Archive for December, 2018
New Years 2018
The New Year is time for honoring the past year, taking the lessons learned and the works in progress into the New Year; leaving behind that which is no longer profitable for healthy growth.
It’s time to usher in the New Year with hopes, plans and promises for the unfolding of a richer, fuller, peaceful bounty.
“For last years words belong to last years language. And next years words await another voice.” ~T.S.Elliot
Going beyond resolutions, creating an outline of desired personal accomplishments for the coming year, then filling it in with realistic plans and strategies for achievement, can enable us to chart a course of action for success.
“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” ~Vern McLellan
Spring is a time for renewal; winter is a time for thoughtful planning. My wish for you in the coming year is the expansion of your inner peace, robust laughter, enduring love and bright light of Spirit leading the way.
Blessings!
Holy Season 2018
Wishing you all a fantastic Holy Season filled with love, peace and joy!
Merry Christmas!
Kindness
What does it mean to be kind? To practice kindness?
Kindness is living a life of personal integrity built on a foundation of ‘ethical characteristics’…knowing right from wrong.
We most often think of kindness as an outward expression of care and empathy for others. However, the most vital aspect of kindness is treating yourself as well as you treat others. How you treat yourself with kindness, how you talk to yourself with kindness, will resonate through all of your relationships.
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ~Lao Tzu
True kindness is not co-dependent. It is not about trying to make everyone happy, or, appeasing others in-authentically to reduce your cognitive dissonance. Sometimes saying ‘no’ is an act of kindness to yourself and others, even though it may spark anger and disappointment.
“Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.” ~Theodore Issac Rubin
True kindness is rooted in acceptance and compassion. Accepting who we are and having compassion for ourselves bears the fruit of true kindness…kindness without expectation, a kindness freely, gently and respectfully given.
“I’ve been searching for ways to heal myself, and I’ve found that kindness is the best way.” ~Lady Gaga
When kindness becomes part of our daily practice it has the potential to contribute to the creation of happier and healthier families, and ultimately of a happier and healthier world.
“You don’t teach morals and ethics and empathy and kindness in the schools. You teach that at home, and children learn by example.” ~Judy Sheindlin
“Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.” ~Tommy Lee Jones
Surely, this is a season of kindness…perhaps treating ourselves day in and day out with the loving kindness we shower upon others, we can create peace, within and without.
Blessings!
Merriment
An old word dating from the mid 1500’s, not very popular these days. Merriment is high spirits, fun, gaiety, cheer, joy, laughter, mirth, exuberance and happiness to mention a few meanings. Merriment refers to events, activities and happy feelings.
“Always laugh when you can; it is cheap medicine. Merriment is a philosophy not well understood. It is the sunny side of existence.” ~Lord Byron
Christmas rapidly approaches carrying merriment into our villages, homes and hearts, but merriment is freely available to us anytime, anywhere. Laughter can reduce anxiety, exercise our hearts and lungs, reduce blood pressure, release endorphins, boost T cells, and reduce stress. As Lord Byron said…”it is cheap medicine.”
“Frame your mind to mirth and merriment which bars a thousand harms and lengthens life.” ~William Shakespeare
“The Universe will give us love, happiness, merriment and laughter if we give others love, happiness, merriment and laughter.” ~Avijeet Das
In times of difficulty, merriment is a wonderful gift that can raise our spirits and guide us through to the other side.
I invite you into merriment.
Blessings!
Word Power
Words have power. So much of our personal and public discourse doesn’t account for this power. We exchange verbal banalities with little attachment to their influence on conscious and unconscious processes.
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.” ~Buddha
Thinking is a word process. Self-talk is a word process. Carefully choosing words for our internal dialogue is a primary tool for personal growth and transformation. The vocabulary of self-talk develops in early childhood, becoming the dominant way we judge and support the inner self. Power words that shape the perception of who we are, and of what we believe about others.
“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use the force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” ~Yehuda Berg
This astute observation is true of both outer and inner dialogue. The authentic self cannot fully emerge without positive word power.
“False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.” ~Socrates
A quote from Ruth Bader Ginsberg speaks passionately to me about the power of the word…”We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts with three little words, ‘We the people.'”
I invite you this week to reflect and review your inner and outer word power.
“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” ~Robin Williams
Blessings!
