Month: June 2018

We all have them…those little backslides where we fall out of a newly-formed habit.  We want to improve our lives, so we set an intention, but have trouble following through.

What to do when this happens…hmmm…we could go full force and just say ‘the hell with it,’ OR we can motor on, brush ourselves off, and forge ahead.

What’s the alternative?  Giving up & being miserable?  Feeling like you failed yet again?  I say NO…I say JUMP!

Get back on the horse, or the bike, or the trolley…you have another moment — and then another — to take control.  Show it who’s boss!  It’s your life, and you’re going to do it!

It’s all about the mindset, and if you shift it ever so slightly, you’ll find that you’re stronger than you thought.  You can emerge the victor in your own story…I’ll be waiting for you on the other side

Does jealousy rear its ugly head in your world?  Do you envy others?  Do you often think the ‘grass is greener’ somewhere else?

It’s common and understandable, but in actuality, the grass is never greener.  Someone has that fancy car you covet, or their house is bigger than yours, or someone else is always going on extravagant vacations…

We never know what’s behind the curtain…they could be up to their eyes in debt, or their spouse is a real jerk when nobody else is around.

We all have issues.  There’s no better example than the rash of celebrities who’ve committed suicide.  It’s no joke…it proves we are all human.  We have demons, no matter how much money we may have or what kind of car we drive.

The outer shell may look shiny, but the inside could be as withered as a week-old rose.  Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we need to peer into our own lives & be grateful for what we do have.  The more we can do that, the more it will generate good things to be grateful for. 

I’ve been working hard on this one myself.  Every time I see something that makes me feel good, I say “thank you” aloud.  Whether it’s the beauty of watching a squirrel hanging off my ‘squirrel-proof’ bird feeder, or acknowledging that I’m still breathing with life, I say ‘thank you.’ 

Start with the simple things, and you’ll find more & more…it will open up your world to new possibilities, and that jealousy monster will fade to black….

 

She’s alone on the beach … she comes here each day, just after sunrise while it’s still deserted.  No distractions…just the gentle sound of the surf…watching a lone seagull get its feet wet as the tide rolls in.  She smiles as he skitters through the damp sand.  Ahhh…to be a bird that can fly high above and feel the wind under its wings…how free.

Can she do the same?  Can she fly above the fray and leave all the fractures behind?  So much pain, sadness, and loss for things she longed for that will never be….

She could walk away from it all and head toward the sunshine…it’s much more inviting and nurturing…people are there that love & support her…people she loves in return.  Perhaps they can be her salvation in this new journey…

She stands, brushes the sand from her dress, and smiles.  She follows the bird, still waddling…he spies her from the corner of his eye and almost gives her a nod as if to say, “Follow me”….He’s going to take her to a safe place to land…..

                …… to be continued

 

“The Power of Now” … A common phrase these days.  It’s profound in its simplicity.  The only true ‘present’ is NOW.   There’s no true past or future.  The moment is now. 

Check your breathing…this sounds ridiculous, but are you breathing?  In the few seconds it took you to ‘check,’ you were effectively meditating.  Your thoughts stopped for a brief moment, and you were In The Now. 

It’s all you have…it’s all we have.  And the more you can stay in the Now, the better you’ll feel.    Lots of folks picture meditation as some strange person sitting with their legs crossed and hands joined in front of them, wearing flowy robes…not so anymore. 

If you can check in on your breathing throughout the day, it will bring you to a higher plane — your ‘higher self,’ if you will.  Your mind feels clearer, and your body is energized & engaged.  It’s a benefit not only to your soul, but your overall health….the mind-body connection.

Try it!  Let me know!

 

 

Affirmations are good for the soul.  It’s basically a daily dose of caring for yourself in the easiest of ways.  There are thousands out there, which you can skim through & find what speaks to you…what do you think would apply?  Does it make sense for you?

If not, move onto the next one…hunt & gather.  The concept is simple-the more you read them daily, the more your mind will believe it, and it will reflect in your outside world. 

For instance, several of mine are “I choose inner peace.”  “I’m the creator of my own reality,” “I choose to be grateful.”  I work on these aspects every day, but reminding myself acts as reinforcement.  

It may seem corny, but it works.  You’ll begin to believe the affirmation, and once you believe it, you’ll see it.  You’ll see your life in a different way – usually for the better…and that’s something worth trying  ♥♥

 

 

Use your imagination…we all have it.

Can you picture yourself on a desolate beach?  You’re all alone.  Close your eyes.  The only thing you can hear are the waves of the ocean…the tide rolling in and out rhythmically.   The sound is soothing….

Now picture yourself in a field of tulips.  You’re lying down, staring up at the heavens.   Clouds are white and puffy, the sky is periwinkle blue…no sign of rain.  Take a deep breath & inhale the scent of the flowers.   Spread your hands out and feel the velvety petals of the tulips….

I’m betting you were able to picture yourself in both those scenarios…if I could paint a picture for you, you can do the same for yourself.  Take a few minutes each day, to close your eyes & place yourself in a pleasing spot…somewhere that makes your heart sing!

Are you ready to rumble?  Ready to toil away in that muck & mire called family drama?  We all have some form of it.  We all look for ways to deal with it.

What’s your method?  Do you go to your corner & call a time out?  Thereby avoiding it altogether?  Or do you glove up & charge in for a few rounds?

I grew up being used to drama & chaos.  Unfortunately, that lead me to relationship sabotage, where I sought drama in my life.  Because I was so used to it, I didn’t feel alive without fighting.

I finally found a man that ‘tamed’ me to a degree.  He didn’t run from a fight or from my drama.  He nurtured me like a baby seedling, enabling me to grow and flourish.

Unfortunately, he still had to deal with my family…where drama continues to swirl.  Most recently, I’ve had to step out of that drama, thereby removing my gloves and heading toward my corner.

It’s safe in my corner… I know it’s a drastic move to take, but fully necessary for my own sanity.  I have too much work to do on myself to be taking on extra burdens.  I’ve carried them for far too long.

This is my choice, and it’s a difficult one, but something I need to do.  At some point in life, you look at what you’d like the rest of it to be, and for now, I’m choosing peace.