Wednesday, February 27, 2013

15 Reasons for Keeping a Gratitude List

When times are difficult it can be hard to remember to be grateful. That's unfortunate because that is probably when you need it the most.

When you are grateful you cannot be sad or depressed. When you are grateful all you can feel is happy.

The benefits of being grateful are:
  1. cure broken or difficult relationships
  2. cure lack of health
  3. bring more money into your life
  4. reduce  fear
  5. reduce worry
  6. reduce  grief 
  7. eliminate depression 
  8. find solutions to problems
  9. find happiness 
  10. with clarity
  11. have patience
  12. with kindness 
  13. have compassion 
  14. with your understanding 
  15. bring peace of mind
If you are having difficulty understanding how gratefulness can help with all the points that I listed, try the 28 day practices outlined in Rhonda Byrne's book The Magic and/or follow along with me on my journey starting at the beginning, Day 1.


Be Grateful for Yesterday Today and Tomorrow
Darlene Nemeth

Grateful for Yesterday

Be grateful for all the blessings you have received in the past.
  • I am grateful that my daughters and granddaughters were born beautiful and perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful to all the people who helped through the tough times. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful for all the money I have received. It came in many different forms: coupons, free stuff, discounted items, pay checks, gifts, bonuses etc.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Grateful for Today

Be grateful for all the blessings you are receiving now.
  • I am grateful for everything and everyone in my life at this very moment.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful for the money in my pocket and in my bank account. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful for the light above me so I can see what I am doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful to be alive and healthy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful for the health of my loved ones. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Grateful for Tomorrow

Be grateful for the unknown blessings already on their way to you right now.
  • I am grateful for my granddaughter who will arrive within the next month. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful for all the money I will receive. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
  • I am grateful to live a long, healthy and prosperous life with my family.

I think my lists are good to start with. I can always add more as time goes by.



Have you started your gratitude journal yet? I would love to hear about it. Maybe share a short gratitude story. That would be wonderful.



And don't forget, I'd love it if you joined me on my journey, we could learn as we travel together.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Just a Bad Day, Not a Bad Life

Having a bad day? Bad week?

Don't beat yourself up about it. We all have off days. Some more than others. Like my husband for instance. He has a shit finger. Yep, that's right. (I said the s--- word. tee hee hee) Everything he touches turns to shit. 

When he is feeling ridiculously silly, he likes to chase me around the house with his poop finger, trying to touch me. Of course I can't get away from him because he has those big ole monkey arms that can reach me from any point in the room. (He is tall so his arms are long - not that he resembles a monkey in any way. Like, he's not hairy, okay) 

Why are guys such bugs?

I'm just thinking now. I wonder if it is just his pointer finger or his whole hand that is the problem? How much of him would we need to sever to get rid of the shit? I'm thinking his pointer finger will do. Yep that must be the answer. Then I will take that finger, go for a drive, and throw it out the window. What do you think of my plan?

Alright. Seriously. He's the glass is half empty kind of guy. He just keeps drawing the bad to himself. Over and over and over again. He'll never learn.

Now for the rest of us, who do not have a shit finger, we need to put it in perspective. So what. We had a bad day. Will any of it matter in a month from now? Or a year from now?

Keep this in mind: most things can be fixed. It may be difficult to correct but it can be fixed. So don't sweat it. 

And remember, it is a Bad Day, not a Bad Life!








Want more printables? Visit my printables page.

Check out my pins on Pinterest and the items for resale on Etsy.

Have an awesome day then share it with me!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Winter Blahs - Today is a Great Day to be Alive

The snow is really piling up around my house. My granddaughters love the snow but it has been too cold to play outside. I don't mind the snow, it's the below zero temperatures and wind chill factor that get me. 

Actually I prefer the snow over slush. Slush is so messy. Cars pass by spraying everyone within reach. The kids snow pants and mitts get wet so they get extra cold. And unless you have really good boots, your feet get wet and cold.

So for now I will be grateful for the snow bank in front of our house that is at least three feet tall by now. 

Those poor guys who pick up the garbage and recycling must have a heck of a time. I am so grateful to them for all their hard work to keep our streets clean.

Okay. Sorry but I have to complain. Yes I do. I can't stop it. I MISS THE SUN. But at least it stays light out until six o'clock now. Dark at 5 pm is a real bummer. It can be hard to stay positive when the only sunshine you see is through a small window.

So for all those who are missing the sun and warm weather I have a little boost - a little sunshine for your day. Enjoy the free printable. And feel free to pin it.  :) 






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What is the weather like where you live? And how does it affect your mood?


    

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tuesday Treasury - Hint of Green

'With a Lovely Hint of Green' by shemonster31



Crochet pillow cover mo...
$59.00

Pottery Citrus Juicer -...
$38.00

Dewy 8x10 Photograph
$20.00

Mid Century Bookshelf -...
$138.50

Limegreen Infinity Circ...
$30.90

Vintage 4 mint green gl...
$39.00

Cedar Sprig Air Plant T...
$25.00

25mm Round Wooden Beads...
$3.00

Mint Barefoot Sandals B...
$40.00

SALE - Buy 2 Get 1 FREE...
$3.00

Fenton Hobnail Milk Gla...
$44.00

vintage avocado green i...
$10.00

Aqua Silver and Black ...
$8.00

Green Gilmer or Alamo T...
$18.00

Vintage Storage Basket ...
$42.00

Cotton Hand Towels Set ...
$19.00

PMR (How Progressive Muscle Relaxation Improves Your Sleep)

I was talking to a friend the other day about stress and how it affects us.

My friend was explaining how he has trouble falling sleeping. He can lay there for hours wide awake. His mind races, reviewing everything he didn't finish, what more he has to do. He can't seem to slow his brain down.

Most nights he just gives up by getting out of bed and finishing a few items on his to do list. Actually this nut bar gets dressed and goes to the office to check off a few items on his to do list.

Unfortunately this leaves him sleep deprived. There are been plenty of meetings where we have caught him dozing off. Which is a concern of course. We worry about his safety.

I explained to my friend that I sometimes have trouble falling asleep too. My mind gets stuck on replay. Thought are just buzzing around, I feel anxious and restless.


When this happens I have to just slow it down and r-e-l-a-x. I take a few deep cleansing breaths to slow my heart rate down. Then I begin to list off a few items I am grateful for. 

I am so very grateful for another day of life because it means I can spend more time with the people I love and care about. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I am so very grateful for the roof above me and the bed below me because I don't want to get wet. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

I go through my list slowly and explain why I am grateful for it. I drift off with happy thoughts floating in my head and I sleep like a baby. What ever that means.

If sleep is still avoiding me, I try to figure out if I am clenching any muscles like in my jaws or shoulders.



Recognizing Stressed Muscles

The fact is many people don't recognize their muscle tension and don't know how to relax. I know you are thinking that you do know how to relax, and you probably do but there are still many who don't know how to release their physical tension.

I learned to recognize muscle tension almost fifteen years ago. I took a course at my local gym. I thought I was taking a short course to learn how to protect myself if attacked out in the parking lot. Truth is I can't remember any of those tips. However, I do remember learning about Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR). I don't know how that is related to running and screaming for help. At least I learned something right.



What is PMR?

Well, basically it is squeezing and releasing isolated muscle groups. It teaches you to become aware of your tension, how to let it go, and how to recognize a truly relaxed state.

Give it a try. We'll start
 with your shoulders. Lift your shoulders up towards your ears. Tighten all those muscles. Tighter. Can you feel the tightness in your neck, chest, and back? Now count to ten. Exhale slowly and release. Just let it go. 

Try to remember how your shoulders felt before this exercise. Can you feel the difference between then and earlier? Now your shoulders are truly relaxed.


Put PMR into Practice

I think we should start with our right hand just to make sure we are doing this tighten and release right
  • Think about how your hand feels. 
  • Now clench your hand into a tight fist. Tighter. As tight as you can. Now how does your hand feel? What about your forearm? 
  • While clenching a fist, count to ten. 
  • Okay, quickly relax your hand. Let your hand go completely limp. 
  • As I exhale, I picture all the tension floating out of my hand into space and dissipating. 
Okay you are ready to try the exercise. You need to be in a comfortable position free of distraction. I prefer to lie down in bed so I can fall asleep right after. I close my eyes so I can concentrate on the muscle groups.

Once you are ready, let's begin.
  • Inhale deeply through your nose and slowly exhale.
  • Start by clenching your toes and pressing your heels down and back. Squeeze tightly for the count of ten and then release.
  • Now flex your feet in, pointing your toes up towards your head. Hold for the count of ten and then release.
  • Continue to work your way up your body on each muscle group; legs, bum, abdomen, back, arms hands, shoulders, neck and face. Tighten for the count of ten and release while exhaling. 
  • End your practice by taking a few more deep breaths.
  • Feel total relaxation in your whole body.



Let's Wrap It Up

Remember, PMR involves letting go of the tension in your body and brings you to a sense of relaxation. It is performed by tightening and relaxing your various muscle groups. By relieving the stress you have built up throughout your body, you are able to quiet and calm your mind.


And remember, like with anything else, practice makes perfect.


What do you do when you are having difficulty falling asleep?






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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Mirror, Mirror . . .

. . . On My Wall

I don't know about you but I hate looking in the mirror. I'll take it one step farther and admit I really can't stand seeing my reflection anywhere or my photograph being taken. 

If you are interested you can read about my photograph phobia on this post, Day 27 Magic Mirror (Whew, that's a mouthful). 
My Magic Mirror LIES!

I don't hate myself but that mirror keeps telling me things I don't want to hear. "Boy you're getting a lot of grey. Your teeth are crooked and not so white anymore. And look at those wrinkles and huge pores. Is that a whisker growing out of your chin?"

And that's just the beginning. If that stupid mirror sees anymore of me, it screams and laughs. "Ha you are some weird shaped chick! And the belly, no wonder that guy you were interviewing asked when your baby was due." Yes that last part is true, it's not just a scene in a comedy, it really happened to me. Luckily I am not as sensitive as I use to be twenty or so years ago, otherwise I would have started crying.


Well, now you know part of my dislike list. I am getting better at zoning out that critical mirror. Of course, it's easier if I turn my back on him.

Unfortunately, some days it is impossible to ignore Mirror. Those days are bad. I don't want to go out anywhere. People will stare. Teenagers will point and laugh at the circus freak. Small children will cry and run away. Those with bad hearts will collapse while grasping at their chests. I will not be responsible for some strangers death so it is just better to stay at home.

I know if I make an effort to fix my hair, put on some makeup and dress nice, I will feel better about myself. But. And yes there is a but. I feel like .... an ugly mutt getting a poodle hair do ... a blackbird painting itself red to look like a cardinal. Everyone will see I'm just a three dressed up as a nine and that's worse.

So how do I avoid those days? Let me think. The first trick is to get out of the house. Staying in can be a bad habit to break. Eventually you just can't go out in public.

I'm Not Listening

I think a big part of changing Mirror's opinion is my attitude. I think positive. I think gratitude. I am happy and I smile when I look at Mirror and he smiles back. He is just too busy smiling to say anything bad to me.

I also like to look at myself through the eyes of my family. They see the person they love. They see a smart, kind, important person. (Gotta love that movie. Can you guess what it is?) 

On the other hand, if I am feeling especially good I can tell Mirror to shut up and listen to me. I am grateful for being me. Yes I have grey hair and it is a privilege.  Not everyone lives long enough to have this much grey. I really don't have that many wrinkles and the ones I do have are a testament to my life. I am over weight because I have not spent enough time on myself, putting the needs of others first. 

Putting it into perspective. I won't be emotionally scaring anyone soon by going outside and being seen. I hope. :) I am not Quasimodo or the elephant man. I am just an average looking human being - not a super model - not a mutant. And I can live with that.



What does your magic mirror say to you?



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Photo of mirror from http://www.interiormall.com

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Laugh Out Loud!

There's nothing like a good laugh to lift your spirits. I am sure you're thinking, "like dah". But you know, when you are feeling down, it doesn't occur to you that something so simple can make you feel better.

Dr Judith Orloff has this to say about laughter, "True laughter is a surrender to hilarity; a sound, a smile, a heart opening. You feel it in your chest, or your whole body may shake. Also, notice that prior to a joke, there’s an air of expectation, a subtle shift in consciousness and attention, the promise of mood transformation."

Watch a comedy. Not something mildly humorous. Find something hilarious. Find something so ridiculously side splitting that you will laugh out loud.

Why not check out stand up comedians on You Tube. A comedian's job is make you laugh and laugh til your face hurts. 


Louis C.K. Chewed Up (2008)
I was perusing the net when I came across Louis C.K. Chewed Up (2008). He is a bit vulgar but you know that can be funny. He covers several topics that I can relate to. Just check it out then let me know what you think.

Or maybe you have a favorite comedian you would like to share.

Sorry, I have to stop for a sec to laugh. He was just talking about his five year old daughter trying to tell him a secret. LOL

Boy can I relate. My granddaughters are so funny when they try to tell me a secret. First they really don't know how to whisper. The neighbor next door can hear them. I brace myself for a blast in the ear then Faith says, "Grandma, I want to tell you a secret." I am wincing and pulling back so she puts her little hands on my checks so I can't get away as she "whispers" to me again. "Grandma, I want to tell you a secret." And that is usually her secret. She's so cute. 

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Barriers to Abundance

What do I Want?

Hmmm.  Happiness of course but what else? Think, think, think. I want more. I want to be able to financially help my family and friends. I want to be able to spend more time with my family and friends.

So why aren't I where I want to be? Let me think this one through. 

Hey!   I am pretty much where I wanted to be at this point in my life. I have a lovely home, a job I love, a nice car, wonderful friends, a loving family to share my life with . . . What else could I want? 

I want to up my "standard of living" so I can spend more time with my family, time to pursue other interests and financially help friends and family. 

I want financial freedom. Everyone's dream, right? Not exactly. As a teenager I wanted to live in a house that I owned, have children and a job doing something I enjoyed.

I got what I wanted. Didn't I? Of course I did. But I got a little older. Now I want something else. And that's okay. People change and their needs/wants change right along with them. 

I want financial freedom. So what can be stopping me?


Barriers

I have barriers. We all have barriers. They are preconceived perceptions taught to us by our family, friends or community. We have debilitating fears and poor self esteems.

Distorted Perceptions

www.findingdulcinea.com
For instance, I was raised to believe that money doesn't bring you happiness. But I beg to differ. We need money to survive in this world and to maintain happiness we need at least enough money to pay our bills, put food on the table, get us from point a to point b and provide some of the niceties in life. Without the money for all these items, we are filled with stress, unhappiness, depression, low self esteem. You get the the picture.

Perhaps my Mom taught this to us because money was tight when she was growing up. And after my father died money was tight for us. We had to  learn how to get by and make the most of it. 

I also grew up thinking you have to work hard for your money. Not  a completely true statement is it? But it is ingrained into my mind and very difficult to get rid of.

To reprogram my brain I constantly say to myself  and out loud occasionally, "money comes easily and frequently".

Another perception is that people who have "money" are stingy, self absorbed, maybe "stuck up." The rich get richer. That's because they rip people off, take advantage of the poor and weak. So you don't want to have loads of cash because you will become one of "them." Ebenezer Scrooge is not the best role model.

I know a fair number of people who fit these stereotypes so they are just making it more difficult for me to erase. To rid myself of these pictures of greed , I like to imagine myself with a fist full of money and I am handing out stacks to cash to my mom, sister, kids, friends and I see huge smiles on their faces as the money hits the palms of their hands. I feel excited and over enjoyed. What a wonderful feeling.

Can you think of any other distorted conceptions that would prevent you from accumulating wealth.



Fears

Fear can be very debilitating.  It can seriously affect our strength or ability to reach our goals.  We may not even start work on a goal because we fear failure. Or we are afraid to move out of our comfort zone and it is just easier to stay exactly where we are than to venture out.


Shyness is fear. Shy people miss out on so many experiences because they are too afraid to talk or move in unfamiliar ground. I know because I was extremely shy as a child and young adult. Trust me, I missed out on so much. I am still shy but I'd say it doesn;t hold me back like it use to. I forced myself into those uncomfortable situations and slowly but surely it became easier.

What fears hinder you from accomplishing your goals?


Self Esteem
I'm not good enough. I'm not smart enough. I'm too short, I'm too fat. Let's face it we have a vast amount of issues we can draw upon for this category. Our self esteems can really hinder us from achieving abundance.

I'll give you an example. While searching for a job, say you see a posting and it looks ideal because you have those skills, the location is fantastic and it's for a reputable company. Then you see under the skills section that five years experience is required and you only have one or they want someone with college but you have none. I bet many of you would not even bother applying. I would apply. What could it hurt. So they may laugh at me. I won't be there to hear it. Or they might say, wow look at her resume., let's call her in for an interview. Then I'd get the chance to really impress them with my knowledge.


What to do?

We need to retrain our brains and move out of our comfort zones.

I want to fulfill my dreams and desires. I want to be happy. I want to break free from this small confined space I have boxed myself in. I want to enjoy everything that life has to offer!

How about you?


Sunday, February 3, 2013

You are Awesome!

Surprise! I was surfing the net again. I came across this image and absolutely had to share with you.

My five year old Granddaughter, Sidney was standing beside me when I scrolled down to the picture.

I read it out loud then told Sidney, " Hey look. They are pointing at you.!"

A big smile spread across her face. She asked me, "at me?"

I replied, "ya, look, they are pointing at you."

She was beaming and immediately skip hopped over to her Mom and Dad to tell them what she saw on the internet.

I have to admit I smiled too when I fist saw this. I think it would be a fantastic addition to my gratitude board. I hope you like it too because you are awesome!


Who is the most awesome person today?
 Image shared by Sagrario Garcia on Google+

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Friday, February 1, 2013

You are Successful!

Happiness

I was sitting here brain storming, in search of something to write about.The first word to come to mind was happiness which lead to gratitude. Gratitude equal happiness. 

But what else makes me happy? My family, my home, my job, my friends. Manifesting my dreams. Success. 

What does success mean to me - or you?

What is my answer? Success means happiness to me. The opposite is true too. In simple terms, failure makes me sad.


Society's Standards for Success

But how do I recognize when I am successful? 

I know some people pass judgment on themselves because they do not measure up to the society's standards. 

Let's look at the average teenager who compares themselves to their peers. Being successful in high school may mean you have great grades, have a part-time job, get involved in extra curriculum activities, dress in popular brand name clothes. or hang with the cool kids. And let's face it, if we aren't one of the cool kids we are losers.

What about after high school? Does success mean college or university? Maybe it's that fantastic job, big house and nice shiny car? 


Maybe you measure your success by the  accomplishments of your children? Or keeping up with your neighbors.

Society may judge us by these standards but I hope we don't. As I get older it has become easier to stop comparing myself society's standards but I don't think it is determined by the number of years on this planet so much as it has to do with self esteem and gratitude for ones self.

Defining Success

If we aren't suppose to compare ourselves to society's standards, how do we gauge our success? Maybe we need to review the definition of success.

1. Success may refer to: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Success)
  • a level of social status
  • achievement of a goal
  • the opposite of failure

2. Success. [suhk-ses]  (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/success)
  • the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals. 
  • the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like. 
  • a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors: The play was an instant success. 
  • a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.: She was a great success on the talk show.

Success Is . . .

To me, I am successful when . . . I happily complete a goal that I have created. This could be buying a house, a car, nice furniture. But it isn't because my neighbors have it.

I am successful when I finish crocheting a blanket, or paint the hallway. I am successful because I set a goal for myself, I worked to complete that goal and I did it. 

(All this talk about the word success. It sounds weird now, doesn't it? Success. Yep it is a weird word.)

Defining Success for Yourself

Is it how we judge ourselves as human beings that determines our success? Do the successes through out our lives give us value? What does success mean to you?

I can't answer any of those questions for you. All I know is you need to figure out what success means to you, for you. And we shouldn't compare ourselves to others when determining our success.


Why Success?

I wanted to write about success today because it has a lot to do with your self worth and in the end, your happiness. 

Let's face it, if we become very sad and depressed when we feel unsuccessful. And that has to do with the means that you determine how successful you are.

We can't compare ourselves to any one else. We don't do it with our kids. We don't do it with our family. And we don't do it with our friends. So why are we so hard on ourselves?

We have to set our goals then celebrate when we reach them. Yes! Let's CELEBRATE! YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL!

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