So many rituals, routines and traditions take place as a way of welcoming and acknowledging life in a new season. These include clinking glasses to seal a toast, time change, but also celebrating holidays; raking leaves; pumpkin spice; pulling out the cool weather clothes, setting new year goals, etc.
One of my routines when the cooler weather comes is sitting in a warm bubblebath, surrounded by lit candles, with my window open during late night hours so that the warmth of the water meets the cool night air, creating a steamy, misty cocoon of comfort. Last night was such a night for me. At around 11pm, I drew my bath water adding my favorite lavender bubble liquid and some lavender and vetiver essential oils. As the water was running, I lit the candles that lined the bathtub and the bathroom vanity and opened the windows. After about 20 minutes of soaking, I decided that I would follow the advice of my coach and practice doing nothing for 30 minutes. You might think that taking a bubble bath is doing nothing, but that is not the case for me. While in the tub I will read, watch a movie, catch up on emails, talk on the phone, etc. My coach says that for 30 minutes each day, we should practice doing nothing. No scrolling instagram or email; no talking on the phone; no anything. "30 minutes", I thought. Maybe I'll just set my timer for 15 minutes and meditate. However, I realized that I wasn't in the mood to just sit there in quiet meditation. I probably really needed too, but I wasn't in the mood for that, yet I still wanted to sit still in meditation. I decided that I would meditate on a question that had been on my mind for the past few days. Now this wasn't exactly a prayer to God but an actual question to the ancestors and any other spiritual guides there to help and watch over me. For me, this also includes God by default because God is always there, and because it is my conscious intention to go to God whenever. I won't get into what my question was in this blog post, that may come at another time, but I can tell you that I received an answer that was a surprise to be because of it's definitiveness as well as the way it was revealed. I was taken back to a time when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I don't mean that I was physically transported back in time, but it was a visual transportation. It was like watching a replay of that day and I was on the outside looking in, watching and remembering. That day I was getting the news from my Dad that my grandfather (step) had just passed away. Being an adult, I can now put words to what I was feeling that day. I wasn't sad about my grandfather. There was a knowing that I had about death and this knowing was that death wasn't a bad thing. I understood that it made the adults left behind cry, but us kids didn't cry about that. We cried because the adults cried. We cried because the energy within that environment was sad, and heavy. And when we cried the adults accepted those tears as sad, grieving tears; and when we cried the adults were there with open arms to show their love and protection for us. We felt accepted, wanted, loved. During my meditation, I also remembered a conversation between my grandmother and my dad about me. She was very concerned about me and my "shyness". I was perceived as being really shy and too quiet. She wondered if maybe I was mentally challenged. I remember feeling/thinking that I wouldn't be accepted or loved if people thought that I was mentally challenged or not smart enough. That thought and feeling eventually developed into an overall feeling of being "not enough". The question that I mediated on, (I guess I'm going to reveal it now after all), was "What is holding me back from being my best self?" Like many of you I have so many ideas. Good ideas. But often I don't react on those ideas. I let them come and go, or I start to implement but don't finish. There are times when I don't volunteer to answer a question, even when I know that answer. I tell myself that I may be wrong. The underlying feeling is a fear of rejection. If I'm wrong people will think I'm not smart (mentally challenged). I'll be rejected for not being good enough. I avoid being noticed, especially in groups. I may not fit in or I'm not good enough. You see the theme here. Obviously the thing that is holding me back is my fear of rejection, but I never put the pieces together this way before meditating on my question last night. Obviously I've left out some details because this story would go on and on otherwise. The gist of this is that I've been holding myself back because of my underlying fear of rejection, my limiting belief that I am not enough. Intellectually, I know that I am enough. This is what I have to remind myself of and make it a mantra - I am good enough. If you have been dealing with low self-confidence, imposter syndrome, feelings of worthlessness, make meditation a part of your daily practice so that you can be still and trace back where those feelings and thoughts originate. At the end of my meditation the message I received was: Don't fear rejection, it's a good thing. It's there because You Are Enough. Rejection is for your protection. It weeds out those things and people that are not for your good. As I said, I was surprised by this message or maybe more surprised by the way in which is was delivered. Maybe I was surprised by my feelings and where and how they originated. Nevertheless, I was surprised. But, I'm grateful and I'm moving forward.
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Most people are unaware of the amazing power that gratitude has and how it can transform their lives for the better. When you practice gratitude each day you will change your life very quickly and be amazed at the transformation that it makes. Keep reading as I will provide you with four examples of how gratitude can make your life a whole lot better. Other articles on gratitude will not discuss all of these things. I want you to have the complete inside track on how gratitude can transform your life so that you will be inspired to make this significant change in your life. So please read these four examples and then get working on your attitude of gratitude right away. Use Gratitude to Get into a Happier Mood It is very easier to get into a bad mood if you do not have an attitude of gratitude. If someone does something to upset you, rather than getting angry at them express some gratitude towards them instead. I know from experience that this is not an easy thing to do and will require some practice but it will certainly be worth it. You will find when you do this that your mood will change from a negative angry state to a happier state. This is especially useful in your relationship with your partner. Don’t let things that they do annoy you, put you in a bad mood and get into an argument. Instead think how grateful you are and tell them this. Also think of it this way, anger can be a message about something you've overlooked or was blind too. Be grateful that the message was revealed. Use Gratitude to improve your Relationship The number of break ups and divorces in the world today seems to be rising at an alarming rate. People tend to fly off the handle with their partner over the smallest of things. If you are someone that likes to criticize your partner for all of their failings then change your approach and show them gratitude instead. It will be easy for you to find things that you are grateful for about your partner when you put your mind to it. Tell your partner why you are so grateful to have them in your life and make them feel great. Notice how their face changes and the words that they say in reply. Gratitude will certainly help you to make your relationships stronger. You can be a Better Parent with Gratitude If you have children then you know that sometimes it is pretty easy to become frustrated with them. They do things that you don’t want them to do and this leads to anger and disappointment. In this situation some parents will express their disappointment to their kids which just creates hurt feelings and a negative atmosphere. When you criticize your kids they are going to feel really bad about what they have done and/or about themselves. So think about why you are truly grateful to have your children and tell them this instead. Also be grateful what can be a teaching opportunity - for you and them. This will change their mood straight away and change the way they feel about themselves. In the end everyone will feel better from the experience. Gratitude helps you to cope with a Tragedy If you experience a tragedy in your life such as losing a loved one, then think about the people that are left in your life and express your gratitude for this. We all have to face tragedies in life at some time or another and the most important thing is that you do not let this totally overcome you. I also know that it is very helpful to express gratitude for having had the life experiences with the loved one who has passed. Remember the good times; and the not-so-good times. Memories last a lifetime, be grateful for them. By expressing your gratitude for the people in your life, past and present, you will be more positive about moving forward. Use these amazing benefits to transform your life for the better through an attitude of gratitude. 2021 = END Entering a New Direction 2020 was a doozy of a year - to say the least. It was the end of a decade and now we are officially starting a new decade. Remember to practice gratitude and grant yourself some grace.
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