Update on me.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give a quick update.  I have had a recent family emergency that is taking up most of my time.  During the next two weeks I will not be near any Internet and therefore unable to post.

I hope you will all enjoy my prior posts and check out sites from my blogroll for good reading and fun.  Come back by in a few weeks to see some new posts.  Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

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The Benefits of Determination

Determination by ccgd

I am not by design a highly determined and motivated person. I tend to go with the flow and let life take me where it will. Most of the time this approach works well and I enjoy the journey. But when life takes you in a direction you no longer enjoy, it’s time to take charge of the trip.

One such change is happening now as I make a move to a new state. During the long process that led me to decide to move I had a lot of information to take in and evaluate. After much deliberating I made my choice. During this change I’ve had one setback after another, yet I’ve stayed firm in my decision. I knew I could not reach the goals I had for myself and my life by staying where I was.

Although I have been plagued by troubles both big and small, I was reassured by the knowledge that I had examined my life and circumstances thoroughly and my plan to move is sound. Even with the possibility that my new home might not flourish, I was resolved to see it through.

Having made a decision and deciding to stick with it, there were many benefits I found in having the determination to succeed:

• Finding strength to deal with difficulties because I trusted the soundness of my decision.
• Finding energy to deal with unpleasant tasks knowing a positive outcome is a result.
• Being adaptable and flexible to solving problems in order to reach my goal.
• Having an openness to asking others for help because I knew what I wanted.
• Being clear on the steps I needed to take to get my objectives accomplished.
• Setting reasonable time limits on how long it would take to finish each step.
• Making a to-do list so I could chart the progress I was making.
• Rewarding myself as I completed a big task along the way.

Overall, if though the journey has been rough, it reminded me that I’m tougher than I feel, and I was happy that I kept going even when the task was hard. And it made me appreciate even more the advantages that I’ll get from my move.

As a last note, I may be off-line for a week or so as I complete my move. Please feel free to browse my older articles, or spend time with your other favorite blog and Internet sites. I hope to see you back here soon!

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Making Meditation a Daily Habit

Leavenworth – The Bavarian Village 17 – Meditating Frog in Window by starmist1

Meditation is a wonderful gift of tranquility, happiness and joy that I give myself. Yet time and time again, I find myself putting it off and doing other things. I spend too much time on other projects, looking at just one more web site, reading just a few more pages of my book. Why if this quiet inner reflection makes me feel calm, peaceful and more in touch with myself do I repeatedly skip it in favor of other things?

Part of it is simply habit. When something is a daily habit you tend to do it regardless of what is going on around you. It is an ingrained practice. For instance, I don’t need to be reminded to eat, take a bath or brush my teeth – I do it without thinking. I also read every day without fail –it’s a habit. But some of the things that make me feel good and improve my life are not fully established daily habits yet. I still forget to exercise, meditate and complete my gratitude journal every day. I’m getting better, but I haven’t mastered these 3 things that give my body and mind a lift.

My definition of meditation is simply quiet time by myself, where I slow my thoughts and concentrate on one thing; my breath, a mantra, healing energy, or relaxation. Because this habit is not yet instinctive, I use various techniques to block out the sights and sounds that distract me. As any part-time meditator recognizes, when you slow down and look inside yourself, those little outside noises and bright lights can pick at your concentration and disrupt your focus.

Here are a few techniques and products I use to help me keep my attention from straying:

• Lavender eye pillow: This is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. I don’t remember now where I got my first one, but these eye pillows are great. They are filled with flax seed and lightly scented with lavender. When placed on the eyes they block out the light. The soft, gentle pressure on your eyes relives eye stress from reading, computer monitors and other types of eye strain. I find these are great to help jump-start my relaxation, the cool silk feels great against the forehead and helps keep your eyes from popping open when hearing any distracting noises.
• Headphones with soothing music. Putting on headphones helps immensely by keeping out various environmental sounds like closing doors, running water and cars driving by. There are many restful and relaxing sounds to listen to. Starting with nature sounds like bubbling brooks and the soothing ocean surf, as well as soft, calming classical music (make sure it’s for relaxation and not the upbeat tracks found with some of the top composers). I also enjoy musical compilations’. Two of my favorites are Garden of Serenity which I find very soothing and highly inductive to a meditative state, as well as Medicine Woman which is a louder tune and great for cutting down on outside disturbances.
• Meditate Online. Many of us spend a bit too much time the computer. Since time is what keeps us from our meditation, a quick 5- 10 meditation while online could be the solution to achieving the daily meditation habit. There are many great sites out there, with both voice-guided meditations and musical relaxation. Whatever you prefer, these are great ways to take a mini-vacation from your feelings of stress and tension. These short trips are like practice sessions, reminding your body and mind of their natural state of deep relaxation and calm. Use them to give yourself a few minutes of peace each day.
• Meditation Room 5-10 minute meditations
• Belief Net Guided Meditations
• Meditate with your eyes open. I have done this myself with mixed results. When done in a quiet, slightly dim room like a waiting room, in your car, or break room at work, it can often be effective. This is also a time when a mantra like “Let the light of God heal me, the strength of God protect me, the love of God fill me,” can be very useful. Simply breathing deeply and thinking calming or happy thoughts can also be beneficial.

What techniques and ideas do you use in your meditation practice? What products or practices have worked for you that you’d like to share with others? Feel free to leave your comments here.

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Good Advice

When words of wisdom fail me, I find them in unexpected places.  These came from an email forwarded by a friend.  They are great lessons to live by.  I picked out my favorites, read them and enjoy:

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is
the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did
Last year.

6.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

7.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of nsix.

8.) Dream more while you are awake.

9.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that
are manufactured in plants.

10.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

11.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

12.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new
and flowing energy into your life.

13.) Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead,
invest your energy in the positive present moment.

14.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are
simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra
class ……but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

15.) Smile and laugh more. It is good for the soul.

16.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

17.) Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

18.) You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

19.) Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
Journey is all about.

20.) Ladies – Go on and burn those ‘special’ scented candles, use the 600
thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now.
Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

21.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

23.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

24.) Time heals almost everything.

25.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

26.) Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.
Stay in touch with them.

27.) Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

28.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

29.) Call your family often.

30.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________.’ Today I accomplished _________.

31.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you
certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so
make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE’S A GIFT …. UNWRAP IT! ….. – TODAY

Author Unknown

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