Tag: #livehappier

Unexpressed

Today I heard someone say, “Unexpressed gratitude is interpreted as entitlement or even ingratitude.”

So I’m curious about this. The topic was to do with ongoing, close relationships where people sometimes get lazy in communicating what they appreciate about one another.

Does it apply in the broader scope of relating? Something to consider…

I’m taking this as a reminder to write out my thanks for the wonderful experiences (no matter how small) over the holiday season! 💛

Every genuine thank you lifts the spirt of another. It’s absolutely worth your time.

Bravery!

From the movie Ratatouille:

“I know I’m supposed to hate humans, but there’s something about them. They don’t just survive, they discover, they create…I mean, just look at what they do with food!”

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Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in a day is to taste something new and different. One of our favorite things to do is go to the seafood counter with our 4 year old and let him choose what we have with dinner that night.  Living in Texas, seafood isn’t the most popular thing around and I love fostering the ‘odd ball’ choice.

Try something new and strange and scary this weekend with a brave friend!

A plate can have one new item and two old favorites.  The two old favorites can draw you into Mindful Eating.  Close your eyes, chew a few moments longer and see if you can put words or feelings to the taste.

 

The Uphill Flow

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Post by:   Tracy Weaver, Life Coach, EFT Practitioner

So there you are doing something, some cranky ol’ bear of a task, that really really was not even on the same planet as your “Can’t wait to!” list. What’s the use, gotta get it done. What choice do you have? Physically, maybe not so many choices at the moment. But inside, in that interesting universe called your mind, your imagination? Well! If anybody knew the things you think about!

So, what you’re saying is, you actually do have choices, they’re just inside your head instead of outside. Well, what’s wrong with that? Your emotions are reactions to your thoughts, right? An idea pops up and you react to it. The thought makes you feel better, the same, or worse. If what you’re thinking isn’t helping you to feel good – seems obvious – change the thoughts! Look, if you were alone watching TV and you didn’t care much for the program, what would you do in a heartbeat? Grab that remote and find a more enjoyable program, right? Darn straight.

You may be stuck doing some task, but chances are there is some room inside to choose thoughts, memories, imaginings that make you happier. Let’s just work backwards here. Start here: how would you like to feel right now? Thought so. Well, what kind of thoughts or memories make you feel that way? Without abandoning attention to your task, could you call up just enough of a memory or use a little creative imagination to catch that feeling? That’s it, I saw that little smile. Now, hook onto that good feeling. Just enjoy its company for a bit. Doesn’t have to be a memory, you know. What about your secret plans, your cherished goals? Nobody can take those from you, and they would just love a visit from you.

If you are having a tough time getting the flow going, you might need some bigger guns, at least to start. How about some music? What tunes make you feel the best, make you soar? How about a little soulful singing on your part? Depending on your task, what about a recorded book? A self-improvement audio course? Nature sounds? If you can spare your eyes, what about movies you’ve been meaning to watch? They say you can learn anything on YouTube, right?  Here’s a challenging one, how aware and alert can you be? Wake up your senses. Reach out and really hear all the sounds going on around you. What’s happening out there? How about smells? Anything you didn’t notice before? I can see you’re getting the drift.

You know, if you really wanted to, you could do your onerous task and still have a party going on inside! It’ll take some practicing, and maybe you’ll have to let go of some resentment so you have room to think some better thoughts, but really, which way would you rather spend your time? Thought so.

Our Thanks to Tracy for contributing!

Cheers!

For the weekend, I thought it would be fun to share my Sangria recipe.  Invite some friends over and have FUN!

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  • 1 large bottle of Red Table Wine (I use Fronterra-Cab/Merlot mix $9)
  • 1 cup of Spiced Rum
  • 2 cups of GOOD Orange Juice, no cheap imitation!
  • 2 small lemons squeezed or 7 seconds of lemon juice squeezed
  • 3 limes juiced or 10 seconds of lime juice squeezed
  • 1/2-3/4 cup of powdered sugar, start small and add to taste, using a whisk to thoroughly mix
  • 8 oz bag of frozen berries, I stick mostly with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and small slices strawberries because the taste the best when eating at the end.
  • 3-4 dashes of nutmeg

A sliced orange can be a festive garnish.  Mix and drink right away or keep it over night!  Letting it marinate is never a bad thing.

Truly a party in a glass.  Have one for me and if you try it I’d love to see a picture on the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

Rainbows

I was able to see Maya Angelou speak in Canyon, TX a few years before she died.  It was so wonderful to know she was right there, all of that life and wisdom, right there on stage. I had hoped I would hear her one more time before she passed, but that did not happen.  Thank goodness she talks to me regularly anyway, and thank goodness for what she left behind.  She is a rainbow in my clouds.

The Process to Love

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Shining Positivity into your life has many layers.  One layer is the possibility of watching your own struggle and shifting your perceptive filter.  Watching yourself live and make mistakes doesn’t have to lead to self loathing or chronic disappointment in your physical or emotional self. ‘Mistakes’ such as putting your foot in your mouth, living out hormonal imbalance, maybe even internal tantrums don’t have to lead to beating your Self up every day.  You don’t have to judge or assume labels such as immature or unworthy.  Practice having just enough detachment so that your fumbles are much like watching a 1 year old trying to eat with a fork.  See your learning as sincere, adorable, and clumsy; though seemingly unproductive, it’s truly beautiful.  Your living and learning is a perfect process.

The scene is so often full of, “would have, should have’s, could have’s and if I could only!”.  Pat those thoughts on the back and let them go.  Allow room for understanding that, “When you know better, you do better.”  We are all in a learning process, not a performance for your own line of judges to critique.

Moments tied together in what may become an endless stream of shaming ourselves, hating our bodies, or in fearing our own potential are a waste of energy and focus.  Next time you are disciplining yourself for an action, thought or judgement,  picture yourself speaking to the 1 year old who is just trying to learn how to use a fork to eat their waffle!  Smile, sigh, laugh, take a drink, breathe… and try again.  Be kind to yourself.

We are an amazing PROCESS.