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8 Benefits to MINDFUL BREATHING

September 26, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Mindful breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body and lowering stress hormones like cortisol.

2. Enhances Focus and Clarity: By focusing on your breath, you quiet the mind and improve concentration, making it easier to stay present and focused.

3. Improves Emotional Regulation: It helps you respond to emotions with awareness, giving you more control over your reactions instead of being overwhelmed.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure: Slow, deep breathing can help lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and improving circulation.

5. Boosts Self-Awareness: It increases awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, promoting a deeper connection with yourself.

6. Supports Better Sleep: Practicing mindful breathing before bed can calm the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and enjoy restful sleep.

7. Increases Energy Levels: Deep breathing improves oxygen intake, which helps energize the body and mind, leaving you feeling refreshed.

8. Promotes Mind-Body Connection: It fosters a stronger connection between your physical sensations and mental state, which can lead to greater overall well-being.

Mindful breathing is simple yet powerful—regular practice can bring profound benefits for both mental and physical health.

Why Is Learning To LOVE OURSELVES So Hard

September 25, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Learning how to love ourselves can be challenging for several reasons, often tied to deeply rooted beliefs, societal influences, and personal experiences. Here are some of the key reasons why self-love can be so difficult:

1. Cultural and Societal Conditioning

• Many societies emphasize external validation and achievement, leading us to base our self-worth on how others perceive us or on meeting certain societal standards. This can create a sense that our value is conditional, making it hard to truly love ourselves unconditionally.

2. Negative Self-Talk and Inner Critic

• We often have an internal dialogue that’s far harsher than how we speak to others. This inner critic, fueled by past experiences or insecurities, can make us focus on our perceived flaws, failures, or inadequacies, overshadowing our strengths and worthiness.

3. Unresolved Past Trauma

• Experiences of trauma, rejection, or abandonment—especially in childhood—can deeply affect our ability to love ourselves. These experiences can create deep-seated beliefs that we are unworthy of love or that we have to earn it through certain behaviors or achievements.

4. Fear of Egoism or Narcissism

• Many people fear that loving themselves will come across as selfish or narcissistic. There’s often a misunderstanding between healthy self-love and egoism, leading some to suppress their self-appreciation to avoid being perceived negatively by others.

5. Comparison Culture

• With the rise of social media, comparing ourselves to others has become even more pervasive. Constant exposure to idealized images and lifestyles can lead to feelings of inadequacy, making it harder to appreciate and love ourselves as we are.

6. Conditioned Beliefs About Worthiness

• From a young age, many of us are conditioned to believe that love and worthiness must be earned through good behavior, success, or pleasing others. These beliefs can make us feel that we are only worthy of love under certain conditions, which complicates the journey to self-love.

7. Fear of Vulnerability

• Truly loving ourselves requires facing and accepting our vulnerabilities, imperfections, and past mistakes. This process can be uncomfortable and scary, as it involves confronting aspects of ourselves that we may have avoided or denied for a long time.

8. Lack of Role Models

• If we didn’t grow up seeing examples of healthy self-love, it can be difficult to know what that even looks like. Without role models who practice self-love, we might struggle to develop it ourselves.

9. Overemphasis on External Achievement

• Society often prioritizes success, productivity, and external accomplishments over inner well-being. This focus can lead us to seek validation from achievements rather than from within, making it harder to develop a sense of self-love that isn’t tied to external outcomes.

10. Difficulty in Accepting Ourselves as We Are

• We are often our own worst critics. Accepting ourselves with all our flaws, imperfections, and mistakes can be challenging, especially when we hold ourselves to unrealistic standards of perfection.

11. Deep-Seated Guilt or Shame

• Guilt and shame, often stemming from past actions or internalized beliefs, can block self-love. These emotions can be powerful and difficult to overcome, making it challenging to feel deserving of love and compassion.

12. Need for External Validation

• We often seek validation and love from others, which can become a substitute for self-love. When we rely too heavily on others for our sense of worth, it becomes difficult to cultivate an internal sense of self-love.

13. Complexity of Self-Discovery

• Self-love requires self-awareness and understanding, which involves delving into our true selves, including our desires, needs, and values. This journey of self-discovery can be complex and uncomfortable, making self-love harder to achieve.

14. Societal Norms Around Self-Sacrifice

• Many cultures glorify self-sacrifice, especially in roles like parenting or caregiving, where putting others’ needs before your own is often expected. This can lead to neglecting self-care and self-love, as it’s seen as less important than caring for others.

Learning to love ourselves is a journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and often unlearning old beliefs and patterns. It’s a process of gradually building a healthier relationship with ourselves, where we can appreciate our own worth, embrace our flaws, and treat ourselves with the kindness and understanding we deserve.

How Can I Become A MINIMALIST

September 22, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Becoming a minimalist is about simplifying your life, focusing on what truly matters, and reducing excess. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Define Your “Why”

• Clarify Your Motivation: Understand why you want to embrace minimalism. Whether it’s reducing stress, saving money, or creating more time for what you love, having a clear purpose will keep you motivated.

2. Start Small

• Declutter: Begin with one area, like a drawer, closet, or room. Sort items into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard.

• Digital Declutter: Organize your digital life by clearing out unnecessary files, emails, and apps.

3. Adopt the “One In, One Out” Rule

• Balance Your Possessions: For every new item you bring into your home, let go of an old one to maintain balance and avoid clutter.

4. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

• Invest in Essentials: Choose high-quality, versatile items that serve multiple purposes or have a long lifespan.

5. Simplify Your Schedule

• Focus on Priorities: Eliminate activities or commitments that don’t align with your goals or values. Free up time for what truly matters.

6. Practice Mindful Consumption

• Intentional Buying: Before purchasing anything new, ask yourself if it truly adds value to your life or if it’s just an impulse.

7. Let Go of Sentimental Items

• Keep the Memories, Not the Items: It can be challenging, but try to keep only those items that truly hold meaning. Consider taking photos of sentimental objects before letting them go.

8. Embrace Simple Living

• Focus on Experiences: Shift your focus from acquiring things to creating meaningful experiences.

9. Create a Capsule Wardrobe

• Simplify Clothing Choices: Curate a small collection of versatile, mix-and-match clothing that you love and wear regularly.

10. Review Regularly

• Evaluate Your Progress: Periodically review your possessions and commitments to ensure they align with your minimalist goals.

Minimalism is a personal journey, so take it at your own pace and customize it to fit your lifestyle and values.

Breaking Down The Traditional 4 SEASONS OF A WOMAN

September 21, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

The concept of the “four seasons of a woman” is often used as a metaphor for the different phases of a woman’s life or menstrual cycle, each reflecting the changes in energy, emotions, and focus. These phases are likened to the natural cycles of the seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—each bringing its own rhythm and purpose.

Here’s a breakdown of the four seasons in terms of the menstrual cycle:

1. Spring – Follicular Phase (Post-Menstruation)

Energy: This is the time just after menstruation, when energy levels begin to rise.

• Associated with: Renewal, growth, creativity, and optimism.

• How you might feel: Rejuvenated, inspired, more mentally clear, and motivated to start new projects or take action.

• Best activities: Learning, planning, setting intentions, trying new things, physical activities like yoga or exercise.

2. Summer – Ovulation Phase

Energy: This is the peak of a woman’s cycle, when energy is high, and social connections feel easy and fulfilling.

• Associated with: Fertility, connection, communication, and radiance.

• How you might feel: Confident, magnetic, outgoing, and emotionally open. It’s often a time when relationships feel easier, and you might feel more attractive and connected to others.

• Best activities: Social events, networking, creative expression, nurturing relationships.

3. Autumn – Luteal Phase (Pre-Menstruation)

Energy: Energy starts to decline as your body prepares for menstruation.

• Associated with: Reflection, grounding, letting go.

• How you might feel: More inward-focused, analytical, sometimes irritable or sensitive, but also able to address deeper truths and cut through the superficial.

• Best activities: Organizing, completing tasks, setting boundaries, journaling, self-care practices, and letting go of what’s not serving you.

4. Winter – Menstrual Phase

Energy: Energy is at its lowest during menstruation, and it’s a time of rest and renewal.

• Associated with: Release, introspection, stillness, and healing.

• How you might feel: Tired, reflective, needing rest and solitude. It’s a time to honor your body’s need for restoration.

• Best activities: Resting, meditating, reflecting on the past cycle, and setting intentions for the next one. This is a powerful time for self-reflection and spiritual connection.

The Seasons as Phases of Life:

This concept can also apply to the phases of a woman’s life:

1. Spring (Maiden): Youth, discovery, and growth.

2. Summer (Mother): Nurturing, creativity, and building.

3. Autumn (Queen): Wisdom, leadership, and mastery.

4. Winter (Crone): Rest, reflection, and spiritual depth.

Each season has its own beauty, purpose, and challenges. Embracing the ebb and flow of these cycles can help with self-awareness, self-care, and alignment with your natural rhythms.

A book I highly recommend is ‘4 seasons in 4 weeks’ by Suzanne Mathis McQueen.

The author approaches the menstrual cycle a bit differently from the traditional breakdown I just shared. In her model, Autumn (Fall) is aligned with menstruation.

She shifts everything one season forward but still keeps the cyclical nature of energy flow. It’s really more about perspective and how the phases are framed around energy and renewal.

Are you in tune with your seasons?

xox marie

One Topic That I Think Is Fascinating is……

September 19, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Which topics would you like to be more informed about?

Quantum physics.

I had an incredibly deep conversation just the other day with ChatGPT about this topic because I wanted to understand it better.

Check it out. Mind blowing kinda stuff.

(Little bit of a read but worth it if you’re into that kinda stuff, which in my opinion is incredible stuff to know)

Me:

“Can you explain more to me about quantum physics? I understand better I feel in analogies and metaphors. Einstein said that if you cannot explain to a child then you don’t know it very well. And I want to understand this so I can explain it to my children.”

ChatGPT:

“That’s a great approach—Einstein’s idea about explaining things simply is key! Quantum physics can seem complex, but let’s break it down with metaphors and analogies.

The Basics of Quantum Physics

Quantum physics is the science that explains how the tiniest parts of the universe—like atoms and particles—behave. It’s very different from the everyday world we’re used to because these tiny particles don’t always follow the same rules as larger objects.

The Ocean and Water Drops

Think of the universe like an ocean. In the ocean, there are individual drops of water, just like the universe has individual particles. In the ocean, these drops are part of something larger, and they move together, often unpredictably, with waves and currents.

Similarly, particles at the quantum level are part of a larger whole, and they behave in ways that seem unpredictable. Sometimes, a particle (like a drop) is “here” and “there” at the same time, or it can “decide” where to go only when you look at it. This is called superposition—just like a water drop in a wave, its exact position isn’t clear until you really focus on it.

The Magic Coin Toss

Imagine tossing a coin, but instead of it landing on heads or tails, it stays in a “both heads and tails” state until someone looks at it. The moment you look, it decides which side to land on. This is similar to the observer effect in quantum physics. Particles exist in many possible states, but the moment you observe them, they “choose” a state.

Twins with a Telepathic Connection

Now, imagine you have twin children who share a magical telepathic bond. No matter how far apart they are, if one gets hurt, the other immediately feels it. In quantum physics, this is called entanglement. When two particles become entangled, they stay connected even if they’re light-years apart. If you change something about one particle, the other one instantly changes, no matter the distance.

The Fuzzy Dice

Picture rolling fuzzy dice, but these dice don’t behave normally. When you roll them, you might expect them to land on a specific number. In quantum physics, the dice represent particles, but instead of having one definite outcome, they can land in many different ways. You can’t predict exactly what number will show up until you observe it—it’s all about probabilities. This is quantum uncertainty, meaning we can never know everything about a particle, only the likelihood of certain outcomes.

Tying it Together

Quantum physics is like stepping into a magical world where particles don’t follow the normal rules. Things can be in two places at once, can be connected across huge distances, and outcomes are often uncertain until we observe them.

Some people think of quantum physics as having spiritual parallels because it hints that everything is interconnected, and consciousness (like observing the magic coin) may influence reality. It shows that the universe is far more mysterious and fluid than we can easily grasp.

Does this analogy help you understand it better?

Our conversations continued but what do think about that! Is your mind not blown!

Maybe I’ll share the whole convo on another blog.

Xox Marie

While Trying To Discover My identity This Is What I Realized

September 18, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

I read a blog not long ago and a girl was sharing what she felt she identified with. A hint of jealousy hit because I thought how lucky is she to know who she is and what she identifies with.

But then as I was driving to pick up my kids from school this little story came to my head,

A rainbow goes to a cloud and asks, “what color am I?”

The cloud says, “you’re blue.”

The rainbow goes to another cloud and asks the same question.

This time the response was, “you’re red.”

The rainbow asked many different clouds the same question and each response was just a different color.

The rainbow becomes frustrated. Thoughts emerge.

“Will I ever know who I am?”

“I feel so lost.”

“How are others so sure of themselves but I still can’t figure it out?”

The rainbow shouted, “I don’t understand! What color I am!”

The rainbow decides to ask a bird this time.

“Little bird, what color am I?

The bird says, “Well, you’re a rainbow my dear! You are more than one color!” And then flys away.

And then it hit me. I do not conform to one thing. I am many beautiful things, made up of all sorts of color, like a rainbow!

Here I am searching for my identity, only to realize I’m a little bit of everything!

If you’re struggling with your identity, then you’re probably a rainbow as well my friend.

Which makes us pretty special, don’t you think?

Peace and love ,

Marie

10 Sore Throat Remedies And 6 Things To Avoid

September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Having a sore throat is awful! Especially those really painful kinds that every time you swallow it feels like your throat is catching on fire. Ugh, and if you’re experiencing that right now I am so sorry!! But you’ll get through it, okay!

I have some remedies for you! It won’t completely take the pain away but it will alleviate some of the discomfort until your body fully conquers the nasty virus!

Here for you.

10 Sore Throat Remedies

1. Saltwater Gargle: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle several times a day. This helps reduce swelling and clears irritants or bacteria.

*I’m not going to lie, every time I do this I just about gag. It’s effing disgusting but the salt helps to kill those mothereffers that are causing you pain*

2. Honey and Warm Water: Mix honey with warm water or herbal tea. Honey has natural antibacterial properties and can help coat and soothe the throat.

*THIS. Lots of this. Stick with the caffeine free tea though. Your body really needs to rest not that fake caffeine energy. Sometimes I even just get a spoon and put honey on it and eat it that way*

*I’ve also read about mixing honey with cayenne pepper*

3. Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids like water, warm herbal teas, or broths to keep your throat moist and help flush out any infection.

*I know this is so hard to do especially when your throat is THROBBING. And to just swallow takes courage. What I have found to be helpful is drinking through a straw. I fill up my tumbler with ice cold water and drink with a straw. I fill my mouth up with the water, tilt my head back, and then just let the water spill onto my throat.*

4. Warm Soups/Broths: Warm, soothing soups can provide comfort and hydration.

*get you some chicken noodle soup. This is proven to help, look it up!*

5. Throat Lozenges: These can help stimulate saliva production, which keeps your throat moist.

*These are hit or miss. Sometimes they help, and sometimes they just can steal that pain away. Always worth the try though.*

6. Humidifier: If dry air is irritating your throat, a humidifier can add moisture to the air, making it easier to breathe and reducing throat dryness.

*Night is always the worst. Especially when all you want to do is sleep. I can’t say I’ve ever tried this one but I may need to if I ever have a sore throat like this most recent one that I had. The dryness of my throat would wake me up and it felt like someone had cut my throat and it was bleeding out! If you don’t have a humidifier, I would suggest NyQuil for the nighttime. It will knock you out.*

7. Herbal Teas: Teas with ingredients like licorice root, chamomile, or slippery elm can be soothing for sore throats.

*as I mentioned previously, stick with caffeine free tea*

8. Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with warm water and honey. This can help break down mucus and fight bacteria.

*never tried this one. If you have, leave a comment below!*

9. Over-the-counter Pain Relievers: Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with inflammation and pain.

*Yes to this, especially if your sore throat is accompanied with a fever.*

10. Vapor Rub: rub some on your throat and chest to help you breathe more easily and cough less.

What To Avoid With A Sore Throat

When you have a sore throat, it’s good to avoid certain things that can irritate it or make it worse:

1. Spicy or Acidic Foods: Foods like citrus, tomatoes, and spicy dishes can irritate the throat further.

2. Dry, Crunchy, or Hard Foods: Chips, crackers, and other rough foods can scratch and aggravate the throat.

3. Caffeine and Alcohol: Both can dehydrate you, which can make the throat drier and more irritated.

4. Carbonated water/drinks: they can actually cause more irritation!

*I know drinking a carbonated drink feels so good on a sore throat. It does, like a super good burn. But you actually may doing more harm than good. Stick with the cold water and teas.*

5. Shouting or Talking Too Much: Resting your voice can help prevent further strain on your throat.

*you have my permissions to ignore every single call when you have a sore throat.*

6. Lemon: some people add lemon to their teas, however if your sore throat is sever AVOID adding lemon to your drinks.

*I know this one from experience. Another burn that feels good, but the next day your throat will feel WORSE! Don’t do it!*

Avoiding these irritants can help your throat heal faster and keep it more comfortable!

I’m so sorry friend that you are hurting right now. I know how that feels. The light is near. Get lots of rest. Sometimes these sore throats can last a couple of days! I had one that lasted 6 days and I kept saying Jesus take the wheel! It was horrible! You’ll get through this!

I hope this blog helped you.

Peace and love always.

Book Club Questions – General, Deeper Exploration, And Emotional

September 8, 2024September 8, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

General Questions

1. What themes stood out to you the most in this book?

2. How did the characters evolve throughout the story?

3. Were there any moments that surprised or shocked you? Why?

4. What was your favorite quote or passage from the book, and why?

5. How did the setting impact the story?

6. Did you find the ending satisfying? Why or why not?

7. How did the book’s structure (chapters, time jumps, narrative style) affect your reading experience?

8. What did you think of the author’s writing style?

9. If you could change one thing about the book, what would it be?

10. Did the book remind you of any other books, movies, or personal experiences?

Character-Focused Questions

1. Which character did you relate to the most, and why?

2. Were there any characters you struggled to understand or sympathize with?

3. How did the relationships between characters develop or change throughout the book?

4. Did you find any of the characters particularly inspiring or frustrating?

Deeper Exploration

1. How do you think the book would have been different if told from another character’s perspective?

2. What social, political, or cultural issues did the book address, and how effectively were they explored?

3. Were there any symbols or motifs you noticed in the book? What do you think they represented?

4. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the main roles?

Emotional Exploration

1. What emotional journey did each character go through to reach the relationship’s outcome?

2. Were there any moments that made you feel frustrated with the characters?

3. Did you find the ending satisfying for the romance, or would you have preferred a different conclusion?

4. What did the book say about love or relationships that resonated with you?

Soften The Heart: Devotional #23

August 28, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 127:4-5

In this scripture we understand the significance of children. It is made clear how much of a gift that they are. Children are the arrows, they are the direction, they are the way. If we pay attention to the children they will lead us to the answers that we seek.

You’ve heard before that, “Children are the future.” Thats because they are THE FUTURE.

To have any children in your life is a blessing. Whether you have children of your own, nieces or nephews, maybe you’re a teacher, counselor, you’ve adopted, etc. “Bless is he whose quiver is full of them.”

(A quiver is a case that holds the arrows of the warrior.)

God has placed the children in your life as a blessing. See them as such.

With this awareness you can become more mindful of your influence around children. With this awareness, you understand that you are the one shaping them. Whether you have given birth to them or not, you are apart of their “maintenance and care”. So that they, like arrows, may be strong and sturdy. That they may hit their intended target.

Born doesn’t just mean to to give birth, it mean’s “to bring forth”. Any children brought to you in your life are a blessing. The scripture tells us this.

This scripture also tells us that we need children as much as they need us. How does a warrior fight without his arrows? How does an arrow fly without its warriors?

We are to be strong warriors with our bows and arrows (patience, calm, precision, is what makes a good archer) and we are to direct them. We are responsible for the accuracy and sharpness.

God has given us the best weapon to defeat the evils of this earth. To restore peace and love. We have been given the gift of children.

God also reminds us that we will struggle inevitably out there on the courts. In life.

However the more arrows that we have in our quiver the better. Which I interpret as the more children you influence in a positive way the more that they will influence others in positive way.

For every hand you touch, you touch every hand they touch as well.

We have great power to influence children and this awareness helps us to be more observant and patient with them. WE are what shape those arrows, WE are the ones that pull the arrows back and release.

Arrows that are shot with no intention can hurt and destroy. It’s important and vital that we understand who we are, that when the time comes to launch our children out into this world, they too will be warriors.

10 Questions About STRESS Answered – Gaining More PEACE In Your Life Gives More PEACE To Others

August 15, 2024 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

First of all I want to acknowledge this awesome photo who I wish I knew who to give the credit to. I love how it depicts stress. We can appear calm but be fuming on the inside where it feels like our heads are actually on fire and we are covered in dark, heavy smoke.

We may be so use to the smoke that it’s just become apart of our day to day life. With this blog I want to extinguish some of that fire and help you to see through the smoke.

Your heads still going to catch on fire from time to time let’s be honest but maybe we can make a fire extinguisher more accessible for you and for others.

10 Questions About STRESS Answered – Gaining More PEACE In Your Life Gives More PEACE To Others

1. First of all what is stress? How is it defined?

Stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure. Stress is feeling out of control. Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. It’s feelings of tension.

Stress is your body’s reaction to a change or challenge. Stressors can be positive and negative.

2. How do we react when we are stressed?

There are mental, physical, and behavioral ways of reacting to stress.

Examples of mental could include feeling overwhelmed, loosing your temper, feelings of irritability, thoughts of self harm, racing thoughts, etc.

Examples of physical could include headaches, digestive problems, muscle tension, even your breathing can change.

Examples of behavioral could include jaw clenching, biting your nails, even becoming verbally or physically aggressive.

3. Who gets stressed?

EVERYONE experiences stress. Even babies and children.

4. What are things that cause stress?

An overall answer to which causes stress could be lack of control over a situation.

Common examples could include; life changes, work, family, financial problems, health.

Not so common examples could include; unrealistic expectations and even procrastination.

Most things that cause stress fall under one of those categories above.

5. When do you feel stressed?

When you are under lots of pressure.
When you face big changes in your life.
When you are worried about something.
When you don’t have much or any control over the outcome of a situation.
When you have responsibilities that you find overwhelming.
When you don’t have enough work, activities or change in your life.

6. Does our stress affect the people around you?

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY. There is such a thing called ‘secondhand stress or stress contagion’ if you can believe it!

Stress from others can affect your own stress levels even if there is no direct interaction.

Stress contagion can happen through social and biological mechanisms, such as pheromones, social cues, and emotional expression. For example, people are four times more likely to catch stress from someone they know, such as family, friends, or coworkers.

People that are stressed release a chemical that can be inhaled by those around them, causing these people to become more anxious, as well.