GRATITUDE | Your Blessings Abound You

creative writing and journaling have been my thing since I could remember and this year I am returning to my roots :)

"Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings to counting your TROUBLES."
                                                                    ~ Maltbie  D.Babcock (1858-1901)

Life throws us many curveballs and never do we count on these but as easy as it is said we truly cannot allow our troubles to consume us. If so, then we are forgetting one of the most powerful energies we already possess - Gratitude. I'm quite sure all of us already know that we are to be thankful for what we have, what we experience and just the pleasant unexpected things that come our way. But even when knowing this, how often do we really say thank you?

 

Dissect your life and acknowledge your dreams in these areas --- Health, Career, Money, Relationships, Personal desires, Material things. 

 

Gratitude brings us back to how we first felt when we started dreaming BIG and having a purpose to achieve them. We always say that 'dreams are free' and yes they are but did you know that you can also bring them about in your life? Our current situation and what we have is proof of an abundance or lack of Gratitude - believe it or not and set aside all practices of faith. Knowing this, why not bring in more of what we want in our lives. If you think about it, it is turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the negative things, events or people in our lives and focusing attention on what makes us feel more appreciation for life, our existence and sustain positive and happy feelings in ourselves and towards others.
 

 

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

                                                                       ~ John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
 

 

A helpful tool to keep you on track that I've learn a while back and am revisiting is a list of "10 Blessings". List down 10 blessings that you are grateful for and why, it's as simple as that! But after doing so reread them and say thank you to each and every one of them feeling true appreciation.

It doesn't stop here, continue to count your blessings everyday, repeat what was mentioned above and you will notice and feel a big difference each time and you will realize your blessings magically multiple! 

 

  

 

Photo details:

The Magic by Rhonda Byrne

Journal and Planner from Target

 

Approach vs. Communication | Being Present

Not all of us have the natural ability with the ways of words or have that calmness and confidence while speaking to others they feel at ease to comply or simply listen. And NO I'm not talking about "sales talk", this is simply about HOW we go about communicating with people.

 

On a daily, being wound up with work or on a current task we hardly notice sometimes our manner of communication that we just go about blurting words expecting our thoughts and ideas to get through and understood automatically. Not everyone takes to words or responds the way you want them to. To others you could be perceived as barking off orders left and right. If we don't think about how we say things our words could possibly come out unpleasant, abrasive or disrespectful. And the truth is we just aren't aware most of the time nor do we put much thought into it. This is where relationships come into play, how well we know the person to be able to adjust - whether he or she is a coworker or long time colleague we can never be too sure how words affects them,  family members, friends or acquaintances; it is important to be sensitive to that other person. Now do not think that communication means accommodating the other person, while you have that thought in mind think about this - How would you like to be spoken to? What if you were at the receiving end and have negative feelings about how someone talked to you? Not so pleasant right? One thing to keep in mind when at the work place is when someone is talking to you in a not so nice way, think for a moment that maybe he or she is overwhelmed or troubled by others things right now like deadlines, projects, extreme multi tasking...etc. They unintentionally come across as harsh and it will show in words or in the manner of how they talk. From both sides of this coin there is a lesson to learn ---

 

 

 

Think before you talk...

 

• Making conscious effort to think through your words especially when you're emotional could help diffuse the way you approach someone. Move a step further to foresee what the outcome would be if you went head on with what you wanted to say. Do you want that outcome? You can probably guess it will just create a chain of more words and in the end people get hurt.
• Thinking through you words before saying them helps you with your choice of words too. That doesn't mean sugar coating  but saying less but more effective words. What's most important is being respectful - even when the other person isn't ... (sigh)... I know. But it's the RIGHT thing, right! (^_^)b
• Mirroring your words in your head and tossing out the "not so pleasant" ones makes you a smart person. If you went ahead and engaged in a verbal dispute it will be a battle of out witting one another and that just looks so ... well...STUPID.

 

Let's turn the table and say that you are at the receiving end, how would you go about responding?

 

While people will say things to prove you wrong, judge and disrespect you, it is so tempting to defend your ground right? I know this feeling and it freakin' hurts! Some of us feel so put down that we don't want to deal with the confrontation at all and ignore OR because of our culture and rearing we choose to not respond out of respect even when we've been stepped on. But I've learned that letting things happen isn't the solution, in fact the other person tends to take the advantage and becomes persistent with the way they communicate with you. If anything, it makes it worse. My bad experiences taught me to just go up to that person with a calm mind and be truthful to them and say:

 

 "you know what you said to me on....  about ... really hurt. I would assume if you were told the same you wouldn't like it neither but I'm letting you know that's how you made me feel. I'd rather be upfront and resolve this situation as adults or professionals"

 

... well something along these lines and then simply walk away. Now if the other person felt intimidated (which was clearly not your intention) or  has so much anger in their heart that they retaliate with more words, let them be... seriously.  Let them throw a fit and embarrass themselves while you stayed Cool, Calm and Collected. Maybe this is why people who meditate are so unfazed by people's drama it is because they've trained their minds to be and remain calm in the moment.  

It is no different when dealing with family and friends, no matter how well you know the person, you could never be too sure of their reaction to words when they are having a rough day or are stuck in a rut. It is always good to be mindful of people around you. I could yell at my kids the whole day repeatedly for them to wash the dishes but if I don't know what's keeping them from obeying me right that second, they will not do what I need them to do.

Example:

      Most days I call out to my kids at the bottom of the stairs for them to do their share of house chores. In my mind I already know they are on the computers probably playing online games or watching movies. Also in my mind, they probably don't want to do the work, are probably ignoring me and are probably pretending to do homework. As a working mom it bugs the heck out of me when I don't get the help I need from my kids. After a minute of waiting I will then go upstairs to each of them and check on what they're doing. At this point (whatever their reason for delay) I'd give them a dead time or "time's up!" for them to finish or continue what they're doing so that they could move onto their other responsibilities. In this way they know I am not taking away plus demanding from them, but instead being mindful of what they are in the middle of and reminding them of their obligations with good reason. If at the moment one kid cannot accomplish a task then there is always room to compromise, it is about maintaining openness and flexibility, and so far so good!

~ MORALE ~

 APPROACH and COMMUNIATION work hand in hand. Take every opportunity to provide example for others that respectful communication is creating effective relationships. When you are approached and spoken to in a pleasant manner and with good intentions it brings about better understanding and willingness.

 

December to Remember | Week 2 ::PEACE::

PEACE is a world we can create within ourselves.

(No Bah Humbug's allowed)

If there's one thing I've learned to work within myself (and still am) is how to create and achieve inner peace - to de-stress, slow down and unwind.  Wouldn't this be a better world if everyone chose peace over war, hate & drama, guilt & selfishness, anger and pain...etc.? And just like love, PEACE is a choice.

 

"A mind quick to react in defense or with negativity is a mind unhappy and stressed."     ~ @catmac_

 

Search Google Play Store

We are fortunate to live in an age where convenience is just at our fingertips. There are several apps out there that serve as tools to help ease stress and set a soothing ambiance.
For instance NATURE SOUNDS, mother earth has infused our surroundings with soothing sound waves, we just have to tune in! My personal preferences are the sounds of flowing or dripping water, ocean waves rushing to shore, rain ranging from light showers to torrential storms, chirping crickets at night, the ticking of a clock, sounds of a gong from a distance, spa music from a flute, piano, voilin and wind chimes. We underestimate how therapeutic nature is and we opt for the more louder, polluting sounds. Try these and really pay close attention to your breathing while easing into a calm place in your mind. Nothing else matters... just YOU.


 



Bath&Body Works Aroma Therapy Body Wash

Another thing that helps me set the mood for a mental detox  are SCENTS. Aromatherapy and scented candles provide an immediate soothing effect and can be  purchased anywhere. It is all about allotting time for yourself to create a safe haven  or to be in a state of less or zero worries, let yourself go and not think about what bothers you even for a moment. It'll make a big difference. (Photo details: Eucalyptus Tea Stress Relief Aromatherapy body wash & foam bath; Eucalyptus Mint and Mahogany Teakwood scented candles; Citrus Bliss essential oil)

 



Bath&Body Works scented candles, doTERRA Essential Oils

Establishing inner peace is having ACCEPTANCE - know that you need to help yourself, that your weaknesses affect your life and your relationship with others. Realize that YOU can make and create a solution. Just like nature, stressors are all around us. No one promised our lives to be smooth sailing and stress free but we can definitely make the most of it!  Find ways to create calmness in your mind even when our lives are so busy and hectic.    

No one else will make this time for you and the better you are with others when you are in a state of peace and relaxation. When you have reached that point, close your eyes and say THANK YOU. Share this with someone you know who is burdened with stress too.

"Communication and sharing is just as powerful as the knowledge imparted."     ~ @catmac_ 

Lastly, ain't nothing wrong with little IGNORANCE... what affects us most is what we bring attention to whether big or small. We've all heard of the saying "Ignorance is bliss" -  it is so true :)

Before the year ends, let's truly pay attention to our inner self. Let go of turbulent feelings and share the peace we experience so that it is more powerful than any virus or contagious disease, that it takes over and becomes the most positive and liberating feeling you could give yourself and others!

 

 

~ Peace be with You ALL ~

P.S.
Be enlightened through literature, and if  you don't have the time to read then LISTEN to inspirational books. I take advantage of my time during my commute to work to listen ---



Here are some of my current favorite books I recommend:

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

Hero: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and It's All Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. (a Bay Area native)

 

download the app at Audible.com