I don’t know about you, but there are times when I can find myself feeling stuck, blah or just a little blue. But the difference between a few years ago and now is that I know how to move through those feelings and bounce back by using all the tools I’ve learned.

And there are a few I’ve been pulling out of my toolbox lately I wanted to share with you, including the thing I use to shift from lower to higher vibe emotions, the new mood boosting self-care practice I'm currently obsessed with and the books, podcasts, videos and meditations I turn to when I need a little dose of inspiration.

1. Reach For A Higher Vibe

Have you ever heard of the Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale? It's a really unique and interesting way to spot check how you’re really feeling and see the steps you might need to take to get to a higher vibe feeling.

The scale, rated from 1-22, catalogues our emotions with 1 being the most empowering and 22 being what might make you feel the most powerless. The idea here is by seeing where you are on the scale you can reach for a higher vibe emotion that’s actually within reach.

For example if you’re feeling totally overwhelmed it might not be realistic to expect yourself to be completely joyful in a day, but what could you do to move yourself closer to a feeling of contentment or hopefulness?

I’ve always found this scale super helpful in my own life and to use with my coaching clients as they move through the different emotions we need to feel to get to that empowering and joyful vibe. Give it a try next time you’re feeling down and let me know what you think!

The Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale

1. Joy / Knowledge / Empowerment / Freedom / Love / Appreciation

2. Passion

3. Enthusiasm / Eagerness / Happiness

4. Positive Expectation / Belief

5. Optimism

6. Hopefulness

7. Contentment

8. Boredom

9. Pessimism

10. Frustration / Irritation / Impatience

11. Overwhelmed

12. Disappointment

13. Doubt

14. Worry

15. Blame

16. Discouragement

17. Anger

18. Revenge

19. Hatred / Rage

20. Jealousy

21. Insecurity / Guilt / Unworthiness

22. Fear / Grief / Depression / Despair / Powerlessness

For more info on the emotional guidance scale check out the book Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks

2. Use Essential Oils For An Instant Mood Boost

I recently started diving into the world of essential oils and I have to admit, I’m in love. I diffuse them, rub them on my skin, put them in my water, use them in my DIY beauty and cleaning products, and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing to me that doing something this simple can make me feel better in an instant, but it does.

Lately I’ve been reaching for oils that are used to uplift mood and ease tension. Here’s how I’ve been using them:

Instead of using scented candles (many of which have toxic chemicals in their “fragrance” mixture) I’ve been diffusing essential oils (with water). doTERRA makes a great diffuser and you can also find some different kinds like this one and this one on Amazon.

My favorite uplifting diffuser mix of late is a few drops each of lemon, grapefruit, and peppermint. Each of these oils has mood lifting benefits and can give you a boost when you’re feeling fatigued or low energy—plus, this combo smells incredible! At bedtime, or anytime I want to feel more relaxed, I use a mixture of 4-5 drops of lavender and 1 drop of peppermint.

I take detox baths pretty regularly and I like to use essential oils to kick them up a notch. For each bath I use two cups of Epsom salt, 1 cup of baking soda, a squirt of Dr. Bronner’s unscented Castile soap—plus a coconut oil and lavender oil combo.

The best way to add the oils to take a quarter size dollop of coconut oil and put it in your palm, then add about 10-15 drops of lavender oil to the coconut oil, rub together in your hands, then rinse it off your hands under the faucet into the tub. Mixing the coconut and lavender oils together first helps the lavender disperse more evenly in the bath and this combo will make your skin feel super soft and soothed.

When I want to use oils on my skin and I’m feeling stressed or out of sorts, I tend to use some of the oil blends doTERRA makes exactly for that purpose. I’ve been keeping Motivate Touch and PastTense an arm’s reach away lately and love how they mak…

When I want to use oils on my skin and I’m feeling stressed, down or out of sorts I tend to use some of the oil blends doTERRA makes exactly for that purpose. I’ve been keeping Motivate Touch and PastTense an arm’s reach away lately and love how they make me feel.

They come in rollerball bottles (the pure oils are mixed with fractionated coconut oil, which makes them easy to apply), so I just put a dab on my pulse points and a little on the back on my neck, massage it in a little bit and let the oils do their job. A little goes a long way, so I like to start with a small amount and apply more after 10 minutes if I feel like it's not strong enough.

Here’s a little info about my favorite oils of the moment and their benefits:

Lemon is known as a powerful aromatic, topical, and internal cleanser* that can be used to complement many other oils. Diffusing lemon in a room cleanses the air and elevates mood and it can also be used on surfaces in your home as a non-toxic cleaning booster. And adding drop or two in your water can also help to naturally cleanse the body and aid in digestion.*

Lavender is widely used and accepted for its calming and relaxing qualities.* It is soothing and calming to skin and rubbing a few drops on the bottoms of your feet can help you get a more restful night’s sleep. It may also help ease feelings of tension and anxiety.*

Peppermint is a wonderful thing to diffuse when you’re feeling fatigued or low on energy. It’s also useful to alleviate occasional stomach upset, ease breathing and as a digestive aid.* I like to put a drop of peppermint in a glass of water to support my digestion and it also tastes really refreshing.

Grapefruit's fresh, invigorating aroma is the perfect thing to use to energize and uplift mood. You can also add a drop or two to your water to support a healthy metabolism.*

Motivate® Touch is a blend of Fractionated Coconut Oil, Peppermint, Clementine, Coriander, Basil, Yuzu, Melissa, Rosemary, and Vanilla Bean oils. The fresh, minty aroma promotes feelings of confidence, courage, and belief and counteracts negative emotions of doubt, pessimism, and cynicism. Simply apply to the back of the neck and pulse points.

PastTense® is a blend of Wintergreen, Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Cilantro, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Basil, and Rosemary oils that provides calming comfort. These distinctive essential oils are known for their soothing effects and quickly promote feelings of relaxation and calm. Simply apply to the neck, shoulders, and behind the ears.

If you’re interested in trying them out for yourself you can check out all of doTERRA’s essential oils here. Just click on the “shop” button and you can see all the oils I mentioned, plus a lot more. You can also sign up for a wholesale membership for a small annual fee and get everything at 25% of retail!

I love this brand (so much so that I'm now a Wellness Advocate for them!) because their oils are totally natural, safely and ethically sourced and therapeutic grade, which basically means they’re super high quality.

A lot of oils you buy at the health food store or online can be diluted or not totally pure, so I only get my oils from them since I know I can trust the source. If you have any issues navigating the site or have any questions just let me know and I'd be happy to help you.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

3. Marinate In Inspiration

Lose yourself in books that lift you up and comfort you, watch inspirational talks on YouTube, meditate, listen to uplifting podcasts, or do whatever makes you feel inspired. I have a few things I turn to when I need to put a log or two on my own fire, here are some of my favorites:

Books

There are some books (and a card deck!) I turn to again and again when I'm feeling uncertain, fearful or in need of a little inspiration and clarity. Here are my six must-reads:

**The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein**

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown — **Daring Greatly by** **Brené** **Brown**

**A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson**

I also love listening to audio books when I'm on the go. If you don't already have an Audible account click below to get 2 free audio books when you sign up for a FREE 30-day trial!

Podcasts

I love podcasts because you can listen to them when you're commuting, cleaning, exercising, shopping, anywhere! I listen to a lot of different kinds, but here are my faves for uplifting, thoughtful, and inspiring conversations:

**Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert**

**Don’t Freak Out! An Anxiety Podcast with Allison Micco**

YouTube Talks & Inspiring Interviews

There are too many inspiring videos on YouTube to count, but some of my favorite channels are Oprah’s SuperSoul Sessions series, Marie Forleo's Inspiring Interview Series, Wanderlust’s Speak Easy Speaker Series, The Lewis Howes’ School of Greatness Interview Series, Talks at Google, TED Talks, and Gabby Bernstein's channel.

Check out some of these great talks and interviews to get started!

Meditations

Having a few guided meditations to follow along with is a great way to get started meditating or get your practice back on track. There are all kinds of meditations available if you search on YouTube, but here are a few I love by Gabby Bernstein, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Ashley Watson :