What Would LOVE Do?

 

Some time ago, a trusted mentor suggested I approach life by asking, “What would LOVE do?” She went on to indicate that this includes everything in my life—big and small, extraordinary and mundane, challenges and blessings.

 

At first, this advice was perplexing. But over time, as I began contemplating and asking this all-important question, positive changes followed, and my life evolved for the better.

 

I looked at the basic qualities of love. Love is kind, generous, and compassionate, so I looked for more opportunities to express those qualities. I found this was easy when things were going well and challenging when the going got tough. Yet even during difficult times, with awareness and intent, I could respond to any situation with a smile, kindness, honesty, an offer to help or simply listen, while holding the love question in my heart.

 

As I continued asking, “What would LOVE do?”, my perspective shifted. I’ve always looked for the positives, but I began looking for even more goodness, hope, and silver linings and expecting loving, win-win outcomes.

 

When one listens to their heart, the need to blame and judge lessens and the desire to forgive increases. Life becomes easier and smoother. Of course, one will still experience issues (we all do!), but even when challenges arise, greater ease and grace are available along with the ability to move within a divine flow.

 

I contemplated what love really is, who we really are, and how love flows to us and connects us through the ether. God is love, the Universe is love, Mother Earth is love, and as a part of Creation, each of us are love, both individually and as a human collective. 

 

Our true essence is love... it’s really that simple and that profound!

 

Think about the power and privilege of representing love, exemplifying love, and offering love. What would the world look like if every single human embraced their true essence of love?

 

How does one go about embodying love? It entails loving and accepting yourself as you are and showing up as your true self.  

 

Embodying love is about being your authentic self despite what others may want or expect from you. It’s about finding your talents and passions, and your unique way to serve others. As Yoko Ono said, “You change the world by being yourself.” Standing in your truth and finding your own path takes courage, self-appreciation, and self-love. 

 

For many, self-love is a hard concept, in part because we aren’t taught to love ourselves. We are usually taught the opposite—that loving ourselves is egotistical or selfish—but nothing could be further from the truth. If we don’t love ourselves, it is difficult to fully love others, to embody love, and to live in alignment with one’s heart.

 

Here are 3 quick and easy ways to love yourself more:

1.      Recognize that you are doing your best in each moment and appreciate that you are on your own life journey and are not meant to look like, talk like, or respond like anyone other than beautiful, unique you!

2.      Practice forgiveness—of yourself and others!

3.      When you make a so-called mistake, look for the gift (what can you learn or how can you do better next time?) then forgive, release, and move on! 

 

“Listen to the inner light; It will guide you.

Listen to the inner Peace; It will feed you.

Listen to the inner Love; It will transform you,

It will divinize you; It will immortalize you.”—Sri Chinmoy

As this quote so eloquently states, living from your heart changes everything!  

As 2023 draws to an end and we embark on a brand-new year, I invite you to join me in focusing on self-love, living from your heart, and asking, “What would LOVE do?”

 

I wish you peace, love, joy, and an abundance of blessings in the New Year 💖– Chris/Sedona  

 

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TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF by Chris Clifford: Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever!

Reader Review Excerpt: “...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

TRANSFORMED BY FIRE is an Amazon Bestseller! Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR.

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CLOUD WHISPERS by Sedona Hutton: A novel of family and forgiveness with a strong spiritual message: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate….

Reader Review Excerpt: “A beautifully woven story filled with love, loss, betrayal and renewal. It touches the heart of the reader as life unfolds for Liam and Katie. Peppered throughout the story are spiritual awakenings and life lessons which help to clarify many of the why’s in each of our lives. While Cloud Whispers includes passionate love stories, it also feeds your spirit and renews your soul. The gifts from this novel are unforgettable.”

CLOUD WHISPERS Awards: IPPY Bronze medal winner for Visionary Fction, Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Visionary Fiction, and Official Selection in the Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary. Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc.

Trust Your Deep Inner Knowing

 

Have you ever experienced a deep inner knowing that you couldn’t explain? It may have gone against data, logic, or what other people said. Yet in your heart and soul you knew otherwise. That deep knowing is your inner voice or your intuition.

Sadly, we aren’t taught how to tap into this amazing capacity that we all have. I used to push my inner voice aside, instead, prioritizing facts, figures, and logic. Don’t get me wrong, I still love data and research, but there is a time and place for it just as there is a time and place for tapping into one’s intuition.

Why is it so important to listen to your intuition? Because it connects you with God/Source/Universe/Your Higher Self. It is a sacred dialogue that enables you to tune into your own inner knowing and it guides you toward what is right for you. 

Developing one’s intuition and learning how to consistently listen to one’s inner voice takes time and practice. If you don’t know where to start, begin by creating space in your life to listen. It is easier to connect with your intuitive self in stillness, regardless of whether you find your quiet time sitting under a tree, during meditation, or simply by taking a few deep breaths in between meetings. 

Learning to listen to divine whispers, nudges, and that deep sense of inner knowing is a key theme in my new book, Transformed by Fire—Rising from the Ashes to Find Myself: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR.

5 Ways to Align with your Inner Voice/Intuition: 

1. Your First Thought—My inner voice is usually the first thought I receive after praying or asking a question in meditation...it arrives before all of my so-called logic rushes in with challenging questions and conflicting ideas!
2. Inspiration—When the response comes later, I recognize it as the idea or solution that feels highly inspired.
3. Deep Knowing—When I experience a hunch that stays with me or a sense of deep inner knowing, I recognize this as my inner voice and I go with it, even when it’s unexplainable.
4. Monitor Your Feelings—Our feelings are like an inner compass. They tell us when we are on a path that is in alignment with our Higher Self and when we are going astray. It’s as easy as observing whether you are feeling positive and happy or negative and unhappy. 
5. Feel the Body—Maharishi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, regularly told his disciples to “feel the body,” regardless of the complexity of the issue they brought forward. Our physical bodies are closely aligned with our intuition which is part of the spiritual body. Feeling the body gives clues as to when we are out of alignment. Consider whether your body feels tight and constricted or open and relaxed. 

What stops us from tapping into our intuition? Some of the most common hurdles are our logical minds, overthinking, the ego, trying to please others, and receiving a nudge we don’t want to address. 

I have experienced all of these obstacles at one time or another. I’ve learned that when I don’t listen to my inner voice, the nudges become bigger and bigger until eventually, I have no choice but to pay attention. 

Tapping into your intuition unites you with your Higher Self and allows you to connect with a higher, deeper knowing that transcends the limitations of our minds. “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”— Albert Einstein

This blog was written by Chris Clifford/Sedona Hutton, bestselling author of non-fiction and fiction books that highlight inspired ideas and uplifting themes.

Photo by Jen Theodore at Unsplash.

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TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF: Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever! 

Reader Review Excerpt:

“...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

Amazon Bestseller! Available now: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR

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THE PERFECT LAP by Sedona Hutton: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line?

Reader Review Excerpt: “It’s sweet, inspiring, and a love story about two people and three children that find hope, their own voice and realize that family doesn’t have to be blood-related.”

THE PERFECT LAP is an Amazon Bestseller and a Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Contemporary Romance. Available as eBook, paperback, and audiobook. Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3Hx86w4

Our Stories Become Our Reality

 

In my contemporary romance, Restart in Bristol, Holly tells herself stories about her childhood that become her reality. I won’t give away a spoiler, but I will share that she focuses so intently on one aspect that it creates limiting beliefs in her life.

According to the Oxford dictionary a belief is, “Acceptance that something exists as true; without faith or evidence in someone or something.”

Beliefs can be beneficial, but they can also limit us. Sometimes our beliefs stop us from trying and stop us from achieving our dreams. Why do people have limiting beliefs? Because our minds have a tendency toward the negative.

So, what can you do to diminish limiting beliefs? I could write an entire book on this topic, but awareness is a great place to start. Begin questioning your beliefs. What are they, why do you hold them, and do they make sense? Maybe a particular belief made sense at one point in time, but now that you are older and wiser, it no longer serves you.

For example, a limiting belief could be that you think you can’t do something because you failed at it in the past. You can let go of this limiting belief by looking at the facts and considering new possibilities. The facts could be that you failed at this activity five years ago and since that time, you’ve read a book on the subject and learned new skills. Now, turn your “I can’t” statement into, “X was challenging in the past, but I have learned new skills and I’m capable of learning, growing, and achieving X.”

Establish an ongoing practice of questioning your beliefs. If they don’t make sense—change them or simply let go! Our thoughts are powerful and the stories we tell ourselves create our life experience. Keeping this in mind will allow you to write new chapters in your life story that are positive and align with your dreams.

“Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening.” Lisa Hayes

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

Restart in Bristol, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—Reader’s Favorite 2020 Honorable Mention in the Romance genre and Semi-Finalist in Kindle Book Review’s Romance category: He’s a hot mess. She wants stability. Will these childhood sweethearts risk another pass at love? Kindle: https://amzn.to/37cCw1b. Audiobook: https://adbl.co/3hgKZpF.

To sign up for my Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/.

 Recommended Tools & Reading:

The Vision Board Workbook by Chris Clifford: https://bit.ly/2JpqOdi

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://amzn.to/39SgKSt

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash.

30 Inspirational Things To Do Without Leaving Your Home

Many of us are staying at home these days because of a ‘stay in place’ regulation or to support social distancing. Being at home can feel stifling or it can be exciting…it all depends on your perspective! Choose a positive mindset and look for the opportunities this situation creates. Below is a list of 30 activities sure to inspire!

30 Inspirational Things To Do At Home

1. Watch the sun rise or set.
2. Create a gratitude journal.
3. Take a walk.
4. Visualize your perfect future.
5. Meditate.
6. Write in a journal.
7. Practice yoga.
8. Watch an inspirational video.
9. Check out the free resources at Calm: https://bit.ly/2WzJdbW
10. Make a vision board.
11. Make a list of 101 goals you want to achieve in your life.
12. Find your muse—write a song or short story, or paint or draw.
13. Visit a museum virtually. Try the National Gallery of Art : https://www.nga.gov/.
14. Commit to one new daily activity that will improve your life (exercise, meditation, journaling, pre-day planning, visualization, walking, etc.)
15. Listen to uplifting music.
16. Watch clouds float across the sky.
17. Think about your most important goal and write down what it would take to achieve it.
18. Gaze at the stars.
19. Put your phone down and have a real conversation with a loved one.
20. Visualize world peace.
21. Read a book or listen to an audiobook.
22. Call, text, or video chat with someone who could use a lift.
23. Sit on your front porch or look out your window and watch the world.
24. Create affirmations and read them daily.
25. Listen to an inspirational podcast.
26. Take a nap.
27. Take a bubble bath.
28. Tell someone special something you appreciate about him or her.
29. Look at yourself in the mirror and say something positive.
30. Watch the moon rise. 

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

***New Release!***Restart in Bristol, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—He’s a hot mess. She wants stability. Will these childhood sweethearts risk another pass at love? https://amzn.to/37cCw1b 

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—2019 IPPY Bronze winner for Visionary Fiction: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc

To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/ (No spam—ever!)

Recommended Reading:

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://amzn.to/39SgKSt

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

New Age Parenting: Use this technique to restore calm with your kids!

In my contemporary romance, The Perfect Lap, Ella and AJ unexpectedly join forces to co-foster three children and quickly learn they’re out of their league. They attend a New Age Parenting class, and one of the topics covered is the Law of Attraction.

Below is an excerpt:

“The first concept we’ll cover is energy vibration.” Adrian moved to the flip chart and wrote: Like Attracts Like. “Now, let’s talk about what this means.”

He walked through the basic concept of the Law of Attraction. According to Adrian, the earth was a spinning ball of vibration, and the thoughts and emotions you put out are what you receive back.

AJ scrunched his face in disbelief. It sounded like a bunch of what his granddad had called Class A Hooey. He stole a glance at Ella and was surprised to find her sitting on the edge of her seat and jotting notes in her phone.

Well, damn.

He returned his attention to Adrian and attempted to open his mind.

“For those of you who think this is a bunch of bunk,” Adrian said, making AJ squirm, “there’s scientific evidence to back up what gurus have known for centuries. I’m not going to get into the quantum physics this evening, but if you’re interested, Google it.”

AJ made a mental note to do just that.

Adrian moved back to the flipchart and tapped on the words Like Attracts Like. “Why is this important?”

“Most children learn based on the limitations that society teaches. But children who learn to direct their thoughts in a positive manner dream bigger and learn how to manifest their desires.” He made eye contact with each of the participants. “When you teach your kids about energy, you’re empowering them. When they understand energy and how to effectively use it, there’s less drama and fewer behavior issues because they’re able to self-direct.”

Less drama and fewer behavior issues. Now he was talking. If that was true, AJ was willing to give it a try.

“I’m going to call the Law of Attraction ‘LOA’ going forward.” Adrian flashed a grin as he spelled out the letters with his hands. “It’s impossible to talk about the LOA without also talking about the power of positive thinking.” He circled around the front of the classroom. “Everyone wants to be happy, right?”

Participants in the room nodded and a few people shouted, “Yes!”

“Those who are happy are putting out positive vibrations and getting positivity in return. Those who are sad, mad, frustrated, and so on are putting out those vibrations and getting similar vibrations in return. You can’t put out negative vibrations and expect to receive positive vibrations back.” Adrian leaned against the whiteboard in the front of the class. “So how do you stop the negative cycle?”

“Think positively,” Ella offered.

“That’s right.” Adrian smiled at Ella. “If the kids aren’t there, call a timeout.” He rocked back on his heels. “Not a sit-in-the-corner timeout, but something fun. Come up with a family word. Once it’s said, everyone takes a minute—or whatever time you agree on—to re-group, re-center, and check your energy vibrations.”

A young blonde—Sandi, maybe?—raised her hand. “I get the idea of the timeout, but then what? I can’t see my boys going from mad to happy just because we took a minute of silence.”

AJ was glad she’d asked the question because he’d been wondering the same thing.

“Great question, Sandi.” Adrian moved to the whiteboard and wrote, Energy Check and Gratitude. “The timeout isn’t a fix-all. It simply offers a pause so everyone can ground themselves. Afterward, you’ll need to provide a lesson or deploy another technique, like gratitude, which we’ll talk about in a few minutes. But,”—he drew out the word but as if to build anticipation—“after your family members become experts in energy, you may find that the timeout moment is all it takes because your children have learned how to redirect their own energy.”

Ella, AJ, and the kids chose the word ‘mistletoe’ for their timeout. The process worked just like Adrian described, and they all had fun with it, too!

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” — Colin Powell

 

Why not try this process with your kids, grands, and nieces and nephews? The key is to stop negative energy before it boils over. Once negative energy reaches the boiling point, it takes a long time to resume calm. It’s like water…if you put the kettle on to make tea, when the temperature reaches 212 degrees, your water will boil. To avoid the boiling point with your kids, give this timeout technique a try!

“You can’t make positive choices for the rest of your life without an environment that makes those choices easy, natural, and enjoyable.”—Deepak Chopra

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

The Perfect Lap—If you like bad boys with a heart of gold, strong women, and love stories with a spiritual twist, you’ll adore this racing romance novel. To purchase, please click on this link: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate… To purchase this mind-expanding, award-winning novel, please click here: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

To sign up for Sedona Hutton’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/

Recommended Reading:

The Law of Attraction by Esther & Jerry Hicks: https://amzn.to/31LO3lJ

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Siegel: https://amzn.to/2KF9Iqi

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

Looking for a romance novel or a spiritual book—why not try a blend of both?

I love reading spiritual books that offer personal inspiration and transformation. The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra, The Ten Commitments by David Simon, and Ask And It is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks are among my favorites.

While I enjoy these books, it takes me a while to finish reading them because I need to process the outlined ideas and ponder how I might integrate what I learned in my own life. Years ago, while contemplating this, an inspiration formed. I could write fictional stories about real characters with real issues and embed spiritual concepts to show how they might work in real-life situations.

These days, I'm doing just that! I’m blending traditional romance and women’s fiction with new age spirituality. 

In a recent guest blog post, Laurie Sander’s described my blended genre as follows:

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the inspirational romance category. Some of you probably read it and maybe even write it. I enjoy inspirational romance and count authors like Karen Witemeyer and Autumn Macarthur among my favorites. And have I blogged about Karen’s book The Short Straw Bride over here.

But what Sedona Hutton is doing is different from the inspirational romance that we know and love. Sedona is blazing new trails by blending traditional romance with new age spirituality. What’s emerging is a unique blend of romance and spirituality with themes like The Law of Attraction – being present – being in the now – that I’m really enjoying. The books are spiritually uplifting with fully developed romance plots and enough heat between the sheets to keep you turning the pages.

You can find the full post at: https://lauriesplace.net/2019/01/28/sedona-hutton-visits-book-giveaway/.

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of romance and women’s fiction novels with new age, spiritual twists.

The Perfect Lap—His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? To purchase, please click on this link: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate… To purchase this mind-expanding, award-winning novel, click here: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

To sign up for Sedona Hutton’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/

 

Recommended Reading:

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

The Ten Commitments by Dr. David Simon: https://amzn.to/2UEH0J2

Ask And It is Given by Esther & Jerry Hicks: https://amzn.to/2IwrlbP

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.