Each moment of our lives is part of our journey. In fact it IS our journey.

The question is are we conscious of where we are going or are we letting what’s outside us control our thoughts and actions.

But it’s not just what’s outside that sends us off in one direction or another.

It’s also our thoughts, our emotions, our fears and insecurities, along with the drama of our past which controls us until we have released and transformed them.

When we take the first step of our journey consciously, we are on the path to wholeness, which is the secret to self discovery.

I like definitions and so here’s the definition of  “wholeness” that I like best.

It’s by Urielle at www.knowth.com/

“WHOLENESS is the Energy of completeness on an individual scale. It gives one a sense of personal unity, harmony and balance by connecting the self to the Self. In spite of any negativity of circumstances, a person who can be, “do”, or use this Energy will find harmony within self. This inner harmony will affect outer circumstances. On a Physical Level this Energy manifests as good health, while Emotionally and Mentally there is an integrity of character which is so integral to one’s being it is noticeable to all.”

I would add to the physical, mental and emotional another level of harmony and that is the psychic. The psychic level is our spiritual heart and our soul. When we are whole in our hearts there is no insecurity, no uncertainty. We radiate unconditional love.

When we are one with our souls, we are clear what our destiny is and we are focused on both our inner and outer evolution.

Being consciously on the sunlit path to wholeness we live integrally in all parts of our being connected to every part of our vast cosmos.

When all five levels are working together consciously and harmoniously, we become unstoppable totally in tune with our divine power. We live in joy and fulfillment in oneness with all.

I have collected some profound quotes on harmony that have been a great inspiration to me. I hope you will find them as enlightening as I have.

Click Here To Read Some Quotes On Harmony

For centuries the pathway of the Western world has been one of reductionism and materialism. We’ve divided everything into the smallest particles possible and reduced life to the lowest common denominator.

This has led to separation and competition where greed and power dominate. We’ve become mired in frustration, depression and ultimately degenerative disease, which are all various forms of ignorance. Ultimately these roadblocks have prevented us from discovering our true selves.

Beyond Duality To Oneness

It’s when we go beyond this duality we move life forward and find the key to life.

Have you ever asked why we have so many illnesses and degenerative diseases today which were relatively unknown before the Industrial Revolution?

Think about it. The Industrial Revolution was the beginning of our modern technology to split everything out and up into ever smaller particles.  And we began to view our life and our bodies as separate little bits to be cut out or up as modern medicine saw fit.

If we take the holistic approach, we will ask the question, “Did God really give us any spare parts?”

We rarely look below the surface to find a cause. Yet if everything is connected, how can a physical symptom be isolated from the whole.

I believe that each physical symptom has a mental and emotional cause. To relieve the symptom we need to find and eliminate the cause.

Rising rates of diabetes reflect a lack of sweetness in our lives.

What’s more obesity has reached almost epidemic proportions because we are shielding ourselves from others and even ourselves through our weight.

And now for the number one killer—heart disease. We have lost our hearts connection with our soul. What’s more our hearts are disconnected from our heads where all the separation started, and we have allowed our heads to rule our hearts.

So we scurry around looking for the elusive quick fix—that one pill, one course, one therapist, one food that will fix all our problems.

We spend billions of dollars on solutions “out there” forgetting that walking the path of wholeness or oneness is an inside job.

Oneness is the path of the heart, connecting our heart to all levels of our being and the infinite whole.

Oneness is the pathway of realisation and self discovery. It’s the continual wonder of the “aha” experience in each moment.

It’s like a drop of rain. When it falls from the sky, it is just a drop. When it falls into the ocean it is embraced by the ocean and becomes one with the power and consciousness of the ocean. It is still an individual drop but it has become the ocean itself.

To walk the pathway to wholeness requires receptivity. Not the openness to wrong forces of fear, doubt, depression and frustration which are always ready to attack us, but the receptivity to the love, concern and compassion of the Divine.

This receptivity can only happen when we are cheerful, which is a powerful spiritual life energy.

If the patient is cheerful, no matter how much suffering has been endured, the God-doctor can infuse more cheerfulness so the patient can be cured to live their life’s destiny.

The pathway of wholeness is living in the eternal newness of life. Always there is something new to achieve or become. It’s waking up every morning and singing a new song or discovering a new melody.

Living in perfect harmony with ourselves, with God, and with the world, while walking the pathway of unity in multiplicity, we are whole.

Finally we realize we are one with the whole world, in service to the divine in each other and all of creation. I indeed we are the creation.

Walking my path to wholeness, I discovered seven principles which I believe are keys to living an integral life. I hope they will add more depth to your experience and understanding.

Click Here To Read: Live The Integral Life

I invite you to share your thoughts on living a whole life.

Do you agree or disagree? What resonated with you and what didn’t?

I welcome any insights to expand our collective awareness in living life as a whole. It is a relatively new concept in the western world, so let’s explore it together.

To your perpetual growth,

Joyce Friesen, Founder The Novalis Integra Center

July is an auspicious month for Canadians and Americans, both of whom are born of a common British heritage.

For Canadians July 1, 1867 is the day the British North America Act was enacted which created the Dominion of Canada. For Americans July 4, 1776 is the day of the Declaration of Independence.

American Independence

The 1776 Declaration of Independence, revered by all Americans as the foundation of their nation was written by Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson was a prolific writer. Although his works are readily available, it was not until Eric Peterson was inspired to compile Light and Liberty, “the book of inspiration that Thomas Jefferson never wrote, although every word here is his” that we have an amazing collection of his words on a variety of topics.

“After extensive study of Jefferson’s reports, state papers, speeches, and twenty thousand letters, [Eric Peterson] has elegantly woven together thirty-four concise essays of profound wisdom on how to lead a meaningful life, both as individuals and in our life as a nation. The subjects include patriotism and liberty, hope, forgiveness, patience, and humility, all considered in Jefferson’s uniquely rational and eloquent voice.”

If you don’t have this book, I suggest you get it and read it, no matter what country you are from. I’m sure it will have a profound effect on you like it did on me.

Click here to read more about Light and Liberty.

Canadian Independence

The United States declared total independence from Britain in 1776, but it was not until 1982 that the Parliament of Canada passed the Constitution Act requesting full political autonomy from Britain.

Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau was the driving force behind the 1982 Constitution Act.

In the following quote Trudeau expresses the aspiration of every Canadian:

“Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die.”

Having a national flag is also a form of independence. Nobel Peace Prize 1957, Lester B Pearson, and the Prime Minister responsible for adopting the red maple leaf as the symbol for the Canadian flag, said:

“Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future.”

Symbols Of Peace Between Canada And The United States

There are many visible testimonies to the harmony and cooperation between Canada and the United States. The following four are the most significant for me. I invite you to comment on these and tell us about others that inspire you.

The Peace Garden

“Devoted to World Peace, along the world’s longest unfortified border, lies a 2,339 acre Botanical Garden. Thousands of tourists are attracted to the garden, annually.

In June 1932, the Cairn of native stone was hurriedly constructed by stonemasons, William Paterson and his son, Edroy, of Rugby, North Dakota for the July 14, 1932 dedication. Over 50,000 people gathered for the dedication of the International Peace Garden. The Cairn is located directly on the United States and Canadian Border, flanked by each country’s flagpole on the designated side. The Cairn is built of aboriginal hammerheads collected by children in the surrounding areas. In July 17, 1960, the globe of red granite with etched meridian lines, a gift from Great Northern Railway Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, as a memorial to its founder, Canadian born James J. Hill, was added to the top of the Cairn.”

On the face of the Cairn it states: “To God in His Glory… We two nations dedicate this garden and pledge ourselves that as long as men shall live we will not take up arms against one another.”

Click here to read more about the Peace Garden

Waterton Lakes

“Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park (in the US) share the designation of an International Peace Park.

On May 2, 1932 and June 16, 1932 the American and Canadian Governments approved legislation for the creation of the world’s first International Peace Park. The International Peace Park is a symbol of peace and goodwill between the United States and Canada. It also represents the need for cooperation and stewardship in a world of shared resources.

This is not only reflected between countries, but also between provinces, with the Akamina-Kishinena class A provincial park in British Columbia, located on Waterton Park’s Western Border and Glacier’s northern border.

Today, both parks strive to strengthen their International Peace Park status through shared management, not only between themselves, but also with their other neighbours.”

Click here to read more about the Waterton Lakes International Peace Park

Peace Arch

There are three distinct missions of the United States Canada Peace Anniversary Association (USCPAA)

“One is to promote and preserve the unique heritage of peaceful relations between the United States and Canada. Integrating educational curricula relating to peace issues is an important part of this undertaking.

The second is the perpetuation of the Peace portal and the surrounding park areas for future generations.

Enhancing the serene and natural settings is the third. This is accomplished through the promotion of visual and performing arts, bringing together peoples sharing ideals of world harmony exemplified by the seamless border between the U.S. and Canada.”

Click here to read more about the Peace Arch

Niagara Falls, Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom

Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual teacher, who made his home in Queens New York, initiated the Sri Chinmoy Peace‐Blossoms Program where over 1100 landmarks around the globe have been dedicated to peace.

“The Peace‐Blossoms family offers daily reminders to thousands of individuals of our common quest for personal and international harmony. This family encompasses 152 Sri Chinmoy Peace‐Blossoms‐Nations, several borders between countries, half of the states of the US, many provinces, more than 200 capitals, cities and towns; striking man‐made structures such as the Taj Mahal and Sydney Opera House, and magnificent natural wonders as Mt. Everest, Mt. Fuji, the Matterhorn, Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls, Iguaçu Falls, and Lake Baikal.”

In the words of Sri Chinmoy:

“O dreamers of peace, come.
Let us walk together.
O lovers of peace, come.
Let us run together.
O servers of peace, come.
Let us grow together.”

To read more about Sri Chinmoy click here

And now I invite you to share your thoughts and feelings about peaceful relations between Canada and the United States on the occasion of our celebrating the anniversaries of our founding.

Tell us know if you know of any other peace initiatives between Canada and the United States.

And finally, how can our two great countries play a greater role in fostering peace and world harmony.

To our continued peace and harmony,

Joyce Friesen, Founder The Novalis Integra Center For Healing and Transformation

Imagine this. I live in a house situated on Kingfisher Crescent in Orleans, Ontario, Canada.

It’s a comfortable, cozy two story house. The moment I saw it, I knew it would be mine.

Behind the houses on the north side of the street is a beautiful greenbelt alongside the Ottawa River.

The River is frozen right now and we can walk, snow shoe or cross country ski for miles and miles. At certain points you can see only wilderness, the pristine beauty of the sun sparkling on snow and ice.

Off in the distance are ice fishing huts, where fishermen pass the time patiently waiting for a bite.

Sounds idyllic doesn’t it?

Behind this backdrop of beauty and peace I have just experienced the most profound, liberating and terrifying moments of my life.

My ego has been shattered (a good thing). I’ve become humble, but will never again will I allow myself to be humiliated.

My courage and determination are now unshakable. My faith in myself, my fellow human beings and God is invincible.

How did I come to this place? Was it by choice? Yes, but I was only partially conscious of my choice. Most of it was unconscious.

I was forced into this situation because I didn’t heed the warning signs of loved ones and trusted advisers.

I continued down the path of destruction, fear gripping me, yet ignoring my still small voice when it tried to tell me what the final consequences would be.

Basically I didn’t want to change. But it was more than that. I refused to accept my life as it was.

I felt that someone somewhere would come and rescue me from what I felt were unjust circumstances. I was a modern day Cinderella.

I was evolving in my spiritual life, but I chose to separate this life from my material existence. The reality is we cannot filter our life through a particular lens forever.

At some point we either have to deal honestly with our pain and suffering or we will succumb. It’s total honesty that will help us not only survive but thrive.

My pain came from living a life of spending beyond my means—the books weren’t being balanced and the debt kept mounting.

It’s not that my spending was particularly wasteful, although I could have done without some goodies or some trips.

I accomplished some amazing things with the money I spent but I was not wise. I didn’t have the courage to delay my gratification.

Did I have the knowledge so I could have avoided my pain and suffering?

Absolutely! Did I have the wisdom? Absolutely not!

I was an ostrich sticking my head in the sand. When I finally pulled my head out of the mud and faced the reality, I had a huge “aha”.

When we look at the credit card debt, outstanding loans, house foreclosures and the bankruptcies in Canada and the US it’s clear that I’m not alone.

And look what’s going on at the national level.

Click here to read an article I came across today.

The article is about what’s happening in the United States, but Canada isn’t much better, if at all.  And many other countries may even be worse.

Unlike our governments, I can’t print money….and I’m glad I can’t because it just means avoiding the issue. The sad fact is that when our governments finally stop printing money with wild abandon, we will all suffer even more.

Facing The Problem

I realized when I looked at my financial problems I saw in it a great force that was devastating me. But I also felt I had a greater force deep within me. And when I chose to face the problem, I proved to the problem that I not only have the greatest counter force at my disposal, I am the greatest force on earth.

With this knowledge I was ready to take action, eagerly and with a willingness to do whatever it took.

I’ve finished with over spending. I’m now into asking, giving and receiving. I’ve chosen to live a life of balance from the inside out.

It’s been a humbling experience. But it’s also been a profound growth experience, because I have truly experienced the power within me to deal with this challenge and I know any challenge that will ever confront me for the rest of my life.

I’m happier, healthier, more peaceful and on purpose now than I’ve ever been in my life.

And finding the path to a new life is a gift I want to share with you. To be of service to you, my readers would be a great privilege for me.

If you’re determined to overcome some challenges in your life read on….

Overcoming Fear

I’ve overcome my fears. I’ve turned my fears into courage. Will I ever be afraid again. Probably, but I won’t let it take me down.  When my body says “no”, I will listen and take action.

Once we eliminate our fears and are sure of our goal, then no force has the power to work against us and destroy us.

Here are some of the fears that I’ve overcome while solving my over spending problem.

1. I was afraid of what others would think about me. And I was afraid that people, including my family would judge me. Quite frankly, hardly anyone really cares, because everyone has their own problems they’re trying to deal with so they don’t have time for yours.
2. I was afraid of going through the experience of coming to terms with the situation. That fear was holding me back from embracing it.
3. In the end, the only thing to fear is fear itself. The only thing to doubt is doubt itself. Identification with fear and doubt or courage and faith is a choice, even if it’s not always a conscious choice. I have this stone on my kitchen counter.  On it is written “choice”.  So from now on, I have promised myself to make only conscious choices.

I’ve Learned A Lot

It doesn’t matter what the problem is, the process of solving it and becoming victorious is exactly the same.

So in the final analysis, I’m grateful for this problem, because it shows what can happen if we truly surrender to the Universe, and ask for help.

I’ve learned:

1. To live life fully from the inside out and not the other way around.
2. That sharing a problem with trusted advisers and loved ones before it becomes a crisis is the best approach.
3. When I separate myself from anything or anyone I move from a state of unity or oneness to a state of separateness. It’s in separateness that we lose our peace and harmony and create division in our life.
4. To completely accept myself without judgment, even if others judge me.
5. My mistakes don’t define who I am unless I let them. Nor does the attitude of someone else define me unless I let them.
6. To face and accept my challenges with a view of transforming them. When I do the Grace of God is with me, for me, and working in me for my highest good.
7. If I can remain cheerful then destructive forces cannot attack me. Have you ever felt drained when you’re around people who are constantly being negative?
8. That if I don’t forgive my failures and then forget them, I’m tying up energy that prevents me from living now and what’s worse, it prevents me from creating my future.
9. I’ve learned to be absolutely honest with myself if I want to move through an obstacle and turn it into an opportunity for growth and learning.
10. When I accepted the worst that could possibly happen and embraced it, the Universe opened up and is showering its choicest blessings on me. Now “the worst” will never happen.

As Helen Keller said “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”

What My Experience Means For You

It means that I want to share my wisdom with you. I want to be of service to you to support you to deal with your biggest issue.

You may be thinking, if she’s screwed up her financial affairs, how can she support me in facing my challenges?

Well, I’ve discovered that the process of looking at a situation you want to change and then creating a new reality, is the same no matter what the problem.

That’s one of the most beautiful things about our world. Once we crack the code, we can share its secrets with others.

Suppression and negativity, along with blaming, complaining and judging take an enormous amount of energy. So much in fact there is little left for creative endeavors.

Can You Identify With These?

If you identify with any of the following, please contact me now for your FREE 90 minute Consultation.

• You’re afraid to face the problem, because you’re afraid of what you perceive the consequences to be.
• You’re in outright resistance and defiance of the situation.
• You’ve put your toe in the water and got burned so you’re afraid to try again.
• You don’t know where to start. You’re overwhelmed by all the information available.
• You’re getting conflicting advice. Friends, family and even supposed advisors are telling you what they think you should do without helping you sort out what your intuition is telling you.

My time for the 90 minute FREE Consultations is limited so I can only give 10 consultations until February 8th.

Why Is The Consultation FREE?

I want to support you to take action RIGHT NOW! I want to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned.

Think of that big issue that is keeping you stuck and preventing you from realizing your full potential.

We’ll look at your from all angles—the past, what it means to you right now, and where you want to go in the future.

At the end of the FREE Consultation you will have the opportunity to join The Change Program to solve the problem once and for all. If you commit, we’ll move forward together with my three point plan.

Three Point Plan

1. We’ll create an aspiring thought around what you want to achieve by cutting through the confusion in your mind. I call this the workable position which will bring you clarity.
2. I’ll give you tools to dive deep within to enlist all the resources you have to face the problem. We have all been given the capacity to deal with our problems. We just have to believe it.
3. I’ll support you to take action and move forward towards your goal with confidence.

If you choose not to come on board, I’ll honour your choice and wish you all the best, hoping we can work together in the future.

2010 is a year of change. Let’s face it together.

My time for the 90 minute FREE Consultations is limited so I can only give 10 consultations until February 8th.

So don’t delay if you are committed to changing your life.

Send an email to: joycefriesen@novalisintegra.com and say “Free consultation” in the subject line.

Whether or not you accept my offer, I would be delighted to get your feedback on this Blog Post. And let me know what is your biggest challenge in life. And if you’ve discovered a great strategy please share it with all of us.

To your transformation,

Joyce Friesen, Founder The Novalis Integra Center

On the eve of the New Year, a new consciousness dawns on earth. So too a new consciousness dawns within you.

When the New Year dawns, we have to make ourselves conscious of this fact. This consciousness gives us the opportunity to transcend ourselves. We have to go beyond our present capacity and achievement.

One of the reasons I like the holiday season so much is that I’m taken out of my daily routine so I can set aside time to gather up the past year, and lay plans for the coming one.

I’m not alone. Every year millions of people embark on the yearend tradition of making a New Year’s resolution or two.

You may vow to lose 20 pounds or say that this is the year you are going to cut back on your drinking, quit smoking once and for all or get out of debt.
But will you?

Four out of five people won’t achieve their goals.

One survey listed the top three resolution categories in order of popularity:

• Start exercising and get fit—37%
• Eat better—13%
• Reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption or quit smoking—7%

Other popular New Year’s resolutions:

• Lose weight
• Manage debt or get out of debt
• Save money
• Get a better job
• Get a better education
• Reduce stress

Do you notice what all these resolutions have in common? At the most basic level, they’re too general.

While they are good starting points, for our subconscious mind to engage in keeping the resolution, it must be more specific and manageable.

Research shows that by the third week of January, many fail to live up to their stated resolutions. They give up and go back to their former lifestyle.

The good intentions that began the New Year end up being a start again on old habits.

Why Resolutions Don’t Stick

I’ve spent a lot of time seeking to understand why people—and that includes me—don’t do what they say they want to do.

For me the biggest thing that holds me back is fear. Look back over 2009 and see is that’s true for you. If it’s not reflect on what did hold you back.

1. Most people assume that it’s a fear that they could fail.

2. For me that’s a big one, but my experience tells me it’s a fear of success as well.

3. But the biggest fear is the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. We’re afraid of what will happen because we don’t know what lies ahead of us.

For me, most of my life I was afraid of the unknown. I felt I always needed someone to hold my hand. I wasn’t good enough to figure it out on my own.
I’m not suggesting for one moment that we don’t need trusted advisers and mentors. But I believed that I couldn’t trust my intuition to take me in the right direction, let alone find someone to trust.

But allowing fear to stop us from taking action is in reality an illusion. It can stop us from taking action, but it will not stop change from happening in our lives. Change is part of our existence.  The question then becomes do we want to be in charge of our life, or allow our life to be in charge of us.

4. Many times we set ourselves up for failure. We overindulge on New Year’s Eve and then set out on a stringent course the very next day.

We build up incredible expectations of ourselves and when we make the slightest slip we feel we have failed. We haven’t failed. We just set ourselves up for “failure.”  We must always remember that failures are the pillars of success.

I had such great expectations of myself that I became inwardly frozen while outwardly I was doing a lot—even too much.

5. In my studies, I’ve found in many cases the problem is that people don’t know what to do. There are so many options to choose from and so much information available we become confused as to what to do.

We hear from every corner that this “quick fix” or that one will solve all our problems so we don’t which way to go.

The truth is that there is no quick fix. And the only options that will work for us are the ones that are in tune with what we want to accomplish. Not necessarily what our mind tells us, but what our heart tell us.

6. We may also believe that we don’t have the determination or will power to stick with it. It’s too hard so we give up.

7. Sometimes we know what to do and we just don’t do it. We sit back passively and wait for something to happen. Then we complain and get frustrated because our fantasy doesn’t just materialize.

8. Then there are people who have a clear overall idea of what they want to do, but they often lack the step-by-step plan of how to go from where they are to where they want to go.

9. Or they may even have a plan, but haven’t figured out the steps in sufficient detail to know what works and what doesn’t so there is a lot of trial and error. And not to mention the frustration.

10. Often we believe that we lack available time, clear priorities or we have no one to be accountable to.

11. Also, for many years I had no idea of what changes I wanted to see in my life. I was running on autopilot, and the pilot wasn’t me.

I kept rationalizing that I didn’t have enough knowledge and experience to jump in. So I continued to struggle in my pain.

When I finally woke up, I tried so many different things to see if they would work. I was gradually moving forward in my life, but the path was like a big zigzag with some sliding back down the hill.

12. Then there was the feeling that I didn’t deserve success, that I wasn’t good enough so I sabotaged myself. It didn’t matter how good anyone else said I was I didn’t believe what people said because I didn’t believe in myself.

My Resolutions For 2010

I want to share my resolutions in the hope that they will inspire you to create some if you haven’t already and then to share them.

Not only in the coming year but for all time, I resolve to:

• Be clear each day as to why I am here on earth. My work is to aspire to build a better me while expanding my service to the world.
• Carefully choose only goals that fit into my life’s mission while keeping my priorities straight and clear.
• Maintain my focus and if I choose to change my focus be conscious of what I’m doing.
• Not waste time but to be conscious of living each moment as a creator of my destiny.
• Keep my promises to others and to myself. It’s much easier to be honest about breaking our promises to others than to breaking promises to ourselves.
• Come clean when I break my promises and make amends as necessary.
• Continually seek higher and deeper levels of understanding so I can move forward in my life.
• To live my life in joy and catch myself quicker when I indulge myself in self pity.

These are my umbrella resolutions and strategies which I will hold up as a mirror to every task that I do.

Progress Insights

I’ll share one of mine. A couple of months ago, I had a most profound learning experience. I realized that for most of my life I had been playing “victim”.

Sometimes it was subtle and sometimes not. I felt that I was not the creator of my destiny nor could I be.

My life was always in someone else’s hands. The best I could do is try to please someone so that they would hopefully take pity on me and throw me a few of their left over crumbs. My expectation was that if I pleased them they would fulfill my needs and expectations.

That barrier has now been broken forever. No one outside us can fulfill us. Fulfillment only comes from within. I now truly believe I am the author of my story and my destiny. I can and will now write my story with my heart in charge.

Aspiring to make progress in life is like learning to walk. When it’s time for a child to walk, she will keep at it no matter how many times she falls. Finally she is able to take a few faltering steps.

Do you think the child will give up? Never! You didn’t when you were learning to walk so what’s changed now.

You mastered learning how to walk. You kept practicing until you succeeded. So now is the time to move forward and not look back.

While a runner is running fast, if he looks back he will stumble. Similarly, if we are constantly looking behind at the year that we are leaving aside, we will think of our sorrow, misery, frustration, failure and so forth.

But if we look forward, we will see hope dawning deep within us.

For now I hope this blog post not only sparks you to take action, but puts you back on your feet so you can build muscles to move ahead and run towards your goals.

Please leave your comments below and let me know what you think.

Can you relate to any part of my story?

I’d be delighted too if you would share some of your own resolutions for the coming year.

And this is where I need your help.

Let me know what you think about the obstacles I’ve identified. Are any of them you?

Or what other obstacles are you facing in making 2010 the best year of your life?

By sharing our stories, we can create a community of support.

In fact the more you share, the more I can support you. With your help, I am launching the Change Program which will start later on in January.

It will help clarify your issues so you can build the muscles to face them, and create an action plan to master your challenges and create the results you desire.
So if you’re facing any challenges in 2010, I want to help you face them and transform them.

But more about mastery and transformation in my next blog post…

Yours in creating the life you were destined to live,

Joyce Friesen, Founder—The Novalis Integra Center

P.S. Please do not leave this article without paying it forward. We need to build a big echo that will inspire us all to dream big dreams and then to act on them.

Why we don’t listen to our bodies and how we can

Summer is a time of lazy days and easy living but for many of us, we’re not lazy we’re just plain exhausted. If you’re feeling particularly drained of energy this summer and even cranky … you may be ignoring what your body is telling you.

You’re letting your life and health slide hoping to get back on track in the fall. But will you ever be able to catch up?

Your body is constantly talking to you, but how many times do you pay attention? It talks to you through:

• Indigestion
• Joint pain
• Hot flashes
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Moodiness
• Muscle pain
• Anxiety
• Tension … and the list goes on

We usually call these symptoms. But they’re really a cry from your body to begin a dialogue with it.

So what’s stopping you from paying attention to what your body is saying and taking action to resolve the issue?

I have used some of the following excuses to keep myself stuck. But it’s more than just excuses. I was ignorant of what was really going on. Let me know if any of them resonate with you.

You’re in information overwhelm

There’s so much information to sift through it’s exhausting to know where to start or what to believe. Deliberate misinformation is being planted in our media by people who have a lot to gain from keeping us in the dark. Getting to the root cause of the problem isn’t good for business. A band aid is much better for the bottom line.

It’s no wonder we’re confused. Health Canada and the FDA are actively involved in knowledge destruction campaigns. Anything natural and complementary to the conventional medical point of view has been discredited or even made illegal.

And then there is the doublespeak. Say one thing and mean something else. There is so much confusion, it’s impossible to know what the facts are.

What’s more, who has time to research and find out what’s going to work for them. Who can we trust to help us in this quest? How can we defend ourselves against the campaigns of disinformation promoted by those in power?

So we end up feeling helpless or if we’re determined to shift through all the information on the internet today we go into analysis paralysis.

You can’t be bothered to pay attention

You’ve studied and trained to gain the knowledge and expertise you need to succeed in your field, but how much time have you taken to become an expert in your own body?

When we see so much sickness and disease around, we stick our heads in the sand and hope nothing will happen to us. If we ignore it, it might just go away.

What’s more we don’t believe there’ll be any serious consequences resulting from our symptoms. Nothing much will happen.

But when something does happen, we often feel betrayed because we’ve never been taught to take responsibility for our health, so how do we know what to do.

We resist, so we procrastinate

Why do we resist change in our lives? It can be due to fear of the future or inner insecurity to face the issue. Often it is because we have a fear that if we stop resisting, something even worse will happen to us. We feel we will either lose what little we are holding on to or some calamity will befall us if we don’t hold back.

Oftentimes we vehemently defend our resistances. For example, we say we certainly would do something but we don’t know what to do, or this problem runs in the family, or it’s in our genes so what can we do.

What we also believe is that holding on to old patterns, beliefs and feelings will be less traumatic then resolving them. It is an irrational feeling and often it’s not a conscious decision to hold on and resist. We usually resist because we don’t see a better outcome should we let go.

We’re afraid our buddies will desert us

Misery really does like company. When I read Why People Don’t Heal and How They Can by Carolyn Myss my eyes popped wide open. I finally realized what had been holding me back.

We may feel dependent on the friends we complain to. We’re dependent on them to commiserate with, and we don’t feel we have the capacity to move forward without them. Our greatest fear is that we will be ALONE.

Not only that if we have no more aches and pains to complain about maybe our friends won’t like us anymore. Our desire for support even if it’s negative is a powerful reason to keep us stuck.

You don’t like what your body is telling you

It’s uncomfortable but the fear of change is worse than putting up with the pain … at least for now. We’re often afraid to learn anything new about ourselves fearing what we might find out.

As a result we may not engage in what can bring us a new beginning. Or we have a sense that we have nothing new to learn. Or we may fear that we are too old to learn or we may feel insecure. In any case, resisting change can cause us to feel stuck in life.

It’s hard to get rid of symptoms

We’ve been trained NOT to think, but to follow the orders and conform. We give young children colouring books so they can learn to colour between the lines. Rote memorizing is rewarded with high marks on tests where the answer is right or wrong. Critical thinking skills are not encouraged or developed. Creativity is not valued.

We hear something and if we don’t seriously think about it, and consciously choose to reject it, chances are it will end up rolling through our thoughts along with all the other things we’ve heard over the years but done nothing about.

Beliefs guide us in all our decisions

They are behind some of our most distressing and horrifying dis-eases today. Once you realize that every negative thought circling in your brain is a LIMITING belief and you the power to change what you believe you will ultimately alter your future in amazing ways.

Listen to yourself during the course of a day and count your negative thoughts. Then start making a practice of declining each and every one of them. Just say “No thank you”. This is what changed my attitude to my health. I counted my negative thoughts and I stopped because it was getting too hard to keep track of them all.

Even scarier are those close to us who help to keep us stuck because they spew out negativity too. Start counting the negative statements you listen to every day. It will surprise you. Once you’re aware you can make a choice of what you will or won’t listen to. Other people’s negative thoughts can have a big impact on your health.

You don’t know what they symptoms mean

You don’t trust yourself to explore further. You feel you’re not smart enough so you go to the doctor, because she’s studied so much. She’s and expert and must know what’s going on.

We’ve been spoon fed the belief from the minute we came out of the womb that the doctor knows best. Even when we are wise enough to choose what we will or will not accept as fact, we usually keep the beliefs that were first put into our heads.

So you go to someone who you believe is an expert that will discover the cause of the symptoms and solve your problem for you. You don’t feel it’s your responsibility to solve the problem, but the doctors.

The poor doctor, he’s seen 20 people today with the flu. Instead of wasting everybody’s time and money why not stay home, go to bed and rest, take natural remedies and you’ll be back on your feet in no time. There is nobody “out there” who is going to “fix you”.

But the problem is the cause is not just physical. When we experience a symptom it’s the end result of what’s been unconsciously building for a long time at a mental, emotional, or even spiritual level along with our core beliefs that hold everything in place.

Doctors are trained to prescribe drugs and do surgery. Even if they want to approach your problem holistically, they are prevented by their governing societies, the government, the drug companies, and the insurance companies.

And there are other times when we really need to discuss our situation in detail and in context with our doctor, but we’re bullied and intimidated when we ask too many questions.

We lose our confidence and dismiss that small voice inside. We give in and take the magic bullet, or we leave more discouraged than before.
But those little pills may not fix the problem, because you haven’t been told all the possible risks or side effects which might even make you feel worse.

After you swallow the pill, your body speaks even louder because you still have the original problem. The pill just substitutes what your body should be doing naturally or it suppresses your symptoms. Now you have another problem to deal with and you have no idea what’s what. Total confusion sets in. All your body wants to do is to be supported so it can get back into balance, but it’s not getting the cooperation it needs.

Your good health is not good for business. Your symptoms and diseases are. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the drug companies, the media companies, agribusiness or the mega food and beverage companies. It’s about their bottom line and not yours. How much of your bottom line in terms of money and poor health are you giving away?

So in the end who do you listen to? Start with yourself. Begin with the intention to listen to yourself.

The intention to listen

A firm intention that can help you move forward is to become knowledgeable. Creating the intention and following it with action will give you more courage to keep going. Keep asking yourself “What’s my next step?”

We need to be aware whether this intention is just a recycled thought or memory replay or it’s really an inspiration to move us into doing. We can affirm, but we need to be inspired to actually tackle our problem.

Question everything … even yourself

We have been programmed into believing so much that is irrational.

There are many layers and you’ve taken so much for granted you believe it to be true.

• Some believe something that is false is real. No one questioned whether putting amalgam fillings in my mouth from the age of six was safe. I suffered most of my life from these filling only to find out that mercury is one of the most toxic metals in our environment.

• The minute you see controversy within the scientific/medical community pay attention. The battle is not what is best for your health, the battle is either who can make the most money from winning the argument or it’s about saving face because NO ONE wants to admit they might be wrong.

• Is there any common sense to poison a person and harm their vital organs while destroying their immunity using chemotherapy? It’s been done so long we just accept it as fact and suffer.

Be aware

Once we notice a change within us, we often react emotionally to that impression. It’s new and we don’t know what it is or what it means. In challenging situations, our response tends to be one of flight or fight or what we call “stress”.

Being more objective helps us to have a balanced reaction to our environment. But since it’s hard to see yourself clearly, have a heart to heart with a friend who won’t judge you.

With greater awareness comes deeper independent thought and action. As we dig deeper we begin to recognize knowledge and throw away falsehood. In other words, we acquire the gift of wisdom.

You have the skills and resources to your create permanent and radiant health if you only listen to your body and act from your own inner knowing.

As I wrap up (I realized how much I wanted to share so the post got quite long), I leave you with one of my favourite quotes.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)

What do you think? I’d be delighted if you would share your thoughts and experiences.

Warmly,
Joyce

In this Blog as in all the services and products either offered or recommended, I hope to create a space of healing and growth where each person can feel welcome and in the company of like minded people.

Novalis Integra is a place for new ideas in the field of healing and living.

Why “Novalis” and “Integra”?

So how did the name evolve? Here it is in a nutshell–the inspiration and reasoning behind it.

Novalis was a German poet and philosopher, sometimes called ‘the prophet of Romanticism’. Novalis was his pseudonym. His real name was Georg Philipp Friedrich Freiherr von Hardenberg (1772-1801). We chose him due to his special significance as a carrier of the impulse for re-awakening humanity to its spiritual nature. He prepared, through his poetry, the true spiritual mood of soul that can propel us forward on the path of our destiny. Novalis was an inspired messenger.

I can think of no better way to introduce you to the Novalis Integra Center than with a quote by Novalis.

“We dream of journeys through the cosmos. Is the cosmos not then in us?
We do not know the depths of our own spirit. The mysterious path leads within.
In us, or nowhere, is eternity with its worlds — the past and the future.”

Integra brings in the concept of integration, of the holistic. Our approach is holographic and inclusive. We place our focus on the dynamic tension between two poles and not on the either/or exclusive views prevalent in our times.

Each individual is a complex unified entity, simultaneously active on many levels. To grasp such complexity with our limited linear thinking is not possible. The new direction is toward an intuitive rationality in which all parts are taken into account as we attempt to assess a person and his or her situation in life.

A message I hear again and again from people who are moving “out of the box” is “I feel alone and I don’t have anyone to share my new thoughts with”.

Many of you are interested in all things holistic, in spirituality and an alternative lifestyle, only to find yourselves in an environment that is either indifferent or at times even rejecting of such a view on life. The resulting feeling of isolation can become a serious life crisis for some.

This Blog is a means to share information and begin the dialogue.

Today, with the new improvements in communication, we can reach everyone, all the time, in an interactive way that allows us to stay connected. It allows you to discover new friends and a new community where you can share your healing journey and we can all learn from each other’s experience.

I welcome your participation and feedback. So tell me what you think!