Day 30: Step into the Flow ... 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

God's timing is always impeccable. Graham Cooke says that God is never late, but He misses plenty of times to be early. Ha!  Isn't that the truth!

That little phrase keeps me putting one step in front of the other. God's suddenlies are always indicators that He's always been working behind the scenes, so when the signs of His movement are obscured for me, I have an opportunity: to thrash about like an inconsolable child or to remember the goodness of the Lord expressed to me in the past as a promise that He's working  now and into my future.

Today as I drove away from an appointment, the coming cold front created the most brilliant sunset I've seen in a few months. Absolutely stunning.

As this 30-Day Miracle Challenge comes to the end of the first chapter, I am immensely grateful for the life I have: my husband, my children, my parents, my sisters and their families, my extended family. I am blessed with friends who get me, a family that supports me, and a tribe that expands across the globe.

I've said it before…this journey into the Aroma Freedom Technique has expanded my borders in ways I never could have predicted, enlarged my heart with friendships and connections I didn't see coming, given me a tool that feels just right in my hand, and opened up a path to opportunities that only God could have orchestrated.

I am full of gratitude. I get to live this life. It's all a gift. Every part…the excruciatingly hard and dark times, the incredibly joyous occasions, and everything in between have all deposited gifts of incredible worth and value into my life.

Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash

At the Every Heart Retreat last month, my friend Nikki turned to me and said, "You're like liquid that pours into the cracks and makes them whole." I teared up because it matched a vision God had given me years before of these huge cracks in my life representing brokenness.  As I looked at these gashes, He took this liquid gold and poured it on my life until they were filled and sealed. He then said, "When I restore, it's always an upgrade." I got the gold because of the hard things. And now because of the hard things, I get to pour out that gold into the lives of others and watch it multiply, one of the greatest honors and privileges I could ever envision.

So tonight, as I drop some oil into my palms, rub them together and bring them up to my nose for a deep inhalation before raising my arms above my head, I will meditate on the goodness of God in my life while declaring my affirmation statement:

"I radiate joy and excitement as I effortlessly and seamlessly move to my goal of receiving $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017 for my Young Living and AFT expertise. I am a burning bush. Signs and wonders follow me as God pours out His love on me."

Are you interested in becoming certified in the Aroma Freedom Technique? You have two opportunities to join me in January 2018.  Register here to join me on Thursday January 11th and Friday January 12th, in central DFW (Arlington, TX) for an amazing 2-Day intensive AFT certification training. Or come to Rockford, IL on Friday January 19th and Saturday January 20th for another incredible 2-Day intensive AFT certification training. Register here for Rockford. If you're interested in having me come teach an Aroma Freedom Technique Certification class in your area, ask me how you can get 40% off your tuition cost!  To check out all of the class listings visit the Aroma Freedom Academy. 

And as always, I'd love to help you in a private AFT session. I have a few appointments left for 2018, so go here to schedule yours today.  Use coupon code CHRISTMAS for 20% off your session. Expires December 9, 2018.

Photo by Michał Grosicki on Unsplash

Day 27: Christmas tree stress .... 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

I sit here, appreciating the glow of twinkly lights on our recently adorned Christmas tree while my husband serenades me with live Christmas piano music behind me (he's actually practicing for a gig tomorrow night but serenade fits the ambiance much better, lol).

Tonight I am reminded of how stressful Christmas decorating used to be for me. I was bogged down by a form of perfectionism that stole my joy and filled my kids with stress.  Partly I was trying to keep everybody happy. But since that wasn't really my job, I was unhappy and you know the saying: When mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" Sigh.

Enter Sozo, a unique inner healing and deliverance ministry that assists in uncovering things hindering your personal connection with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With a healed connection, you can walk in the destiny to which you have been called, not unlike AFT. I received my first Sozo ministry session in May of 2009. It so impacted my life, about a year later I decided to gather a few friends in my living room to watch the training videos, and before we knew it, we were starting a ministry at our church.

We practiced on each other all of the time, and freedom was happening in so many areas of our lives.  That first Christmas after starting our training, I realized that I no longer was stressed out over decorating for Christmas. I didn't specifically work on that in a session, but the healing that occurred was somehow linked to my perfectionistic tendencies at Christmas.

I was delighted to see the difference I felt, how easy it was for me to let go of perfect and embrace my kids' excitement of the season.

After getting our tree set up this year and the lights and decorations on, I realized that while perfectionism with decorating doesn't drag me down anymore, I'm still stuck on trying to make everyone happy.

I'm actually excited about that revelation because freedom for me tonight is just an AFT/Sozo session away (I love to combine the two techniques for a powerhouse inner healing freedom session). My intention is "I am free from the need to make others happy."

Because I am already in an AFT habit, much of the process has already happened just with the awareness.  That's what I love so much about this work…I move much more quickly through blocks because the momentum to move past blocks and watch them dissolve is really flowing. 

Think of a blocked stream.  At first, the water dams up and begins to form a pool. But once the block begins to get clear, the stream begins to flow and carry away the things that had built up.  The flow of the water now keeps other block from solidifying, and old ones are worn away by the flow of the stream.

Photo by Ezra Jeffrey on Unsplash

Well, that's how I see AFT operating in my life. This river of God is flowing less hindered through my life and when it encounters a block, now I'm aware of the signs and symptoms and I can just acknowledge it and let it go.  It's so liberating!

A Christmas tradition we have is to plan a special event or snack or activity each day of December leading up to Christmas.  We have an advent calendar where I put each day's surprise and my kids take turns opening the doors.  This year, I am behind and haven't gotten all of the advent things set up (we actually have several advent calendar since w/ 6 kids, each one needed a turn to do SOMETHING. Now we only 3 home, it's not as important, although the youngest still enjoys it…so I'll get it set up Sunday.  She will enjoy getting caught up then).

As I was becoming aware of how I'm trying to make everyone else happy and not finding much joy in that myself, I had the idea to put a treat each day in the advent calendar for me.  I'll do the ones for the kids, and with those will include a note to myself for my bit of happy time. It's my creative idea that I would get in the 8th step of the AFT process.

I'm still going to take myself through that intention, but I'm going ahead and taking action on that idea and setting up some fun, nurturing, caring daily advent door surprises for me.  I'm already smiling inside just thinking about it! The will include things like taking a walk down the trail, calling a friend for a spontaneous coffee date, inviting a friend for a hike, sitting in front of the Christmas tree while listening to my husband practice piano, paint, drink of cup of tea, bake some Christmas cookies, read a chapter in my book, do some yoga, watch an episode of my favorite show, play a game…

What other ideas for some short fun activities can you think of? I'd love some new ideas!

Tonight's affirmation is going to be a variation of several that I've done over the course of the 30-Day Miracle challenge:

I am a burning bush and I move joyfully and excitedly towards my goal of receiving $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017 for my YL and AFT expertise, pressed down, shaken together and running over."

I know November 30 has passed, but there's just something about this affirmation that is still resonating with me, so I'm going to keep using it until I get a different impression.

So, comment with your fun ideas for me, and I'll keep you posted on how this Advent goes once I clear out the need to make everyone else happy!

Day 24: The Order of Miracles...30-Day Miracle with AFT

Tuesdays I attend a business networking group. Today I woke early and spent a few moments before heading out the door reading Andrew Murray's book on Prayer. He states,

“The promise ‘Whatsoever you shall ask in my name’ (John 14:13) may not be severed from the command, ‘Whatsoever ye do…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus’ (Col 3:17). If the name of Christ is to be wholly at my disposal, so that I may have the full command of it for all I will, it must be because I first put myself wholly at His disposal, so that He has free and full command of me. It is the abiding in Christ that gives the right and power to use His name with confidence.”

— Andrew Murray

The name of Jesus is illegal to even say out loud is some areas of the world. I wonder why that is…could it be because in those areas of oppression the ones who use His name have learned to wholly abide in Christ and so have full access to His name? Is it that when they utter His name, every knee within hearing distance is compelled to bow (Phil 2:10)? Does ever shroud of darkness fall away and every sickness heal? What is it about the name of Jesus?

Sunday I was reminded again of the power of thanksgiving and the name of Jesus, not in some form to use as a magic phrase or some word to get me what I want when I want it…but to become so in alignment with the Truth that no matter where I go or what I do, I am in complete awareness of who I am in Christ and, more importantly perhaps, who He is in me.

Or maybe they are both of tremendous importance because without recognizing my true identity in Christ, I can't fully see who He is in me which limits how He is expressed through me. So I have to be my most authentic self in order for Christ to be completely seen within me.

Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov on Unsplash

And then…and then…every atmosphere changes when I walk into the room.

Not long ago I was at the Upper Room singing "When you walk into the room" when suddenly I hear Jesus whisper to me, "You know, I sing this song about you." Full stop. I tried to wrap my mind around what He just said. His words resonated to the core of my being, and with full willingness, I said "yes." [Take a listen here]

Yes to abiding, yes to being His hands and feet, yes to being so immersed in His goodness and love and joy and peace that I carry His fragrance mingled with mine into EVERY situation.

Today at my meeting, I was talking with one of the members. She was explaining to me how she feels in a room full of negativity, pulling into herself in order to block out the draining influences.  Suddenly, I could see the truth of abiding in Christ being put into action in her life and mine.  What if, instead of needing to come into a place of self-protection, I walk in awareness of me in Christ and Christ in me and see every atmosphere of every situation shift when I walk in.

In this scenario, there's no fear, no dread, no need to put up walls and defenses because, after all, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and active in me which means I am activated to be the hands and feet of Jesus in any and every situation. Light always pushes back darkness.

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

My AFT buddy Adrianne shared this quote with me, "There is no order of difficulty among miracles." In other words, "Is anything too hard for God?" Does one miraculous impossible act require more of God's power and energy than a seemingly less impossible miracle? A resounding NO! It takes the faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. Every impossibility, then, bows at the name of Jesus. Every miracle is within reach. "Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (I know not every impossibility currently bows when I speak His name, but that would be because there's plenty of room for growth of understanding what abiding in Him looks like and not for any lack on His part.)

Truth is expanding inside of me with every day that passes in this AFT challenge. I am more fully aware today of the greatness and the goodness of God than I was at the beginning and in an exponential way than if I would have kept to my regular rhythm and routine of everyday life.  With six days left in this challenge (and two days left in my original goal statement) I am primed and ready for every miracle that I receive.

What miracle are you waiting for? What beliefs or mindsets might be blocking your path? What truth do you need to come into alignment with to be ready to receive the overflowing blessings of the Lord?

I'm a work in progress, but I'm definitely more aligned with Truth today than I was yesterday. I'm a clearer vessel, a more willing participant, a more believing believer.

Tonight as I stand and declare my affirmation, I am full of faith and confidence in the abundant goodness of the Lord. I am excited and expectant to see it in the land of the living.  Join me in your own big bodacious goal and have fun celebrating the goodness and extravagant gifts of the Lord with me!

"I joyfully and expectantly receive $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017 pressed down, shaken together, and running over."

Listen to this and this and this. Grab some oils, breathe them in, listen to hear what truth God wants to anchor in your heart today.

Day 22: I got my voice back...30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

There are so many things running through my mind right now of the amazing ways God is working and moving in my life, of the signs and wonders that He set up just for me because He loves me that much. I'm so thankful for this 30-Day Miracle challenge because it has helped me become infinitely more aware of God's hand in my life. The Aroma Freedom Technique has a way of doing that.

A couple of days ago I shared about an incident that caused me to lose my peace for a few hours. It was a moment when my mistakes and the mistakes of others loomed larger than God's ability to work it all out.

Tonight I was reminded of a tool I always have with me that can shift my attitude and my atmosphere almost instantly: Thanksgiving. I have been stuck in this mindset that if I can just figure out where things went wrong, I can go back and fix it…except I can't go back…and no amount of looking at the past from every angle can change where we are today.

But as I put into practice gratitude, suddenly I have turned my focus from my problem and my lack to the abundant supply of redemption and restoration that God is in the business of bringing into every single circumstance that concerns me and my family.

It's the tunnel focus that I mentioned back here. Without it, the relentless forward motion becomes a scattered attempt at trying to move forward while looking back at the same time.  It's completely ineffective.

What's interesting is that when I was deciding what goal to set for this 30-Day Miracle, I almost chose one regarding our family relationships. However, I went with the financial goal I felt most impressed to do. In working on that goal, it has inadvertently brought up the emotional and mental blocks in my relationships and in clearing them, I have seen improvements in all of our relationships…even though that has not been the focus of the 30-days.

The Scripture that comes to minds is "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all of these things will be added to you." I've come to realize that "Kingdom" means whatever God is leading me to do even if it doesn't seem that "spiritual." Walking in the will of God isn't a tight rope like I used to believe. Steve Fish of Convergence Church in Fort Worth says the will of God is like a river…the flow of Holy Spirit.

This concept radically reduces my stress and anxiety over making mistakes. In the river of God, I don't control the direction. I just respond to what comes my way. This goal I've been working on came my way and all the rest is being added to me as I'm diligent to pursue the Kingdom.

Tonight I got my voice back in an area I have been silent for so long I thought it was irrevocably gone. I followed what I thought was the flow of the Spirit in what I chose to do tonight which ended up being some important self-care. In that place of self-care, God touched me, healed me, and restored my confidence in His goodness and the power of praise and supplication.

None of this on the surface seems to have anything to do with receiving $100,000, but in the deep places of the Spirit they have everything to do with it. God desires to bring abundance into my life above and beyond all I can ask or think. The pieces are falling into place for this next season and all I can think tonight is how grateful I am to have my voice back, how thankful I am that He drew me in to say "yes" even though I couldn't see how it would all work out. 

I am so grateful for the foundation He faithfully has laid down in my life, precept by precept, line by line, working everything together for my good and for this moment in time.

I told the Lord tonight that I wanted a word from Him that was unmistakably Him. I was thinking it would come from the speaker or some leader, but it came in the most unexpected way. A young friend of mine from my years at Grace Vineyard was at the Upper Room tonight. She saw me and came over to give me a hug and to tell me how she prays for my kids and calls them to Jesus when she sees them (see what God did there???!!!???). As we hugged and parted ways, she turned to me and said, "Welcome home."

Just that.  Welcome home. The most powerful word from the Lord I could have received.

You see, for three years now I have been a spiritual nomad of sorts. After a fairly traumatic shift away from the spiritual community we called home for 25+ years, I've been trying to find where I belong. In the course of the last three years, I've found a sense of belonging in many places I never would have thought to look: in a women's business networking group and in an online place called the Aroma Freedom Academy (the depth and richness of the relationships that have sprung from these two places continues to astound me, not to mention the opportunities to love people and minister freedom…). But I have still hungered for a physical spiritual community to put down roots again.

Perhaps the "welcome home" is referring to Upper Room specifically. However, I think it expands beyond that into a broader, deeper sense of being home in my own body, in my own calling, in my own spirituality.

I am home here with Jesus. Here. Right now. "Welcome home," she said.

Welcome home, indeed.

As I drove back to my family and supper waiting for me, my voice was restored…the voice of confident prayer and praise and supplication…that sees prophetically and speaks accordingly, that doesn't waiver or hold back. This restored voice is deeper, richer, more seasoned and highly honed. It's also a voice I choose to fully embrace…all of it…even the uncomfortable notes and phrases, the tenuous harmonies, the unexplainable utterances that sometimes burst forth from my lips.

I give my voice permission to be imperfectly passionate, to be led by Holy Spirit at all times (I'm so sorry for ever telling you to hold back!), and to take risks in speaking out, in being my authentic self.

Tonight as I stand in front of my mirror, I'm going to breathe in "Magnify Your Purpose" as my anchoring oil as I repeat my newly stated affirmation: "I fully embrace my authentic voice now and receive $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017…pressed down, shaken together, and running over."

Watch out world!

Day 21: Making money in my sleep...30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

It's almost December and the weather here is superbly amazing…sunny skies and short sleeves.

As I slept, I moved closer to my goal - someone purchased AFT session gift certificates. There have been other signs of income moving along through class requests, a new business builder on my YL team, new clients, and lucrative workshop ideas. I don't discount every small movement and am quick to show gratitude.

Before being thrust into the AFT limelight last spring, I heard Cristine Caine speak one Sunday at church, and a line in her sermon has become my anchoring point anytime I'm tempted to think any of this has anything to do with me: Favor is for purpose, not for status or position.

Anytime I'm tempted to begin to fret about income or how to jockey for position, I take a deep breath and remind myself that while AFT is bringing in income, any favor or success that I have has a specific Kingdom purpose. To pursue it in any other way is distraction at best and destructive at worst.

So while I'm grateful for the income, grateful for the steps towards my goal, I know that there is a greater Kingdom purpose at work which is both freeing and sobering in a way that brings the focus and intentionality that is needed.

Having this AFT 30-Day Miracle goal in the forefront of my mind has prompted me to consider how I approach spending, my mindsets about money, how I practice generosity, how I communicate with my children about our resources. If I truly have everything I need in abundance to do everything that God has ordained for me to do (purpose), then there is never any need for me to become anxious about provision, guilty about spending, or fearful about our financial future.

This morning after dropping my son at the Water Gardens for his weekly parkour training with his buddies (catch him on YouTube here) my daughter and I walked around downtown a bit, stopping in at an upscale clothing store. As I turned over a tag to glance at the price, I wondered what it would be like to purchase clothing without batting an eye. I felt somewhat self-conscious in my Walmart t-shirt and Lularoe leggings, like that shopping scene in Pretty Woman, except this is Fort Worth, TX and no one was rude to me.

Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash

Internally I noticed a difference. I didn't gasp at the price, didn't judge the people shopping there (as in "who in the world pays prices like these for clothes???"), didn't think it far-fetched that I could walk in there one day soon and buy clothes without it setting me back a year.

Earlier in the day, I dreamed about the generous gifts I can give, the charitable donations I can make, and the new floors I am going to get when I start receiving $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017.

I still notice a slight discomfort at typing those words and a fear of being judged for my plans, condemned for my goal choice, and the niggly voice in the back of my head that asks what I'm going to do if nothing happens on November 30, 2017.

However, the journey thus far has been rich with growth and increased freedom. Since the actual challenge ends on December 5th, I'm expecting lots of upgrades to continue to roll in.

Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash

Changing your mindset is simple with the Aroma Freedom Technique. Taking action with the new mindsets takes work, but once the blocks are cleared, the work is productive and energizing, enticing one to continue clearing the path for even more growth, abundance, and freedom!

As I head to bed tonight, I once again do my affirmation:

“I radiate joy and excitement as I move effortlessly and seamlessly to my goal of receiving $100,00 monthly beginning November 30, 2017 pressed down, shaken together, and running over!”

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's gifts!

Photo by Lindsay Henwood on Unsplash

Day 20: These aren't the seeds I thought I was planting...30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

Today dawned bright and clear, and my two youngest daughters and I joined some friends at a nearby Starbucks before heading to a few stores in search of Black Friday deals. I put on some Stress Away, threw Clarity and Believe in my bag, and off we went. My prayer was that I would be led to gifts that would spark joy in the recipient and a blessing to my pocket book.  And at the end of the day, I believe that's what we bought.

I started off the day with my big bodacious goal/affirmation to which I've added some fun dance moves that make me smile in remembrance of my Mexican certification students, especially Cathy mom and Cathy daughter who would add this little salsa arm dance move to the end of their affirmations.

I felt energized and joyful which I maintained throughout the majority of the shopping trip, with the exception of a few moments of doubt over purchases I was making (I can really put myself in a ball of anxiety second-guessing my spending choices and harassing myself.  But I'm definitely quicker to stop and reevaluate my thoughts in the light of God's presence instead of my own judgments.) After reapplying Stress Away and inhaling Clarity and Believe, we completed our purchases, and ended our Black Friday adventure with lunch at Chick-fila.

The positive energy continued to flow as we went to our friends' home for more hang time, and my friend and I commented on the things we would miss when our kids all have their own families and traditions.  But today we smiled and enjoyed watching our girls have fun together with giggles and squeals and a few groans as they played a game together.

I pulled up Facebook to scan my feed when a post popped up that made my heart sink. Sometimes I wish I was a social media illiterate.

In an instant, what was left of the joy and energy of the morning drained out of me, and I began a habitual mind game called "where did I go wrong" except for today I called it "these are not the seeds I planted…or are they?" I sure thought I did due diligence to train up my children in the way they should go, to teach them to love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and minds…to foster in them a desire to have and develop their own relationship with God, to hear Holy Spirit, and to follow His voice.

Photo by Christian Joudrey on Unsplash

Let me be clear, I do see lots of positive, good growth in my kids. And as we all know, social media is not an accurate depiction of who a person is.  There are more really incredible things happening in their lives than the not so great things, more good fruit then this other fruit I saw today in my feed. Which just highlights for me my need to dig in and get God's perspective, ask for His lenses to view this situation through, rather than my own faulty judgments.

When helping my AFT clients and students craft intention or goal statements, we are often led to create an "even when" phrase, such as "I maintain my joy and excitement even when my kids make choices I didn't teach them to make, when their lives don't look like anything that I thought I was planting in their formative years."

That sentence is a little long, but you get the picture.

Yes, yes I do need to do some work on myself as nothing pulls me quicker from my place of peace than fear over my kids and comparing myself to someone else. I did both of those things today, frequently, and I know better. But the problem for me is that the knowledge is in my head and not down in my heart. I know intellectually that my God is bigger, His seeds is incorruptible, and that His plans and purposes do succeed. My heart apparently struggles to hold onto that truth.

I thought about my current affirmation and how I don't care about the money…how I'd just as soon lose all my stuff as lose any of my kids down a black hole…but I'm trying not to call the shots here. Just staying observant and aware, taking note of the hiccups in my process and the places I need to circle back around to for even greater freedom.

You bet I'll be setting an intention around this to work through soon. Tonight I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to do my evening affirmation which I will keep the same as before:

“I radiate joy and excitement as I effortlessly and seamlessly move to my goal of receiving $100,000 monthly, beginning November 30, 2017 for my Young Living and AFT expertise…pressed down, shaken together and running over!”

Until tomorrow…

Day 15: That Epic Roller Coaster Feeling...30-Day Miracle with AFT

So much goodness today happened to confirm I am on the right path, little (and big) God moments that encouraged my heart and continued to solidify the truth of who I am and who God is in this journey.

I love this particular challenge for how it brings me to focus in on this specific intention every day…to look at it and evaluate it, feel it, converse with God about it…I'm reminded how focus brings expansion which feels a bit counterintuitive.  It would seem that the more I look around the more I see, but really it's the more I look intently at this one thing, the more I truly see what I am looking at.

Today we visited a church near downtown Dallas, and it was as if everything was orchestrated just for me…from the row we sat on and the people we met, to the worship, to the prayer time, to the prophetic moments, to the sermon…

This afternoon was our 3rd group call with Dr. Perkus. He encouraged us to consider who we need to be in order to reach our goals and intentions. What came to me immediately was "I am fearless." We then went through an AFT clearing on that statement. 

Let me tell you, the tension and trembling in my chest was tremendous! It felt like fear was off the charts in my body. Or was it nervous excitement? Or both? As we went through the clearing my number started at a 2, went to a 3, dropped to a 1, and soared to a 9. I felt in my head I was at a 9, but my body was still in that somewhat scary feeling in my chest. 

Fear and excitement are very close and sometimes indistinguishable in the body. Truthfully, I think what I need to be more than fearless is courageous because when fears come, I'll still need to act…which takes courage. So I shifted my affirmation to "I am courageous and do what I need to do" for this particular exercise.  I still had/have this intense feeling in my chest which I'm going to name "excited anticipation," the kind you have when you are riding an epic roller coaster.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

It's late, so I'll have to write another day more in depth the revelations I'm getting all. day. long. But I did want to share this from church this morning. The primary message was on God's principle of multiplication and this leaped out at me from the reading:

“10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 6:10-15”

My big bodacious goal/affirmation gets a little tweak from all of the downloads I got today from this passage:

“Because I am enriched in every way so that I can be generous on every occasion, I receive $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017, an abundant supply… pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

 

Do you have a goal or dream you'd like to reach? Do you struggle to feel peace, happiness, joy, or love? Are you struggling with the approaching holiday season? I'd love to help you!  Set up an appointment with me and give yourself the gift of peace this Christmas.  

Day 14: Dark Night of the Soul...30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

I woke with a bit of a struggle this morning, wondering why, yet again, I'm feeling draggy and dogged out.  Thankfully, my husband tagged me for a morning walk, so I threw on some shorts and tennis shoes. We had to catch our exercise before the north wind showed up and dropped our temperatures 40 degrees.

I half-heartedly said my affirmation before heading downstairs. This 30-Day Miracle challenge feels a bit like a roller coaster, but I'm up for a good ride with adventure and heart-stopping drops, so I press on.  I figure I'll get some revelation in my day that will shed some light on where I need more insight.

As a one on the Enneagram, being out in nature is super important for my well-being, so you'd think I'd make it a priority. I don't. I used to, but something shifted inside and it's harder and harder for me to make myself do anything. 

That being said, if someone asks me to go do something outside, I will say yes. I like companionship and comraderie. I may have even said a prayer recently about how I wanted to get out and exercise, but I just needed a buddy to help motivate me.

So when Lee woke me and invited me to go for a walk, I noted that as a sign that God is up to something good since early morning walks are not a norm for us these days.

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I have been talking to God about this Dark Night of the Soul that I seem to go to every. single. night. I can have a great day, go to be full of joy and gratitude, and wake in desolation.  St. John of the Cross describes this movement of the soul from consolation to desolation as a necessary passage initiated by the Lord in order that we might mature.

This is not something I necessarily want to hear, but I do think there must be a component of this in my journey.  St. John says, "Through the dark night, pride becomes humility, greed becomes simplicity, wrath becomes contentment, luxury becomes peace, gluttony becomes moderation, envy becomes joy, and sloth becomes strength." This brings some clarity and a deeper sense of awe and gratitude, strangely enough.

****

I love Yogi tea, especially the messages on the tea bags. Tonight, mine says, "Your potential self is infinite." Brene Brown writes about the "stories we tell ourselves," those things we tell ourselves to make sense of our lives.  The problem comes when those stories aren't true. When I go through dark nights which bring about dark mornings, the story I'm telling myself is not one full of joy. It's usually some version of self-recrimination, regret, or fear over some past event or an imagined one to come.

Frankly, I need to change my story. If I'm in a Dark Night of the Soul, the way out is to deepen and mature and grow up and find the true story which is always filled with grace and hope. The way out is to focus on what God focuses on.

I may be wrong, but I think God is speaking to me through my tea bag, giving me a glimpse of what He sees when He sees me, a woman full of potential and infinite possibilities. Knowing this helps me change my story to align with the one He tells when He talks about me. I wonder if it goes something like this…

Hey, Holy Spirit…have you seen what our girl Heather is up to lately? She's really catching on to some things we hid just for her to find out. Did you notice how excited she was when she got the revelation about perfectionism? We could literally see the wheels turning as she started to connect the dots. Oh and did you see how hard she is trying to get these daily blog posts out. She sure has come a long way from when she would reread every post a million times to make them perfect. I mean, we love her writing and we are all about a well-written story, but we are more about it getting written than we are about the grammatical perfection of her blog posts. It's just great to see her making progress and lighting up as she hits her stride. We love watching her shine….

Do you know, this little exercise of imagining what God might be saying about me is creating some major shifts in my heart as I type. I don’t know what it is that I've just hit upon, but I think I'm going to meditate some more on this…maybe get a visual on what it looks like for Him to rejoice over me with singing while I stand in front of my mirror and say my affirmation before going to bed:

"I radiate joy and excitement as I move effortlessly and seamlessly to my goal of receiving abundant provision, pressed down, shaken together and running over."

Day 13: This may sound weird but... The 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

After my AFT session with Terry a couple of days ago, as we were signing off she says to me, "This may sound weird, but…" I laughed. Weird is my game. I once taught two breakout session at a  worship seminar called "Why be weird" and "How to be weird." It's not that I strive to be weird, but I do recognize that some of the things I'm drawn to, the way I worship, the prophetic nature of my life…well, some people don't know what to make of them or of me.

And that's usually ok. I'm learning to not let it bother me although I do know how to tone it down and be what people are comfortable with…at least I used to be.

I'm not sure I want to do that anymore.

Brene' Brown's newest book title says it all: Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone. Sometimes being yourself means you stand alone. Truth is, if I'm being a chameleon, inside I'm still standing alone…or maybe it's set apart? Not set apart as in "I'm better than you" but rather a "set apart" that just means I'm created for a different purpose that's just "other," which sometimes looks like "weird."

But like Brene' talks about in her book, I'm learning to belong to myself so that I actually belong wherever I am.  When I am at home in my own skin, being who God has created me to be, then I am always connected to Him and in Him there is always a sense of belonging. (I've just started the book, but so far it is proving to be as amazing as all of her other books I've read. So do yourself a favor and go read it.)

Part of this journey I am on  in the 30-Day Miracle Challenge is learning to fully embrace myself and what I am created to do.  Most people I interact with look at me strangely when I talk about what I do. Some are suspicious, and while they don't come right out and say it, I can tell they wonder if it's really "safe" for a Christian to do.

It isn't safe at all if you're looking to keep your life nice and tidy and your emotions in check.  I ran into a good friend I haven't seen in a while at the grocery store the other day who has been keeping up with me via Facebook.  "I see what you're doing, but I'm just not ready for that yet," she explained to me in the drink aisle.  I smiled compassionately because I know she's hesitant to dive into emotions she's been told her whole life to keep in check. The tears that brimmed from her eyes told me, though, that she's more ready than she realizes.

***

Terry told me to take my bottle of Transformation oil and wear it on my body, in a pocket or tucked away in my bra, for a couple of days. The frequency of the oil, she explained, would help bring my body more quickly into alignment with the truth God was speaking to me through the Esther story. I didn't sound weird to me at all, and if it did, I'd still do it because I'm learning that weird mostly means different or strange, as in it's something new I'm not familiar with.

So I took Terry's suggestion and have been wearing my bottle of Transformation oil on my person. I don't know exactly how it's affecting me on an energetic level, but I do know it is a solid, tangible reminder of my AFT moment with her and the purpose God is calling me to fully embrace.

Today I wrestle less with the fears that beg me to play it safe and to lay low. I'm being transformed by the renewing of my mind through the power of the Holy Spirit as He works in and through me through this 30-Day AFT practice.

As I head to bed tonight, I will stand in front of my mirror, raise my arms up in the air, smile confidently and declare, "I radiate joy and excitement as I effortlessly and seamlessly walk to my goal of manifesting $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017." As I state it, I will envision myself as Queen Heather (a la Queen Esther), with my royal scepter in hand (it even has slots for all of my AFT oils!!!), my feet fitted with the finest leather shoes made for riding roller coasters, my clothing that fits just right and that I can be 100% myself in, and my heart filled to overflowing with gratitude and a deep awareness of Holy Spirit within and all around me.

Day 10 & 11: I'll make time for you... The 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

Yesterday (day 10), felt like a plateau of sorts.  I've been noticing a need for something deeper to occur but have had such full days that I haven't found the space to do much prolonged pondering.

This morning, I took the time to do some grounding outside as I drank my hot green tea.  Even though it's the middle of November, the weather is mild and the grass just right for early morning bare feet. As I sat down on my worn picnic bench, a flock of birds flew overhead and it was as if I could feel the vibration of their wings on the air. I breathed in deeply and settled into an awareness of peace and stability as I recalled how God takes care of the details of these creatures as they go about doing their thing.

There's no striving or worrying or wondering.  Birds just "be." Trees just "be." I am reminded that I can just "be" too.

Today I knew that I needed to reach out to one of my fellow AFT practitioners to help me push past the resistance and get clarity on my goal. I've had something niggling in the back of my mind, but I haven't been successful at discovering what it is on my own.

I messaged Terry to see if she had space in her day to walk me through a session, and she quickly responded: "I'll make time for you."

As we connected over Zoom, Terry asked me what I wanted to work on.  I explained to her this feeling of plateau and a need for greater clarity, so she suggested I set my intention for our session: "I have clarity on my 30-day goal." Simple enough, right?

I started off at a 4, hearing a negative voice say "you won't get it right" which brought up a feeling of discouragement with a tightening in my throat. I remembered a time about four years ago when I got into a disagreement with one of my good friends and leader who oversaw the area of ministry I served in. Immediately, I felt the sadness and grief of that moment and requested that Terry lead me through the Memory Resolution Technique since I could feel the emotion intensifying. 

My beautiful friend gently led me to a profound place of healing and release. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, she began to speak to me of Esther and rising to the place has called me to for such a time as this. Just this morning I had been meditating on Esther, a story the Lord has used to speak to me multiple times in the past several years. Terry is a new friend and knew nothing of the importance of this story to me.

I was overcome with emotion - gratitude to Holy Spirit for speaking to me so clearly, to Terry for being His vessel.

I am still processing all that the Lord showed me through my AFT session this morning, so for now I'll share my affirmation that came from today:

"I radiate joy and excitement as I effortlessly and seamlessly walk towards my goal."

What goal are you walking towards? 

Day 9: The sacred scone...The 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

Morning came early today. I rolled out of bed and grabbed my robe to go downstairs to make some eggs for my youngest before she headed out the door with her dad for her music coop day. After kissing her and my husband goodbye, I headed back up to get dressed and repeat my affirmation using a drop of Cypress, Frankincense, and Idaho Blue Spruce since I had left my Believe oil downstairs.

I know that when I have some more space in my day that I will need to linger over my affirmation a bit as I can feel some resistance there popping up.  It's not super loud and obvious, maybe because it knows now that it will get a voice soon, just not today. I add some movement in as I circle my hips and roll my arms. I feel more confident and assured that I am on my God-given path.

After an AFT appointment and before my lunch date, I head to a local coffee shop for a latte and scone. My mind is in a rush with all of the things I need to do today, but it comes to me that I need to "take a moment to remember."*

I pause to take a picture of my sustenance and then dive into my blueberry scone that came highly recommended to me by the friendly barista.  I bite in through the crispy layer and suddenly time slows down as gratitude takes over. I begin to express my thankfulness for the delicious crunch followed by the delectably soft and moist interior with just the right amount of sweetness with tart blueberry.

I savor the flavor. I savor the moment. I am present to every crumb before I swallow it down. An ordinary coffee break turned into a sacred, holy space that fills me with peace even now at the end of my day.

This process called the Aroma Freedom Technique has helped me to slow down and appreciate times like these like never before. It wasn't that long ago that I would have scarfed down the yummy pastry, acknowledging it's good flavor, but completely missing the divine opportunity to enter into a worshipful heart space and practice gratitude.

I'm so thankful I heeded that small sentence. I'm much more aware of them now that my thoughts are quieter and my mind is more at ease. And because I listened and entered into that eucharisteo of breaking the bread and drinking the cup (no sacrilege intended, but I believe scone and coffee served as a sufficient substitute for the bread and wine this morning) and remembering Him, time stopped for me as I became aware of God's presence within and all around me.

It lasted but for a minute or two, but it transformed my day and even now as I'm typing this out, I am reliving the beauty of the moment as gratitude swells all over again in my chest.

This is just a taste of what Jesus must have meant when He said He came to give us life, to open up our hearts to live it out abundantly…above and beyond all I could ask or imagine. Tonight as I say my affirmation, I do so with a heart full from the many gifts of my day and my weekend. As I crawl into bed, I choose to meditate and savor each gift.

The barista was right.  That scone was amazing and completely worth it.

My goal/affirmation: "Because I am the real deal and Jesus loves me and gives me strength, I am a burning bush and I receive $100,000 monthly beginning November 30, 2017 for my Young Living and Aroma Freedom Technique expertise."

*"Take a Moment" by Will Reagan is a song that has carried me through a very challenging season. I have it on repeat.  Definitely worth a listen.

Day 6: I won! The 30-Day Miracle Challenge with AFT

There's nothing like accountability. Even if it's the kind that only happens in my head. No one is checking up on me. No one is hounding me. But the fact that 300 people are doing this 30 day challenge at the same time is inspiring and keeps me moving forward.

Today is Day 6 in the challenge, and I'm feeling pretty strong. I did feel some resistance this morning as I did my morning affirmation, so I spent a little extra time just inhaling my "Believe" oil and paying attention to what the negative voices were saying.

Mostly they were saying things to cast doubt on my big bodacious goal, as in: "what if you don't receive $100,000…what if you don't have the right goal…what if…"  I acknowledged them, thanked them for the concern, and sent them on their way. I'm getting so much movement and clarity, the end result is not the point. It's the process.

This morning as I woke, I saw various friends in my mind's eye, envisioned them working through their goals, felt the energy of a joint effort, and understood a small part of what God is doing in and through me and others in this challenge: He's getting His church ready. He wants a bride that is ready to meet Him, that is free of limiting beliefs and mindsets, that is walking in the freedom and abundant life that He already bought and paid for. 

Glory!

This weekend I am at a women's retreat put on by my good friends Janet Bernstein of Savvy Girl Media and Lori Dixon of Walk with Lori. We met almost two years ago at a women's networking meeting in north Dallas at a time when I was starting to step into building my Young Living business seriously. They both have been so instrumental in my personal and business growth, and I am so very grateful.  I don't think it's any accident that the retreat falls during the 30-Day Miracle challenge.

Tonight we enjoyed a "Sip-n-Shop" and I visited easily with each vendor and the other women in the room. Just a year ago, I was much shyer and more hesitant to meet new people, but tonight I was mingling like a pro!  Thank you, Jesus, and AFT! I stopped at one table to spin the wheel and win a prize. There were various prizes on the wheel and one $20 bill.  Guess what I landed on !?! Yep! The $20 bill!!!  I am rejoicing in this day of small beginnings!

Oh, and this morning I got another tweak for my goal and affirmation:

"Because I am the real deal and Jesus loves me and strengthens me, I am a burning bush and I receive $100,000 MONTHLY beginning November 30, 2017 through my Young Living and AFT expertise. "

I'm off to say my nightly affirmation.  Until tomorrow!

Would you like to experience the Aroma Freedom Technique for yourself? Click here to set up a session with me.  If you do not have essential oils, that is ok! You can select that option and I will send you the session supplies for a small additional fee. 

The Purpose of Pain

The words drag through my heart, claws digging deep into tender, vulnerable places.  I feel betrayed, rejected, abandoned. I wonder where it all went wrong. I only ever did the best that I could.  

I struggle to breathe.   

My eyes puffy from sobbing, my body exhausted from the emotional struggle, I am weary and wary. Sighing deeply, I try to just let it all go.    

But I can’t. I draw a strange comfort from hashing and rehashing the words and the gestures and the moments, turning each one this way and that looking for that one moment that could have been different....[to read the rest, join me over at Plaid for Women.]

Are you struggling with being stuck in a painful emotional cycle? Use coupon code "PAIN25" for $25 off a session with me if you schedule by October 31st. Click to schedule.

Freedom!

Almost every day I get to have conversations with people around the subject of true freedom and what is keeping them from living the lives they are created to live. All of us are created with a divine purpose that, once we find it, is a never-ending fuel for all we do in our lives.

But what happens when you don't know your purpose? Or maybe you know your purpose, but there are just simply too many obstacles in the way and you feel stuck, tired, confused, lonely, afraid…Or perhaps you simply suffer from a bad case of procrastination and can't seem to move very quickly in the direction of your goals and dreams.

All of us are born with messages pre-programmed into our DNA via genetics…belief systems and mindsets that are passed down through the generations.  In my world, we call these generational curses or generational blessings.  In addition to those messages, from the time of conception we receive messages from the word around us that shape and form the unconscious and sub-conscious pathways of our brains that are responsible for the way we respond and react to any given situation.

These programs run in the background of our lives, creating blessing or wreaking havoc, as the case may be, but because they are not in our conscious awareness, we go about our days as if these things were just normal and a part of who we are.

But what if that irritation or that anger or that nervous or scared feeling or that procrastination or that lack of self-confidence didn't have to be a part of your norm?  If you could change that out for something different, what would it be? What would it feel like to be at peace in spite of financial difficulties or misbehaving children? What if true joy in the midst of hardship or disappointment were possible? What if instead of procrastinating about those tasks and chores, you tacked them with grace and ease and accomplished your goals and dreams? What if you were no longer afraid of making mistakes or of being successful and could embrace each day with enthusiasm and delight?

What would that be like for you?

I have helped hundreds of people through the Aroma Freedom Technique release difficult emotional patterns and create new beliefs and mindsets that lead to a happy and fulfilled life lived out of purpose and delight rather than fear and obligation.

The Aroma Freedom Technique was created by Dr. Benjamin Perkus, clinical psychologist and essential oils educator.  Dr. Perkus found that using essential oils with certain focus steps helped his clients move much more quickly through their emotional blocks and negative mental states. From his work emerged this 12-step process that creates immediate and lasting shifts. These permanent shifts have been happening for thousands of people all over the world since Dr. Perkus published his book The Aroma Freedom Technique in June of 2016.

Not long after, he launched the Aroma Freedom Academy where he has been training practitioners and instructors for the last year in this simple, duplicatable process that easily and gently leads people to release those mindsets and ways of thinking that no longer serve them so they can move along on the path towards reaching their goals and dreams.

There are now over 100 certified practitioners all over the world, with more joining the ranks every week. Certified instructors are now holding live trainings, spreading freedom to even more people in intro classes, AFT immersions, and 2-day AFT certification courses not to mention the variety of online courses (like this course)  each one is teaching.

I love leading certification courses and teaching about spiritual freedom on the academy.  I have countless testimonies of people whose lives have been forever changed and who are experiencing a deeper level of freedom than they ever dreamed possible.  I have a few testimonies captured here, just a small sampling of the ones I am told regularly over Facebook, the phone, or in text or email. 

It's truly a remarkable work I get to do and an immense privilege to help people in this way.

Schedule your own private session with me today or purchase a gift certificate.  

Contact me to have an AFT training or certification brought to your area. My mantra is: "Have oils. Will travel!"  I am also available to speak at workshops, conferences, and retreats.

To read more about my journey into AFT, go here. To find upcoming certification or immersion courses in your area, go here. To stay up-to-date with all of my course offerings, both in person and online, sign up to receive our newsletter below.

It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Where His Spirit is, there is freedom. Therefore, make every effort to add to your faith goodness, kindness, patience, gentleness, and self-control so that you can manifest the abundant life that You were created for!

The root

Today Jesus appeared to me in the form of a Mexican gardener.

We were working on landscaping at our newly acquired rental house, placing plants, digging holes, relocating bushes.

There with a crew to lay down sod, he watched from a distance.  Suddenly he was beside us with his spade, digging into the soil around the bush we were transplanting, helping my husband get the right angle to get the root ball...then coming to where I was digging the new hole. He takes over, enlarging the hole, loosening the dirt, using his hands to get the shape just so before placing the roots in the ground, reminding me to water well as a transplant is like surgery and the bush is going to need some fluids.

I turn on the water and wet the soil around the base of the bushes before moving on to my next task.

Minutes later, the hose is on again, and I see the Mexican gardener soaking the bushes...I had not watered them enough, he said quietly.  Remember the roots; they need lots of water after a move. I smiled my thanks and he returned to his task of preparing the ground for sod.

But he's watching us...not in a way that made me self-conscious...he was observing, letting us fumble with the soil and the planting, watching for where his assistance might be welcomed and needed.  

The ground was riddled with buried roots of long gone trees and other foliage.... their presence no longer seen until the shovel stops hard in the dirt, jarring hands and arms and body. The sun is hot and high in the sky, so rather than fight to tear out or break through the roots, I figured I could work around them, planting the flowers in between the subterranean root system.

The root ball!  I wish I would've taken a picture of the removal, but our hands were covered in dirt and we were focused on the task at hand :-)

Next thing I know, my gardener is there, shovel in hand. He motions us aside and with a practiced hand he slams the spade down into the ground, slicing deep into the root.  Slap, smack, thunk and just like that the root is broken in two.  My husband starts to lift the shovel, but our friend stops him, observing with veteran eyes and finding the best way to remove this buried root system.

Three more whacks and he pulls up a gnarled ball of roots, thick shoots in all directions, easily pulled out after his expert spade work.

Emotional work is not unlike working in a garden.  Until you start to dig, you don't know what lies underneath the surface.  You may have removed the things easily seen from above, maybe chopped down a few trees, had the stumps drilled out, and pulled out a few bushes.  But those roots, especially from things that have been there a long time, live on...not supporting a tree above the ground, but providing plenty of blocks and challenges anytime you try to plant something new there.

Many times we shy away from emotions because of this...we fear what lies below the surface and just try to plant around the obstacles. But then Jesus, who is waiting and watching, sees our readiness to be free. He comes and with quick, decisive movements, he severs the roots and pulls out the tangled mess that was in the way of the new growth. Then he kneels down and gently works the soil of our hearts, loosening the soil, enlarging the territory and clearing the space so the roots of the new growth can spread and expand and support a strong healthy plant.

This may feel scary. It may be painful. But those old emotional roots aren't doing you any favors, aren't producing any good fruit in your life, and are taking up space that is needed new fruit to be born in your life.  New behaviors can't form correctly around old thought patterns.  The old roots must first be exposed and removed in order for the new healthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to take root and grow unhindered.

In the Aroma Freedom Technique, I often invite my clients to invite the presence of Jesus into the process.  The essential oils do a great job of helping to dissolve negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions; but there is nothing like the presence of Jesus to bring an expert hand at identifying and removing the exact thing that's hindering freedom.  There's also nothing like the presence of Jesus to bring hope and healing as the body, mind, and soul release what has been hindering the abundant life He promises us.

Is there something you'd like to see grow in your life but you've hit some underground roadblocks you weren't expecting? I'd love to help you identify those things that are in your way and, if you're willing, we'll invite Jesus to expertly direct the root removal process so that you can experience new life and be all that He has created you to be.  Go here to set up your appointment or contact me with any questions you have.

Finding roots....

Finding the root system...

Trying to pull out the root

Root is out and new plant in the ground!

I feel like I've gotten my life back!

"I drove today for the first time in 3 years to go get my hair done. It was fabulous! I was strong, confident and unafraid! No feelings came up at all!  Thank you so much!  There aren't enough words to express how I feel except to say I feel like I've gotten my life back!"

"It would be too long to talk about but this has been an answer to prayer tonight!! [God] seriously is amazing!!! Thank you!!!"

"Before and after pics are different! I can see the glow!"

"AFT has helped me like nothing else I have experienced. The best part is the lasting results!"

recent class in their Power Pose

"I had an AFT session with Heather and it literally changed the trajectory of my life. She was such a blessing when I needed help finding guidance and confidence in myself."

"My intention was not simple, as I have been trying to accomplish it all my life. Through the AFT process, I found that my block has to do with a person in my life that expected perfection and was really awful to me. Knowing that, I will keep that in mind when I do my intentions and let that person go and the anger I still have for them."

"I used it to focus on mom issues and it delivered me from decades of emotional rejection as I saw that [God] was always with me even when I was little and the first feelings of rejection started. This has been an amazing journey!"

"My AFT session with Heather was empowering, relieving, encouraging and efficient. It honestly felt like 6 months of therapy progress in less than an hour. Feeling the actual negative emotion literally fall off of me was pretty incredible."

These are just a few of the many testimonies I get to hear week after week as I work with people to help them release negative thoughts, mindsets, beliefs, and emotions that are keeping them from living the abundant lives they are created to have.  I am passionate about helping people walk out their purpose and passion with confidence and joy and love how AFT has provided a tool to quickly and easily impart freedom to others.

Do you share this passion?  Consider becoming a Certified Aroma Freedom Technique Practitioner.  I am teaching several in-person, 2-day intensive certification courses in the coming weeks and would love to have you join me on this adventure.  Class space is limited, so if you're feeling the tug to start this journey, sign up today!

Don't see your city listed? You can visit the Aroma Freedom Academy to find other in-person courses as well as the online courses being offered currently.  If you would like me to come teach a certification in your area, please use the contact form here and let's get that conversation started.

To read more about my AFT journey, go here.

Emotions. Do you stuff them?

Swallow hard. Clench your jaw.  Hold back the tears.

Breathe in deep. Inhale…exhale…hold it all in.

Silence. Throat tightened. Bite your tongue.

Just a few of the ways you may be stuffing your emotions, saving them away for another day. There's no harm in a momentary pause in emotion in order to process it in an appropriate time.  The problem for most of us is that time never comes, and emotions get stacked like sardines in the back of our minds and the memories imprinted on our bodies like a record to be replayed again and again.

Later, maybe a day or a week or a few months, perhaps a few years even, something happens to recreate the feeling you had before, the time you stuffed it to take care of another day or hoping it would just go away.  But it didn't.  It just got stored in your body, waiting for its turn to come out and play.  Except an emotion that's been in a closet doesn't play nice anymore, especially since it's been ruminating around with all of the other emotions it found hidden away.

These emotions start to swap stories.  They have ways of organizing themselves with their narratives, each telling more embellished than the last. Sometimes they try to one up each other, there in the recesses of your subconscious mind, replaying over and over and over again their moments of pain and sorrow, fear and regret, shame and guilt…vying for their place in line at the closet door.

Finally, that closet door has so much pressure behind it….all of these emotions vying for their place in line, pushing and shoving, getting louder and louder, more boisterous…more angry.

Until something small happens in your day. It could be you got cut off in traffic. Or perhaps someone was short with you and said something unkind. Maybe your kids left their shoes out one too many times or your husband forgot the most important item on the grocery list. 

Those emotions, they have been waiting.  It's getting hot in that closet and they are tired of being silenced.  Plus, there simply is no more room.

You go to stuff that emotion away only to find a rush of feelings flooding your body, and you react…or, rather, you over react to that situation that just happened.  In your mind, you begin to justify and maybe even blame someone current…"Well if you would have only…if they wouldn't have done…if there had only been…" as you struggle to get those uncomfortable feelings under control and back in the closet and hope no one has noticed the mess that just spilled out.

Has this ever happened to you?

Depending on your mode of operating, after an episode like this you may then add another layer of locks on that closet door, locks like guilt and shame or anger and rage. You want to protect that door at whatever cost because you do not want to ever feel that way again.

The problem is, you will.

You have effectively just told your body to store them for another day because they are just too much or too hard or too painful or too….well, you know, messy.  Emotions are messy.

Yes, yes, they are.  But emotions stuffed are way messier and more toxic to you, your body, your spirit, and your loved ones than you can imagine.  And also easier to process than you've been led to believe.

Next….Emotions. Can they make you sick?

ANNOUNCEMENT: Early Bird Discount for in-person AFT Certification Course!

Early Bird Discount through May 5th!

Find a group of 4 friends, send the names and emails of your group of 4 to connect@untethered.life, and receive a discount code for 20% off regular tuition for the in-person, intensive Aroma Freedom Technique certification course coming to Dallas, TX, May 19-20th.

This innovative approach to eliminating negative beliefs, limiting mindsets, and releasing challenging emotions is changing lives and helping people on their paths towards reaching their heart's desires.

Must register your group of four by May 5th to receive discount.  In addition, register by May 1st to receive a hard copy of The Aroma Freedom Technique book by Dr. Perkus and an AFT sampler oil kit (this offer also available for single registrants).  

How the Aroma Freedom Technique has changed my life

“Happiness isn’t a goal in and of itself; it is a side-effect of doing what you are meant to do in this life.”

— Dr. Benjamin Perkus, author and founder of the Aroma Freedom Technique

It was a rather random happening. I opened an email with information about a free opportunity buried in amongst other posts: a free month of weekly calls about the Aroma Freedom Technique. Inexplicably, something immediately grabbed my intention and pulled me in.  I found the link to sign up and set a reminder on my phone.

That Friday, I logged into Zoom and found a group of people being instructed by Dr. Benjamin Perkus on the ins and outs of the Aroma Freedom Technique (AFT) and the ways people were being impacted.  He shared about classes and certifications he would be offering and then encouraged us to all grab our oils for a clearing using AFT.

I don't know what specifically it was about that first call, but I knew that I was hooked.  I was drawn to the method, intrigued by the immediate results, and had an instant connection with this community of people who were "practicing AFT." 

That was a Friday.  On Monday the certification class would be starting, and Dr. Perkus requested sign ups be in by Saturday.

It didn't make sense in a logical way…Where would the money come from? What exactly would I be able to do once I got certified? And who, exactly, was this Dr. Perkus? I wasn't entirely sure, but I knew that God was opening up a path before me. The choice was mine. Would I trust Him?

After much going back and forth (self-doubt and money worries hinder me the most, y'all), I decided that the voice inside my head was most probably God and I could trust Him with this step of faith.  Truthfully, the worst that could happen was minor...I'd be out some money and some time. It would be ok either way.

Monday dawned bright and early, and I jumped on the zoom call and away I went.  Dr. Perkus was kind and engaging.  The more I listened, the more I knew that this was where I was meant to be.

Then another opportunity opened up to do level 1 AND level 2 concurrently.  Again, I felt that irresistible draw in my spirit to take this "quantum leap." I hemmed and hawed again, self-doubt and money worries vying for a say.  I listened some to those voices, how I could delay and wait to do level 2 another day…but there was just something about that moment in time that said: "this is it…this is the pathway to open up your passion…just do it!"

So I did.  I jumped in and quickly felt over my head but I popped up soon and paddled my way to increasing my clarity and confidence with each AFT clearing and class interaction, my strokes getting stronger with each session.  I've not looked back since except to admire the view from here, to see how far I've come in such a short amount of time.

How has AFT changed my life? Here are just a few of the gifts that are now mine because I said "yes":

• A broadened circle of friends and like-minded practitioners.  My AFT buddy I met in my level 1 class and I still meet regularly for accountability and support. I have a growing network of support that undergirds my work on several levels, but most importantly my AFT practice and my Young Living business.
• A greater sense of purpose and direction. I have a structure within which my passion for helping people get free of what is holding them back can flow unhindered while sharing my love for essential oils.  It's glorious!
• A way to share about Young Living Essential Oils compliantly. Who doesn't like a new way to share and build your Young Living business? Watch people's eyes light up as you help lighten their load as peace increases in their hearts while sharing your amazing oils.
• A tool that has immediate results.  It doesn't take much time to show people how quickly they can experience a shift in their mental state and have more hope to reach the goals and dreams that before seemed so elusive. 
• A method that works for groups of individuals. I put my certification to work immediately, helping oily and non-oily people, privately and in groups.  I've more than made back my certification costs.
• A gift that just keeps on giving. Not only am I able to bless others, but I, myself, am daily blessed by the Aroma Freedom Technique and the practice I'm working into my life of clearing the blocks instead of staying stuck and stagnate.  I don't have any excuses anymore!  I can confidently take myself through AFT (or reach out to another AFT practitioner) and know that whatever has held me back in the past, doesn't stand a chance now!
• A spiritual support.  This is, perhaps, the most valuable gift thus far.  Scripture says to make every effort to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love*. I'm finding this modality is increasing my ability to produce fruit in keeping with repentance [getting new thoughts].** I'm finding that belief is rising and love is increasing.  I am more confident about being who God has created me to be and in helping others to throw off everything that is entangling them*** so they can run their race full of love, peace, and joy.

Want to explore the Aroma Freedom Technique with me?  May 19-20 in Dallas, Texas, I'll be holding an intensive 2-Day Aroma Freedom Technique Level 1 Certification.  I'd love for you to join me!  Sign up by May 1st and receive The Aroma Freedom Technique Quick Guide and an AFT sampler oil kit at the class.  Questions? Send me an email: connect@untethered.life.  Ready to join the #aftrevoilution? Click the link to register today!

Read testimonials here

*1 Peter 1:5-12  "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

**Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

***Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance

How I'm ditching my 5 a.m. wake up call for something better

Isaiah 49:23b, 25b "Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed…I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."

It's a subtle, slight slip into rational and reasonable responsibility that leads to fearful fretting and anxious alliterations and thoughts tripped up in thinking that in the end, it is all up to me which ends up making it all about me.

That's what gets me into trouble most mornings.  I wake and the thoughts come unbidden and instead of showing them the door like I know to do (surely, by now I know to do this…) I invite them in and sit them down for a discussion to see if I can figure out this puzzle of where things went wrong and what I can do to fix them by replaying past events and thinking how I could have done that differently.

The problem is, short of an ability to time-travel, there is absolutely nothing I can do to go back into the past as recent as 5 minutes ago and change anything.  I mean, if you figure that one out…can go back even 1 minute to change something you just did that you wish you didn’t do, please come see me.  I need what you got.

So, I'm sitting with these thoughts, and, in my defense, they do come knocking on my door around 5 a.m., usually a few minutes or an hour or two before I am even planning to get out of bed.  Why I don't get up every morning at 4 a.m. and beat these suckers out of bed, I don't know.  I actually did try that for a season, and it was helpful, but I also wasn't getting enough sleep because who can get into bed before midnight with fun-loving teenagers in the house?  (Whoever said I'd get more sleep when my children were older never had children because while I do get to sleep without outside interruption through the night, I have my thoughts on the front end and my children who I love connecting with late at night on the back end, so maybe I'll sleep when they are all grown…nah, probably not. By then there will be grandkids to love on.  This may be why I've taken up drinking coffee more than just socially.)

Back to the thoughts…I can hear them outside the door starting a little before 5.  I don’t even look at the clock anymore.  They come calling without fail.  No one told them that today is MLK day and that perhaps they should let me sleep in a bit.  They start out whispering and tapping lightly.  This only serves to wake other thoughts that had a restless night and were chomping at the bit to get some things discussed when I was awake.  So now the noise is getting louder.  Finally, a thought gets bold and knocks loudly and without waiting for me to open the door (aka wake up and get the tea/coffee going), they all come tumbling in talking loud and fast, vying to get my attention.

This used to throw me into high alert, nigh unto panic attack mode.  Thankfully, that is no more.  With time (going on 5 years to be exact), I have gotten more adept at sorting through the thoughts and discarding the majority of them.  Also, honestly, I've experienced a lot of healing in the past year and a half through many different modalities that Jesus has brought my way which have served to increase my awareness of patterns of thought and behaviors that no longer serve me and have given me tools to let those go and pick up new tools that lead to love, peace, and joy.

My word for 2017 is "delight," and I've come to realize that it's a challenge to experience "delight" when the 5 a.m. wake-up crew keeps barging in.  They are my thoughts, after all, and somehow I need to get their attention and let them know that when the door is still closed at 5 a.m., that means they need to go back to bed and read a book or something… until I at least am up and moving around and they see the light under the crack of the door.

This morning I actually woke first at 2:45.  I think the storms we had last night got my subconscious all in a dither because they were early.  I got up to pee and told them to go back to bed.  For once, they paid attention.  It was the dog that got me up at 5 today.  She's in heat and sleeps in a kennel in the house which means her routine is off and, thankfully, she barked to alert me that if I didn't get up and let her outside, she/we'd be in a world of stink.

After letting the dog out and getting some tea going, I sat down to read Isaiah 49, a passage rich with encouragement for me this morning, especially the last parts of verses 23 and 25: "Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed…I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save."

As the Spirit of God breathed revelation into my spirit, I found the response I've needed to these thoughts that bombard me morning by morning until I wrestle them to the ground at some point.  All of that wrestling takes energy, and it's time to direct that energy into more creative and life-giving endeavors.

Those mistakes and worries and fears and anxious ponderings that are so insistent that we need to talk and talk and figure all of the things out right this minute will now be met with these words: "Look, guys.  I appreciate you trying to bring these things to my attention.  I know that I have some part in making things work out, but right now, I'm choosing to trust God and put my hope in Him.  He's promised to contend with those who contend with me and to save my children (a lot of my worries have to do with them, and most (if not all) usually end up being completely unfounded)."

A lot of words for 5 a.m., so perhaps I'll just shorten it to: "I'm hoping in God.  Relax.  We won't be disappointed."

We will see how tomorrow morning goes. 

I am passionate about helping people to become all they are created to be, leaving behind old patterns of thinking, of eating, of feeling, to embrace the life they are meant to live. As a Certified Aroma Freedom Technique practitioner, I combine the power of Young Living essential oils with this powerful 12-step process that helps you be who God created you to be. I'd love to chat with you. Contact me at heather@untethered.life and check out my classes and AFT session availability at www.untethered.life/classes.