"We are made by love, we are made of love, and we are made for love..."
This page presents powerful tools, developed by Peter Shepherd, to help you find the truth of your situation. You may feel stressed, or confused, there may be a lot going on and choices to make that seem a bit overwhelming. Or you may simply need time with yourself, to decide what it is you really want... and just who you are, really?
We each of us need this personal space for reflection. This is a reflection of you, by you; it’s a lens with which to view yourself objectively, evaluate your past, be more aware of your present, and make better choices for the future.
You can use the following text box as a temporary place to start noting down your thoughts, memories, problems, feelings and dreams...
Later you can transfer this text to your computer, phone or notebook, and if you wish, continue to build up a personal journal on a regular basis.
Inner Knowing
Our inner knowing includes conscience, our sense of right and wrong, which is based on our inherent loving nature, the true self. The intellectual mind often has other ideas, so it's best to silence that mind when looking for inner guidance, to simply be with yourself and just know.
We truly need to know our deeper heartfelt selves, to find our inner loving core. It is for each person to discover their own version of truth and to recognize the universal values it contains. The measure of that truth is alignment with the values of loving service.
Your heartfelt feelings, intuition, knowledge, reason, ideas, inspiration, received guidance, understanding, and what you learn or are told … of these, what is actually True or False? Your inner guidance will answer these questions. The following lists are to help you along the way…
1. IDENTIFY THE OVERALL FEELING
Firstly, clarify what it is that you are feeling in broad terms. Note it down. It may be one of the following or something a bit different. Click on FEELINGS to see some choices...
Describe a bit more how you feel overall at this time...
Now, understand better where this feeling comes from, in terms of fears that may underlie the way you feel...
2. FEARS
Fears are greatly influenced by our animal instincts for a fight or flight response in survival threatening situations. It's a real feeling but one we may become trapped by; it doesn't reflect our true peaceful, loving and compassionate nature, our more conscious self.
Which kind of FEAR are you feeling?
Ask yourself these questions:
From where/when/who/why/how/what did this fear, or fearful behavior, derive?
Is the source an authority you've accepted, an imposition or conditioning, based on someone else's view?
Is it an intolerance, something you're resisting or something you feel you cannot accept?
Is it an enforcement - a should, a can’t, a must, a have to - in order to please others, to meet expectations, or to conform?
Is it based on a generalization (like always or never), an exaggeration, or an overly negative or pessimistic outlook?
If one or more of these are relevant to the way you feel, or appropriate to your situation...
recognize and acknowledge the feeling;
accept and fully experience the feeling, and stay with it until it completely goes;
describe how that feels now in your journal notes.
Make notes of your answers to these questions...
And then, understand better where this feeling comes from, in terms of more positive, heart-felt feelings...
3. LOVE
Which kind of LOVE are you experiencing?
If one or more of these are relevant to the way you feel, or appropriate to your situation, recognize, acknowledge and express this loving feeling and the truth it embodies. Describe how this feels in your journal notes.
Make notes about what you are starting to understand more deeply through the light of love...
The answer to your doubts or questions is best found within you. Your truth will always be based on your essential loving nature. This is your inner guidance. The answer you seek will be empowering and lead you to peace.
QUESTIONS FOR AWARENESS & EMPOWERMENT
To help with your journaling, ask yourself these questions:
What am I excited about?
What am I afraid of?
What do I want to understand better?
What have I been struggling with?
What am I concerned about?
What am I stressed about?
What have I put off doing?
To relax, what would I like to do?
Is there something I feel I should do, not what I really want to do?
What do I feel physically?
What do I feel emotionally?
What do I feel mentally?
What do I feel spiritually?
Is there a secret I’ve never shared with anyone?
What dream did I have that was meaningful for me?
What is my deepest fear?
What have I realized recently?
What do I understand better now?
What new ideas have I had?
Which people and things have brightened my day?
What have I always wanted to say?
What could I do to brighten someone's day?
What compassion do I feel?
What ideas do I have for a better tomorrow?
What matters most to me today?
Right now, what am I most grateful for?
What can I learn from my situation? [If you can answer this question, well done, you’ve arrived, you’ve learned this life lesson.]
Once you have asked a question, answers will arrive but they can be subtle and indirect. The key is to be aware: to watch and listen, to express your feelings, and be open to new possibilities.
Make some further notes here too, if you like, and then collect all your notes together in your Personal Journal...
STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESS
This is a surprisingly powerful journaling tool that was introduced to me by Orsolya Riszt, an excellent life coach and good friend of mine. She says...
“It’s an excellent, simple and easy way of not only letting go but flipping disturbing emotions. All you do is write out all the thoughts in your head and in time your emotions will soften. The trick is just keep going! Keep writing until the problem completely resolves and you’ll even find a solution or an insight on the paper in front of you!!!
“It worked wonders for me. One time, I remember moving from deep anger to smiling with a surprising new approach that was so simple!
“Of course you will not have time to write down everything, as your thoughts are quicker than your hand... so just leave words and sentences unfinished and don't let your mind focus on grammar, spelling or anything.”
“So don't think and you will be surprised at what emerges, both negative and positive!”
Start writing below, don't “think,” just write down the ideas, images and feelings that emerge from your unconscious. And whatever comes up, just keep going...
RELEASING STUCK EMOTIONS
The Release Technique is a valuable tool in our mindful toolbox. It helps you to be fully present in the now rather than a lot of your energy being used subconsciously to resist the past. This is a summary of the procedure:
Step One: First think of some problem area in life - it may be a relationship with a loved one; it might be your job, a health problem or a worry. Or it might simply be the feeling that you are experiencing now.
Step Two: Identify your feeling. What word comes to mind?
Step Three: What do you really feel? Open yourself up, become aware of the physical sensations attached to the feeling and focus on them.
Step Four: Deliberately create it. Let your feeling inhabit your entire body and mind. If the feeling is a grief feeling, you may break into tears; if it is anger, you may feel your blood begin to boil. That's good - now is the time to feel the feeling.
Step Five: Become aware of the difference between your Self - YOU - and what that Self is FEELING. When the feeling is fully experienced and accepted, there will at some point be a clear sensation that your feeling is not you, it's something you've been creating, so it would be possible to let go of the feeling.
If you do not feel that it is possible to let the feeling go, feel it some more. Sooner or later you will reach a point where you can truthfully answer: "Yes, I could let this feeling go".
Step Six: Spot the underlying thought, assumption, decision or intention that has been driving your emotions. See if it is appropriate in interpreting your current circumstances, even though it may have seemed appropriate in the past. What do you learn from this?
The most vital aspect of this process is the learning of life lessons. Unless you recognize what you are to learn from your negative emotions, they will not release permanently, because they will have to regenerate again until the lesson is learned once and for all. After all, the very nature of negative emotions is a message to you -- letting you know that something needs to be learned.
Step Seven: Let the feeling go, simply release it, if you haven't done so spontaneously. It feels good to let it go - all the built-up energy that has been held in the body is released. There is a sudden decrease in physical and nervous tension. You will feel more relaxed, calm, and centered.
Awakening of the Human Being
Rose Henry interviews Peter Shepherd about the book, Transforming the Mind
Life is all about the decisions we make, good or bad. We can't go wrong with love as our guide, however sometimes we'll forget or be distracted or veer from that path and make inappropriate decisions. But all is not lost, it never is. These are the times we can learn from and then return to our true selves, our true nature. Read more...
AFFIRMATIONS
You’ll find it empowering to say these affirmations with conviction each day…
My experiences and difficulties make me better, stronger, wiser and more alive.
More and more, I love and accept myself exactly as I am.
The love I give out returns to me multiplied.
I choose to receive more love, support and wealth from the vast supply of the universe.
I see the beauty in my surroundings and I radiate joy and love.
I deserve all that is good and prosperous in my life.
I choose to feel more and more confident.
I am protected, guided, and connected with the highest good at all times.
I recognize and honor my talents, abilities, and skills.
I choose to live my life the way that makes me happy.
I accept myself completely, just as I am.
See yourself from the inside out and guide yourself to transform your personal life, your relationships and family life, your career, and your community.
PERSONAL VALUES
The values we hold determine why we do what we do and with what order of priority. Moral, religious, and personal values, when held rigidly, may give rise to conflicts as differing world view clash - or they may encourage group cohesion.
Trans4mind's motto: “Minds, like parachutes, function better when open.”
It is for each person to discover their own version of truth and to recognize the universal values it contains.
Which of the following values rings a bell for you?
What's true for you, aligned with your love and intuitive inner knowing?
What's not true for you, aligned with personal fears and cultural conformity?
What else do you value highly in your life and the world around you?
Power— authority; leadership; control or dominance over people and resources; social status and prestige, control or dominance over people and resources; wealth
Stimulation— variety; novelty; excitement; challenge in life
Self-direction— creativity; freedom; independence; curiosity; exploration; choosing your own goals
Universalism— broadmindedness; wisdom; social justice; equality; tolerance; a world at peace; a world of beauty; unity with nature; protecting the environment; inner harmony
Tradition— accepting one's position in life; humility; devoutness; respect for tradition; moderation
Conformity— self-discipline; obedience
Security— cleanliness; harmony; family security; national security; stability of social order; reciprocation of favors; health; sense of belonging
Spirituality— finding meaning in life; higher awareness
Make notes of your insights here...
Remember to collect all your notes together in your Personal Journal
Recommended — 7 Steps to Discover Your Personal Core Values
This free practical guide by top coach Scott Jeffrey explains how to identify your core values and live by them, thereby achieving much greater fulfillment in your life.
YOU'RE SPECIAL!
Whatever anyone else says or misguidedly thinks, each one of us is simply amazing and so, so special! So bearing that in mind...
List things that are physically attractive about you
List things that you are good at or can do well
List exceptional qualities or unique things about you
List your personal achievements and successes
Read these list to yourself out loud and frequently :-)
TRANSITIONS IN YOUR LIFE
Life is always changing, growing and evolving. This means everyone experiences transitions in their life. And in modern life, change and growth are happening more quickly, and are often forced upon us, so that each of us will face many transitions in the course of a lifetime. Each one is likely to take us out of our ‘safe space’ and challenge us in new ways.
On this page - The Ins and Outs of Life Transitions - you'll find some common transitions that you are likely to experience in your journey through life... Which ones apply to you today? Which ones are you avoiding or afraid of? Which are you looking forward to?
“It worked wonders for me. One time, I remember moving from deep anger to smiling with a surprising new approach that was so simple!
“Of course you will not have time to write down everything, as your thoughts are quicker than your hand... so just leave words and sentences unfinished and don't let your mind focus on grammar, spelling or anything.”
“So don't think and you will be surprised at what emerges, both negative and positive!”