Envision a Bright & Beautiful 2023!

Another holiday season has passed, and a new year is approaching.

Over the last several years, I’ve made New Year’s resolutions, set personal intentions, and tossed rocks to release that which no longer serves. But this year, I feel the nudge to do something different. Something bigger and more meaningful; something that will benefit not only me, but all of humanity.

In prior blogs, I’ve written about vibration, about like attracting like and how we are creators of our own individual world and that of the collective.

Visualizing is a powerful process that leverages the laws of attraction. Research has shown that the human mind doesn’t know the difference between a real or imaginary thought, event, or action.

What one imagines affects one’s life—positively or negatively—it’s your choice!

If your mind can’t tell the difference between a real or an imaginary event, why not put your attention on the things you want in your life? And while you’re at it, why not consider the kind of world you wish to live in?

Studies have demonstrated the positive benefits and increased effects of people praying, meditating, and/or visualizing individually within the same timeframe or together as a group. Given this, what if we all envisioned the world we want to live in? Imagine the impact if each of us take time at the end of this year (or in early January) to imagine a new, beautiful world!

What would this world look like? How would we feel? What would be new? How would the world be different? 

My vision for 2023 is....

• Inner peace
• Peace in the world around us
• Endless hope and faith
• Compassion and care toward one another
• Clean air, food, and water in every corner of the world
• Healing, including new technologies to naturally heal cancer and every disease
• Unity and embracing / celebrating our differences
• Abundance and prosperity for every person on Earth
• Reverence, connection, and care for Mother Earth
• Love—unconditional and everlasting—seeping into all that we are and all that we do

I invite you to create your own vision and contribute toward the collective creation of a bright, beautiful, and unified world in 2023!

Happy New Year!

Peace, Love, and Joy,

Chris / Sedona

Chris Clifford (non-fiction books): https://cyclifford.com/

Sedona Hutton (fiction books): https://sedonahutton.com/

Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

**Important note to Sedona Hutton followers**: In 2023, I will be combining my Sedona Hutton blog with my Chris Clifford blog. If you want to continuing receiving blogs delivered to your email address every month, please sign up at: https://cyclifford.com/. For legal purposes, you need to opt into this website in order to continue receiving emails after I consolidate. Thanks for joining me on this journey...I wish each of you boundless blessings and miracles in the new year!

 

COMING SOON: TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF, by Chris Clifford: Shocking devastation left her questioning her purpose. Can this workaholic climb from the rubble and embrace her true self?

 

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 was a heartfelt, sweet, foster child romance that gave me all the feels! Through it, we see how people can rise above past mistakes and that is a beautiful message!”

THE PERFECT LAP is a Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Contemporary Romance. Available as eBook, paperback, and audiobook. Purchase link:  https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

NEW AGE PARENTING: Redirecting self-talk from negative to positive

Most people respond more positively to a positive message. This is especially true—and especially important—for children who are continually learning and absorbing information like a sponge. The good news is that we can re-word almost anything into a positive statement.

Why is positive messaging so important? Lisa Hayes explains it perfectly: “Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening.”

This idea aligns with the Law of Attraction, a universal law embraced by spiritualists and physicists alike. I could write an entire book on the LOA, but as it relates to positivity: If our thoughts, words, and actions are positive, we attract more positive things into our lives. If our energy is negative, we attract more negativity into our lives.

“Loving or hating the life you are living is solely all in your repeated self-talk.”― Edmond Mbiaka

The concept of positive self-talk is touched on 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 redirecting self-talk from negative to positive.

Below is an excerpt from The Perfect Lap which explains this concept:

“Next, we’re going to talk about redirecting self-talk from negative to positive,” Adrian said. He glanced around the room. “Let’s use a few examples. Anyone want to offer up some negative talk you’ve heard from your kids?”

“I’m stupid,” a man in the front row said.

“Ah, yes.” Adrian gave a wry smile. “A classic.” He walked to the flip board and wrote, Root Cause. “I’m going to give examples of redirecting, but make sure you understand the reason why your child is feeling the way he or she is feeling. If the redirect is a generic platitude, it won’t work. If your child got a D on his test, you could say something like, ‘You’re smart. I struggled with Algebra, too. I always had to study extra hard to get good grades in my math classes.’ ” Adrian walked around the room. “If you don’t know why your child is feeling mad, sad, or whatever, ask her what’s going on. That will allow you to validate her feelings, empathize, and then customize your redirect.” Adrian gave a few more examples before wrapping up. “That’s it. Easy-peasy, right?”

Below are two additional examples of redirecting self-talk from negative to positive:

Instead of, “I messed this up. I’m an idiot!”…How about: “It’s okay. It gave you the opportunity to learn and you’ll do better next time.”

Instead of, “I don’t have any friends,”…Reframe to show examples: “Lisa helped you with your homework yesterday…You helped Scott on the playground at recess. You joined the reading club and met a lot of new kids.”

Let’s help our children—and each other—get rid of negative self-talk. It’s time to rise up, embrace positivity, and be all we were meant to be!

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

The Perfect Lap— 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? Purchase 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 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.

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.

Gratitude in THE PERFECT LAP: You can't be stressed when you're feeling blessed!

“You can’t be stressed when you’re feeling blessed!”

This quote is from The Perfect Lap, my recently released contemporary romance novel. In 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 gratitude.

Sometimes kids and adults make poor choices that lead to negative energy. How we respond makes all the difference. In The Perfect Lap, Ella, AJ, and the kids come up with a time-out word that any of them can call out. Once the word is said, they all take a few minutes of silence. During that time, they reflect on where they are mood-wise (energy-wise) and consider if that’s where they want to be. Often, after this pause, they each share a few gratitudes.

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." - Thornton Wilder

Ella and AJ experienced positive results when practicing gratitude with the kids. Negativity disappeared, bad moods faded, and spirits were lifted. I've found the same results in my own life. Not surprising since it’s backed by science! Studies have shown when you’re feeling genuinely grateful, it’s impossible to at the same time feel angry, anxious, or any other negative emotion.

When we’re stressed, our minds and bodies are pummeled with strain. Blood flow redirects to muscles needed to fight or flee and brain functions are minimized. Physically, ongoing stress can cause a long list of health issues.

On the other hand, when we’re focused on our blessings, our minds and bodies are relaxed and we experience positive emotions like love, joy, and hope. Gratitude helps us fully experience happy moments in life, build strong relationships, improve health, and deal with hardships.

How can you bring more gratitude into your life? Let me count the ways…You can write your gratitudes in a journal, say them out loud, or recount them silently. You can share your gratitudes in a group setting like Ella and AJ did with the kids. The method doesn’t matter as much as the exercise. Practicing gratitude in any form connects you with the present moment, creates positive energy, and generates feelings of love and compassion.

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of romance and women’s fiction novels 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, then 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/