Embark on a Transformative Journey: Get Ready to Live Your Best Life in 2025!

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect moment to reflect, reset, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. At Intentional Calm, we’re excited to announce an upcoming blog series designed to guide you through living with intention and purpose in the new year.

This series will provide practical steps to help you thrive, supported by our collection of self-help journals, affirmation decks, Reiki-charged crystal healing jewelry, and even personalized life coaching sessions. Each of these resources is designed to empower you on your journey to balance and well-being.

What to Expect:

• Actionable tips to set and maintain meaningful intentions
• Exercises for cultivating mindfulness, gratitude, and positivity
• Insights into the healing power of crystals and affirmations
• Special offers on our holistic products and one-on-one life coaching sessions

Coming Next Week: We’ll begin with "5 Steps to Kickstart Your Intentional Journey This Week"—an essential guide to set the tone for a transformative 2025. This step-by-step plan will help you start the year with clarity and focus.

Why Join Us? Because living your best life starts with taking intentional steps forward. Our upcoming series will provide the tools and mindset you need to make lasting changes.

Stay Connected! Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to ensure you don’t miss this exciting series. In the meantime, visit our online store to find the perfect resources to support your path to intentional living.

Together, let’s make 2025 a year of growth, joy, and balance.

Be well,
Mary-Anne Schelb

Aligning with Your Purpose: A New Year’s Invitation to Intentional Living

Welcome to a fresh start, a clean slate, and a world of possibility. The New Year holds a certain magic—an invitation to realign, refocus, and reconnect with the life you want to create.

Here at Intentional Calm, I believe that stepping into a new year doesn’t mean reinventing yourself. It’s about honoring who you already are, while gently leaning into your dreams, desires, and purpose.

Instead of making resolutions that often feel like chores, let’s try something different this year. Let’s build rituals that feel like coming home to yourself.

Here’s how you can begin this journey:

1. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Let go of the pressure to get everything “right” and instead focus on what feels true. Connect with your inner self, your loved ones, and your surroundings in ways that nourish your soul.

2. Carry a Token of Your Intention: Wear a piece of crystal jewelry or keep an affirmation close at hand to serve as a reminder of your focus for the year. Let it ground you when life feels overwhelming.

3. Create Micro-Moments of Joy: Joy isn’t just found in big milestones. It lives in the quiet moments—a deep breath, the warmth of the sun, or the smile of someone you love. Take time to notice and celebrate these.

4. Find Strength in Stillness: Carve out time for meditation, journaling, or simply sitting with your thoughts. These moments of stillness can guide you back to balance when life gets noisy.

5. Be Compassionate with Yourself: Growth is a process, not a race. If you stumble, don’t beat yourself up. Trust that every step, no matter how small, is a step forward.

This year, I encourage you to embrace the flow, trust your intuition, and allow yourself to be open to all that’s waiting for you.

2025 isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about rediscovering the best version of yourself—the one that already exists within you.

I’m honored to be part of your journey. Let’s walk this path together, with intention, grace, and a heart full of hope.

Be Well,
Mary-Anne

Manifest & Mingle Vision Board Party

Cindy Sheridan from "Each Moment We Are Alive" has joined Mary-Anne Schelb from "Intentional Calm Holistic Consulting & Life Coaching" to deliver a vision board experience like no other!  Ready to manifest your dreams into reality?  Join them for a unique, step-by-step journey to bring your hopes and aspirations to life.

WHEN:          Thursday - January 23rd

WHERE:        Jewish Community Center
                      594 Converse Street, Longmeadow, MA

TIME:            6:00PM - 8:00PM

COST:           $TBD

*Light refreshments will be served.

"We’ll provide the basics, but it’s up to you to make it uniquely yours! Bring photos, stickers, personalized affirmations, fabrics, textures, or even crystals to add your special touch."

 

Discover Your Perfect Journal and Unique Reiki-Charged Healing Jewelry at Feel Good Shop Local!

WHEN:  Dec 9th

WHERE: Mercedes Benz of Springfield

TIME:  4:30-8:30PM

WHY:  Because shopping local is the best way to stimulate your local economy.

Plus a portion of the proceeds goes to our local non-profits.  Feel Good.  Shop Local.  <3 

Exciting news! I’ll be at Mercedes Benz of Springfield, December 9th from 4:30-8:30PM sharing my passion for self-discovery, mindfulness, and holistic healing. This is the perfect opportunity to:

• Find the Journal That Speaks to You: Explore my beautifully crafted self-help    journals, designed to help you live your best life. Whether you’re seeking daily inspiration, a deeper meditation practice, or a guided journey to balance and  growth, you’ll discover the perfect journal to match your intentions.
• Experience One-of-a-Kind Reiki-Charged Healing Jewelry: Browse my        limited-edition collection of BoHo-inspired crystal healing jewelry. Each piece is lovingly handcrafted with natural stones and charged with Reiki energy to amplify its healing properties. These designs are bold, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind—once the current stock is gone, they’ll be gone for good!

Don’t miss this chance to connect, shop, and embrace something truly special. Whether you’re looking to set new intentions, balance your energy, or simply treat yourself to something meaningful, I’d love to help you find what resonates most with you.

See you at Feel Good Shop Local @ Mercedes Benz Springfield! Stop by and say hi—let’s find the piece or journal that’s meant just for you! 

Be well,
Mary-Anne
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What is Feel Good Shop Local you ask?

The idea for FeelGoodShopLocal.com was born in 2020. At one point during the pandemic, I remember I looked at my phone and wished there was a place I could visit where I could shop local stores easily. Like many others with limited options, a full time job and lots of children on zooms…I began to order everything we needed online. Amazon, Target, Walmart, Lands End, LL Bean, Nordstrom and other trusted brands were my go to destinations for consumer lifestyle goods. Online food delivery services made sure our food needs were taken care of…but as soon as we were venturing out of our homes, I began to notice the smaller, local stores were shutting down. Main Street was in trouble and it showed. - Michelle Wirth, FGSL

Babes For A Cause - Shop for a Reason!

Babes For A Cause:
Do you have your tickets?  This is an event not to miss!!!  Plus, Intentional Calm will have three new journals plus affirmation card decks and new BoHo inspired designed healing jewelry.

The Benefits of Meditation for Stress and Anxiety Reduction

Meditation has long been heralded as a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety, but there's a common misconception that it requires hours of practice to be effective. In reality, even short bouts of meditation can significantly impact your well-being, making it a highly accessible practice for anyone looking to find some calm amidst the chaos of daily life.

The Science Behind Meditation:  Studies have shown that meditation can decrease the production of stress hormones like cortisol, while also promoting the release of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in the brain. These physiological changes can lead to reduced anxiety, improved mood, and enhanced overall mental health. But you don't need to sit in silence for hours to reap these benefits; even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

Integrating Meditation into Daily Routines:  The beauty of meditation is its flexibility. You can easily fit it into your daily routine without major disruptions. Here are some simple ways to incorporate short meditation sessions into your life:

    -First Thing in the Morning: Starting your day with just five minutes of meditation can set a positive tone for the rest of the day. Sit up in bed or find a quiet spot, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. This can help clear your mind and prepare you for the day ahead.

    -Before Bed: Meditating before bed can help you unwind and improve your sleep quality. Spend a few minutes focusing on your breath or doing a body scan to release the tension accumulated throughout the day. This can make falling asleep easier and lead to a more restful night.

    -Before or After Stressful Situations: Whether it's a challenging meeting at work or a tough conversation at home, meditating for a few minutes before or after these events can help center your mind and reduce anxiety. Taking a short break to breathe deeply can provide the mental clarity needed to handle stress more effectively.

Starting Small and Staying Consistent:  If you've never meditated before, it's important not to get discouraged. Start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable. The key is consistency. Regular practice, even in small doses, can yield significant benefits over time.

Utilizing Meditation Apps:  There are numerous apps available that can guide you through meditation practices, making it even easier to start. Apps like *Brain Tap, Headspace, Calm, and Insight Timer offer a variety of guided meditations, ranging from just a couple of minutes to longer sessions. These apps often include features like reminders and progress tracking, helping you stay on track with your meditation practice.

Conclusion:  Meditation is a simple yet effective way to reduce stress and anxiety. You don't need to spend hours each day to experience its benefits; even a few minutes can make a big difference. By integrating short meditation sessions into your daily routine and utilizing helpful apps, you can develop a consistent practice that enhances your mental well-being. So, take a deep breath, start small, and enjoy the journey toward a calmer, more centered self.

Be Well & Happy Meditating...
-Mary-Anne

*Full disclosure, Mary-Anne utilizes and is partial to Brain Tap and is considered an Affiliate Member.  If you would like more information plus discount codes for a number of their products, please reach out to Mary-Anne directly at intentionallycalm @gmail.com

Photo by Tina Nord

Harnessing the Power of Eclipses for Personal Transformation

Eclipses have long captured human fascination, often seen as harbingers of change and transformation. These celestial events, where the sun, moon, and earth align in unique ways, can indeed hold profound significance for individuals seeking to manifest change and embrace new beginnings in their lives. Understanding the energetic shifts associated with eclipses can provide a framework for harnessing their power for personal growth and transformation.

Eclipses occur in pairs, typically two weeks apart, with a solar eclipse coinciding with a new moon and a lunar eclipse occurring during a full moon. From a symbolic perspective, a solar eclipse represents a potent new beginning, a time to plant seeds of intention for the future. On the other hand, a lunar eclipse signifies a completion or culmination, a time to release what no longer serves us.

One of the key ways in which eclipses can impact us is by intensifying our emotions and illuminating aspects of our lives that may be hidden or in need of change. This heightened emotional energy can serve as a catalyst for self-reflection and introspection, helping us identify areas where we may need to let go of old patterns or beliefs that are holding us back.

To harness the transformative power of eclipses, it can be helpful to engage in practices that align with their energy. This might include setting intentions or goals during a solar eclipse, focusing on what you wish to create or manifest in your life. During a lunar eclipse, you might engage in rituals or practices that facilitate letting go, such as journaling, meditation, or even a physical act of release, like burning a letter symbolizing what you are releasing.

It's important to approach eclipse energy with a sense of openness and receptivity, allowing yourself to flow with the changes and insights that arise. This can be a time of great personal growth and transformation if we are willing to embrace the process of change.

In conclusion, eclipses can serve as powerful catalysts for personal transformation, offering us an opportunity to shift our energy and perspective in ways that can help us manifest change and new beginnings in our lives. By understanding the energetic dynamics of eclipses and engaging in practices that align with their energy, we can harness their power to facilitate our own growth and evolution.