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Tag: inspiration

Give thanks

The ability to show and express gratitude is one of the greatest gifts we can give to another. Gratitude is a powerful tool, one that can shift perspectives and brighten a dreary worldview in an instant.
A dear friend in Nepal once told me, “It is always possible to look up and see who is above you. People driving cars. The airplanes. My father said we have to also look down. There is someone wanting what you have.”
Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite celebrations for that reason: The gift of reflection, of simple joys, of quiet thanks shared with friends and loved ones.
To search for blessings during the toughest moments requires diligence and responsibility but also practice. Today’s a great day to start.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Want to have meaningful conversations at your Thanksgiving dinner table but not sure where to begin? Check out Seth Godin’s Thanksgiving Reader.

Be who you are without apology

Be who you are

Without apology

 

Sensitive observer

Fierce warrior

Over the top performer

Quiet recluse

Lover

Fighter

Advocate

 

Certain people will be drawn to you

Others will be repelled

 

You will not make everyone happy

You will hurt some

Disappoint others

Fail to meet expectations, your own and the world’s

 

Don’t lose your spark

 

Find what makes you come alive

What makes your spirit sing

Your pulse quicken

 

Even when all others doubt you

Mock you

Talk when you’re not around

 

Stay the course

 

Your uniqueness is powerful

Wonderful

And magnificent

 

Like you

 

Your bravery

Your boldness

Your daring

 

The universe needs this

 

Hiding hurts too much

Strike while the iron is hot

Success is complicated. Failure can be easier to unpack (and accept); a boot stomping out a potential future. Success, however, leads into a winding, mystifying unknown. This is scary to many people and for good reason.
When things start to go right, how do you respond? Do you take credit or attribute some outside force — the right place at the right time, a lucky draw, someone else’s connections, a recommendation from a trusted peer.
Sure, sometimes you get lucky. But when fortune starts to favor you, don’t back down or shy away from success. Keep working hard, keep saying yes, keep finishing tough projects. And remember: You deserve your wins.

The stories you tell

Every day you tell yourself stories; stories about what you are capable of, about who loves you, about the work you do, about the family you belong to, about the money you make, about the way you look in the mirror.

These stories are fueling your tomorrow. They are the kindle for your actions. Your behavior is reinforced by the stories you tell yourself, and in turn, how others see you.

Are you choosing to focus on the negative? Or are you looking for possibility? Identify what stories currently exist in your mind, and compare them to the ones you’d like to be telling.

It’s never too late to start rewriting.

In search of health and wellbeing

An ayurvedic center in Nepal offers month-long programs for people who have fallen out of good health. Practitioners target various elements in the body believing that once balance is restored, a calmer, more peaceful state of living will be experienced. Diet, yoga, cleansing and various ayurvedic practices are incorporated into treatment plans, and participants are discouraged from engaging in unnecessary work. A strict schedule, waking at 6:00AM and sleeping by 10PM, is followed, and clients follow recommendations to detoxify and restore the body.

The center is simply decorated. Glass bottles of herbs and oils rest on a bright windowsill.

“What happens when clients leave?” I asked the owner.

“One of two things,” he replied, “They return to same challenges with new perspective, better equipped to make non-reactive decisions. Or they make significant changes after realizing their situations no longer serve them.”

I don’t think you need to spend a month in a health center to make adjustments in your life, but you do need to take an honest look at your lifestyle and what best serves you.

We all have habits we complete on autopilot. Inviting mindfulness to our days and daily activities can help us assess what changes need to be made and whether we are on the right path to health and wellbeing.

5 ways to add magic to your life

1. Say yes.

To people, to adventures, to new experiences, to uncomfortable situations. Saying yes will help you unravel all that life has to offer. Remove “what ifs” from your imagination and stay open.

2. Love fully.

Love yourself whole-heartedly, love others willingly, love the circumstances life brings you. Loving keeps you humble, generous, and able to receive.

3. Search for something new.

Go to new places, eat different foods, listen to a variety of music and lectures and plays. Keep your mind broad and your interests vast.

4. Be grateful.

No matter the circumstance — positive, negative, lucky, misfortunate — pinpoint something to be thankful for and look for the lessons life wants to teach you.

5. Cultivate relationships.

Nurture bonds with your dearest ones. Take time to mentor others and listen to mentors of your own. Identify role models and borrow some of their lifestyle habits.

Life is meant to be unpacked, day by day and year by year. Each decade will carry new teachers and gifts to you, if you are ready to observe, listen, and fully participate.

Find magic today.