Friday, April 22, 2011

Dream a little dream...





"You'll see it when you believe it."
— 
Wayne W. Dyer


Remember when you were a child and someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? What did you say?

An astronaut?
A ballerina?
A football star?
The President?
Doctor, lawyer, scientist?

There were no limits to what you could imagine for yourself.

But childhood ends and with it, the gift of limitless possibility. We grow older, become more jaded, experience the pains of heartbreak and disappointment, and close off that lushly creative part of ourselves. We become "practical", "realistic" adults. What a shame...

Now, I'm not saying that blind innocence and naivete is a better option. What I am saying, however, is that we can miss an amazing opportunity to give ourselves permission to dream again, as we did when we were kids. How can you know if something is impossible if you don't try? How can you know what dream is "too big" if you don't go to your edge? How many times have you heard of someone who, against all odds, has done something that no one else believed was possible?

Here are just a few examples:
the Wright Brothers
Thomas Edison
Rosa Parks
Michelangelo Buonarroti
Leonardo da Vinci
Coco Chanel
Mahatma Gandhi
Madonna
Nelson Mandela
Louise Hay

Close your eyes...imagine your deepest desire...your wildest dream....got it?
Now, what's stopping you from making it come true?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Be.Here.Now.



"Nothing is worth more than this day." 
— 
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe



I occasionally get stuck in my head, analyzing and obsessing on what could have been, what could be around the corner, and all the ways I could've done _______ differently (better).

I know I'm not alone in this behavior.

While I don't engage in this nearly as much as I used to (all the time), for the last few weeks, I've been indulging myself a little too much in these old habits. There are a few items on my obsession list right now; of course, I have absolutely NO control over any of them---I am well aware of that. However, that knowledge has not prevented me from obsessing about them; in fact, my pesky little brain has gotten quite creative in the way it returns to each one, after I have sworn off thinking about them. 

I know that I am letting my fears get the better of me. I am trying to maintain some control over future events that are beyond my control. Sounds crazy, huh? Yes, I know.

I was in a yoga class last week and the teacher suggested an amazingly appropriate intention for the class: staying in the moment. For a full hour, we were encouraged and reminded to stay present. Through each pose, through each breath, through each transition, our focus was to move from one individual moment to the next. 
At the end of the class, I felt incredible! I was  renewed, focused, peaceful, and best of all, had not obsessed for a full hour!

There are so many things that can make us feel overwhelmed, out of balance, or out of control; so many different manifestations of our fears can consume our thoughts and make life seem unmanageable. 
The only remedy that I have found to work consistently is to bring myself back to the present moment. Often easier said than done, but I know it works. From there, I can find gratitude, acceptance, and the ability to see the issue more realistically (not SUPER SIZE, like it seems to be when I'm obsessing).


So, here's my thought for the day: stay present. Appreciate THIS moment... then the next....and the next.
After all, THIS moment is really all there is...until the next one, right?
And in THIS moment, things are pretty darn good!








Friday, April 8, 2011

Choose again...




A belief is only a thought I keep thinking.


~~~Abraham-Hicks





Thoughts contain an amazing amount of power. There was a time when I felt that I was at the mercy of the negative, obsessive thoughts that plagued me, day in and day out. It was like being on a hamster wheel, with no escape route in sight. Held captive on this wheel, my thoughts would spin faster and faster in progressively tighter circles, until I was so wound up I thought I would burst! The irony of this situation was that the behavior had become so ingrained, that I couldn't see the insanity of it.

Thankfully, things have changed.

Now I know that the power to choose the thoughts I focus upon is mine. I learned that my perception affects everything: if I choose to focus on what's wrong or what's "lacking", then I will only be able to see the problems, not the solutions. If, on the other hand, I choose to look through the lens of gratitude and acceptance, I can appreciate the beauty, in all its forms, that surrounds me on a daily basis.

Bottom line...negative thoughts feel bad, positive ones feel good.

If I choose to dwell in negativity or pessimism, then my life looks pretty bleak and I'm no fun to be around (heck, I don't even want to be around myself!)
If I choose to look for the positive, good feeling things, life looks (and feels) pretty good.

Like attracts like.
Misery loves company.

Which do YOU choose?

Reach for a thought that feels better.


~~~Abraham-Hicks

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Just.Say.NO (thank you)!





"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - By Barbara de Angelis


Clearing out space does not always involve a physical housecleaning. Sometimes the clutter that is weighing us down or holding us back manifests as negative thoughts or beliefs that no longer ring true with the person we have become. In many cases, we may have surrounded ourselves with like-minded people when we were in that negative state of mind...misery loves company after all, right? When we make changes in our attitudes and outlook, there is a shift, and those beliefs ( and people) no longer complement our new mindset.
Letting go is not always an easy process. Change is difficult for most people. But in order to move forward, we must release the baggage that is hindering our progress. Not everyone is ready or willing to make the journey. Letting go can be sad, but it can be done with love and kindness. Whether it's an outdated belief that no longer serves you or a relationship that has come to an end, you can say thank you and wish them well....then let go and move on.