The first step towards gaining health and wellness is often becoming aware that there is something amiss in our lives.  This could be a thought pattern we cannot get away from, an energy slump at some point int he day, an ailment from our body, or pain response, confusion, or passionate emotions we cannot seem to get under-control; and an infinite number of other things.

When I was going through my Bell's Palsy, I was aware that my right eye was not closing as much as my left, and I was not able to control it the same.  This happened while I was in the car driving to work.  I was brave enough to take a photo of it, and to send it to my husband for his opinion.  While at work, I recognized that my speech was getting slurred and I was talking like Sylvester Stallone. So I knew I had to do something fast.

I didn't realize until I was talking to the urgent care doctor how many people ignore these things, don't seek medical attention, and just hope it will go away.  My doctor, and nurse and acupuncturist said the same thing.  Too many people wait too long to address their health and wellness concerns.

I'll challenge you to incorporate a practice of mindfulness everyday in order to catch things at the first signs. Doing this consistently will allow you to track changes in your wellness as the days and weeks pass.  This is often vital information that makes the difference between a symptom and a cause.

The work that I do with my clients often starts with addressing symptoms, and then spreads to tackling the cause which provides them a lifetime of healing and greater wellness overall, instead of a Band-Aid that masks the symptoms. This is true for mental, emotional and spiritual health as well as for physical and energetic health.

Mindfulness can be something as simple a paying attention to the thoughts that you are thinking, or the emotions that you are feeling, or the sensations you're having within your body, or the tension/pain that you are experiencing. You don't have to work with being aware of all of these at once. I recommend that you pick one of them to focus on, and choose a particular time of day to spend 5-10 minutes being curious about what comes up as you focus on those aspects of yourself.  Explore with calmness and curiosity what you find, and with zero judgement write it down, and contemplate why you may be experiencing that particular thought/emotion/sensation/pain, and write down what you come up with.  Stick with one aspect of mindfulness until you feel comfortable with it.

Once you've been able to establish mindfulness within an area of yourself, you'll be able to act upon the information that you've received, and this is where mindfulness meets empowerment!  This is an exciting shift that I'm looking forward to helping you with. 

Diffusing an essential oil in the area you are in while you enter this state of mindfulness can help you connect more to your body, emotions, and mind.  Below is a list of essential oils you can use for this, please note this recommendation is for the inhalation of the difused essential oil either through an active difuser or through a passive difuser - not for topical application. I have included botanical names and variety types when there are multiple essential oils with similar names and there are contraindications that would require you to set up a consultation to ensure you can safely use them while having certain conditions or while on certain medications.

To help with mindfulness with your thoughts:

Basil Ocimum basilicum  L ct Linalool (note other varieties have contraindications - set up a consultation prior to use)

Lime

Ylang Ylang

Coriander

Lemon

Lemon Myrtle - has contraindications with certain medications - set up a consultations prior to use

To help with mindfulness with your emotions:

Clary Sage

Siberian Fir use only Abies sibirica  Ledeb. (note other varieties have contraindications - set up a consultation prior to use)

Cypress  use only the botanical: Cupressus sempervirnens.  L. (note other varieties have contraindications - set up a consultation prior to use)

Geranium - has contraindications with certain medications - set up a consultation prior to use

Peppermint - has contraindications with certain medical conditions - set up a consultation prior to use

Sandalwood Osyris lanceolata  Hochst. & Steud., Santalum album L., Santalum austrocaledonicum Vieill. varieties only (note other varieties have contraindications with certain medication - set up a consultation prior to use)

To help with mindfulness within your body:

Frankincense

Copaiba

Lavender Lavandula angustafolia Mill. use only this botanical (note, other varieties have contraindications and would not be effective)

Litsea aka May Chang- has contraindications with certain medical conditions and medications - set up a consultation prior to use

Patchouli - has contraindications for certain medical conditions and medications - set up a consultation prior to use

Rosemary - has contraindications for certain medical conditions and medications - set up a consultation prior to use

Star Anise Illicium verum J.D. Hook. - has contraindications for certain medical conditions and medications - set up a consultation prior to use

Let us know what essential oil you've used to increase your mindfulness!