Life Support

I was chatting with a friend recently and realized that we had a common malady.  We would often go the extra mile for friend or colleague in need meanwhile short changing ourselves in the process.

The more I pondered this self-sabotaging behavior the more aware I became of how much this has gotten out of hand.  The need to please others has become so commonplace that we often put our own goals and dreams on the back burner as to support others in their endeavors.

I am not saying that we should turn into selfish beings but to become self-full.  In others words put the oxygen mask on yourself so that you can help others.  The truth is that when your tank is empty and you cannot breathe for giving all of yourself to someone else you are in no shape to support either you or them in the life you are called to lead.

Declare today the day that you breathe in the fullness of you and give to yourself first!

 If your oxygen mask drops down, it's time to take a breather! ~ Richard Simmons

Stop and Smell the Roses

On a recent walk, I passed a neighbor’s house and a rose waved to me in the sunlight. I could not help it; I had to stop to sniff the beautiful scent of the rose. The rose gave me a magnificent gift that day, as it beckoned me to enjoy her beautiful aroma.

Another couple walking towards me saw what I had done, and yelled out, “That’s the spirit, stop and smell the roses, we never take time to that.” I joyously laughed and as they passed me, they too, stopped to inhale the beauty of the rose.

As I continued on my walk, I began to ponder the phrase stop and smell the roses. We often do not take time to enjoy simple pleasures. We live in such a hurried and harried society, running in many different directions at once. Mores the pity, that such a simple thing to do seemed like such a novelty that day.

I promised myself to make time for more moments like the one I experienced that day. I urge you to make a pledge today, to stop and enjoy the moment at hand and if you see a rose waving at you…Stop and say hello!

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. ~Ben Hogan

Walking Through the Fog

When we are going through rough times in our lives, the way can look so foggy we may not know what direction to move. Sometimes we just stand still, paralyzed in the moment and so we stop and can't even catch our breath.

It is hard to see through the fog. Nevertheless, have the confidence to know that there is clearing up ahead and just keep on moving. It takes extreme courage to move through the fog. Be brave, and even if fear is gripping your throat… Walk On!

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day

Healing From Hurt

When you are hurt emotionally, how do you heal? The other day I looked at an old scratch on my hand, which I received from my cat when he was a kitten. The scar had faded into the skin but it is still there. It got me to thinking about the emotional scars that we carry around with us. I realized that I had emotional scar tissue that needed to fade into the background.

When we are hurt we put protective barriers around are emotions so that others won’t hurt us the same way. We build emotional scar tissue. One of my favorite phrases use to be “Oh, I’ve forgiven them, but I will never forget it. The reality was that every time I said that phrase I built more emotional scar tissue around my heart and refused to let it fade.

It is something that I am working on and it isn’t easy. However, when we release the pain from our minds we are able to free our hearts. Our hearts are able to pulsate easier. We breathe better. We sleep better. Our minds are free and can grasp the lessons that we have learned. For out of every storm comes a new ray of light. Use it to purify your soul. Truly forgive the people who hurt you, release their spirit to the universe, and move on to a new day.

“In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun.” Unknown

Breathing in an Upside Down World

This week if you listen to the news, you may instantly hyperventilate. The media is predicating the most awful atrocities to our financial situations. I realized that I had to turn the news off as I was working because I felt that I was mentally being abused by the media. YET everything we have learned about the Law of Attraction tells us we should remain positive. This question comes up a lot but how…..

Focus on the positive... Challenge the negative... Smile don’t cry… Yada, yada, yada … Sometimes it can feel like we are all used cars salesman (not that there is anything wrong with that). While the media is focused on the lack –focus on what you do have. Breathing is essential in times like these so…. Breathe.

If the world right now seems upside down, stand on your head if you have to and look right side up. No... I don’t have the answers about the situations that most Americans face. However, I do know this ….with energy shifting to the negative it is a must that you stay strong mentally and this too shall pass.

Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies. ~Erich Fromm