Expanding The Inner Capacity For Unease

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

Many meanings could be derived from the word “unease.” A few meanings that come to my mind when I think of unease are stress, tension, struggle, and discomfort. I have thought about how someone is capable of expanding the inner capacity for unease in the moment.

As I reflect on my own experiences, I acknowledge one area of focus which helps reduce unease. It is the nourishing actions that can be taken to navigate the stresses in the experiences. The other invitation is to expand the inner capacity to be with the unease.

What could expanding the inner capacity to be with unease mean?

Staying Stuck in the Unease

In that state of frustration, helplessness, powerlessness, it is not reasonable to imagine or see the possibility to have the capacity to be with unease. It can be extremely uncomfortable. It might feel like something must be wrong. A strong-willed judgement about what is being experienced.

An inner subconscious voice says it is something that must be solved. There are steps that must be taken to relieve the suffering as if resembling some sort of systematic equation.

It feels like there is relief when a result is produced. It could be a desired outcome, remembering when a desired outcome happened, feeling belief in something, feeling accepted by others, feeling connection with others, the ideation of being right, honoring one’s own values. *

Getting Unstuck From the Unease

Something that remains constant in the discomfort of unease is choice. The ego wants to have input towards if the choice will be legitimately helpful or safe to move away from unease.

What can be helpful in transforming a disempowering experience into an empowering experience is dedicating focus to habits and behavior.

Taking the time to understand what habits support being with unease and navigating in it’s space. Some habits may include practicing self compassion, meditating, praying, slowing down to be in silence, journaling, exercise, yoga, or simply getting outside in nature.

Creating awareness for behaviors that nurture the evolution of healing and empowerment. Authentic self expression that enables acceptance for vulnerability. Having accountability for the intentions being lived into. Allowing trust to encompass being within the experience.

Being With The Unease In Grace

The discomfort is setting in. I am feeling helpless. I am not seeing choices. I am feeling the stress of this experience. I notice my breathing speeding up. My awareness offers a choice that I now see. I place my focus on my breath. I take a moment to slow it down. Giving my attention to deep inhales and exhales. My awareness is expanding. I notice the tension in my body. With each exhale, I give myself permission to release the tension from my body. In this release I give myself compassion. This is a moment of struggle. May I give myself love and understanding right now. I will let this be ok, I will be ok.

As I surrender to this moment I feel a sense of peace. I am at peace. Possibility enters my vision. Gently, I ask myself what I need right now.

Subtly, I realize I am now with the unease in a greater capacity.

Awareness awakens the possibility to surrender in the moment. The invitation to kindly ask “what is available to give to self.”

*Information referenced from National Library of Medicine, (article) The Unease Modulation Model: An Experiential Model of Stress With Implications for Health, Stress Management, and Public Policy, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567485/

Create Time To Envision

Posted on September 1, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

So many daily tasks and obligations occupy our lives. All the “doing” takes away the opportunity to envision and to consciously dream.

3 Important Reasons to Create Time to Envision

One of the most important reasons why someone must create time to envision in their life is because it helps to clarify the alignment of various paths moving forward.

When alignment is clear there is an opportunity to listen. The voice of the inner soul is speaking and wants to be heard. The words can be inspiring. They can provoke action. Formulating an understanding of what wants to happen.

Listening to the voice of the inner soul ignites a release of creativity. An access to the brilliant parts of self. The ability to construct and conceptualize a vision of possibility. It is possible because it can be seen as a vision of possibility. It can be sensed in it’s various details of existence. The depth is reliant on how connected to the soul someone decides to be.

A choice is established. Believe in the vision and begin taking initiative towards the imaginatively formed vision. Allow it to incubate, to grow in it’s development. Nurture the seed after it has been planted. Let it follow the light that comes from within.

The Irrelevance of How

What impedes the joy in the process of envisioning, of allowing for conscious dreaming is the attachment to how. The need to know. To have each step articulately planned out. The meaning derived if each detail is not clear. Then comes the doubts. It can’t be done. It will never work. Then deeper seeded questions of worthiness. “Who am I to bring this vision into reality?”

“What if I am not capable?”

“It most likely would be a failure.”

“Why should I continue to take any further thought or action towards this?”

There is a fine balance between living in this moment and cultivating a vision of what is possible.

Value In The Process

There is a valuable aspect in the process of interpreting the pieces of the vision. In every piece of the puzzle that wants to be constructed is the emergence of your potential. The journey of who you will become in the quest to realize the wonder behind where the vision is taking you.

There is room for adaptation and revision along the way. It is like a continual story that wants to be told. When an openness to curiosity can be maintained, more possibility can be accessible.

You get to anchor into the importance of the vision.

Why does it feel so important?

What makes each step vital in the gradual transformation of envisioned thoughts?

In a greater sense, it gives hope. An infinite world of imagining.

A few thought provoking words to consider as you dare to dream, and create time to envision;

Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality. – Earl Nightingale

What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create. – Buddha

You create your thoughts, your thoughts create your intentions and your intentions create your reality. – Wayne Dyer

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. – Napoleon Hill

What might you do to make envisioning an enriching process in your life? There is no need to attach to any results. It is a journey filled with aliveness. The wonder of what is, and what could be.

What you envision is a construct of who you choose to be within the possibility and potential of what you want to live into.

Realizing Your True Potential

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

How Do You Know What Your True Potential Is?

As life unfolds, each experience presents the opportunity to realize our true potential.
Our true potential could manifest from many forms of action. It can be a choice, an intention, a commitment, an inspiration, a vision, a responsibility.

What if it was as simple as acknowledging who you would like to be in a moment, believing in your capability, having conviction in what is possible?

If you think about these 3 statements, what arises within you?

The true potential understands the acceptance in those statements.
The focus of true potential is not concerned with worry or doubt in the moment.
The present moment IS the objective, to thrive in the fullest expression of yourself. Contained within that fullness of expression is immense gratitude.

When Will Be The Moment Of Realizing Your True Potential?

A noticeable shift will occur. The shift is an inner energy that accompanies a chosen state of being. It is a higher state of consciousness. An attuned frequency that connects to your soul. A decision to accept capability to embrace the true potential within you. The focus of concern for a result, a failure or attachment to other external influences fades into the background as the courageous authentic form of yourself leads with powerful intention and integrity.

When were the moments in your life where you accessed your true potential?

Take a moment to reflect what occurred within yourself during those moments.

What shifted in your thoughts?

What shifted in your energy?

What shifted in your perspective or focus?

What shifted in beliefs?

What shifted in your physiology?

What was your new self concept of yourself?

There are 4 experiences that come to my mind when I think of some defining moments in my life where I made the decision to access my true potential;

The Birth of our first child
Performing new job role in my work career
Enrolling in a health coaching course
Participating in a transformational leadership course

The Choice to Embrace Everything That Already Exists Within

To add some context, these four experiences were lived in five years or more apart from each other. They layered learning and growth that I had navigated in my life to that point.

The first experience was the birth of our first child. Leading to that moment was excitement, anticipation, excellence, quest for knowledge, preparation. These areas of focus minimized the worry and doubt. I had already committed to being the best father I could be. My only worries or doubts came in the form of not being able to live up to those expectations I was committing to.The true potential I was able to access was being able to adapt to situations and become resourceful quickly. Embracing an embodiment of self compassion and loving care. Accepting a responsibility to something/someone that served a purpose greater than myself. I was able to do many things I had never done before or thought I could do with such confidence. The moment my child was presented to me, I held him with amazement and wonder. How could I be holding such a gift of life in my arms? It was a precious, sacred moment that filled me with pure joy and gratitude. My true potential emerged to be my commitment through my intentions each day. To be a supportive husband and loving partnership in the learning and growth in those new moments.

The second experience was performing a new role in my work career. Feeling stagnant at my work, I decided to try something new. It meant getting outside my comfort zone. It meant there was a potential for making mistakes. The opportunity was presented to develop my communication skills, conceptualize processes, adapt to learning, and share ideas to support the performance of others to implement their new learning. It meant being committed to being an important part of establishing a team effort to maximize the development of effective results.

The third experience was enrolling in a health coaching program because I came to the realization it was my calling. It required me to look within myself and be present with my insecurities. To put the higher purpose of supporting someone before my own egoic agenda. I learned how to ask powerful questions, understand what contributes to a strong mindset and healthy functioning in life. Helping someone to implement many habits that are life changing. It was something I could help someone make transformational changes in their life. All because I was able to hold a space of compassion, support, accountability, encouragement and possibility. They were powerful intentions that I embraced within myself.

The fourth experience was participating in a transformational leadership course. Over a 3 month period I created a strong bond with other program participants. We practiced living into our intentions, supporting each other, being a stand for each other, holding each other accountable, connecting with each other, loving each other and holding each other at our highest selves. It was a challenging experience which brought out many patterns that created obstacles for ourselves, limiting beliefs, and pain that required presence and healing. There were lessons in every part of the experience. I released parts of me that I knew were inside but not able to come out and lead. I was introduced to what it feels like to live in higher self. To let go and surrender to what is. To accept myself for who I am so I could be the person I chose through my commitment and intentions.

What these experiences taught me was that a direct connection between possibility and potential exists. Believing in both and trusting that a higher dimension of oneself is awaiting acknowledgement. What got in the way of realizing my true potential was my ego, daily habits that were not supporting my higher self, my continual patterns of disfunction and the required healing to let go of the attachment to inner suffering. It prevented me from being the full expression of my authentic self and to embrace the wholehearted person that I am meant to be in life.

What have the pivotal moments in your life taught you about what holds you back from realizing your true potential?

A choice exists to view true potential as a future possibility that allows the belief to also be a present reality.

A Choice For Being In The Struggle

Posted on June 22, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

Is there a choice for being in the struggle?

It would seem simple to say, “I can choose not be in the struggle” when you are so far in it.

It is all encompassing in the moments of suffering. It can feel like there is no way out. A continuous cycle that keeps pulling you in.

It becomes part of you. Add the compiled emotions that layer the perspectives within the experience. It evolves into a momentous journey of coping through resistance.

Focusing on the struggle and devoting all energy to it’s resistance. You become part it, and it becomes part of you.

You begin to identify as the struggle. It is not separate from you. You are the struggle.

It becomes consuming. Depleting available energy and resources.

Everyone faces struggle at some point. I wonder, how long does it have to last?

The unconscious awareness of choice

There is a common acceptance of living in victimhood from reinforced thoughts of believing in a diminished self worth. Anger and blame are the easiest and most obvious forms of asserting a sense of control for the situation.

The unconscious choice that is always available that isn’t commonly realized is the acknowledgement of responsibility.

When the deeper sources of personal accountability are acknowledged, a shift begins to occur in other perspectives that someone recognizes. The thoughts follow and the expansion of possibility and opportunity enter the lens of one’s reality.

The ego eases it’s grip from wanting to be in complete control to do what it does best, to help someone establish safety in their survival mode of operation.

Compassion is allowed to assist with the formulation of new interpretations of the experience. An invitation to be part of an aligned solution to move forward.

What is the investment into the struggle?

An awakening happens with the realization of how much time and energy is being invested in the struggle.

What starts off as a seed of trust, blossoms into an emergence of emotional fortitude inside yourself. A reborn faith in optimism.

“The world is not against me. I only perceived it that way.” A deeper question of clarity forms, “If I am supported, what is possible now? What am I capable of now?”

Changing of the seasons

The aliveness returns. It was a journey. A process filled with learning.

“What did I learn in that journey?”

“How would I approach another struggle differently in the future?”

The season of change is inside me. My perception was formed in my thoughts. I didn’t see my choices available to me at the time.

I may encounter a struggle again, but I now know it can change like the seasons. With the change of seasons, I can adapt. I will survive. I get to make choices that nourish me, that lift my spirits.

I am not my struggle. I am not the suffering.

I can acknowledge and honor the thoughts of my struggle, but my intention is _________.

I AM ______.

A life struggle is a perception that invites a choice to redefine who I choose to be in the thoughts it creates.

The Tipping Point For Transformation

Posted on May 27, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

When does the tipping point for transformation happen?

It is always how it has been for me, why do things need to change now?

The tipping point for transformation might feel like it happens when things reach a point where an internal movement is felt and contains confusion, igniting an inner revolt to transform into a new vision of possibility. While the pull to change is strong, the need to transform presents an invitation that is impossible to decline.

A question is proposed, “Is it the need to change or the need to transform?”

While change is focused on shifting the dynamics of the external environment, transformation transcends deeper into the inner world of who we are. (or who we think we are)

The confusion could arise from the attachment to remain in an established routine in a lived reality, yet knowing there is a yearning of something different in contrast to that reality.

There is a legitimate fear of breaking free from the patterns and experiences that have created that reality.

Within that fear of breaking free are the intricate questions we ask ourselves; Am i capable? Can I trust myself? Am I enough as a person to make the necessary changes to create a new reality both internally and externally.

Doubts manifest because of the uncertainty of venturing into the unknown. What would it be like navigating, operating in a vastly different realm than what has been established?

The human makeup is extraordinary. We have the ability to adapt to any situation. It is part of our survival instinct.

There could be situations or durations of experienced hardships that become a way of living, even though they don’t have to be.

It is familiar and known regardless of the detriment it might be causing to remain in that state of being.

When You Feel The Compulsion To Shift

New questions begin to form. The focus moves to a process that sheds the layers of who we thought we were.

The struggle is no longer viewed as the form of a separate self.

The beautiful part in the process is the formulation of consciousness that accesses self knowing through the evolution of limitless possibility residing in our soul.

As part of the expansion of self, new beliefs are formed to replace the learned one’s that no longer serve their purpose today.

We get to acknowledge they did serve a purpose at one point in time. The old self wants to maintain the known ways of functioning and seeing the world in a familiar perception in order to feel safe.

Navigating the new reality

The new self wants to create a new reality aligned with possibilities and serves the values which guide the direction of life choices.

“Who do I choose to be” is the guiding beacon which illuminates the path forward through the unknown. Having courage to face the fears which prevent moving forward.

The process of transformation accelerates when resistance is released. There must be a willingness to surrender in it’s unfolding. Realizing that what is happening is for me and not to me.

The struggle is reduced when the choice is made to take accountability for being in the experiences in their entirety.

Fears will arise throughout the process. That’s ok.

We want to feel safe.

We want to feel like we are on solid ground.

We want to rationalize everything that is occurring in the moment.

We want to trust the journey is worth the imposing challenges.

A profound awakening defines the need to transform.

A realization is formed;

The need to transform outweighs the fear of what might be lost in the process of inner revolution.

……the process of transformation begins…….

Negative Self Talk Dilemma

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

The Inner Voice Guidance

There is an inner voice we all have that is communicating. If you think it is muted, you might be unconsciously aware of what is being communicated internally.

The challenge is cultivating the awareness to hear when the inner voice is speaking. Move through the conflict of the negative self talk dilemma. Many people think if they choose to listen they might have to do or be what the voice is communicating. Taking what is being said as “truth.”

I have found that by choosing not to acknowledge the voice, it continues to get intensified, trying to get my attention.

The inner voice can either be mentally building us up or tearing us down.

It can be the difference between choosing resilience to be in a state we want or give up on the vision of what is possible. The term “giving up” can mean many things.

What Giving Up Could Mean

allow a moment of challenge to define disempowerment
admit defeat or failure without a take-away
obstruct the flow of creative genius
forfeit self worth
ignore the choice of perspectives and possibilities
reject personal capability
denial of faith or hope
concede that there is no other way

There could be many more meanings that could be formed from one’s personal life definitions of “giving up.”

What remains to be true is the negative self talk aspects that limit the beliefs surrounding the idea or vision of “what is possible.”

What Does Negative Self Talk Really Mean

The goal of negative self talk is safety. The positive intention behind this type of communication is to avoid or prepare for the painful feelings derived from the mentally draining thoughts that create them. The perception that it won’t be as much of a shock if it happens because it was expected.

Learning to Shift the Negative Self Talk

The negative self talk can be appreciated when the intention is known. It’s meaning can be open to change. It does not have to mean it is the truth. When that aspect of “untruth” is acknowledged, a new insertion of meaning can be explored.

The self talk can be transformed into a new realm of positivity and empowered thoughts.

The transformation is possible because of choice. Choosing an intention for thought and becoming aligned in those thoughts.

Some chosen intentions to become aligned in thought could be; compassion, gratitude, trust, love, courage, curiosity, etc.

Whatever the chosen intentions are, they reflect the need to act on one’s potential, performance, possibility and purpose.

Courage over-rides the fears;

The fears of failing

The fears of doubting.

The fears of perfection.

The new self talk phrases align with the core messages;

“I can do this”

“this is possible”

“Taking action now is more important than worrying about the outcome”

Shifting those moments of negative self talk requires practice and awareness. Understanding when the triggering patterns become active.

Stopping and slowing down.

Breathing.

Realigning to a chosen intention.

Refocusing on aligned inner communication.

A connectedness of communication that transforms the inner being of who you think you are, expanding what is possible through the wider scope of potential.

Acknowledgement of a strongly aligned intention reveals the vision to choose expanded transformational language.

The Urgency To Live

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

Clarity About Urgency To Live

The convergence of urgency and comfort invites an opportunity to shift an experience with an altered perception of time.

A perception of time could be swayed by thoughts or feelings on both extremes of the spectrum. One perception is the distorted illusion of unlimited time and the other extreme could be the belief of being stuck in moments or experiences.

When I think of time, from the standpoint from beginning to end in the current life, it does not seem unlimited. I also think of time as being infinite. The belief that time has no end. It seems like a confliction of what time is. It could be subjective if someone believes that physical life may end, and the spiritual journey continues.

To focus on the specific physical presence in life would suggest there is a path to the end.

When the end appears, there can be an assumption that there are many reflective insights that arise for the time lived.

Documented thoughts from others near the end of their life include appreciations, regrets, forgiveness, remorse, love.

Why it takes a lifetime to realize the reflective insights

The false reality many people hold in their mind is commonly mistaking they have unlimited time in their life.

At what points in life do people start thinking about time as a precious gift?

Usually there are disruptions or reminders that interrupt the false reality of unlimited time.

It could be when someone close, like a best friend or family member passes away. A revelation for the physical end of life. A gentle prompt of reality for aging and mortality.

It may or may not persuade one’s perspective of time. It definitely infuses the curiosity to think about it.

Curiosity could then lead someone down a tunnel of despair thinking about everything they “must do now” with a maintained focus on the ending.

It isn’t about the time urgency to do tasks. It is about the time urgency to be the person you envision being in your life.

Am I taking the time to love others and myself?

Am I taking the time to appreciate the moments in life?

Am I taking the time to live with inner peace?

Looking deeper into these individual questions, the answers reside in the question, “what does this mean to me?”

What living with urgency really means

I believe it is a simple philosophy.
To live with integrity. To live in your values. To love deeply. To care for yourself. To care for others.

There can be many temptations that get in the way of someone not following this philosophy. In most cases, following the ego leads us astray.

Attachment to the thoughts of anger, disappointment, failure are some of the major attention grabbers for the ego. Depending how intense the attachment is will determine how long the ego will be followed on the journey. Gradually taking someone further and further away from the simple philosophies they want to live by. The perception becomes; they no longer seem simple.

Days, months and years pass. Not realizing the habits and perceptions have denied the proper love and caring that was always wanted.

This includes escaping, avoiding and running away from challenges that life is presenting. Respect must be given for the current state someone is functioning. However, that does not preclude the potential and possibility of shifting that state. Regaining focus and realigning commitment to the things that are most important. Those “things” of importance are what become urgent to care for.

There is a responsibility to act with urgency. Being accountable not only to oneself, but to others that encompass the ripple effect in life’s sphere of connection.

Redemption of integrity is tightly woven into the values of love and caring. It requires being prompt in those aligned actions.

Bring Awareness In The Body

Posted on February 29, 2024 by Kristin Larsen

Bring awareness back in your body to stay focused in life

To stay focused requires minimal distraction in the mind. It is interesting how chaos could ensue around someone, yet they are able to maintain focus.

I wonder why that is?

A typical day in life for example, getting lost in all the intricacies of tasks, obligations, responsibilities.

How can someone stay focused with so much going on?

Being in tune with our senses of what is occurring in our body can help to maintain focus on the joy of who we are, what is happening in our perceptual world.

It is a form of appreciative acknowledgement. Accepting what is happening without resistance.

The awareness in our body connects us back to ourselves.

It is a grounding into the current moment.

Tune into the moment without the chaos diverting our attention somewhere other than what is happening right now.

The mind connects back with the body.

You take the time to feel your feet on the ground. You allow yourself to be open to observation as time was taken to notice.

To feel the sensations, the energy in your body.

Where are they being held, stored, restricted?

Taking small steps to incorporate awareness in your body throughout the day will provide advantages of focus in life.

You may notice yourself stepping out of fear based thinking, listening with greater intention, less frustration, overall appreciative awareness for right now.

3 Ways To Create Awareness In The Body

Body Scan
Movement
Intentional Reflection/Expression

The body scan is a technique used to intentionally bring attention to individual parts of the body without judging them.

Movement when done mindfully helps to connect yourself back to your body to truly feel the various areas of the body in greater appreciation.

Intentional reflection offers a form of expression that creates a conscious awareness of the things that benefit the body in it’s functioning and movement while also identifying what obstructs it’s effectiveness.

Connecting back to the body is a choice that aids in the life healing process. It allows feelings and thoughts to surface that would otherwise be suppressed.

As the practice becomes stronger, so does the efficiency of how quickly someone can tune into their body.

After experimenting with the sensations in the body, bring them into awareness and feel a powerful experience of focused presence within you.

Connection to the body is a conscious awareness to the residing messages below the superficial functioning in life.

Ideas That Ignite Curiosity To Love With Courage!