So it’s been way too long since I’ve made a post!  I could go into my excuses but I’ll spare you.

What I do want to share with you though is this quote from an Abraham Hicks Workshop in NY back in 1997 (13 years ago…seems so long ago when put like that!).

Be easy about this. Be playful about it. Don’t work so hard at it. Let your dominant intent to be to feel good, and if you don’t feel good, then let your dominant intent be to feel relief. Feel your way through it. If you think your way through it, you can get off on all kinds of tangents. If you feel your way through it, you can come quickly to your Core Energy, and when you do that only good can then flow to you.
— Abraham

I just love this!  It’s so simplistic.  We typically try to make things hard, but it really doesn’t have to be.  If we can just connect to how we feel (emotionally & physically), and go for a better feeling or a feeling of relief then everything else will take care of itself.

When our intention is to feel good and we go about our day feeling good, or feeling a sense of relief, then we can be playful.  We can have fun.  We can fully enjoy life!

No matter what, no matter the situation, no matter how stressed or anxious you are, remember you just have to feel good.  So how do you do this when you think your world is crashing in on you?  You think about something or someone that puts a smile on your face.  You listen to your favorite song.  You play a game, or go for a run.  You take a yoga class.  You meditate.  You get a massage, or maybe you give a massage.  You volunteer to help someone less fortunate than you.

When you start to feel your way through your experiences, rather than thinking through them, then you start to move quickly to your core energy.  Abraham said when you do this only good can flow to you.  That’s because your core energy is goodness.  It’s love, light, happiness, peace and positivity.  And when we start to pay attention to how we feel and have the intention of feeling good, then we’ll always be led to our core energy.  We naturally want to feel good.  We naturally do feel good.  Sometimes we just let our mind and reactions take us away from our natural state.  Once we get back to our core energy…we’re feeling good, we’re feeling love and happiness, and good will continue to flow to us.  As the Law of Attraction states, like attracts like.  So the more we’re at our core energy, the more goodness will flow to us.

It’s really an awesome cycle.  One that I definitely want to be in!

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STRESS.  A 6 letter word that is used so frequently…”I’m so stressed out”, “I’m sorry I yelled at you.  I’m just stressed right now”.  Really?  Is stress that prevalent in our world today?  I know it is, but sometimes I wonder if it’s just an overused word.  I wonder if sometimes the word stress is used instead of “busy” or “beat”.  Is stress used just because that’s what we’ve been taught or because we hear that word so frequently that we want to be part of the “stress crowd”?  Is it cool to be stressed?  Does being stressed mean we’re successful?

Absolutely NOT!

I rarely use the word to describe myself.  I guess mainly because I just don’t stress.  I may have a lot on my plate, or I may be under a time crunch but I wouldn’t say that I’m stressed.  I just know what I have to do and do my best to get it done.  But really I believe the secret to not being stressed is to believe in well-being, to believe that everything will be okay, to trust that it’ll all work out.  And this is what I do!

When we’re stressed, we’re basically feeling and thinking negative thoughts, our confidence is low (“I can’t do this”), and we’re dreaming up what an awful future we have.  And when we do this, we feel terrible.  We have anxiety and nothing is right.  If we continue this pessimistic view, what we will see is more of the same…more shit to be stressed about!

But it doesn’t have to be this way!  There’s really no need to stress, no matter what your situation is.

To believe in well-being is to be optimistic, and when you have optimism you have hope.  When you change your perspective to seeing the glass half full, it is!

So I’m not saying that you should look at something that is dark and yucky and call it light and shiny.  I’m just saying shift your gaze.  Instead of looking at your problems and stressing over them, look for the solutions.  When you take your focus off what you don’t want and focus on your well-being, then the Universe will bend over backwards to give it to you.

Next time you start to utter the word “stress”, or you feel stressed and overwhelmed just remember to look in another direction.  Think back to the last time you were stressed.  After the stressful situation ended, didn’t everything work out?  You’re still here, you’re still alive, and you have so much to be grateful for.  It really is okay.  No matter what happens, it all works out in the end.  It may not work out like you had planned, but it did work out and may actually even be better than you planned.

Have Faith.  Believe.  Have Hope.  Live Easy.  Now these are cool words!

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So I’m reading the book, “Committed” by Elizabeth Gilbert.  She’s the one who wrote “Eat, Pray, Love“, and I ran across a passage in her book that I just love.  I want to share it with you!

“I’d learned enough from life’s experiences to understand that destiny’s interventions can sometimes be read as invitations for us to address and even surmount our biggest fears.  It doesn’t take a great genius to recognize that when you are pushed by circumstance to do the one thing you have always most specifically loathed and feared, this can be, at the very least, an interesting growth opportunity.”

Like she says…”it doesn’t take a genius to recognize”, but I wanted to share this with you because while it doesn’t take a genius, it’s always something good to be reminded of.

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So yesterday I ran the last leg of the White Rock Marathon relay race…6.2 miles!  I must say I’m very proud of myself.  I trained a bit, but not as much as I would have liked to.  Yesterday was only the 2nd time that I’ve ever ran that far and the first time was on a treadmill!  So yes, I’m very proud of myself, but I’m also proud of ALL the runners, especially the marathoners…26.2 miles.  Wow.

Running is such a mental game.  For me, it’s goes something like this:

When I take my first several strides I wonder how the hell I’m even going to make it a half of a mile.  My body is trying to find a rhythm.  My breath is too.  And my mind?  haha “Let’s do this another day.  You’ve really got a lot to do.  You don’t need to run this race.  Please stop.  Please.”.  BUT I DON’T.  I keep moving.  I bring my awareness to my breath.  Ahhh, there it is.  I’m starting to hear a rhythm.  2 inhales through the nose, 1 exhale through the mouth.  (I don’t know if this is how I’m “suppose” to breath while I’m running, but this is what I do).  I keep moving.  Then I find the rhythm in my body, and I get a good pace going (I run a 10 minute mile).  Everything is going good, but then my mind wanders in…or maybe I should say my mind wonders what the hell I’m doing!  You mean I’ve only gone a mile?  What?  Ok, back to the breath.  I’ll enjoy my scenery.  But wait, my knee is starting to hurt.  I ignore it the best I can.  I tell myself to keep running, just don’t think about it.  Don’t think about anything, or wait, maybe I should think about something to get my mind off the running.  Okay, so what I am going to buy everyone on my Christmas list?  Okay, enough of that because my toe is numb.  Yep, I can’t feel my big toe.  That’s okay, just keep running.  You can do this.  Breathe.  2 miles.  That wasn’t so bad.  I can keep going.  I’m fine.  Just breath.  Enjoy the now.  Take this moment in completely (this is where I go into my yoga training), but damn this knee and toe (this is where I go out of my yoga training).  Should I stop?  Yes, I think I should.  No, nope.  I’m fine.  I can do this.

And then, out of nowhere I realize that I’m absolutely okay.  My body is amazing.  It’s almost like my legs and arms are just moving on their own.  You get to point (for me it’s about mile 3 or so) where it’s like you don’t even realize they’re moving.  They’ve been moving in that same motion for so long now, that it just happens.  You don’t have to make your legs move, they just are.  And I can feel that my heart rate is high, but I can hold a conversation.  My breath is great if I just keep my “2-1″ rhythm going.

AND THEN, it’s all mental!  Once your body and breath have acclimated the mind is the only thing left you have to deal with!  Now this is probably where wearing ear buds and listening to music would come in and be a great help, but I, 99% of the time, don’t listen to music while I run.  I know!  Crazy, right?  I just figure I’ll be thinking my crazy thoughts while the music is playing, so why not try to not think at all.  A moving meditation.  So this is what I do.  I meditate why running (at least I try…most of the time I run while pushing my 2 kids, so if they’re not talking to me, need a snack, want my iPhone, and not fighting with each other, I’m meditating!).

I go in and out of boredom a bit too, but I know that’s just my mind playing tricks on me.  I make it 6.2 miles, and I’m feeling good.  But ya know, I don’t think I have a desire to run anymore than that.  I’m good.

I’m in awe of the marathon runners.  Not only the physical strength, but the mental strength it takes to run 26.2 miles just blows my mind!

(Now if I can just get up from this chair with my sore thighs!)

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Both my boys have asthma, and over the past couple of days they’ve both been having some pretty serious issues with it.  If you’ve never experienced asthma, or don’t have kids with it – it can be scary!  I don’t have asthma, but I can tell you that with kids you know they’re experiencing difficulties breathing because they start coughing, and coughing, and coughing, and more coughing.  They are truly amazing because as adults if we were coughing as much as my kids have been coughing…we would have taken ourselves to the emergency room!  Kids are just so awesome.  They don’t know to panic or to be scared, which allows them to be so resilient.

In listening to my children cough and wheeze it makes me think how much we take our breath for granted.  We breathe automatically.  It just happens.  And when we take a deep breath, the heart rate increases.  When we exhale, the heart rate drops.  It just happens.  We don’t have to think about it.  There’s no effort involved.  It’s such an amazing God made machine.

So why do we take it for granted?  Because it just happens?  Because we don’t have to think about it?

Our breath is the most valuable thing we have.  Let’s give it the attention it deserves.  Inhale.  Exhale.  In that one conscious breath, don’t you feel better?  In that one conscious breath, our mind is focused and not running rampid.  In that one conscious breath, we are completely in the moment.  We’re not stressed, not worried, not negative…OMG, we actually feel good!

So what if we paid more attention to the breath?  What if we took 5 conscious breaths in a row?  Or even 1 conscious breath every hour?  It doesn’t take much.  All we have to do is pay attention to something that is already happening.  All we have to do is connect to something that is so amazing and effortless, and in doing so maybe we learn that our lives can be this way too…amazing and effortless.

Inhale – Exhale

The more we pay attention to the breath, the more natural it becomes.  It won’t be something that we have to remind ourselves to do.  We’ll just be doing the dishes and connect to the breath.  We’ll be at our desk working and feel the inhale and exhale.  It’s a beautiful thing.  We’ll be stressing over something and then remember that our breath will help get us through it.

Thank you breath!  I promise to pay more attention to you…you literally mean the world to me!

If you want some help remembering to breath, CLICK HERE!

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Okay, so I’ve totally slacked on this.  I could easily just blog about my excuses as to why, but I’ll spare you.  Plus, it doesn’t matter.  So, what I’ve done is list the assignments in the 21 day gratitude challenge for the days that I slacked, plus today’s.

Day 16 – Stand in front of the mirror for five minutes and focus on at least five things that you love about yourself. Write them down in your journal.

5 minutes, really?  This was not as easy as it sounds.  Fortunately, it didn’t say stand naked for 5 minutes!!  Looking at myself in the mirror for 5 minutes…I interpretted that to mean “what are the 5 things physically that you love about yourself”.

1.  My hair

2.  My arms

3.  My ass

4.  My complexion

5.  My stomach

I’m truly grateful for these physical attributes, but more than that I’m grateful that my body is healthy, strong, and functions properly (without me knowing how it all works!).

Day 17 – Write about something you feel grateful for in your life today.

This was last Saturday and that day I had lots to be grateful for.  I taught a yoga class that morning.  I hung out with my niece & nephew, enjoyed some gorgeous weather, and had Max’s 4th birthday party.  I could go on and on, but I’d like to just focus on one thing this day.   I’m so, so thankful for the students that show up every week and allow me to guide them in their yoga practice.  They are extremely dedicated students and I’m inspired by them every week!  I’ve been teaching this group of students for many, many years now (I could figure out exactly how many, but it’s late! ) and I’m so thankful to have them in my life.  I learn so much from them.  They are great people, and I really do appreciate them.

Day 18 – For the past three days, you have focused on appreciating what makes you unique. Write about all the things that make you so lovable. Take a moment to appreciate your personal style, talents and charm.

I think what makes me “so lovable” is that I don’t take myself too seriously.  I have a great sense of humor.  I’m completely easy going and don’t get bothered by what others say or do.  I listen more than I talk, and for the most part I like everyone.  And ya know what??  I love all that stuff about myself.  I’m really thankful that I’m this way.  I haven’t always been all these things, but as I’ve grown I’ve really come to love myself more and more.  Thank you for this.  I think it’s a fantastic feeling!

Day 19 – Have confidence in the all the choices you have made today and be grateful for being able to believe in
yourself.

I’m grateful that I believe in myself.  It takes work and I’m glad that I work on it!  I, like you, have doubts.  I really try to identify those doubts, and doubt my doubts.  Sometimes it easily works and others not so much, but I do recognize that it’s all me; that I’m the one that holds myself back, that gets in my own way.  And for that I’m grateful.  I’m grateful that it’s in my hands, and I have control over it.  My confidence and belief in myself starts with me and ends with me.  I’m grateful for the awareness, the pep talks that I give myself, and for the choices I make.

Day 20 – As The Challenge winds down, write a thank you note to yourself. Thank yourself for taking the time to stop and focus on all the little things for which you feel grateful.

Dear Self,

I’m really glad I did this challenge.  Thank you so much for taking the time each day to be aware, to be grateful and to be challenged.  I have been reminded to appreciate the little things and the big things.  My eyes have been opened to just how great I have it.  I have an awesome life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’m thankful that this challenge was brought to my attention, and that I’ve inspired others to take the challenge as well.  I’m thankful that on those days that I didn’t feel like actually blogging about my gratitude, or didn’t have time that I didn’t quit.  It never once entered my mind to quit.  Thank you!

I’m thankful that I’ve put myself out here, so to speak, and have been more exposed.  It has made me open up in ways that I would have normally kept to myself in a personal gratitude journal.

I’m thankful for the way this challenge has made me feel, and I’m so glad and grateful I did it!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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My assignment today is to “take the time to focus on yourself. Appreciate and give thanks for your unique personality, skills and talents.”

Here we go:

I’m thankful that I know who I am and am true to myself.  I’m thankful for the confidence in who I am and that I don’t feel like I need to be anyone else.

I appreciate the mom that I am, the wife that I am, the friend that I am, but above all that I appreciate who I am.  I know that being a mom, wife, and friend are just labels that we put upon ourselves, and above that, above the ego is me, and I love me.

I’m grateful that I’m laid back and easy going.  I’m thankful that I’m productive and efficient.  I can multitask like nobody’s business (you should see what all I’ve got going on right this moment ) or I can focus on one thing and be completely present for it.

I’m so thankful that I’m healthy and strong.

I’m thankful that I live life in the present moment as best I can, and that I have developed a great sense of awareness.  I appreciate that I’m aware of my thoughts and of my feelings and can change them if I’m not liking the way I feel.

I’m so, so grateful that I have a positive perspective.  I love that I see life through rose colored glasses, and that it’s always sunny and 70 in Katland.

I appreciate my sense of humor (even if I am the only one laughing…those who know me well know that I crack myself up all the time), my wit, my creativity, my passions (that I know what my passions are!), and my ability to let go.

Thank you, Me.  Love, Me

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Day 13 of the 21 day gratitude challenge – I’m loving this challenge, but wow it is a challenge!  I’m not used to blogging so much, but glad (and thankful, of course) that I am.

So the assignment is this –  Pick three friends or family members you see regularly. View their actions and gestures through a positive lens, assuming their goodness and witnessing their best intentions.  –

Nearly all my family and friends are positive people.  Of course they have negative thoughts at times (who doesn’t?), but for the most part they’re positive.  When they’re not, they become aware they’re not (which I think is what’s important!).  I’m extremely grateful to be surrounded by their light.  I think we all help each other shine brighter!

In watching and listening to some of my family and friends here’s what I’ve discovered.  It’s enlightening to witness when life gives you lemons.  At first there may be some bitterness, some stress and some anxiety but in the end it always works itself out.  I’m fortunate (and oh so grateful) that I learned this and grasped onto it a long time ago…so I rarely get stressed.  I just sit back and wait for the lemonade!  But, I see this happening with people around me (and in myself at times)…  A life situation arises (not enough money, not enough time, etc) and at the moment it seems horrible…maybe there’s some bitching, complaining, and just negativity.  We all handle stress in a different way.  At a point, though, there’s a shift.  We see just a little glimpse of light in the darkness and there’s hope.  We start to see a little more lightness and the positivity comes back…more hope, more faith, more confidence, more smiles!

I think that entire process is pretty cool.  I see it play out in different people and with different situations.  For some, the gap between the “horrible” situation and the glimpse of light is wide.  It takes a while.  And in some (depending on the person & the situation), the gap is much shorter.  I’m so thankful that my gap is typically really short, and I’m thankful that I have gotten to witness this and write it down.  I think it totally helps it stick.  It helps me remember that there will be light, there will be lemonade!

So thank you to my family and friends for letting me learn from you.  Thank you for being who you are, for having genuine goodness in your heart and for having only the best of intentions.

I’m thankful for having such positive people in my life.  I’m thankful that we all have hope and faith, and I’m really grateful that I’m aware of this!

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We all know how crummy Mondays can be…especially rainy ones!  So last night before I fell asleep I decided to imagine how great my Monday was going to be.  I envisioned everything I was going to get done and how productive and efficient I would be.  I felt what my day would feel like, and what a good mood I would be in.  And guess what??  It worked!

I had an amazing day.  I had a lot of catching up to do…paper work, pay bills, get organized, phone calls, etc., and I was able to get most of it done.

I felt great paying bills, knowing that I have the money to pay them and they’re all on time (some even early!).  I’m so grateful for this.  I’m grateful that money flows in and money flows out.  I have tremendous appreciation that we have the means to pay our bills and that our credit score is excellent.  Thank you!!!!

I also had to make a few phone calls.  Those kind that are easy to put off; knowing that you’ll be on hold forever and that the person on the other end could dispute what you’re requesting.  BUT I got them done!  I decided before each call that I was going to be positive, kind, patient and thankful.  It really helped.  I felt great for being so nice and I’m sure the person on the other end appreciated it too.  Everyone was so helpful and my requests were made.  Thank you so much to all the customer service type people that helped me today, and thank you, God that I’m not one of them

Thank you for the positive day I had today.  It feels refreshing to get caught up on paper work type stuff, and like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I’m thankful for all the people that helped me today.  I’m reminded that treating people the way I want to be treated is definitely the way to live.  I always try to do this, but today I was really aware of it and I’m so glad and thankful I was.  It made my day a whole lot easier.

Mondays, I love you!

***********************************************************

Day 12 of the 21 day Gratitude Challenge…when will you start?

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My list of things I currently have that I’m ever so grateful for.

–These are in no particular order–

• My friends.
• My house with warm, clean beds, hot running water, full of great furniture, a playroom filled with toys, a pool, a fantastic neighborhood and schools, and most importantly, a place I call home!
• My car.
• That I have a solid marriage.
• My kids.
• My family.
• My Mac.
• My camera.
• My faith.
• That I have support.
• My health.
• That I am inspired.
• My motivation.
• My breath.
• My awareness.
• My ability to always see the bright side of things.
• My clothes.
• My hair, eyes, and sense of feel.
• My jewelry business that’s doing really well.
• My yoga and yoga students.
• That I get to stay at home with my kids.
• That I am free.
• That I have good food to eat.
• That I get older and wiser.
• That I live a dream life….my dream!
• That I have an amazing body to carry me around in.
• That I’m laid back.
• That I know who I am, and have confidence to just be me.
• The love in my heart.
• That I am able to give.
• That I am open to receive.
• That I get to make this list!

THANK YOU   THANK YOU   THANK YOU   THANK YOU

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