YOUR LIFE A-Z:KING

What Kind of King are You?

KING

 The word KING during this time of Advent brings to mind the story of KING Herod and his dictate to destroy the Christ child, whom Herod saw as a threat.  If you study the Herod dynasty, you will come to understand that KING Herod was an insecure and very weak male that could not stand any competition.  The prophecies of old had long predicted that a KING would be born and he would be KING of the Jews.  KING Herod had ordered the Magi to reveal the location of this important baby KING, but the Magi departed a different way and did not reveal the location.  As a result, KING Herod in his anger and angst ordered that all baby boys under the age of two be killed in the area of Bethlehem.  This part of history became known as the slaughter of the innocents.  Each of us has a KING Herod inside of us.  That inner KING is our insecure, anxiety driven ego.  This inner KING will destroy us and anyone else in our path of perceived control in order to keep our life safe.  This pseudo control slaughters our dreams, ideas, and intuition on a regular basis.  We need to birth within us a different KING.   We need a KING of peace that surpasses all understanding that allows us to be present to our life, and bring peace to those around us.  You choose which kind of KING you are willing to be: Herod or the Christ Child? 

YOUR LIFE A-Z: SLEEP

Nighty-Night ...Time to Wrap it Up for the Day. 

SLEEP

Now more than ever we know the  importance of a good night sleep.  We know proper SLEEP not only effects your energy level but also your health and longevity.  Each person requires a different amount of SLEEP but everyone should strive to make sure that they receive at least six hours of uninterrupted SLEEP.  SLEEP is important for memory, learning, safety, and our immune system.  What are your SLEEP patterns?  How do you know if you had a good nights sleep?  Do you dream?  Do you remember your dreams?  Dreaming cannot take place if you are not getting the necessary amount of SLEEP.  Dreams are important for our mental health.  SLEEP often gets a bad rap and often those who need more SLEEP than others are considered wimps.  SLEEP is worth the attention and work it needs to make sure you are getting enough of it.  SLEEP is an important as eating correctly and exercising.  Inadequate SLEEP over a long period of time will take you down a path of poor health, low energy, lack of concentration and even make your day life unsafe for you.  Some tips for a good nights SLEEP:
Have a regular pattern, including a set bedtime and set awake time.
Cut-off electronics an hour prior to bedtime and read or listen to relaxing music. (or even meditate) 
If you wake up do not get up but lay there and pray or count backwards from 100-0 until you fall back to sleep. 
Consult your doctor if you are SLEEP deprived. 

YOUR LIFE A-Z: SAFETY

SAFETY

PERFECT PROTECTION-PERFECT POSITIONSAFETY

SAFETY is important in so many ways.  It is important to know that you are physically SAFE and protected.  Each of us, make decisions based on our physical SAFETY, such as what size car we choose to drive or the fact that we lock our doors at night.  However, a sense of emotional SAFETY is much deeper than physical SAFETY.  Emotional SAFETY affects our immune system, health, and our mental health.   Knowing that we can be vulnerable with your friends, family, and significant others is the most important part of feeling SAFE in your daily life.  Emotional SAFETY is not something that just happens, it is something that must be cultivated.  Going deep into your feelings, thoughts, and actions requires that you first and foremost trust yourself to respond to others rather than react to them.  Do you trust yourself to be SAFE with you?  Can you journal the deep parts of your soul and end with truly liking who you are or do you end on a critical note?  If you are not emotionally SAFE with yourself others will not feel emotionally SAFE with you.  If significant people in your life disclose ways that you have hurt them and you attack them for sharing then clearly they will stop sharing because you are not SAFE.   To begin the journey of vulnerability and emotional SAFTEY you must first start with yourself.  From that position then move forward to build emotional SAFETY for yourself with the important people in your life.  Emotional SAFETY is important to the quality of your life.