Never discount your contributions, your value…your YOU-ness. Share your gifts with the world, not out of vanity or to gain some return, but because they may make the difference in someone else’s life. But, you can’t be selective, sharing only some of your gifts, some of the time, as you never know for whom, when, or why your gifts will matter most.
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.”
― Dr. Seuss
The Optimist Creed (by Christian D. Larson, 1912)
Promise yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past, and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Written 100 years ago and yet written for today.
Make it a great week!
Our natural state is one of love. We are meant to make decisions, act, and behave from a space of love – love for ourselves and love for each other. Yet, as we go through life, sometimes experiences create in us a space of rustling, uneasiness, fear. We end up acting and moving from a state of fear, rather than one of love.
Fear is not a natural state – breath is shallow, muscles tense, the ego steps in, behaviors become defensive, and the mind, body, and breath are imbalanced.
Reclaim your balance. Steady yourself. Let go of expectations and pre-determined outcomes. Notice that decisions and actions from a space of fear can be hollow or unfulfilling in the end.
Return to your natural state. Connect with the true seat of your wisdom, your heart. Accept and like yourself, don’t be afraid of who you really are, and move from a place of love.
Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here.
(Marianne Williamson)
Life isn’t so simple,
Or, so, some might say.
But, joy, love and kindness
Can brighten anyone’s day.
And, isn’t that really what matters most of all.
To care for ourselves and those around us…no matter how big or small?
(Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss…and thank you for inspiring these and so many of my other words, thoughts, and actions!)
The world goes by so bustlingly fast, a blur of action, words, and feelings. As human beings, we work so hard to take it all in, to make it all part of that story that is us.
So often we miss the opportunity to witness without action, to pause and be in the moment, to look into the eyes of those around us as they experience their own defeat and triumph, their own fears, their own hurt, their love, their joy and to be with it all, but act on none of it. Animals do it, especially cats. They are wonderful at exercising the witness mind.
Let go of rational thought for a moment and step away from the need to do. Pause, tapping into your animal instincts, and just watch. Meditate on what you see. Look into the eyes of those around you. Look beyond the surface…and even those who, in your mind, may have brought hurt or pain may reveal to you an underlying softness, a love, that they just can’t figure out how to put into action because they’ve put so much other stuff out there.
Look into their eyes and connect with that love and you just may have more love to hold onto as you go bustlingly through the fast-paced action that is the story of you.
AHIMSA – a Sanskrit word for non-injury, non-harming, kindness – a practice we should regularly engage in with others and ourselves according to ancient yogic traditions. But, too often hurt, loss, or betrayal cause us to want to protect the heart, put up a shield, wrap it in armor and fight back.
Opening the heart to love and loss allows one to forgive, let go of resentment, and release fear, and thus to feel all emotions more fully, including love, joy, and contentment.
Today is the day to FREE your heart, to practice Ahimsa. Shed the coat of armor, soften and expand the space surrounding your heart and allow sensations to flow through you.
Peel back the armor by inviting deeper and more fulfilling breath into your body, reaching deep down inside, freeing your breath, freeing your body, freeing your feelings.
Let your face muscles soften
…brow relax
…corners of the mouth curl up in a subtle smile
…shoulders roll back and down
… ribs move more freely as breath draws deeper into the body
…heart space opens.
Feel nurtured by your breath.
Feel the freedom beginning to unfold.
Dive into the love, joy, and freedom you bring to yourself on the wings of your breath.
Begin healing your deepest essence. Breathe in…breathe out…FREE your heart.
Monday Mindfulness 