Today, I would like to share something special with you…a beautiful book that teaches parents and children with allergies exactly how to care for, nurture and support themselves and lead fulfilling lives.

I recently had the honor and privilege of meeting the author of “Allergies, and Awesome You”, Dr. Atul Shah.  He is called “The Amazing Allergist,” and I can see why!  He is a beautiful Light, a big Heart, and in his book, I see deep Compassion for those in his care.

Inspiring and positive, Dr. Shah shares his wisdom through the story of two young children and how they can prevent allergies from disrupting their daily lives. It’s vivid, colorful and full of heart. It’s a wonderful children’s book that helps promote self-confidence and answers common questions about allergies.

“Allergies, and Awesome You” shows that taking constant allergy medications is not the only option for kids with persistent allergies.  Dr. Shah includes several checklists: One  on “Fun Activities”, one for having a “Great Day” and one for “Exercises Before Going to Bed.”  They are a fun and engaging way to help children take more responsibility for their own care, while at the same time promoting Relaxation, conscious Breathing and most importantly, Self-Love.

Finally, for parents there is a comprehensive “Frequently Asked Questions” section with an extensive Resources page at the back.

If you know of anyone – child or adult – who deals with allergies, or if you are one yourself, I encourage you to check out Dr. Shah’s book as a beautiful and heartfelt resource for making an allergy-free world a very possible reality for all!

Here’s the link: http://www.amazingallergist.com/book

To Health and Wholeness in every way,

Esperanza

Do you ever notice how the things you’ve experienced or felt in the past can affect your life today, and tomorrow? You may question:

How is it that our past can control our future when we’re already beyond it?

We don’t often realize that everything from our past experiences has made us the person we are today; our personal beliefs, the way we do our relationships, and even the way we do business.

It’s easy to assume that the reason we’re getting mad or upset with the person in front of us is because of something they did.

The truth is that they are merely the triggers that show us that there is something from our past coming up. The people that get us to react the strongest and the loudest are the triggers – that could show us what we need to heal from our past that is still in our way.

For example, a man – let’s call him “Bob” – who looked like a business executive dressed in a beautiful suit and tie, was waiting in line for his plane to arrive. The plane’s exceedingly long delay triggered Bob’s sudden explosive attitude towards the airline employee. He continued to angrily pound his clenched fist on the counter in front of the woman at the counter as his anger heightened to rage. He continued to yell and accuse the woman of being responsible for the delay being longer and longer. How sad it was that he chose to abuse this woman who was a stranger to him. Amidst the anger and rage, I suddenly noticed that he started looking more and more like a little boy throwing a temper tantrum.

I am sure this behavior wasn’t new to Bob, nor did it seem like it was his first time. We all learn behaviors, habits and make choices about ourselves at a very early age. Perhaps Bob had learned from his parents that anger was a way to get what he wanted or maybe he learned that going into a reaction when he was being treated unfairly would help his circumstances.

Have you ever felt out of a control in a situation? Maybe Bob had too, and this delayed airplane situation only reminded him of how helpless he must have felt which could be why he got so angry.

Feelings not dealt with and buried never die or fade away. Instead they fester, and become stronger and more ingrained. Soon they begin to run us.

Our past experiences affect all aspects of our lives, whether we realize it or not. For Bob, if he continues to lash out at people because he is being triggered by his past experiences, he will be unable to create the kind of future he wants; whether it be in relationships, business partnerships, or money.

How can we make sure that the past stays in the past and doesn’t creep into the way we live our lives today? The answer is clear!

Here are some guidelines:

1. Remember that the current situation is resurfacing old wounds or experiences. The situations are here to help you!
2. Glance back into your past to where the feelings may have started.
3. Be Aware of any feelings that surface as a result of being triggered.
4. Most importantly:  Choose to live differently!   Make supportive choices that are based on what you presently desire, not based on the pain from your past.

Love and Freedom,

Esperanza Universal

Feelings are just Energy. Pure feelings, like anger, fear, sadness, etc. give you information about yourself. You do not want to control them, nor be controlled by them. If you try to control or hide the feeling, it will control you, and your results. In other words, you will unconsciously create what you do not want – by ignoring feelings and burying them.

For example, one of my clients, Robert, recently commented on how peculiar the phrase “experience your feelings” was to him. He thought it’s human to feel, so he must feel all the time. But then he realized that he was actually avoiding and covering most of his feelings because he considered them “bad.” He wanted to be happy, so he covered his “bad” feelings with “happiness.” But then he just ended up depressed. He was really confused!

I asked him what he meant by “bad feelings”. He replied, “I don’t want to feel sadness. I don’t want to feel fear. I don’t want to feel anger, although I get very angry often. My anger scares me. I know that anger is a ‘bad feeling.’ So I guess I have been judging my feelings. Part of that judgment comes from what I was taught as a child, and part of it comes from judging me for having ‘bad feelings,’ and then feeling guilty about it.”

Like Robert, you may find yourself blocking, avoiding, or covering your feelings because you judge the feelings and yourself. This blocked energy can then affect every area of your life, including finances, business, relationships, and health – causing discomfort in the body. Instead of feeling happy, you end up miserable!

Some of the Spiritual Guidance we share at the S.O.U.L. Institute programs is to experience Self-Love, and Self-Acceptance. To appreciate, love, and understand ourselves, we must experience ourselves fully in the physical, emotional body. We must experience ALL of ourselves, including our feelings. It is fundamental for our Spiritual Awareness, Growth and Transformation.

Here are some guidelines for Experiencing and Flowing your feelings:

1. Remember that Feelings are only Energy. Nothing more, nothing less.

2. Allow yourself to Experience and Flow your Pure feelings without judgment as “good” or “bad.”

3. If you avoid, cover up, or try to control your feelings, you are blocking energy. This can affect the Results you have in all areas of your life.

4. As you experience your Pure feelings, immediately make Different Choices. Make Conscious choices that will support you!

I look forward to connecting with You soon!

Love and Freedom,
Esperanza Universal

photo credit: arbyreed

They are not concepts that traditionally go together, yet I see them as almost inseparable. Why? We are Spiritual Beings. As such, it would be natural for us to express that in everything we do, including a business or workplace. When you factor in all the brilliance, collaboration, creativity, imagination, and wisdom it takes to run a successful business, it seems only natural for us to want to include ALL of our selves – our Spiritual side, as well as our human side.

The Spiritual nature of us is the Truth of us. We are individuated fragments of God. That’s what is meant by “Image and Likeness.” This means that within each of us is Divine Power that can heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe and house the poor, protect the planet, and transform people from fear to Love. This is who we are.

Yet many of us have forgotten. For example, how many times have you heard people say, “I’m only human!”? As long as we deny our Spiritual nature, we remain disconnected from the Source Energy that is moving in, through, and around us at all times. When we’re not connected to Source, we’re making it harder to do everything we feel called to do. In fact, we can’t even feel the calling when we’re disconnected. That’s one of the reasons so many people are lamenting they don’t know what their Life Purpose is.

If you look closely, you will notice that many of your business interactions are based on fear, judgment or lack rather than acceptance, compassion or abundance. That is the ego at play. It causes separation. However, when Spiritual Awareness is brought into this same business environment, you are able to get very different results.

For example, if you apply the Law of Attraction to your business dealings, how you feel about yourself inside is what you will attract. If you have buried anger, you may see many customers who are angry with what you offer or are afraid to commit to you and you don’t know why. Likewise, if you heal and flow these same feelings, your interactions will be fulfilling and peacefully resolved.

So the answer to the original question – Can Spirituality and Business be in Harmony? – is absolutely YES! That is, if you choose to work WITH the Universal Laws that govern us, rather than work against your inner Spiritual Guidance.

The more each one of us is connected to our Spiritual nature of Peace, and Abundance – even in our business or workplace – the more Joy and Freedom we will create and experience on this Earth.

If you are ready and willing to do the deep Transformational work necessary to truly flow with Spiritual Laws and heal your life in all areas, including business, then I invite you to seriously consider attending our 3-Day Spiritual intensive at www.MasteringYourLife.com.

You and Business, You and Spirituality, Business and Spirituality can truly be One. It’s possible to experience the difference every day!

To Love and Harmony in Business – through You,
Esperanza Universal

photo credit: juicyrai

When I thought of beauty growing up, I thought of Barbie, MTV, Disney channel, and movie stars. So let’s just say I didn’t exactly have a sense of self-worth or self-love for that matter. I just knew that to fit in you had to be like what you saw on TV. To have friends you had to know what was “cool” and what wasn’t.

I went all through middle school and high school thinking this way. I went on believing that beauty was somewhere outside of me, that beauty was something I could apply, something I could buy, something that could be fixed with plastic surgeons, loads of money, approval from parents, family members, teachers, coaches and friends.

These high expectations and beliefs of myself began to change as I started doing some personal growth work. Personal growth for me got real personal after attending a Mastering Your Life Intensive. During that intensive, through the love and support from fellow attendees and Esperanza Universal, I began to have a better understanding of the inner beauty Kahlil was really talking about.

I finally understood why beauty wasn’t something I could buy or learn.

It’s because beauty wasn’t a something, it was a someone – that someone being me. I learned that I am beautiful without needing to follow, conform or bend to anyone else’s desires. I am the beauty that I’ve been searching for; I’ve been looking for it outside of me all this time. It’s as if I had been waiting this whole time for the approval from everyone I knew to tell me what I now know. Realizing this sense of inner beauty helped me to see that I don’t need outside approval to be who I am or to follow my dreams.

I’m in college now, and knowing that I have this sense of inner beauty has helped me to have continual confidence in myself. I have a sense of self- love and acceptance I have never had before. This sense of confidence has helped my transition to college easier than I thought it would be.

I’m glad that I learned what I did from the Mastering Your Life Intensive. I could have never discovered this inner beauty without the help of Esperanza and everyone at the Mastering Your Life Intensive. To harness the shining light beyond your own mirror, I highly recommend the life-changing Mastering Your Life Intensive.

Read more at www.masteringyourlife.com .

Hillary
Freshman in College
photo credit: brenna.levitin

People often ask me how to communicate better with their spouse, children and friends. I suggest they start by listening. Just hear what the other person is saying, without trying to change them in any way, just letting the person be and experience all the feelings the situation is bringing up for them. They don’t need your advice, nor even your comfort, as much as they need your support.

By support, I don’t mean agreeing with everything they say. I mean listening with an open heart and mind, acknowledging that it’s how they feel, at this moment. There’s no right or wrong, no judgment or blame; not for your friend, or for anyone else in the situation. In this way, you will allow your friend the freedom to be whoever they are in relation to the situation. It doesn’t mean you have to join them in their situation, or help solve the problem, just that you hear them.

Sometimes this isn’t so easy. Take Alice’s experience, for example. She called me after a raging fight with her husband. It seems their daughter was having problems at school with other kids making fun of her. My client had responded by hugging her daughter, rubbing her back and telling her to not to worry, it would be OK. Her husband, on the other hand, had said they were bullies, and she should be tough and not let them get to her. He even suggested that he go talk to the parents of the other kids. After this discussion had gone on for a while, the daughter had expressed that no one understood her or cared, and had left the room, angry at both parents. The parents then argued about who was right. Sound familiar?

Alice wanted to know what went wrong? How did they end up all angry at each other? Alice and her husband meant well, but do you see how they both took the situation away from their daughter? Alice’s comfort stifled her daughter and told her it wasn’t OK to be angry. The father’s jumping into something he could do, took away from the daughter too. She didn’t have a chance to work through the situation to her own solution.

In order to be able to support another person lovingly and effectively, you have to know and accept yourself. Only when you experience your own self-love and self-worth can you give to others without taking away from them, the way Alice and her husband did with their daughter.

Do you want to discover your own self-worth and change how you relate to others? My 3-Day “Mastering Your Life™” Intensive is a Spiritual Retreat designed to help you do just that!

You can read more about it at www.MasteringYourLife.com.

  photo credit: ernest404

There are Possibilities for Change – both conscious and unconscious.

There are Opportunities for Growth – both inner and outer, which you then see in the world around you.

Then there are the Choices or Actions you can take that will either support you in your desired Results . . . or not.

In any case, there will be change in some way or form, for that is life in this physical dimension.

There is one thing, however, that NEVER changes and that is Who You Are – who you REALLY are!

That is why I am honored and pleased to invite you to join me for the first ever, “Who I Am” Global TeleSummit, where I will be speaking on Spiritual Laws and How to Make them work for you, by Removing Blocks on a Soul Level.

Click Here to learn more about it and register for Free.

As we begin the significant year of 2012, I am joining Traci Carman and a beautiful group of expert teachers and visionaries including:

• Gay and Katie Hendricks
• Jerry Conti
• Marie Diamond
• Lynn Rose
• Andrew Oser
• DC Cordova
• and many more…

I will be speaking on Monday, January 23 at 10 am PT on “How to Remove Obstacles on a Soul Level – and Create the Life You Really Want:  A Spiritual Approach.”

In my most recent blog on “A Season of Consciousness,” I shared insights into the Truth of  Who You Are.

As a Divine Being at our deepest core, we are Love, Peace, and Joy, our Divine Essence.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The question I hear from so many, though, is how to actually practice this Knowing in our daily lives.

What does it really mean to BE Love?

What does it actually look like when you ARE Peace?

How does Joy differ from just being happy?

How do I create Abundance, when little has worked in the past?

During my portion of the “Who I Am” TelesSummit, I’ll address these questions by sharing some simple, yet surprisingly powerful, steps to help you see what’s really in your way from living this Wisdom from your Heart.

What old beliefs do you still hold on to that don’t support you NOW?

What unconscious blocks do you put in your own way – and then wonder why you feel stuck and exhausted so much of the time?

I’ll share with you Simple Steps for getting unstuck and unblocked, steps you can start using right now to give yourself True Freedom!

I’ll also be offering Free gifts on the call along with a special offer.

Please join me, as well as any of the other impactful speakers you feel drawn to on the list. You can find all the details on the website and Register Here for Free.

Will this be your year to Re-Connect with who you REALLY are, and Create the Life you Truly Desire?

Love and Freedom,
Esperanza Universal

P.S. If you know of anyone else in your life who is searching for answers, wondering “Who I Am” and would benefit from this special free event as well, please feel free to PASS THIS ON and share with your friends!

photo credit: FullyFunctnlPhil

You then decided to come to earth to learn and grow into wholeness while experiencing separation and limitation. Many got lost in the separation, did you?

Are you busy judging, blaming, and shaming yourself because of other people’s beliefs that you adopted as your own? You now carry them as your identity, rather than lifting the veil of forgetfulness, and remembering that you are One with Source; that your True Essence is Love Unconditional; that you are Whole and Complete as you are.

You have entered this incarnation as a ‘Divine Being,’ and you will exit in this same vibration. How you live your daily life is just one Choice away. It can be Peaceful and Loving, as was intended when you came. You can return to that Wisdom at any time. Just ‘lift the veil’ and Remember.

It takes this choice to live in “Christ Consciousness’ or Unconditional Love, every day of your life. Not just while in season, but always. This was your first intent. Will you return to this place now?

During this season of “Christ Consciousness” choose to remember that you are a Divine Being, a Child of God. Your True Essence is Love Unconditional and Freedom Individual, Remembering that you are One with Source with each breath you take.

Love and Freedom,

Esperanza, et al.

P.S. If you are ready to own the True Essence of the Divine You, join us at “Mastering Your Life,” March 23, 24, and 25, 2012 and transform your life like you could never imagine. Just go to www.MasteringYourLife.com to Register.

They drive literally thousands of miles per year taking their kids to activities, then are too tired to drive themselves to the doctor for a check-up. They work themselves ragged contributing to their company’s success, then have little or nothing to contribute to their relationship with their spouse or close friends. They care-take for their ill or aging parents, and won’t take time for a soothing bath or a rejuvenating massage. If you or someone you know is one of these people, I’m glad you’re reading this message. I hope you will hear what I’m saying.

You are the most important person in your life. How you treat yourself reflects how you value yourself. And how you value yourself gets reflected back to you in everything you do. If you’re feeling unseen and unheard, if you’re experiencing betrayal or abandonment, if it looks like you don’t really count in your world, that’s a reflection of what’s going on inside you.

I’m talking about the Law of Reflection, a powerful spiritual law that governs relationships. Just as there are physical laws governing our world, there are Universal Laws at work as well. They’re impacting your life every moment, whether you know it, understand it, or like it. A better life happens when we live in harmony with this and other Spiritual laws. Ancient cultures knew how to do this, and it’s time for us to rediscover and apply the wisdom so our lives can be peaceful and joyful.

I’m here to help! As co-creator and CEO of the S.O.U.L. Institute in San Diego, CA, I’ve developed a unique and simple Spiritual Guidance system to help people from all walks of life truly experience their self-worth. They learn to explore deep within to:

• Uncover emotional baggage that is sub-consciously obscuring their inner light
• Release fears that are under the surface, quietly but powerfully holding them back
• Make peace with people they thought were enemies, and embrace them as great healing angels in their lives
• Align their hearts, minds, bodies and Spirits so they can express fully their unique gifts and value to the world!

The people who’ve attended my 3-day Mastering Your Life Intensive had to ask the same question in the title of this message. After learning more about it at www.MasteringYourLife.com, they decided they were worth it…

How about you?

Love and Peace,

Esperanza Universal

photo credit: s_falkow

Mari Smith, a “Soul Sister” from our very own S.O.U.L. family, has written a new book that reminds us that “Relationship Marketing” is the most powerful way to manifest a fulfilling and successful business. In this book, Mari helps you master social media with Heart, Soul and Integrity, in every aspect of your business and your life.

You’re probably aware that social media marketing is rapidly becoming an integral part of how businesses—large and small—can tap into a much bigger, global market. There are effective ways to promote your business on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. And, there are many ways that just don’t work.

Here at S.O.U.L., we had long resisted embracing these social technologies – there seemed to be so much noise and, quite frankly, a lot of ego. We didn’t see how we could expand our online community and get the word out about our programs and offers in a way that was completely in alignment with our values, and Spiritual wisdom.

That is, until one day in May 2009 when social media maven Mari Smith was a participant at the Mastering Your Life program and she quite innocently demonstrated the power of these social networks in the middle of the class.

We always strongly encourage participants to take a “heart” break from technology and any business matters during our programs; however, on this particular day something magical happened.

Mari simply posted on her Facebook wall one of the primary messages of the S.O.U.L. teachings:

“The most important relationship in the world is the one we have with ourselves; everyone and everything is a direct reflection of the quality of that relationship.” ~Esperanza Universal, CEO and Co-Creator, S.O.U.L. Institute Inc.

What happened next, as Mari shared with us, is that a rush of her online community instantly commented back that this is exactly what they needed to hear right at that moment. They loved the quote; they found it uplifting and transformative. They went on to share with their friends. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Of course, Mari brought this to our attention during the program. From there, we realized there was a powerful opening for S.O.U.L. to begin building a presence on Facebook, Twitter and other social sites. Mari has continued to guide us and we are blessed with a team of enlightened social media helpers that Mari is guiding using our S.O.U.L. principles.

We particularly resonate with Mari’s approach to social media marketing – it’s about relationships first, business second. By focusing on connecting with others, adding value, and building relationships with all members of the online community—regardless of their “influence score”—more and more people are drawn to want to get to know you and what you do.

We’re delighted to share with you that Mari has a brand new book out that is a must-read, called The New Relationship Marketing. Mari is one of the foremost leaders in the social media arena – with particular expertise in Facebook marketing.

We recommend you take just five minutes and watch Mari’s special video about her personal journey to becoming one of the top leaders in the social media industry. Mari’s story is very inspiring and very revealing – it’s wonderful to see vulnerability and spirituality in the business world:

Mari wrote her latest book specifically for those business owners and entrepreneurs who have only just dabbled with social media marketing, or who have reached a plateau with their online marketing efforts, and wish to propel their business to the next level and beyond.

Relationship marketing is all the actions you take online and offline to nurture the connections you have with your prospects, customers, alliances and partners… even with your so called competitors. You’re probably familiar with the acronyms “B2B” and “B2C” (business to business, and business to consumer). Mari talks about how it all comes down to P2P: People to People.

Many businesses have not fully embraced the power of today’s social technologies due to a number of reasons, including fear of exposure, fear of negative comments and fear of wasting time and resources. In her new book, Mari skillfully walks you through her proven nine-step program for building a large, loyal and profitable network using the social web. We definitely recommend you pick up a copy for yourself! Find out how here: www.MariSmith.com/relationship-marketing-book-trailer.

Plus, Mari is including a special free webinar series to dive deep into the principles she teaches in her book. When you get a copy of The New Relationship Marketing, you then simply sign up here to reserve your place: www.MariSmith.com/books-by-mari/relationship-marketing-free-webinars/ .

Mari has a reputation for over delivering and for distilling complex topics into easily understandable and implementable nuggets, so this webinar series should be a gold mine!

We hope this book and webinar series are of value to you. We rarely make specific recommendations, as it’s critical that we always maintain highest levels of integrity here at S.O.U.L. Due to the profound impact Mari Smith has had on our social media marketing, we made an exception, and are honored to provide this endorsement.

Now, go find out more! www.MariSmith.com/relationship-marketing-book-trailer

Love, Responsibility and Freedom,

Esperanza Universal

P.S. In true Mari-style, you get to register for the free webinar series on the “honor system!” That is, you do not need to scan/fax/email/mail any proof of purchase before you get access to the online classes. Once you order your book, just register here www.MariSmith.com/books-by-mari/relationship-marketing-free-webinars and that’s it!

P.P.S. Do join us on our Facebook page and let us know what you thought of Mari’s video and book. Remember to “like” the page too, so you can stay connected to Esperanza and her Universal Teachings: http://facebook.com/soulinstitute.