How To Increase Your Frequency

Hey guys. I hope this blog finds you well. Today I am writing about how to raise your vibrational frequency. If you are unsure what this means or why you should raise your frequency, you should check out my previous blog. The link will be at the end of this post.

1. Eat a healthy diet

I'm not going to tell you how and what to eat. But I will tell you that raw fruits and vegetables have the highest frequency. This is because they are unprocessed and in their most natural state. Processed foods are man made and therefore will be operating at a low frequency. At least try to incorporate more cooked and raw fruits and veggies.

2. Accept the negative happenings in your life

Your life will turn around if you can see these happenings as blessings and lessons. Life is not always going to be easy and we need to learn to not be in resistant to "negative" situations. Allow them and accept them. Learn from them and be thankful from them.

This will help raise your frequency because you are living with less stress and more with purpose and gratitude.

3. Practice self love

We all know how horrible it is to hate another person. Why is hating yourself any different? Hate is such a negative feeling and it will lower your frequency. Learn to love yourself. There are so many ways to do that. I can write a whole other blog on this. But you can start small. Say you love yourself, run a hot bath, go get a massage. These actions will increase your vibration in know time.

4. Beware who you spend your time with

Do you find yourself feeling drained after you hang out with negative, judgmental or ungrateful people? Negativity is toxic and it can rub off on you if you aren't careful. Figure out who these people are in your life and minimize your time spent with them.

5. Does your job make you happy

Feeling happy and fulfilled is one of the best ways to raise your frequency. In this day in age, we spend more time at work than we do at home. Make sure you are happy there and living with a sense of purpose. If not, consider finding work elsewhere.

6. Be grateful

Showing gratitude is a simple and effective way to raise your frequency. Say thank you someone, even if the deed was minor. Thank God, or the Universe or yourself for waking up this morning. At the end of the day, write down things that happened that day you are grateful for.

7. Show an act of kindness

This one is similar to the last point. It doesn't have to be major. Maybe you hold the door open for someone, maybe you pack a lunch for your partner. Be kind and your frequency will change for the better.

8. Trust yourself

If you are operating at a low frequency, it's going to take some time to turn this around. And it may be impossible for us to operate at a 100% high frequency 100% of the time. We are human and we are going to have days were don't feel so well or find ourselves around people who may temporarily bring us down. Don't worry about being a perfectionist. Just aim to increase your ratio to have more high vibrational experiences in your life. Eventually, you will find the ratio getting bigger and bigger as you are attracting more and more high vibrational happenings in your life.

Here is a link to my previous blog:
The Truth About The Law Of Attraction | You Do Not Attract What You Want

Interested in spiritual discussions? Check out the link to take you to my discussion forum:
Discussion Forum

Did I Contact The Spirit Realm? | Story Time

I don't really know the point of this post. It's not really informative or inspirational (at least, I don't think?). But it is a story of a cool experience that happened to me a couple of weeks ago.

I'll start off by saying that I have been really intrigued by the idea of the "paranormal" or spirit realm. Not because I find it scary but because it's a very spiritual thing to me. I don't know if I believe that angry spirits linger on Earth. However, I do believe that everything and everyone is energy and that energy never dies. I also believe in spirit guides, signs, and omens.

So I have been mediating on this a lot while telling the Universe that I open to receiving guidance and assistance from the spirit realm. I am interested in learning more about the "paranormal".

Anyways, one evening not too long ago I was home alone and I really wanted to have some sort of sign that the spirit world exists in some form.

I noticed a dead moth that had been on my floor for a day or so which gave me an idea. I put all of attention on that moth and I said aloud "I am open to connecting with the spirit realm. If there are any spirit guides here, let me know by bringing life to that moth".

As soon as I said that, the moth fluttered. It came up off the floor a little bit for a short amount of time until it fell back to the floor.

I thought this experience was super cool. I am also aware that it could be a coincidence and I respect anyone who thinks that.

What are your thoughts on this? Was a spirit trying to communicate with me? Or did I somehow use the power of my mind to bring life (albeit temporary) to the moth? Or was it all a coincidence?

I am learning too so I would love for you to comment what you think. I just ask everyone to respect one another 😄

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more inspiration, self-growth, and spirituality... and the occasional fun story time 😜

Here is a link to my previous blog:
How To Let Go Of Control

Here is a link to my discussion forum:
Discussion Forum

Here is a link to my last Story Time blog:
My First Encounter With The "Paranormal" | Story Time

How To Let Go Of Control

I get it. You had a bad day yesterday and you said some things to your partner that you really regret. Or maybe you're financial situation isn't great and you're wondering if you will get a call for that job interview. Either way, you are constantly living in the past or the future.

Most people are like this and that's perfectly natural. Actually, it can be beneficial! Thinking about the past can help us learn while thinking about the future can help us prepare. The problem is when we are living more in the past or the future and less in the present moment.

The reality is that we are going to make mistakes and there is always an element of uncertainty with regards to the future. That is life. But if you want to really live and enjoy life, you need to let go and enjoy the ride.

I'm telling you to let go as if it's that simple. It takes a lot of work. Fortunately, I have some tips that might be useful.

1. Bring yourself back to the present moment

When you find yourself thinking about the past or future, come to the present moment. You can do this by consciously putting all your attention on what you are doing; you can close your eyes and listen to your breath; you can also try really observing your surroundings.

If you make this a daily practice, it will eventually become second nature. You will find yourself living more and more in the present moment each day.

2. What you're worried about is not the end of the world

When we are anxious about the future, it's probably because we are in resistance to a potential outcome. But 95% (if not more) of what we worry about never actually happen. Also, would such an outcome really be that awful? You're not going to die if you fail a test and your life will go on if you do not get the job.

3. Find a hobby

Better yet, find a passion. Something that you can put 100% of your time and energy in. This will help you get your mind out of the past and future and into the now.

4. The Universe works in your favor when you allow

You attract what you are, not what you want. If you are worried, anxious and uncomfortable about the unknown, you will attract more of this into your life. Tell the Universe that you allow whatever might be and that you are competent enough to handle any outcome thrown your way. If you can do this, you will find you are attracting more positivity in your life. And when "bad" things happen, you will handle them with grace. Not only that, you will be able to see these negative situations as a learning opportunity or as "meant to be".

5. Follow a spiritual path

What's spiritual for me may be different than what's spiritual for you. And I'm certainly not trying to be pushy. But a huge part of spirituality is learning to be mindful, accepting and in the present moment. It has really helped me learn to let go of my need to be in control. I feel less anxious and happier.

You can start by reading a book or watching a documentary on spirituality or trying out yoga or breathing techniques. It can be as fast or as slow of a progress as you like. Either way, I guarantee you will reap benefits.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe you receive notifications when I upload. And check out the discussion forum I have created!

Here is a link to the discussion forum:
Discussion Forum

Here is a link to my previous blog post:
How To Get The Body Of Your Dreams | Feature The Law Of Attraction

Check Out My Discussion Forum!

Hi guys!

I have added a discussion forum to my blog! It's going to be about Spirituality and becoming the best version of you.

I want to create a community where we can share, inspire and help one another along our spiritual practice.

I would mean so much for you check it out and leave a few comments and replies.

You can also subscribe to my blog to receive notifications when I upload. I upload new blogs every Sunday and Wednesday.

I look forward to our discussions!

Ang

My First Encounter With The "Paranormal" | Story Time

I'm a little late but happy October!

I have been MIA again. I'm horrible, I know. I have been thinking about it and I am going to go back to my original uploading schedule which is on Sunday and Wednesday. Having a schedule is the only way I can upload consistently, apparently.

Also, if you haven't noticed, I am trying to get a discussion forum up and running on this blog. You can expect to see everything from minimalism and diet to chakras and psychics. There are a few kinks to work out but when it's working, I'll let you know. And because of which, my blog is under construction.

I decided to do something a little different for this blog. I have been watching a lot of story times on YouTube. In particular, stories of people's experiences with the unknown. And since it's October, I figured why not! I am going to share one of my experiences with you. Enjoy!

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It was summer 2008 and I worked my first summer job as (more or less) an assistant secretary. The building had 3 adjoining and separate businesses. I worked in the middle one. The office was small. I worked at the front desk and there were 4 rooms off of the front desk. Two rooms were other offices and there was a lunch room and a bathroom.

There were two other women who worked there full time. They spent a lot of time out at meetings and visiting clients so I was left alone quite frequently.

One day I was there alone and I heard the sound of papers rustling in one of the offices. I never thought too much of it until I remembered that I was there alone. I went to investigate but I did not find anything. I wasn't too alarmed by this though. There are always new sounds in places that you are not familiar with. It could have been a draft of wind or a mouse. I went on about my business. I did hear this quite a bit in the 6 weeks that I worked there.

Anyways, I was having lunch with the women who worked there. We will call them Sarah and Catherine. I don't remember how we got on the topic, but I said that I have been hearing strange noises when I'm there alone. Sarah became intrigued and asked me what kind of noises so I told her my experiences. She then told me that strange things have happened to her at this office. Obviously I had to know more so Sarah told me some stories. There is only one story that I can remember accurately so that is the one that I will share:

Sarah told me that was at the office one night by herself as she sometimes does. At one point, She went to the bathroom and when she came out, the chair in Catherine's office was out in the doorway. She told me that she was there alone and she wasn't in any other room besides her office and the bathroom. There was no way for the chair to have moved from the desk to the doorway. Needless to say she got the hell of there real fast.

On a side note, it's interesting that the noises that I heard was coming from Catherine's office too.

From then on I would feel very freaked out when I was there by myself. But nothing out of the ordinary happened. Nothing that couldn't be explained away.

Fast forward to my last day on the job. It was late in the day and I was preparing to go. I took the key to the building off my key chain. I was soon about to bring it to Catherine's sister who worked at one of the next door businesses. I am an incredibly nervous person so I kept the key near me to ensure I wouldn't misplace it. It might seem irrelevant, but keep this detail in mind.

I must have been feeling brave that day because I wanted to have a paranormal experience. Nothing super terrifying. But I was curious and I wanted to know if there was something there. I can't remember if I said to myself or aloud that I wanted to have an experience. But I wanted whatever was there to connect with me somehow.

I took out my cell phone (a flip phone razor 😆) and I started to take pictures. I done this with the hopes of capturing something on my phone. (A real ghost hunter, I am). When I pointed my phone to the lunchroom, I went into a trance. It just felt like I was daydreaming (which is what I thought I was doing) so it wasn't startling. Then, before I came out my trance, a thought was planted into my head which said "the key is gone". It was so strange. It was like before I knew my key was gone, I knew my key was gone and I had to look for it. I shook myself out of this trance and I instantly began to look for my key. It was not in my hands, it was not on my desk, it was not in my purse, it was not in my pockets and I checked all over the floor. It was gone. I even went to the bathroom, took off every piece of clothes and felt it wondering if there was a hole in the seams of my pockets and the key fell into it. Nothing. It was such a bizarre experience.

I was suppose to drop off the key to Catherine's sister who worked in the business next door. She would give the key to Catherine or Sarah when they got back from their meeting.

What was I suppose to tell her? The key vanished into thin air? I didn't tell her all of the story but I did tell he the key disappeared and I had no idea where it went or how it happened. Her reaction was priceless. She was totally nonchalant about it and she told me that things like that happen there all of time and that it would show up eventually.

She was totally right about that. About a week later I came home from school and saw a key laid on top of the banister at my house. It was the key that went missing. I asked my mom where it came from and she told me she found it at the bottom of the laundry basket. I believe that the clothes I wore that day at work were in the basket, but my key was definitely not in any of my pockets. Crazy.

Stories like this scared me a lot when I was younger. Now that I am older and I embrace Spirituality, I realize that having encounters with the "unknown" is a natural part of life. The further I progress in my Spiritual practice, the more experiences I have.

I also want to point out that people who have such experiences often intuitively know when it's something that has a logical explanation versus one that cannot be logically explained. A few people told me that I must have overlooked the key and that I was overthinking the situation. At the time, I was insulted. So if someone confides in you, try to hear them out. With that being said, I understand that these things can make people uncomfortable. So be careful who you share your experiences with 😉.

If you have a story you want to share or you are looking for some advice, hit me up! My email should be in my profile or you can comment below.

Let you know if you want to hear more stories like this. Like this blog and leave a comment. It's so appreciated.

Ang

Feeling Lost? You're On Your Way To A Spiritual Transformation

I just wanted to right a quick blog to inspire those who may be feeling lost. It also a gentle reminder to myself that I am exactly where I need to be. 

If you're anything like me, you have your shit together. You know what you want in life and you work to make it happen. You see results and you know that set backs happen for a reason. For the most part, you feel pretty damn good.

Notice I said "for the most part". There are definitely moments when you feel miserable. You wonder if you're on the right track. You question your potential to achieve your goals. You think that past successes were just coincidences. 

If this is you, I really feel for you. I'm in a similar situation now. To be honest, I want to escape. I want to escape this world I'm currently living and find a life where I can live my purpose and be free. A life where I can reach people and talk about things that I'm passionate about without being constrained to a 9-5. 

I have been mostly confident in my ability to achieve this. But I have been doubting myself lately. I'm not seeing the results I would like to see. As a result, I have been looking for other careers and I have applied to go back to school. I know, though, that this will not give me that life style. But I hate feeling "stuck" so those efforts seemed necessary.

But then I am reminded of something. Feeling lost or stuck means you are on your way to a transformation. I don't know where I learned this. I feel like it's something I intuitively know. 

I think it's the universe's way of challenging you. If you keep working on your dream despite feeling discouraged, lacking motivation, or trusting yourself, the universe will take note. 

You need to go through rough patches. You need to be in the dark before you can see the light. It's the way the universe works!

So if you're feeling discouraged, keep moving forward! That is when the magic happens. You have nothing to lose anyways so it's worth the shot.

I hope this blog is inspiring. Feel free to share and subscribe to my blog :)

I'm working this weekend but I should be back Monday or Tuesday with a new one.

Have a great weekend. 

Ang

Here is a link to my previous blog:

Looking To Collaborate  

Related blog:

Have You Ever Asked The Universe For A Direction?

How To Know If Your An Empath | My Experience

Hi everyone. I hope you are doing well.

You may have noticed that I have taken a break from blogging for the past week or so. I could say it was because I was busy with my day job. But the truth was that I lost myself.

No. I didn't get lost while hiking or traveling. What I mean is that I couldn't find my soul. My spirit. My passion. Or whatever you want to call it. So I took a step back from this blog. Not because I wanted to stop writing but because I wanted to be authentic. And for a while I didn't know how to be authentic.

I started doing some research. And when I say research, I actually mean mediation. I looked back at my interests and passions as a child and the Universe did not disappoint.

I don't want to to talk about the epiphany I had or the direction of this blog. But I will say that inspiration came my way.

So for this blog I want to talk to you about something that has been apart of me for my whole life. Something I didn't understand as a child, rejected in my teens, and now embrace as an adult.

Empathy.

A quick Google search will tell you that Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Well, doesn't everyone experience empathy at some point or another? Yes, they do!

But there is much more to Empathy than that. Yes, you take on other people's emotions and feelings. But for some, it is on a much deeper level.

Based on my experience, Empathy is being sensitive to any and all energies.

Maybe you can sense someone's energy before this person even enters the room. You know what they are feeling because you can feel it to. Maybe you take on the physical sensations that another person is experiencing such as headaches and stomach pains. Maybe you can feel the energies of events that happened in the past or future. The list goes on and the possibilities are endless.

I know this may sound a little out there or too magical for some. But I invite you stay with me. Allow your mind to be open as you read on.

It's not easy growing up as an Empath. It's not so bad now. I know my limits and I am much more in tune with my feelings and emotions. It is now something I embrace.

I wish to share with you my experience as an Empath. Not because I want to talk about myself but because I understand how challenging it can be. I wish I had someone explain things to me when I was a young.

I wish to help people who are in a similar position as I was. Or maybe you have a loved one who is Empathic and you want to understand them a little better.

Now I will share with you my experiences as an Empath. If anyone can relate to my stories then you are probably an Empath too. So welcome to the club!

1. I Felt That I Was Weird

And it didn't help that I was often called weird! It was embarrassing watching movies in public. If it was happy or sad, I would cry buckets of tears. If it was scary, I would be paranoid and heightened for days to come.

Being in a room full of people was challenging. I felt anxiety on a daily basis when I was in class. I didn't know it at the time, but it was because I was occupying the same space as 20 plus people. So I was experiencing the energies of all these people. Make no wonder I went home with anxiety and panic attacks.

I was often labeled as being shy. And so I was! But the successful, popular people I grew up with were not shy. They were extroverted, social butterflies. So I would be offended when I was labeled as shy. Also, the shyness was a result of the powerful qualities I possess (empathy, introversion). Being labelled as shy did not help me to explore myself and my talents.

Needless to say, I felt below average growing up. I wasn't a social butterfly, I did not excel in school, and I was definitely not apart of any groups or clubs. I more or less just drifted in my own head space. I had quite the imagination which had both positive and negative implications. The positive being I had a safe space to get lost in. At the time, I liked to play video games, read books, and toys that required using your imagination (like barbies and dolls). I also had an artistic nature so it was pretty common for me to have a burst of inspiration where I would write, draw or paint. The bottom line? I spent a lot of my time alone. And that isn't to make anyone feel bad for me! I didn't realize it at the time either, but I loved spending time by myself.

The bottom line is that I felt very different from my peers. Empaths usually do.

2. I Felt A Responsibility For The Planet

Remember how I said that Empathic people are sensitive to energies? Well this doesn't mean that they are exclusively sensitive to the energies of other people.

Growing up, and to this day, I felt like I needed to make a difference to the planet and it's animals. I was naturally drawn to eco-friendly alternatives and conservation. I felt a need to explore vegetarianism and veganism. No documentaries were required. It is an innate quality I possess, I guess.

Eating a meatless diet is a part of who I am and I feel very strongly about it.

I wrote an article about my calling to go vegetarian that I will link here.

3. I Always Felt Scared

I was told that I had an overactive imagination. And I believed that to be true as it helped me to feel less afraid.

I often thought I saw things in the corner of my eye. I often thought I heard whispering outside my bedroom window. I often thought I could hear the television when it was turned off.

I embraced this as a child. But when I got older I learned that it wasn't "normal" to see or hear things that weren't there. This made me worried I was either seeing a ghost or going crazy.

Well, Empaths are also sensitive to energies outside of the physical world too. And when I realized this, it brought to light a lot of experiences I had as a child.

This is still a concept that is relatively new to me and I understand some people may have a hard time accepting and understanding it. But I do believe there is a spirit realm. What it contains I have no idea. Maybe it's spirits, spirit guides, or residual energy of past events. But I do believe there are energies that we cannot experience with our 5 senses. Those who are Empathic, though, may be able to pick up on these energies.

But these experiences were frightening as a child. And I'm not going to lie... they can be frightening as an adult! But now that I understand and accept these experiences, I am more intrigued than afraid. How many people can say that they have experiences with the spirit realm? That's pretty cool.

4. I Am Sensitive To Stimuli

This one is pretty basic, but I am very sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds, and harsh smells. I rarely use ceiling lights. Sometimes I actually feel like I need to use a blind to cover my eyes. Harsh smells especially scents of chemicals and perfumes make me feel like I'm choking. I am very reactive to loud, sudden sounds. I thought it was because I just startled easily!

I guess that is sort of true. But when you think about it, if Empaths are highly sensitive to energies, their baseline for how much stimuli they can tolerate is probably lower compared to less Empathetic individuals.

5. I realize I have A Gift To Share With The World

Like artists, dancers, and songwriters, being Empathic is a gift and talent that can be shared with the world. There are an endless amount of careers you can have that require Empathy. I am choosing a a nontraditional route by sharing my experience as an Empath via blogging.

If you feel that you can help people on a very deep level, you are probably an Empathy too.

That is it for my list. I hope you find it interesting and I hope it sheds some light on the topic. If you have any questions regarding Empathy, let me know in the comments. And please subscribe to Confessions of an Awakened Youth and share this article. It would mean a lot :)

You can also expect more blogs about Empathy. I have been very inspired lately!

I am sending positive vibes your way.

Ang

Here is a link to my previous blog:
A Cause Of Anxiety No One Talks About | Your Intuition

What To Do When You Feel Jealous | Fast & Easy Way To Stop Feeling Jealous

You can't be happy for others until you are happy for yourself.

It's so hard sometimes. It seems that your peers, friends, and family are always one step ahead of you. Your friend is getting married while you're just falling in love. Your sister bought her first home while you're only now establishing your career. Your cousin is making a career off his art work while you just enrolled in beginners dance lessons.

You find yourself feeling jealousy towards those who seem to be ahead of you. You struggle with coming to terms with this and your jealousy transpires into resent. You feel disgusted with yourself.

I don't know about you, but I want to be the type of person to feel happy for other's successes. And usually I do! But I am only human and I have imperfect moments. That's OK though. It means I still need to keep searching to understand myself a little better. And I love learning new things about myself.

I had an off day today. I felt bitterness and jealousy which left me in an emotional state. I don't like that feeling so I had to center myself. I mediated. And I came to the realization that we cannot feel happy for others when we are not happy for ourselves. When we are happy for ourselves, then we can feel happy for others.

But isn't that egocentric? Well... yes and no. We really need to learn to love and be happy for ourselves first and foremost. That's part of self love and it's crucial for our well-being. At the same time, we shouldn't just feel happy for other's when we have something that makes us look "equal to" or "better than" someone. Do you get what I'm saying? First, we need to learn to be truly happy and proud of ourselves first. Then, we can learn to be truly happy for others. I have some steps to help you on this journey.

1. Acknowledge That You Feel Jealous

I do not believe in suppressing emotions. Even negative ones. We are human and we reserve the right to feel every emotion and feeling there is. (I wrote a blog on that which I will link below). Acknowledge to yourself that you feel jealous. There is no shame in that. It happens to all of us.

2. Ask Yourself Why Your Are Jealous

Avoid superficial answers and dig a little deeper. Are you jealous your friend is getting married because you are not satisfied with your partner? Are you jealous that your sister is making a career from her art because it reminds you of your failed attempts at publishing your book?

3. Center Yourself

For me today, I centered myself through meditation. I closed my eyes and focused on my breath for 30 minutes. Meditation comes in many forms. It can be a walk or coloring. Just ensure that you are in the present moment and self-aware.

4. Do What You Do Best

In times like this, consuming (TV, media) can make you feel worse. Instead, produce! Do whatever you're good at or whatever you enjoy.

5. Don't Be Hard On Yourself

Forgive yourself for feeling jealousy. It does not make you a bad person. And remember  that comparing different people is like comparing apples to oranges. It doesn't make sense. The only person you can compare yourself to is you.

I hope this article finds you well.

Let me know what kind of blogs your interested in. I'm open to suggestions :)

Ang

Here is a link to my previous article:
My Calling: A "Plant-Based" Joruney | A Personal Story

And another relevant blog:
How To Deal With Negative Emotions

My Calling: A "Plant-Based" Joruney | A Personal Story

Some days I'm vegan. Other days I'm a vegan eating organic, raw honey. On less frequent occasions, I eat wild caught fish and free run eggs.

I worry sometimes that I'm not doing it right, so I eat fish and diary. Sometimes I have cravings and I eat a non-vegan chocolate bar.

The point is that I'm not perfect nor is my diet perfect. And that's why I don't like labels such as "vegan". They're too rigid. But one thing that is definitely true is that my diet is plant-based. So that is typically what I call myself with regards to my food choices. I wanted to clarify that before I discuss my food journey.

Up until the age of 19, I never questioned what I ate. I never wondered where this piece of chicken came from. If it was treated humanely. If it felt scared or pain when it was killed. Well... I never thought of it enough to stop eating it.

In my early teens, I started to care more about the environment and being more natural. I tried to be as eco-friendly as possible. I started to remove toxic, non-organic products out of my belongings and replace them with more natural alternatives.

I don't know where this interest came from. It just became part of who I was.

I remember it was December 2009 and I wanted Plant Earth for Christmas. It's a collection of DVD's that documents animals across the globe. I can't remember the date, but it was early December and I was watching the trailer for Plant Earth.

While I was watching it, I was in awe. This world and the organisms that inhabit it are so beautiful. Beautiful enough to make a successful documentary about. Yet, people are destroying the world. Organisms are going extinct, toxins and pollution are taking over, and we are killing and consuming these beautiful animals.

"I have to stop eating meat", was my next thought.

I still find it strange. To this day, I feel like this wasn't a conscious decision. It was more like a calling. I am meant to do this and the time is now. I was in a trance, I was moved, and I was emotional. I will never forget that moment.

So for the next week, I didn't eat meat. The problem though, is that I got hungry. I had a diet of poptarts, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and hot dogs. What the hell do I eat?

So I started to ween. For the next... I want to say couple of years, I only ate poultry, fish, eggs and diary. I also started to eat more grains, fruits, and vegetables.

I was OK with this lifestyle. I thought that would be my diet for the first of my life. But a couple years later, I came across a documentary where I learned that poultry are the most abused animals on the planet.

And that was it. I could no longer eat poultry. I haven't since.

About 3 or 4 years ago, I have been dabbling around in keeping diary and eggs off of my plate. The past couple years I have been eating a diet high in raw fruits and vegetables.

I mentioned in the beginning of this blog that I still sometimes eat fish, diary and eggs. I don't stress about it. My body lets me know when I am ready to take it the next level. And I am a firm believer in taking things to the next level. Especially when it involves your health and the well-being of the planet and its animals.

I remember a couple of years ago, I hit a plateau. I felt tired all of the time. No matter how many healthy foods I ate, I could not get that life back into me. I started to obsess that it was due to not eating meat. So, one day when I was at the mall with my mom, I bought my usual pad thai but this time I added beef. I told my mom why I had beef on my plate. She seemed happy and supportive. Much more supportive than when I told her I wasn't going to eat meat anymore which was disappointing.

So, I ate the food and held back tears the whole time. It might sound so silly to some people but I couldn't get the image of a slaughtered cow with her baby looking at her out of my head. I felt sick to my stomach. And no matter how many times my mom told me I was being ridiculous, the rest of my day was ruined. I ate what was once a living being in order to make myself feel better. I was disgusted with myself.

That was the first and last time I tried eating meat. I really couldn't do it. So why was I feeling tired all of the time? I never looked at the fact that I hated my job. Or that I had graduated with a degree and I couldn't find a career. Or that I stopped expressing myself creatively.

Without me really realizing it, I made some changes. I started writing, drawing, and painting. I finally found a career and I was able to quit my job. I haven't plateaued since.

But keeping meat off of my plate is more than just a decision that I made 8 years ago. It's more than the latest trend. It is more than my health. Being plant-based is my calling. It is part of who I am and it is a deeply spiritual component of my life. Probably the strongest spiritual component of them all.
And I'm pretty confident when I say that it will be this way for the rest of my life. I may never be a purist, but I will never eat meat again.

My plant-based story and journey is very personal. I don't share this with a lot of people. But I had an epiphany a little while ago. To reach people, to be heard, you need to be raw and authentic. You need to talk about the parts of your life that are difficult to share.

I have a lot more on this topic that I can share such as my health, people's reactions, and I how I coped with that. I plan on sharing them soon.

I hope you find this blog inspiring and I hope it helps you understand me a little better. Let me know your thoughts on the topic. I just ask that we respect one another :)

Ang

Here is a link to my previous blog:

How To Get Inspired Instantly | Quick Tip Entry # 6

Another Food Related Blog:

What I Ate Today (As A Struggling Vegan)

Instant Cure For Anxiety | Quick Tip Entry # 4

It seems that everyone deals with anxiety nowadays. And for good reason.

We live in a faced paced society. We are more connected with electronics than each other. Our diet isn't the best. We are living to please other people (i.e.; our boss, spouse, parents, etc).

These are a lot of things to change. It could take months or years. And maybe some people can't (or won't) change them.

That's OK. For now, I have an easy and instant solution for anxiety.

Odds are, you're feeling anxiety because of something that may happen. You're thinking about work the next day. You're worried about your exam next month. You're nervous about Tuesday's presentation.

It's OK to feel anxiety over these things. It means you care. If you had a neutral reaction, you may not prepare for your exam or show up for work!

But anxiety is still not a nice feeling. Especially when it keeps you from living in the present moment...

I think I hit the nail on the head that time. "It keeps you from living in the present moment".

My response to that? Put yourself in the present moment. Turn off electronics and get rid of distractions. Sit down and really put all your attention on what is happening right now. The sounds, sights, taste, smells, and feels (LOL). Tell yourself that you are in the present moment.

It takes some practice. You may feel a little uncomfortable at first. But once you really grasp what it means to be in the present moment and do it on a regular basis, you will start to feel better.

For me, it feels like my anxiety instantly disappears. It may come back again a little while, but I'll just bring myself back to the present again. :)

And remember. Just because it doesn't work the first time doesn't mean that it will never work. It's a practice. Keep at it.

Ang

Check out the link to my past previous:

Easy Way To Overcome Difficult Times

If you're interested in learning more about anxiety, check out the following links:

Why You Will Never Be Completely Free Of Anxiety

Does Your Job Give You Anxiety? Don't Distract Yourself... Do This Instead!

How To Stay Motivated: Quick Fix Entry #1

You get really inspired. You start that new hobby or diet or whatever it may be. It lasts a couple weeks. Then you fall off the wagon. Hard. You choose couch time over your hobby or popcorn and chocolate instead of the healthy snacks you recently purchased.

If this is you I can assure you that you are not alone. I'm like it as well. I stop eating healthy, meditating, doing yoga, or drawing. It could be anything at any point in time.

So then why does most everyone "fall of the wagon" at some point.

I think there are an infinite amount of reasons for this. It all depends on the circumstance, the individual, and a whole host of other variables.

I have been paying attention to when I fall off the wagon and what motivates me to start again. Actually, I'm just now getting motivated for the first time in a couple a weeks. And what prompted this sudden motivation? Watching new (to me) YouTube videos about some of my favorite topics which gave me new insight and even new recipes.

That gave me a realization.

I'm willing to bet that a contributing factor to lack of motivation for many is boredom.

Let's just say your relatively new healthy morning routine looks like this: You wake up at 9 a.m. and you drink lemon water. Then you get a shower and do some yoga. After yoga, you make a smoothie and you drink it while responding to emails. You done this every morning for the past 2 weeks. Same yoga routine and all. After a couple of weeks, you find yourself sleeping in, grabbing some quick to eat, and passing the morning on Facebook or Instagram.

If something like this has ever happened to you and you are struggling to get back on the wagon, there could be an easy fix to it.

Simply change your routine. Incorporate a walk into your morning; try a different yoga routine; drink tea or coffee instead of or in addition to water.

Feeling bored can lead to loss of motivation. Add something novel to your routine to spice it up again and get motivated.

I hope this helps.

Let me know what you do to stay motivated!

Ang

I'm thinking of adding a series in blogs like this one that are quick fixes to common problems. I have a couple of more in mind for motivation but I plan to expand and make them about anything. :)

I have a good reason for you to stay motivated! Check out my blog on 6 things that happen to you when you live your life purpose:

https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/6-things-that-happen-when-you-live-your.html

Check out my previous blog if you struggle with feeling beautiful:

https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/07/read-this-if-you-struggle-with-feeling.html

10 Beautiful Things That Happen When You Do Yoga

Before I get into this blog, I'm going to tell you about how I got into Yoga. It's pretty intense. Are you ready? I got into Yoga through... the Wii Fit. Yep. You read that right. The Wii Fit is a game for the Nintendo Wii. In this game, you can do Yoga poses and I believe you earn points based on your balance. It's been years since I played it.

When I started doing Yoga via the Wii Fit, I noticed that I really liked how my body felt. The best way for me to explain it is that it felt right. And I felt invigorated after. I started following along to Yoga lessons that aired on TV. Shortly after that I discovered Yoga teachers on YouTube.

Yoga via YouTube is my favorite way to practice it.  In case you are curious, my favorite Yogi's are Tara Stiles and Yoga With Adriene.

I have been doing Yoga for about a decade now and I have been practicing it very consistently the past several years. The past year or so I have noticed changes that happened to and within me as a result of practicing Yoga that I wish to share with you.

1. You Will Align Yourself Off The Mat

When you are practicing Yoga, your teacher will remind you of your alignment. Long neck. Tail bone tucked in. Shoulders rotated. Well, I'm constantly checking my alignment when I'm off the mat. In turn, this is great for your posture.

2. You Will Practice When You Are Not Doing Yoga

The other day I wanted to get someone out of my bottom drawer. Instead of simply bending down, I kicked one leg back and practiced a standing split while getting the item out of the drawer. This isn't uncommon for me and it's safe you say you will find yourself doing the same thing.

3. You Will Become Conscious Of Your Breath

While practicing Yoga, you will learn to take long deep breaths into your belly. I have become very aware of my breath when I'm off the mat. I check myself to make sure I'm breathing deep into my belly, especially if I'm anxious.

4. You Will Listen To Your Body

After years of practicing Yoga, I now know, appreciate, and respect what my body needs. If I'm tired, I may do a Yoga routine that focuses on stretching and relaxing. There is no shame in this. I honor what my body is telling me.

5. The Burn Feels Good

And on days when you do have the energy, the burn will actually feel good. It's as if your body is telling you that this is exactly what it needs right now. You will be able to hold that plank pose longer than ever!

6. You Will Get Emotional

I had to research this one. What I found is that just like Yoga releases physical tension in your body, it also releases emotional tension as well. Don't be surprised if you well up during certain yoga poses.

7. You Become (More) In Tune With Your Body

In my experience thus far, this mostly involves food. Your body has a way of telling you when it needs food and what food it needs. This becomes more clear when you do Yoga.

8. You Will Feel Proud Of Your Accomplishments

But not in an egotistical way. You might want to show people that you can do a headstand but it's not to show off. This may happen with non-Yoga related accomplishments as well.

9. You Crave More Yoga

I started doing yoga for about 10 minutes a day. I worked up my way up to 20-30 minutes a day. Now, I have been craving doing yoga for about an hour in addition to some playtime after my lesson. Of course, this all deepens on my body and what it needs. Refer to point number 4.

10. You Will Challenge Yourself

When I first began to practice Yoga, I never thought I would ever attempt headstands and arm balances and yet here I am. You will know when you are ready to take your Yoga practice to the next level.

There is definitely a common tread in my list. Getting in tune with your body and taking what you learned on the mat outside of your practice.

I hope that this article inspires you to start or continue your practice. There are so many types of yoga. Experiment and see what works best for you.

I would love to hear from you. How did you get into Yoga? And how has it changed you?

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Namaste,

Ang

Check out some of my other blogs:

Why You Will Never Be Free Of Anxiety
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/i-have-anxiety.html

9 Signs You Are Going To Live A Spiritual Life
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/9-signs-you-are-going-to-and-should.html

Why You Will Never Be Completely Free Of Anxiety

Even though I have come a long way, I still have anxiety. Or at least, I can have anxiety. Let me explain myself.

I was always a basket case growing up. I think I felt anxious more than I felt calm. But in my early 20s, I experienced a shift which is what I share on Confessions Of An Awakened Youth.

But these Spiritual practices that I follow does not mean that I am 100% anxiety free. You must know that you will never find a solution to get rid of anxiety. Why? Because some anxiety is normal. I'll explain why through example. 

Imagine that you are walking home alone at night and you see a short cut which involves walking down a dark ally. You don't get a good feeling about it and you start to feel anxious. That's good! The anxiety will prompt you to be alert or find an alternative way home. Anxiety can save your life. Why would you want to get rid of that?

 For the rest of our lives we are going to be faced with uncertainty which will involve some degree of anxiety. The good news is that you can live a more care free and happy life than an anxious life. It's how you respond to anxiety that is key.

A couple hours ago, I was faced with uncertainty and technically I still face it. What triggered my anxiety involves my job so I don't want to get into details about it. But I felt myself rise and even panic. I wanted the matter addressed ASAP and I wasn't going to relax until it has been resolved. But it's Friday evening and there isn't anyone to help me until Monday.

Do I really want to be anxious for the rest of the weekend? Am I really going to let this take me from the present moment over the next couple of days? 

No.

I took a step back and looked at the outcomes of the situation: 1. the situation is resolved in my favor and 2. the situation is not resolved in my favor. 

Obviously the first outcome is the most desirable. But it's the uncertainty of the situation that causes the anxiety. And what happens if outcome number 2 comes to fruition? Well, I'll just deal with it. The world won't end. It will be OK. It's always OK at the end of the day. I am capable and strong even to handle any situation that comes my way. And so are you. 

You must be mindful. You must be in the present moment even if (when) anxiety rears it's ugly head. 

I hope this blog helps with your anxiety. If nothing else, I hope that it encourages you be mindful and feel fearless. It's a liberating thing when you can face your anxiety.

Thanks for reading,

Ang

Other meditation blogs you may like:

Don't Have Time To Meditate? Read This! https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/06/dont-have-time-to-meditate-read-this.html

Meditation For Dummies
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/meditation-for-dummies.html

9 Signs You Are Going To (And Should) Live A Spiritual Life

When I was a child, my dad told me he knew that I was going to live a spiritual life. And naturally as a teenager, I was somewhat rebellious and defiant. I wasn't my true self and I did not express my true interests. Perhaps because I didn't understand them. But who am I kidding? I love yoga and meditation and I care deeply about every living being on this plant. As I grow older, I only embrace this very important part of who I am more and more.

I didn't understand much about Spirituality as a child. And growing up, I didn't think that my interests or beliefs were something Spiritual. But they most definitely were. Living a Spiritual life is changing me everyday. Although it's not always easy, it has definitely given me so many benefits. I'm not going to talk about those benefits right now. Instead, I'm going to share with you signs that you are (or should be) living a Spiritual life based on my own experience.

1. You Are Intuitive 

You just know things. You don't know how you know, but you do. I remember when I was in university, I contemplated skipping class (which I often did). However, I had a feeling that I should go this time. I did, and it was a good thing as the class was presented with a pop quiz! This "knowing" may present itself to you as a good or bad feeling which pulls you in a certain direction. It's what some people call your "gut instinct" or "gut feeling". If you have ever experienced this, you may be living a Spiritual life without even realizing it.

2. You Are Empathetic

Empathy is when you actually feel what other people feel. They don't need to tell you what's going on; you don't need to put yourself in their shoes. When they cry, you cry. You can tell when someone is in a bad mood just by being near them because you can feel it too. It's not always going to be obvious that you are experiencing someone else's emotions. You may often confuse them with your own and then think of yourself as an overly emotional person. If you are an empathetic person, you should consider jumping on the Spiritual wagon!

3. You Are Concerned About The Environment

You always turn off the lights when leave a room. You never leave the water running. These behaviors may not have been encouraged by anyone. You're just aware of the world around you and that it needs to be protected. And you do.

4. You Feel Compassion For Animals

Maybe you ensure that what you buy did not affect any animals. Maybe you are vegan or vegetarian. Maybe you refuse to attend zoos and circuses. Or maybe you simply love animals and you feel some connection to them. Either way, being aware of or feeling equal to animals is deeply Spiritual, whether you realize it or not. 

5. You Want To Take Care Of Your Body

Not necessarily to lose weight, to look better, or to have more energy. You do it because you know that what you put in your body matters. Even if you don't yet understand why it matters. Not only is eating healthy a sign of Spirituality, eating well can even help you progress on your Spiritual journey.

6. You Have A Purpose

That may be art you want to share with the world; a personal story to inspire others; or knowledge and skills to help people. Maybe you do not even know what it is yet. But you know that you will create, inspire, and help. My purpose is doing this. I love writing and helping people on a deep, Spiritual level.

7. You Have Had A Calling

I remember when I decided to stop eating meat. I wasn't being influenced by anything. I just felt that I needed to stop eating it. This happened about 8 years ago and I haven't eaten meat since. I believe it was a calling. If you have ever experienced something similar, you are on your way to a Spiritual life.

8. You Crave Deep Conversations

Small talk and mindless parties can be fun for a while, but they bore you. You would rather sit with a few close friends and talk about anything from politics to religion to ghosts and aliens.

9. You Always Find Your Way Back

You may have felt like you lost interest in Spirituality. Maybe you stopped meditating or eating healthy. But for some reason, you always find your way back to it. You rely on it. You realize it is part of who you are. And when you do get back on tract, you feel Spiritually stronger.

If you have ever experienced anything from the previous list, you are probably well on your Spiritual path, even if you don't realize it. I encourage you keep going. Keep exploring.

I want to say that I don't believe that certain people are chosen to live Spiritual lives. We are all Spiritual. Or at least the potential is there. For some people, like myself, Spirituality may come a little more naturally with a little less effort. And that's OK. We are all at different places in our lives and that is a beautiful thing.

I would love to hear from ya. What prompted you to live a Spiritual life?

Namaste

Ang

Don't Have Time To Meditate? Read This!

Guys, I'm not going to lie. It's a beautiful day here in Newfoundland. The first hot day of the season. I have a list of topics of things I'd like to blog about and for today, I picked one short and sweet.

 I (use to) often schedule time to meditate. I would allow 20, 30, even 60 minutes to meditate. I would do this when I could be left alone. If there were any distractions, that would be an excuse to skip out on meditation.

 It's fine if you want to schedule a meditation time. I still do as well. But if you're looking for the perfect moment to meditate, it's not going to happen very often. The good news is that there is something else you can do. You don't need to schedule a time; you don't need the perfect moment. All you need is a moment. And your breath. It's called mindfulness meditation. This is when you become 100% fixated on what you are doing and your surroundings. If you have a passion or hobby you take part in, you may understand what I am talking about. You sort of "lose" yourself. Time passes and you don't realize. Your attention has been on what you are doing.

 You can do this literally with anything. Taking a shower? Pay attention to the sound of the water running, how the water feels when it's on your body, the smells from products you may use. Doing the laundry? Notice how the clothes feels in your hands and pay attention to how you fold it. Periodically bring your attention to your breath. Breathe deep from your diaphragm. Don't worry your mind wanders away. Bring it back to your breath and what you're doing. Do this 100 times if you have to. And there you go! You're living in the present moment. It's that simple.

 Also, distractions can be used to your advantage. Put all your attention on them. Even if they are unpleasant or annoying. They deserve love to!

 Now you have no excuse!

 I would love to hear from you. What do you do to meditate?

 Have a great day (even if the sun isn't shining),

 Ang

Here is a link to a more in-depth tutorial on how to meditate:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/meditation-for-dummies.html

Edit no. 1: I'm not sure why this is saving as one big paragraph when I actually put paragraphs in it. I'm new to all this and I'm not tech-savvy so please be patient. :)

Edit no. 2: I have figured out why my paragraphs weren't spacing. I was writing in HTML instead of compose. It's a learning experience right?!

How To Deal With Negative Emotions

I bet it's safe for me to say that most people don't feel question why they experience positive emotions such as happiness. Why would we? It's a natural state that most humans strive for. But what about the polar opposite? People respond to these feelings very differently. I often see people dwelling or suppressing negative emotions.

But why would you do this? Probably because emotions such as anger and jealousy are unpleasant to experience. People who do not know how to handle such emotions often experience psychological problems. People who have pent up anger may lash out; people who refuse to admit to feeling jealousy may sabotage others; people who are chronically sad may commit suicide.

So how do you deal with such emotions? Think of this way. Yin and Yang, a Chinese Philosophy, states that things that are opposite or contradictory are actually connected and that one cannot exist without the other. Think of hot and cold; up and down. So why would we deny ourselves the right to experience every possible emotion? Because some are unpleasant. But just like happiness, they are also natural and necessary. Remember, positive emotions cannot exist without negative emotions.

The more we dwell or suppress our emotions, the stronger they become. So I have some suggestions on how you can handle negative emotions.

1. Admit What You Are Feeling

If you are feeling jealous because you boyfriend is talking to another girl, admit that you feel jealous. If you are upset because you did not get accepted to university, admit that you are upset. Be honest and open about what you are feeling.

2. Analyze Why You Are Having These Feelings

The best way for me to explain this is through example. Let's say you did not get accepted to the university of your dreams and you cry. Why are you crying? Because I'm sad (Tip 1). Why are you sad? Because I didn't get accepted to university. This reasoning is circular, so let's go a little deeper. Why does being rejected from a university make you upset? Because it confirms that I'm not good enough. Or because I won't be able obtain a good career and I'll be poor for the rest of my life. Now you have an understanding as to the real reason behind your emotions.

3. Understand That You Are In Control Of Your Life

Let's go back to the previous example. You know that a letter of rejection from a university does not dictate your worth. And not obtaining a career and being poor is a choice. These outcomes do not have to come to fruition. Life is about personal growth, development and progress. The choice is up to you. There are always other options. There is always a way. This is kind of like looking on the bright side of things. It will make it easier for you to come to terms with your emotions.

4. Love And Accept Your Emotions

Understand that the good cannot exist without the bad, Welcome these negative emotions with open arms. You are human and you reserve the right to experience and express any emotion.

Remember that what you are feeling is only a temporary state. I hope these suggestions help you to make room for infinite happiness.

Hope this helps.

Ang

Meditation Diary: Entry No. 1

I started meditating at around 10:50 PM. It was the deepest meditation I have ever experienced to date. While in a meditative space, I could see and feel the “space” that was behind my eye lids expand. I felt like I was in a different world. I concentrated on this without any thoughts interfering. I could also feel my third eye opening which is something I often experience. It’s like tingling sensation or a pressure close to the center of my forehead. I could clearly feel the blood flowing through my veins and my heart beating. It was pure bliss and I did not want to stop. I meditated for about 50 minutes. This was the longest time I have ever mediated. It did not feel that long though. Time seemed to escape from me during this period.

I think I may have been entering the astral realm. I would sink deeper into myself and I remember having this feeling of my body and soul/spirit separating. I cannot explain what this felt like. It was more of an intuitive feeling. I had a few fleeting images of myself as I was during this state as well as the sky and lights. This, however, did not last long.

As one would expect, I felt calm and at peace when I came out of meditation. However, very shortly after I started to become very aware of my own body and it felt like I was out of reality. I began to have distressing thoughts. What if the mediation caused this? What if I never feel calm and at peace again? These thoughts along with my already anxious state transpired into a panic attack. I felt like I was back where I started (I dealt with panic and anxiety my whole life). I couldn't make sense of what was happening.

I decided to do some research and I became bombarded with articles about the “negative” effects of mediation. My mind ran away with some ridiculous ideas which only exacerbated my panic attack. I slept on it, did a bit more research, and vented to my dad. I came up with a few ideas as to what was happening.

1. The first explanation is that I simply started over thinking, as I often do, and my body responded with anxiety. It had nothing to do with meditation and was merely a coincidence. Pretty basic and self explanatory.

2. The next explanation is that mediation can bring to surface suppressed anxiety. Anxiety that we have not come to terms with. This happens so that we can come to terms with it, put it in our past, and move on. It’s an emotional, mental, or spiritual detox if you will.

I feel that explanation 2 is more likely because of the way I choose to handle the situation. In the past, I would have let anxiety take over me or try so hard to suppress it. This time was different. I acknowledged that I was feeling anxiety but I did not attach any reason to it nor did I attach myself to it. Similar to what happened to me during mediation, I separated myself from the anxiety. Something that I was unable to do, nor would I want to, in the past. The symptoms of anxiety and panic slowly started to subside and I could feel myself come back to baseline which actually felt a little more relaxed than what it usually does. Yes, this was an uncomfortable experience. But with it, I feel like I am stronger mentally and spiritual.

August 1, 2016