How 5 minutes of this practice can Change Your Life
Every New Year I wake up with so much gratitude and awe, and think of that fateful night in 1985, when I finally hit bottom, took my last drink, my last drug, and surrendered to my Higher Power. After all you can’t pray for deliverance and not let go. At some point the bottom rises to meet you. Then there is one moment of choice. We choose our future in these kind of moments, where we stand at the turning point and leap into the unknown or go back to the painful familiar.
Today marks 32 years of continuous sobriety from drugs and alcohol and its true that a lifetime has passed one day at a time. Who I was then, is not who I am today.
What I learned by being sober was first to live one day at a time. Every 24 hours if I lived with humility and gratitude I would be choosing a new future. It was in following a spiritual program that I learned that these principles can be applied to any struggle, anything at all that harms or victimizes. Addiction is a symptom of a spiritual and mental malaise at its core. Gratitude is the abracadabra that swings the door to a new world wide open.
We all tend to think it’s the outer world that hurts us, other people, life happening to us and at us, but truly it’s what happens inside us, through our thoughts and emotions, the stories we tell. Our reactions and conditioning keep us trapped in a story that can prevent our lives from flourishing. So although the choice of seeing ourselves differently may sound impractical for some it’s truly the way forward if we want to live in a world with purpose, prosperity and love.
Of course I am going to begin the year with a message that’s fundamentally all hippy dippy crystal bunny and New Agey !
It’s just that I’ve done this myself and you can too because it’s truly where the path to the real future is laid. We need to change our thoughts, our feelings, our expectations no matter what outer conditions invite us to perceive. It might sound like a worn out cliche but it’s real.
You are the magic! It’s inside you. That spark of the divine that inspires you, animates you, moves you forward is something inherent in you. It’s not outside of you. But you can influence the outer world in extraordinary ways when you commit to fostering this part of you that is powerful beyond measure. If you put your hand on your heart and breathe in gratitude for just 5 minutes a day you will be immersed in hope. You will start to see the world as Spirit filled brimming with potential and possibility and not destined to be run into the ground by the greedy fearful, angry, and delusional.
This is a new year. Will you use the power of your imagination, to choose your future and discipline your mind to see the world through the lens of your magic? Your case may not be anywhere near as extreme as mine was. But I discovered immediately that Spirit was my partner in life and my job was to discover how to honor that relationship. You can do it too. Anything you desire can manifest. You just need to learn this. To choose your future you need to ignite that power within you, stay in gratitude as often as you can. Only you can make this real.
You are the Magic- Live it.
So guess who is wildly excited about this New Year? ME! I am super excited about all the new stuff I made for you to help you co-create the life you really truly desire. My book Uncharted is being released in paperback Jan 16th so stay tuned to all the gifts that will come with ordering the book, including book club, meditation package and more!
Also check out my public FB page for the Daily Oracle , daily messages from Spirit delivered with love through my oracle cards to keep you living your magic every 24 hours!
Love you always and forever let’s rock 2018 together!
Colette
PS JOIN ME this weekend at Kripalu for my annual Oracle shindig Divine Your Destiny an oracle card and meditation extravaganza weekend to set you up for a magical 2018.
Congratulations! ODAAT. Magic!
Thank you Colette, I am so looking forward to this coming year and appreciate your advice on how to travel this pathway.
Perfect… as always xo Happy Birthday today!!!
Thank you Colette for you guidance it’s an honour to be on this path, to be positive in the now even with the turbulent lives we lead.
You truly have helped me in ways I can’t explain.
Thank you 🙏
Write it down. Take note. Observe, be mindful, be considerate, think of others, reach out. I find the most challenging part of the tech obsessed world today, is that I often feel like an outsider. So I am aware of the good, awake to the potential of the uncharted, and open-minded to other ways of living in this sometimes confusing, imbalanced world. I prefer to not live an E-dicted lifestyle. I love to notice the world around me. Moments hold gifts which are often lost because the focus is too narrow. I am PRESENT in this life. That is an invaluable gift. Just before 2017 ended I took a leap to open the door to a creative project that I had been imagining for some time. It was difficult to wait for the first prototypes to be delivered from the other side of the world. Not unlike giving birth. I knew that if I didn’t try that I would never know what the result of taking that step could be and where it might lead to.
As 2018 has now officially begun; it matters not what I may have not yet experienced; or what I might have attempted that did not turn out as I imagined. SO WHAT!!! Courage to change the things I can. That is a wisdom that can be applied to anything, any thought, belief, habit. As you suggested, just five minutes can be sufficient to prompt our neural pathways to wake up and sense something we have not tasted or tested yet. How much better can it get?? Life really gets interesting when we move toward what our hearts really want. Spirit is fueled by the heart. SO on that note. May 2018 be a year of heart-filled thoughts, moments, and may our actions be fuelled by the heart. “What comes from the heart, touches the heart”.
Happiest NEW Year. Colette.
Dear Colette .. I am so excited !! .. you have modelled the example so well, through all your teachings, you have consistently shown me that even from rock bottom there is a route to dreams coming true .. thank you for that !! .. I had the thrill and the honour of starting 2017 in Kripalu at your retreat, it was so great !! >> and what a fabulous year I had ! .. 2018 does not bring me to Kripalu, but it promises to take me on a adventure with a theme of cooperation, fun, and mystical content !! i know it sounds great, right ! .. i do hope that i end up at one or more of your fabulous events this year !! .. by the way i am using the nature visions meditations, i am mixing them up and enjoying them thoroughly ! .. Happy New Year .. Much Love, Lisa xox
Thank you for sharing with us! 10/22/1986
Congratulations and much love to you for your beautiful, shining inspiration!
I turned 5 months sober just before the Holidays. What I gift from life and to myself. I deeply want to honor that moment of grace that has transformed my life a lot already, yet, I am sure even more in the future.
As the mental fog dissipates, the real issues are surfacing and the condition to be able to deal with them is to remain sober. I just can’t imagine myself drinking anymore.
The courage to deal with these underlying issues and welcome them for what they are, gifts for higher consciousness.
As peeling an onion, every hour, every day, every week and months are giving me tiny bits and pieces of the bigger puzzle , not always without great pain, but no one said the human experience was easy.
Thank you for your work and for this message today, it is a gift of hope and an amazing story of someone who has find her purpose and dharma.
I do the Wisdom oracles cards each couple days or when needed and as you, always deliver right on messages.
Thank you again and I wish you a year full of love to receive and as you already do , to continue giving.
From a sister in recovery,
Love.
J.
Thank You Colette!!! Happy New Year!!!
Congratulations on 32 years!!!💖 You are an inspiration💚💛💜
Congratulations on your 32 years of success.. Such an accomplishment.
Thanks Colette for the “you are the magic” comment. Your words struck a cord with me. I am currently suffering from imposter syndrome, which is only my thinking!
Plus your paper back is released on my birthday. So there’s a self-gift.
WIshing you an amazing 2018 x
Colette, I just adore you! Your forecast for 2018 gave me chills up and down; it rang so true (and actually, I pulled a card for the year ahead early in the morning on January 1st, and pulled Yin as well!). I can’t wait to see (and receive!) what 2018 has in store for us. Thank you for being such a consistent and positive source of inspiration. With deep gratitude for the gifts you share with us all.
PS congrats on your sobriety milestone x
Congratulations! I’m nearing my 26th anniversary of sobriety. There’s nothing like a new year for starting a new life! Thank you for your inspiring words.
Happy New Year!
People/situations in my past. I don’t blame them happening but I am the person that I am because of them….in a good way. they were my journey.
Last night was my night to perform the New Moon ritual. I did one Aug21 and wow! What a transformation! It is indeed NOT a quick fix. I love working on myself. I no longer feel like that fart in a wind tunnel. I’m calmer, peaceful and oh so happy!
When are you coming to Calgary?
Happy New Year!
People/situations in my past. I don’t blame them happening but I am the person that I am because of them….in a good way. they were my journey.
Last night was my night to perform the New Moon ritual. I did one Aug21 and wow! What a transformation! It is indeed NOT a quick fix. I love working on myself. I’m calmer, peaceful and oh so happy!
When are you coming to Calgary?
Blessings and many thanks for the wake up call..
Blessings and many thanks for the wake up call…
big hug!
congrats!!!
you can do it one day at a time!!
I’m a believer 🤩❤️
Happy 32nd Sobriety Birthday Colette! You are such an inspiration. I’m looking forward to celebrating 30yrs sobriety in April this year. I did it one day at a time, and sometimes it was one moment at a time. Wishing you an amazingly awesome 2018! I appreciate you and all that you do. Big hugs xo
This is beautiful, and it sounds like you are a gift yourself. Wishing you the best on your courageous endeavors. I’ve been sticking my toe in the water with my creative projects, but I will join you in just diving in. Thanks for the inspiration! Happy every New Now!
Dear Colette
Congratulations on your 32 yrs… marvellous. and your reading and messages for 2018 is also marvellous. Every one of your readings has inspired me to stand straight and keep on moving forward through the obstacles that I meet without looking back, I’m doing so much better now. You are the inspiration I look for each week, thank you so much for the knowledge you so selflessly share with us. You’re the best, love you.
yep sometimes one minute at a time 😉
I’m wishing good luck with it all….thanks for your words of inspiration
Thank you Collette. I love and appreciate you and what you do for us all. Happy 2018. I look forward to your weekly messages and guidance. Keep up the good work!
Thank you Collette for sharing your story… congratulations on your 32 years!
Your Such an inspiration!!
I look forward to your weekly readings..the reading for 2018 sounded wonderful! But I’m going to take one day at a time! Living in the moment!
Enjoy each day!
Thank you again for being so inspiring !
Wishing you a very Happy New year’s.. blessings and love
Hugs xo ❤️
Happy Other Birthday! My favorite prayer is still the Step 3 prayer. Humbly giving my will over to God’s Will brings me peace. My Step 11 nightly gives me gratitude for how different I am and my life is. Wonderful blog post.
Congratulations and Happy New Year!!! I think we are all adicted to something… hope it’s love, joy and sharing!! a big hug for this new year!!
Szeretett Colette!
Nagyon boldog, örömteli Új évet kívánok szeretettel, Isten Áldásával. Én is nagyon boldognak érzem magam, és izgatott vagyok, mert érzem, valami nagy dolog van kialakulóban. Úgy érzem, sikerült a múltamat lezárnom december vége felé, és megkönnyebbültem. Nyitott vagyok az új dolgok fogadására, és szeretettel kezelem az eseményeket. Hálásan köszönöm önzetlen, szerető segítségedet, és várom a találkozásokat, mikor jössz.
Nagy ölelésem, és végtelen szeretetem küldöm neked, Erzsébet.
I’m on a sober path and if I may put out there Holly Whitaker’s Hip Sobriety School has saved me in addition to all the spiritual work. She teaches from a spiritual platform and is awesome! Also the book The Naked Mind by Annie Grace. A whole new way of looking at becoming alcohol free.
I thought I would share as they have made a huge difference for me. 5 months, who hooo!! Congratulations!
Colette, I love you and love, Love your postcards from spirit!!!! Thank you for your wisdom and inspiration! And, 32 years, wow!!!! You rock!
Thank you- congratulations and Happy New Year- here is to the most amazing 2018! Gratitude to you and all you do Colette and can honestly say that you have inspired me in so many ways and now with 5 daily minutes of gratitude-WOW..she does it again. Much Love
Happy 2018 and congratulations Colette! You are such an inspiration, and so giving of yourself. Thank you for shining your light and illuminating the path! I am so grateful for all you do! Hugs!!
Beautiful… thank you for sharing your story & words of inspiration. I have feelings of not being worthy very often, & am also a recovering addict ..it’s definitely one day at a time. I still slip up sometimes on small amounts of study drugs occasionally, but besides that I don’t do anything besides herbal. We all have a divine purpose in this world, & it’s so easy to forget that, when ur not exactly successful or sure of yourself. I’m learning to be grateful for my small humble life as a mother & wife…& to get over the many stumbling blocks & traumatic experiences I’ve experienced In life concerning my health, career, relationships , etc..
I am just beigining to find out who I am, as I am finally sober & learning who I am & how to live a Happy live life. It can be really scary at times & confusing, & discouraging, but if we stay in touch with our loved ones, & first with Spirit, then we find peace & happiness, & self confidence. Thank you for being a shining & guiding light for so many in the darkness.. we need you. Grazi.
Happy Birthday. December 20 I celebrated 11 years in Al-Anon. We both got so much to celebrate! YAY!
Thank You Colette ! Ça me touche beaucoup, ça me fait vibrer, ce que j’ai besoin pour la nouvelle année. Merci.
Thank you Colette, your Message from Spirit brought me to tears.
Many things I could say, but, “being worthy”, what you said, Thank You.
GREAT!!!
Colette,
Feel like I have hit my rock bottom in terms of just being done with this pattern of living a life without passion or purpose. I was going to burn that damn Round and Round card if it came up one more time! I asked Spirit for help yesterday, (really, truly prayed on it) and was looking through email and saw your email about the meditation app. I have been trying to get back into meditation after a four year lapse, and have been finding myself too antsy to focus on it. So I thought, what the heck, I will try this. Went to the Google Play store, looked it up, and what caught my eye on the downloads page was your Passion and Purpose meditation. OMG! #2 – AWESOMENESS! I feel like you walked around in my shoes for a week or two and then wrote that one just for me!
I used to be able to achieve a depth in my meditation practice that felt like I had gone somewhere else for a while, and was able to get to that depth right away with the very first one (and I have tried countless other meditations in the past couple of years and usually my eyes pop wide open after five minutes!) I got to the end and found myself thinking, “No! That wasn’t long enough!” So I just kept going.
Thank you for this App of Spectacular Groovyness!! Oh, the potential and possibility! Abracadabra, here comes my new future, full of passion and purpose! The only other thing I could wish for is to have that melodious voice of yours! Thank you, thank you, thank you….just what I needed! Wheeee!
OMG you made my day I have been teaching meditation for years and thought I should record them all and so many people are loving them but your comment has really given me the push to keep doing more!! BIG LOVE
Yes, more!! It would be so cool if you could do a sort of an “Oracle Meditation” where you take the listener on a journey, getting more calm and relaxed and detached on the way, and ending up at a “source of answers.” The listener could ask a question and see what images come to them.
When I say detached, I am referring to one of my other favorites, where you had done a one-off meditation that you gave away as a gift (maybe with Oracle school?) to listen to prior to doing oracle cards so you could ask your question and not get weird answers due to stress around the question. I know we all have the answers to our questions within us, the tough part is relaxing enough to hear them, and then getting super-specific information!
Looking forward to whatever comes from you next, and thanking you in advance….it’s gonna be awesome!
I am doing something like that … stay tuned!
Nature Visions – Over the Cliff – KMSO!!! (Knock My Socks Off!) That was freakishly powerful and led to the stunning realization of exactly what I needed to let go of to score that job of my dreams. It is the last thing on the list of top five things I wanted. Received the house on the river where I can launch my kayak and paddle through the mountains in the location like the one I wanted without the nasty winters seven months ago. Good thing the Universe knew this place existed, I never would have found it on my own!!!
So how long am I going to have to stay tuned? I need a new top five list 😉