The 15 minute rule

When I was in acupuncture school my friend and I made up “the 15 minute rule.” Actually, I’m not even sure if we made it up or simply heard about it somewhere. Anyway, our version of the rule was that we had to spend at least 15 minutes per day studying. Now, I realize this sounds like a very short period of time. But the trick was that it was every single day and that it …got me to sit down and begin. I found that if I just started, if I just sat down, I’d often get into it. In fact, it seemed that the hardest thing to do about studying was starting. Once I began I would sometimes stick to my 15 minutes but more often than not, I would study for longer periods of time. The key to my success as a student came from my 15 minute rule. I rarely crammed for an exam because I was such a regular studier, even if it was only for 15 minutes. Just recently I came across this same concept for house cleaning. The article suggested that you devote 15 minutes per day to house cleaning. Now once again, one could yell out, but this isn’t enough. And while it may not be enough, 15 minutes per day adds up to almost 2 hours of house cleaning per week which is a lot more than zero!

Recently, I decided to apply this same rule to the “marketing” of my business. I’m a healer. I like to focus on healing, writing, creating, sharing. I do well at these things but am not as good about going out into the world and letting people know about Tong Ren Chakra Balancing, about my acupuncture practice, about my energy healing practice, about my cd’s and my books. In fact, I have resisted it terribly. Just recently I had someone suggest that I make one call or take one action per day in relation to the promotion of my various projects. This instantly reminded me of my 15 minutes per day rule. Of course, 15 minutes per day. Spend a minimum of 15 minutes per day promoting your business. Seems like such a simple concept and again seems like not enough time. But one action per day times 365 days per year adds up! So, I’m just embarking on this endeavor. Its been a whole 5 days now(which of course, gives me total license to write about it!) In that time, I’ve promoted this page, called two md’s, and written an article for a magazine. Of course, some of these actions took more than 15 minutes but the point is that breaking it down to devoting 15 minutes per day towards the sharing of my work with the world has suddenly made a daunting task feel more manageable. Some days my action step is a quick phone call, other days it’s the writing of an article. In the past I would stare blankly out into the vast world of options and become paralyzed. Since starting my 15 minutes per day project, it suddenly doesn’t seem so daunting. Just one action step a day. Even I can handle that!

The beauty of the 15 minute a day rule is that it can help get us going in any area of our life where we feel blocked. If your not exercising create a 15 minute rule for yourself. Walk for 15 minutes a day. Do something. Do anything. Just get the energy moving. If your home or office is a mess challenge yourself to spending 15 minutes per day restoring order. 15 minutes times 365 days per year adds up.

I think we, myself included, can get overwhelmed by the many tasks that we have in a day and can overwhelmed by the projects before us. I suggest that you take an area of your life that needs more attention and start by devoting just 15 minutes per day to it. This will help the task feel less daunting and allow you to break it up into doable steps. If you aren’t sure what to do, well just do something, it will help move the energy. Day by day, week by week, change will occur.

As I’m writing I hear this message:

“Too many are looking for the big moves, the big steps, the big action, when so much of life is made up of the little things: the writing of the letter, the 15 minutes of straightening up, the quick phone call. Do not over look these seemingly small action steps for one by one, little by little, they add up and before long you have mastered an art, built a business, gotten in shape, lost the weight, or saved the money. It’s the little things done on a daily basis that create the basis for our lives. Do not overlook the little things. Do not overlook the small steps and changes. Break down your task into small steps and they will seem more doable. If you haven’t exercised in years start with a 10-15 minute walk everyday. If you understood the power of walking 15 minutes per day and how it could transform your health you would for sure begin to day.”

And so again, pick some area of your life where you feel blocked and commit to working on it for 15 minutes a day.
Know that at first you will resist. You won’t want to. Be brave. Be courageous. If you can push through this initial resistance you will find yourself looking forward to your 15 minutes a day and your 15 minutes may become 20 or 25 or longer. But start small and be consistent.

“Too many overestimate what can happen in a short period of time and underestimate what can happen over a longer period of time. And so begin today by devoting 15 minutes to some area of your life that feels blocked. Let this be your commitment to yourself, to your body, to your home, to your business, to your studies, or to whatever area in your life needs it. Begin today and see how this transforms the quality of your life. Remember slow and steady wins the race.”

~Hayley Mermelstein

I am spirit and I am learning

Spirit and learning

I am spirit.
I am learning.
I am good.

Everyone is spirit.
Everyone is learning.
Everyone is good.

We are all learning and growing.
We all make mistakes.

Our behavior is evolving but our essential self is good.

As I focus on the goodness of my spirit, I manifest more of my goodness.

As I focus on the greatness that lies within, I manifest more of my greatness.

I am spirit.
I am learning.
I am good.

~Hayley Mermelstein

From Advanced TRCB: The Book of Affirmations (coming this fall)

Sit in your radiance

Sit in your radiance. Sit in your wisdom. Sit in the knowing of who you truly are. When you know who you truly are you will be less affected by the opinions of others. When you know who you truly are you will actualize more and more of your best self. Those who do not behave well have forgotten who they and so have compassion for yourself and for others for it is easy to forget your true identity. It is easy to forget the tremendous greatness that lies within. And so seek to remember who you are and to actualize your true spiritual nature more and more. As you do this you will become a beacon of light for many and you will help others remember their true spiritual nature as well. And so go forth and shine brightly now for each is needed. The world needs your light and so offer your full contribution. Have patience and compassion with your self and have patience and compassion for others. For all are learning and all are growing and all are on a long journey home.

~Hayley Mermelstein

Stepping out of your comfort zone

“You may be challenged to do things that cause you discomfort, that cause you to stretch. Be brave. Be bold. Dare yourself to step out of your comfort zone on a daily basis for this is the way of growth. If it is scary for you to reach out then reach out. If it is scary for you to spend time alone then spend time alone. Follow your bliss and your passions and at the same time challenge those places in you that are afraid. If it is scary to speak in public then you must speak in public. Challenge yourself daily for this is the way of growth. If you are to achieve what you came here to achieve then you must be comfortable doing the uncomfortable. It is simply a fact of life. Many say follow your bliss and while this is true, you must remember that in following your bliss you will inevitably hit up against uncomfortable places. Do not pull back. Instead challenge yourself daily to stretch and grow and do the thing that you are afraid to do. This is part of your clear priority. Part of your clear priority is growth, is expansion, is discovering what you are truly capable of. And so follow your bliss, follow that which calls to you and at the same time challenge yourself to do that which scares you. Not in a reckless sort of way but in a guided sort of way. You will be guided to the edge of your comfort zone and then will be asked to step outside of your comfort zone, for this is the way of growth. Learn to step outside of your comfort zone. If you talk to much, practice listening. If you are comfortable being the hermit practice being more out there in the world. Honor who you are but at the same time challenge yourself to grow and learn for in this way you can live a life of actualization and fulfillment. And so step out, be brave, offer your contribution and know your clear priorities. Stretch, learn, grow, develop and step out into unfamiliar territory for this is the way of growth. Do not be timid any longer. You are each needed. Step out, express, say what needs to be said, be bold, be loud, be quiet, be courageous. You will be rewarded for your bravery.”

~Hayley Mermelstein
Founder of TRCB

I am light

Take a moment and see yourself as a being of light. See yourself as a being of light on a divine mission. You have come to bring light to the earth. You have come to bring light to the people. You have come as a messenger of light. Do not forget your divine mission. Do not forget why you are here and why you have come. See yourself as a being of light who has come to bring light to th…e planet. See yourself as a being of light who has come to bring light to the people. The world needs your light. Offer your full contribution.

Also remember that you are human and learning. Know that the earth is a school and that you have come to learn, to grow and to share. Remember that you have strengths and weaknesses. Be okay with your humanness. You are learning and you are growing. Learn to embrace both the light and the divinity and the humanness and learning. Ypu are human and you are learning and you are spirit and filled with great divinity. You have come to learn and grow and so do not be so disappointed by the mistakes, the stumbles, the falls. They are part of the plan as well. So embrace that you are here as a student, as a learner, and embrace that you are also on a divine mission. A mission to spread the light. Ultimately, you are a being of light who has come to bring light to the earth. The world needs your light. Do not hold back. The world needs your light. Offer your full contribution.

Affirm frequently:

I am light.
I am the light of the world.
I am the miracle.
All who come into my presence are healed.

I am light and I offer my light to the world.
I am light and I bring light to the darkness.
I am light and I bring light to the people.
I am light and I offer my full contribution.

I am light.
I am the light of the world.
I am the miracle.
All who come into my presence are healed.

~Hayley Mermelstein
TRCB Founder

Embrace, embrace, embrace

Learn to embrace the various circumstances in your life, even the unwanted circumstances. Understand that everything that transpires in your life has come for your learning. Everything has come to serve you. When you learn to embrace even the unwanted circumstances, you will more easily see what the learning is for you. But do not confuse this embracing with passivit…y. Often, you are learning to be bold, to be clear, to be direct and firm. And so embrace your various life circumstances. Welcome them in, invite them to the table. Ask, “What have you come to teach me?” Perhaps you are learning patience or love or compassion or understanding or strength or power or courage. Welcome the various circumstances of your life and look for the learning. When you understand what you are learning you can more easily walk through a challenging situation. Sometimes you will not know until after a circumstance is over what you are learning. In that case you must trust that the situation, no matter how unwanted, has a gift for you, has something that it is has come to teach you. And so once again learn to embrace your various life circumstances, welcome them in. In this way you will not add to the difficulty by your layers of resistance. In the words of Eckhart Tolle: “Resist Nothing”.

This concept of embracing, welcoming and accepting is governed by the solar plexus. To further cultivate this attitude you can take your Tong Ren doll and hammer and tap on the solar plexus of the Tong Ren doll and affirm:

I embrace, I embrace, I embrace.
I welcome. I welcome. I welcome.
I welcome the various circumstances of my life for I know that everything has something to teach me.
I welcome. I welcome. I welcome.
I accept. I accept. I accept.
I allow. I allow. I allow.
I allow and I look for the learning.
I resist nothing. I resist nothing. I resist nothing.
I embrace. I embrace. I embrace.
I embrace and I look for the learning.

Embrace all that transpires today and look for learning. Sometimes you will be learning to say yes and sometimes you will be learning to say no. Sometimes you are learning to be strong and sometimes you are learning to be sensitive. Embrace all that transpires today so that you can learn from it. Once you have learned what you needed to learn the situation can change and evolve. The embrace of the various life circumstances allow this process to happen more smoothly and sometimes more quickly as well.

Practice embracing both wanted and unwanted circumstances today and remember to ask what you are learning. Be aware of how this impacts the quality of your day.

~Hayley Mermelstein

I am special

We are each special. We all have special gifts, talents and strengths. We all have something that makes us unique. Take a moment today to connect with your specialness. Take a moment to connect with that which makes you unique. Take a moment to embody and experience your specialness. Affirm frequently through out the day:

I am special.
I have special gifts.
I have special tal…ents.
I have special powers.
I have special qualities that only I have.
I am special and we are all special.
I am special.

Connect with that place within that is special. Imagine that you have a golden crown on your head and that you have royalty coursing though your veins. Feel your specialness. Experience yourself as special. Do not confuse this with being superior to others, for everyone is special and everyone has a unique gift that they bring to the table. Embrace your specialness today. Seek to see yourself as special. Pretend, if need be, that you have special and magical powers that only you know about and possess. Embody the feeling of specialness. Embrace the feeling of specialness. Know that you are special and that everyone you come in contact is special. Strive to treat yourself as if you are special and strive to treat others as if they are special as well. Let this be your experiment today and see what transpires.

~Hayley Mermelsetin

I know what to do

I had a friend point out to me several years ago that I had a tendency to say, “I don’t know” a lot. For example, maybe I’d be telling a story about a friend and at the end of the story I’d through in something like: “I don’t know, people are complicated.” or “I don’t know, we will just have to see how this unfolds”. If you believe in the power of words and the power of affirmations, if you believe that the body believes every word you tell it then the affirmation, “I don’t know isn’t something you want to go around affirming. It would simply strengthen the idea that we don’t know. I was appreciative of my friend for pointing this out to me, and now I make a habit of catching myself when I go to say “I don’t know.” I will usually replace it with, “When the time is right I will know, or I will know what to do. or even I know what to do, depending on the situation.

Take some time today to watch your words, and to watch your expressions. If you catch yourself affirming I don’t know antidote it with something like: When the time is right I will know or better yet simply affirm:

I know what to do.
I know what to do.
I know what to do.

Affirm: I know what to do, and then allow knowing to come to you. Again, it is said that the body believes every word that you tell it. Affirm knowing and watch to see what transpires as you go through your day. As you affirm that you know, a quiet knowing will arise. Perhaps not in that very moment, but little by little knowing will descend upon you. Practice this for today, practice embodying an attitude of knowing. Affirm often:

I know what to do.
I know what to do.
I know what to do.

Hold yourself with confidence. Fake it until you make it. Affirm knowing throughout the day, and allow the vibration of knowing to fill you. As you do you will gain access to your deeper knowing for what you focus on comes forward. What you focus on grows. And so for today, focus on that part of you that knows. Affirm: I know what to do and see what transpires. Let this be your experiment today. Suspend disbelief for one day, just put it aside and work with this affirmation today. The results may surprise you. You may be surprised to witness the knowing that does arise. We all have more wisdom than we currently realize. All are more competent and capable than they think. There is a place of great wisdom that lies within. Focus on this wisdom and you will gain greater access to it.

In chakra language the third eye is the center of wisdom, clarity, the mountain top view, the spiritual perspective, knowing and clairvoyant sight. One way to activate knowing is to tap on the third eye of the Tong Ren doll with your tong ren hammer and affirm:

I know what to do.
I know what to do.
I know what to do.

Let this be your affirmation today. Affirm frequently: I know what to do. I know what to do. I know what to do. Allow these words and the tapping to assist you in stepping into your wisdom and your deep knowing about what is right for you. Sometimes your knowing will tell you to seek out help. Other times your knowing will guide you to be patient. Sometimes your knowing will guide you to be bold. Affirm frequently: I know what to do, and see what inner wisdom arises. Let this be your experiment for the day. Affirm frequently:

I know what to do.
I know what to do.
I know what to do.

Affirm: I know what to do, and step into your wisdom. Affirm: I know what do, and step into your strength. Affirm: I know what to do, and step into your certainty. Affirm: I know what to do, and step into the life that you were meant to live. Affirm frequently: I know what to do, and allow these words to activate that part of you that does know what to do. Try this for a day and let the results amaze you.

I know what to do.
I know what to do.
I know what to do.

Elevate, elevate, elevate

Elevate you thinking. Elevate your words. Elevate your actions. Elevate your vibration. In this way you will offer your full contribution in all that you think, say, and do. In this way you will raise your vibration and contribute to the healing of the planet. The world needs your light. Offer your full contribution. Seek to elevate your awareness. Seek to elevate your c…onsciousness. Bring an elevated state of mind to all you do. Look for the spiritual perfection in all that transpires. Look for the learning. In this way you will maintain an elevated awareness and offer your full contribution. Let this be your focus for today.

Affirm often.

My thinking is elevated.
My words are elevated.
My actions are inspired.
I raise my vibration.
I offer my full contribution and
I actualize my best self in everyday life.
The world needs my light.
I offer my full contribution in all that i think, say and do.
I look for the learning.
I look for the spiritual perfection.
I maintain an elevated awareness.
I raise my own vibration and contribute to the healing of the planet.

As it is said: “Let there be peace on earth and may it begin with me.”

~Hayley Mermelstein

I serve the oneness

I was reminded last night that at the spiritual level there is consensus. At the spiritual level what is right for me is also right for you. At the deepest level we are in agreement. When you are unsure of what is best you can go into meditation and ask what would serve the oneness? What is best for all concerned? Strive to listen deeply and you will be guided. Do not feel guilty when you do what is truly best for yourself. Do not feel guilty when you cannot fill the needs of others. If you continually respond to the needs of others you will not accomplish that which you are here to accomplish. Strive to be true to yourself. Strive to offer your full contribution. Strive to offer the contribution that you came to offer. Listen deeply and you will know which needs are yours to fill and which are not. Listen deeply and you will know what is your path of contribution and what is not. Listen deeply and you will be guided in your path of actualization and contribution. Listen deeply and you will know what is yours to do and what is not. This level of listening is essential if you are to fulfill your life’s purpose. To many are pulled in multiple directions, losing their focus due to this lack of clarity. Ask yourself, is this mine to do? Does this contribute to my life’s purpose or pull me off course. Strive to listen deeply so that you know that which is yours to do and that which isn’t. Too many spend their days responding to the needs of others and not attending to that which is truly part of their path to attend to. Listen deeply so you will know that which is yours to do and that which is not. Know that at the spiritual level their is consensus. Trust that when you are connected to the depth of your being and listening deeply to that which is yours to do you serve everyone. Strive to listen deeply and you will be guided. Do not strive to please the personality of others. For the personality is often not connected to this deep well of knowing. Instead devote yourself to spirit and devote yourself to listening deeply to the attunement of the moment. In this way you will be less focused on pleasing the personality of others and more focused on doing what is truly attuned. In this way you will be focused on pleasing a force of life that is working for the good of all of humanity. Train yourself to listen deeper to what is truly yours to do and you will be successful.

Affirm often:

I serve the oneness.
I serve the oneness of which I am a part.
When I do what is truly best for myself, I serve everyone.
At the spirit level there is consensus.
At the spirit level we are all in agreement.
At the spirit level what is truly best for one is right for the whole.
I listen deeply, and I do what is best for all concerned.
I serve the oneness.

~Hayley Mermelstein