Archive for January, 2017
Change 2017
One aspect of the Tower in Tarot is radical shift. As a nation we are experiencing ‘radical shift’ regardless of personal perspectives.
We humans don’t much care for change. We don’t gleefully pack our bags and joyfully embrace moving from point A to point C. We generally resist, dragging our heels through the process.
We are adaptable creatures, but adaptation is not easy. The quotes below are both inspiring and encouraging.
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” ~Stephen Hawkings
“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth…these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, food security and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” ~Ban Ki-Moon
Hope
This week’s word means trust, a desire accompanied by an expectation of fulfillment.
May the following quotes inspire renewal and strengthening of hope.
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” ~Maya Angelou
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” ~Robert Kennedy
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” ~Helen Keller
Precious
Precious…of great value, of great price, highly esteemed, greatly cherished.
Acknowledging what is precious about life; about our personal lives is like stopping to smell the roses. The pace of modern life is relentless. In the act of keeping that pace, we easily take a great deal for granted.
The following quotes are about stopping and smelling precious roses.
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” ~Earl Nightengale
“We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think its going to get on by itself. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.” ~John Lennon
“Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken away.” ~Oscar Wilde
Fit
It’s the time of year when many of us focus on getting fit. Taking off some extra pounds, beginning a workout program, are top of the New Year resolution list. We join health clubs, walking groups, diet centers and put a plan in place for achieving our physical fitness goals.
Emotional and spiritual fitness are important too, but often overlooked as part of a fitness program.
I invite you this week to examine positive change from the standpoint of your strengths. Rather than focus on the negative traits that you want to change or eliminate, make a list of your strongest virtues.
Some examples for your consideration; kindness, love of learning, humor, humility, creativity, perseverance, leadership, gratitude and hope. Humans tend to focus primarily on the negative aspects of being. Changing the focus to virtues and strengths improves the overall perception of ourselves.
We now can function from a positive attitude about who we are, rather than engaging in a battle on the field of disparaging self-esteem. Positive reinforcement from traits that are already functioning strongly is a powerful tool for achieving success.
“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” ~Carlos Casteneda