Powerful Words

There are things that I say to myself that energize me and there are things that I say that block me. Even just saying or thinking that I am frustrated makes me feel even more frustrated. The same with berating myself for being undisciplined. It doesn't make me want to be better, in fact, it supports an unhealthy belief that keeps me doing exactly what I am doing to make my beliefs and my words true.

Instead of saying I am undisciplined or saying that I failed again, I will say I am learning and growing. I really know that each mistake or set back is just another opportunity to learn and do better. It is not what I am. I am capable of more and that belief will propel me.

I can do hard things

I come to realize weird things about myself all the time. I realize that I can do hard things, in fact, I think I actually like to do hard things. Take my statistics class for example. I love it. It has been stressful trying to figure out the online statistics program that I have to do assignments on but then realize how good it feels when I can achieve something that is hard for me.

With all of this said, I also realize that I need to be careful that I don't want to do hard things enough so that I will subconsciously create something hard so that I can in fact do hard things. I do want to set goals for myself that will be hard but I don't want to have events in my life that will be hard just because I am bored and need a challenge. I will consciously create proactive challenges instead of allowing difficulties to come that I have to react in order to fill that need to do hard things.

Benefit of Pinterest

I've discovered a great benefit to Pinterest. It is a lot like window shopping. I get to enjoy looking at things without having to purchase or even actually do it. I love looking at the ideas thinking what a great idea it is and then move on feeling as though I have experienced it for myself. Of course there will be some things I might actually want to do, but honestly I can feel like I have already received enough enjoyment out of it. I even might just print the pictures of great ideas and put the picture on the table the next time I host a party to show what I could have done. I even wonder if I can gain weight just looking at the dessert ideas.

It is the Little Things

Greater awareness opens the door to seeing all the joy in the little things.
The great feeling after unloading at the D.I.
The sense of contentment realizing I can see something really cool in a store and know I don't have to own it, dust it, store it, and later take it to the D.I.
Grandkids who get so excited and run and hug me when they see me. (wait, that is in the category of a big thing)
Sliding in between newly washed sheets.
Figuring out how to work a statistics program in school.
Running up the stairs and just being grateful I can.
Feeling utter peace as I stop and take a deep cleansing breath.
Opening the refrigerator and realizing there is a container from a restaurant to eat for lunch. (I actually eat what is inside the container and not the container, in case you're wondering)
Driving up my street with a gorgeous view of the majestic mountains.
Working in the kitchen and catching a glimpse of a breathtaking sunset.
Having a scripture or a thought randomly show up just when I need it and just knowing things in my life are orchestrated for my good if I take time to notice.
Realizing that the things I learn in school are just what I needed to know.
Getting a little message in my head that tells me to bite my tongue. (Once again, a big thing for those who know me!)
Having a cute little gratitude app on my phone where I can write something I am grateful for and add a picture.
Another deep cleansing breath knowing I am on the right track being more aware and more grateful.

I've Been Tricked

I finally get it. I've been tricked into thinking that buying or having more stuff means I have arrived. Even having too much food in the refrigerator can be almost as difficult as having too little. Goldilocks had it figured out. The fable really isn't about breaking and entering, it is about a healthy place in the middle--not too hot or too cold, not too hard or too soft, not too little or too big, It is finding "just right."

Balancing the Star

I love this thought, which also means I love Pinterest. Anyway, these are the perfect questions to ask to balance the star. It includes the spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and social part of me. I especially love thinking of the emotional as being about passion and creativity.

Couch Jumping

Tom Cruise must have had a Grandparent's house like ours and that is why when he felt joy, he was jumping on Oprah's couch. Our grandkids jump on our couches. If you haven't been to our home, let me describe it. We have a long couch on one side of the room and then another one on the other side. In between the two couches are two upholster ottomans and sometimes I even have my mini tramp in between those so our grandkids jump from one couch to the ottoman, then bounce on the mini tramp, onto the other ottoman and ending on the other couch. Our family room is a tumbling gym, and the kids love it and I love that they love it. I have fond memories of going to my grandparents house and with my cousins, taking the furniture and turning it sideways to create a tent in the corner. I love that our home is not so pristine that they can't have such a great time. Of course, when the two 3-year olds were playing and climbing on the piano in the living room, we put a stop to that. Even at grandmas house, there are limits.