Labyrinth

The image above is a finger labyrinth similar to a labyrinth you might find to walk in a cathedral or out in nature.   Using the finger labyrinth is a mindfulness practice you can print out and carry with you.  Simply use your finger to trace the path beginning at the opening at the bottom.  

The labyrinth differs from a maze in that you do not need to figure it out.  Simply by being present to the path you will arrive at the center, the core.  Enhance your mindfulness experience by using conscious breathing, being aware of your breath as it moves in and out.  

The labyrinth can be used over and over as a daily practice or at a time when you feel you need to re-center.  

This and more printable labyrinths can be found at http://www.quietmeadows.org/finger_labrynth.htm

Kindness

In the political climate today, heck, lots of days I thought reposting this quote was a good idea.  I think it speaks for itself.  Thank you, Lori and Susie for inspiring me.

Enough

One way I like to bring myself back to center is to read a page or two in a book that I love and then take something from the reading into a mindfulness moment.  Maybe just a few minutes or longer if that feels good.  The image above is from one of my all time favorite books, Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh.  A friend gave me this book 22 years ago and I have read and re-read it several times.  It nourishes my soul and always provides for some great re-minders.

I came across this 30 day - Be More Positive Challenge by Les Naly on Pintrest and liked it so much I decided to takethe challenge and invite you to do the same.  I am starting the challenge February 9th.  I am sharing a Complimentary Couch Coaching - group tele-coaching call on February 8th, 7-7:45pm. (Contact me for more information on that).  

Bring something to write on, and your thoughts and ideas!

Here is a list of the challenges for each day.  Looking forward to brainstorming with you on the 8th and hearing your thoughts as we go!

Day 1. For every worst case scenario worry you think of, imagine the best thing that could happen.

Day 2. Spend 5 minutes imagining your dream life and write down what steps you need to take to get there.

Day 3. Have lunch with someone you admire or just someone you run into today.

Day 4. Do 3 things to cut out negativity from your life. Unfollow an account on Instagram, delete an app, or do something else to remove negative feelings from your life.

Day 5. Choose a positive mantra for the day. You can even google for mantra ideas.

Day 6. Give a genuine compliment to 3 people.

Day 7. Think about the best parts of your life while you’re waiting in line or stuck at a stoplight today.

Day 8. Take a few minutes to write down your values. What is most important to you in life?

Day 9. Whenever you have a minute, take 3 full deep breaths to get your oxygen flowing.

Day 10. Dance, run, jump on a trampoline. Get out there and get your endorphins going for at least 5 minutes.

Day 11. Do something nice for someone unexpectedly. Keep your eyes open for someone who could use a boost!

Day 12. Share a good memory with 2 friends and reminisce over good times.

Day 13. Learn something new from someone today.

Day 14. Remember that other people’s opinions say more about them than you. Make this your mantra.

Day 15. Keep good on your promises to yourself. Do at least 1 thing to work towards a goal and pat yourself on the back.

Day 16. Make eye contact and smile at everyone you walk past today. Bonus for saying hello!

Day 17. Laugh for no good reason. Laugh at silly, annoying things that happen today and move on. Life’s more fun when you’re laughing.

Day 18. Meditate for 5 minutes. That’s it!

Day 19. Think about what you can learn from the challenges you’re currently facing. What are they teaching you?

Day 20. Question negative thoughts you have today. Could the opposite be true?

Day 21. Do one simple thing that fills your heart with joy – painting, biking, singing in the car, whatever!

Day 22. Learn more about a cause that’s important to you and brainstorm what you can do to help.

Day 23. Fill your feed with positivity. Follow someone or an organization that inspires you.

Day 24. Go for a walk and admire the world around you.

Day 25. Print out a positive quote you love and put it on your bathroom mirror or by your desk.

Day 26. Create a positive thinking playlist that instantly makes you smile.

Day 27. Call someone that you haven’t talked to in a while.

Day 28. Write yourself a love letter. Wax poetic about how amazing you are.

Day 29. Look for the good in every single person you see. Compliment the people you really admire.

Day 30. See how many of these positive thinking challenges you can complete in 1 day!

Seeing BEauty

If you accept people just as they are they will show your their beauty.

Accepting them doesn't necessarily mean liking their choices or even spending time with them but rather accepting what is. In doing so you are expressing your beauty. In doing so you create a safe place for them to express their beauty.
It may take time. It may take patience. It may even be a long and difficult journey. You may get to experience the parts of yourself you don't yet accept and love unconditionally. It is a process. Eventually the beauty that was always there will emerge.
Have eyes for that.

This is one of the most helpful and most difficult things I have ever learned.  It is incredible how powerful it is.  It isn't in our nature to lean towards discomfort of any kind.  What I have learned is that it is the quickest route through the pain.

Use the Tools You Have

We are equipped with many tools to help us navigate our lives.  We have the ability to develop new tools and update old ones.  Sometimes it seems like the tools we have aren't working.

When you are experiencing a challenge and you start to work with the tools you have and it doesn't seem like they are working, keep trying.  Keep working the tools you have until you find the one that works. It is possible they just aren't the tool for the job. Using a hammer when a screw driver is needed doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the hammer.

Recently, when I was having trouble sleeping I tried taking a hot bath, I tried journalling, I tried meditating, I tried reading and even some yoga.  These are all things that had worked very well in the past and were not helping at all in the moment.

When we aren't sure what tool we need at a particular time, we can ask for guidance.  Guidance is always available to us.  Sometimes we just need to listen.  I have experienced "hammering" away at something so loudly I couldn't hear my internal guidance.

The night I was having trouble sleeping, I finally got quiet and realized I had thoughts and feelings of fear coming up. Then it occurred to me that I was trying to get rid of them. I asked myself, "What if I just lie here and feel the fear?" I was overwhelmed with the idea but decided to try anyway.  I barely remember what happened after that as I feel asleep quickly.

Our internal guidance is always right on.  This is one tool that is fail proof when used.  Sometimes it will guide us to an old tool.  Sometimes it will guide us to a new tool.  Whatever we need our internal guidance is always guiding us bit by bit. #OneDegreeOfChange2018 #BabySteps2018

Nourish Your Soul

Who do you spend the most time with?  Do they nourish your soul?  Who surrounds you? Do they make you hungry for life?  Do the people you hang out with touch your heart?  Do they lift you up or drag you down?  Who we spend our time with is very important.  It is a choice.  When the choice gets difficult it is okay to take some time to be gentle with yourself, meditate on direction and make choices that are empowering.

Being Normal

In our home saying that someone is weird is considered a compliment.  Normal is over-rated.  This quote says it just right.  Be yourself.  Sometimes the road less travelled is the way to go. What would you do if you knew no one would judge you?

Letting Go To Know

Sometimes it may seem impossible or at least agonizing to live with not knowing what's next, or what to do or what if.  Letting go of that can seem like a feat beyond our understanding.  How do you let go?  Willingness is the first step.  Being willing or at least being willing to be willing will help us to  move in that direction.  If we are not willing we can ask ourselves what is keeping me from being willing to let go of the need to know?

The answer to that question is usually some form of fear and it often shows up as the need to control.  Some part of us knows we really can't control all outcomes, but we like to think we can at least try!  The truth is the more we can let go and listen to our inner guidance system the more peace we will experience in the process and the "answers" can come to us as we are now peaceful enough to hear them.

"But I can't let go! It keeps whirling around in my head no matter what I do!"  Then let it whirl and focus your attention on the next thing in front of you.  The answers will come, they always do.

Unfold

Someone once shared with me that when we are feeling the urge to control something we could just wait and see what happens instead. This does not mean we can't take action. It simply means that we can respond by listening to our heart instead of reacting from a feeling of fear.

It reminds me a little of a time out. Taking just a little time to step back from the situation. Maybe we just need time to breathe. Maybe we just need time to think. Maybe we just need time to clear our head. Whatever it is, it is much easier to respond once we've taken this little bit of time.

In this way we allow our lives to unfold. We take action in a more peaceful serene way and our lives begin to look like what we had hoped for all along.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

My mom taught me this quote many years ago.  I am truly grateful.  It has been a quote that has been close to my heart since then.  Daisies always remind me of my mom and this quote.  They were her favorite flowers.

Over the years I have had more than one time to meditate on this quote.  Over the years it has helped me to find inner peace, joy and serenity in the good times, the not so good times and the down right not at all good times.

Sometimes it was not easy for me to bloom where I was planted and I would even catch myself thinking, I can't bloom here. I began to realize I can also plant myself were I can bloom. This was super helpful and I would make a conscious choice to "plant myself where I can bloom in the first place."  Other times I would find no way to "plant" myself where I could bloom.  Like the Jerry McGuire quote, "Show me the money," I would yell out, "Show me the beauty!!"  Even when I thought there was no beauty to be shown - it worked.

I pass this helpful tool from my mom to you.

Be + Do = Have

Whether you want financial abundance or joy, this equation works every time. If it isn't working in your life, one question is who am I being? What keeps me from being what I want?

Be financial abundance + Do financial abundance = Have financial abundance

Be joy + Do joy + Have joy

Agree or Not

I am an advocate of agreeing to disagree.  You don't even have to do that to be kind to one another.  I love it.  There are few if any prerequisites to being kind.  The only thing I can think of is that it is pretty difficult to be kind to another if you are unable to be kind to yourself.

Re-Directed

The first time I learned this I was in 8th grade. My dad had told me something similar to this same thing. I didn't believe him, and would have rolled my eyes at him if I hadn't been taught not to do such things. When it turned out that what I was being rejected from was actually redirecting me to meeting my best friend all through high school I never wanted to roll my eyes at my dad again. This has turned out to be true for me more times than I can count.

For years my girls have asked me to make a wish list at Christmas time.  Every year I have put peace of mind at the top of this list.  This past year as I was considering my list I realized I have peace of mind much more than I don't.  It was cause for me to stop a moment and contemplate.  Here are a few of the things that I think greatly contribute to peace of mind.

Health of body, mind and spirit - What am I doing to take care of my physical health.  Are there things that need my attention?  How do I stinulate and nurture my mind?  Do I read things of interest? Is there a class I have been wanting to take?  Whether or not I am religious, how do I care for my spirit?  Do I spend time in nature?  Do I have a spiritual routine?

Mindfulness - How often do I live in the present moment?  Am I present to myself? Am I present in my relationships? How can I become more present? Now is how.

Acceptance - What is acceptance? What in my life needs my acceptance?  How do I accept the things that are difficult to accept? What is unacceptable?  How do I distinguish between what is unacceptable and what I don't want to accept?

Authenticity -  Am I being true to myself? Who am I authentically?

Values - What are my values?  What do I value most?  How do I determine my priorities?

Fun - What is fun for me?  How do I have fun with the most important people in my life?  What keeps me from having fun in my life?

Gratitude - What am I grateful for?  How can I incorporate gratitude into my daily life.

Focus - What do I focus on in my life?  What am I focussed on right now?  Is my focus from moment to moment bringing me peace of mind? How do I focus on what brings me peace of mind?

Surround yourself with peaceful people.



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