Welcome to this day

I face this day with a willingness to say yes as it unfolds.  If something shows up that is unwelcome, I will breathe and remain grounded rather than fighting against it and automatically reacting.  It is here for a reason and denying its existence only increases suffering.  I choose to believe there is something I need to learn rather than pushing it away.  Openness and curiosity serve me better than suspicion and close mindedness.   I welcome this day believing I can deal with whatever it holds.

Radical Acceptance

How often do I offer conditional acceptance?  I find myself frequently saying: ‘you should, if only it was, he ought to, it shouldn’t be that way, they need to’… The list goes on and on. 
’You statements’ are a major signal that I’m in a judgment zone and unwilling to accept life, myself and others as they are.  Another signal is when I judge an experience or action as 'good' or 'bad', 'right or wrong'.   

Today, I will pay attention to when those moments occur, not to put myself down, but rather to notice and increase awareness.  I can only change what I acknowledge and accept about myself.  I have a willingness to move towards radical acceptance of myself and those in my life.

Hope Lives

Hope lives when I watch children playing make believe or see the sun dancing on the surface of the water.  Hope amazes me when I observe people forgiving each other for past hurts or discover impossible dreams coming true.  Hope eludes me when I feel the odds stacked high against me or realize doors are closing before I am ready for them to close.  Hope embraces me when I experience the love of my friends by my side or listen to music that touches my soul. 

     If I look for it I will see, touch, hear, feel hope all around me today.

Life is a Journey

Life is a journey with unexpected twists and turns.  Just when you think you know where you’re going BOOM suddenly new developments send you in a completely different direction.  It can be difficult to negotiate the stress of the unknown.

Today, I will remind myself that I have managed many deadends, detours, and unanticipated side trips successfully in the past.  When I trust the universe and open my heart to live in the moment and all that it holds, the journey is much more pleasurable, meaningful and easy to navigate.  I wonder where today will send me, what it will deal me,  and who I will encounter.

A Listening Heart

Can I hear you?  Do you hear me?  We both like to express ourselves and speak our truth, yet sometimes it is so hard to listen, understand, and validate each other.  Today I choose to spend more time listening than expressing.  I will open my heart to what you have to say, even if I disagree with what I am hearing.  I will concentrate on understanding you.  After paying attention and acknowledging what I have heard, then I will respond with my point of view and opinion.  Connection, empathy, love, is realized if I create space within myself to hear you. I know I can grow a more effective listening heart.

Changing my thinking

The ‘what if’s’ play over and over in my mind some days and it can be difficult to redirect my thinking to more positive avenues.  I want to concentrate on gratitude for the many blessings I experience daily and create openness for the flow of abundance that I believe surrounds me.  As each limiting thought shows up today I will think of three of the people, things, or situations I’m grateful for having in my life.   I choose to look at what is rather than what was, what if, or what might be.

Honesty

Can I be honest with myself?  I try to convince myself I’m not angry, scared, or sad.  I put on a happy face and smile even when I want to scowl or cry.  My truth goes underground in a tight little place within and takes my joy and authenticity with it.  The cost of this duplicity is loss of being known, accepted and an inability to acknowledge myself; too much of a price to pay.

Today, I choose to take the time I need to know my feelings and express what I know to be true about me.  I will not abandon myself and shove my truth away.  I allow myself to be genuine so that I can be seen and known.  I accept my truth whatever it is and trust that there are others who will accept it too.  I can show you who I am without the need to cover up as long as I say yes to myself first.

Anything is possible

Life happens and daily there are forces trying to convince us we are ‘less than’ and not ‘as good as’ others.  However, there is also an energy surrounding us that holds the truth of our being.  We are no less than ‘children of the universe’ with lives full of love, purpose and meaning. We can choose which truth we will believe today. 

If we choose to be dragged under by negative, shame-filled thoughts it will lead to depression, loneliness, and hopelessness.  Not a pretty picture.  However, if we turn our hearts towards belief in ourselves and others anything is possible.  I choose to believe in you and me.

 

Connection

There are days when I mistakenly tell myself I am all alone and unseen.  But then I remember these are merely echoes of childhood when my needs, thoughts, and feelings were unseen by those around me.  Now I know that I am never truly alone. 

I am connected to an internal parental energy that grounds me, reminds me I am loved, and gently nurtures me.  I am connected to friends who surround and support me; applauding my successes, comforting me during disappointments, and inviting me toward growth when needed.  I am connected to a higher power that gives me a sense of purpose and meaning.   I may feel lonely, but I am not alone.

Celebrating accomplishments

Today I will recognize the accomplishments that I have already made and believe in the ones yet to come.  When I am tempted to succumb to the temptation of bemoaning my lack of movement, I will acknowledge those ways in which I have grown and surpassed my previous expectations.

Communicating Responsibly

Turning my YOU statements into I statements makes a big difference.  I move from being critical of you to communicating my feelings, thoughts and needs.  I take responsibility for my reality and stop blaming others for what I perceive.  I feel more empowered and less like a victim.  I stop making you into a persecutor and create connection instead of pushing you away or secluding myself in a self imposed prison.  Today I will monitor how I express myself and when needed shift my communication pattern.  I can do this.

Taking Risks vs. Playing It Safe

Breathe and take one step at a time.  Often my fearful nature wants to see the whole pathway, obstacles I will encounter and how I’m going to get there before I move forward.  This needing to know paralyzes me and prevents me from taking risks.  I have regretfully missed out on opportunities and not taken chances when it was later shown to have been not only safe but could have been beneficial for me.  Playing it safe seems to rarely be the best policy.  There are moments when trust in myself, others, and my higher power are necessary.

 

I choose to release my controlling grasp and allow myself to take risks. Rather than seeing life through the lens of fear and potential harm, I want to see the possibility, magic, and blessing this day holds.  

 

 

Finding beginner's mind

I would like to cultivate a child-like spirit today.  Not to be childish and immature but rather have an open hearted acceptance with the ability to live in the present moment.  I’d like to feel spontaneous and free to explore; open to learning, growing, knowing, and understanding the world around me.  It would be great to let go of worry trusting that what I need will be provided and to have a belief that the supply is endless.   I want to look around and see wonder and awe in a blade of grass or an ant carrying its treasure across the ground, to dance in the rain and splash in mud puddles not worrying about catching a cold or ruining shoes or clothes.  Looking around and seeing magical moments filled with surprise and delight, savoring a piece of candy, or imagining mythical creatures and adventures; yes, this is the spirit I want to experience for just a little while before responsibility, accountability, maturity, realism, and duty set back in.   

Freedom

I am grateful for the freedom to live my life in a manner that I choose to do so.  I can believe what works for me, think thoughts without fear of being censored; feel what I feel and express myself freely, act according to my values and integrity without being told what I can and cannot do.  I feel appreciative today of these privileges and recognize that not everyone is so fortunate. 

I send a wish and prayer for those who are imprisoned by other’s unwelcome pressure and for those who are victimized by the misuse of power and influence.  May they be strengthened and supported to live this life with meaning and purpose.  I intend to not squander the opportunities I've been given today.

    

Here I Am



When I take time to listen to the whispers of my heart, I can hear what I need, what I feel and what I value.  I can comfort, nurture, and affirm my worth and value.  When I refuse to attend to these messages I abandon myself and move through the day like a robot on remote control.  I lose touch with what brings me happiness and joy and find it impossible to show up with authenticity for others.  I look for ways to avoid the discomfort I begin to feel and start to run away from my pain with addictive behaviors.  Life becomes unmanageable until I become paralyzed with depression, fear, and anxiety.

Today I choose to pause and quiet the noise around me.  I will allow my breath to bring me to presence where I can be still and know the small voice of my soul saying ‘Here I am, see me, hear me, be with me, AHHH.” 

Standing Strong

One step in front of another step, and then the next step… Perseverance and commitment in working towards goals requires moment by moment choice.  There are times when it seems as though no progress has been gained.  However, as long as I stay on the road toward my goal I am advancing.  Some days, just standing in place is enough.  At least I’m not running away or abandoning myself. 

Today, I will acknowledge my commitment to myself to remain positive in belief about being enough.  I affirm my worth and value and will challenge thinking that would tell me anything else. 

GRATITUDE FOR FRIENDS

Having friends that reach out to provide comfort, nurture and acceptance is simply one of the greatest gifts the universe has provided me.   At times, it is can be easy to believe I am in this by myself.  However, if I reflect on the multitude of times those who love me have shown their care by taking time to listen, bolstering my self-esteem, believing in me when I don’t believe in myself, keeping me grounded by reminding me that I am seen and heard, letting me know when I am in need of correction, and lending me strength when I am faltering; I remember that none of us are ever really alone.  My heart is covered with the handprints my friends have left there.

My wish today is that I can be as good a friend to others as I have been blessed to experience.