Sunday Sunshine: I'm Thankful for All I Have

We have officially entered November today -- that lovely month of Thanksgiving. 

Rather than confine that sense of gratitude to only one day, consider counting your blessings every single day this month.

Reportedly, it takes around 30 days to re-wire your brain to adopt a new habit or shed an old, less-desirable one. Use this month's 30 days to name your blessings every day -- perhaps upon awakening, at meal time or before falling asleep at night.

Name just one blessing in your life each day this month and realize just how very rich you are.

Today, this week: Remember that your life is rich and abundant. Name your blessings. Be grateful for all that you have.

Sunday Sunshine: Sweet Moments

You are a magnet. You have the power to use your positive energy to attract positive energy back into your life. 

In other words, what you cast out into the world has a way of coming back to you.

Think about when you smile to someone. You often receive a smile back.

When you are kind, kindness is returned to you--often in unexpected and bountiful ways.

When you are grateful, the reasons to be grateful seem to multiply. 

Trust that the good, positive, sunny energy that you put forth will come back to you in even greater measure.

Measure your days by the sweet moments -- those times when you smile, when you feel loved, when you've received kindnesses, when you've been in awe.

Today, this week: Be a magnet. Be sunshine. Look to the sweet moments.

Sunday Sunshine: Light Thoughts

An optimistic, positive mindset can get you through some of the dreariest and darkest moments. When you infuse some light into your challenges and irritations, the entire picture of your life becomes brighter and lighter. It's then when solutions become obvious and the ways forward easier to navigate.

You have the choice every moment of every day whether you want to be optimistic, positive and hopeful or give in to your woes and allow them to cloud your precious days.

Today, this week: Look for the light. The more you see it, the more you become it.

Sunday Sunshine: Happiness Comes from Within

Human beings hold much more power than we sometimes like to admit. We look to outside activities, purchases, places and relationships to make us feel complete, whole and happy.

But you hold your happiness inside of you. It's there for you all of the time. 

Often your happiness becomes real when you are grateful. When you name your blessings, it's hard to feel fearful, unhappy or incomplete.

Today, this week: Count your blessings. Focus on those aspects of your life that truly make you feel grateful.  You are rich already without having to acquire more.

Sunday Sunshine: Desires and Dreams

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What activities could you do for hours and lose track of time and space? What did you daydream about? 

As a child, we encourage dreaming, for it often leads to becoming. The same can be said in our adulthood. Just because you're grown up doesn't mean that you can't dream and become the person you wish to be. 

Think about this: What do you dream about? What are your wishes and your desires? What are you doing to fulfill them? What first steps might you take today?

Today, this week:  Reflect on your desires and dreams and what steps you might take to make them come true. It's not too late to dream and become.

Sunday Sunshine: You Can Do It!

The glass is half full or it's half empty. Which is it? It's all in your perspective.

The same is true with what you can or can't do. It's all in your perspective. 

We hear story after story of people who have exceeded their limitations, gone against all odds to accomplish great things.

You are "wired" to do great things, too. When you direct your energies toward accomplishing something and do so with a can-do spirit, you may surprise yourself and find that you can do far more than you ever thought imaginable.

Today, this week: Remember that you are filled with energy to manifest the things you desire. Believe in yourself. You can do it!

Sunday Sunshine: Release Your Burdens

The load can be heavy at times. Your head and heart can become weighted by fears, concerns, worries and challenges, especially during these uncertain days of Coronavirus. 

It's no wonder that when we feel down, our shoulders slump and our eyes are downcast.

Take a deep breath, shake the tension out of your body, lift your arms outward and smile. 

You are loved. Feel the energy of that love as if it is a big hug enveloping you. Feel the rays of hope warming every aspect of your being. Feel assured that better days will come.

Today, this week: Release your burdens. Lift those things that no longer serve you from your shoulders. Allow them to float away. Know that you are loved. Know that better days will come.

Sunday Sunshine: Sparkle and Light

Light is incrementally returning to us, minute by minute, after several months of darkness. 

Even in the darkness around us, each one of us has the opportunity to radiate light. That may be through a kind word to someone, smiling to a stranger, contributing to a charitable cause, being compassionate to your neighbor.

You may also bring light to your surroundings through your creativity and positive energy, lifting the spirits of others while doing good work.

The energy you expend will come back to you. When you're kind, kindness comes back to you. When you exude joy, joy comes back to you. Use your good energy to attract positivity back to you.

Today, this week: Think about the many ways in which you are overflowing with the sparkle and light of creativity and positive energy. Bring light to darkness.

Sunday Sunshine: Listen to Your Heart

We look for signals all around us -- something we read, something someone says -- but you hold a tremendous source of wisdom deep inside of you, accessible to you at any time. Some may call it the voice of God or Spirit, while others may call it the force of guardian angels, while even others call it simply Intuition.

Access that wisdom as you make decisions, both large and small. That wisdom rarely screams in your ear, however. Instead, it's subtle, quiet, a whisper, almost nothing more than a nudge. 

Pay attention to those nudges and tap into the wisdom that will never let you down.

Today, this week: Listen carefully to the subtle messages of your heart. It always gives you clear direction.

Sunday Sunshine: Nurture Yourself in Nature

There's nothing like the majesty of nature to alter your perspective about life. Breathing in fresh air, gazing at the endless sky, experiencing the sun and the breeze on your uplifted face and feeling a part of something greater than yourself are just some of the many gifts that come from being outdoors.

It's winter. If you live in a place that experiences cold and snow at this time of year, bundle up, put on your boots, your hat and your gloves, and get outside for a bit. Allow the wisdom of nature to speak in your ear. Allow that wisdom to center you and give you peace.

Today, this week, make time for being outdoors. Let nature speak to your heart.

Sunday Sunshine: Worry and Stress Float Away

During January, many of us often talk about losing the weight we gained during the last month's holidays, parties and festivities. All of those goodies tasted great at the time, but now it's time to engage in some healthy habits once again.

We often carry around with us other types of weight, as well -- worries, fears, regrets and stresses that gradually mount onto our backs, causing us to feel heavy with burdens.

Find healthy ways to release those burdens by breathing in peaceful thoughts, making yourself a priority and talking your stresses over with someone you trust -- a friend, clergy, therapist -- who can help you work through them.

Today, this week, focus on releasing the weight of your worries, fears, regrets and stress.  Find healthy ways to set those burdens free. 

Sunday Sunshine: I'm Bright! I'm Strong!

We human beings have a tendency to focus on our shortcomings and to name them in our heads -- often: I'm not brave enough. I'm not smart enough. I'm not talented enough. I'm not tall enough. I'm not old enough. I'm not young enough. I'm not thin enough. I can't, I can't, I'm not, I'm not.

Don't listen to those negative thoughts. Shoo them away and don't give them space in your head any longer.

Instead, fill your head with affirming thoughts. Start by naming one thing that you like about yourself. Now name another. Then another. And another. 

You are a gifted being. Celebrate who you are and where you are right now.

Today, this week, say these words to yourself: I am strong! I am bright! I am right where I’m supposed to be!

Sunday Sunshine: Share Happiness

I read a lovely quote recently, attributed to author John Harrigan: "Happiness held is the seed. Happiness shared is the flower." So true!

When we choose to embrace happiness in our lives, it's as if we invite the sun to shine on us and to warm our souls.

But when we go one step further and share our happiness with others, it's magic! We transfer that sunshine to others and brighten the world.

And as we intentionally choose happiness and then generously share it with others, those recipients have the opportunity to share happiness, too.

Today, this week: Lift your day and that of another. Choose happiness and generously share it.

Sunday Sunshine: Be Positive

When things go contrary to your plans or when you're given news that you'd rather not hear, pause for a moment. Take a deep breath. Take another deep breath. Then, try to look for the opportunity amidst the clouds and storms that seem to have entered your life. There's always opportunity during a difficult time.

If you look for the positive aspects in a situation, you increase your chances of seeing the possibilities there. You may have to look a little harder, but they're there.

Embrace the good. Honor the moment in which you are living. As a bonus, your positive energy will attract more positive energy to you.

When your world feels like a rainstorm, lift your face. The sunshine will find you.

Today, this week: Look for the positive. See the possibilities. Lift your face to the sun.

Sunday Sunshine: Clear the Clutter

When you shed yourself of unwanted belongings, obligations and toxic relationships, you lighten your life load. It's as if you instantly lose weight -- the weight of excess in your life. 

A clean closet, a clean mind and a clean calendar give you the combined blessing of more space and the invitation for something new to enter into your life.

Today, this week: Remove the tangible and intangible clutter from your life.

Sunday Sunshine: Embrace your Inner Wisdom

We human beings tend to rely on our wonderful brains. We were blessed to be given them, but our brains aren't the only source of our understanding or our wisdom.

Go a little deeper to find the source of your truth. Look to your heart. There is the source of your inner wisdom.

When you feel something in your heart, it's different from when you think with your brain. Your brain will filter information, use your memory to paint a picture of your today and even project judgments on your tomorrows.

When you listen to the subtle messages of your heart, you can trust that it won't lead you astray or betray your best interests with its filters and its file drawers of information from the past.

Today, this week: Embrace your inner wisdom. Trust its wise messages meant just for you.

Affirming Words: A New Year! A Clean Slate!

Consider adopting these Affirming Words for this month. Say them often to yourself -- whenever you see yourself in a mirror, when you get out of bed to start the day, whenever you need a little pick-me-up:

I look at this new year as a clean slate and an opportunity for new experiences, new adventures and new ways of being and thinking. I welcome this new year!

Affirming Words: Abundance, Joy and Blessings

Consider adopting these Affirming Words for this month. Say them often to yourself -- whenever you see yourself in a mirror, when you get out of bed to start the day, whenever you need a little pick-me-up:

My life is filled with abundance and joy. I gratefully share those blessings with others.

Affirming Words: Make Time

Today marks my 1,000 post in this Time to Be blog! 

From the beginning, this blog has been about making time -- time to be, time to renew, time to refresh, time to recreate, time to do what is important to you, and time to be with those who matter to you most. Today's Affirming Words celebrate that concept:

Consider adopting these Affirming Words for this month. Say them often to yourself -- whenever you see yourself in a mirror, when you get out of bed to start the day, whenever you need a little pick-me-up:

I’m happiest when I make time for those I love and care about. My life is richer because of them. Therefore, I make time in my day and my week to dedicate time to those who are most important to me.

Affirming Words AND Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Positive Energy Brings New Opportunities

On this first day of the month and the first Monday of the month, here is a double dose, a double dip—some Affirming Words and some Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday!

Consider adopting these Affirming Words for this month. Say them often to yourself -- whenever you see yourself in a mirror, when you get out of bed to start the day, whenever you need a little pick-me-up:

I am overflowing with creativity and positive energy. I attract exciting, new opportunities.

You are a creative being. You have unique talents and gifts that need and deserve to be shared with the world.

Today, this week, this month: Embrace your creative spirit. Feel the positive energy. You are attracting new opportunities!