Blair Shackle

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Why a digital detox is oh-so-important

Bright orange, vibrant red, and shimmering yellow leaves of fall. Powerful, lapping waves of Lake Superior. Tall bluffs. Muddy hiking trails. Ample sunshine. Full hearts. 

This is the North Shore of Minnesota in autumn. Would you believe I spent three days there if you didn’t see any photographic or social media evidence? Hmm….

I spent three days ‘up north,’ as we say around these parts, without my phone or computer. And no, I’m not crazy 🙂 It was glorious.

digital-detox

I don’t have to remind you how much time you spend online. Searching, scrolling, squinting. There’s always something to discover, someone to connect with, and endless topics to educate yourself on. But on the not-so-pretty side of things, there’s always someone’s life to compare to yours that leaves you feeling empty and envious. And sometimes do you wonder why you’re still scrolling through websites and random social media profiles after four hours? I do. Like anything, there’s a light and a dark side to the Internet. 

In my case, as a marketing and digital media specialist, I spend a loooooot of time on the Google machine. Like any job, it wears you out if you don’t make breaks a priority — especially when you could be working all. the. time. And I was not making breaks (true, get-away-from-the-computer breaks) a priority and my work-life balance was suffering. 

A few weeks before my vacation to celebrate my 8th wedding anniversary (yay!), I heard some whispers that I should not bring my phone. Really? I thought. Could I do it? Would I have the sweats and shakes? I had some real doubts if I could or should do it. My ego kept pestering me to find excuses to bring my phone, but alas, I listened to the guidance of my soul. 

News flash: it was way easier and more enjoyable than I could have imagined!

We headed up to northern Minnesota and I made sure to bring a few great books to read and a coloring book to keep me occupied. It was funny because I thought I would lean on them a lot in the car, but I didn’t. I simply enjoyed the ride, scenery, and conversation with my husband. It was refreshing not to have my device in tow, because I would habitually pick it up and scroll through the randomness. 

After this experience, I want to make this a habit. Once a month, I am going to have my husband “hide” my phone and if anyone wants to get a hold of me, they can through my hubby (as we did on the trip). In fact, my detox weekend is coming up *this* weekend and I think I’ll also do it right after Thanksgiving 🙂 

Here are a few quick things I learned and ideas that may help you if you are thinking of doing a digital detox…

If you are feeling disengaged, irritable, stressed, or unhappy, try a digital detox

Yes, I really believe a break from technology can help you reconnect to and reground your emotions. It’s like a supplement, sometimes we are deficient in a nutrient and we need something to help us feel better for a short period of time. In our wild world these days, it is super easy to become deficient in genuine connection. Now this is not only with others, but with ourselves. 

By taking away something that takes us away from our true feelings and emotions, we are able to recharge our connection to soul. 

When was the last time you enjoyed something without feeling the need to share it? 

Sometimes we have to keep our happiness close to our own hearts. Hey…I totally get wanting to share and spread joy to others. I offer this advice often to my clients â€” BUT! â€” sometimes certain magic needs to be experienced with you (and a few select loved ones) intimately. 

Experience the world around you with all five senses. Live simply for a few days. Appreciate the world around you with just your eyes and heart. This will help your body and your spirit to reground itself.

Trust that life continues to be beautiful and amazing without the approval of others

This is a toughie for a lot of people. Myself included. You can feel, well, high when the likes keep piling up on your social media feeds. It’s that sense of: “Ahh…someone gets me. They see me! They like me! This feels good and I’m going to keep doing this.” This is simple psychology and why wouldn’t we want to keep sharing things when we get attention for it? But, I want you to know something…

Your life has tremendous value, credibility, and purpose even if you don’t share everything on social media. You are a wonderful person with many talents and inner beauty no matter what. I promise.

A break will make you better at your life and job

Speaking to everyone here, but especially the online entrepreneurs of the world out there â€” stepping away from the computer will not cause your business to implode. Pinky promise. 

Folks, I must practice what I preach to my clients. And what I preach is ease and balance. If I don’t take a break and recharge, I’m not going to be my best helping them market their business. Can you imagine someone telling a pilot or a surgeon not to take a break? Uhh…trouble ahead. I know us online entrepreneurs don’t hold people’s lives in our hands, but you catch my drift. 

Oh and that precious life of yours and those incredible people in it â€” they’ll thank you for being present. I don’t have to say much more.

Wrapping up â€” listen to that small, sweet voice within

If it is telling you to take a break, try it out. Maybe start with one day, or two. Here’s the deal…social media, websites, texting, the whole gamut is most likely here to stay in our lifetime. Let’s embrace it! Let’s enjoy it! But…let’s also know when to take a break from it! 

Big hugs friends! 

 

 

 

November 3, 2016 Filed Under: Authentically Alive, Balanced Living, Marketing Tips, Mindfulness, Self Care, Travel Tips 1 Comment

Dear me, I think you need to hear this…

listen up

Dear Me,

Being a spiritual person doesn’t mean you can’t have human experiences and human emotions.

If you find yourself thinking about the past, be thankful for the lessons, and refocus.

If you start worrying about the future, say a prayer of gratitude for the blessings to come.

Staying in the present moment is optimal…always remember that.

Do not qualify your self-worth via how many ‘Likes’ or ‘Retweets’ you get in a day.

Be proud of what you do, not how others perceive you and give you praise.

Comparing yourself to others serves no purpose.

Just because someone seems “further” along on their path, doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.

Baby steps are all you need for the Universe sprinkle fairy dust on what you want to manifest.

It’s OK to be curious about what Kim Kardashian is going to name her baby.

Taking naps feeds your soul, it isn’t causing you to “miss out” on any opportunities.

You’re not lazy. You try to do everything all at once, life doesn’t work that way.

There is time for everything.

Allow this “timing” to come whenever it decides to show up. Just trust me on this. It will come.

Keep repeating the mantra: only good things come to me.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you should wear sweatpants 75% of the time.

Breathe the fresh air, dig your toes into the grass, soak up what nature has to offer.

You can learn something from how the Earth recharges you.

Make time each day to tell someone what they mean to you…preferabally something positive!

Feeling scared about your “big dream” doesn’t make you unworthy of it. It makes you human.

Keep going. You can do this.

Listening to Native flute music and Lady Gaga in the same sitting does not make you crazy. It makes you awesome.

Pay attention to yourself, like…true, loving, devoted attention. This is the only way other people will do the same.

A layer of dog hair on everything in your house does not mean it’s unlivable.

Only settle for being the best you.

Stop worrying about your thighs touching.

You’re healthy. Beautiful. And really, who wants to skip out on that limited time S’mores Blizzard from Dairy Queen?

When in doubt: breathing makes everything better.

Don’t put loving yourself on the back burner.

You are an infinite being with greatness exploding into the Universe with each laugh, each hug, every tear shed, every truth told.

No matter what.

Love you!

Me

June 19, 2013 Filed Under: Authentically Alive, Balanced Living 10 Comments

How to open your heart chakra

After a full 24-hours of moving forward into the spring equinox, let’s open our hearts to the beauty and acceptance of now and to the expression and excitement of the future.

Today, let’s work on opening the heart chakra as we move forward into whole love.

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To take a step back for a moment…

Let’s talk about what the chakras are and what purpose they serve in our lives.

There are seven major energy centers (chakras) that radiate throughout the body that starts at the base of the spine (root) and runs all the way to the top of your head (crown). Each chakra is a center for various energies to be transformed, has a corresponding color and is linked in your emotional and physical body. Each has its own vibrational frequency and can be in our out of balance. Does this make sense? It’s like the organs of your physical body, because each plays a vital role in your health and wellbeing, although we cannot “see” these energy centers.

Back to the heart chakra. . .

This chest-centralized chakra embodies many energetic aspects focused on self-love and acceptance, emotional expression, relationships with self and others, grief, belonging and compassion to touch on a few.

Every once and a while the heart chakra will become out-of-balance or dull due to emotional or energetic “trauma.” So it is important to keep the heart chakra in balance and open it back up to its vibrant life force.

Here are a few very simple but effective ways we can honor, balance and open that lovely heart of ours:

Repeat a mantra of love

Incorporate mantras and affirmations that surround love, wellbeing and compassion…anything that brings you love and joy. Here are a few suggestions from Chakra Anatomy:

I am open to love.
I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
I nurture my inner child.
I am loved.
I live in balance, in a state of gracefulness and gratitude.
I love the beauty of nature and the animal world.
I forgive myself.
I am open to love and kindness.
I am grateful for all the challenges that helped me to transform and open up to love.
I am connected with other human beings.
I feel a sense of unity with nature and animals.
I accept things as they are.
I am peaceful.

Surround your heart and entire body and soul with a beautiful green light

Each of the seven chakras correspond with a color. The heart chakra is green. A gorgeous, vibrant, crystalline emerald green. Just by breathing in and out while focusing on increasing your awareness to this color will help.

Open up with yoga

I am a mover by nature, so adding in something physical with energy work really seems to jive with me. Do you ever find yourself emotionally overwhelmed, or even cry during a yoga or meditation practice? I do. It’s amazing what we can release during simple stretching and wringing out of our energetic bodies. A few yoga poses to open your heart are: camel, cobra and forward bend. For photos of these poses, click here.

my black hills rose quartz!
my black hills rose quartz!

Carry rose quartz

Crystals and gemstones are gently powerful energy workers. Rose quartz is my favorite stone to work with on the heart chakra. It is the stone of universal love. It heals, protects and restores trust and harmony. It encourages self-forgiveness and acceptance invoking self-trust and self-worth. Many other stones will work too, here is a comprehensive list.

Express your emotions in a journal

Don’t bottle things up, let them go! A journal is a great tool to physically release your emotions from your heart and body. Don’t think…just write…forgive…let go…and see what transformation can happen.

Meditate on forgiveness

The heart is the center of true, deep emotion of all kinds…including grief, depression, loneliness and trauma. Take time to forgive your deepest hurts, frustration and anger…from both yourself and others that may have caused this pain.

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Tomorrow. . .a green guided meditation to end the week feeling warm!

 

March 21, 2013 Filed Under: Balanced Living, Chakra Consciousness, Color Therapy, Soul Strength + Bravery 3 Comments

The real spring forward

treetop

It’s the vernal equinox today!

Not only does this mark the start of a soon-to-be spring climate, but is the beginning of many energetic changes too.

The spring equinox is special because it welcomes change and growth with an open heart. It is the time to be in celebration of things fresh and new. It is the gateway of time to put those big, beautiful dreams in action and to ask for exactly what you want. You will notice that your manifesting will come quicker, so focus your thoughts only on the positive and peaceful.

The overarching theme of this equinox is: moving forward.

Along with the equinox, astrologically, we have moved in the the sign of Aries today. After a month of being in intuitive, internal, emotional, dreamy Pisces, we are in this charged up,  first-born fire sign. This also gives us huge motivation and stamina to move forward with all we have planted. Let’s just say it is going to be a lot easier to finally feel, hear, see, touch all those dreams we have been replaying in our hearts and minds. It’s a very formative and exciting time!

photoWith so much energy swirling around now, it is important to acknowledge all the effort (internally and externally) it took to get to this new place. If you feel inclined, grab a soothing cup of detoxifying green tea and have a little ‘releasing of the old’ ceremony. You could sage your home, ask Archangel Michael to clear your mind and heart of what no longer serves you, write down all your past feelings or stumbling blocks and burn them, or simply take some quality time to meditate and send gratitude for the past as we so quickly press ahead.

I find that releasing the past moves me into the future in a way that allows balance and breathing space. Like forgiving someone that hurt you, in order to truly heal, you must acknowledge that it happened and not go about pretending it didn’t. Take time to heal anything in your past to bring bright light into your future!

On that note, as we say goodbye to some old energies, let’s create a welcoming, beautiful space for new ones. . .

Tomorrow, I am so excited to talk about some simple, but lovely ways to open your shining emerald green heart chakra and accept more unconditional love (in all forms) into our lives during this special time of new beginnings.

 

March 20, 2013 Filed Under: Astrology, Authentically Alive, Balanced Living, illuminate your inspiration 5 Comments

Going green

green-heart-grass

Spring is almost here. One of my favorite times of year…birds chirping, the rays of the sun gaining strength, the smell of snow melting and feeling renewed.

Well, not this year in Minnesota.

The last two years have hosted temperatures in the 70s and 80s…a treat in March. Us tundra-dwellers came to expect that mini-miracle.

I’m kind of in a funny place with how I feel about the “lack of spring” if you want to call it that.

Here is some of the icky stuff I’ve been experiencing/feeling:

  • Temperatures way below our average high of 40°+
  • Wind so strong and biting it actually stirs up a feeling of anger inside me (yikes!)
  • Snow that just won’t quit: the inches seem to come and go like a bad version of Groundhog’s Day
  • Going on month 4 of bundling up and feeling like an overstuffed sausage
  • My birthday is March 24, and I always assume (most often in the middle of January) that everything will literally be sunshine and roses…not quite this year
  • The hardest one for me: clouds. for. days. The lack of vibrancy can be wearing.

Keeping a positive attitude, as any native-Minnesotan can most likely tell you, is a bit difficult at this point. But! Think about all the growth that IS happening that we cannot see yet. The flowers will blossom, the snow will melt and all this extra winter fuss will bring about even brighter skies and clearer hearts. I’m going to give gratitude to this little extra dose of “watering.” We will soon be fully restored and recharged!

So…I’ve decided something…

If spring won’t show up “on time,” I’ll make it springy around these parts!

How about a little color therapy with the official color of spring: GREEN!

Did you know that green is a balancing color? That means it is in the middle of the color spectrum and has equal parts calming and stimulating effect. It’s the most predominate color of nature, life, creation.

Let’s celebrate it!

So Tuesday through Friday of this week, I will be posting about different ways you can incorporate the magnificent color of spring and growth into our lives! Posts will feature recharging green recipes, guided meditation, ways to open that glorious green heart chakra of yours and more!

For now…a little affirmation for you:

I AM growing, thriving and vibrant. I will bloom at the perfect time and in harmony with everything that surrounds my peace-filled life.

March 18, 2013 Filed Under: Authentically Alive, Balanced Living 10 Comments

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