2018 Intention: Get Uncomfortable 

  Ramona Crabtree

December 16, 2017 

Each year, as I contemplate the coming year, I begin by reflecting on what the current year has provided me. I find that after this review, I’m eager to begin to imagine the coming year. The act of reflection is truly one of great inspiration because I can see how much I manifested from the intentions I set for that year.

Every year, no matter what, I put to paper my intentions manifested in their own perfect way. Even if my ego’s version of the intentions did not come together, I see my soul’s version did! This is such a
powerful and exciting awareness to have for me. I have struggles with timing, and allowing, and, well, a lot of other ideas in relation to my path, but when I enter this time of year I always see the truth of it all.

This year, as I gaze into 2018, I see so many beautiful things coming together. I have to truly allow these explorations to just open themselves up to me without holding on for dear life. This makes me giggle because that’s exactly what it feels like when I hold on to the outcome of something. It feels like if this doesn’t happen I’m going to fail, but really am I? No, of course not. I am going succeed, and it will be in order, and I don’t need to know what that order looks like.

The “I am” is so powerful and it is what helps me remain in the flow of all I know to be true. It makes me uncomfortable to say the “I am” because it’s scary to step into your dreams, but stepping in is exactly what I will do. No fear will stand in the way!

This year my intention is “Get Uncomfortable”. This means stepping into fears, saying what I want, and going for it all. Do this all while trusting the process and allowing it to come in perfect time. So today, I step into the the discomfort with excitement and visions of dreams coming true.

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” ~ Paulo Coehlo

Live Authentically,
Ramona 

Ramona Crabtree, E-RYT, Reiki Master, Authentic Life Journey Coach. Ramona intends to offer space for others to grow and expand their dreams and beyond.

Tools for Manifesting

By April Eckwielen

We all have things to use in daily life that help us with certain tasks. These are the things in our toolbox that we can come back to time and again to help in certain situations. When it comes to manifesting our desires to the universe, we can have a set of tools to guide us down our path to make things happen.

Below is a list of tools that can be used to help in your manifesting process and links to resources on different things you can do to help in this process.


Useful manifesting tools include:

• Vision boards
• Oracle cards
• Meditation exercises
• Intention setting ceremony
• Vibrational healing
• Journaling
• Working with a Life Coach

Helpful resources:

Oracle card use:http://www.healyourlife.com/how-to-use-oracle-cards-in-6-easy-steps

Manifesting Meditation:https://gabbybernstein.com/a-meditation-for-manifesting/

Journaling:http://www.restoreemotionalbalance.com/gratitude-journal.html

These are just a few tools and resources that you can use to help with the manifesting process. Use what speaks to you and be patient with the process.

Make it Happen

By April Eckwielen

We always have energy around us. Our thoughts and actions send messages constantly out into the universe. I am sure you have heard the saying “What you put out is what you will get back.” You may not agree, but when it comes to manifesting, the act of putting things out into the universe, this saying is 100% true.

The vibes that we put out are the ones we will return to us. If the energy is constantly negative, we will continue to be surrounded by that negativity. By understanding what we truly desire and being able put that energy out into the universe to be truly happy can be a learning curve for some. We manifest things all the time, but may need to do a little fine tuning to actually see results.

To manifest, we need to hold space. Take some time to settle with your thoughts. Clear out your old limiting beliefs and come to a new way of thinking. Let go of all the old baggage that was holding you back and focus on what will truly make you happy. Start small and work from there. There is no need to create a list a mile long of everything you want. Let your mind be still so you can really listen to what you are being guided to. Once you have that focus, you can then spend your time on your action plan of letting your manifestation come to light. Patience is key here. Don’t get discouraged because the desire you wanted didn’t happen overnight. These things take time and sometimes reveal themselves to us bit by bit, showing us the end result much later down the road. Don’t be afraid to change things up. You may need to adjust what you are manifesting and that is ok. You need to feel good about the things you are manifesting so what comes back to you is what you truly want.

Manifesting can be challenging, especially if you are coming from a space of fear or negativity. Take a deep breath and come from the heart. Take a step back when you need to and reevaluate. Stay committed to the process and know that you control your destiny. Put the vibe out there and magical things will happen.

Take Care of You

ByApril Eckwielen


In this month of hearts and love, we need to remember to take some time for ourselves. Self-care is not being selfish. How can we be fully present for others if we do not take time to love and nurture our own well being?

Daily life can be hectic, and we can often forget to do the little things for ourselves that make us happy and renew our spirit. We feel guilty if we take “me time,” and feel like we shouldn’t focus on ourselves but make sure everyone else around us is taken care of and happy. That mindset needs to change, and can be done in simple ways.

• Schedule time for yourself. Make it an appointment in your calendar, just as you would with a work meeting or doctor appointment. Just as you would have the consequence of upsetting your boss if you didn’t show up for a meeting, or get charged a cancellation fee for a missed appointment with your doctor, make sure that you keep these appointments with yourself sacred and do not change them just because.
• Experience something that makes you happy everyday. This can be treating yourself to your favorite meal, taking a walk in your neighborhood, wearing a special outfit, playing your favorite music on your commute, reading a chapter of your book or even taking five minutes to close your eyes and just be.
• Set boundaries. Turn your phone on silent, let others know that you are taking this time for yourself which will also benefit them as well. 
• It’s ok to say no. Many of us have a hard time with this. We feel guilty if we do not say yes, and this can have an impact on our self-care. We don’t need to say yes all of the time. If others get upset with your decision, then they may not be the right kind of people to include in your tribe. Your time is part of your self-care and you do not want to give it away out of guilt.

Taking the time to show yourself a little love by honoring your self-care rituals can have an amazing affect on your life. Once you start taking the time for yourself, you will see how much more relaxed you become, and how you are, in turn, more available for others. Life is all about balance, and we need to remember to add ourselves into that equation.

My Relationship with Myself

By April Eckwielen

Our lives are full of relationships. Whether it be with family, lovers, friends, coworkers and everyone or thing in between, we create relationships that either lift us up or tear us down. We put effort into these relationships, praising the ones that make us grow and getting rid of the ones that are toxic. However, there is one relationship that some have a constant struggle with: our relationship with our self.

I am sure I am not the only one who has a version of the “I love me/I hate me” days. There are days where you feel on top of the world. You are happy and love life and those around you. Then there are days where nothing goes right, you feel and think you look horrible and you just want to curl up in a ball and hide. It is a constant love/hate relationship with yourself. I’ve been there, done that and have several of the t-shirts to prove it.

I have my days where I beat myself up, and have so much negative chatter going on inside my head I can’t even think straight. Nothing seems to work and I continue to self sabotage. My yoga practice, meditation practice and external relationship suffer when I let my ego get the best of me and let it fill my head with negativity. I know that it is not beneficial for me to have this type of relationship with myself. Would I allow a friend, spouse or family member to talk to me the way I talk to myself? Would I allow them to stay in my life when I know that they are doing nothing for my greater good? The answer is a simple. No, I wouldn’t. I would and I have cut ties with people that have treated me wrong, and who have tried to let their negativity spread into my life. Of course it was difficult to let go of those relationships, but I did it without looking back, and I have never regretted it. So why do I and so many others have a hard time breaking up with our negative relationship with ourselves? That answer is because we cannot get out of our own heads and put a permanent mute button over the ego that controls those thoughts.

We spend so much time cultivating other relationships we think are important but forgot the most important one of all, the relationship we have with ourselves. Self-love and acceptance is a struggle and depending on what things you are struggling with, it can feel like a never ending battle.

We need to learn (myself included) to love ourselves just as much as we love others. We need to let go of the things we tell ourselves that are not for our greater good.

We need to break up with our negative self, and cultivate a loving and nurturing relationship with our true and awesome self. I am not saying that this will be easy. I am not saying that you will not have times that ego will rear its ugly head and try to get you back into that downward spiral of negativity. I will say that once you break up with that negative self and move on, you will notice just how wonderful and at peace you will become. Starting now, take baby steps. Set an intention each day to love yourself. Write down your intention in a journal or calendar. If you start to hear those negative thoughts, remember your intention for the day and let it remove those negative thoughts from your mind. Carry or wear a rose quartz to remind you to love yourself. Try to fill your day with things that nurture you and make you happy. These little things can help you become more aware of how truly wonderful and worthy you are to love yourself.

Breaking up is hard to do. Sit, meditate, journal or pray over how you want to break up with your negative self. Then, with intention, let the relationship go. Be kind and patient with yourself and watch how you blossom.

Go For It

By April Eckwielen

I come across quotes and thought provoking memes on a daily basis. Today, I had two pop up, one right after the other, and they got me thinking. The quote was “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” ~ Helen Keller, The Open Door.

The meme was this:

Both of these things got me thinking. I want to do so much but I always say it will never happen, I don't have the money, I have no clue how to plan it, etc, etc. Excuses. I make excuses, and then have a pity party while I see others going out there and having a blast.

Thanks to these messages from my feed and, yes, I believe placed there one after the other by the Universe to grab my attention, I made a choice. I pulled out a notebook I purchased months ago that has “ Make it Happen” emblazoned on its cover, and started my travel journal. This would be my place to set my intentions for exploration and keep a record of the planning and outcomes. My dreams of places to visit and experiences to have will go here. It will be my portable vision board in book form, my travel intentions.

The Universe has a funny way of showing us what we need at the moment we are searching. Before I saw the quote and meme I had just said aloud that I was not going to sit around the house today doing nothing. The Universe gave me that smack on my head telling me to get out there and go for it.

Let's see where these travel intentions take me. Thank you, Universe, for the push.

Happy adventuring!

Hello, 2016!

By April Eckwielen

It's January 1st. The day everyone likes to use as a starting point, or should I say, a start-over point. Resolutions will be made and will be short-lived for most. The newness of the year will slowly fade and we will be back into our old habits and routines. We try, but we can never seem to make things stick. How can this cycle be changed? Simple, don't make resolutions, set your intentions instead.

Intentions are different than resolutions. Resolutions are choices to do or not do something, to solve something. Intentions are more personal. They are more of an ongoing path that allow you to live the life you want. Intentions allow you to be present and grow. Through your focus, meditation and being present you can allow your intentions to flow into your daily life. This allows you to be your true authentic self.

To set your intentions, find out what matters most to you at this moment. Keep it positive and simple. There is no need to get overly involved. You also want to make sure that your intention can evolve. Let it continue to grow into your life. Try to do something on a daily basis to make your intention a part of your life, not just something you think about here and there.

Intention setting is a great way to show up in life and allow your true self to shine. Let each day bring you guidance and peace, knowing that you are living in the present moment, allowing your intentions to flow.