Surround yourself with people who challenge you to be yourself

To be happy, successful, and content in life, surround yourself with people who not only accept you exactly for who you are, but who demonstrate the willingness in their own life to fully express who they are.  These are the people striving to be the best person they can be - a person who fully embodies their truth.  When you're around people like this, they inspire each other to live their truth - fully alive.

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with"

The people you surround yourself have an effect on you - more than you imagine.  As John Rohn, the American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker stated, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with".  In my own life, and in my work I've seen how true this is.  

When you're around people who really go for it in life, you're inspired to do the same.  When one of you has a setback, the other people or person encourages you to get up and try again.  It's through their words and their example that you're encouraged. 

What we observe affects how we act

Art Markman, P.H.D, wrote an article  in psychology today, on how infants were influenced in their actions by what they saw - just by viewing pictures of people.  In a study, infants were shown different photographs.  The infants who were shown a photograph of more than one person, even when those people weren't looking at each other, reacted differently than the infants who were shown photographs of only one person in the picture, or images that didn't look at all like people. 

The infants shown the photos of two people together, would later help an adult pick up something that the adult had dropped.  They were much more likely to help and interact with the adult.  The infants who viewed the other photographs didn't help at all.

If the behavior of infants is affected simply by photographs of people, imagine the impact your closest friends, family, or significant other have on you when you're interacting with them in person. Especially on a daily basis.

You're wired to fit in - why it's important

Humans have an innate need to fit in and be accepted by the group.  We've evolved as social animals and are biologically wired this way.  Being accepted represents survival to us on a very basic level.  Because of this wiring, we conform in order to fit in, both in a conscious way and an unconscious way.  The need to conform can lead to anxiety when we don't feel like we belong. We'll even go out of our way, subconsciously to sabotage our success in an effort to belong to our group of peers. Because of this wiring, the people you spend the most time with have a profound effect on your life.  

If what you want in life is to be able to fully express who you are - the strengths, gifts, and desires you want to bring to the world, be selective in who you spend the most time with.

Book a complimentary call to learn discuss ways to release any blocks that stand in your way.

Contact Info:

sumi@sumijones.com 

(805) 265-9063

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Healers, Intuitives, Sensitives - Fully Own Your Power

Healers, intuitives, and sensitives, the time is here to fully own your power.  To work in conjunction with what you have access to.  Not in a way that is outside of yourself, but in a way that brings it into the physical body where it remains.

The Source of your Work is Not Outside of Yourself

There are many powerful energy workers and people who work in the area of healing work.  What they tap into, Source, The Universe, God, whatever is a person's own belief, has been thought of as outside of ourselves. The higher energy outside of ourselves is called different names.  For the sake of simplicity, I'll refer to it as Source.

We're all a part of Source energy.  To believe it only resides outside of us lowers our ability to fully work with this energy.  When you connect in and set the intention that it always flows through you, you have more ability to help create greater change in the world.  By setting this intention, you declare your own part in the creation of change.  In essence, you own your power.

Your Job is to Have the Clearest Emotional, Mental, and Physical Body

If you look at Source as "over there", "above me", etc, you are in essence saying, "I'm not worthy". As my guides have said, "You are all worthy.  Your job is to do the work on your emotional, mental, and physical bodies so you can access and hold more of this energy.  That is your work.  When you're clear, you allow in more of what's needed at this time.  This is what's meant, in part, as "Heaven on Earth."  You're bringing the Divine into physical reality."

When we speak about Source energy, the norm is to refer to it as separate from us.  As outside of us.  But we all are a part of Source energy.  To create more powerful changes in this world, changes that are truly needed at this time, you need to own the part of you that is Source.  Expect more support. Call in more support.  Intend that Source dwells within you and flows through at all times.


As people who work with energy or others who pray or meditate, the tendency is to connect in with Source only when you're doing that - instead of always being connected in, flowing it through your body, and accepting that this is not only possible but a good thing.  If you feel Source is outside of you, you lower your ability to create real change. Dare to explore what comes about when you invite in Source to reside within your physical being.

Access All Parts to Be More Effective

We are being asked to call this in.  To allow it to live in our physical bodies where the flow becomes even more effective.  We're living in the physical world. It's great to talk about how amazing it feels to connect into the Divine and the wisdom that is available to us all.  But if we're not anchoring it into our physical beings where it can more easily interact with the rest of the physical world, we're doing ourselves and the rest of the planet a disservice.


When you combine Source energy with the physical body, you have access to all parts of creation and you become even more effective.  By calling in and owning that you are a part of Source, you raise your vibrational worthiness.  You're declaring your intention and your worth, which sets into motion a more powerful response.  You magnetize your energy and your intentions to help bring about positive change, and The Universe responds.

     Book a complimentary call to learn about, or discuss ways to release any blocks that stand in your way.

Contact Info:
sumi@sumihouston.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Fe, NM 87501

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Don't Ignore Your Feelings - They Tell You What's Important

Don't ignore your feelings.  They tell you what's really true for you.  They're also the road map to your fulfillment and happiness.

Too often we're told to "Get over it.  Forget about it", or "Don't focus on it, it'll only bring you down."  People mean well when they give this advice, and there is truth to focusing on happiness or at least feeling calm.  But first you have to discover what your emotional response is trying to tell you.  Otherwise you bypass what you can learn.  You also bury the emotions deep within your body where they aren't forgotten, only silenced for the time being.

Not only that, but more importantly, you send the message to your brain that "Your emotions aren't important", which equates to, "I'm not important."

Think about it.  If a part of you, your reaction to something you experience, isn't important, then underneath that, how can you be important?  This is the message you send to yourself over and over again when you pretend you don't feel a certain way.  It actually undermines your ability to be happy.

But Aren't Emotions Messy?

Sometimes.  But the other side of it is, when you bury them, they only fester and come out later. Usually in either an over-the-top way, or even as an illness or ache in your body.  There are techniques and tools where you can quickly move through your emotions without feeling traumatized by them.  I use EFT and FasterEFT as a way to help clients acknowledge and quickly move through what they're experiencing.

Both of these techniques very quickly lower the intensity of what someone is feeling.  EFT also helps bring awareness to the person about the entire problem.  When the brain drops into this calm state, it gains an understanding about the situation and how to move through it.  It also knows exactly what steps they might need to take.  I've seen people come to amazing insights. They incorporated all parts of themselves and came up with a conclusion that worked for them. 

Don't Be Afraid of Emotions

Emotions are here to stay.  They're what make you feel alive.  Many people struggle with
"Not feeling passionate about anything.  Or they'll say,  "I wish I knew what I was passionate about."  

The more you "practice" something, like burying your emotions, the more the feeling of "being numb"becomes your default.  It closes down your capacity to feel alive. Your mind doesn't suddenly switch from ignoring emotions to feeling them.  Whatever you practice, whether consciously, or unconsciously, you become good at.

If you want to feel passionate about life and feel fully alive, you have to be willing to acknowledge all of your emotions.  The idea is to experience them in a way that feels safe for you.  A way that supports you finding out exactly what you need to know.  In this way, you can let go and move on with all parts of you, releasing these emotions so they don't come back to haunt you.

Book a complimentary call to learn discuss ways to release any blocks that stand in your way.

Contact Info:
sumi@sumijones.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Fe, NM 87506

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Create Your Best Life From the Big Perspective

If you want to create your best life, do it from the big perspective.  Get in touch with who you truly are, and then create from there.

Now, more than ever it’s important to be in touch with who you are - your authentic self.  The part of you that has all the answers to what’s right for you.  This is the part of you that brings you to life and fills you with passion for life.

Life becomes an adventure.  You begin to trust in the process of living, growing and learning.  This sense of trust grows and you aren’t as overwhelmed by life in general.

What blocks this connection?

What then blocks this connection to self?  A few of the things that get in the way are:

• Lack of time - not making this a priority in your life
• Overwhelm - being too busy to slow down and settle into yourself
• Not believing it’s possible
• Not believing it’s worth doing
• Not believing in yourself - that you don’t have much to offer
• Fear - fear of “Who would I be?”, or “What would I have to do, if I did this?” In other words, fear of the unknown.  
• Fear of other people's reactions

All of these are valid reasons.  But are you really willing to let any of then get in the way of you creating the life you were meant to be living?  Or block what you can contribute to the world?  The “world” can just be the people around you.  You don’t have to have large expectations.  You can, but it’s not necessary to make a big difference.  If you just impact the people around you in positives ways, you’ve done a lot.  Remember, it’s a ripple effect.  You impact them - they impact the other people in their lives and it ripples out into the world.

Be willing to look at the reasons you hold back or stop yourself from fully being you

To let go of any blocks you have from expressing yourself in an authentic way, you need to be willing to look at what fears or doubts you have.  This is the only way to dismantle them and get rid of them.  I love using EFT with clients, because it's simple to learn and highly effective.  But whatever method works for you.  Just do it.  You won't be sorry. 

When you connect to your authentic self - you create from a place of power

When you have the courage to really drop into who you are and what drives you, you're energized, inspired, and you create from a place of power.  You have more answers on a direction to take, your decisions come easier, and your overall energy level and enthusiasm rise.

Take a chance on slowing down, connecting in, and then living from that place of being.  

Book a complimentary call to learn discuss ways to release any blocks that stand in your way.

Contact Info:
sumi@sumijones.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Connect to Your Inner Wisdom to Live Your Most Powerful Existence

Connect to your own inner wisdom to live your most powerful life.  

We're all given an inner guide that lets us know what's right for us, and what's not.  Learn to trust this "gut instinct".   Instead of looking outside of yourself, learn to trust what's right for you. It will never lead you in the wrong direction.

By connecting with who you are, who you truly are, the reserves you have are limitless.  You have access to your inner wisdom and guidance for what's perfect for you.  When you're connected to your true self, you’re tapping into your well of inner strength and inner wisdom.

What if you knew that by connecting you were getting the absolute best guidance for your life?

You are your own best expert on what’s right for you - what steps you should be taking, and the decisions you need to make.  No one else.  It doesn’t matter how learned a person is or how experienced they are, they don’t know what’s right for you. They might have great advice or knowledge to give you. Once you've heard them out, it’s up to you to make the decision that feels right for you.  

If you’re not in connection with the part of you that possesses this knowledge, you’re doing yourself a disservice.  Your ability to make the best decisions is compromised.  If you knew that by connecting you were getting the absolute best information or guidance for your life, why wouldn't you do it?

Life is busy, but make time for yourself

Life is busy.  We’re all busy.  If you want access to all parts of you and your inner wisdom, you have to slow down.  You have to make the commitment of giving yourself what you need to connect to the silence within. This means making it a habit to spend time with yourself without any outside distractions.  By just spending even a few minutes a day slowing down the internal chatter, breathing into your being, and dropping into your truth, you're giving yourself the best support you can. 

What holds you back?

What if you'd like to do this, but you find it hard to commit to it?  If you can't commit, ask yourself why? When you connect with  the part that has all the answers, you're giving yourself the opportunity to create your best possible life.  If you find it difficult to make this a priority, ask yourself what's getting in the way?

Sometimes limiting beliefs get in the way.  "It won't work for me", "I'm not good enough", "I can't put myself first, or "I have too many other things to do before I can do this" are all examples of limiting beliefs. "Not deserving" is another belief that gets in the way for many people.  

When you know what the beliefs are that are standing in your way, you have the chance to collapse those beliefs so you're able to move into alignment with your true self.   If you take the time to work through these beliefs, you'll find you come from a much stronger place and can make big strides in your life.

Book a complimentary call to learn discuss ways to release any blocks that stand in your way.

Contact Info:
sumi@sumijones.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Set yourself Up for Success by Taking Small Steps

If you want change of any kind, start gently. Don't overwhelm yourself and sabotage your success by trying to take on too much.  Or by trying to take too big of a step.  

Sometimes you're ready to take a big step and that's great.  Go for it, full force.  But sometimes you're just trying to get started on a project, a career change, doing something new, or just trying to get out of a slump. And other times, you hit a standstill in your progress and you're looking to jump start your momentum.  If any of these scenarios are where you're at, start with steps that are doable.  Doable for you.  

Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself with someone else.  This is about you and what you need. And don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself to what you've done in the past.  This is about now. The past is over and you can't change it.  Don't waste your time thinking back.  If you do, you're taking your focus off of what you can work on now.  Deal with where you're at, in this moment.

Sometimes it's hard to let go of comparing yourself to either past successes, or past failures.  If you do, using EFT is a great way to let go of the memories or emotions associated with those past experiences.  You can use EFT to collapse the hold they have over you and your present life.

Set yourself up for success- the process of small steps

What if you just can't get the motivation to even begin?  Start there.  Wherever you are, that's where you start.  If you're lacking motivation, look at what keeps you from beginning.  What are you afraid of?  Yes, it's fear that causes lack of motivation, procrastination, and overwhelm - that habit of taking on way too many projects so you just don't have the time or energy to do what it is you say you want to do.

Don't judge yourself over this.  Just recognize it's your body and mind protecting you from a perceived threat.  

What keeps you from action?

What keeps anyone from action?  Good old fashioned fear.  It's our survival mechanism jumping in when we feel threatened.  And taking action or making changes can feel threatening.  It doesn't matter if you're excited about doing something or feel compelled to do it.  

When we start to change something, fears can pop up.  "What if I fail?  What if I'm not good enough, smart enough, or have enough backing to do it?"  "What if I make a fool of myself?  What if the people around me react negatively about it?"  These are all genuine fears.  

We're part of the human race - challenges come with the territory

We're alive. We've lived through difficult experiences.  It's part of being human. Another part of being human is our minds making decisions about these past events so we don't have to experience anything similar to them again.  But many of those decisions aren't relevant to what you're going after. They're holdovers from when you were little.

Have the willingness to look at the fear.  Examine if it's relevant to what you're attempting to do now, and then learn to move through it.  When you have the tools to deal with fear, it becomes easier to release.

No worries - fear can be dealt with

Fear.  Not pleasant, and not fun. But...it's what drives us to protect ourselves.  It helps us survive.  All good when it's appropriate.  But if it holds you back, it's not serving it's purpose.   Instead of avoiding fear, see what you can learn from it, and then let it go.

Identify what the possible fear, or "downside" is to what you're striving to do.  Then tap through it with EFT.  When you collapse what's behind your fear, you rid yourself of what's blocking your success.

Sometimes there's more than one layer

There might be several layers or different aspects of what's holding you back.  Many times, this is the case.  Just address each one as they come up.  You might also find that as you come closer to achieving success, or your goal, new fears crop up.  You might suddenly find yourself sabotaging the success you've achieved as you move forward.  Sabotage can be anything from missing a deadline, not returning a call, or just plain procrastinating.  That's ok.  Deal with the fears as they come up. 

Peel back and examine each layer until you're fully on your way to success.  Don't lose your enthusiasm if you have to work through several layers.  Instead, recognize that you're moving forward and remember to "tap in" the progress you've made.

By tapping in the positives, you'll be more willing to keep going until you reach your goal.  If you focus too much on "what's wrong", working on yourself can become a drag.  Do yourself the favor of tapping in what's going right for you and the progress you are making.  

Sign up for either an EFT Tapping Chart, or an EFT tapping exercise for letting go of past failures.

If you want to explore what's holding you back and ways to release the hold it has over you, book a complimentary call. We can discuss your goals and see if we're a mutual fit. 

Contact Info:
sumi@sumijones.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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What Makes You Come Alive? Find It and Live It.

Have you ever wondered what makes you come alive?  Have you felt as if there's something missing from your life - that you feel only half-alive, or as if you're just moving through life without any real passion or purpose?  When you discover what it is that makes you come alive, you know exactly what you're meant to do in life, and you take action.

Being in touch with who you truly are, is what makes you come alive

Too often we try to fit in.  We don't want to stick out and we're afraid to shine.  It can feel too vulnerable, scary, or just a little too risky.  But....it also clamps down on your energy level and the spark inside you that really lights you up.  You can't have it both ways.  You can't play it safe and expect to be fully dialed into who you are and what brings real meaning to your life.  You won't feel fully alive.  If you want to feel energized, joyful, and with a real purpose in life, you have to step fully into who you are.

I know I did my fair share of not really honoring who I was, or putting myself out there.  When I changed careers, I thought I'd be "too weird", or my work wouldn't be accepted.  But when I realized I was robbing the people I was meant to help, I knew I had to let go of any my fears and just do it. This meant letting go of past experiences I'd been through that were keeping me from doing my work in a committed way.  I realized that my love of helping people was too strong of a pull for me to ignore it just because I was trying to avoid stepping into who I really was.

What if they won't accept me, and other fears?

What are some of the reasons people are afraid to shine or really tap into who they are?  It all boils down to fear, or the need to protect ourselves.  Some of those fears are:

1. Other people's reactions - someone will criticize you, make fun of you, or won't accept you
2. Not fitting in - "My family/friends won't like who I am anymore. I won't fit in."
3. Making a mistake, a fool of yourself, or being humiliated
4. Afraid you don't have what it takes to do what it is you want
5. Having to actually take action on a big goal if you step into your power, gifts, or inner strengths.  Once you know what really makes you come alive, you feel driven to do  it - a good way.  But knowing you have to take action, can cause you to procrastinate.  It brings up other underlying fears to look at.

These are only a few.  But they're very real.  These fears keep people from stepping into who they really are and what brings them joy.  In an effort to stay safe, they'll procrastinate or sabotage themselves or their efforts. 

Fear of failure is one aspect - Fear of success is another

We fear failure, but many times, we also fear success.  Ask yourself, "If I were to shine, and then succeed as a result, what would change in my life?  What would I have to give up?"  Because sometimes, it's also the fear of what we'd lose or have to give up as a result of putting ourselves out there and succeeding.

Is it a loss of time?  A loss of identity?  When you let go of what holds you back, it can sometimes feel as if you're changing your very identity - who you are.  "Who will I be if I do this?" We relate to who we are, right here, right now.  It's our current identity.  When we change something, even in good ways, it feels like we're changing our very identity.  But, it's not changing who you are.  It's letting go of any habits that keep you from being exactly who you are.

We'll do anything to survive

Our fears stem from feeling threatened, which translates to the primitive brain's need to survive. Depending on what the particular reason you have behind the fear, and how traumatic or challenging it was, you'll do anything to play it safe and not stick out. It could be any reason - from having been embarrassed at school, being made fun of by someone when you were younger, or having someone expect too much from you when you did put yourself out there.  It could even be, "What if I have to give up too much of my free time, if I really step into what I'm supposed to be doing?"  Whatever the reason, it's important you work through these fears or emotions because the world needs what you have to offer.  

There's only one you

There's only one you, and what you have to offer is unique.  It could be in the same field as another person, but what you bring to the table and how you do it, is uniquely yours.  Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I really willing to dummy down who I am, just to feel comfortable and safe?  
2. If I don't do it now, looking ahead, 3 years, where will I be?  Am I happy seeing myself in the same situation, not fully expressing who I am?
3. What will it take for me to be willing to step into who I am and fully come alive?

If you continue playing it safe, somehow life, your soul, or the Universe finds a way to make it a little too uncomfortable to stay hidden.  I've seen people drop into depression when they weren't honoring their truth and who they really were.  Or other people who's lives just got tougher and tougher until they finally surrendered and said, "Ok, I'll do it!"  Interestingly enough, once they did let go of their fears and stepped up to being themselves, their lives turned around, dramatically.  Life flowed easier and they found real happiness and fulfillment.

My hope is you'll use the courage it takes to find the truth of who you are, and then express it to the world.  We certainly need it.  Now more than ever.

If you want to explore what emotions are holding you back and ways to release the hold they have on you, book a complimentary call. We can discuss your goals and see if we're a mutual fit. 

Contact Info:
sumi@sumijones.com 
(805) 265-9063
Santa Fe, NM 87506

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