Higher Vibrations

The spiritual masters and yogis out there will probably know exactly what I’m talking about from the title. For other readers, this may seem like a fancy, hippie-ish way to classify a topic that each of us encounters in our daily lives. Now, I am a very logical, factual-thinking type of person, but this concept, that was recently introduced to me in a book, fully resonated with me. It’s not the Denver culture rubbing off on me, but living in a new city for the last six months has helped open my eyes to different ways of thinking and living. This concept may or may not work for you, but I found it as an interesting way to view a topic that can help you take control of your life.

First off is the understanding that the world is made up of energy, and all energy vibrates at a certain frequency. The concept of “thought vibration” is determining whether the way you think is empowering or disempowering. “Essentially, thoughts that vibrate at a higher level are likely to be strong, positive and healthy thoughts, whereas thoughts that vibrate at a low level are liable to be negative, harmful and disempowering.”

The law of attraction then comes into play, meaning “like attracts like,” and that focusing on positive or negative thoughts can bring about positive or negative results. The argument is that what you think about most is what you manifest in your life.

change your thoughts

I’ve had some unfortunate things happen in my life lately, especially over the past month. It’s been a great example of the saying “when it rains, it pours,” and I’ve found it difficult to stay positive or to see happiness in my surroundings. This method is about turning your mindset around and believing, even when things are at their crappiest, that there is a bright shiny flipside within your reach. But, belief must be coupled with action, and this concept would suggest that I have to raise my frequency to match the vibration of the one I want to tune into.

We’ve all been around people who we would describe as giving off “good vibrations” (cue Marky Mark), and feeling drawn to them. In turn, we’ve also experienced the people who “give off bad vibes.” So, this concept isn’t as far from our regular lives as it may initially sound.

Raising your thoughts to a higher level of frequency is not an overnight change. Gradual improvement will lead to the point where higher vibrations become your natural state. Some actions to achieve this include becoming conscious of your thoughts and only letting the positive ones affect you, acknowledging and dismissing the negative. Good energy can also come from hanging out with people who vibrate highly, practicing random acts of kindness (who doesn’t feel better after that?), and being grateful.

While this might already sound like how you try to live your life today, everyone falls off track and into low frequency thought patterns – depression, sadness, anger – at times. This is another example of how much power your mind has over your life, and how you can change it, and therefore, change the world around you.

vibrate higher

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Be Happy Today

The internet is full of inspirational quotes and sayings about how to live your life – what to do, what not to do, how to be happy – the list goes on and on. I personally can’t get through one time-sucking, Pinterest-browsing session without reading a quote that speaks to me and my life. Like many of you I’m sure, I reflect on that quote for several seconds, and then it is filed away in my “Quotes” board, unnoticed by me for another six months. The days get busy and we fall into old habits and our usual flaws. When I do go back and read through these simple sayings, it’s the best reminder and opportunity to re-focus parts of my life.

Recently I found a quote that suggests a very simple idea, but is something that I believe everyone can relate to.

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Why I tried meditation, and you should too.

meditation 2As I lay in bed one night, my mind raced so quickly from one thing to the next that I couldn’t even finish a complete thought. There was so much to be done the next day, the next week, before the deadline, that I felt completely consumed and aware. Every minute that was passing by was one minute closer to my alarm sounding and inducing immediate anxiety. My mind was in a whirl, and I thought of the words of my yoga teacher. She insisted that breathing was the most vital part of the practice and to keep a constant awareness of it. After three deep inhales and exhales, I felt my entire body relax, without realizing that my legs, toes, and back had been tensed this entire time I was laying in bed. Perhaps this allowed my exhaustion to take over, because next thing I knew, I was waking up to my alarm the following morning.

Was it meditation? Sure, at least for a beginner. I realized that “meditation” was not just for the zen’ed-out hippie with loads of free time to sit and reflect. As I started to look further into meditation and the methods for beginners, I realized why we seem to hear more about it day to day. There are overwhelming amounts of research proving the multiple benefits that come from meditation, including both psychological and physical results. Meditation is perhaps the simplest way to quickly improve your overall well-being. And who doesn’t desire quick results nowadays?

I’m not a doctor (surprise!), so I won’t pretend to explain how and why these effects can occur, but you can read more about it in this Forbes article. The benefits most observed by meditators in these studies were lower heart rate and blood pressure, and a decrease in overall stress and anxiety. Improved attention and concentration were also often present, and studies have even used standardized tests to prove that people scored higher after just a couple of weeks of meditation.

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The “V” Word

BalloonsI want to begin with the “V” word, because it encompasses everything that I’m feeling right now, and it’s also a driving force behind my motivation to begin writing. The “V” word is vulnerability, and it has been in the forefront of my mind these past few weeks, thanks to a thought-provoking book written by Brené Brown called “Daring Greatly.” In the book, Brown teaches that “Vulnerability is the core of all emotions and feelings. To feel is to be vulnerable.” It’s something we can all relate to, as it’s impossible to avoid in life. Much to the dismay of the escape artist in my head, I am making a personal attempt to view this cringe-inducing word as a positive, and to dive in headfirst.

In the world that I see, vulnerability is typically associated with thoughts of negative emotions, such as fear, rejection, and disappointment. But when looking at it from a glass-half-full of wine perspective, it’s undeniable that vulnerability is also engrained in the emotions we most seek in life. To again quote Brown, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy and creativity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”

Now how does this all relate to me? I have long brushed off the recurring desire to begin writing, hugely due to the vulnerability tied to publishing my thoughts on the internet (because once it’s out there, it never truly goes away, right?). Another drawback was thinking about how absurd it would be for anyone to care about what I had to say on this little webpage. I’m still battling the fear of being judged and criticized by anyone reading these words, including acquaintances and peers, moreso than just strangers. However, I’ve decided I need to let loose the reigns and get outside my comfort zone in order to feel MORE and explore MORE. With the encouragement of a loving girlfriend and the need for a creative outlet, I decided to start this blog.

This is part of a greater self-improvement journey that I’ve prescribed to myself for 2015, which will have a continual presence throughout these posts. I promise to provide much more exciting content than the personal feelings I’ve shared here today. However, in my goal to be open and honest in my words, this felt like the best way to begin. As I unravel more of the topics I plan to discuss, I will continue learning and sharing, while keeping the words of a wise Dr. Seuss in my head:

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”