A Jar Full of Opportunity

7/23/2021

A Jar Full of Opportunity

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artwork by Jenny Tomlinson

"wherever your attention goes, energy flows" -unknown

In my opinion, everything holds energy... especially our mind. If this energy isn't released from the mind, it may present itself physically as heart and lung complications, digestive issues, acne, just to name a few. As a good friend of mine once said, "it's all psychosomatic." In this blog post, I discuss the "jar method" that, along with journaling, has helped me transmute and release energy making space for my blessings to flow in and remain a part of my reality.

"Worry" Jar

What someone considers a "worry" is subjective, but generally worry is an emotion that surfaces when our mind drifts to the future or ruminates on the past. Worry can be coupled with anxious or depressed energy, causing a ripple effect on the body. So what happens when we release worry into a space outside of our mind?

The idea behind a "worry jar" is to hold space for those unsettling thoughts. Ideally this would be a jar that's fire-resistant (I used a white ceramic jar with a lid like the one pictured here).

Every time an unsettling thought creeps its way into your psyche, write it down on a scrap piece of paper. Start with the statement "I RELEASE..." For example, you could write, "I release feelings of___" or "I release thoughts of___." Be very specific and honest with what it is. Then place the scrap of paper into the jar, close the jar, and release (a.k.a. cry if you must or deep breathe). Follow up with a journal entry if you feel compelled. Write it down as many times as you need to, whenever it comes up, and whatever comes up with it. You are intentionally allowing the worry to flow through you and into the jar.

Now comes the even deeper part. When you feel ready, take the jar outside grab the pieces of paper, read them each outloud, then set them on fire. Watch the pieces of paper crumble. Release. Ensure all the pieces have turned to dust. Empty the contents of the jar outside. Rinse and dry the jar for continued use.

"Blessings" Jar

Once we've released our worries, we've created space to fill our minds with reminders of the beauty that flows within, through, and around us! The concept for the "blessings" jar is similar, but instead we won't burn these scraps of paper. Instead we will fill the jar with everything we've been blessed with and are grateful for. Whenever we need a pick-me-up, we can reach for a slip of paper out of our jar and remind ourselves of the goodness that we are immersed in.

I use a clear mason jar like the one shown in the image above, so I can see the slips of paper and the energy can flow through the jar. Light can penetrate the jar, too . Start each statement with "I'm grateful I've received..." Again, be very specific and honest. For example, "I am grateful I've received an abundance of ___." Open your heart and let the feel good feelings flow. Allow gratitude and joy to penetrate your spirit. There's power in written word and specific intentions. You can add one thought or feeling to the jar every day or after each release. Journal your experiences if you feel to do so. As an option, you can have a gratitude journal and a journal to purge/release, one journal, or none at all. Find what works for you. 💚🥰

I am no doctor or therapist, just here to share what has worked for me. Take what resonates, leave what doesn't. Be careful though, do not burn yourself while burning the worries away. If you've created a worry jar turned blessings jar or have both comment a "🌱" emoji below. ☺️

P.S. life is all about duality, ebbs & flows, you know? As we navigate this world a variety of emotions may come up, this is all a part of the human experience. If we intentionally make an effort to focus on the good, goodness will continue to flow.

It can be hard to see the good or express gratitude when everything seems dark and dysfunctional, but YOUR life is filled with so much meaning, so much resiliency, so much love, so much goodness. You were not meant to carry the weight of the world, you were meant to experience peace, love, goodness, joy, -- we know the rest. 💗 You are deserving of the beautiful, sweet, abundant fruit of the Spirit a million times over. Let's start today by releasing one worry, and replacing it with gratitude. xo. Wishing you Godspeed!

Much Love,

Chérie Jade