Ray of Sunshine: The Light of Gratitude

Even in our times of tears, there is sunshine in our abundant blessings. The light of gratitude lessens our sorrows.

Blessings for your day and week. Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Sunday Sunshine: Sow Seeds of Love, Abundance and Joy

As farm fields become dense with growth and gardens yield summer produce and flowers, consider the seeds that you plant.

Do you sow seeds of love, abundance and joy? Do you create an atmosphere that is fertile for kindness, encouragement and goodwill? Do you care and feed your own internal "garden" to maximize personal growth and enrichment?

Plant the seeds today that will produce bright tomorrows.

Today, this week: Sow seeds of love, abundance and joy wherever you go.

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!

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Cultivate a Spirit of Contentment

It’s November. Thanksgiving will be upon us in just a few weeks. When you think about Thanksgiving—both the holiday and the state of being—what can you name right now that you’re thankful for?

When you’re grateful and you see abundance in your life, have you found that your perspective changes and it’s easier to see more and more abundance, that your abundance grows?

When you’re grateful, does it help you to see that you have “enough” in life, that it changes your needs and wants?

Today, this week: Ask yourself, “What does having ‘enough’ mean to me?” Then, cultivate a spirit of contentment.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Embrace Abundance

With the changing of the trees to beautiful autumn color, think blessing. Just as you see the change in the trees, change your way of thinking to recognize all of the abundance in your life.

As you embrace that abundance, the lens through which you see the world will change so that even more abundance will seem to naturally come to you. 

Blessing begets blessing when you direct your focus there. Being in a grateful state sets the stage for more and more for which to be grateful.

Today, this week: Use the autumnal changes to the landscape as a prompt to shift your thinking and your energy. Embrace your abundance and give thanks.

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Rejoice in What You Have

As a society, we’re always looking for more—more time, more money, more things. We tend to believe that if we have more, then we might find that magical place of happiness and contentment.

True contentment, however, comes from being satisfied with what you already have, from knowing that you have enough to make you happy right now.

Today, this week: Direct your thoughts to your abundance and express thanks for that abundance. Focus on those aspects of your life that truly make you happy. 

You are rich already without having to acquire more. Rejoice!

Fresh Thoughts for Your Monday: Plant the Seeds

As farm fields become dense with growth and gardens yield summer produce and flowers, consider the seeds that you plant.

Do you sow seeds of love, abundance and joy? Do you create an atmosphere that is fertile for kindness, encouragement and goodwill? Do you care and feed your own internal "garden" to maximize personal growth and enrichment?

Plant the seeds today that will produce bright tomorrows.

What will you do with this glorious, precious day?

Tidying Up

A couple of months ago, a book on display at our local public library found its way into my hands and through the check-out kiosk, The New York Times best-seller, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo (Ten Speed Press, Berkley). The slim volume appealed to my significant desires to travel through this world as lightly as possible. I tend to be more minimalist in my habits, clothing and decorating style. I need very little in the way of possessions in order to be happy and comforted. In fact, I tend to feel happier and more comfortable when I am surrounded by only a few items that have special meaning to me, or as the author Marie Kondo refers, items that "spark joy" in me. In her book, Ms. Kondo recommends that we review each of our belongings, holding each one in our hands and asking if that item sparks joy. If it does, in her viewpoint, it's worth keeping; if not, it is telling you that it wants to be discarded. In my adulthood, I've subscribed to the philosophy that for every thing that comes in, at least one thing must go out. It has been a philosophy that has served my minimalist tendencies well. I've also subscribed to the philosophy that if I keep things tidy, my life feels tidier, as well. In fact, when I'm under stress, one of the first things I want to do is purge physical belongings. The act of clearing out and tidying helps me sort through the stress-inducing issue stirring around and unsettling my mind. As one individual cited in Ms. Kondo's book stated, such clearing and tidying makes way for "unhurried spaciousness." For me, that unhurried spaciousness is all about clarifying my needs from my wants, surrounding myself with only those things that bring light and joy to my life and lightening my burdens, physical and otherwise. After reading Marie Kondo's book, I can now put words to that life-changing magic of tidying up and the deep joy of living in unhurried spaciousness.

A World of Abundance

I get tired of flipping through the TV channels and seeing yet more shows about hoarding, pawning and accumulating things. In a culture of consumerism and a tendency toward excess, how does one define abundance, genuine abundance?  Such was the topic of last Sunday's church sermon. The message struck a chord with me.  Do I "hoard" out of fear of the future, rather than trusting that my needs will be met?  Do I embrace the abundance of hope, generosity and love in my life?  If I were to lose my possessions, but still have my loved ones and my health, would I feel that my life was abundant?  I dare say that I would.  As I get older, I find that I want to buy, own and be responsible for fewer and fewer things.  There is little that is abundant about life, in my opinion, when one feels possessed by one's possessions. At this time of harvesting and nesting, I am focusing this fall on opening my heart and mind and finding new ways to share the blessings in my life.