Conscious Living

If you know me, you know I absolutely enjoy being outdoors. I prefer natural light to fluorescent and cool breezes to recirculated air conditioning. In the spring, summer and well into autumn, I often invite friends to meet me in one of the beautiful green spaces in the city to either fly kites (actually, I need to order a new one while I am thinking of it) while sipping my special blend house made sangria (I have many talents), lounge on a blanket to chat, perhaps write/read/vibe to music, attend a summer performance while sitting under the stars. I select lounges based on the aesthetics (colors, comfy seating, noise level, mixologist skills and if there is an outdoor space). Oftentimes they happily join me yet there are a few moments in summer when they are like, ‘Now c’mon Misha, it’s too damn hot out here!’ LOL!

On a solo note, I practice grounding which is placing my bare feet on the ground and engaging in my sun salutations followed by gratitude as a way to release any mucky energy while simultaneously recharging. There is something about nature, the magic of it, the power of it, the healing abilities of it.

When I lived in Barbados for a year, I was at Accra beach EVERY Saturday…yes EVERY Saturday, lol! I am definitely a water baby and the sound of the sea, the ebb and flow is one of the most relaxing sounds I have ever heard. My beach Saturdays were a constant loop of in the sea, sunning to dry off, back under umbrella to read, write, listen to music, nap. I had many heart centered conversations while on the beach with people who ‘randomly’ crossed by path and many things became clear effortlessly while there.

I am feeling the need to spend more time in nature, specifically different locales. One of the goals I have this year is to see a moose in its natural habitat.

I’ve never seen one in real life. They are so massive yet magical. I love when unexpected, rarely seen animals cross my path.

It is easy for our days to become like a ‘hamster wheel’ where days run into each other and before you know it 6 months have lapsed. For our days to be comprised of to-do lists resulting in days of checking off items only to move on another. I know everyone does not have the funds, lifestyle, freedom to travel the globe for a month. However, there is something between hamster wheel existence and world travel.

What are you willing to do different this year to create more ‘breathing’ room in your life?  

• How can you connect more with self, others, life and love?
• How can you transition from hamster wheel existence to conscious living?
• What can you release?
• What do you need to embrace?
• What is your soul saying?

Listen…

Conversation is an Art

There is so much we do not know about each other, yet after an initial or a few exchanges (sometimes via technology) we are quick to make conclusive judgments about each other as if they are facts and dispose of each other while never having a proper conversation to seek clarity.

I speak often about The Art of Conversation, because it is indeed an art. A few email-text-SM exchanges are not conversations. The Art is being intentional and present while engaging each other. To discard the 3Cs (convert, condemn, convince) and instead to converse to learn, expand, think, listen, build, etc. To ask direct questions instead of making assumptions. Oh, the dreaded assumptions; we are all guilty of this. Making assumptions results in quite possibly missing out on absolutely beautiful adventures because we opted out based on our limited assessment of a person, opportunity, etc.

How often do you ask someone or communicate:

• What do you mean by?
• How do you operationally define X?
• That’s interesting, because for me Y means…
• Is this mandatory for you or a preference?
• Are you okay? Your tone seems to indicate something is happening.
• Sometimes when someone does Action A it means X. For you, what does Action A mean?

To be honest, I am quite amazed humans are able to get along at all because of the different narratives and interpretations constantly being made in our minds for absolutely EVERYTHING. Couple this with how each of our individual wounds, experiences, beliefs, etc. color our perspective. I guarantee you EACH of us have drawn incorrect conclusions about someone and have no idea how wrong we were.

Assumption are the lazy person’s way of interfacing with the world. They write a few adjectives on a box and move through the world placing people in these boxes, never really getting to know each other and never truly knowing love or self.

This year I implore you to begin to converse and engage differently. Begin interacting from a heart space, meaning The Art of Conversation which is to learn. No more of this only looking for things to support the conclusions you prematurely formulated in your mind. Realize, everyone is different.

• All men are not the same as the man who broke your heart.
• All women are not the same as the woman who broke your heart.
• All men are not like your father.
• All women are not like your mother.
• All women are not like the woman who betrayed you.
• All men are not like the man who betrayed you.
• All women are not like your ex-wife.
• All Americans are not…
• All Africans are not…
• All people who subscribe/practice a particular religion are not…

Conversation is an Art.

Grounded

A man who is grounded and has a clear vision for his life knows the qualities and characteristics in a woman that will compliment him and the same is true for a woman.

These individuals have the ability to see each other in totality and

...are keenly aware that the whole is always greater than any ‘piece.’

Sure, another individual may have more or less of something than your significant other but their pieces cannot compare or replace the whole, not if you are clear on your vision and purpose.

In order to recognize your love, you must be clear and grounded in the grandness of you. We can experience happiness with many people, and even a great life; but your best life, now that is something different. © - Misha N. Granado

A Pretty Mess

Unfortunately, it seems we live in a society that is more concerned with:

• The external than the internal.
• Quantity instead of quality.
• Trends instead of the classics.
• Hook ups instead of relationships.
• Shallow instead of deep connections.

When you prioritize your external and neglect your internal ESPECIALLY when emotional wounds are involved the result is pursing external entities in attempts to medicate, ignore or silence the pain.

No amount of make-up, couture, labels, vehicles, plastic surgery or degrees will fix it. You cannot marry out of your pain. You cannot move away from your heartache. You cannot collect enough passport stamps to heal.

These methods do not result in sustainable healing. Instead, all that happens with this approach is you continue to have your emotional wounds now with flawless makeup, gorgeous couture gowns, driving beautiful luxury cars.

There are many broken hearts and emotionally wounded people who live in very exclusive neighborhoods, jetting across the globe in first class, married into very posh families. There is nothing wrong with wealth, beauty, comfort, and beautiful things. But these are not a surrogate to healing. You can never outrun yourself, my love. Invest in your healing. Love Grows is here to help. Contact us today to schedule your sessions. – Misha N. Granado, MPH, MS

Be Impeccable with your Word

At Love Grows we focus on the power of words and teaching our clients how to become impeccable and intentional with their words.

You always have a choice as to how and which words to use at any given moment. Words have the power to:

• strengthen or sabotage relationships

• build or tear down someone

• breathe life (love) or death (fear)

• encourage or discourage

• heal or wound

Especially important are the words you use to speak to yourself. You must become your strongest advocate, cheerleader, motivator, etc because you are with you 24/7.

Once you begin to use your words to strengthen, build up, breathe life, encourage and heal yourself you will experience a significant shift in the quality of your life, relationships and the frequency in which you operate. When you love self fully, you can love others better. - Misha N. Granado, MPH, MS