Blessed and Blended

April Azzolino, Spiritual educator and coach, discusses "life purpose" from a spiritual perspective. April, who provides Spiritual Consultations on Angel Orientation, Inner Guidance and Personal Thrust, Awareness and Practicality, Finding your Niche, and Discovering Your Blockage, talks about self- understanding and how it relates to your life purpose. Learn about who you are as a soul and your soul consciousness. Get spiritual practice tips on self-understanding and clearings.

What is healthy communication? Do you have healthy communication in your relationship? How do you deal with difficult people? Many of us weren't taught how to communicate in a healthy way. We observed how our parents communicated or those who raised us and learned from them. The healthiest way we can communicate with one another is to---LISTEN. But many of us weren't taught to listen. Most people think they know how to listen when, actually, rather than listening, they're busy thinking about what they're going to say next. The most commonly known way to listen to someone is listening for information. We think we've heard when we can repeat back what someone has said. But content information is only about 10% of most communication. The other 90% involves listening to the person from that loving place inside of you without judgments, expectations, having complete empathy and compassion. It's listening to the deeper levels of what they mean. Join me for more on healthy communication.

How many times have you heard, "You're too fat", "You're not good enough", "You don't have what it takes", "They'll never like you", "Who do you think you are?" "You can't do this." Does this sound familiar?  Our mind produces up to 50,000 thoughts a day and 70% to 80% of those are negative. This equates to 40,000 negative thoughts a day. So how do you manage and filter 40,000 negative thoughts a day? You don't. But you can learn how to become "aware" of them and then make a choice to change them by finding your happy place inside. Find out more by listening to this podcast.

What is a spiritual heart? Is a spiritual heart equally important as our physical heart? How do we discipline ourselves to have a healthy spiritual heart? Sometimes it's necessary to discern the condition of our heart in our relationships, conversations and in communicating with others. It helps to avoid arguments, misunderstandings and resolve conflict with others  It's important to be aware if your heart is open when you're communicating with others or closed. Why? Having an open heart versus a closed heart while you're communication with your spouse, child or friend has a significant affect on how the conversation goes. Have you ever tried talking to you child when you're mad? Have they ever talked to you while they were upset? How did that go? How do you know when your heart is open or closed? You know because when your heart is open, you connect with people. When your heart is closed you don't. When your heart is open you focus on solutions. When your heart is closed you focus on what people are doing wrong. To cultivate a healthy heart, we have to discipline ourselves.

A peaceful heart is a journey within. You can’t always control your outside circumstances; the hardships in your life, your job or work, how much you earn, your relationships, a broken heart, how others treat you and talk to you. You CAN control what’s inside of you: how you feel, your thoughts, your perceptions and your actions. Most of us were never taught how to work through our feelings or emotions, how to manage our thoughts, how to shift our perceptions or how to stop and think before we respond to something or someone. Some of us weren’t taught that we can pray for truth and understanding, for direction and guidance, for strength and courage, for wisdom, for compassion, for love and peace in our lives. We don't have to experience chaos and conflict in our life all of the time. We can choose to experience peace while we’re going through the up's and downs in our life.

Have you tried to forgive someone for a past offense but find yourself struggling with resentment and bitterness? Sometimes, if the offense is very hurtful, it can be difficult to forgive. How do you forgive someone when you're hurting? Forgiveness is not a feeling, nor forgetting, nor is it excusing.Forgiveness is a choice. When we don't have the strength alone to forgive, we can find the grace through God to forgive. Spiritual Coach Bobbi R. Brooks will take you through The 4 Steps to Forgiveness to help you find the grace to let go of heartache and disappointment and find peace.

Centering prayer is a simple spiritual practice that can help you to grow closer to God, relax, relieve stress, focus inward, gain clarity and understanding with inward struggles, listen for insight, and leave you feeling refreshed and renewed.