I've been sitting with resentment lately. Not running from it, not feeding it — just sitting with it. And what I'm discovering is that resentment is a distraction. Not a meaningless one, but a distraction nonetheless — one that pulls our attention away from something deeper that needs to be seen.

Here's what I mean. When we recognize something wrong with the world, that moment produces two things simultaneously: a call to action and a resentment. The problem is that resentment is loud. It's consuming. And so the call to action — the thing that could actually move us forward — gets buried underneath it.

I notice this most when I think about people who seem unaware of the destruction they cause. Or worse, people who I suspect choose not to see it — because truly seeing it would require something of them. It would demand change, accountability, discomfort. And so they look away. That willful not-seeing is what triggers my resentment most.

But here's what journaling is showing me: even that resentment is pointing me somewhere. Not toward changing their seeing — toward finding my own call to action. What is this moment asking of me?

If you've read my book Abundantly You, this might remind you of how I talk about worry — how it, too, carries a hidden invitation that we often miss. Resentment works the same way. The invitation is there. We just have to see past the noise to find it.

Think of meditation as a process of catching up on the backlog of thoughts, feelings, and emotions in your brain. 

When we experience the monkey mind (mind chatter), it's like having a backlog of inventory (information) in a warehouse (the mind) that we haven't had a chance to sort away on shelves. There is also long line of trucks outside waiting to bring in more inventory. Meditation is the act of intentionally not accepting any new inventory so that we can catch up on sorting and putting away our current inventory in the warehouse. Translation: Meditation is the act of not taking in any new information so that our thoughts, feelings, and emotions can be fully processed and released.

​When we are still, either in quiet, while listening to music, or while listening to a guided meditation, that is the act of not bringing in information from the world around us. Sometimes, doing tasks such as going for a walk, washing dishes, or knitting can be used as meditation because we are not taking in more information during those activities. When we have mind chatter while being still, that's actually the mind processing the backlog of thoughts that were never completed, feelings that were never fully felt, and emotions that were never thoroughly expressed. When we have finally processed that backlog, our mind becomes quiet and we experience what it truly means to be present. 

So, it is completely normal to be thinking a lot when we start a meditation routine. What is most important is taking the time to meditate regularly. That way you can eventually catch up on the backlog of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions and become present.

The energy body is a system of pure energy that mirrors your physical body. Every living creature on earth has an energy body. It uses helpful energies that surround you to support your health and well-being while filtering out harmful energies. Your energy body also releases the energies of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions out into the world around you.

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​Just like the physical body, the energy body consists of many parts. Examples that you may have already heard of include the aura, chakras, and meridians. Most people cannot see the energy body with the naked eye. Biophysicists can detect parts of it using devices, such as a semiconducting quantum interference device. Even though you may not be able to see the energy body with the naked eye, it is possible to feel it. Have you ever been in a room with your back to the door and sensed someone was behind you without hearing a sound? Did you then turn around and see that someone was in fact behind you? You sensed them because your energy body was bumping up against theirs. 

Why is it important to learn about your energy body? It affects your physical, mental, and emotional health. Have you ever walked into a room where everyone is upset, and you immediately feel uncomfortable? A healthy energy body protects you from the effects of other people's feelings. That way, you can be aware of their feelings without those feelings affecting your health.

How do you take care of your energy body? One way is by taking care of your physical body. The energy body affects the physical body and vice versa. Eating well, drinking lots of water, exercising, and so on benefit both. Another way to take care of your energy body is by using energy healing techniques, such as Reiki healing, acupuncture, Qigong, and chakra balancing. So, if you notice that you are easily affected by the "vibe" of other people, places, or events, do things that nurture your energy body. It will improve how you make use of the energies around you.

There are some people who are calm, cool, and collected in the midst of challenges. They have mastered the art of either avoiding worry altogether or at least worrying for a very short while. We all have that potential; it sometimes takes a little practice. One way to get out of a state of worry sooner than later is to turn the challenging situation into an opportunity.

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​Take a look at the types of self-care you can do on a regular basis and those you can quickly reach for at a moment's notice. If there's a self-care method that requires supplies (teas, essential oils, medication, batteries, etc.), double check that you have enough so that you are prepared for unforeseen stressors.

To help you take stock of your self-care tools, check out my Self-Care Toolkit Inventory chart provided here:

Can't get a large rose quartz on short notice? You can wear a pendant or bracelet made with rose quartz or gift it to a family member. Another option is to keep a small tumbled rose quartz in your pocket.

For more crystal tips like these and to learn more about rose quartz, sign up for one of our online and in-person crystal classes. to learn more, visit https://www.mywealthinhealth.com/crystal-healing-classes.html .

There may be parts of your authentic self that are yet to be discovered. That is because you have not had the experiences that will reveal those parts to you. Repeating the same life day-in-day-out robs you of the chance to have those experiences. So, don't wait on them to come to you. You can go to them.

​Living in a state of chaos can shape our definitions of survival, purpose, and love. For some, doing everything possible to cut out chaos is how we show love.
 
Shirzad Chamine, the author of “Positive Intelligence”, explained that growing up in chaos and unhappiness can drive a person to always want to do everything well. Fixing problems, making other people’s lives easier, and making people happy will make you happy. The concern with that idea is you cannot control what makes other people happy and to what extent. You may spend time doing a lot for other people that does not make them happy, which then makes you unhappy.