Joy
positive consciousness
The Weight of Words
Replacing the word “should” with “could” will emit more positive energy.
Frenemy
If you make “friends” with your fears and “problems,” then everything will be peaceful and you’ll be truly happy. This is easier than you think: You just need to have an open mind and try.
Consider Other Options
This week, instead of clicking in on the news or net surfing (which always leaves me feeling rather deflated), I have done the following:
- given myself a pedicure;
- jogged with my daughter (twice);
- worked on my blog;
- taken a bubble bath;
- meditated;
- had brunch with a friend;
- updated my “goals” list; and
- started a draft of my mind map
This change made me feel energized and productive, not anxious and deflated.
I wonder…what would happen if I quit the “news/Internet surfing habit” permanently?
A Shot in the Arm
Y is for Yet*
I love the word “yet” It’s full of promise and optimism
I haven’t learned Python …
I haven’t published my second book…
I haven’t been to England…
I’m not very good at illustrating…
I haven’t produced a short film…
I haven’t been to Korea with my kids…
yet! And until I do, I will enjoy every delicious moment of this great journey.
*Part of my alphabiography series
Do You See the Monster?
N is for Negative Space*
In third grade, my art teacher instructed us to never have too much white paper in our art. “Fill the white space!” Ah, Mrs. Raims. She was great. She gave sound art advice. If you have a small figure on a large canvas of white, it ought to be small for a reason. It ought to be making a statement.
Negative space, however, is not all bad.
“Negative space is, quite simply, the space that surrounds an object in a image. Just as important as that object itself, negative space helps to define the boundaries of positive space and brings balance to a composition.”
Jul 26, 2017 (Creativebloq)
The logo on the cup is for an adult-targeted alcohol and gourmet ice cream shop! (Creativebloq)
I embrace this philosophy of negative space. In a literal, every day sense, I love having lots of negative space in my house.
It leaves room for possibility.
*part of my alphabiography series
Jump, Jive an’ Wail!
J is for Jillian
I have been doing Jillian Michael’s workouts for the past seven years or so.
A friend of mine introduced me to her DVDs and I’ve been hooked ever since. At 48, I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in and it just takes 30 minutes a day. (Do I sound like an infomercial or what?)
In my youth, I exercised to look good. Now, I workout to be strong.
When I feel strong physically, I am stronger mentally and spiritually.
I take care of my health for my loved ones, too. I want to be active for as long as possible and I want to model good living. Yesterday, my 15 year old daughter said, “Mom, when I’m your age, I hope I look like you.”
*Alphabiography blog series
Alphabiography
I recently assigned an alphabiography to my 6th grade students. For each letter of the alphabet, they had to write 4 sentences regarding a meaningful topic (could be a noun, adjective, verb) to that letter. After reading theirs, I was inspired to write my own. My version is presenting itself in poem form:
A is for Acceptance
I am learning to accept what is
to see every “flaw, mistake, tragedy” as beautiful
I’m getting better at not asking “why?”
And replacing it with “why not?”
*My Alphabiography project
Wave Your White Flag
Acceptance of what is real is one of the main precepts of freedom, according to the great spiritual thinkers. Most of us have not met complete inner peace because we resist reality. Our egos take over and react: We complain about things that “happen to us.”
Practicing full surrender to reality means accepting (completely) the fact that you have to take your car into the garage for the second time in two weeks (this time, to fix the tail lights).
It means that you are not disappointed or frustrated when technology fails, when your plane gets delayed or when you realize you sent the wrong email to the wrong person.
Full surrender means you accept that you just got canned and you’re now unemployed….you accept the sudden death of a loved one or that you lost your (fill-in-the-blank) competition.
If you can accept all that life brings you, then you are well on your way to true happiness.
Most Beloved
If we love ourselves – truly love – ourselves (not self-aggrandize),
then we do not judge and criticize others
we do not fear the differences among people
we do not scapegoat
we do not pick arguments or fights
and we certainly do not incite violence
Kismet 