Mindful May

5/29/15

We can’t focus on our weaknesses and evoke strength. Nor can we dwell on our troubles and hope to feel better. A constructive approach generates positive energy, opens our eyes to opportunities, and empowers us to take action. And we don't have to ignore reality to be positive: A constructive realist can address challenges without identifying him or herself with negative emotions.

Try being aware of every negative thought or belief you have today. Your problems might be real, but reinforcing and empowering them in your mind won't help you. When you are aware of your thoughts and beliefs, you can identify destructive patterns and begin building new habits and beliefs that will support your happiness and success! Leave a comment if you have thoughts or want to discuss the subject more! :)

5/19/15

I've realized a few things lately. There are no opportunities in the past. And there are undetermined, inaccessible possibilities ahead. So when we look for happiness in either direction, we stay locked in a game we can't win. But when we embrace the present moment, we awake to the joys and opportunities truly available for us. In the present, we are free. In the present, we find peace.

You are worthy to receive all the beauty and abundance around you. Don't push it away for another day. Look for it, believe it, and feel grateful for it. :)

Yes, Florida is humid, but it gave me this a couple days ago!
Sometimes the most simple things are the most beautiful,
and we remember that it is wonderful to be alive. :)

Zippy ALWAYS lives in the present, and he's always happy--
able to receive every joy of living. Way to go, Zippy! lol

This is one of my favorite videos on mindfulness, handling emotions with self compassion, and finding beauty and wholeness in nature. This man has changed my life. Thich Nhat Hanh - Awakening the Heart .

5/18/15

Flexible thinking gets us around obstacles and helps us to see opportunities. There is never just one way to reach our dreams. A missed opportunity could keep you stuck, wondering why you can't move forward. Be open to people and opportunities that resonate with your passion, and don't be afraid to walk through new doors! 


5/1/15
I don't have time to do more than post a picture of the cute teacup I got today, but I do have to say that my jasmine vanilla tea tasted even better than usual, and seeing those words every time I took a sip was a cue to ground myself in the present moment. What a delightful treat! It's the little things, right?! ;) What helps you open your heart to the present moment?
 

Perspective

4/11/2015 

Sometimes it seems as if one thing will compromise everything. How silly. We might as well say that one star defines the entire cosmos. We mistakenly think that our circumstances are vast and our beings fleeting, when in truth, our beings are vast and our circumstances fleeting. Coming home to this vastness within opens the path ahead.

Only when we become too attached to our troubles do they have the power to define us. We are filled with the power to define them and ourselves. That's why it's so important to learn how to fill and draw from our inner reservoir so that we have the emotional, spiritual, and physical energy to exercise that power and fulfill our capacity for happiness. Meditation is one of the main things that has taught me how to do this deeply and reliably: I love it! What has helped you? 

4/14/2015

When we experience joy, love, or beauty, we mistakenly think that our feelings reside in and depend on the person or object of our affection. But what we experience in response to external things is a manifestation of our capacity for those very qualities within ourselves. Our capacity to love, perceive beauty, and experience happiness transcends objects and people; And so it is that when we lose a loved or beautiful thing, we do not lose our ability to love or experience beauty. If we learn the proper mental practice, we know we can cultivate happiness at any time, and we have much more to give to our experiences and our loved ones.

4/16/2015
Daily Affirmation