I wish you happiness for this holiday season.
No matter who you are or how you celebrate.
Enjoy every moment.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
Dec23
Category Archives: Thoughtful Thursdays
Dec8
Thoughtful Thursdays – #145 Beliefs
Beliefs are a big thing. It’s also and unconscious big thing. We don’t even realize what we believe. Are our beliefs internalized by our environment? Or based on trauma? Or accumulated by social interactions?
Beliefs are formed in these ways and many others. You won’t know what your beliefs are until you examine what you do believe. This is not easy. We do behaviors usually by habit. Beliefs are a habit too.
For this moment think about your beliefs. Are they helpful? Are they hurtful? Are you allowing or not allowing all life experiences to come into your life so you can grow or are you hiding behind some false belief?
Do you believe you are an important part of life? Because you are important. You deserve all of life’s good stuff. Sometimes our beliefs get in the way.
Next time you feel a resistance to an experience take a look if it’s your belief. You might be surprised that it is a false belief.
It’s OK to get rid of those outdated beliefs. Do it as soon as possible.
Dec1
Thoughtful Thursdays #144 – Depression
Depression – Ugh – That feeling that nothing matters and all is hopeless. But lets take another look. Depression just might be your friend. It is probably telling you something is wrong. Maybe its your job, relationships, the drug you use, the lifestyle you have, and that it’s time for a change.
The reason you feel so bad is that you refuse to listen to the changes you need to make. Change is hard but it’s better than living in a constant state of misery and hopelessness.
Don’t believe the lies that your fear will tell you that you are helpless to change. That is not true. You are capable of doing anything you want to do.
Now get out there and make a plan. Do one baby step. Only baby steps. Only baby steps work. You can do it.
Nov24
Thankful Thursdays #143 – Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving
No matter how you choose to spend it,
Be thankful for who you are and all you have done.
Have a wonderful day.
Nov18
Thoughtful Thursdays #142 – Anxiety
Everyone has anxiety at one time or another. Anxiety can come up unexpectedly or with good reason. No one is immune to its effects. There is a secret to ridding your self of anxiety.
Anxiety is actually not an emotion.
Anxiety is a response to hidden emotions.
What is the hidden emotion that you are afraid of feeling? Usually anxiety is brought about by thoughts. When the thoughts get too uncomfortable anxiety takes over. Sometimes we aren’t ready to examine our thoughts and emotions and that is OK. Eventually when the anxiety becomes too much we must take the time to feel what we are running away from.
You may bet uncomfortable but the more you practice examining what you are thinking the better you will feel.
Nov10
Thoughtful Thursdays #141 – Control
This election has been quite a surprise. Some citizens are happy, some citizens are sad. And that is OK. We have lived through many questionable presidents.
There is nothing you can do about who is president. Not even your vote counted because the Electoral College is the one who really picks the president. Don’t believe me? Check for yourself. The only reason you vote is to express your opinion to the Electoral College. Therefore, how much control did you really have when you voted. Not much. That was an illusion.
Control of others is an illusion. Period. You can influence but not control. I am talking adults here. How frustrating it is to know that you mostly can’t control conditions outside of you. You are probably shouting at this post right now saying she doesn’t know what she is talking about. But you can’t control what I write nor can I control how you view my writing.
Controlling yourself is the best way to effect your own life for the better. You have control over your effort, lifestyle, job, relationships and any other choice you make for yourself. That is the power you have right now that can be used at anytime.
Focusing on your own life is vastly more important than who is president. Focus on what is in your control not what is outside of it.
Nov3
Thoughtful Thursdays #140 – Death Of My Dog Rocky
My dog passed away suddenly a few days ago. Needless to say my feelings are very raw. I still feel he is here with me. Today I drove past the dog park where we went every day and the tears welled up as I recalled our usual routine. I posted pictures on my Facebook page of him too. I am happy when I look at those pictures. He was my constant companion for nearly nine years. My entire schedule revolved around him mainly because he was a Rottweiler and Labrador mix, one hundred and twenty pounds and needed a lot of attention. Also living in a small apartment made it necessary to go out at least three times a day.
With his death I got to thinking about his life. I don’t want to go too deep in theory but instead I want to bring it to everyday events. I got him when he was six weeks old and he was meaningful to me because he was so loyal and loving. He was always happy to see me. Never judgmental or rude. He was happy just to be with me no matter what I was doing. He knew his job was to protect me and my family and he did it well. There is no one who could replace him. The every day work to maintain a big dog was hard at times but I had to do it because he needed me and I needed him.
I will always remember him and his big personality and courage and love. His death is a reminder that the life of a dog can be very short and we must remember to cherish our pets for as long as we have them.
Oct20
Thoughtful Thursdays # 139 – Following Your Dreams
I can’t stand broad generalizations about what to do with your life. Most of the time these phrases are tongue in cheek sayings that mean nothing because there are no specifics. In the case of “Follow Your Dreams”: of course it’s true but my dream is different from yours. What is meaningful to you is not meaningful to me. So what to do.
- Be specific about what your dream is.
- What are the steps needed to fulfill that dream.
- Believe it’s achievable.
- Decide on a timeline to get there.
- If you need help, ask for it.
- Stay focused.
I am sure you could flesh this out to fit your plan. Instead of “Follow Your Dreams” how about “Let’s Make A Plan”.
I like that.
Happy planning.
Sep29
Thoughtful Thursdays # 137 – Habits
Some habits are so ingrained that we are completely unaware of them. Like taking the easy way or the familiar way. Continuing to do the same things over and over with only the wish to get through the day. One day you wake up and say where did the last 10 years go and looking back it was all the same. Habits do that.
There were times you were uneasy about something, a feeling that there needed to be a shift. A new way of doing things but you didn’t listen. You kept up the habits because it was automatic and seemed to make sense. After all why change when what you were doing worked.
One day your routine habit is interrupted. Probably something not in your control. Havoc and chaos is now your companion not your habit. There’s that pesky shift, the unwanted change, the inconvenience of doing things differently.
That is what life is about. Shifts and change and movement. If you are unaware of your habits then when change happens you will be terribly afraid. If you are aware that old habits leave and new ones arrive you will be ease into it.
Be open to new ways of being and doing and learning. Rigidity will give you health problems and an overall gloomy outlook. There is so much to learn and experience. Get out of your habits and be alive.
Happy Exploring.
Aug18
Thoughtful Thursdays #133 – All Parts Are Good
We all have different parts of us. Our lives are experienced through these different parts. We have the party part, the defender, the analyzer, critic, comedian, intuitive, loving part, parent, child, adult and peacemaker are just a few. These parts can work with each other or alone.
We are not strange for having these parts. All of us have them. Each part gives us information about who we are, what we believe and many possible explanations of our actions.
All parts are good and make up our special-ness. Problems shows up when we deny these different parts. All our parts have a purpose. To help us figure things out, even if you are uncomfortable.
Trust yourself and all your parts. They are on your side and have your best interests at heart.
purelysimplewords 