How to Find Peace in Chaos

How to Find Peace in Chaos


Resilience.

I can’t think of another word that is more vital to embrace after what we have gone through in our world this last year and continue to navigate.

Wearing Masks are the Norm

I don’t know about you but the anxiety I felt for the first time, wearing a mask in public and seeing masked people driving around town, was so alarming!

There were moments in the grocery store, where my glasses would fog up and then my mask would breathe in way too close and I would try to move it away without touching it directly with my hands and I felt panic rising up in my chest. I avoided public spaces for weeks because of the fear.

Eventually I found masks that allowed me to breathe. And I absorbed the reality of how we are doing our part for public health and saw my discomfort as a small price to pay for the betterment of the whole.

Glaring Need for Food Banks

I am fortunate (and I know it and am grateful) that my work allows me to work at home. In the early summer, after gearing up to leave the house for the weekly shop, the roads and the sidewalks were virtually empty. The emptiness felt creepy.

On my way home, I turned to go into my neighbourhood, there was movement. I watched this tall woman quickly cross the road with her little baby in a stroller to get in line at the pop-up Food Bank at the local school that I didn’t notice before. Time stopped. And the reality of this picture haunted me. And then I cried. The pandemic is real. People are hungry, this is real.

Amazingly, almost right after that, our community filled a whole stadium with donated food. Heartbreakingly beautiful and simultaneously heartbreaking.

Racial Inequality and Unrest

First, I am not qualified to speak intellectually on this topic as I am still unpacking and unlearning and learning. But after the murders of unarmed black people in the US caused a global movement, I felt rage and then hope for humanity. Seeing people come together, united for justice was inspiring. I signed up for webinar after webinar and crammed my mind with education on the history of slavery and colonization and systemic racism, I felt guilt and shame of my white privilege and ignorance. And then, my dearest person was targeted with racist hate language, which brought it home, literally. It is our duty as humans to learn from the past and do better. When we stay in the dark, we are never free.

Gender Inequality, Lockdown and Mental Health

The abruptness of closing the schools revealed the gender inequality that exists and persists. The she-cession has impacted women globally and brings me to my knees in overwhelm and how to make change and help people cope with it all, in its unique and varying ways. Families are hurting. Single parents, grief, suicide prevention, depression, work life balance, emotional labour and pay inequity have been consuming my mind and my reading list.

If you have children under 14 right now with no one to care for them, how do you go to work? Many women in food and hospitality have lost their jobs and many others are in precarious situations. Women in the labour market is the lowest it has been in decades. Universal child care has been touted as a possible solution, along with equal pay and education on gender bias but we need the vaccine. 

The pressure to do it all, be it all, have it all, is proving to be impossible for many and that realization is either liberating or crushing.

Over the weekend, we began to unpack our Christmas decorations, eager to start celebrating, even if its just our immediate family this year. I lifted my favourite snowmen family from the box and squeezed them to me like a child and then I touched the area in my chest and remembered the cyst that may or may not be growing, the one the doctors are “watching” every 6 months.

And I became acutely aware of how unknown the future feels, how unreliable, unsteady, unfamiliar, unsure everything can feel … when we look at the weight and expanse of all that we are facing. It is all too big. I held my husband and daughter — rather they held me, as I cried. It’s a complicated gratitude, that we simply have each other and our health, holding the awareness that not all are as fortunate.

I feel like it is a normal occurrence right now, that I cry, my friends cry, my family, my clients. We tell each other (virtually) how much we love each other. We have been quite bold. If you are waiting to say these words in your life, now is the time!

A global pandemic, political unrest, polarization, economic instability, borders closed! This is all real, so get real with the love you have in your life and don’t waste another moment! Share it! There is little else that is as real and transforming as love.

I am used to feeling things deeply. I always have been highly sensitive, intuitive, empathetic and being this way requires boundaries and time to rest. But this year has taught me that…

We must actively strive for equality for all, to promote and live with respect and civility in our own minds, at home with our spouses, children, family, at work with our colleagues and clients and in society and demand the same from government.

Even as I write this you see when you start from the inner world, it extends out and shifts – EVERYTHING can be reduced to love ~ to learn, to choose to give and receive love. Practice.

If you feel compelled to create more meaning and change your life and align with your life purpose, practice getting really good at giving love and receiving love. 

Whether you are a taxi driver, doctor, teacher, politician — your purpose is to clear out the clutter, to perform your work mindfully (to be present) and give and receive love in the process.

Really, that is it.

So, while the bigger global pictures are bringing us to our knees, as I see I have repeated throughout this post, it is our love that will heal us and our commitment to equality for all. We are resilient — we are capable to recover after stress.

So, if this is overwhelming or confusing about what to do next — approach it like this: Whoever is in front of you, beside you, listening or talking to you, choose mindfully to love them, look into their eyes and start this healing that we need to do, every day, one ripple in the ocean each day, one interaction, one thought at a time.


We are planning some really soul nourishing workshops this month, I invite you to join, connect and find some peace. If you need assistance or guidance on how to create change and begin your journey, I also offer one-on-one coaching services at Embrace Your Life coaching. If I can be of any help to you, I would love to schedule a complimentary session to discuss your goals.

Mental Health & Processing Grief

Mental Health & Processing Grief

Good Morning! I have to be honest, I have been very moved by the loss of Kate Spade.
What about you?

She had the business success people dream of.

She created so much in her life for the world to celebrate, full of colour and influence and playfulness.
Her brand.

All while there was so much more going on inside.

It makes me think of how often we answer the question,

“How are you?” with “I’m fine.”

— when you really aren’t fine.

If you don’t have a broken bone or an illness that someone can see, it is expected you are “fine and will get over it, can’t be that bad.”

What if you are feeling opposite to what you are trying to create?

Trapped by your brand, by the vision you think you need to project… the thinking that you have to be something you aren’t.

We are complex beings!

We change. We feel. We are human.

Without being over-simplistic, a good practice is –

If you catch yourself saying I am fine when you really aren’t,
CHALLENGE yourself to expand your answer and be vulnerable telling the person exactly how you are feeling.

Authentic connection is proven to combat depression.

With lots of love, sincerely!!
Kelly  xo

How to Share Your Light When you Feel Dull

How to Share Your Light When you Feel Dull

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression or grief and are trying to run your business at the same time – take a few minutes and slow down with this gentle heart centering meditation.

Listen to this when you are having a hard time. Get quiet and wait. Let your heart guide you. What messages is it sending to you?

Get comfortable with this truth – that your heart is always speaking to you, guiding you and then follow the wisdom within.

Enjoy! With love,

Kelly

End Self-Doubt and Stop Sabotaging Yourself!

End Self-Doubt and Stop Sabotaging Yourself!

When things get hard in your world, do you reminisce and wish that you could return to a more simple time? It is quite normal to cope with current challenges by wishing them away and escaping to happier times. But so often we forget that those past times weren’t so happy after all. We fantasize about the past because we feel trapped by our present and afraid for our future.

Watch for the signs – Doubt is sneaky; it masks itself by encouraging you to choose what you “should” do, to make the easier choice or the mindless choice. Doubt makes you choose against your intuition.

Doubt might start small but after several choices you wake up and realize that you have moved so far away from your dream that you have sabotaged your real efforts!

How do you know when doubt has entered your thinking?


Doubt is in control when you feel heavy, irritated, confused and anxious. Doubt is in control, when you can hear your thoughts saying, “I can’t do that.” And then you believe the justifications!

A sure way to kill a dream is to have self-doubt; it is devastating to any growth that is percolating just beneath the surface. If things aren’t happening the way you want them to or as fast as you want, you must not allow doubt to enter your mind. Instead shift your attention back to the moment and put your attention on what you want – your dream.

Sometimes, it is hard to accept but we can’t have everything we want all at once. There is a natural growth process – a seedling can’t all of a sudden become a full grown tree and support a family of birds in a nest – there is a process.

Surrender your Plan and Trust the Process

If you can’t change your situation all that is left is to accept it, and then keep practicing acceptance.

Do your best to let go of the way you think your life should be and repeat to yourself the affirmation frequently: I accept. When you let go of trying to control the situation, the struggle will dissipate and the stillness and beauty will surround you. By choosing to accept your situation you will be simultaneously choosing grace and peace, which is a beautiful environment for your dream to blossom.

Hold your dreams close to your heart and practice taking care of yourself regularly showing yourself love in every moment.

“Even within the seemingly most unacceptable and painful situation is concealed a deeper good, and within every disaster is contained the seed of grace.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

Embrace your Life! Enjoy the process and be gentle with yourself.

Much love to you,
Kelly

“The Prosperity Prayer”

“The Prosperity Prayer”

Good Morning!! I believe that there are messages all around us and we can receive them if we maintain an open heart and mind. This inspirational piece passed my desk this morning as I dreamed about my future and all that is yet to come. I wanted to forward it along to you.

Here is the Prosperity Prayer as circulated on the internet…

Dear God —

I surrender my financial affairs and concerns about money to your Divine care and love.

I ask that you remove my worries, anxieties and fears about money, and replace them with faith.

I know and trust that my debts will be paid and money will flow into my life.

I have only to look to nature to see proof of the abundance you provide.

I release all negative thoughts about money, and know that prosperity is my true state.

I commit to being grateful for all that I now have in my life.

I learn to manage my finances wisely, seeking help where needed.

And finally, I ask you to help me understand my purpose in life and to act on that purpose with courage and strength. I know that prosperity will come, in part, by doing work I love. Please help me use my skills and knowledge to be of service in the world.

Thank you, God.

Wishing you peace and love today, Enjoy!

Kelly

Create your Space & Get ready for Success!

Create your Space & Get ready for Success!

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Greetings, I am writing from my office! I love my office space.

Light pours in from the beautiful oversized window to my right, my vision boards are positioned on the wall ahead of me, my yoga mat is placed out inviting me to rest and rejuvenate and an angel wall hanging reminds me of my higher beliefs and purpose. I am inspired! I feel ready for this new phase of my life!

In coaching, one of the first items of discussion is creating a quiet space for reflection, meditation and creation. This space does not have to be an entire room; it could be a corner of your bedroom or family room.

One client has even turned a large closet into her private space for meditation and prayer. Where ever it is located in the house, fill it with beautiful, inspirational items and music that envelope and uplift you.

Paint it the colour you want. Hang inspirational art to motivate you and energize your passion! Fill it with comfortable pillows, encouraging you to stretch your body and mind to the possibilities.

Treat yourself to the finest writing paper and capture your thoughts as you de-stress and open up. Experts say that your intuitive thoughts are mostly forgotten after 37 seconds and are lost after 7 minutes! So write it down!

Create a space to listen and then be guided by your intuition. The answers lie within!

According to these feng shui office tips, the way you position your desk influences the energy in the room and ultimately your life. Be mindful, your office is a place to create your vision, plan your goals and can also be called the “command centre” where you direct the energy and decide upon the intentions for yourself and your family, a very important space indeed!

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but rather by the moments that take our breath away.

This inspirational quote hangs framed on the wall just outside the office door and I read it every time I enter the office. Needless to say, I am very happy with where it has found its home in my home. I am humbled by the goodness and blessings that continue to enter my life ~ it takes my breath away.

Embrace your life! Enjoy!

With love,

Kelly