POSITIVE THINKING Archives - Page 10 of 10 - Kerry Burki

POSITIVE THINKING

How to gift yourself grace & receive guidance

December 22, 2017

It became obvious last week that I had taken on too much this holiday season. I felt overwhelmed and behind.

Can you relate?

Yes? Then you are not alone.

I thought my overwhelm was because I said yes to far too many things and tried to overdeliver on all of them. What I realized is that it was because I had said no to taking care of myself.

I was waking up late and not making time for my usual breathwork, meditation, prayer, and visualization throughout the day. I found myself rushing and then collapsing at the end of the day.

Sound familiar?

Don’t worry!

There is still time to give yourself the gift of grace and receive guidance this holiday season.

I talked about doing this in our New Moon Circle in my Facebook Group on Monday.

Here are a few tips for giving yourself and others grace:

Feeling all worked up and overwhelmed?

Take a moment and breathe. Inhale through your nose and exhale out of your mouth. Do this at least 3 times. Every time you relax a bit, your life will flow more effortless and ease.

(My older son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes over the summer and honestly, it feels like we have been going a mile a minute ever since with learning and insulin injections. Pausing to breathe consciously has been a helpful way for me to cope and thrive. That is why you see BREATHE posts through my Instagram feed.)

Finding that the behavior of others is putting you in a bad mood?

Remember that everyone is doing the best they can with the knowledge they have. That doesn’t mean their behavior is not annoying or possibly hurtful but try to remember that it is a reflection on them and their life experience and has nothing to do with you. (This might take time but can certainly help during this time of year!!!

Now let’s talk a bit about receiving over the holidays. I want you to remember that you are being guided. Life can be magical when you open up to receiving this guidance.

Here are a few tips for receiving guidance:

Looking for a parking spot or the perfect gift?

Ask your “runners” to go find it for you and then trust that they will. (Runners are guides that love to help you find things. You can view them as people, angels, guides, or simply energy.)

Worrying about things going wrong or not being perfect?

Ask God/Universe/Spirit to take your worries away. Literally, ask that in your head or out loud. Then ask what you should do next. You might hear the words “relax” or you might get an actual sign about what to do.

I have done all of these to help me get back to taking care of myself and enjoying this season to the fullest. They work!

Remember that you are a light in this world. Take care of yourself.

Happy Holidays!

The Importance of Feeling Beautiful + Next Photoshoot!

October 9, 2015

I want you to know that I hope the first issue of KERRY magazine made you feel beautiful.

I want to share a photo me from when I was 15. I came across this last year and decided to hang it up above my dresser. When I found this, my first response was awe. I couldn’t believe how beautiful, funky and confident the girl in the picture looked. The reason I was so surprised is because I didn’t feel any of those things at the time. This photo was actually taken right before I cut all of that hair off so I could look like Mia Farrow from Rosemary’s Baby. My mom was so upset. I didn’t understand why. Over 20 years later, I got it. I finally saw what she saw. I now know what she always knew.

(I am seriously crying right now in a coffee shop as I write this. I learned not to stop the crying because it means I am feeling and feeling is healing. It may sound cheesy but I have been feeling a lot in the last year and a lot of positive change has been coming from it.)

I thought everyone else was beautiful and that I would never REALLY be beautiful.

I am going to be honest here and let you know that feeling that way led me to a lot of self-destructive behavior. It led me to hang out with a lot of people who did not value me as a person. It led me to learn how to be one way on the outside while being completely different on the inside.

(I have been encouraged to share my story more lately so this is the beginning of that. I hope to keep peeling back the layers so that my experiences can help others. The amount of tears flowing right now make me realize that this is a good start.)

I grew up and eventually had moments and times in my life when I truly felt beautiful. I feel very lucky to have had those times because I am now learning that not everyone does.

I started going back to my old ways of thinking after moving back to Arizona 2 years ago. I had gained weight. I had stretch marks from my pregnancies. I had acne scars on my face from horrible breakouts that happened the year after the birth of my first son. I compared myself to EVERYONE. I never came out on top. I was constantly saying negative things to and about myself in my head.

I remembering looking at this photo of me as a 15 year old and feeling an ache deep inside. Such a beautiful soul who had no idea just how beautiful she is. I knew that I didn’t want another 20 years to go by and to find a photo of my 37 year old self and feel that same ache. That ache of seeing the beauty in my younger self that I couldn’t see at the time.

I started learning about changing my thoughts. I discovered that I can actually tell myself “I am beautiful.” Who knew?! I had never said those words. I started saying them over and over again in my head. I started making a song out of it and dancing. I eventually was able to look in the mirror and say “You are beautiful” to my reflection.

I got more serious about my meditation practice. I started to really take the time to get in touch with my true self. That deep inner core that knows that I am worthy, amazing and, yes, beautiful.

I started to allow tears to come and not stop them once they did. I started to move out that old energy. That energy that didn’t think I was good enough.

I started to pay attention to what made me feel beautiful and to do those things often.

I started this magazine.

I wanted to honor the dreams of the girl in that photo. I also knew that other people might feel the way I have felt and I want them to feel beautiful too.

One of the women from the magazine wrote me after the photoshoot saying this:

“It was extraordinary. Really. It did me a world of good and honestly is the first time I’ve ever felt anything close to beautiful.”

I almost dropped the phone.

If you told my 15 year old self that when she was in her 30’s that she would help a woman feel beautiful and good about herself during a photoshoot for her very own magazine I know she would have smiled and said “That sounds about right but I won’t just stop there.” If she had the tools then that I have now it might have happened sooner than later. I have spent enough time in the past and am now excited to create a beautiful future.

It has taken me some time but I am finally ready to be myself and to find the beauty in that authenticity.

I want to do the same for others.

If you want to be a part of the next issue of KERRY magazine please send me a message at kerryburki@gmail.com. I have the next photoshoot tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 25th at my home.

If you feel called to do some deeper work please get in touch. I would love to help you find and feel your beauty and your worth. You can get in touch at kerryburki@gmail.com.

Remember, you are beautiful!!! XO!

Happy Thanksgiving – Free Gratitude Cards Printables

November 20, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving! I have spent this month noting what I am thankful for and wanted to share with you. I also created these cards that can be used all year round. Feel free to cut them out to use for Thanksgiving. Each card can be read on it’s own or be used as a prompt to expand on what you are thankful for in your life.

I am thankful for the seasons: Living in Chicago I feel that I have always been aware of the seasons and thankful for them (sometimes hard in the winter). This fall has felt extra special now that we are moving to Arizona where the change of seasons is not quite as drastic. I love how the way we feel, how we dress and our activities change with each season. Something I hope I always embrace!

I am thankful for family: This is a common one around the holidays but with our pending move I have been very grateful for the family I have gained by moving to Chicago and marrying my husband. I will miss them all very much and look forward to finding fun ways to stay in touch. I am also very grateful for my family in Arizona that I have not seen regularly in over a decade and for the opportunity to grow closer. (Can’t wait for another hug from my mom!)

I am thankful for memories: I have spent a lot of time lately with Chicago friends reminiscing about good times spent to together over the years. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful memories!

I am thankful for now: Being a yoga teacher I have learned the power of being in the present moment and the happiness that it can bring. This is very challenging for most people including myself. All we have is the present moment and I am happy for all of the wonderful people and opportunities in my life right now.

I am thankful for passion: Everyday through my work on Handmade Success I am surrounded by people who are passionate about their work and their community. I am so inspired by them. I hope to use this blog to help discover and share my passions with you!

I am thankful for kindness: Whenever I turn on the news I feel overwhelmed by the negative events going on in the world but I am always uplifted by the kindness shown for the people in these horrible situations. Everyone benefits from kindess and I love seeing it shared.

I am thankful for imagination: This one is dedicated to my 4 1/2 year old son, Simon. I am SO thankful for his imagination! He created a whole bunch of projects while he was home sick a couple of weeks ago that included a jack-o-lantern dressed up as Santa Claus, a zebra zoo, and Star Wars at the beach. Talk about thinking outside of the box! I am grateful for his creativity and will continue to nurture it.

I am thankful for change: I am sharing this as a way to look at a difficult situation or one that is not satisfying. I do yoga to change the way I feel, I am moving to change the environment that I live in, I constantly change my attitude about the things that are not in my control. Ah, the power of change!

I am thankful for enthusiasm: This one is dedicated to my 18 month old, Isaak. He does everything with such enthusiasm that it always puts a smile on my face. He has enthusiasm for bananas, me understanding that he is telling me he needs a new diaper, being picked up from daycare, seeing his daddy and brother, and playing with the kitties. He has such excitement for everything in his life and I am so thankful for that because it brings me joy and reminds me to have a little more enthusiasm too!

I am thankful for friends: In good times and bad, it feels so good to have friends who you can talk to or hang hang out with to make you feel that all is right with the world. I am blessed for all of my friends near and far.

I am thankful for support: I receive support from everyone in my life. The support I have experienced over the years from my yoga students has really been amazing. I have a different perspective about the relationship between a yoga teacher and students after working with so many of the same wonderful people over the years. I am so thankful for this unique relationship.

I am thankful for dreams: I am a total dreamer! Sometimes I have beat myself up over being more of a dreamer and less of a doer but the moments I spend dreaming are the ones that fill my heart with joy and make me happy to be alive!

I am thankful for courage: Each day my two little boys show me the courage to learn something new and the feelings of pride that can come from overcoming your fears.

I am thankful for love: Love comes in so many forms but I want to dedicate this one to my husband. I am very grateful for his love for me. He is so amazing, caring, smart, funny, and loving. He loves me and I love him. Perfect!

I am thankful for health: Both of my parents and my brothers had varying degrees of health issues in the last year. I am so thankful for their current good health and the good health of everyone I know including me. This can easily be taken for granted until we do not have it. I try to be aware of all of the things I am capable of everyday because of my good health.

I am thankful for laughter: Ah, yes! Life without laughter would be so dull. I am at that wonderful stage in which there are tickle parties everyday in my house and I love the house filling up with giggles. Laughter carries my worries away makes me feel alive. I am very thankful for that!

I hope you find the time to reflect on the many blessings in your life. Please know that I am very thankful for you and the support I receive by you reading my blog. Just click on the images above to print them out. Enjoy!