Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Embrace Impermanence

The last day of the year is upon us! It’s a great day to reflect on the blessings and experiences you’ve had over the past 12 months.

It’s also a great day to anticipate the good that will come in the new year that begins tomorrow.

With each day, each month, each year, we see that things are constantly changing and evolving. Things don’t stay the same. They may appear to remain constant, but they’re not. Change can happen so slowly that we scarcely recognize it as such.

When we understand that change is happening around us and inside of us all of the time, we can more easily come to a place of acceptance and even anticipation. We start to see that now, this very moment, is what we have. Each day is filled with “now” moments worthy of our attention.

So, on this final day of 2018: Embrace impermanence and live in the moment.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Give Joy!

If you could package up something lovely to give to another person (or for yourself), what might it be? 

Many of us exchange gifts at this time of year. It’s the season of gift giving after all: A good book, a new tie, some warm socks, the latest toy. 

But what about those intangible gifts, those gifts that you can’t quite put a bow on?

What if your gift-giving ideas included giving joy, peace and love—not just to those on your list, but to as many people as you possibly can?

The holidays are joyful for many people, but for many others, they’re a reminder of losses, tense relationships, loneliness, a shortage of cash, a difficult health diagnosis.

Today, this week: Give the gifts of joy, peace and love wherever you go.

Seasonal Sprinkles: Winter Solstice

Today is the first official day of winter. Tonight also marks the longest night of the year. Tomorrow, increased daylight will begin to return incrementally.

On this first day of winter, this winter solstice, what would you like to see happen in your life? What are your dreams? Where are you seeking answers? Are you craving a new experience or adventure? Are you looking for hope?

The first day of a new season opens up possibilities for new things to come into your life. Have faith. Have hope. Have energy. Look to the starry night with optimism. Daylight is coming.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Be the Light in the Darkness

The days are short, the nights long. At times, it feels as if you get up in the dark, go to work in the dark, come home in the dark, go to sleep in the dark.

For some of us, life itself can feel dark with grief, sadness, loss, tragedy, uncertainty. We crave light—just a little ray of light—in all of that darkness.

Be the light where there’s darkness. Be love where there’s hate. Be kindness where there’s cruelty. Be hopeful where there’s uncertainty.

Today, this week: Cast your light into a dark world.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Rest, Relax, Renew

This is a busy time of year. It’s easy fill your calendar with holiday commitments, celebrations and to-do lists. It’s easy to feel as if you’re running yourself ragged.

There is a gift, however, that you can give yourself during this holiday of gift-giving. Give yourself time to refill your spiritual well and recharge your battery.

Each day, make room in your busyness to take care of you. Read a chapter in a book. Take a walk. Listen to some good music. Close your eyes and take a cat nap.

Today, this week: Rest. Relax. Renew.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Spread Love

In a world that often seems to be filled with fear, worry, division and differences, love is the answer. Love works. 

Love is the greatest gift that we can give each other. 

Love builds bridges, offers compassion, displays kindness, shows patience, is gracious, is generous, values others. 

When unsure just what to do or say, come from a place of love.

Today, this week: Spread love.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I was racing around, grousing about my lengthy to-do list, grumbling that I had too much to get done in the little time I had allotted. I was feeling overwhelmed. My husband is handy and helpful. But on this occasion, he simply sat in his chair, watching me run from one task to the next, listening to me complain.

Suddenly, he asked me in a quiet voice why I was putting myself through such angst, especially when I had intentionally divested myself of many of my previous commitments and obligations so that I could have more time to simply be and enjoy life.

His question stopped me cold. Why was I putting myself through such torment over such small and insignificant concerns? How had having just a few responsibilities tilted to having too many? Why did I expect so much of myself? Why did I allow for my to-do list to get so long? What impossible perfection was I seeking?

As I replayed my husband's question over in my mind, I realized that I had been piling an unrealistic number of tasks onto each of my days, hurrying from one task to the next to the next without enjoying any single one of them, without giving any particular attention to anything.

I looked at my to-do list, crossed off some items that just didn't need to be done period, moved others to future days that didn't have anything listed so far, delegated where appropriate and let go of fruitless expectations. 

I started focusing on having no more than five things on my daily to-do list. I prioritized them. Consequently, I made my anxiety-inducing calendar more manageable. 

Instead of succumbing to the din of busyness, I became more quiet, centered and mindful of what I realistically felt I could get done in my day. 

The weeks between Thanksgiving and the end of the year can be hectic. Are you feeling overwhelmed these days? How might you reduce those feelings? 

Our days are meant to be enjoyed. Take a deep breath of peace, set realistic expectations for yourself and feel the joy of the season.

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.