Hsp—Empathic and Empowered: Expanding My Perspective: The Power of Emotional Receptivity for Conscious Living and Living in “Aawe”

By Josephine Sheppard Ph.D.

Have you ever felt that there must be another perspective as a highly sensitive person (HSP) or empath besides having to be fearful or on guard against whatever is unwanted?

Have you wondered, How can I reconcile or blend the understanding of the natural law of attraction, being emotionally receptive and highly sensitive, to work for me?

Well, youre not alone. In this book, I have documented various practices Ive applied in my ongoing journey to feeling empowered as an empath and HSP by implementing my emotional receptivity and sensitivity as a tool or guide in working within the natural laws of attraction. Ive shared intimate experiences that aid in clarifying why I apply these practices, what it means to me, and what brought me to the point of inspiration for the life in AAWE (art of allowing well-being every day) and the conscious living approach.

I love the idea of expanding upon this adventure with others. I believe theres no mistake that youre reading this now. My intention is to share these insights discovered through my personal journey and practices with those that feel drawn to or resonate with this information.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Apr 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781982202668

Josephine Sheppard Ph.D.

Josephine Sheppard has a love of discovering new things, conscious living, visual arts, nature, her dog, friends, family, and creativity. She enjoys eclectic interests including, but not limited to, writing, abstract drawing, and flower and nature photography. She was inspired to create the A.A.W.E. approach (The Art of Allowing Wellbeing Every Day), referred to as Live in AAWE, while using the state of emotions as a guide to awareness of being aligned or not with God-Source, intention, and the natural state of wellbeing. Josephine has a background in case management, alternative and complimentary therapies, and departmental, personal, and professional training and development, with a Doctorate in Religious Counseling. She has three decades of experience in mindfulness practices, coaching/mentoring, guiding/facilitating, training, working with diverse backgrounds, human services, meditation, and personal and spiritual development. Josephine has written a number of health and wellness articles published in print and online since 2003. Her mission is to document her experience and inspired messages that may empower others who resonate with this type of insight, clarity, awareness, and information.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 Josephine Sheppard, Ph.D..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Cover photo taken by Josephine Sheppard, Nature and Still Life Photography found at:

www.josephine-sheppard.pixels.com.

Monarch images are royalty free, non-licensed images through Bing.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-0243-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-0242-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-0266-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018904745

Balboa Press rev. date: 04/18/2018

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Note to Reader

Chapter 1     Early Years, Connection with Source, and Inner-Expanded Being

Chapter 2     Gaining Clarity and Insight

Chapter 3     Source, Vibrational Frequency, and God

Chapter 4     Expanding Understanding as a Vibrational Being

Chapter 5     Begin Noticing: Wherever I am

Chapter 6     Soothing Self from Self-Criticizing to Self-Nurturing

Chapter 7     Expanding Awareness

Chapter 8     Broadening Perspective

Chapter 9     Shifting Perspective

Chapter 10   Sensitivity and Alignment

Chapter 11   Defining Responsibility and Broadening Perspective

Chapter 12   Power of Appreciation

Chapter 13   Emotional Receptivity and Extension of Source

Chapter 14   Recognizing Unconditional Love

Chapter 15   To Know that I Know

Chapter 16   Wellbeing is the Natural State of Being

Chapter 17   Experiencing Wellbeing and Mindfulness

Chapter 18   I am Wellbeing and Connected to Source

Chapter 19   Meditation and Breathwork

Chapter 20   Feeling Love, Happiness, and Wellbeing are Alignment Indicators

Chapter 21   Positive Aspects or Attributes for Alignment

Chapter 22   Differentiating Between Appreciation and Gratitude

Chapter 23   Key to Alignment is Allowing; Being a Cooperative Component

Chapter 24   Affirmation and Divine Revelation of Alignment

Chapter 25   Supporting Practices and Positive Self-Talk

Chapter 26   Use and Benefits of Visualization, Imagination, and Daydreaming

Chapter 27   Tapping into the Perspective of Higher Self

Chapter 28   Empowering Questions

Chapter 29   Understanding Co-Creating

Reference

About the Author

Foreword

Did you know that the average human has 60,000 thoughts a day, 95% of them are the same exact ones as yesterday and 80% of them are negative?! That might sound horrific, but when I heard that fact, I thought, wow, that sure offers a LOT of room for improvement! Josephine helps you break out of that 95% of repetition and the 80% of negativity and tune into a more aligned version of yourself. A happier version of yourself. A version of yourself that knows how to be aware of what you are thinking and what you are putting out to the Universe, so you can take charge and feel empowered instead of disempowered! When you feel empowered you begin to create the life of your dreams instead of feeling like you are living out a Ground Hog Day scenario!

I met Josephine near the beginning of my spiritual journey. I had healed myself of seven years of several chronic illnesses in three weeks and was immersing myself in the spiritual world to find out how the heck I actually did it when doctors said it was impossible. I also wanted to be sure I knew how to KEEP myself healthy. I soon became passionate about wanting to help others do the same. I set the intention to connect with like-minded souls. I could tell when I met Josephine on a spiritual networking website online that we were indeed like-minded.

I was drawn to Josephine’s deep love and appreciation of nature, her artistic abilities, love of writing and her journey of learning more to adapt new conscious behaviors to continue to enhance her own life and help others. We shared and enjoyed communicating and moved our friendship to Facebook where we have continued to marvel at each other’s growth over the last several years.

Josephine truly walks the talk as her book shows with several examples. She has chosen to become a conscious co-creator and has watched her life change dramatically as she adopted these new habits and way of being into her own life. Josephine was generous enough to share these methods and new ways of thinking and speaking to ourselves in this book. She gives real life examples, words, phrases and more importantly the emotions and techniques she has tapped into to bring joy and happiness along with other wonderful manifestations into her life on a consistent basis. The stories Josephine offers makes it more believable and accessible for all.

Have you even struggled with feeling you were a victim of life? Do you find yourself stuck in any area of your life not really knowing or feeling there is a way out? This could be mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, in relationships of just a general sense of life is hard. Do you find yourself repeating limiting statements like life sucks or you have to work hard to make any money? Do you KNOW life can feel easier but have no clue about how to attain any sort of flow? If you have felt ANY of the before-mentioned emotions - this book can help. This book will help you tap into the deepest part of yourself, your soul/connection to Source or all-that-is and consciously create the life you want no matter WHERE you are today!

Josephine has much experience in this arena and is very qualified to write this book. She created and has been teaching her AAWE method. To Live in AAWE, means to live in the art of allowing wellbeing every day. It is an approach that promotes empowerment, clarity, emotional intelligence & receptivity, conscious living & leadership. This book gives practical ways to bring all these aspects into our own lives.

Josephine has weaved an instruction manual of how to live a conscious life aligned with the highest version of yourself. She offers many tools and you feel supported as you begin or continue this journey to consciousness. You can tell by reading she is kind hearted and has done the work herself. This book makes you feel supported on this journey which is of utmost importance during this work. I was honored Josephine asked me to write this forward as I feel this book can help you release what does not serve you to tap into the power you have within and begin to consciously create the life of your dreams! I am excited to hear all the wonderful testimonials from people after they begin to apply this book’s principles and tools in their lives! - Jenny Mannion, author of A Short Path to Change

Review by Pamela J. Boydston, BS, LPTA, LMT, NCTMB

The author takes the reader on the intimate journey of an empath’s developing awareness of her deep connection to the Great Source and shares how the reader can do the same.

Josephine teaches you how to recognize and develop your true inner self. If there is negative self talk or negative energies from the outside world there are instructions on how to realign to the Great Source. The goal being to love and thrive.

I enjoyed this book so much that I am going to reread it slowly to soak in as much information as possible. It taught me a great deal about self-acceptance and the beautiful power of love. As an HSP, it showed me how to accept this trait as a blessing and not a curse, and to skillfully change the negative thought patterns to realign yourself with God.

Preface

This book blends the Author’s perspective of the Natural Law of Attraction, identifying with the characteristic traits of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), being Empathic, and personal experience for the intention of conscious living, to live in AAWE (the Art of Allowing Wellbeing Every Day).

It is assumed there is an understanding of how it’s defined to be a HSP and/or Empathic, and within the context of this book, a desire and intention of taking a new perspective that is more self-empowering. Expanding the framework of which one is identifying into a broader realm perceived through quantum physics in general, Whole Being (body, mind, spirit), Source Energy, Infinite Intelligence, and consciously working with the Natural Law of Attraction.

The intention is broadening perception and discussing a positive approach, or how to use one’s emotional receptivity in a manner that is empowering and from a perspective that allows clarity as discovered in the Author’s personal life, and alignment with true desires and intentions through reframing and a variety of practices, tools, and spiritual insight.

Acknowledgments

I would like to take a moment to express appreciation for Jerry and Esther (Abraham) Hicks in their leading-edge translations that inspired and reminded many that we are all an extension of, and connected to, Source Energy. It is with their fun of clarifying our understanding of the Natural Law of Attraction, that is an added inspiration, to express from a point of love and awareness here.

I would like to also acknowledge the courage and openness of Neale Donald Walsch to publicize and expand his Conversations with God.

Both have been a blessing to those who were not publicly sharing the loving and wise spiritual exchanges, yet delved deeply into this ideal relationship blending of perspective and perception.

I appreciate both for setting the example that it matters not the opinion of others, but to