Drop of Ocean

You are everything if only you accept it and use it! It is so easy to get bogged down in everything we have to do. But honestly we do not HAVE to do anything. Look around and especially up. Pay attention and be aware as much as you an in every moment. 

Namaste

Giving Your Best To Yourself

With all of life's responsibilities it can be hard to find time for yourself. Schedule it! If you have a paper calendar use a pen not pencil. If you have a computer calendar share it with someone who will help you stay accountable. Make it fun for you and find the time. It will make you happier and better for those around you. 

Namaste

Slow Down

We are always running in our minds as well as our bodies. Slowing down and focusing on what is in the moment will make that moment more important and will keep you grounded.  Smell the roses, look all around, seek inner peace. You will find joy if only you are aware.

Namaste

Being Open-minded

Are you open minded? Do you allow other opinions? Learning only comes from allowing yourself to be wrong. Possibilities are everywhere but if you limit what you can and cannot do you will never see them. Open your heart and mind to new experiences and maybe you can learn and grow more.

Namaste

Seeking Truth

Truth is often hidden behind lies. Each day we should seek our true selves. One step at a time we can be open to the real person inside. That is the only way to create real change in your life. If you are constantly denying who you are and what you need to be whole then happiness will never come. Seek the truth of you don't allow others to decide it for you.

Namaste 

Appreciating What Is Around You

This is one of the views I had over the weekend. We sat in this area and watched the water and the girls playing. Moms talked about everything and nothing. Each moment was a blessing. Often I look at my daughter and just try to take in the moment because I know that there will not be another like it. She will grow up and move on from me but these moments are for appreciating every breathe. Look around, what are you appreciating? What should you be?

Namaste

Pace

I missed yesterday because I was out with my daughter at a Girl Scout event. It was a slower pace and without any signal for the phone it was nice to sit near a lake and just talk with people. Today I am at an even slower pace because of all of the walking and canoeing we did. Pace is important in getting through each day. Some people run at a constant fast pace. This is not always healthy and relaxing is important. Keep pace in mind during your day and make sure it matches what you are doing correctly. 

Namaste

Being Grateful

How do you begin your day? Open your eyes and start worrying? Starting out with a grateful attitude brings more heart to your day. Speak aloud your gratitude to others. Let them know you appreciate them being in your life. Even the smallest things are important and should be appreciated.

Namaste

Last Day of Focus on Happiness-Practice Gratitude

Gratitude requires practice. It does not just come to you. Begin each day with a thank you for all you have. This will become a reminder of how little you need. Speak out loud your thanks for individual people or things to help you further appreciate. If we all did this everyone would have someone thankful for them. I am thankful for all of you who read this and my only hope is that it helps your day. 

Namaste 

Reused 6/23/17

Day 6 - Prioritize Your Health

This one can sometimes be the hardest, especially as parents. Taking time for yourself can feel like a luxury. But, it is important to allow some "me" time or your health and relationships will suffer. As one of the quotes I looked at said, "if you have time for Facebook, then you have time for exercise."  Or meditation.   Make the time. Schedule it if you have to. You will be happier for it.

Namaste

Reused 6/25/17

Day 5 - Embrace Uncertainty

Day 5 of focusing on happiness brings us a tough one. Everyone wants to feel secure but it is how we handle insecurity that gives us strength and opens new doors. So often we avoid change but the change is what can bring us greater happiness if we let it. Load up your backpack and just prepare yourself for change and embrace it.

Namaste

Day 4 - Live In The Now

Are you happy right now? Why not? It is your choice. Looking forward is fine but never seeing this moment will cause you to miss the joy. Right now I sit here getting ready to meditate with a fluffy cat laying on me. She is warm and cuddly. She does this with me every morning. I could get annoyed and make her leave but instead I enjoy the moments with her and she actually helps my heart beat slow down and my mind clear. Find the happiness in each moment.

Namaste 

Day 3 - Learn to Let Go

Letting go - how? It is easier to stick with what you know even if it is not the best for you. However, letting go can free you for better things. Find one issue that might be the easiest to release and let it go. Then find another until you reach the hardest one and free your mind. 

Namaste

Day 2 - Love and Accept Yourself

Happiness comes from within so if you first love who you are happiness will follow. Appreciate what makes you different. Celebrate both the good and the not so good. You can always seek improvement but remember to stay positive in your thoughts as you do. 

Namaste

7 Days of Happiness

Today we will begin the 7 Days of Happiness in the Calm App. The first day focuses on taking time to play. The best thing about having children is being able to play like a child sometimes. We are often so serious about life that we forget that it is the only one we have and we should enjoy it as much as possible. Life is not about making money even though that helps. It is about living and being part of every moment. So take some time, meditate and then play!

Peace

Inner peace is a tough one for me. I try diligently every day to be peaceful. However, too often I get dragged into other people's chaos. Meditation helps that peace last longer with the goal of someday being the peace that others follow. Ultimately you have to let go of frustration and annoyance and allow others to live and make mistakes. Today I will work a bit harder on being peaceful. 

Namaste

Begin Again

I hope that you enjoyed the 22 days of meditation from Deepak Chopra. He provides mantras during meditation that can be helpful so definitely check out his information online. 

We will now go back to using the Calm app for a bit. If you have suggestions on topics you would like me to talk about let me know. I really appreciate all of you who read these. My only hope is that they also help you through your day. 

Focus today on peace in your soul. Breathe deeply as often as you can and find gratitude in life.

Namaste

Day 22 - One Thing to Celebrate Everyday

“Our freedom lies in remaining open continuously, not only to life's changes but also to the divine light within us and others.” ― Peter Santos  

As life becomes richer and more fulfilling, our entire perspective shifts. We see that life itself, the simple fact of being here, is cause for celebration. We celebrate that the true self brings constant love and support. We recognize the spiritual core of every human being is freedom, love, and joy. In a world weighed down by many burdens, this is the most uplifting truth we can follow. 

From choprameditation.com

Day 21 - Bringing Light Into The World

“Let your presence light new light in the hearts of others.”― Mother Teresa

Today’s meditation teaches us that as life becomes lighter, you open a channel for the light to enter you. This is the light of awareness, freedom, truth, and love. The greatest influence you can possibly have is to radiate your own being from the level of the true self. It’s not out of duty that we let our light shine, but because it’s our joy to bring light into the world.

From choprameditation.com

Day 20 - Living With Burdens

“We think so often that we are helpless, but we're not. We always have the power of our minds… Claim and consciously use your power.” ― Louise L. Hay

In today’s meditation, we explore how life feels when the old burdens have lifted. When our mind, body, and spirit become lighter, our life becomes a field of new possibilities.

As we are freed from the restraints of old habits and self-criticisms, we may feel a lightness of mood, confidence, and joyfulness. With an expansive spirit we feel unlimited, peaceful, and creative.

From choprameditation.com

Day 19 - Living Life with Love

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“This world is in deep trouble, but it can be swiftly healed by the balm of love.” ― Rumi

In today’s meditation, we learn about the transformative power of love.

Love is the essence of the true self. If you can act from a space of love, you bypass the judgments and burdens of the ego. So expressing compassion, forgiveness, kindness, and a sense of purpose comes easily. Love expresses itself with tenderness, but it also provides great inner strength.

From choprameditation.com

Day 18 - Taking Back Your Power

“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.” ― Coco Chanel

Every day, our lives are shaped by forces we may not even realize are part of us. 

Some of the most prevalent themes that get reinforced in society are: winner and loser, lovable and unlovable, victim and perpetrator, beautiful and ugly, powerful and powerless. When you put yourself in one of these mental boxes, you lose the power to shape your own story.

Today’s meditation is about taking back the power to create your own life story, and to speak and act according to your own truth.

From choprameditation.com

Day 17 - Winning the Mind Game

“Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” ― Lao Tzu

The mind game consists of the tricks your mind plays on you, making you see reality according to old memories, fears, wounds, prejudices, outworn beliefs, second-hand opinions, and early conditioning. When you are aware your mind is filtering your reality based on the past, you can change it with that awareness. In fact, awareness is the change. Our meditation today brings us into present awareness.

From choprameditation.com

Day 16 - Your Perception Holds The Key

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ― W.B. Yeats

Today’s meditation is about the power of our perceptions. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but so are love, self-esteem, truth, happiness, and optimism.

When your perceptions shift, your story shifts. You have this power to transform and have always had it. At any given moment, when you apply a negative tag to yourself, you are missing the opportunity to shift your perceptions. Instead, apply a positive tag and that will help change the value of your perception.

From choprameditation.com

Day 15 - Transformation is about Your Personal Story

“You write your life story by the choices you make.” ― Helen Mirren

We are all living a personal story, and every story has ups and downs, low points and high points. But what’s important is the theme that structures and guides our story.

When your story has positive, life-supporting themes, you have found the key to transformation. Changing your theme is more effective than trying to fix yourself one issue at a time. The most positive themes include lightness, worthiness, self-acceptance, evolution, and love.

Your theme should be aimed at making you feel good every day. It should open new possibilities. It should give you optimism that you are being renewed.  

From choprameditation.com

Day 14 - Many Breakthroughs, One Victory

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“Breakthrough is guaranteed, if there is enough light.” ― Sunday Adelaja

You make a breakthrough every time you break out of a habitual response. Habit may veil our awareness, but awareness has the real power. At any given moment, if you notice how you really feel and what you really want, old habits begin to dissolve. People can break as many habits as they want by giving themselves freedom of choice.

Celebrate every breakthrough the minute it occurs, but know that in reality there is only one victory: the victory of awareness.

From choprameditation.com

Day 13 - The Present Moment is Your Magnet and Your Compass

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Mind and body only live in the present. And in today’s meditation, we discover that the present moment holds tremendous organizing power in life, like a magnetic force. The power of our ever-present awareness automatically instills a sense of calm and happiness.

We heal this moment in time by centering ourselves and finding the place of peace, joy, and pure being. You can apply self-awareness and quickly learn when you are present and when you aren’t. This allows you to restore yourself to “the now” any time you want.

From choprameditation.com

Day 12 - You are the Healer and the Healed

In today’s meditation, we learn that recovery is a healing process. As we enter into the process, we act as both the healer and the healed simultaneously. Your mind and body want to be restored to a state of dynamic balance. So if you begin any kind of healing, the inherent intelligence of the mind-body system   immediately responds. Thus you heal and become a stronger healer at the same time. Knowing that you are the healer gives a sense of power and fearlessness.

When fully embraced, healing is a joyful process.

From choprameditation.com

Day 11 - Healing Your Hidden Issues

“The light within us can always identify our mind’s darkness.” ― Munia Khan

In today’s meditation, we become more aware of what’s really happening inside, including our old issues from the past. It can feel scary to acknowledge these feelings, but this can be done with knowledge and patience where these issues dissolve in the light of awareness. Today we explore our true self as luminous awareness.

From choprameditation.com