The Anne Report, A Journey of Rejuvenation, tells of Anne's and Jim's invigorating trip. The Main article, Too Tired to be Afraid, recounts some experiences Anne and Jim have had on their trip. The Healthy Living article, Away With Stress, suggests some practical ways to overcome stress. The Anne Talk is Dennis Tardan Interview - Part 3. Learn about Anne's newest book: The Living Book. The Featured Product this month is Standing in the Dark. Click to read What is EZosophy?

The EZ Mantra: "Everything can be EZ or at least EZier." – Anne Sermons Gillis

Living EZosophy, September 19, 2017
Published Weekly on Tuesday Mornings

Phone: 281-419-1775
Email: anne@annegillis.com

Anne's Websites:

  The Anne Report

A Journey of Rejuvenation

Dear ,

Jim and I are on the trip of a lifetime. At least for us, it's the trip of a lifetime. It's been good for our minds, our souls, our bodies, and our relationship. Words fall short to describe this adventure. We've seen mountains, deserts, hills, clear rivers, petroglyphs. We've met locals, travelers, and store owners. We've watched 360° view sunsets that astounded every cell in our bodies. We’ve seen stars, been in darkness, meaning no light pollution, and slept in places where there was complete silence. I can easily say it's up to par to any spiritual trip I've taken.

Jim at a Crystal Cave in Garner State Park, Texas

Leaving home was different, because we left behind an area that looks war ravaged. The Harvey aftermath and devastation tugged on my heart each time I walked out my door and saw the trash lined street that defines our neighborhood. I am grateful for this reprieve and fortunate to be on this trip.

Some people think that to have a good time while others suffer is disrespectful. People in our area are suffering from survivors' guilt, because their homes were spared, but to overlook the good we have, while others suffer, seems more disrespectful to me. We do not have to harden our hearts to enjoy the good in our lives, and we can be compassionate to those less fortunate than we are. We don't have to choose between the two. The loving arms of life are big enough to hold all in its arms. And we can follow that path and remain loving, joyful, and empathic.

That's it for the Anne Report.

  Main Article

Too Tired to be Afraid

West Texas is wild country. From the desert to the mountains, animals abound, and when we stumble and bumble into their territory, it can be disconcerting for both wild animals and human animals. Knowing this, I carefully watched the placement of each foot. Snakes were all around. They blended into the environment; it was easy to step on one or at least close to one. I harbored an edge of fear as I walked the desert and the mountain trails.

One day I climbed a rock laden steep trail. The elevation was more than 5,000 feet, and after what seemed like a thirty minute straight up trek, I was exhausted. Then the trail opened into an expansive meadow. I walked in relief, happy each step didn't need monitoring. I laughed; I wasn't watching for snakes. I was too tired. I realized how much energy it takes to be afraid, and I was too tired for fear. I shared with my husband, Jim; he agreed. Just the day before, each stick was suspect, but today, we didn't have the stamina fear requires.

As I write, I am in the Davis Mountains. It's outside the town of Fort Davis. There's a quaint, character-filled library there that we've been to each day during our stay. As you approach the library, there's a long, bright red sign with an arrow that points its guest to the side of the building. The front door entrance to the library was changed. The new entrance faces a large parking lot. Many of the townspeople were upset. Why? Because it was a change.

A sunset in the Davis Mountains of Texas

While it might seem natural to be afraid that one might step on a snake, hyper-vigilance destroys the journey. When walking in the meadow atop a mountain, it was truly a Julie Andrews moment*: the fear was gone, yet I am sure, if need be, I would have spotted a snake. How much of what we think of as natural fear is really ego driven drama? Do you think the townspeople needed their upset in order to live the good life? Of course not! How many of our upsets are ego driven drama?

Here's a test. When you are upset about anything, ask this question, "If someone walked up to me and handled me a bag on money with 10,000 dollars in it, told me it was my lucky day, because I was the ten-thousandth person to step into their store, would I still be upset? Would my upset about this thing be gone?" If you realize that you could immediately drop the upset, then the feelings were ego driven. Just on a side note, my grandmother did walk into a store and win a dishwasher, for being the thousandth customer. This was in the fifties (I think), when dishwashers were new to the market, and very expensive. Her picture was in the newspaper, and her good fortune made her a momentary celebrity.

Many therapeutic modalities worship feelings; they fail to notice that about 50% of our feelings are ego contrived. Take the ego test above when you are tempted to ride the waves of the ego, and remember that everything can be EZ or at least EZier.

*The Hills Are Alive song from The Sound of Music.

Anne

  Quotes

Anne Quotes

"Revolutionize your relationship with yourself. Be still."

"Life is a continuous flow of blessings, but when we are stuck in our opinions, judgements, and desires, life just passes us by."

"The mind is the playground for thoughts."

Anne Affirmations

"My mind flows like a river of well-being, blessed by the tenderness of spirit."

"I am not a victim of life. I am a blessing to life."

"I live in a universal field of right action, and that field surrounds my life, my mind, my body, and my creativity."

  The Living Book

The Living Book, by Anne Sermons Gillis

• Suppose someone told you that you could change your life radically, for the better, if you spent just three minutes a day doing inner work? Would you believe it? Maybe not, but wouldn't it be worth an investment of three minutes a day to try it?
• The Living Book offers just this. Devote three minutes a day to this process and your life will become a living testimony to the seed principle. A tiny seed can grow into a mighty tree, but it must be planted. Plant your daily seed for three short minutes and notice both subtle and miraculous changes in your life.
• In addition to the daily practice, one can use the process when they are stumped or afraid or angry. This process transforms anger into love. When we plant seeds of light into our thoughts and emotional bodies, we move into higher frequencies of well-being.

The Living Book, by Anne Sermons Gillis
PDF Book Download $0.99. Kindle Book: $2.99.

  Featured Product This Month

  Healthy Living

Away With Stress

The EZosophy philosophy brings awareness to our suffering and stresses. Which stresses are made up and which ones are real? Unfortunately, in addition to made up stresses, there are plenty of stressful situations that ultimately lead to body breakdown. You drive to work, you leave on time, but on the way there's an accident that delays you for 15 minutes. You arrive 5 minutes late for a very important office meeting. This is the kind of experience that turns on our fight or flight mechanisms. It involves rushing and embarrassment. Many of these situations can be mitigated. For example, leave home earlier for work. Regardless of how in the flow we are, the complexity of modern life is taxing. We are drowning in complication.

We have to de-stress. It is essential to contemporary living. We know that exercise is one of the best ways to de-stress, but what other things can we do to bring more happiness and less stress into our daily living?

• Lift your eyes up, to look at the ceiling or sky, ten times. We cast our eyes down when we are distressed, and looking up repeatedly lifts our mood.
• Yawn ten times. It's a mood changer and triggers the relaxation response.
• Smile. Try smiling when you are around others. It's contagious. When we have a worried or an unhappy look on our face, it puts the people we are with on the defensive. This doesn't happen on a conscious level; it triggers the other's survival brain. We are not responsible for others' feelings, but it is good to know the biology and psychology behind a frown or a smile.
• Be careful when offering constructive criticism to others. Most people don't want it, even if they say they do. People need five compliments to build a high level of trust and safety with you before they can hear a criticism. How we relate to others rates high on the list of life's stressors. Find ways to communicate that bring less stress.
• Massage the back of the neck. Use the right hand to massage the left side and the left hand to massage the right side. We split the body from the head at the neck area. A neck massage not only helps relax the neck, it also breaks down body armoring and brings oxygen to the brain. Oxygen refreshes the brain, helps with focus, and assists memory.
• Hum or sing. Recently, while on a trip, I found myself camped near a goat herd. I sang to them for ten minutes. It was fun to see a hundred or more goats facing my way, listening intently, as if at an opera performance. Got to admit, I felt great after the concert.

Learning to relax throughout the day should be as important as going to the grocery store or keeping our cars in good mechanical condition. Our bodies and minds rely on us. Let's not let them down, because when we take time to de-stress, everything gets EZier and EZier.

If you have any healthy living tips for the newsletter, send them to me at anne@annegillis.com.

  Anne Talks

Dennis Tardan Interview - Part 3

  Anne Art

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NOTICE: Here are two shareables from Anne. Feel free to pass them along.

The World's Best Weight Loss Secret

Thought Freedom

  Anne's Schedule

All times here are Central Time
unless otherwise specified.

Friday, October 6, 2017
Workshop, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM EDT
"Building Self Esteem and Courage"
5 hours CE credits
Location: "Phoenix Center"
1400 Cleveland Street
Greenville, SC
Click Here for Registration

Call or Email Anne Now to Schedule Her for Your Meeting.

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.

  Anne's Services

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Interested in getting ongoing support? Try life coaching with Anne. Anne offers both short-term and long-term coaching. Contact her for details. Click here to contact Anne by email or Click here to view information on Anne's One Year Seminar and other training too.

The EZosophy Bracelet