MARILYN L. REDMOND, BA, IBRT, ABH

Growing up I did not know I hadchoice in my life. This was not an option in my marriage, either. When I wasdivorced, I started driving out of state to the Santa Barbara's Writers'Conference in California. People shared their writing during the sessions. I shylyshared my piece with the group. After the gathering, a woman came up to me andwhispered in my ear. "You always have choice."  I thought to myself, she never grew up in my family.

 Going to counseling for help inrecovery from my traumatic past, I found out you could change your thinking andfeelings. This was new wonderful news to me. I proceeded to find new ways toapproach life that would be more productive for me. Spiritual groups weresupportive, but the real answers for me also came from the 12-step programs.One step has you release the past problems, negative feelings, or difficulties.This gave me a choice to release what does not work for me. I found it a giftto let go of the past harmful feelings and abuse.

 I heard in meditation that when Irelease the past of what I do not want, I was to replace it with what I do want,because nature abhors a void. Releasing the past in contemplation was moreproductive than just saying it. It takes me to a higher consciousness of mysoul to become real.

 Continuing to identify eachdifficulty and release my many fears, resentments, guilt, and shame, I had anamazing experience. While camping in Death Valley National Park, I wasmeditating on a beautiful sunny day with all the magnificence of the parkaround me. I felt grace from head to toe replacing the problems I had released.Grace had filled the void left. It felt like cozy billowy cotton balls soft andwarm filled me. I continue to release each fear, anger, resentment, guilt, and shamefrom the past, for love to replace them. I wanted more of that good feeling.

 It was in my thinking; I was myown enemy. I read that I had to release all the barriers that I had created;they stopped grace. I read a cartoon one Sunday in the funny papers with acharacter, Pogo in the strip written by Walt Kelly. He said, "We have met the enemy, and he is us". Taking responsibilityfor undoing my old ideas, beliefs, and behaviors from fear were mine to change.I was glad to see how I could still improve my life by facing the truth aboutmy old mindset doing me in.

 I am still finding old ideas Ihad forgotten from years back to reframe into being positive and supportive ofthe life I want today. I needed to move from listening to my head voices fromthe past and move into my heart. That is where I hear the loving guidance anddirections from love and not fear.

 Understanding that the ego,Edging God Out, of my life was the problem, today, I merge God in. Findingaffirmations to support my new feelings, thinking, and actions brought greatresults. Affirmations replace my thoughts with positive, productive ideas toremind me of the new life I want. 

 My first affirmations I received werefrom therapy my first day. I came home with the list of affirmations and readthem while I was in a lawn swing in a sunny afternoon. I had a wonderful lovingfeeling and light rise in me and I never had felt so good. I placed the list bythe bathroom mirror to read twice daily every time I brushed my teeth. Afterrepeating them time after time, I found they were becoming part of my lifeautomatically. They actually were creating a new pattern of thinking and behaviors.

 While staying with my minister'sfamily during drastic times in my marriage, I had read a lovely poem on thewall of his dining room. I saw the vibrations of the words leave the paper. Irealized if I put positive poems, sayings, or ideas on my walls, they wouldradiate the message into my home. I now have affirmations, slogans, andpositive comments in several rooms. I have angels' pictures and figurinesplaced in every room, and I even play CD's that have constructive messages.

 Most of the old barriers are gonetoday; however, I find it is a lifetime process. I still find old ones to let go and let Godreplace. A couple fears from my childhood just surfaced in an unusual way. Ifound my dental problems are coming from an old fear early in my life when Iwas afraid to tell the truth. Fortunately, today, I am around people who arehonest and respect truthfulness. That is not the old situation anymore. I canrelease that old thought.

 There is nothing wrong with thecore of me and who I am. I have patterns to unlearn, new behaviors to embodyand wounds to heal. I am unlearning generations of harm and remembering love;it takes time. God's love and energy,peace, and harmony flow through me.

 My book, "ParadigmBusters" at Amazon and Barnes and Noble has the details chapter bychapter, of how I released the past negativity in my life to replace it withlove and grace.  I moved from victim tovictory. My books are being distributed internationally to prisons and used asa booked study in San Quentin. I was just included in the current, prodigiousbook, "Who's Who in America. Thisconcept is explained further in my books,

 Check out my website, https://www.angelicasgifts.com /

 Books: at https://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Redmond/e/B0069WIKDC

Barnesand Nobel https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Marilyn+Redmond?_requestid=16065424 179 videos on 

You Tube at  https://www.youtube.com/user/puyallup98372

Blog at http://marilynredmondbooks.blogspot.com./