Do you notice how the words you think, breathe in and ultimately breathe out impact your daily life?

If you have been following me and my work you may know that I created an Anchored Deck, a 70-word mindfulness tool to assist with overwhelm, indecision, anxiety and grounded presence. Yesterday, I needed to get anchored. I have been sick in bed for two weeks and I had just made the decision to cancel by southern Oregon/northern California book tour. My body made the decision of course. I wanted to push through but my intuition was telling me that was not the answer.

I have developed a three-word pattern when pulling from my deck. The first card answers how to show up in my work in the world (this includes my writing, coaching clients, retreats and all things Mama Needs a Refill). The second card is for my personal relationships. And the third is in the general category, covering matters for that day and what must I remember. Yesterday, as I held the question of ‘what does this canceling/rescheduling my book tour mean and what now’, I shuffled the deck and received the following life-giving support.

First card, in regards to my biz in the world: LOVE. Wow, that was beautiful. A gentle reminder to drop into my heart chakra because the card is green and hello? Just look at the word. Remember to do what I love, to give love unconditionally to my book, clients and work but to remember to receive love, as well. I took this invitation as a gift, a permission that everything was going to be okay and all work out.

Second card, ended up being two as I didn’t realize they had stuck together. (I always tell my clients and Anchored Deck users, if a card flips out or you pull more than the one you expected, to go with it, it is needed.) In regards to my personal relationships I was being encouraged and guided: ALLOW and PURPOSE. Yes, of course. This aligned exactly. Allow my body to heal, attend to what is in front of me and right now that is exciting transition in our family. Next week I pick up our son from his freshman year of college and drive him home for the summer. The next day, husband, son and I pile in to the car to drive to daughter’s college graduation. Choosing to cancel my book gigs and not push through while my body was clearly unhealthy and not up to the events, was obvious and the cards were reminding me, necessary. I still don’t have a voice and talking sends me into a choking fit. To be fully present to my personal relationships meant that right now, my health and interactions with my family are what matters. ALLOW the frustration and embarrassment of having to cancel on book stores and embrace my PURPOSE in front of me. Getting healthy so that I can celebrate and fully engage with my children. These two cards on red and dark blue, representing the root and third eye chakras. Be grounded, tap into your intuition. Live my purpose on purpose, with purpose. Everything else can wait, I was being told by both of these anchors.

Third card, in regards to a general overall reminder and invitation: UNDERSTANDING. The definition so personal and exactly what I needed. Earlier that day before making my decision to cancel or not to cancel, hacking, and coughing and blowing my nose like it was a fire hose, I reached out to my therapist. Our conversation gave me great awareness, clarity and understanding. This card delivers its wisdom on the color purple representing the crown chakra. The energy center of spirituality and divine connection. This kind of understanding doesn’t involve words, rather it encourages trusting without fully knowing, receiving guidance that isn’t analyzed.

There I had it: LOVE, ALLOW, PURPOSE, UNDERSTANDING. All anchor words are left up to individual interpretation and for me my interpretation of this Anchored reading helped me relax. Eased my mind. Helped me to crawl back under the covers and rest. In was time to put down feeling responsible for breaking my book engagements and time to be responsible fully for me, my care, my healing, my Cup. Exactly the message of my book.

For now, the world will have to wait to hear about my book from me, first I must apply all the tools, inspiration, meaning and messages of the book to me.

This brings me back to something I learned long ago–we teach what we most need to learn. Practice first Jenny, share later. Anchor now, the time to sail will come. What matters most is right in front of me.

What about you? What’s right in front of you and what words are you breathing in and breathing out?

Cheers, Jenny