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Walking Meditation

Lifeskills, Meditation
Walking Meditation with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace
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Walking Meditation – What is it?

During one of my meditation classes recently, a participant asked ‘What is a Walking Meditation?’ A walking meditation consists of begin mindful as we walk, sometimes slowing down each step we take and breathing deeply (or counting silently) while we walk. A walking meditation is a wonderful way to calm our mind, get our body moving and just be – in the present moment. I explained that there are countless styles of walking meditation. All are simple to do, don’t need any special equipment, they are suitable for all who walk and can be done in all weathers!

Banks Peninsula Christchurch NZ Walking Meditation with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceI first learned about this style of meditation when I attended a silent retreat on the Banks Peninsula (pictured right) in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2004. Our facilitator invited outdoors asked us to begin by focusing on our breathing. Once we did that we then started counting silently to ourselves. Then we were instructed to walk in single file along a path. It was important for us to pay close attention to our breath, the counting, as well as the placement of our feet (as well as being careful not to collide into one another).

It was incredibly enlightening to me how mindless I had been while walking previously…this simple exercise made me slow down, breathe deeply and pay attention to what I observed along the way. Each thing I saw and experienced on the path during my walking meditation made an impact on me. Normally I would have paid absolutely no attention to cracks in the paving stones, flowers or grass beside the path, weeds, smells, sounds of the birds or the wind. I would have walked past them oblivious had I been talking on the phone or catching up while chatting with my walking buddy.

Yet on the path during my walking meditation – here they all were, each beautiful item/sound/sensation waiting to be observed, acknowledged and valued in that moment. Each awareness brought me something very special deep inside and I found myself strangely, yet profoundly moved.

Walking Meditation: Research

There are many research studies to support how breath and meditation practices support the well-being of our bodies, our minds and our spirit. When we take even the shortest of breaks in nature, we feel a sense of peace, relaxation and inner balance. I think the most difficult thing nowadays is to stop what we are doing and get out! We seldom allow ourselves time from our hectic life to get outdoors in nature.

Walking Meditation: Examples

Walking Meditation with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceBefore you begin your walking meditation, be sure to focus on your posture. Stand up straight, with balanced posture and have your eyes forward (or eyes turned slightly downward to watch where you are going). If possible, walk with a relaxed, easy, rhythmic stride and make sure you breathe deeply into your abdomen to get a good expansion of your lower ribs. Walk with our without music. Remember though, silence is golden – you’ll miss the amazing sounds of  nature if you have your headphones on. As with any meditation, thoughts will come and go. Do your best to observe them, not get caught up in them or be annoyed by them. Thinking is what your mind is used to doing, so initially it won’t be used to you stopping your thoughts. Persevere, it’s worth it!

  • Inhaling and exhaling in 1 part (1:1) or 2 parts (2:2) – Beginners Exercise

In this exercise you will coordinate your breathing with your steps. Begin by breathing in on the left foot step and breathe out on the right foot step (or vise versa). Do not rush. Don’t try to force your breathing. Depending on the speed you are walking and what is comfortable for you, if might be easier to take two steps on the inhale and then two steps on the exhale. All the while, make sure you breathe naturally. Do this for 5 minutes and then walk normally for 10 minutes. Then repeat.

In time (and with practice) you can work up to doing a walking meditation for 20-30 minutes continually and then walking normally for an hour if you have time. Continue walking and breathing at a steady pace. This walking meditation can be especially useful if you have a lot on your mind.

  • Inhaling and exhaling in 4 parts (4:4) – for Energy and Clarity

While walking slowly, inhale through your nose for 4 steps. Pause briefly. Then exhale through your nose for a further 4 steps. Take another small pause.
Do this breathing pattern for 3 minutes. Then continue walking normally for 5 minutes. Then go back to walkign slowly and inhaling for 4 steps. Pause briefly again. The exhale once more for 4 more steps. Pause once more. Walk normally again for 5 minutes. Repeat this sequence several times.

  • Inhaling and exhaling in 8 parts (8:8) – for Energy and Clarity

In this example you will coordinate your breathing and your steps with each other. Begin by walking slowly. Once you have a slow walking rhythm, inhale continually for 8 steps through your nose and exhale continually for 8 steps through your nose. Do this for 3 minutes and continue walking normally for 5 minutes. Then again inhale continually for 8 steps through your nose and exhale continually for 8 steps through your nose. Repeat this exercise several times in a row. This is a bit more challenging as it requires your concentration.

When you have a good rhythm to your walking and breathing, allow yourself to observe your surroundings in a detached manner. Avoid making judgments, just observe and take it all in. Judgments or worries are not useful in a walking meditation – but they are inevitable, just let them go as/when they come up.

Walking Meditation with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceYou may find like Forrest Gump, kilometers (or miles) disappear beneath your feet as you walk your troubles, concerns and cares away! A side-effect of walking meditation is that you might get some:

  • clarity, or
  • unexpected, enlightening and surprising insight into a situation and/or
  • energy, even a feeling of freedom and euphoria

Take a risk…Give it a try – you never know what you might get!

About Michelle

Born in the UK, Michelle A. Hardwick of Release…Peace is a highly qualified Hypnotherapist who began her practice in 1998. Her professional development continued with Dolores Cannon, renowned QHHT Hypnotherapist specializing in the recovery of “Lost Knowledge” as well as Dr. Brian Weiss, ground-breaking Psychiatrist, New York Times best-selling Author and authority in the field of Past Life Regression.

As a newly published author, Michelle’s own story features in Dr Brian and his daughter Amy Weiss’s recently released book “Miracles Happen”.

Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceMichelle (pictured right) is also an experienced, advanced Trainer and Practitioner of the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and is qualified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and honoured to be a Network Cork Business Woman of the Year Award 2018 Finalist. Release…Peace offers personal consultations and tailored programmes to support an individuals’ health and well-being.

Contact Us

If you need help to unplug or move through a stressful situation and come back to inner stillness and calm, then contact us.  We provide highly personalised,  confidential consultations either in person in Cork or online to support you through a process of positive change. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you don’t live in Ireland, we can work together online via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 087 149 2338 to chat.

Alternatively join us for our potent Weekend Retreats, if you’d like to delve deeper and uncover/discover more about yourself, love and self-love. We will facilitate one in October 2018 in the gorgeous Liss Ard Estate, West Cork, Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way!

Managing Stress: Creating calm in your career

Lifeskills
Online Meditation Class with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace
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Managing Stress – creating calm in your career

Levels of stress are again peaking in the current business and economic climates. We all have personal experience of the cost of stress to our lives yet knowing how to deal with it, is ultimately the challenge.

Stress: Plus and Minus

Some stress is positive – we might feel a sense of excitement e.g. like the thrill of being on a rollercoaster ride, this type of stress keeps us on our toes and makes us feel alive (albeit temporarily).

Usually stress creates a host of negative experiences: e.g. feeling worried, inadequate, dissatisfied or sad; we snap at colleagues, family and friends, we become easily upset or angry; alternatively, we unable to concentrate or worse still – sleep.Managing Stress: Creating calm in your career with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace

Detrimental effects of Stress

When we experience intense stress over a longer period – the effects can be serious. Our immune system becomes depleted; we might begin to feel depressed; we could have increased asthma attacks; we become prone to diabetes; have skin problems, stomach ulcers or heart disease.

Dealing with Stress – learning skills to increase inner calm

In times of stress, we must change what we are doing. It is essential for us to reflect and start to make positive decisions and choices to enhance our lives. Here are a few suggestions to help get the stress from your mind and body:

  • Communicate – when things start to spiral it can be helpful to share what’s happening. Talk about things to someone in the family or an extended family member.
  • Are you huggable? If talking is too difficult, then try asking for a long hug from a close friend, spouse or partner.
  • Put pen to paper – write out your feelings (in a diary or journal) is a fantastic way to release emotion. The bonus of writing is that it gives time to reflect on what is really happening. When we write we also uncover or discover patterns from our past that have been triggered.
  • Get creative – listen to your favourite uplifting music tracks, watch a funny movie, read a book, paint, sing, create artwork/images/shapes/models of how you are feeling.
  • I like to move it! Try moving your body to release the stress physically through sport, dance, or swimming.
  • Convene with nature – spend time outdoors, go to meadows, mountains or forests. Walk barefoot on the sand at the beach. Essentially take time out, experience a change of scenery, go to a different part of town, explore somewhere new.
  • Thrash it – force the stress from your body and mind by whacking a rolled-up newspaper on the floor or beat a cricket/baseball bat repeatedly on a pillow – if it’s good enough for Louise Hay – it’s good enough for us!
  • Managing Stress: Creating calm in your career with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceScream – Take a drive, (or even on your way home) wind the window down, stick your head out of the window, let rip and scream out loud! Let it go and then arrive home feeling very calm. One tip – it’s best not to do this in built up areas ;o}
  • Create your own “worry time” – set a specific time once a day, to give yourself full permission to worry. Allocate 15-20 minutes. Set a timer. Think of all the things you must worry about and when the timer goes off and your “worry time” is over, then stop worrying. If a part of your mind wants to worry at a different time in the day, think the words ‘now that’s enough’. Promise yourself you’ll worry about it tomorrow in your next allocated “worry time”.
  • Use your imagination – imagine when you are in the shower that as the water flows down and over your body, you are ‘washing away’ stress and worry. If you catch yourself worrying outside this time, make yourself stop and commit to worrying about it next time you are in the shower. Watch the worry and stress drain down and out of the plug hole and let it go.
  • Go inward – ground yourself, or stop, breathe deeply from your abdomen, learn to meditate, listen to positive recordings to help you to relax (like these).
  • Look back, process and let go – release those times in your past that continue to contribute to you feeling stressed, triggered, fearful, threatened and unsafe. Techniques such as EFT, NLP and Regression assist in releasing (rather than reliving) negative experiences so you can move on.
  • Boost your self-esteem – Take time to strengthen your belief that you are ok. Repeat positive affirmations to yourself confirming your confidence, self-belief, self-worth and self-trust. Put them on post-its around your mirror at home, or on your ‘fridge, on the dashboard in your car etc. basically anywhere where you’ll see them. Say them and be reminded of them regularly. Alternatively create a song/recording with all the positive things you would like to affirm about yourself, your career, relationships and/or your life and sing it regularly!
  • Take care of yourself – drink plenty of water; try having herbal teas or coconut milk/water/oil during your day; eat plenty of organic, fresh fruit and vegetables; reduce your intake of coffee/black tea/alcohol/sugar/spicy food/cigarettes; avoid recreational drugs.

Remember this is a call to take action. Use one or all the above. Try them out. See which ones work best for you. Help yourself and prevent future stress. The power is always in your hands.

I’ll leave you with a powerful quote which I shared with a large corporate group in a recent mindfulness presentation:

‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes,
including you’
Annie Lamott

About Michelle

Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceBorn in the UK, Michelle A. Hardwick of Release…Peace is a highly qualified Hypnotherapist who began her practice in 1998. Her professional development continued with Dolores Cannon, renowned QHHT Hypnotherapist specialising in the recovery of “Lost Knowledge” as well as Dr. Brian Weiss, ground-breaking Psychiatrist, New York Times best-selling Author and authority in the field of Past Life Regression.

As a newly published author, Michelle’s own story features in Dr Brian and his daughter Amy Weiss’s recently released book “Miracles Happen”.

Michelle is also an experienced, advanced Trainer and Practitioner of the Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and is qualified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and honoured to be a Network Cork Business Woman of the Year Award 2018 Finalist.

Release…Peace offers personal consultations and tailored programmes to support an individuals’ health and well-being.

Contact Us

If you need help to unplug or move through a stressful situation and come back to inner stillness and calm, then contact us.  We provide highly personalised,  confidential consultations either in person in Cork or online to support you through a process of positive change. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you don’t live in Ireland, we can work together online via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 to chat.

Alternatively join us for our potent Weekend Retreats, if you’d like to delve deeper and uncover/discover more about yourself, love and self-love. We will facilitate one in October 2018 in the gorgeous Liss Ard Estate, West Cork, Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way!

Five Love Languages

Lifeskills
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The Five Love Languages

The five Love Languages is a very insightful book written by Gary Chapman. It had a profound impact on me when I read it many years ago. Relationships (and more importantly the challenges I’d had in them up until that point), really started to make sense.

Love Languages and Love Tank

5 love languages gary chapman Michelle hardwick, loving self, loving others, michelle a. hardwick release...peaceIn his book, the 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman explains there are effectively five universal ways we use to express and interpret love. Having counseled couples for more than 30 years, Chapman observed specific patterns or ways in which love is communicated. He explains that we each, have a love tank. The most important thing we need to do he says, is fill our love tank. Rather than expecting someone else to fill it for us, we must do things for ourselves – doing anything that really nurtures or nourishes us, whether that be:

  • luxuriating in a warm bath
  • knitting
  • reading a great book
  • meditating or relaxing
  • breathing deeply
  • walking on the beach
  • spending time with our childrenthe Five Love Languages Gary Chapman Michelle Hardwick, Michelle A. Hardwick, Release...Peace
  • playing with our pets
  • going to the hairdressers etc. etc.

Filling our love tank also means taking care of our bodies: by getting sufficient sleep, eating healthful nutritious foods, taking time out napping/resting, being in nature, sitting in silence (without the distraction of our computer or phone).

Inner Programming

Sometimes though, we have inner programming that conflicts with the idea of self-love. Perhaps as children, we were told – “not to be selfish” or we were made to feel guilty when we pleased ourselves. Over time, we become conditioned to do things for others and nothing for ourselves. When our needs were not met, we overcompensated and tried to be everything to everyone. This resulted in us feeling disappointed, unloved, frustrated, bitter or resentful as we do ‘everything for them’ and nothing for us. This create an impossible double-bind.

Awareness

5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman, Loving ourselves, loving others, Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceWhen we start to become aware of this outdated programming we are able to begin to make changes. Firstly we can stop expecting others to make us happy – that’s not their job. We can also release the expectation of others being like us. In addition we get help to release the belief (and burden) that others should be the primary source of love in our lives. As we make changes and begin to focus on our inner world, we can start to fill our own love tank and take responsibility for our own happiness and well-being. The more we do this, the better we will feel.

The more positive and loved we feel, the more we attract positive experiences to ourselves. As we continue to do this, flowing love to ourselves, to our bodies and then out to others, the more we become surrounded by love. The more love we receive and feel, the more our “love tanks” overflow. We begin to see and love people as they are, rather than for how I’d like them to be. For me, that was/is one of the most empowering aspects of what Chapman wrote about. In subsequent posts I’ll share more about the 5 love languages. In the meantime – enjoy filling your love tank!

Contact Us

The Five Love Languages, Gary CHapman, Michelle Hardwick, Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceIf you’d like to learn to fill your own love tank or explore any of the themes raised in this blog regarding loving yourself and others – feel free to contact us to book your private, confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online.

If  you don’t live in Ireland, we can work together online via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) 07857369619 to chat.

Alternatively join us for our potent Weekend Retreats, if you’d like to delve deeper and uncover/discover more about yourself, love and self-love. We will facilitate one in April and again another in October 2018 in the gorgeous Liss Ard Estate, West Cork, Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way!

Loving Others

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Loving Others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace
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Loving Others

Since previously writing a blog about Loving Ourselves, it seemed only fitting to write about Loving Others. Over the years since I began this work in 1998, I’ve helped many clients overcome challenges in their relationships through private consultations.

Our Childhood

I believe that in order for us to grow, heal and move forward, we need to look back to our past. In our childhood, we constantly observed relationships. We watched what other people did. We saw the responses (and reactions) of others in a variety of situations and circumstances. We learned what to do (and what not to do) in order to be loved, accepted and acknowledged. All of this information was collected unconsciously, and this became our map that helped us navigate the ‘terrain’ of our family, and later on our relationships. This map helped us to stay out of trouble (or sometimes get into it if we went against it) – ultimately the map attempted to keep us safe or secure.

loving others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceNow

Fast forward to today, and more than likely, we find ourselves in some form of relationship (or we were previously in a relationship), whether that be with a spouse, partner, family/extended families, work colleagues, a boss or even a pet! It’s important to realize that very single person – even our pet – holds their own map of relationships and life.

Different Maps

When partners/spouses/colleagues/bosses follow our map, have the same ideas, ways and conditioning then it feels good to us, we feel safe, everything flows smoothly. There are little or no complaints.

However when our maps differ, we tend to have disagreements. When loving others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peacewe argue, we rarely take the time to discover what is on the other persons’ map. We generally spend all our effort and energy defending our map, trying our best to convince the other person that our map is ‘right’. We never take a step back to look at their map. If we did, we’d discover that – surprisingly – we both want the same thing.

Here’s a basic example: if you want an orange and I want a banana, then we are not going to fight. However, if you want an orange and I want an orange then it’s likely that we’ll fight over it. When we breathe and take a step back, it gives us time and space to discover that both want the orange and now we can work together to find the best way to get it.

   Quote
       “Change only happens when we ACT rather than RE-act”

Loving Others: Outdated Maps

loving others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceSo in any disagreement it’s helpful to stay curious to what is on the other persons’ map. We then have a few opportunities:

  • we might uncover a new/different route;
  • we will establish who has the most up-to-date map;
  • we may even have the humility to accept and acknowledge that in fact, the other persons’ map is better than ours; or
  • we may decide to create a brand new map and ditch our old one

As we do this, we update our truth and map – with new information, observations and insights.

Loving Others: Navigating to the Same Place

If we never update our map then it’s probable that we will end up going ’round in circles! For example: we might keep being attracted to similar people over and over again; alternatively we could find ourselves in similar situations throughout our lives e.g. we constantly feel lonely, abandoned, a victim, or rejected etc. When we realize that we keep ending up in the same place, it’s time to update our map. Sometimes we can do this ourselves, but if it’s a longstanding challenge we might need a little help.

Patience

If we are fearful of change and don’t update our map things will escalate. The arguing gets worse and more intense. Over time, we become frustrated, disillusioned, lonely and our patience diminishes.Loving others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace

Imagine an elastic band, with each argument, our patience (and the elastic band) stretches… another argument and it stretches some more. We have yet another argument and our patience is stretched further. Then over something quite minor, we argue and our patience snaps – then just like an elastic band it is broken. Once this happens, it is very difficult to repair (the elastic band and) the relationship.

Loving Others: Acceptance

Loving others is about understanding and accepting them – unconditionally. To do that though, we have to drop our expectations and the fairy-tale that runs unchecked in our minds.

With maturity we can accept that, whoever we are in relationship with, is not perfect. We can to accept that we – just as they – have faults. As we love ourselves unconditionally we open the door to our hearts. Then we can love others for who they really and truly are (instead of how we’d expect/like/need/want them to be).loving others with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace

Quote
“Your life is a mirror of relationships.
Every person in your life is a mirror of you.
Every love in your life is a reflection of your ability to love.
In essence, your life only has meaning in proportion to the love you will allow in your own heart”
Deepak Chopra

Next time I’ll share more in-depth information about a wonderful resource that has tremendously helped me (and many of my clients) in relationships.

Contact Us

Loving ourselves with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceIf you’d like to explore any of the themes raised in this blog regarding loving others then feel free to contact us to book your private, confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you don’t live in Ireland, we can work together online via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) 07857369619 to chat.

Alternatively join us for our potent Weekend Retreats, if you’d like to delve deeper and uncover/discover more about yourself and what makes others tick!

Loving Ourselves

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Loving ourselves with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace
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Loving Ourselves

Loving our self is an essential and very important part of our healing and evolution. When we love ourselves we offer the gift of love to everyone around us as well. Self-love is the most compassionate, gentle, loving and kind thing we offer our Self.

Not Loving Ourselves

Most of us on the journey of life have invariably made a few mistakes along the way. If we judge ourselves for what we did/didn’t do – then it’s likely that we have feelings of shame/guilt. Holding onto these feelings prevent us from experiencing self-love, and keep us in a place of inner conflict or turmoil. When we are out of balance like this, we tend to hurt other people too.

Compassion: Loving Ourselves

What if we viewed our mistakes through the eyes of compassion? We’d understand that each mistake we’ve made is/was a stepping stone on the path of life. It was all part of our growth. When we give ourselves permission to learn from our mistakes, we forgive ourselves and this ultimately sets us free.

Have You Been Good to Yourself?

A few days ago I was in the car going home, listening to night-time radio. Cillian Murphy was being interviewed and he was sharing some of his favourite songs. He introduced a track written and sung by Johnnie Frierson: ‘Have you Been Good to Yourself?’

The lyrics blew me awayLoving ourselves with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace:

“Have you been good to yourself?
 Have you been getting your proper rest?
 Have you been sleeping at least 8 hours?
 Have you been eating the right kind of food?
 Have you been getting enough exercise?”

I have to admit based on my behaviour that week, most of my answers to those questions were ‘no’.

The song continued and Johnnie came to the most powerful part of the song (for me):
“If you’re not gonna be good to yourself, then you’re not gonna be good to others…
 If you’re not gonna be good to yourself, then you’re not gonna be good to others…

  When mistreat yourself, then you mistreat others…
  When mistreat yourself, then you mistreat your family….
  When mistreat yourself, then you mistreat your children….”

Profound.

What is Loving Ourselves?

Loving ourselves with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceWhen we don’t love ourselves then everyone suffers. No-one gets the best from us, not even ourselves.

A few years ago I was working in Asia offering a variety of workshops & consultations there. One workshop I facilitated was around the topic of love. I asked the participants in the group to take a deep breath and consider the following NLP questions:

  1. What does ‘loving yourself’ mean to you?
  2. How do you know when you are loved?
  3. What do you see being done to you?
  4. What do you hear being said to you?
  5. What are the sensations that you feel?
  6. How do you know you are loveable?

I then asked them to write down their thoughts and feelings. The sharing that followed was incredibly insightful. We uncovered many beliefs about loving and not loving ourselves. Lots of things came to light. Then some of the participants asked “How do we love ourselves?”

Steps to Loving Ourselves

Here’s what I shared:

  • Firstly become aware that you have needs.
    Often we put everyone elses’ needs before ours – and think this is loving and healthy. It’s not, it just causes resentment, anger, sadness and frustration with others and our particularly with our self.
  • Next listen to your needs.
    We listen to everyone elses’ needs, why not our own? Who said we couldn’t /shouldn’t or mustn’t listen to our needs? More often than not, we ignore them. 
  • Finally give your self what you need.
    Without feeling guilty or selfish. Know that this step is a necessary part of our journey: to feel worthy/deserving/requiring of what we need.

Powerful Quote

I love the Persian poet and Sufi master Rumi. His quote sums up so much:

   “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find
     all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

Barriers to Loving Ourselves

So what type of barriers might Rumi be refering to? Here are some, there’s probably a lot more, but these are a start:

  • Feelings of being unworthy or undeserving of happiness/love
  • Barriers to Loving Ourselves with Michelle A. HardwickFeeling insecure, needing reassurance, jealousy
  • Self-sabotaging behaviour and sabotaging your relationships
  • Acts of self-denial including downplaying compliments
  • Painful experiences in love
  • Doubt and self-doubt e.g. that the relationship will last or that it’s ‘too good to be true’
  • Not taking responsibility, playing the victim, self-pity
  • Harbouring guilt or making others feel guilty
  • Negative beliefs/programming/experiences around self-love and love
  • Fears e.g. abandonment, intimacy, guilt, failure, sexuality
  • Self-abuse – in the form of addictions
  • Fear of the fear of rejection, betrayal, humiliation

Conditioning

All of these barriers limit our ability to love ourselves and others. These barriers can be due to the conditioning we’ve received in our childhood. In addition, there are beliefs that are handed down through generations from grandparents/extended family members. We observe their behaviours and demonstrations of love and these patterns become our internal road-maps. Then we subconsciously navigate our life, love and relationships with these sometimes (outdated) road maps.

Awakening

It was at that point in my early 30’s that I read one of the most powerful books written by Robin Norwood titled ‘Women who Love Too Much’. I realized something within me needed to change – I could identify with the entire book. It was as a result of reading Norwoods’ book that I began my own journey of healing.

Self-esteem, Security and Self-love

I’m not perfect, I like to think I’m a work in progress. There are times when I “get it right” – and other times when improvement is required. It’s all part of my journey of evolution and growth. What I’ve discovered is that self-love comes from the inside out – it’s an inner state, made from feelings of love, strength and happiness. These feelings give us a sense of security and self-esteem. It is this inner security that becomes the well-spring of self-love. When we listen to our needs and give our self what we need then we are truly loving our selves.

   “The most important relationship you have in the world is the one you have with yourself;
everything and everyone is a direct reflection of the quality of that relationship.”

So true.

Contact Us

Loving ourselves with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceIf you’re ready to change the relationship you have with yourself and begin a journey of self love, then contact us to book your private, confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you don’t live in Ireland, we can work together online via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) 07857369619 to chat.

Alternatively join us for our potent Weekend Retreats, if you’d like to delve deeper and uncover/discover more about yourself!

My thanks to Cillian Murphy for the inspiration for this post and the wonderful local photographer Mary Kidney for allowing me use her beautiful photo (of blossoms) at the top of this page.

Emotional Freedom

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Emotional Freedom

Depending on what our clients share with us during their consultations, we could typically utilize a technique called EFT (or the Emotional Freedom Techniques). EFT helps to obtain emotional freedom from the pain of negative emotion & injuries, often caused by traumatic events. It is one of the fastest tools we’ve ever worked with – as EFT helps clients go within, discover what is going on emotionally, free themselves and find solutions to their inner conflict.

What is EFT?

The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a remedy for change. A combination of traditional Eastern and Western healing methods, EFT involves  tapping on stress-release points, (acupressure points), found around the face & upper body, whilst talking about the problem. EFT works on the understanding that:

  “the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.”

EFT grew out of an earlier energy therapy linked to Acupuncture, Acupressure and Kinesiology namely TFT (Thought Field Therapy), an extremely effective, but cumbersome, range of set tapping processes developed by US psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan. Gary Craig, was an early TFT practitioner who felt that TFT was too complicated. Using his engineering background he took TFT apart and reassembled it into the much simpler form of EFT. Gary Craig, says:

“EFT should not be considered unusual because Albert Einstein, through his famous discoveries, told us in the 1920’s that everything is composed of energy. Unfortunately, Western Healing Sciences have ignored this obvious avenue … at least until now”

EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceEFT is safe, gentle, and easy to use, with proven results. The clinical results over the last 15 years have been remarkable, as it frequently provides impressive results and these results are usually long lasting.

How can EFT help me?

Everyone has their share of disapproving thoughts, self-doubt, traumatic and stressful experiences. These can disrupt the body’s system and cause limiting, negative emotions. EFT helps the mind to overcome blockages and neutralize traumas which keep clients stuck in the past. Long-term problems can diminish rapidly, and in many cases, disappear altogether. It literally is ‘emotional freedom’ as it helps clients to feel lighter, less burdened by the past, less susceptible to reacting with painful emotion. EFT often works, where nothing else will. Clients report a profound easing of many problems such as:

  • Addictive Cravings
  • Trauma, Grief
  • Stress, Anger
  • Negative Emotions e.g. Guilt, Shame
  • Anxiety & Panic Attacks
  • Emotional issues, blockages, negative beliefs and personal problems
  • Fear incl. Fear of Public Speaking
  • Headaches & Migraines
  • Back Pain
  • Compulsions & Obsessions
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • InsomniaEFT Emotional Freedom Techniques with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace
  • Pre-menstrual Tension (PMT)

This technique, used daily, can help maintain a balanced, stress-free, relaxed mind and body as it replaces emotional distress, tension and anxiety with peace and tranquility.

Applying EFT

In essence, EFT is a different version of acupuncture as the body’s energy system is balanced while speaking and tapping (with the fingertips) on selected stress-relief points along energy meridians. This helps us to focus the mind and rewire it naturally. EFT empowers people to help themselves to be free from mental blocks obstructing their growth & potential.

EFT is

  • Simple to Learn & Quick
  • Effective & Lasting
  • Easy to Usemichelle-hardwick of Release...Peace
  • Transportable, Painless & Fun!

Contact Us

If you’re ready to feel emotional freedom, then contact us to book your confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you are not living in Ireland, we can still work together online – via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) – 07857369619 to discuss your needs.

“Any difficulty or life challenge is an opportunity to begin some important, empowering inner work.”
Michelle A. Hardwick

Neurolinguistic Programming NLP

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Neurolinguistic Programming NLP with Michelle A. HardwickNeurolinguistic Programming NLP

We often use Neurolinguistic Programming in one form or another during our consultations. NLP is often used as a vehicle for ‘fast’ or accelerated change. One of its underlying assumptions is that even without Neurolinguistic Programming/NLP, people can change and that over time, these changes can be profound. By applying of NLP to challenging situations, changes can happen  – very quickly indeed, sometimes in minutes.

What is NLP?

NLP or Neurolinguistic Programming, was developed in the 1970‘s in the US by Dr John Grinder, a well-known professor of linguistics, together with Richard Bandler. They produced a linguistic model that identified language patterns from a few gifted individuals:

  • Family Therapist Virginia Satir
  • Gestalt Therapist Fritz Perls
  • Hypnotherapist Milton Erickson
  • Anthropologist Gregory Bateson

What does  Neurolinguistic Programming mean?

Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is essentially a very skilled use of language and means:

  • ‘Neuro‘ acknowledges the fact that we use the brain, the nervous system and the body’s five senses to process information. We use sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell to learn, think and remember.
  • ‘Linguistic‘ refers to the verbal language that we use to communicate with each other, as well as our internal thoughts, beliefs and our external body language.
  • ‘Programming‘ is the ‘programs or patterns of behaviour’ we all demonstrate and the way we organise our thoughts and our behaviours in order to produce results. Knowing about these things and the way they are learnt helps us to unlearn out-of-date programs. We can learn new ways to perceive, to listen and to go about things more positively.

How can NLP help me?

Neurolinguistic Programming NLP with Release...Peace and Michelle A. Hardwick

Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) provides the tools to better manage yourself day-to-day and become more resourceful. It’s often referred to as “an instruction manual for your mind” as it can help reprogram your mind and body to gain greater effectiveness in all aspects of your life. In addition, NLP can enable you to have choice over how you feel, your emotions, your behaviours and physical states. NLP is based on a set of very precise ways to identify how someone who is successful is achieving results. It determines which internal strategies they use, and these strategies are then distilled into handy tools for others to use and create similar successes.

NLP never tells us what we need to do, it offers ways in which we can change things to be, feel or behave how we wish – it actually offers the ‘how’ to make a change. When we change our thinking, we change the results we experience in our business, relationships and our life. NLP can be used not only for personal growth and development to but also in the business community and in many other areas. If you are looking for personal growth or professional development, want to improve your health, NLP can help you – so long as you have an open and curious mind.

Contact Us

If you are keen to discover more about NLP/Neurolinguistic Programming then contact us to book a confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online. If  you are not living in Ireland, we can still work together online – via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) – 07857369619 to discuss your needs.

Hypnosis

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What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceHypnosis has long been associated with the strange and mysterious, with sideshows or faith healers. But the truth is that hypnosis isn’t the least bit mysterious or controlling. It is in fact a state of intense relaxation and concentration, where the mind becomes remote and detached from everyday cares. In this relaxed state, positive suggestions for change and growth can be given to the subconscious and these become part of the way we then behave and live our life.

Will I loose control during Hypnosis?

Despite popular belief, you are always in control of the hypnosis process. You will not do anything you do not think is acceptable. You cannot be made to violate your own values or accepted patterns of behaviour, nor disclose anything you do not wish to.

where the . It’s also a If necessary a potent technique can shared with clients to help remove blocks to success.

What can I expect?

The focus of a consultation is to empower you from anything that no longer serves you. Before commencing, a discussion takes place to determine your goals and needs. Once the focus of your consultation is established, you are invited to get comfortable in a reclining chair, to close your eyes and slow your breathing down. You begin to feel more relaxed and calm as your mind and body become quieter.

 

Hypnosis with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceWhat can Hypnosis do for me?

Hypnosis is a very pleasant, enjoyable experience and is a powerful way to access your mind, to help you grow, evolve and make positive changes. Hypnosis can help you to:

  • Increase Confidence, Self Esteem & Motivation
  • Alleviate Nerves & Stress
  • Improve Performance
  • Stop Anxiety & Panic Attacks, Fear or Phobias
  • Focus More Clearly
  • Remove Obstacles & Blocks to Success, Health, Well-being and Happiness
  • Create New Belief Systems
  • Eliminate Distractions
  • Tap Into Powerful Inner Resources
  • Remove Negative Beliefs & Programming
  • Have More Fun!

michelle-hardwick of Release...PeaceAll Success Starts in The Mind

Contact Us

If you are ready to free your mind and make a change, contact us to book your confidential consultation. Appointments can also be booked online with this link. If you are not living in Ireland then we can work together online – via Skype and Zoom, from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) – 07857369619

We look forward to meeting and working with you soon!

Weekend Retreats in West Cork, Ireland

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weekend retreats with Michelle A. Hardwick in Liss Ard, West Cork Wild Atlantic Way, IrelandWeekend Retreats

We’ve been facilitating the Weekend Retreats for over 4 years in various parts of the world. Now, every three-months our “The Wonder of the Soul Weekends” take place in the gorgeous Lake Lodge of the Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen, West Cork. This is an absolutely stunning part of Ireland located along the Wild Atlantic Way. If you haven’t already been to this part of the world, then I’d suggest it’s something you put on your bucket list to do sooner, rather than later. The Liss Ard Estate is a sacred, quiet, contemplative location, focused on rejuvenation and revitalization for the body, mind, heart and spirit. People go to the Liss Ard Estate to take in the healing energies of the forests, the Lough and the Sky Garden as they reconnect and meditate.

Deeper Understanding

Our Weekend Retreats are quite a different experience. They are designed to support participants in a process of inner discovery and enlightenment through the power of group work. During the weekend there is time for self-exploration, group discussion as well as group sharing. There is space on the Weekend Retreat for self-exploration to make inner-connections and uncover where the vast majority of current challenges stem from. The group discussions give participants an opportunity to understand others and also themselves. During the group sharing, participants are able to resolve challenges, heal and evolve. A range of potent experiences are also included in the Weekend Retreat to help to promote expansion on a mental, emotional and spiritual level.weekend retreats with Michelle A. Hardwick in Liss Ard, West Cork Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Weekend Retreat Benefits

Participants have told us that after our retreat they feel grounded, whole, more connected and aligned. They gain more of an understanding about life and what makes others tick. The camaraderie created with the other participants during the experience is powerful. The wisdom in the group, the honesty, the amazing minds working together – offer a powerful gift of understanding and clarity. Many of our participants say it’s unlike anything they’ve experienced before. These Weekend Retreats can help:

  • Build confidence, self-esteem, self-acceptance, self-respect
  • Transform current challenges, patterns and habits
  • Understand and heal relationships
  • Learn to trust and express self fully
  • Gain a sense of peace and clarity
  • Feel inspired, courageous, free, empowered
  • Increase feelings of security, safety and inner power
  • Instill feelings of balance, love, peace, connection and self-belief
  • Increase happiness, passion and achieve the goals you have set for yourself
  • Promote new healthy habits, increase motivation and integrate a positive attitude

What’s included in a Weekend Retreat?

weekend retreats with Michelle A. Hardwick in Liss Ard, West Cork Wild Atlantic Way, IrelandThere are a number of experiences available throughout our Weekend Retreat, including:

  • Time in an amazing part of the world
  • A chance to be with like-minded people – ‘your tribe’
  • Guided, healing meditations and relaxations
  • Grounding processes
  • Customized, potent experiences
  • Opportunities for group sharing/discussions/processing
  • Mentoring
  • MP3 recordings of the healing meditations and relaxations (sent as links to download)
  • Enlightening information: shared in the form of documents and/or power-point slides (also sent as a link after the weekend)
  • Healthy vegetarian/vegan Lunches*
  • Tasty vegetarian/vegan 2 course-Dinner*
  • A nourishing vegetarian/vegan Breakfast*
  • All meals lovingly designed and prepared by our wonderful private chef and nutritionist Jorien Verstraten*
  • All refreshments – herbal teas, fresh, certified Liss Ard well-water, light snacks and fruit basket
  • Overnight stays in a luxurious, twin ensuite (or single) room of the Lake Lodge, Liss Ard, West Cork, Ireland
  • Time for self (before and after the morning/afternoon sessions); opportunities to empty your mind
  • Space to explore the extensive 163 acres of Liss Ard gardens, the Lough Abisdealy, and Sky Garden 
  • Connection to nature with the trails and walks through Liss Ards’ ancient forests filled with beautiful flora and fauna
  • Lots of sharing, fun and laughter (and the odd tear)!

Ready for a Change

These weekend retreats are a life-changing intensive experience. It’s important for us to clarify though, that these weekends might not be for you if you’re uncomfortable discussing your past with anyone else, or if you are not ready to change. In the Lake Lodge, we are surrounded by nature, so you have the choice to unplug and experience two days without wifi or phone coverage.  If that doesn’t sound like heaven, then this might not be for you but perhaps a one-on-one consultation would be more suitable.

Your Investment in Yourself

weekend retreats with Michelle A. Hardwick in Liss Ard, West Cork Wild Atlantic Way, IrelandThere are a number of options in terms of investment in yourself:

  • An early bird special fee: €245 per person – shared ensuite accommodation only (includes PayPal surcharge)
  • The standard fee for a twin ensuite room is €295 per person (includes PayPal surcharge)
  • A single ensuite room is €365 (includes PayPal surcharge)
  • Read a pdf document of our retreat with more details here

Weekend Retreat Feedback

  • “I found it very interesting at the Weekend Retreat, to listen to the stories of other people’s life experiences. It has opened my eyes to the relevance to specific periods of life, which is something I previously knew nothing about.  My own personal life pattern within the time-periods was very stark and astonishingly clear.”
  • “The Weekend Retreat was very beneficial to me and I feel absolutely fantastic in my own skin now. I cannot thank you enough for this feeling. I would like to secure a spot for myself to take part at the next Weekend – I am so excited!”
  • “Thank you immensely for the Weekend, words are small device to show my love and appreciation for your contribution to humanity.”
  • “I seem to have got braver about making myself do things that I generally resist doing.  I seem to be more energized and positively charged since the Weekend.  The new feeling is quite low-key and subtle but definitely there. I also was always very aware of carrying around some kind of weight internally, like a lump of lead, but it seems to be mostly absent right now.”
  • “Thank you Michelle for an extraordinary Weekend experience!! Life has invited me to experience yesterday and today, more of the subjects I shared during the weekend: my approach and feelings have changed with regard to these events. And I am, now, in peace.”

weekend retreats with Michelle A. Hardwick in Liss Ard, West Cork Wild Atlantic Way, IrelandContact Us

Feel free to get in touch with us for more details.

Call us: Ireland – 0871492338 or the UK – 07857369619

Check out our events page for the next available Weekend Retreat!

Follow the link and book your place.

Meditation at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Cork, Ireland

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Meditation at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Cork, Ireland

Meditation with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceA few months back, we ran a trial with a series of meditation and relaxation classes at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa in Cork, Ireland in their Leisure Club.

These weekly guided meditation and relaxation classes at the Maryborough grew in popularity. Numbers increased and a large number of members had to go on the waiting list to get into the class. The decision was made that from mid-September, we would again offer my weekly meditation and relaxation classes in the Maryborough Studio. Now every Thursday from 8.30pm-9.30pm this is happening. Our thanks to Belinda and Brian for helping us make this happen.

Meditation at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa, Cork, Ireland

We really love being in the Studio helping everyone unplug and destress. Together we create a peaceful, tranquil healing space. Typically we start with a brief chat (to check in with everyone and see how they faired since our last relaxation & meditation evening). This helps me to understand how the group is doing that night. Then if/when the group members are comfortable sharing, they offer suggestions as to what they would most like to experience or have help with that evening. Some relax in a seated position, others lie flat – whatever feels right or best for them.

Tailored & Recorded Meditation

Meditation & Relaxation at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...Peace

The requests and needs of the group are intengrated and then the guided meditation and relaxation is created and recorded. Everyone present receives a downloadable copy sent by email link to them the following day. Listening daily helps relax and augments their daily practice. The recording can be used first thing in the morning, during the day or last thing at night. It’s a great way to take some time out to refocus and reconnect with our inner wisdom.

Meditation & Relaxation

Meditation and relaxation doesn’t have to be complicated or confusing. There are many ways to meditate and relax, all it takes is a little time to find the right style for you. My suggestion is to try out different ways with a variety of practitioners. Usually, guided meditations are best suited to newcomers as they give the mind something else to focus on.

Thoughts will still come into the mind, however over time, (and with practice) they diminish. When you pay less attention to them, those random thoughts to just float through your mind like a passing cloud.

For us, meditation is about slowing down, feeling grateful, refocusing and reconnecting with our hearts. With all the noise and demands of the outside world, it’s so easy to become distracted and disconnected from ourselves. Stopping, being mindful and slowing my breathing down all help us to recenter ourselves.

  “Knowing others is wisdom
  knowing yourself is enlightenment”
  Lao Tzu

Meditation at the Maryborough Hotel & Spa Cork, Ireland with Michelle A. Hardwick of Release...PeaceMeditation & Relaxation Groups

At Release…Peace we provide:

Contact Us

If you have any further questions about meditation, relaxation – or indeed any other service we offer, feel free to contact us at Release…Peace. We are here to help you find the right class or experience best suited to your needs.

If  you are not living in Ireland, we can still work together online – via Skype and Zoom from the comfort of your office/home. Call us on: (Ireland) 0871492338 or (UK) – 07857369619 to discuss your needs.