thought patterns to cultivate

Written by Kellie Mae

We live in a variety of environments.  One of the most important ones is the environment within.  The environment that we create with our thoughts, thought patterns and desires.  It is where we make decisions, compute the world, interact with ourself and come to know who we are.  Within, we give place to our ACTions and REACTions, have desires, wants, needs and where all of those things become interpreted and living manifestations.  The lives we want to create and allow to be are determined by how fertile the soil is to grow and how the thought patterns cultivate what is there.

I first began thinking of my thoughts when I was introduced to a book from Louise Hay, a metaphysical teacher.  She invites you to begin to pay attention to your thoughts and be honest with what you find and see that they can change if they need to.  It is a thought and a thought can change.  The fertile soil within us comes from our thought patterns.  The thought patterns that we allow cultivate and create determine the life we are creating and allowing to grow.

I decided to apply this to the thoughts I had of myself and began to pay attention to all the reflective surfaces a round me.  I discovered when I looked at myself I had thoughts about myself, most of them judgmental in a negative way: Look at my hair, oh fat, I don't really like this shirt, or I look sad/tired/ugly, etc.  I found I was saying things to myself that would never say to anyone else.  This created a negative, unhealthy, even sometimes hostile environment and the positive, happy life I wanted was unable to take root.  I was blinded by these thought patterns and couldn't see the forest of trees.  The positive interactions that were what I wanted and thought I was cultivating.  I wanted to have people love me, but I did not see or receive when others would compliment.  When someone told me I was pretty I would excuse or say something negative really fast:

Them: "Good Job."  Me: "I messed up."

Them: "You look pretty."  Me: "My hair wouldn't do what I wanted it to."

A thought is a thought and a thought can change.  I began to create more abundant, fertile thought patterns by saying I love me when I looked at myself in mirrors, windows, toasters, microwave doors, computer screens and wherever I noticed seeing me.  And I began to "see" me.  For the truth that I am.  A beauty FULL, strong, changing for the better, woman.  Not perfect, but perfecting.  Healthier, more truthful, honest, and POSITIVE thoughts led to manifestations in my mind, body and spirit.  A greater balance of my Being.  The happiness I had always wanted and knew was to be in my life began to take root.

The natural things or fruit, that manifested due to happier thought patterns were losing 85 lbs, improved relationships, acceptance of the truths others spoke about me, a happy relationship with food, an increased desire for the happiness of others, running races (including a marathon and several half marathons), freedom from binding negativity, increased peace and deeper meditations.  I love myself enough to allow and accept others to love me.  I found deeper, more meaningful, powerful and absolute JoyFULLest relationships have come into my life and stayed.  I am worth it.  It has deepened my love of myself, life and all around me.  I know that people are genuine and as I have a greater love for me, I see their honest love and care of me and desire for my happiness.  No one is twisting their arms to be nice to me.  This has nurtured healthy relationships, sacred human moments, and I allowed them to stay and be my most favorite from things I've grown.

I still have negative thoughts and experiences that stretch and expand me.  For example, there are occurences that come to strengthen and nurture relationships.  Ones that come that bring us to a deeper love and knowledge of ourselves, even if that includes change.  I used to perceive that if things change, if a thought pattern needs to shift, that I had done something wrong.  I know now that change is necessary to progress and continue to grow.  What worked for me yesterday may not work for me today.  I am open to change and that change increases my love of myself and welcomes positive growth.

A friend from China who is Buddhist described experiences this way: You are a tree and things come that move you like the wind.  They blow and move through your branches, but you are rooted and these experiences strengthen your roots.  Through this description of being a tree, I see things so differently now.  I don't label things as bad or good.  I move through them and have increased faith and happiness.  I allow thoughts to occur to me, not define me.  The ones that I choose to cultivate, I choose to apply in a healthy, increasing light and love kind of way.  I increased connection with my emotions and find the balance that comes when I utilize my thoughts to guide me through understanding and trust.

A practice of yoga has also greatly improved this balance.  It quiets my mind and brings me to now.  I seek moments of stillness found in nature, quiet meditations, peaceful seekings found in temples of my faith and sacred human moments.  If I rehash and stay in the past or worry about the what ifs of the future, I separate myself from me, from my sacred present and begin to feel I don't have a choice.  When I take a deep breath and bring myself to NOW in my thinking, I find I learn from the past.  I don't live in it and I trust the future to bring me increased happiness, joy and deeper connection.  I learned to change thoughts of unhealthy or unattainable expectations and embrace the manifestations of truth and beauty.  I do not hold others to what I expect them to do or how they need to fulfill what I want and desire.  They, too, are learning and cultivating their own environment and experiences.  We can be a blessing to each other and by not determining how that will look has allowed our relationships to grow and deepen.

The "negative" happenings of life are what I now call soul stirring experiences.  It gives me power and recognition of my choice.  I create and cultivate more openly and beautifully, manifesting in a stronger body, art work, written words, song writing and deeper more meaningful relationships with myself, family, friends and all I'm blessed to connect with daily.

One of my most improved relationships has been my connection with food.  If something went wrong, I would eat.  A lot.  If something went right, I would celebrate with food.  A lot.  It was therapy, my crutch and a source that I led myself to think was one of the only happinesses I had in my life.  I was not utilizing food for its purpose.  I found that I would eat and never even taste my food.  Now, as I have a more healthy and deeply rooted positive relationship with myself and thought patterns, I eat to sustain my life and to celebrate and enjoy in moderation.  It has created a greater energy and improvement to my running and the way I live my life.  I am more confident and reach out more to those around me.  I want to share my happiness and I have greater confidence in who I am and what I can accomplish, for myself and those around me.  I still eat for enjoyment.  I will buy a box of Captain Crunch and eat the entire thing...in one sitting...with a very big grin on my face.  As I do this though, I don not have guilt because of balanced choices I make and thoughts I have.  I also truly enjoy vegetables and fruits.  My thoughts and connections to myself show in my choice of food.  This positive connection to food continually improves my thought patterns and cultivates greater happiness in my life.

A healthy and nurturing environment is what we need.  As we approach this, we can see that balanced change can take place.  Like pruning a tree, we need the knowledge to do it.  To remove and add branches (thought patterns and actions), to strengthen our roots and allow growth to take place and trusting our processes takes love, care, understanding and the release of fear.  It is important to have love and patience, not removing all the bad without cultivating and strengthening the good.  It is a balancing act and takes patient attention.  Einstein said that if he had ever thought of anything great, it was owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.  We need our own patient attention.  Our thought are a powerful beginning.  Cultivate and LIVE Greatness.  It is not only in all of us, IT IS US.

Namaste and Happy thoughts to you.

Kellie Mae

About Kellie Mae:

Kellie grew up in the lovely land of Sandy, Utah amongst four sisters and incredible parents, travelling, adventuring and becoming.

Their home became a four generation, twelve person home where laughter and service were daily occurrences.  She attended the University of Utah, receiving a bachelors in Medical Laboratory Sciences, specializing in Cytotechnology.  Kellie spent a year and a half in Oregon coming to know myself, serving and loving the people that became family as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

She spend her time now in and around the beautiful Heber Valley and wherever her free spirit carries me - being Kellie...a singer/song writer, artist, creator, writer and cytologist.

Kellie is a lover of cereal, people, happiness, canoeing in the Red Ninja, discovery, change, beanies, peace, mountains, Alaska, running, adventure, connection, family, friends and doing something every day that scares her.

happy "healthy" holidays

It always seems that when the holidays come around every year I often hear friends complain about all the sweets, worrying about weight gain and being unhealthy.  This year I decided to focus on the positive and create a healthy holiday season.  For the months of November and December I am focusing my blog on being physically, emotionally and spiritually balanced and healthy.

I am asking a few friends who inspire me to be guest contributors and share their experience in creating a healthy life.  There will be a post every Wednesday to inspire having a healthy holiday season.

First post will be Wednesday November 6.

Namaste

i wrote this for you

This week I have been praying (A LOT) for some extra love and asking God to send me an angel of compassion and kindness.  Well here are a few of them I would like to share with you. I don't usually mention names, but today I will because I want these people to know that something so small that they did has been a blessing to me this week.

Brian Abel, thank you for sharing your artwork with me.  It touches the deepest part of my soul.  Thank you for living your dreams. You shine so much love and light in this world by being true to yourself.

Shauntel Mcaffee, thank you for sharing your kiddos with me.  I loved playing dress up at Tazia's birthday party.

Christine Stewart, in class (touch for health) when I looked in you eyes I felt your unconditional love for me. Because of that I experienced God's unconditional love for me.  I really needed that.

Sharlene Dalley, thank you for asking me to hangout. I love our girl time.  Thank you for all the advice about massage school, licensing and being a therapist.  

Marmee, thank you for being my angel mother. Thank you for having a heart of gold.  Thank you for always giving everything 100%+1.  I am grateful to be your daughter. 

Rhianna Missman, thank you for calling me back.  I love our chats.  I love that we are soul sisters.  I love that we keep our contract and show up for each other.

Julia Sanders, thank you for chatting on facebook.  Thank you for asking me how I am doing.  Thank you for listening.

Ali Huggins, thank you for reading "THE DAY YOU READ THIS" in group this week.  My spirit deserved to hear that. Thank you for always being so awesome in yoga.  I will miss you when you move away.

Melanie Taylor, thank you for your laughter and silliness.  It is perfect timing that we are part of each others lives again.  This is a reminder to both of us that God's timing is the perfect timing.  Lets have fun and get crazy this summer.

Amber Parker, thank you for challenging me to inspire gratitude.  

Thank you to all of you who choose compassion, gentleness, love, forgiveness, humility, sincerity, and authenticity.  You are creating heaven on earth.

God, thank you for sending angels of love this week.  I know your listening.

Love, Cari

My friend Ali read this poem in my cancer support group this week and would like to share it with you.

THE DAY YOU READ THIS
On this day, you read something that moved you and made you realize there were no more fears to fear.  No tears to cry.  No head to hang in shame.  That every time you thought you'd offended someone, it was all just in your head and really, they love you with all their heart and nothing will ever change that.  That everyone and everything lives on inside you.  That that doesn't make any of it any less real.

That soft touches will change you and stay with you longer than hard ones.

That being alone means you're free.  That old lovers miss you and new lovers want you and the one you're with is the one you're meant to be with.  That the tingles running down your arms are angel feathers and they whisper in your ear, constantly, if you choose to hear them.  That everything you want to happen, will happen, if you decide you want it enough.  That every time you think a sad thought, you can think a happy one instead.

That you control completely.

That the people who make you laugh are more beautiful than beautiful people.  That you laugh more than you cry.  That crying is good for you.  That the people you hate wish you would stop and you do too.

That your friends are reflections of the best parts of you.  That you are more than the sum total of the things you know and how you react to them.  That dancing is sometimes more important than listening to the music.

That the most embarrassing, awkward moments of your life are only remembered by you and no one else.  That no one judges you when you walk into a room and all they really want to know, is if you're judging them.  That what you make and what you do with your time is more important than you'll ever fathom and should be treated as such.  That the difference between a job and art is passion.  That neither defines who you are.  That talking to strangers is how you make friends.

That bad days end but a smile can go around the world.  That life contradicts itself, constantly.  That that's why it's worth living.

That the difference between pain and love is time.  That love is only as real as you want it to be.  That if you feel good, you look good but it doesn't always work the other way around.

That the sun will rise each day and it's up to you each day if you match it.  That nothing matters up until this point.  That what you decide now, in this moment, will change the future.  Forever.

That rain is beautiful. And so are you!

Written by,
I wrote this for you

Namaste

the pros and cons of bus riding vs. driving my own vehicle

1. I have to plan out my day in advance and sometimes hour by hour.
2. It takes at least twice as long riding the bus and train.
3. I get up an hour earlier then I typically would to be on time to school.
4. I choose sleep over eating breakfast most days because of the early hours of waking.
5. I can eat breakfast on the bus!
6. I don't have to pay for car insurance.
7. I buy a monthly bus pass, instead of spending hundreds of $$$ on gas.
8. I am saving money by riding the bus.
9. If I leave my house even one minute late, I either end up running after the bus (ugh) or miss it altogether.
10. I get exercise walking (or running haha) to the bus stop, home or school.
11. I can read a book, study, do homework, sleep, meditate or write on the bus.
12. I make friends with the bus drivers.
13. Seeing the same faces everyday on the bus, giving a friendly smile and hello.
14. People watching (who doesn't love people watching?).
15. MY FAVORITE ONE... Making new friends at the bus stop, on the bus or train.

One day while waiting for my bus to arrive, I walked over to a bench to have a seat. Sitting on that bench next to me is a man wearing sunglasses, backpack in tow and a long white stick sitting next him.  This man was obviously blind and his name is Warren.  Sitting there together we began conversing about where we were going and life in general.  He inspired me by his kindness, gentle words and that life is still wonderful and good even when it throws some crazy stuff at you.  I am grateful for this moment in time to meet a beautiful soul and connect heart to heart.  I may never see my friend Warren, again. But that day he made a difference in my life and I am a better human being for meeting him!

Namaste

a 90 year old's lessons in life

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio. . .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.  It is the most-requested column that I ever wrote.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more":

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone.  It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God.  He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath.  It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never to late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone and everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything.  Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time...You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Namaste

blog name change

I just started this blog and I already want to change the name!?!  For any of you new to this blog, it use to be: Vitality Inspiration.  Now: Live Inspired.  Let me give some clarity and insight of why the name change.

In the winter/spring 2010 I had this dream of creating a website to inspire physical, emotional, and spiritual healing; inspire individuals to be their best selves and be the Light that they are in this world. The name Vitality Inspiration fit perfectly.

I still have this dream, but now I have a higher perspective of what I am creating.  Just because I am inspired doesn't mean I am going to make different or new choices and live it.  When I am inspired by someone or something and choose to apply it in my life; step outside of my own box and make a difference in this world; or share my blessings. I am living that inspiration.  This blog's purpose and focus is about living the inspired life and sharing it.

Namaste