty of things, but what good does it do? Holding on to fear has an immobilizing effect on me. When I get scared, I just want to hide in my house away from the world. Does this ring true to you?

I’d like to share a little story of my path through fear to reach faith. When I was thinking of running for State Rep, I was fearful of all sorts of things, like losing my privacy. Although I am a writer, who wears my heart on my sleeve, I still cherish my private life. I know I am far from perfect and worried that the world, or my little part of it anyways, might  find out all the lesson’s I learned the hard way. That might lead to judgments from those who think or believe differently than I. Am I prepared to handle those judgments? I mean… it’s guaranteed to be kind of a lot!

One person even told me. “It is truly a selfless act to run as a Democrat in this District.” History shows this is true. All the hard work of Democratic Candidates generally ends in defeat, according to the political election results of previous decades. Is this something I should also fear? Nobody likes to lose, especially when they are working hard and doing their best. Many knew it would probably be a losing fight.

However, no matter what you believe, you cannot win the game if you do not play! Everything about this path scared me. Public speaking was my worst fear magnified by a hundred or more. Everything I said or didn’t say, everything I wore and how I carried myself was up for judgment. This was a very scary arena to jump into as a rookie not knowing what to expect.

Honestly, I was a bit relieved when I didn’t win. I never felt so free in my life! I no longer had to show up with my underdeveloped confidence and a smile on my face as I shook like a hurricane on the inside. I could now relax. At the same time I was sad, depressed and I even mourned the experience. It helped me grow in so many ways that I will never experience again.

Facing my fears, to be part of the change I wished to see in the world, has helped me expand! All of me! Mind, body, spirit and all the energy I give out into the world has been shifted into someone I always knew I was.

Putting aside my fear of failing, or being judged and facing my doubts helped me ‘level up’ as you do in a video game. To stand up for what I believe, even though my anxiety, was the hardest thing I have done in recent memory and worth it even though I lost.

There is so much wisdom in the journey others call ‘failure’ that I no longer consider it a loss at all. I consider the experience of rising above my fears a blessing that expanded my life in ways that didn’t seem possible.

When I came out the other side, I saw that most of my fears were unfounded, unnecessary and failing was a real-life win. Learning to stand and speak my truth fed my soul and gave me true confidence I no longer needed to fake!

Instead of feeling like I was headed to the basement in a scary movie, This experience helps me see I am armed and prepared for whatever I find. I also know that I am perfectly capable of learning what I need on the job or on the fly, to come out alive and well. Choosing to feed my faith in myself and humanity, instead of my fears, has changed me for the better as if by magic.

Feed your faith adventurers, it is life changing.

Wishing you beautiful experiences of faith and love,

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

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Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

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What a wonderful world!

emyminzel

Have you ever fell in love at first sight? I have, and believe it or not, it’s almost a daily occurrence for me. At the grocery store I’ll see an adorable little toddler asking five hundred questions to her patient parent, who’s answering the best they can. It happens when I see an elderly married couple, happily shopping together, knowing exactly what the other needs. Chatting away and oblivious to the rest of the customers around. How about when you see a new born baby or small puppy? Oh man, I fall head over heels in love with the adorable new additions to the world!

When I see people being their best selves, smiling, sharing love and kindness; it makes my heart swell and sometime tears of joy, from observing love in action. In those small blessed moments, I feel love just by witnessing it.

Does falling in love mean you stay in love forever or does it mean you had the opportunity to feel the emotion of love for a split second? I think it’s the later.

With all the news pointing out the bad in people, I am doing my best to seek out the best. I am choosing to fall in love with the world around me. I am working to see the good we have to offer before I focus on the bad of humanity. I do this for a reason. I believe that nurturing and encouraging the good will cultivate more goodness. Sure, there are people we run into having a bad day, but it’s up to you to choose if you let them share their negative energy with you or you share your positive energy with them.

Some may think of my optimistic tendencies as unrealistic, but I don’t. Yes, I do see the darkness out there as well. I am doing my best to choose to just not to focus on it though. I think this a feminine quality that many women hold intrinsically in our beings. To be able to take $hit in our environment and turn it into usable fertilizer that grows gardens of love and wisdom. I feel we see this as we witness the divine embodiment of feminine energy expressed as Mother Earth; caring for billions of living creatures. Mother Earth knows how to turn our waste into nourishment that fortifies all living beings.

It is nothing short of magic really. I think that is an inherent characteristic of the feminine; to be able to selflessly nurture who and what we choose if we so choose to. To me, holding love for the strangers at the grocery store or curbing harsh judgment to someone who may not fit my definition of civilized, has helped me to grow as well. Every living being deserves to be treated with kindness or respect.

As the Dalai Lama says. “If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”

I believe that even a smile from a stranger passing by, may help to lift the spirits of others. I know that looking for the good in the world around me in my everyday life, helps me to feel good too. What you focus on grows. I am choosing to focus on the love in the world. I am choosing to see the love that flows all around me. I believe you will find love is everywhere if you look for it too.

I enjoy looking for reasons and ways to fall in love with humanity, even opportunities to experience love at first sight. If more of us would choose to do so; might this give us the will and ways to be the change, we wish to see in the world?  I know it can’t hurt. When you think to yourself, “What a wonderful world!” our actions will support your experiences of a wonderful world!

Wishing you beautiful experiences of lots of love around you. May you be a witness to love at first sight today and every day!

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

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Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

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Do it anyway

emyminzel

There are times in our lives when we must do things we really just don’t want to do. Even if it is something we like doing, if we feel like we have no choice but to, how we feel about it can change. Of course, there are lots of days our work is just what we must do. Yet we can feel resistant about our chores, responsibilities or even recreational activities, if they become to feel excessive or if we have no choice but to do them.

Stacy and I are almost halfway through our 40-day kundalini Nabhi kriya practice. We promised to support and encourage each other as we go through this challenge. I feel I have benefitted by being held accountable and cheered on by my dear friend; to do this yoga routine every day, for 40 days, with no days off. Somedays are much harder than others but I always feel better after I do it.

At first it annoyed me that there were no days off for rest. But I now believe the main point of this Kundalini practice is to form a healthy habit and keep the promise to yourself. I have learned that keeping this promise and doing it even though I just don’t want too, has benefitted me in a way that I was not expecting. I have discovered that spend time every day tending to my mind body spirit connection, has made me feel like I am doing a better job at loving myself!

Though I love to write and have held myself to posting a blog every other day, even this can start to seem like work somedays. Like it’s something I must do, even when I don’t feel like it, but I still push through and get it done. I still do my best to write something worth reading, and I do it because I promised I would. Because it is important to my heart and soul that we build and sustain a wonderful community of Adventure Sisters readers and bring joy and positivity to the day. In a world that is bombarded daily with not so happy happenings; Stacy and I want to bring light and love to our loyal readers. Maybe even an uplifting meme to others who may just come upon our words by magic.

Through the words we write and our other daily practices, we work to keep our promises to ourselves and others and it feels great to keep promises! Yes, somedays it’s hard but in all honesty, it has turned out to be the best thing I do all day as well. Keeping my promise to myself and others fulfills me in a way that taking a day off never has.

We should rest but, when it comes to keeping promises to yourself; is that something you really want to take a break from? I have found this yoga practice has changed my perspective on things I didn’t even think were related. This daily practice of prayer and physical activity has benefitted my desire to give my body its proper nutrition. To keep healthier practices and hold myself accountable even when it’s the last thing I want to do.

So, when the responsibilities of our goals seem more like work then enjoyment; sometimes it is best to just “do it anyway”. Just maybe by pushing through we end up empowering ourselves more with the courage, confidence, and conviction to keep ourselves moving in the direction of our dreams, goals and aspirations. Nobody can do that for you!

I have been doing my best to change how I view these opportunities in life. Each choice I make either keeps me moving forward to my destination or keeps me from it. Therefore, I choose to do it anyways. That’s why it is worth it to me. I believe I am telling the Universe, “Yes I can, yes I will, and I am worth it.” And you are too!

Wishing you the magical soulful healing you need right now to be the best you can be.

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

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Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

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The purpose of changes and transition –

emyminzel

There have been some major evolutions happening in my life this past year. I feel like every single facet of my existence has been touched by change. All of it! There’s been so many evolutions that I believe I too have changed because of them. As humans do, we tend to appreciate our blessings and situations a little more after we’ve had an opportunity to see them in a different light. Sometimes we must first come very close to losing something we cherish, before we can see how valuable it really is to us. Is this true for you too?

I have been blessed with many opportunities to see just how wonderful my life is, after several lessons through joy allowed me to realize this! After experiencing a whirlwind campaign life; I am much more inclined to thoroughly enjoy quite weekends with my loved ones and evenings to myself. I now have time to make a home cooked meal, clean the house and even exercise, now that my schedule isn’t jam packed with campaign responsibilities. My life was like a soup. It was up to me to add spice to a dull dish, since I am the cook, right?! When I decided to add more excitement and flavor to my days/life, I changed the dish and it changed me.

Having the experience of being excessively busy, has helped me re-find the joy in my everyday tasks that once seemed boring. My perspective of working from home has shifted. I always knew I was blessed to do so, yet after this last year, I feel like my definition of work has changed and that my career has benefitted from my attitude adjustment. I very much enjoy my routine and the peaceful life now; when not long ago, there were days it made me mad with monotony! My career has allowed me to help others in my community and this brings me much joy and fulfillment. It just took me a bit to realize it!

My one and only child, moved out last Summer and that was also a huge life changer. I always knew she was going to go! After all, that’s why we raise our children the best we can. So they can be their best when they go out into the world. Yet, I miss her so much sometimes that I find myself texting, calling and making up silly questions just to hear from her. This has allowed me to appreciate the time we get to spend together much more, and I make it as special as I can.

The truth about my marriage was that we weren’t doing so hot, for a bit, last year. I mean that’s marriage for you; some years are easier than others. There is always love, but the friendship and bond we had built needed maintenance and I wasn’t able to give it the time it deserved for a while. The campaign was a wonderful distraction from our problems, but it also kept us from resolving our issues sooner than we did. I cannot blame the election for any troubles, that would not be fair or true.

It just so happened that the election occurred during this life lesson in marriage. I considered this time challenging, but we came out stronger for it. That was worth the experience and change of perception as well. I love my husband dearly. He is my best friend. This experience has helped me see just how much I treasure him and our relationship. This was a blessing inside the lesson through joy.

Even my friendships seem to have been touched by my change of perspective over the last year. I have learned to allow others leeway for humanness and I now freely give the benefit of the doubt. I have learned to love others as they are, unconditionally and without trying to push my ideals upon them. I have come to see my own quirks as something that may seem eccentric to others, but i’ve also learned to accept and love myself because these qualities are what make me special. I have learned this is what makes my loved ones special too!

I have learned that with age comes wisdom and that I have a whole lot of learning left to do! I believe I was also learning to love myself as I love others. This last year of my life has been a year of transformation, movement and growth that needed to happen. I am so thankful for all these lessons through joy, even if they may not have always seemed joyous at the time. Life has a beautiful way of bringing you full circle, to want what you need that helps you become who you are supposed to be.

I am love. You are too.

Wishing you the magical soulful healing you need right now to be the best you can be.

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

*Photo taken in Princeton, MN – homegrown old fashion vining petunias!

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Are you already there?

emyminzel

 

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” Dr. Wayne Dyer ~

We as humans have a lot of things in common. Like the desire to always want more or get something better than what we already have. Though, even once we get more of what we wanted, we start all over again. The need to want more and have better just seems to keep growing. So, when is what we already have, enough? I think it becomes enough once you learn to be thankful for what we already have and practicing appreciation for how blessed we truly are.

If we have a wonderful marriage and family who loves us unconditionally, why do we complain about their antics instead of speaking to the good they bring to our lives? Do we spend the time maintaining those relationships or is it always the other persons’ job to appease? Do you make others responsible for your happiness or blame them if you are not happy? Do we expect others to entertain us and keep us content?

I read something recently that was very poignant, not only in love but every relationship we are blessed with. It said. “Everyone is always looking for the perfect partner. Yet nobody seems to try and be the perfect partner.”

Are we holding ourselves up to the same standards we hold our loved ones too?

Happiness is an inside job. When it comes right down to it. If you take away all our money, jobs, titles or stuff…. All we ‘have’ to give others and ourselves is love. When you think about it harder; the thing that brings us the most happiness is love!

A piece of our own hearts as currency. To give love is to receive love, it’s simple but complex. Have you heard of the love languages? We all differ in how we can feel and receive love. What makes me feel loved is different than how my husband needs to be treated to feel loved.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I recommend reading The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. The love languages are: Words of affirmation, Acts of service, Receiving gifts, Quality time and Physical touch.

I found it very helpful in doing my part to maintain a happy marriage. It helped me learn that the way we are able to feel and receive love is different for everyone. But my point is that, no matter where you are in life, the grass is always greener on the other side if you aren’t watering your own lawn. You may find that once you start tending to and nurturing your life, you are able to see just how blessed you really are!

Here is an example: Do we expect our husbands to always cut the grass or shovel the snow while giving nothing in return? How do we show our appreciation for doing his part in taking care of the household duties? Do they need a present or what if we tried to make his favorite supper that night? Would this be a fair give and take exchange of energy and love?

If acts of service aren’t your husbands/partners love language, you may want to try a different approach and buy him a present, sing his praises or maybe even give him a back rub instead.

When we want more happiness, love, opportunity, or success, it helps if we appreciate what it is that we already have. The Universe/God is listening to your vibrations and does not deliver your opportunities when you aren’t appreciating the ones already in your lap!

If you aren’t thankful and appreciating your life as it is, or taking steps to improve it, it just not going to change. As it goes, the Universe delivers more of what you are asking for. If you are perpetually complaining, it’s going to give you more to complain about. If you are forever giving thanks and counting your blessings, it would pose to think you will get more of what you are thankful for.

When you are frustrated and tested, remember that the more you look for the good in the situation the more likely it will turn out good. Your life may not be perfect. But if you take a closer look and see you have love in your heart, family, and friends, a safe warm place to sleep, food on the table and a way to provide this security… you are already there!

You are already at the point in life where you can choose to be happy!

Psst… remember, the feeling is the prayer!

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness it the way” – Dr. Wayne Dyer

Wishing you the magical soulful healing you need right now to be the best you can be.

With love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com