Buddha Doodles: Reflection of Light
4 Lessons on How to Find the Right Direction in Life
“Life’s blows cannot break a person whose spirit is warmed by the fire of enthusiasm.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
“Something just doesn’t feel right,” I thought to myself as I walked into my house after a long commute from work, being greeted by my exhausted spouse, who was trying to manage the kids after putting in a long day at her own job.
Work hard, save money, buy a house, and live happily ever after. The formula I grew up with didn’t seem all that great anymore. Was it broken? I mean, I worked at a good job but felt …
Speaking Your Mind Without Being Hurtful
“If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” ~Buddha
Many of us allow other people’s opinions to dictate what we believe, value, or perceive. It’s not always easy to stand up for our beliefs and opinions when others, particularly those we care about, constantly bombard us with their views.
You might be thinking, “No, not me! This never happens to me. I’m strong in voicing my beliefs.”
At one point or another, we all conform our opinions, either to avoid confrontation or judgment or because we’re losing faith in what we …
Releasing the Need for Approval and Making Peace with Yourself
“Lean too much on other people’s approval and it becomes a bed of thorns.” ~Tehyi Hsieh
In the face of a conflict with another, the wisdom that most often brings me peace is the reminder that the only thing I can change is how I react. Whatever or whoever else is a part of the conflict, that is outside of my control.
While I certainly advocate using your excellent communication skills to work through problems with the ones you love, I am a firm believer in finding my own way to cope rather than being a victim of circumstances.
These …
Inspiring Video from a 93-Year-Old Yoga Master
Sixty-one. That’s how long Porchon Lynch has been teaching yoga. And now in her nineties, she’s still at it, still inspiring others to live healthy, happy lives. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re too old to get up and make this day count, this short video may change your perception of what’s possible for you.
Lessons from Dogs on Being Present and Healing After Loss
“If you learn from a loss you have not lost.” ~Austin O’Malley
Every experience, including every loss, has something to teach us even when we are not up for a lesson.
Losing one of my pets has been a chance for me to reflect on the value of the present, and has strengthened my commitment to engaging in each moment and not letting my worries and anticipation erode the possibilities of the now.
In December, my fourteen-year-old golden retriever passed away. Ripley was an incredible companion who saw me through several jobs, moved with me five times, and outlasted my …
How Death Teaches Us to Live Fully: 7 Enlightening Lessons
“We meet but briefly in life, if we touch each other with stardust, that is everything.” ~Unknown
We had baked chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy that evening. It was the kind of hearty meal that warms you up on a damp March night.
As I said goodnight, I couldn’t have imagined that in just a few hours I would return to my parents’ house and everything would be changed forever.
But so it goes. Nothing in life is permanent.
I’ll never forget that phone call. I felt everything drain out of me and then it seemed as though …
Finding What You Want Means Realizing What You Don’t
“Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places” ~ Unknown
I’ve never dreamed of owning a mansion or acres of land. I’ve never dreamed of meeting Mr. or Ms. Right. I’ve never dreamed of glory on a sports field or stage, and I’ve never dreamed of being a billionaire or “Chief” of a company.
But I have dreamed of one thing—finding and living out my “calling.”
I’ve dreamed of coming across a cause, art, subject, or professional field that stuns me in my tracks and induces an epiphany: this is the work I want to live and breathe, …
How Your Mind Sabotages Your Life and How to Stop It
“What we see is mainly what we look for.” ~Anonymous
A few weeks ago, my aunt was visiting for a family holiday. I hadn’t seen her in a few years so we were catching up, talking about life, and talking about the projects we were each working on.
“So I’m still working on my PhD dissertation,” she said. “It’s really exhausting, you know, having five kids and doing my PhD all while working. It’s just exhausting.”
“And the problem is that these professors are constantly approving or denying my thesis subjects, so I’ll begin to research it and then they …
Daylight: Fun Music Video To Start the Morning with a Smile
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched this video. It’s impossible to watch this and not smile!
5 Tiny Steps to Move Away from Unnecessary Busyness
“It’s not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?” ~Henry David Thoreau
I’m sitting on my porch watching the line of ants trail up the wall until the black line above me starts to fade into the roof. I wonder what they think about.
Do they question the busyness of their tiny lives? Are they determined to get somewhere, or do they just focus on each tiny step forward? Do they fear the long road ahead?
I remembered learning from my mother—when my sister and I were homeschooled in …
How to Be Kind to Yourself in a Busy World
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” ~Sydney J. Harris
A few weeks ago, I had a panic attack. It was the first time in my life that I had experienced such unfamiliar feelings of intense fear and debilitating terror. As each prolonged minute painfully elapsed, I honestly thought that I was dying.
At the time, of course, I had no idea what was happening to my body.
I did not know why my heart was racing, why my face was numb, or why my tongue felt like it was choking me. Why my …
A 6-Step Daily Ritual to Create the Future and Enjoy the Present
“What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” ~Unknown
I have always loved to-do lists. It gives me joy to plan my day in advance. Lists give me an overview, focus, and I simply love crossing things off.
Things changed when I became self-employed. My to-do list behavior turned from a supportive tool into an instrument of self-imposed pressure.
I felt that being self-employed meant that I had to work very hard to make things happen. The lists became longer and longer, at least fifteen big items per day.
As …
Stay Motivated To Make Lasting Changes With These 5 Simple Steps
“The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.” ~Ralph Blum
We all face obstacles. Maybe you’re unhappy in your career, but don’t know what else you’d like to do with your life. Maybe you’re unfulfilled in your relationship, but don’t know how to communicate this to your partner. Or maybe you’re struggling to make ends meet financially, and don’t know how to get out of debt.
A few years ago, my life was in complete shambles. My marriage had fallen apart, I was unfulfilled at work, I felt disconnected and misunderstood by family and …
Recovering from the Pain of Bullying and Finding Confidence as an Adult
“If your number one goal is to make sure that everyone likes and approves of you, then you risk sacrificing your uniqueness, and therefore, your excellence.” ~Unknown
I envied the clusters of kids at recess, playing games from which I was always excluded, not just because I couldn’t play them, but also because I was the class outcast. I envied them, the ease with which they moved; their grace, speed, and precision as they ran, kicked, danced, dove. Things I could hardly hope to do.
But it wasn’t just my Cerebral Palsy. It was something that wasn’t really about my …
3 Small Steps Toward Rebuilding Your Confidence
“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ~Benjamin Spock
My confidence is a delicate thing. I’ve had more disturbances in my life than I’ve had reassurances, a handful of betrayals, and enough playground cruelty to last me until the day I die.
I am still living with some difficult health conditions that I wake up and go to bed with every day, with no respite. I’m an introvert to the core, no matter how eloquent I am with the written word, or articulate with the spoken word.
Some of us are more fragile than others, but that’s …
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