Is There Life Out There?

 

I’m pretty sure this blog will raise a few eyebrows, and that’s okay. I invite you to stretch your imagination and join me on an otherworldly journey.

As a child living in the country, I spent many nights gazing at the shimmering sky pondering what life might be out there. In school, I was taught we are the only life forms. But it never made sense to me…of the bazillion stars and countless planets and galaxies, I found it arrogant to assume we were the only ones.

Aerospace engineer Werner von Braun concurred when he said, “Our sun is one of one hundred billion stars in our galaxy. Our galaxy is one of the billions of galaxies populating the universe. It would be the height of presumption to think that we are the only living things within that enormous immensity.”

So, before you write off the idea of a real-life ET, consider the following…

Astronaut Edgar Mitchell claimed, “We are not alone in the universe. They have been coming here for a long time.”

Former President John F. Kennedy boldly stated, “Citizens of this Earth, we are not alone!” With these words, it appeared the former president intended to share secret information with the American public. Kennedy wrote a letter to the head of the CIA demanding to be shown highly confidential documents about UFOs ten days before his assassination.

Before President Trump left office, he created an order instructing the Pentagon and other agencies to reveal what they know about UFOs to the American public by June 2021.

And, just last month, the Pentagon admitted it has been holding and testing wreckage from UFO crashes.

You may be wondering why I’m sharing my thoughts on potential extra-terrestrial life now. Based on the above, it appears we are on the brink of receiving new, significant information on the topic. And isn’t it better to stick your toe in the water before diving in head first?

On the next clear night, go outside and gaze at the sparkling sky and join me in contemplating who else might be out there. Personally, I like to think there are many benevolent star families gazing down at Earth and perhaps even helping us through our rocky ride.

 What do you think? Join the conversation!

"In the deepest sense the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a search for ourselves."-Carl Sagan, American astronomer

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

CLOUD WHISPERS: 2019 IPPY bronze winner for visionary fiction and 2018 Reader’s Favorite finalist for visionary fiction. 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…. https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc.

 

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? https://amzn.to/37cCw1b.

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

Forgiveness—An Overlooked Practice that Delivers Significant Benefits

Forgiveness is a common theme in my novels because it’s an often overlooked practice that delivers great benefits.

When someone we care about hurts us, it’s natural to feel angry and resentful, and to carry a grudge against the offender. However, these upsets can leave lasting impressions of bitterness that impact our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Ironically, if you don’t practice forgiveness, you are the one who suffers the most.

Embracing forgiveness allows us to experience peace, love, joy, and hope. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you agree with whatever occurred or that you want to make up with the person who caused you harm. It does, however, provide you with a sense of peace that allows you to move on.  

How does one go about forgiving? A model by psychologist Robert Enright outlines four steps. The first is to identify your anger and any ways you have avoided your emotions. The second step is to simply make the decision to forgive. A good place to begin is by acknowledging that ignoring or muddling through with the offense hasn’t worked and that forgiveness is a path forward.

Third, develop compassion for the person who hurt you. Ponder whether the act was due to ill intent or whether it was due to beliefs, circumstances, and/or conditioning in the offender’s life. Finally, release any lingering harmful emotions and consider how you may have grown from the act of forgiveness.

According to the Mayo Clinic, letting go of grudges and bitterness can create improved overall health and peace of mind. Benefits of forgiveness include:

·        Healthier relationships

·        Improved mental health

·        Less anxiety, stress, and hostility

·        Lower blood pressure

·        Fewer symptoms of depression

·        A stronger immune system

·        Improved heart health

·        Improved self-esteem

While forgiveness isn’t always easy, it brings about significant health benefits and a sense of peace that helps you move forward in your life.

“Forgiveness is not always easy. At times it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.”—Marianne Williamson

  

Forgiveness Excerpts from the Racing Hearts in Serenity Series:

*

From Restart in Bristol:

Holly leaned back in her chair, pondering Skye’s wisdom. If Skye could forgive Brad, maybe it was time for Holly to forgive, too. She had a lot of forgiveness to contemplate. Maybe she needed to forgive her parents for not understanding her needs as a child and for not giving her more security. She needed to forgive both Curtis and herself for the deep hurt they had caused each other. If they could move beyond the pain of their breakup, maybe they would create space for something new.

*

From The Perfect Lap:

Last week in church, Ella’s minister had talked about forgiveness. Pastor Sue had indicated that holding onto hurt and resentment harms the person holding the negative feelings more than the alleged violator. As a believer in the Law of Attraction, Ella understood that when she felt angry and resentful, she was putting out negative vibrations which attracted more of the same.

It was time for her to let go of her bitterness toward Dierks. He clearly hadn’t been the man for her, so why was she wasting her precious energy on negative thoughts and feelings toward him? She supposed it was a long-held habit, but she was ready to let go of the toxicity.

*

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—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

Nora’s Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance— Reader's Favorite 2019 Contemporary Romance Bronze winner and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line? https://amzn.to/2OktquX

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.

Dance in the Rain!

In my contemporary romance, The Perfect Lap, Ella’s aunt teaches Ella to “dance in the rain!” I love this concept and the images it invokes of a child gleefully skipping through puddles and of a couple adoringly slow dancing through a spring rain.

In The Perfect Lap, Ella’s parents are perfectionists. As a child, no matter what Ella did, it wasn’t good enough for her mom and dad. Ella could have responded with depression or by berating herself, but her aunt taught her a better way. Whenever Ella would complain, her Aunt Mindy would guide her to, “dance in the rain.”

In this simple phrase, Ella learned to look for silver linings in every situation. This phrase popped into my mind earlier this week, perhaps because it has been raining in east Tennessee or maybe it’s associated with the coronavirus.

Even though I’m currently at home and practicing social distancing, I pressed myself to find the silver linings and came up with a list of positives.

I’m being less wasteful by using dishrags and cleaning cloths instead of paper towels, and I’m reusing and recycling whenever I can. I’ve finished many tasks on my To-Do list that felt impossible to complete a couple of months ago. I am meditating and exercising more often. I’m practicing present moment awareness—listening to the birds sing, marveling at the sun casting shadows on the mountains, enjoying my dog’s joyful wiggle-jiggle—and I’m finding time to just be. I plan to continue these positive practices even after the coronavirus runs its full course.

How about you…can you think of ways to “dance in the rain” at this very moment? Maybe you have home renovations you haven’t had the time to complete. Or you’ve wanted to learn a new language or take an online class. Perhaps you’ve found time to reconnect with an old friend or you’ve begun painting again.

Despite the ongoing chaos in our world and the doom and gloom in the news, Spring has ushered into our lives, offering beauty and a sense of normalcy. Brown grass has transformed into a beautiful Kelly-green, trees are budding, flowers are blooming.

As Spring reminds us of new beginnings, let’s remember to look for the silver linings...and let’s join together to dance in the rain!

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

***Now Available on Audio!*** 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://adbl.co/2WAsOnp

***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

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 Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Pass on Perfection & Live a Happier Life

Aiming for perfection makes perfect sense for doctors performing surgery, engineers designing an airplane, and anyone working in life and death situations.  For most of us, our day-to-day work doesn’t include those implications.

We strive for success in our respective pursuits but seeking perfection isn’t the best approach. Psychology Today calls perfectionism “a trait that makes life an endless report card on accomplishments or looks” and “a fast and enduring track to unhappiness.”

Perfectionists fear making a mistake might cause others to think poorly of them, get them fired, or any other plethora of negative outcomes. This obsession with perfection creates an unachievable standard and a toxic focus on failures.

Experts have found that perfectionists are made not born. It starts at an early age, and unfortunately, demand is on the rise. Parents are increasingly insisting on perfectionism from their children and seeking status from their kid’s performance.

In The Perfect Lap. Ella’s parents expect Ella to be perfect. Ella puts undue pressure on herself in an ongoing attempt to meet their expectations. That is, until she learns another way. Below is an excerpt from The Perfect Lap where AJ shares his views on perfectionism with Ella and the kids they are fostering:

“My granddad taught me there’s no such thing as a perfect lap. He always said that I should give every race my best attempt, and the rest of it would find a way.” AJ shifted his gaze between the kids and Ella, who looked every bit as enthralled as the kids. That pleased him because his granddad’s wisdom was for her as much as it was for the kids. In some ways, it was even more important for Ella.

“So, you won even though you didn’t have a perfect season?” Madison asked.

“Darlin’,” he drawled, making Madison blush, “last season was so far from perfect you can’t even imagine. I lost my ride in April—”

“Huh?” Zach scratched his head.

AJ chuckled. “I got fired from my race team.”

The kids were obviously shocked by his admission. Zach’s eyes popped, Madison sucked in a sharp breath, and Kayla’s mouth dropped open. Ella also looked surprised. Knowing Ella, she had thoroughly researched him and knew his history. Her surprise was likely associated with his admission of imperfection. But he wanted the kids and Ella to learn what he had learned—you don’t need to be perfect to be successful, you need to be persistent.

“Yep, I got fired. I sat out for two races before Davey asked me to join Team Johnson.” He smiled at the attentiveness he had from Madison, Kayla, Zach, and Ella. “Throughout the season, I led a lot of laps and I sucked in a lot of laps, too.”

The girls giggled.

“I did what my granddad taught me—I tried my best each and every lap. Sometimes I won. Sometimes I didn’t, but I still accumulated a lot of points. Other times, despite my best efforts, I didn’t do well at all.” He slid his gaze between the kids and Ella. “When that happened, I told myself it was okay, that I’d do better the next time.” He leaned in toward Zach. “You know what? I always did.”

Let’s take a pointer from AJ and not buy into the pressure from society, our family, friends, and even ourselves. As Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina, “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.”

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

Nora’s Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance— Reader's Favorite 2019 Bronze Contemporary Romance winner and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line? https://amzn.to/2OktquX

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

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

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 NastyaSensei from Pexels. 

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.

New Release: The Perfect Lap

I’m thrilled to announce the release of The Perfect Lap, a contemporary romance and the second standalone novel in my Racing Hearts in Serenity series.

The Perfect Lap is AJ Ryan’s story. One of my Nora’s Promise readers called AJ a “hoot,” which is a perfect description of him. AJ is laid back, fun-loving, and full of southern charm…he’s also a magnet for trouble!

A brief description and an excerpt of The Perfect Lap follows.

Description:

AJ Ryan is a publicity nightmare. After a questionable photo surfaces and his biggest sponsor threatens to pull out, the NASCAR champion admits it might be time to hit the brakes. Thankfully, his new no-nonsense image consultant knows just where to start… too bad she revs his engine so loudly he can barely think straight.

Ella Fisher’s career is a welcome distraction from her poor taste in men. Fresh off another easily avoidable heartbreak, rehabbing AJ’s career is just the diversion she needs. But when the pulse-pounding client actually listens to her advice, Ella wonders if there’s more to the man behind the hot mess.

When Ella is granted guardianship of three boisterous children under the misconception that she and AJ are a couple, AJ surprises her by going along with the charade. Before long they find themselves in a make-shift family that feels more real than pretend.

As their professional relationship takes a hard turn for the personal, a single overheard conversation could make it all go up in flames. Will Ella and AJ’s romance hit the wall, or will love take the checkered flag?

Excerpt:

“You’re too hard on yourself, darlin’,” he said. “You’re the most focused, persistent woman I’ve ever met.” He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. His eyes were a deep, soulful blue and as he intimately held her gaze, it reminded her of their first meeting and their instant, almost spiritual connection. “You’re kind, compassionate, caring.” His voice was so low that it was more like a whisper fluttering against her cheek. “The kids need that.”

She’d barely processed his sweet words when he leaned in.

He was going to kiss her! Holding her breath, she told herself to step back. It wasn’t appropriate—they were working together, he wasn’t her type, she was on a man-ban. The reasons to stop him were endless.

But as he continued to move toward her, she couldn’t. He grazed his lips overs hers in a tortoise-like motion as if testing the waters. His lips were warm and moist and her body pulsed and sparked as they generated heat hotter than hell and half of Georgia.

He drew back and held her gaze, presumably giving her one last chance to move away.

But she couldn’t. His consoling words had comforted her, his embraced had warmed her, and his kiss had left her wanting so much more.

As she acquiesced, the world around them transformed into a magical wonderland. The moon’s light softened and the stars appeared so close that she could reach out and touch them. Light glittered across the dark water like pixie dust and her belly fluttered as if it had been brushed by fairy wings.

In The Perfect Lap you’ll find romance, conflict, and family drama. You’ll also find new age spiritual topics including gratitude, positive energy, and the idea that everyone is doing the best they can from where they are.

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

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. 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, click here: https://amzn.to/2Lp3b5p

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

The Secret of Shifting from Negative to Positive: A Proven Method to Transform a Bad Mood

This past week wasn’t my best. I had difficult choices to make, a loved one had a health scare, and nothing I did went as planned. After recent rains, my dog dug holes all over the yard and my beloved Preds lost last night’s game. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

I know all about the Law of Attraction and the Power of Positive Thinking. I blog on these topics…I write about them in my novels. But knowing and doing are two entirely different concepts. I believe with every fiber of my being that putting out negative energy creates more of the same. Even so, at times the material world offers adversities that pull me down. Knowing what negativity does makes it all the worse. Wallowing in pessimism is like asking the universe, “May I have some more crap, please?” And so it goes….

Earlier today on my morning walk with my digger, Milkduds, I noticed a small tree at the edge of the woods. Tiny Kelly-Green buds trailed up long branches that just yesterday were bare. Studying the beautiful tree and its overnight growth, an awareness emerged. Today is a brand-new day and a new opportunity to create enhanced life experiences.

I spent the rest of my walk drawing in the beauty of nature and giving gratitude, because being grateful is a sure-fire way to improve a bad mood! Even when things aren’t going my way, I have plenty to be grateful for.

Studies have shown that when one is feeling genuinely grateful, it’s impossible to at the same time feel angry, anxious, or any other negative emotion. For this reason, gratitude has been an important part of spiritual teachings throughout the ages. There’s an inspiring chapter on this powerful process in the book The Secret by Rhonda Bryne.

“What can you do right now to begin to turn your life around? The very first thing is to start making a list of things to be grateful for. This shifts your energy and starts to shift your thinking.”—Dr. Joe Vitale

We are continually creating our lives through our thoughts and our feelings. The Universe simply reflects our energy and returns to us what we put out. Considering this, I let go of the issues that plagued my week and shifted my thoughts toward the positives in my life. It didn’t take me from zero to one hundred, but I’m well on my way toward a happy day!

“Gratitude places you in the energy field of plentitude. Glow with gratitude and see how awe and joy will make their home in you.”—Michael Beckwith

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

NORA’S PROMISE, a contemporary sports romance: She trusts animals more than men. He runs through women like tires. Can one orphaned boy force them to change gears? Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2OktquX

CLOUD WHISPERS, a contemporary novel: If you like headstrong heroines, heartwarming stories of family and forgiveness, and new age concepts, then you’ll love this mind-expanding novel. Purchase link: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

To sign up for Sedona’s blog newsletter, tap this link:  https://www.sedonahutton.com/

Recommended Reading:

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

Life Visioning: A Transformative Process by Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential by Michael Beckwith: https://amzn.to/2SLNjfw

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.