Here in the US we will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week.  It’s an opportunity to count your blessings and give thanks for all the bounty you have received throughout the year.

But what if you don’t really feel thankful?  What if life has thrown a curve ball your way and knocked you off center? Or what if you don’t have family or close friends nearby to spend holiday with?  Then what?

In many spiritual communities, we’ve been taught to never acknowledge anything negative.  “Just think of the next highest thought.”  “Change your thoughts and create something different.” “Never dwell on the negative.”

Much easier said than done!  Especially when you’re smack dab in the middle of feeling awful!

So what do you do when you don’t feel happy, thankful, or peaceful inside?  What do you do when your current life experience is sucking your peace of mind away faster than you can rebuild it?

I found myself in just this circumstance last week.  Nothing was really WRONG, but it wasn’t RIGHT, either!  I was feeling an odd lassitude that was definitely draining my energy and blocking any feelings of happiness, thankfulness or peace of mind!  I felt like I was spinning into a black hole of unhappiness and depression.

I have personally found that trying to just ignore the feeling or the problem just doesn’t work!  I want the issue resolved NOW, and my mind just will NOT let the problem go!

So here’s what I found works best for me – and it’s working for my private clients, too: Allow yourself to feel ALL the feelings! Without judgment and without limiting them.

That’s right!  Just allow yourself to feel the fear, the pain, the resentment, whatever it is!  It’s there to be acknowledged, and to tell you something!

That unpleasant feeling is letting you know that something is out of balance.  That something isn’t right for you. 

Your boundaries may be being violated.  Your soul is letting you know that the circumstances are not completely in alignment with who you really are!  Or old programming might be coming up to be healed.

What I wasn’t initially very thankful for – the feelings of frustration and irritation, that my needs were not being met – was an incredible opportunity for some powerful, deep inner work to heal and clear some very old, nasty programming from my childhood!

It took some time, but what I realized is that I had a deeply set pattern of trying to fix things for everyone, except myself – and then feeling resentful and angry that no one was there for me! 

On top of that program was feeling and being disempowered to help myself – having to ask permission and never receiving it!  And underneath that was not being my own authority, always having to look to someone else for my validation and well-being! 

Pretty nasty energy!  But by allowing myself to simply follow the feeling trail, and write down all the stuff that kept coming up, I was able to use the Quantum Soul Clearing Process to eliminate the old program and resolve those negative feelings.

Today I woke up feeling lighter, more centered; much more excited about life.  I have an opportunity to help others feel the same way through the work that I do.  I am so thankful and optimistic about that!

As I look at what is happening in the world – all the terrorist attacks, the chaos and craziness that are seemingly everywhere – I realize more than ever, this work is so desperately needed! 

What if we could get this powerful process to those who feel like the only option is violence?  What if they could experience the peace of mind and empowerment that comes from healing and transforming that inner pain that believes the only way to be heard and acknowledged is through creating pain and suffering for others?  Just imagine the difference that could make! 

But more than anything else, what I wish for you during the upcoming holiday season, is peace.  Peace of mind.  The space to follow the bread-crumb trail of your feelings so you, too, can get to the core of whatever energy is draining your peace of mind, creativity, self-love and joy.

Take some time to reflect on what you’re thankful for this season.  If you find you’re having trouble feeling thankful, know that you’re not alone, and you’re not wrong. 

Carve out some time to journal your honest feelings and do some clearing work if needed!  I promise you it is worth it, even it is painful.  But wouldn’t you rather address the cause and the core now, than continue to live with that unrelenting unhappiness?  I know I would!

If you need help getting to the core of the feelings, please reach out.  Don’t stay stuck one more minute than needed! I’m here to help in any way I can.  I’d love to support you!  Let’s set up an appointment to play and work.

I want to express my thankfulness for you, my friend.  I am thankful for your desire to be all that you are designed by Source to BE!  I’m thankful we are connected and have the opportunity to make this world a much better place.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, and the launch of the season of Light!

What a miraculous time we live in.  Every day there are new inventions, new ways of thinking, new things to learn.  Everything is changing!

Sometimes that change can feel a little overwhelming, though.  Even if it’s good.

I have a confession to make:  I haven’t always done change very well.  I often go kicking and screaming (sometimes literally!), and with a great deal of resistance.

Of course, that resistance only causes greater pain and frustration, but hey,
old habits die hard.  Right?  But do they really have to?

I have experienced profound changes in the last few weeks.  It’s like the Universe has given me the opportunity to purge all kinds of old programming and fear that I wasn’t even consciously aware of that was living inside of me.

It’s been a roller-coaster ride that I wasn’t sure I would survive without going completely insane.

It’s one of the reasons I haven’t put out a newsletter for that last two months, because I wasn’t sure I really had anything valuable to share with you!  That might have been my shadow, but it felt hypocritical trying to spout something positive when I was feeling anything but!

What I have learned in the last few weeks is how to let go. Of everything.  Of my need to control situations.  The need to control the outcome of my business, my life, my health, my family… of everything!

I’ll admit, Divine surrender hasn’t come easily.  I’ve resisted letting go. And I have another confession to make:  I’m a newly recovering control freak.

It’s tough to own up to something like that.  It doesn’t sound pretty or nice.  And it really isn’t.  I used the excuse for control that the buck stopped here with me. And it did.

But always being in control is exhausting.  And painful.  And lonely.  It strains relationships.  It stresses our health.  It damages our self-worth and self-esteem, because, let’s face it, if you aren’t always in control, there’s really something wrong with you.  At least that was my underlying core belief.

OK I can only speak for myself, but that’s what my inner committee kept telling me.  It’s really a recipe for madness, illness and unhappiness.

So here’s some of the life-lessons I have learned as a recovering control freak, as I have learned to just let go of control:

What I’ve found in letting go, is inner peace.  I realized that I’m no longer responsible for healing and saving the world.  (Yeah, that was really never my real job, but, hey!  I tried!)

Inner peace is exquisite!  I never knew just how valuable it really is!  Or just how good it feels.  For a control junky, it’s a new and powerful feeling and experience that I wish everyone could experience – but it’s truly an inside job.

Teaching is one of my major life paths.  It brings me immense joy to show and teach others what I’ve learned.  I love it when I can share my life lessons and the wisdom I’ve learned from my struggles, to help others and provide a short cut to their own growth and personal happiness.

I’ve learned that it’s not my responsibility. If what I’m teaching or sharing it doesn’t resonate with someone, or if they don’t implement it for themselves, it’s not my responsibility.  It’s theirs.  I don’t have to try to control or be responsible for their outcome.  They get to choose for themselves.  Wow!  What a relief that insight was!  lol

I’ve found a new, deeper connection within myself to the Divine.  That deep connection makes me happy and I feel content with myself and my life purpose.

I’ve learned how to simply let my fears wash through me, uncontrolled, terrifying and unbounded, while tears roll down my face and my sobs of terror echo around me.  It feels liberating to know that I didn’t dissolve into nothingness, or madness – or even die, like that inner committee suggested would happen.

In fact, allowing the fear to completely swamp me, gave me a new perspective on my life.  It allowed me to understand just how strong and resilient I truly am.  It gave me something I’ve never fully experienced before.

I’m not completely sure what it is called, other than Pure Presence.  Or possibly Alignment.  But it is exquisite.

Was the experience of being bombarded by my fears scary and overwhelming?  Yes.  For a few minutes.  And when it finally washed through me, it left me feeling peaceful and whole.  I wish I’d done that process years ago!  I could have saved myself untold hours of anguish and pain.

I’m quite sure I will experience fear again – possibly even terror.  It’s part of life.  Like joy, and excitement.  Like love and pain.  But this time, I welcome it.  Because it’s trying to tell me something about myself.

As we allow ALL of our feelings to fully manifest, they no longer have the power to control us.

By allowing ourselves to feel the guilt until it loses its vicious grip on our minds and bodies, we emerge into self-love and self-acceptance.

By allowing ourselves to fully feel our fears and vulnerabilities until they finally let go of us, we free ourselves to experience inner peace and contentment.

When we allow ourselves to feel and experience the full range of human emotion – without judgment! – we give ourselves permission to fully live, expand, evolve and grow.

I’m positive there’s so much more to learn about letting go and creating healthy boundaries.  But what an adventure!  What an opportunity for real growth and transformation!

As a recovering control addict, I am sure I’ll have my relapses.  And when I do, I will forgive myself, ask for forgiveness of others and love myself into greater awareness, peacefulness and joy.

After all, isn’t that what we’re all really looking for?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject! Feel free to email me at Michelle@QuantumSoulClearing.com.

Freedom. What does that mean to you?

Freedom of speech?

Freedom from tyranny?

Freedom to worship as you wish?

Freedom to love and marry the person of your dreams?

Is it financial freedom?

Freedom from addiction?

Personal liberty?

Something else?

My personal definition of freedom is the freedom to be, do and have what I want, when I want it, and with whom I want it at the time I want it.

Sometimes my experience of life falls a little short of that! <Laughing at myself!> But that is my goal.

For me, though, freedom is not just a definition. It is a feeling. An experience. A frequency. When I think about the energy of freedom I have a feeling of being unfettered in my soul. Of boundless joy and happiness. It’s loving the work that I am designed to do in the world. And it’s having the time and opportunity to spend quality time with my family, friends and those who are important to me. It’s a feeling of expansiveness.

It’s the ability to move my body without pain or restriction – which, honestly, is still a work in progress! But much better than it was 6 months ago – or even 10 years ago.

It’s having a mind that is open to new ideas, and ways of thinking. It’s being able to express my thoughts, feelings and experiences as thoroughly as the English language will allow me.

It’s having the technology and ability to connect with you and thousands of others all over the world and express myself. To share healing, transformation processes, and love in ways that were unimaginable to me 20 or even 10 years ago!

Freedom feels expansive and inclusive of others. It’s knowing that I am strong enough in my personal beliefs and values to allow and respect others people’s core values – without having to challenge them or feeling like I need to change them.

Real freedom is being able to explore painful memories and experiences with compassion and understanding so that those parts of myself can lovingly be integrated and accepted along with the good. In doing so, my life experience is deepened. I can learn and grow from the past, while leaving the patterns of self-negation or judgement that limited my personal freedom, in the past where they belong.

In the United States we celebrate our national freedom on July 4^th. We celebrate our national pride and freedom that was, historically, won through conflict and sacrifice.

But we know that there are really no winners when it comes to war. Whether that war is between nations, or within ourselves. There is a very high cost, with massive collateral damage.

There is much to be proud of in this country – and there is so much room for improvement. My intention, though, is not necessarily to make a political statement.

It is to bring attention to the energy of freedom. It’s about taking personal action and responsibility to create an inner environment of personal freedom so that your inner and outer expression and interactions are aligned with peace and ultimate freedom of body, mind, and soul.

When we take responsibility and action for healing or transforming our core wounds that have created virtual prisons for ourselves, we become the masters of our lives. As we create freedom within for ourselves, we become more peaceful, loving and tolerant in every area of our lives.

I believe that the true path to personal and global freedom begins within each and every one of us. Until we can free our own hearts, minds and bodies from the limiting beliefs, habits and patterns within us, we will never be truly free. We will always be at the mercy of special interests with agendas that sway public thinking and carve out public policy, as well as to our own habits and addictions.

Until we can stand in clarity and personal awareness of what is optimally highest and best for ourselves, we are unable to come together collectively and stand as one in real truth and freedom for our personal and collective rights.

Everyone on this planet deserves to have clean water, clean air, healthy, organic food, safe shelter, the ability to financially support ourselves and our families, free from war, persecution, and oppression.

I know, some will say that is an unrealistic, naïve, utopian idea. But it is what I believe.

All humans desire something more. We desire unconditional love. We yearn to be seen for who we truly are – and fundamentally acknowledged and understood as individuals. We all have a need and drive to be creative and follow our soul’s calling that is unique to each of us.

Once we strip away the limitations and uncover the core of who we really are, freedom of body, mind and soul is a natural occurrence. It’s our birthright! It’s how we are designed!

This month, as we are inspired by the energies and frequencies of freedom and liberty, I urge you to contemplate what freedom means for you.

Then write down and commit to yourself what you are willing to do (or not do) in order to allow yourself to be ultimately free!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject! Feel free to email me at Michelle@QuantumSoulClearing.com.

By Michelle Manning-Kogler

As I was looking through some old files, I found this article that was originally published in Tribal Woman Magazine.  I thought, “Who wrote this?”  And was quite surprised that is was ME!  lol  I thought I’d recycle it and share it with you, because it is so relevant today.

[The] “Extraordinary Men” edition of Tribal Woman Magazine really got me thinking about what makes a person – men or women – “extraordinary.”

The dictionary defines extraordinary as:   exceptional in character, amount, extent, degree, etc.; noteworthy; remarkable: extraordinary speed; an extraordinary man.

My thesaurus also says extraordinary means: strange and wonderful, amazing, fantastic, incredible, marvelous, rare, special, or unique.

But what is the essence of being extraordinary?  And why would anyone want to become that?  Is it something that we are born with, that we strive to achieve, or that we accidentally stumble upon?  Is it something that we innately yearn to be?  Is it something we learn, or simply are?  Can you be extraordinary in one area of your life and not in others?

In my family, striving for perfection or excellence was a prized commodity.  We were highly praised for good grades, or great performances.  When we spoke or sang on stage we practiced until it was “perfect.”  That kind of positive expectation and feedback helped nurture the desire I believe I innately had for creating something of great value. It gave me a sense of value and was a yardstick for measuring success.

In contemplating what it takes to create an extraordinary life, I wondered what internal or external characteristics were required in make that type of transformation.  What makes a person the very best in their careers, in their communities, in their personal lives, in the world?

Many of the people featured in this edition [of Tribal Woman Magazine] and in other editions have become exceptional or extraordinary in some specific way.

They have risen to the top because of their unfailing service to others.  Some have become leaders in business and industry.  Some have had great determination to break through personal difficulties to create healthy, whole lives and show others how to they can achieve success, too.

Others, because of their forward thinking and innovation, make the world a better place for others.  And still others are exceptional because they know how to deeply and unconditionally love.

So is there a specific set of criteria in order to become an extraordinary person?

I believe that everyone has an innate ability to become extraordinary through their full alignment with their unique gifts and talents.  It doesn’t really matter what you do for a living.  You may be a small farmer, a musician, health care worker, a veterinarian, a housekeeper, a bus driver, the president of a multi-national corporation, a famous speaker or or singer, a best-selling author or an live a quiet life of spiritual service to others.  It doesn’t matter so much what you do, but how you do it.

Here are a list of traits that I have found exceptional people have in common:

1. They take personal responsibility for everything in their lives. They don’t blame others for their perceived failures or allow anything to stop them from realizing their dreams and desires.
2. They are determined to succeed and be the very best they can be. They have a great passion for what they do and want to share it with the world.
3. They are life-long learners. They know that learning keeps their passion alive and their brains sharp and strong. New and innovative ideas spring from learning new things. Extraordinary people thrive on education.
4. They are competent and dependable. They show up when others give up. They are willing to go that extra mile to provide outstanding service, and always get the job in and under budget whenever possible.
5. They have great personal and professional integrity. They always tell the truth, they are honest and impeccable in their behavior with everyone.
6. They are willing to admit their mistakes or failures and make things right. They don’t expect others to pick up or cover up for them.
7. They are open and willing to be vulnerable. When someone is open and willing to be vulnerable, you are allowed to see the real person inside, which creates a strong bond of trust.
8. They are trustworthy with time, money, other people’s feelings and belongs.
9. They have a warmth and focus when connecting with people that makes others feel special and secure.
10. They are generous with their time, abilities, and wealth, expecting nothing in return. Exceptional people know that the more they give, the more they receive.
11. They are dedicated to something greater than themselves. They are committed to contributing to the world and leaving it a better place.
12. They have a belief in themselves and in a Higher Being/God/Higher Power/ Source. It doesn’t matter what name you choose, it is a belief in and alignment with Something Greater than ourselves.
13. They are willing to explore their deepest pain and fears in order to heal their lives and become whole, healthy, and extraordinary.
14. They enjoy a challenge. Finding a solution is stimulating and an opportunity for innovation.
15. They communicate well. They clearly disseminate information and are able to break down complex subjects into easily understood concept. They are concise in their speech and writing.
16. They listen well. They hear not only what is being said, but what is not being said. They intuit the deeper meaning of what they are being told and ask clear, concise questions to come to a full understanding of what is being communicated.
17. They love deeply and unconditionally. They are willing to say I’m sorry to their loved ones as well as to acquaintances, and admit when they’ve made mistakes.
18. They respect other people’s time, space and belongings. They respect others for their innate humanity and value them for their individuality.
19. They respect and honor nature and the earth. They are dedicated to preserving our natural resources and cleaning up the environment whenever they can.
20. They honor and respect the beliefs and traditions of others, and are dedicated to peaceful co-existence in the world. They have open minds, hearts and souls and are willing to see others viewpoints. They are not threatened by others beliefs, as there is always room for deeper understanding and cooperation.

So I ask you:

• What can you do to break through the glass ceiling of ordinary into extraordinary?
• How can you challenge yourself to become exceptional at what you do – I mean even more exceptional than you really are?
• How can you provide outstanding customer service, create outstanding leadership, or greater love for yourself and others?
• In what ways can you inspire others to become extraordinary at what they do?
• Can you allow yourself to feel vulnerable and find the inner determination put yourself out there so that you can shine your unique gifts and talents to positive impact the world?
• Are you willing to align with your powerful Self, and with your Higher Power to infuse your success with love, integrity, passion, and respect for all in order to fully succeed – both in business and life?

I challenge you this month to take some time to gently and thoroughly look at your personal and professional life. Honestly assess your strengths, your gifts and talents, as well as your weaknesses. No judgment! Just take stock and determine one area of your life or business that you can work on to make it outstanding.

Whatever you are called to do, determine that you will find ways to do it exceptionally.

Never give up on your dreams. Take time to love yourself and those around you as you build your business or career, and care for your family. Take care to nurture and expand your gifts and talents. You brought them with you into this life for a reason. Aligning fully with what you love to do uplifts the whole world and gives permission for others to do the same.

As you take on your exceptional life, you inspire others and give them permission to be exceptional too. By being exceptional you help make this world an even better place to be.

Countless Blessings,

Michelle

You can get a copy of Michelle’s Connecting With Divine Core Center Meditation and free chapter of her best-selling book, Quantum Soul Clearing – Healing the Scars Life Leaves on the Soul. Go to www.quantumsoulclearing.com/free-gift

By Michelle Manning-Kogler

Have you ever had one of those pivotal moments where your life changes in the blink of an eye?  I think most of us have had at least one.  I know I have had several.

For me, one of the big ones was the day my doctor told me that I had rheumatoid arthritis.  I even felt the reverberation in the air when he made the proclamation! And I remember getting chills all over my body.

What I didn’t know is that that pronouncement was the gift that just kept on giving.  It was the beginning of years
of pain and suffering that, for most people, is unimaginable.

What I didn’t know at the time was that it was also going to be my biggest gift – but we’ll get to that in a few minutes.

Within a few years after that diagnosis, I found myself in such a state of disability that I was basically bed ridden.
I was in my early 30’s and my children were still quite young.  At the time I weighed about 100 pounds dripping
wet (I am 5’ 9” tall), and looked like a holocaust survivor.

Friends would lower their voices and ask me in whispers if I had cancer or AIDS.  I had neither.  I was in such excruciating pain that it was taking every calorie I consumed just to deal with it.  And the disease process was eating away at every joint and connective tissue in my body.

It was during this dark night of the soul time that I would lie in bed every morning as my daughters came in to tell me goodbye before going to school.  My youngest would always look me in the eye and ask, “Mom will you be here when I get back home?”

I knew she wasn’t asking if I had plans for the day.  She was asking.

But the second that door closed, I would turn into my pillow and start to sob with grief.  I believed that I had no control over what I was experiencing.  I was terrified that I wasn’t going to see my daughters grow up.  I was in so much pain that I could barely pull the covers up over myself, and cried because I felt sorry for myself and didn’t know how to change anything.

I cried because I hadn’t achieved any of the goals and dreams that I had had growing up.  I cried because I hadn’t visited the places I’d dreamed of visiting.  I was in anguish because I felt I hadn’t contributed anything to the world, and was unsure that I ever would.

I think that was the darkest time of my life.

And then a miracle occurred.  My little nephew, Daniel, was born.  But he was born with a heart that hadn’t fully developed.  The doctors called it hypo-plastic left heart syndrome.

My sister was absolutely devastated.  I just knew I had to be there for her, no matter what, so I dragged myself out of bed and flew to Las Vegas to be with her, never dreaming what was to come.

The entire story of that miraculous event is content for a whole book, but the shortest possible version was that with sheer determination, refusing to give up, and calling on God for a miracle, a way was shown to get little Daniel the life-saving surgery he needed to survive.  And I was so blessed to be a part of that process.

On that miraculous day, state, local and federal agencies, along with two hospitals and a private air ambulance company, came together to get Daniel from Las Vegas, Nevada to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (about 2500 miles!).  And it happened in less than five hours!

It was as if normal time stopped, and we stepped into an alternate reality slipstream where time and everything in it was different.  To this day, I can still feel that energy when I think about how the events of that day unfolded. It still gives me chills!

But the bigger message from that extraordinary, miraculous event was for me:  I was not helpless.

I realized that if I had the ability to help change the course of someone’s life and literally make a difference as to whether they lived or died, I could do the same for myself.  I didn’t have to be a victim any longer.

I came back home and started searching for my own answers in an even bigger way than I had previously.  I got into counseling to help me with the extreme depression I was experiencing.  I found a surgeon that was so genuine and caring about me personally, and treated me with grace and respect.  He performed a life-saving operation that gave me my life back.

As my body began to recover, I realized that some western medicine intervention was beneficial, and had my knees scoped so that I could walk again without excruciating pain.

I went back to school.  Got retrained.  Built up some self-confidence that I could actually hold a job and make enough to support myself and my children.  And I learned to love myself and trust myself and my own intuition to do the right things for me.

It didn’t happen overnight and it certainly wasn’t easy!  But it has been worth it.

During this season of Light, Goodwill, Joy and Giving, my thoughts are with you.  I am so grateful that we are traveling this road of personal transformation and healing together.

My family will celebrate Christmas in just a couple of days.  We are so blessed to have come through the many challenges this year as well as we have.

Between a hip and shoulder surgery, my father’s stroke and my husband’s recent knee surgery, we’ve really had some significant healing events this year!  I know that many of you, too, are facing some very big life challenges, and for some it might put a damper on this special holiday season.

However,  as I look around and see others who have even greater challenges, it gives me the strength and determination to pick myself up and move forward. I  know that these events are simply a part of life, and tomorrow will certainly be a better day.
How we face our adversities determines our outcomes.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’ve spent plenty of time in tears, despair, heartache, fear and uncertainty.  It’s part of facing big things in life.

But if we can acknowledge our human shortcomings and simply allow that they, too are part of who we are, we can find the courage and will, and inner strength to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off and move forward.

My exceptionally wise grandmother used to say, “Some days you just have to cry, Michelle.”  She was right.  And in that acknowledgement that we hurt, that we feel lonely, that we are afraid, there is great power.  There is an alchemical magic that happens when we simply allow that things are not the way we would like them to be and simply feel the feelings we are experiencing.

There are so many healing modalities out there today to help move people past the pain points they are experiencing.  The Quantum Soul Clearing Process is certainly one of them.  Tapping is another way to help release the stuck emotional energy from the central nervous system, and together they are an amazing combination!

If you are feeling less than joyous, peaceful and centered this season, I would like to invite you to use this combination to help you gently move through the painful times.

We just celebrated the Winter Solstice on December 22nd.  As you know, it is the shortest day of the year.  In some places in the Northern Hemisphere, it never really gets to be full daylight!  But this week, we can celebrate the return of the Light!

Regardless of the faith or tradition you have, this is one thing that we all have in common – a season of celebration for the returning of the Light.  It is a time for Love, Goodwill, Peace, and Connection.

As my Christmas/Hannakah/Solstice/Kwanzaa/Holiday gift to you, I want to give you a new template recording of the Quantum Soul Clearing Process.  I’ve intentionally left the frequency area blank so that you can say that feeling/emotion/ frequency for yourself.
I hope this recording helps you release any of the less than joyous emotions that might be keeping you from truly enjoying this beautiful season.

You can listen here!

Wishing you a . .

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Joyous Kwanzaa,
Happy Holidays  and a Joyous, Prosperous  New Year!