One of my coaching clients, Chewy, worries about his adult children. And for good reason. Both are actively abusing themselves with alcohol. For a while Chewy was mired in fear and also beating himself up for worrying so much.

I suggested that he begin working with one of my favorite Wellness Tools: First Thought, Second Thought.

🦅 Our first thought just happens. It’s like a raptor swooping down from the sky. We have no control over the bird’s flight pattern. It comes into our field of vision and startles us. We can’t stop it, and it’s not our fault. We can watch our feathered friend continue on its skyward journey. Our next thought we get to choose. In Chewy’s case, he began practicing reaching out to his Higher Power. Whenever he caught himself worrying about his son or daughter, he released that thought to the sky then, with his next thought, he asked God to bless his children, or he asked for 😇 Divine support in staying present with his own affairs.

You can imagine your favorite bird as your second thought, coming to perch on your shoulder. I imagine the gorgeous red cardinal, which is plentiful in my home state of Ohio and here on Maui.

❤️ My red bird thought is a reminder that I am safe, and I am loved. I am safe from whatever fear that mind chatter has concocted. And I am Divinely loved by my Higher Power. When I choose to think these two things, my anxiety inevitably calms down, and I’m able to focus on the task at hand with a friendly presence.

My red bird is a brief visitor. She never stays long. Worry, fear, concern, regret, shame. Each of these raptors swoop down to frighten me again and again. The good news is that my First Thought, Second Thought practice grows 💪 stronger with repetition. I keep getting better at recognizing fear. Oh, wow, there’s that hawk again, trying to spook with me thoughts of future disasters. I can ask my Higher Power to help me bless that bird with love and watch it disappear into the clouds high above. Together, my Heavenly Mother and I can call in my sweet little cardinal to join me for a moment, bringing good tidings of safety and joy.

When I’m able to be present in the moment, to drop the story that my mind has created, I can see that I have everything I need, and that I’m not in danger. In those brief moments, I connect with God and with my Inner Self. My system relaxes. Growing up with a rageaholic father, vigilance was key to survival, but now as an adult who has co-created a lovely life, there’s no longer a need to stay on guard. It’s time to 😎 relax and enjoy the blessings that I’ve been asking for.

As a coach and author of empowerment books, I am truly blessed to work with concepts which strengthen my trust that the Universe is one of 💛 kindness and generosity. No one is out to get me. Quite the opposite. My Angels are listening intently to my every thought and taking direction on which amazing blessings to send next.

Hawks and cardinals are part of the process of my learning to lean on my Higher Power for support and guidance. I don’t have to be perfect. I get lots of second chances. Though negativity takes over several times a day, I can use those flashes of fear as reminders that I have agency. I get to choose my thoughts. I get to call in my sweet little cardinal and be in communion with my Higher Self who knows that I am protected, and I am loved.

With love for you,
🕊️ Lucky