Want more joy in your life? This is for you.

July 3, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

One day as I was walking through the woods, listening to the birds chirping from the trees and watching my cute little dog Dino run along the forest trail, happily sniffing everything in sight…

I decided I wanted to have a summer of JOY.

If you’re not familiar with Susan Hyatt, this thought was based on her Summer of Yes. If you’d like, you can learn more about her work here.

It’s all about making your summer memorable, and saying yes to the things that light you up, or in my case, with the inspiration of the lovely Marie Kondo, spark joy.

I’ve wanted to have a Joy Diet Book Club FOREVER. It’s based on one of my favorite books by Martha Beck, The Joy Diet.

And so I’ve decided — it’s time.

It’s time to say yes to the power of joy, and summer, and beautiful forward momentum in a way that is nourishing and provides a sense of community and belonging. A summer that Sparks JOY.

Because I believe that as we follow our joy, we’re led to the ways we can make the biggest difference — and have the greatest impact in the world.

Our joy matters. Just as our stories, our mission, our experiences, and even our pain do.

Joy can be a tricky one to claim. It can often feel elusive and is one of the most vulnerable emotions, as noted by Brene Brown.

So why not do it together? And follow the steps, practices, and insights that Martha lays out in her book, The Joy Diet. Here are the chapters, or as she calls them, ingredients:

#1: NOTHING

#2: TRUTH

#3: DESIRE

#4: CREATIVITY

#5: RISK

#6: TREATS

#7: PLAY

#8: LAUGHTER

#9: CONNECTION

#10: FEASTING

Here’s how the Book Club works.

When you sign up, you’ll get:

Access to a private Facebook Community to connect with other Book Club goers 🙂
A series of 10 Live weekly group Book Club Calls on Wednesdays @ 10 am, starting on July 24th
And, practices and journal prompts to accompany each of the 10 chapters in the book.

As a bonus, you can also select an option that includes an individual coaching session with me, or a package that includes three sessions, all in addition to the book club itself.

I once heard a spiritual teacher ask the following question:

If all was well and wonderful in the world, and no one needed a single thing from you…what would you do? How would you spend your time? What feeling state would you bless the world with?

THAT is your mission. That is your purpose and part of why you’re here.

I’d love to know your answer!

Mine was Joy. My immediate answer was, “dancing around singing” like I did when I was a little girl.

So if you’d like to carve out some space for yourself this summer to invite more joy into your life, then I whole-heartedly and joyfully invite you to join us.

You can sign up via the links below, or click here for more information about the book itself and a more in depth description of each of the chapters, or “ingredients” in the Joy Diet.

Joy Diet Book Club

Joy Diet Book Club + 1 Coaching Session

Joy Diet Book Club + 3 Coaching Sessions

Questions? Email me at coachingwithcaitlin@gmail.com and I’d be happy to talk with you and sort out whatever you need.

Much love, and many blessings always,

With infinite grace & compassion,

And with much joy,

Caitlin

P.S. I was recently selected as one of 25 people to receive a partial scholarship to an online business school because they loved my vision and mission for my writing & coaching program! If you’d like to support the mission but aren’t available or interested in participating in the Book Club right now, you can still donate to the cause here. (Just make sure it’s set to “friends and family” since it would be considered a gift.) Even $5 makes a difference!

Thank you so much!

And here’s a cute picture of Dino for good measure. 🙂

Beauty · Blessings

When Giving Something Away Makes Your Heart Sparkle

June 24, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

There’s a way that love sparkles. The way that the light feels when it hits your face with the glorious glow of sunshine, or even in the moment you notice a sparkle in your very own eye.

One of the things I’ve found that creates this luminosity and sparkle in my own life, and presence, and heart… is clearing space for new things in my life.

That letting go of things we no longer need can bring clarity, insight, freedom…and even, JOY!

This is the story I share in the post below about a time I cleared some clutter, only to find some tremendous and unexpected joys and surprises!

I hope you enjoy!

It’s called: Why Giving Things Away is The Absolute BEST!

Originally published Oct. 12, 2015

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror. As I stared at my reflection, wearing the red Chiefs sweatshirt, I noticed some things. I didn’t like the way it looked. I didn’t like the way it felt. And I didn’t like the way I felt wearing it.

It was uncomfortable. I felt droopy and kind of weighed down. All of this could only mean one thing: the time had come to let it go.

I took a few minutes to remember how much fun my brother and I had together that crisp and sunny October weekend five years ago. It was the first trip I’d made back to the Midwest on my own, and I flew into town for a quick visit and a Chiefs game. Naturally, this meant stopping at the store to buy some Chiefs gear on the way.

But now, holding the sweatshirt my hand, my mind carefully clicked through the following:

I wasn’t going to wear this thing again.
Giving it away would not erase any of my cherished memories that were created while wearing it.
It would be awesome if someone else could have the opportunity to wear and enjoy it.

And just like that, the years of keeping it stored it the back of my closet, thinking I would or should wear it again, finally came to an end as I added it to a bag of items destined for Goodwill. Then I went about my day, happily imagining a Chiefs fan unexpectedly stumbling across it in Portland, thrilled to have something new to wear on game days this season.

A few days later, my mom came over to load everything up. She took the first couple bags down to the car and came back WEARING the sweatshirt! And it looked fantastic on her!

I experienced FAR more joy in those first five minutes of seeing her wear the sweatshirt than I did in the entire 5 years it had been in my possession. All of the things that made it less than ideal for me — the orangey shade of red and the way the collar pops up in the back — are the exact things that make it perfect for her! Needless to say, I had no idea that the Chiefs fan to find treasure in my old sweatshirt would turn out to be my very own mom! I was, and still am, thrilled!

Maybe you have something similar in your possession — something small, something you hardly think about, but something that if you were to take a second to consider it, you’d realize there’s some memory, emotion, or “should” attached to it. I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below and I can’t wait to hear if you experience the same sweet taste of freedom that I did.

Because this simple sweatshirt didn’t take up much room. I didn’t think of it all that often. And yet, it was sucking energy and joy from my life without me even knowing it. I only realize this now because of the feelings of lightness and freedom I felt once I’d let go. It became a release of guilt that I didn’t even know I was carrying around — for not having worn it enough, for not having gotten my money’s worth, etc.

So it turns out, I let go of something more than just a sweatshirt. And I was rewarded tenfold, receiving something SO much better in return.

Big surprise, little things are powerful. This definitely shouldn’t be a surprise at this point, but somehow I find myself in awe of that simple truth EVERY time it pops up.

Simple yet profound. Small but mighty. It never gets old.

Wishing you freedom and JOY,
And some awe for good measure,

Caitlin

Blessings · Brave Soul · Grief & Loss

Would You Like to Be Part of the Launch Team for My New Book?

June 16, 2019June 12, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

Here’s the scoop:

You get a free copy of the book before anyone else, and you get to connect with me, and the rest of the group, leading up to launch week — and even after, if you’d like!

And you commit to read the book (or play with a few of the prompts that speak to you), leave a review on Amazon, and help to share and spread the word during launch week —

which could look like anything from calling and telling a friend, posting on social media, or writing an email to your audience. The sky is the limit and the “how” is completely up to you!

It’s a chance to gather and celebrate and share the book with anyone you think might enjoy it, or benefit from a tender loving presence and safe place to write during their experience of grief. ❤ And, of course, get a free copy for yourself! 🙂

If you’d like to learn more about joining us, you can let me know here.

Brave Soul · Grief & Loss

By the Light of the Moon {+ Top 3 Title Choices — Help me decide!}

June 12, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

Having returned home from a trip to Easter Island, at one point it dawned on me–

Grief is like being plunked down on a distant island in the dark — strange terrain, not knowing your way, not even with a simple street light to guide you.

There is no map. No clear road ahead.

Only your inner compass, and the light of the moon overhead.

The stars are like your loved ones, shining down on you from Heaven above.

And the light of all, a reflection, of the light you hold within you.

And as you tune in very closely and listen to this light… you’ll find that it guides you every step of the way and you never have to go it alone.

From the light of the moon you gain your strength, the courage to take the very next step. And as you step and step and step…the landscape becomes less scary.

Before you know it, you find your way, with all your treasures in your heart and in hand.

Walking as a brave new person, with a new landscape to unfold.

By then it becomes an adventure — a daring new experience by the sea.

To walk and fumble, and hold yourself in love, until you finally find yourself free.

…This was another excerpt from my forthcoming grief journal.
AND…

I now have a selection of the Top 3 favorite title options from the various writing groups I belong to…and I was so surprised by the overwhelming favorite.

But first I’d love to hear from YOU! Which one do you like best? Or do you have a DIFFERENT idea that you think we’d all love?!
Click here to submit your vote!

And if you have an extra idea, you can always email me here, or leave a comment below!

Much love, and many blessings to you always,
Caitlin

Blessings · Grief & Loss

A blessing for you. {And my new grief journal}

May 30, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

This week I want to share with you a blessing I wrote for my forthcoming grief journal, By the Light of the Moon.

Although now I’m returning back to former ideas and playing with new titles alike.

You’ll be the first to know when I get close to a final decision and I’m ready for your input to make a final selection!

One of the most important things to me is to make this journal BEAUTIFUL.

I can still remember standing in the bookstore aisle with all of the books on grief. And most of them had one or two things in common.

1) They were…UGLY. Drab. Brown. Boring — Ugly.
2) They had the word GRIEF written on them in huge sprawling letters, practically acting as a flashing neon sign, like an arrow pointing to the person holding the book exclaiming, “Hey! This girl is experiencing grief!!”

Not exactly something you want to be seen with at a coffee shop when you’re in your twenties and just lost your dad.

Or at any age, I would imagine.

So I want this journal to be beautiful for you. And that is exactly what I plan to create. 🙂

If you’ve experienced loss, and have any thoughts on something that you feel would have really helped YOU, or anything you feel would help you in your current experience, I’d love for you to hit reply and let me know.

I’d love to hear about any insights you may have — and perhaps they even match up with some of my own that I still plan to share with you.

Either way, it is always a blessing to hear from you.

Your kind words mean so much, and you are truly a blessing in this world.

So without further ado…

May you be blessed~

May you be blessed with peace —
Even if that’s not what you feel like you want,
Or even need.

May you be blessed with grace —
To see the light of love shining through.

May you be blessed with courage —
The kind you show in every moment,
Just taking another step, and inhaling another breath,
Again and again and again.

May you be blessed with beauty —
The shared and treasured memories
That help to light your way,
The insights and ideas
That guide your self-care each day.

May you be blessed with gentleness —
To watch over yourself with care.
The way you’d love a sweet little bird
Or a toddler with messy hair.

And most of all…

May you be blessed with love —
The glue that holds everything together.
The twinkle lights that glow in the darkness.
The radiance of your very own heart.

May you be blessed with knowing how worthy
You are
And may you sing you own unique song,
Every day, your whole life through.
Knowing there is always someone
Who’s watching over you.

New! Coaching For Gentle Souls… Learn more here.

Beauty · Brave Soul

Links & Updates

May 24, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

We had a brief downpour here in Portland today.

And I couldn’t help but remember the way I watched my dad stand in the doorway breathing in the scent of the rain with every fiber of his being.

And the way I shared this memory as part of a different experience with rain from a few years ago that I wrote about, called Gentle Afternoon Rain.

For the last few weeks things have been quiet on the blog because I’ve been sharing past beauties and insights via email.

If you’d like to receive posts and other surprises, and just all around inspired goodness straight from my heart, you can join us here. And I’d love to connect with you each week.

Here are the links to some of the posts, and more, I’ve shared, if you feel like a weekend Scroll-Through-And-Savor session. 🙂

Sending much love to you always. ❤

Links & Updates from the Past Month…

The Girl in the Coffee Shop {+ A Fun New Surprise}

Need some encouragement? {You can do this.}

May Day Wishes {+ A Few of My Favorite Things}

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to receive future blog posts, along with fun surprises & other beautiful things by email each week? You can sign up here.

And to follow along with daily love notes & journal prompts, and other inspired goodness~ you can Like the Caitlin Sanders Facebook Page Here.

Also, NEW! By the Light of the Moon: Grief Support Group. Check it out & join us here.

Brave Soul · Writing as Healing

Your words are powerful + {I hope you dance.}

April 24, 2019April 29, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

I have a note from my dad taped up on my bedroom wall. It is a note he tucked into a package he mailed to me while I was in college. It contained very precious cargo — a dress I wanted to wear to an upcoming school salsa dance.

I kept the note because it made me smile.

Written in his signature-style handwriting and on his new (at the time) OHSU Foundation letterhead, it reads:

Caitlin–

Have a terrific

time at the dance!

Love,

Dad

I pulled the note out again a couple years ago, and having lost my dad several years prior, I burst into tears.

But not for the reason you might expect.

I burst into tears because it felt like a message for the moment —

To live my life.

To enjoy my life.

To enjoy the dance

that is life.

The great cosmic dance and play of being human.

(Extra fitting given his love of the mantra “Carpe Diem.”)

Have a terrific time at the dance all of a sudden had new meaning and I couldn’t get over it — crying and crying at what a magnificent miracle it seemed to be. It felt like a Divinely timed message just for me, in some way, from the great beyond.

And I cried with the perfection of it all. The grief. The loss. The glory. The grace.

Crying not because I was happy. Crying not because I was sad.

But crying because I was so moved by the power of it all. The epiphany, the grace, the metaphor, the love…

The perfection.

It felt absolutely perfect.

And in that moment, I realized the true power our words hold.

Whether you write a letter, a text message, a bestselling novel, or an entry in your personal journal…

They all matter.

Those words — your words — have the power to transform lives long after you’re gone.

Let alone the healing they can bring to your own life while you’re here on earth.

So if you’re at all curious to do a little writing of your own — to take a closer look and explore some of the stories you have about a loved one you may have lost, I’d love to have you join me for The Heart-Mending Wordsmith this spring.

The course came about because of a writing class I took one summer while I was teaching first grade.

The writing I did held such potent healing power that once I found myself in life coach training years later, I knew it was a process that could help others too.

It includes 8 weeks of live coaching calls and writing exercises that all fit together to help you create a narrative about your loved one — a treasured story that you can bring to life on the page and hold in your heart forever.

Allowing some of your most treasured memories and experiences to be brought into the light of day through writing is one of the most priceless gifts there is.

Say yes to yourself. And yes to your memories.

YES to the power of your words.

I’d love to have you join me. The course begins on this coming Thursday, April 25th and registration is now open! You can sign up here.

In the spirit of flowing forward with this metaphor of dancing, I’d like to share an old blog post with you called: I hope you dance. (Which you’ll find below.)

I’ll also include some journal prompts for you to play with this week if you’d like.

I hope you enjoy!

Journal prompts…

What would it look like for me to show up and dance in my life this week?

If I could do anything — if I had unlimited resources to do whatever I wanted to do this week, what would I do? Who would I spend time with? And who would I be?

I hope you dance

I hope you dance.

(Original post from March 9, 2015) — happy to say that I am physically dancing again now, too! 🙂

I love to dance.

And for a year and a half now, I have not been able to.

So Lee Ann Womack’s song that goes, “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance,” even as just a metaphor for life, somewhat breaks my heart. That’s because physically, I’ve been doing a lot more sitting than I’ve ever done before or ever thought I would do–especially at 28 years old.

Literally sitting, not dancing.

But by sitting, I’m playing my part right now; stepping up to do what my body and soul have asked. Which means that what I’ve been doing IS dancing. That’s right, I am dancing even though I physically can’t dance. How cool is that!?

Dancing is living with courage.

Life is calling us to take a leap in every moment; each one unique in its shape, size, manner, and purpose. But having the courage to show up, THAT’S dancing.

Sometimes that might be going for a run along the river, when at other times it means staying still and curling up in your favorite chair.

Sometimes it might mean opening up a flower shop because it’s always been your dream or it might be appreciating the beauty of a single flower sitting on your coffee table.

Sometimes it might be speaking up and sharing your message with a group of people, and sometimes it might mean quietly acknowledging and accepting your own truth.

Each of us has the power to recognize which kind of leap we’re being called to next. And when we feel that pull, we have a decision to make.

Did you notice that in the song she doesn’t say IF you get the choice, but WHEN you get the choice?

That’s because we always have a choice.

We choose. We decide whether to walk toward life or turn away from it.

I choose courage. And I choose stepping out onto the dance floor of life, whatever form it takes.

So let’s dance.

May you dance in exactly the way life is calling to you right this very minute.

***And if that means signing up to join us for The Heart-Mending Wordsmith, then I’d LOVE to dance with you!***

Love,
Caitlin

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to receive future blog posts, along with fun surprises & other beautiful things by email each week? You can sign up here.

And to follow along with daily love notes & journal prompts, and other inspired goodness~ you can Like the Caitlin Sanders Facebook Page Here.

Forgiveness

A Forgiveness Meditation

April 11, 2019April 29, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

Today I’d like to share with you a forgiveness meditation I used to do. A couple years ago, I created a habit of sitting cross-legged on the floor each morning, after drinking a glass of water and getting some fresh air, to go through this process and forgive all of the past parts of myself that needed forgiving — often times, I found myself surprised by the aspects of self that would emerge. And by the people and situations, present and past, that would bubble up to the surface, to be seen, recognized, healed — and forgiven.

I sat cross-legged because there is something about sitting on the floor or the ground in this way that feels grounding to me. I’ve recently returned back to this way of connecting with myself in the morning and I absolutely love it.

There is something about the feeling of where your body connects with the floor that is stabilizing, grounding, and connecting. A beautiful way to start your day.

I created this practice as a unique combination of practices from other spiritual teachers, as well as based on my training in a program for rewiring the nervous system and healing trauma.

That is why, for this meditation, I recommend keeping your eyes open. You can close them slightly when you get to the part about forgiveness, but to begin just sit cross-legged in a comfortable space. And begin to notice your breath.

Now put your hand over your heart. And feel your breath slow, and your chest expand — open. Breathing in more and more oxygen and energy into this sacred heart center.

Begin to slowly and gently look around the room in front of you, whatever you can comfortably see, and allow your eyes, our gaze to linger on each object, or pattern in the floor, etc. for a few moments before you move on. Doing this gently, scanning around you with you eyes. While also feeling your body and noticing your breath.

Connecting to both simultaneously.

The outside world. Taking in the details, the orientation, the location of where you are.

And within. Your body, your breath. Your brilliant soul shining through.

All uniting, all merging and living in harmony. A gentle and subtle awareness of both.

Begin breathing in and whispering “I love you,” to yourself, either in your mind silently, or aloud.

Then, “I forgive you.”

“I love you.”

“I forgive you.”

“I forgive you for all past regrets.”

“I forgive you for all the things you’ve gotten wrong.”

“I forgive you.”

“I am here with you.”

“And I love you.”

Continue on with whatever phrases come to mind. There might be specific phrases where you include your own details of forgiveness, such as “I forgive you for…” Or you might feel inclined to say, “I love the way you…” And you might find yourself saying the things you love or admire or appreciate about yourself. Even saying “Thank you for…” Or just plain, “Thank you.”

Allow your mind to really wander, and your heart to really explore, whatever words come to you — whatever words are asking to be said.

Say them with kindness, gentleness, and love.

And if you get stuck, or words are not coming to you…

Try asking, what words does my heart need to hear right now?

And still, if nothing comes to you, you can simply return to…

“I love you.” “I forgive you.”

Let the rhythm of your words and your breath wash over you with ease, with grace, and with forgiveness.

Now, when you get to an opening, a space where you begin to feel open and clear inside, ask…

“Who needs to be held in the light of forgiveness today?”

“What aspect of myself needs to be held in the light of forgiveness today?”

You can ask one, or both of these questions — or any variation you like.

Hold the question in your mind, focusing on your heart center, and see what begins to arise.

If nothing does, simply imagine a golden loving light surrounding you, of whatever color comes to you, or comes to mind to imagine.

If an aspect of self or another person in your life, or a situation or past even comes to mind —

Visualize it being bathed, and held in a soft and golden healing light.

Or again, whatever color comes to you, maybe a purple, an emerald green, a light and gentle, healing and restorative blue…whatever comes to mind, go with it.

Allow your intuition go guide you and your higher self, your heart to guide the way.

You may even begin to have ideas of visualizations that might help, of that aspects of yourself are seeking.

For example, a small child-like part of your self, might want to be held in your arms. And you could imagine that sweet, innocent beautiful part of yourself being rocked gently in your arms.

Notice the way your body begins to feel as you do this exercise. What feelings do the visualization evoke?

Allow it to fill your consciousness, your heart, and your mind.

Allow yourself to be lifted up in the light and freedom and love —

And know that everything is forgiven.

You are healed and held in love, and you are forgiven in every way.

Continue with the mantra, “I forgive you,” if you like.

Or, “I love you.” Or, “thank you.”

“Thank you for showing me where healing light needs to go.”

“Thank you for showing me where and how you need to be loved. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for helping me grow.”

And as you finish saying the remaining words that come to you to speak, begin to look around the room once more. Returning to the feel of your hand placed over your heart. The sound and feel of your breath. The things around you in the room, or the space where you are seated. The place where your body makes contact with the floor.

Noticing all these things, and scanning once more, aware of the inside — your breath, your body, your own emotions and feeling sensations. As well as the outside — the details and objects you notice in the room around you.

Allowing yourself come back to a place of grounded center to return to and go about your day.

This meditation is best performed in the morning, even while you’re still a little bit groggy and connected to your higher self — in a more relaxed state from your sleep the night before to help the situations, people, aspects of self to surface, and the healing phrases to arise.

But, of course, this can be done anytime during the day — especially if you find yourself in a moment of being especially hard on or critical of yourself. Stop, take a breath, put your hand on your heart, and even if you simply breath in and out, and say the words “I love you,” surely this is enough to help bring you back to center, to a state of calm and of peace, a place of knowing that you are loved.

And that you are forgiven.

Namaste.

I hope this helps you! And I’d love to hear all about your positive experience in the comments below. 🙂

Much love to you, now and always,

Caitlin

P.S. If you’d enjoy an audio version of this meditation, please email me and let me know!

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to receive future blog posts, along with fun surprises & other beautiful things by email each week? You can sign up here.

And to follow along with daily love notes & journal prompts, and other inspired goodness~ you can Like the Caitlin Sanders Facebook Page Here.

Self-Compassion

Be kind to yourself.

April 10, 2019April 29, 2019 sandca032 Comments

Be kind to yourself.

Be kind when you rewind.

Be kind when you think no one is watching.

Be kind even when people are.

Sometimes it can be even harder to be kind to ourselves when we feel others are watching or judging us. That we’re somehow not worthy of this kindness, and honoring, or respect.

But we are.

YOU are, my child. My darling, sweet friend, and companion.

You are worthy.

That is what I want you to know.

And every word you think and deed or action you take, every desire, every wish that aligns with love and kindness towards yourself, brings infinite treasures…a wellspring flowing from within.

It allows treasures to flow forward into your life in ways you could never expect.

I still remember the day, sitting in my mom’s car in the rain. The Portland Rain.

I had just left a counseling appointment. I’d found a new counselor to have extra support there for me as I was dealing with sudden and chronic mystery illness.

And I loved her. Thank goodness. Not all therapists are kind, and the kind of souls where you feel respected heard and cared for through their actions and words.

But something on her bio on her website read “transcending suffering.” And I KNEW, this was what I wanted to do. After everything I’d been through with my dad, watching him die a most horrific (in so many ways) death, this was my opportunity to use my illness to help my soul shine through in ways it never had before.

Reflecting, there in the car — sitting at a stop sign, with my mom, in the rain, I said…

“If I can learn how to be nice to myself through this experience, I think that will serve me well for the rest of my life.”

Don’t you just love the prophetic things you say, before you even realize how prophetic they truly are?

The things we say, half-joking or not in full sincerity — but that actually have a grain, if not a mountain underneath, of truth beneath them?

This has happened to me many times.

But I have to say, that one of my favorite things is seeing the growth of where life leads along the way. It hasn’t always been pretty. But it has always been kind. On the highest level, deep within — somewhere deep within my heart-center there is a love that is always calling to me.

And there is for you too.

Have you ever heard the love song from your heart?

Have you heard it sing to you — a loving lullaby or a dancing, happy tune?

What is your heart singing right now?

Mine is singing a song of peace, complete with a smile on my face as I type these words to you.

Because I want you to know that you are worthy of kindness. You are worthy of honoring and respect. And the more you can practice this kindness towards yourself the deeper your roots will grow.

And deeper roots mean stronger branches. And stronger branches mean fairer blossoms.

Imagine now the most beautiful rose or flower blossom you can imagine.

Now imagine what would happen if that blossom didn’t get the air, or sunlight, or water it needs to survive. It would wither and die, right?

The same is true of us.

Kindness is like the oxygen in the air that helps our lungs to breathe — to breathe in life, and the richness and goodness of all that life has for us.

The good, the bad, the not so great — whatever it is life is presenting you with right now, it is your choice whether or not you take that deep inhale. Whether or not you let that life-giving oxygen in to nourish your cells.

If you’re going to go through whatever you’re going through anyway…why not take some deep breaths of oxygen rich kindness to breathe some life, and health and nourishing love into all of your cells while you go through it.

It’s not to say that hard things will never happen.

It’s that breathing in that oxygen — treating yourself with that kindness is what makes life worth living. It helps make it bearable. Easier.

It’s what makes it beautiful. Knowing that you always have a choice.

You can make things worse, by starving yourself of the kindness and appreciation and love that your body and soul craves…

Or you can let the fresh oxygen of grace in through love and feel every part of yourself filled up with a kindness beyond your wildest dreams.

You may not always be able to control everything. In fact, I know that you can’t.

But you CAN control the kindness. You can make the choice to be kind. To yourself, to others. And chances are, if you’re reading this right now, you’re a sensitive soul like me, which means —

Being kind to others comes naturally to you. Knowing what others are going through. Feeling their pain, celebrating their triumphs, feeling deeply whatever it is — so deeply that often, you might even confuse it for your own.

Whether you’re feeling something that belongs to you, or something that’s not yours to carry, kindness is what helps you to set it free.

It sets your own soul free to let go of the burdens it holds. From the traumas, the past regrets. The illness, the isolation…whatever the case may be.

And it also is what frees the temptation to hang on to something that isn’t yours.

It’s the quiet voice that says, “oh, my darling, that isn’t your bag of rocks to carry. Let’s help you set that down and go find a quiet place to frolic in the meadow or dance along the sand by the ocean’s song.”

This is the voice of kindness.

The voice that sets you free.

The voice that says she’s proud of you, when all seems completely lost, and fallen apart and you feel utterly forgotten.

She’s the one there. To comfort you. To bring you loving words in a caress of Angel Song.

And she’s there within you.

Kindness is her name.

What can you do to let her into your life today?

Who would you need to be to sing along in harmony?

How are you worthy, right where you are, today?

This is what she’ll tell you. Because she’ll always believe that you’re enough.

She’ll sit with you, and sing with you — and hear every care and worry.

And then at the end she’ll tell you how worthy you are, how much you matter — that you’re loved and adored. And she’ll wrap you in a hug and make you some tea. And you can sit there together and smile.

Smile through the tears.

Smile with the sunshine.

Smile with the happy times, and the peaceful memories from the past.

Smile with dreams of the future. And with all that makes your heart content.

You’ll smile together. And know that you’re free.

You’ll know by the feeling you get when you’re with her. And you’ll know that you’ve found your way home. Home to the light of your being. The place where God is close. The place where you’re connected to Divine Light and Divine Grace, and the knowing that you never have to do it alone.

It all begins with Kindness.

Where can you start, today?

I’d love to hear your insights and reflections in the comments below — it’s one of my favorite things!

Much love, now and always,

Caitlin

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Brave Soul

You can do this. {Reflections from past regret}

April 7, 2019April 29, 2019 sandca03Leave a comment

Trust yourself.
Go slow.

You don’t have to do what others expect. This is your life, and you get to live it the way you choose.

You do not have to follow the crowd, or others’ expectations of you.

This is your life. How do you want to live it?

How do you want to feel? What do YOU want to be doing, right here, right now?

Follow that wave.

Allow one little seedling of an idea to expand into a mighty oak tree.

You have not gotten anything wrong. And you are infinitely and abundantly loved.

You cannot get it wrong here. Tune in and ask, what does your heart want to do?

Just like the Lady and the Tramp, or Aladdin, and the magic carpet ride…

When did you last let your heart decide?

Compromising what you know to be true for yourself with the belief that it will somehow help others, serves no one.

It does not help anyone to shine brighter or feel more filled up with peace and love and joy, all of the very things you are hoping to bring to this planet, yes?

You are infinitely and Divinely blessed as you follow the steps from your heart that you are guided to take each day.

Follow your heart.

Let your heart decide.

Allow your heart to lead the way, and follow in the magic and the mystery and the love of it all.

Everything will be okay in the end. Have no doubts or fear here.

You are enough.

All that you want is destined to come to fruition.

How can you be easier on yourself in the meantime?

How can you bring yourself feelings of sweet surrender and deep peace?

What brings you feelings of deep peace — the things that help you sleep better at night, relaxing into the unknown, this is where your heart’s treasures are waiting for you.

It only takes the courage to look — to take a peek deep inside and see what your heart wants to share. What pain needs to be healed. What scars need to be allowed to mend. What treasures you are here to find. What gifts you are here to bring the world.

All is right here within your very own heart center.

Allow yourself to breathe into this space within your heart today with the knowing that you’ve already won. That there’s nowhere to get to. That there’s no battle left to win. You have found your way home, inside your heart. What’s next is purely Divine.

Allow yourself to drink in the freedom that is yours. The freedom to live. The freedom to feel. The freedom to make your own choices and decide what you want your life to be.

You can do this.

I have no doubt. You are are stronger than you know. More brave than you can possibly imagine. And I am with you.

I am with you every step of the way.

You can do this.
Namaste.

And if you’d like a personalized blessing to help you remember your strength or help bring guidance to your path, you can get all the details here: (and download a free copy of my blessings-filled ebook, Delicate Grace.)

Did you enjoy this post? Would you like to receive future blog posts, along with fun surprises & other beautiful things by email each week? You can sign up here.

And to follow along with daily love notes & journal prompts, and other inspired goodness~ you can Like the Caitlin Sanders Facebook Page Here.