Celebrate setbacks

Obstacles happen. We can choose to slam into them or weave around them and move on.  Our computer breaking down could be a chance for panic and frustration or may allow us to catch up on running errands or paperwork that has been put off.  Forgetting to pack a lunch may mean a nice trip to a new restaurant. Even stubbing a toe could offer celebration for actually having feeling in our legs and feet.  What setback did you experience that you were able to turn around into a positive?  Do you believe even setbacks happen for a reason?

Scene change

Make a plan to change your daily scenery for a portion of your day.  You might realize something new and wonderful when you remove yourself from the habitual spaces you normally find yourself in.  Try a new coffee shop, move your laptop to a library or park, or sit in a diffferent seat on the bus.  What will you discover by adjusting the lense you view your daily life from?  Shake it up.

At your service

Serving others can be extremely staisfying.  There is a feeling of having purpose, of being needed, and this feeling can go a long way towards our daily happiness.  How did you provide service to others today?  How did it feel?  Could you help someone tomorrow?  Build it into your plans.  Help a co-worker solve a problem, provide a shoulder for a friend to cry on, help a neighbour in their garden, give time to your favourite charity.  This list of possible service is endless.

Dress for success

The lion proudly bears his fluffy mane, the zebra embraces his constrasting stripes, and we can do the same.  Often we gravitate toward the most comfortable clothes without a thought of how we might present ourselves.  Putting together a sharp outfit can allow us to stand a little taller, and feel more pride in ourselves. This pride expands outwards and allows others to see us in a new light.   When planning your wardrobe, ask yourself how you can best present yourself with the clothes options you have.

Strut it out.

Word expansion

Learning a new language
Is uncomfortable

I cannot find familiarity in word association
Floating letters swirl past my eyes

But in the discomfort
I feel changed
I feel my mind stretching and expanding
To embrace the new thoughts
The birth of some new world

I greet the words and
Hold them close until
A connection is formed

Language becomes life

Do what you can

We want to accomplish so many things.  We want to finish building that birdhouse, get ourselves to the market, sweat it out at the gym and make our families happy.  Some days we can accomplish it all, but many times we simply cannot.  Some days bring illness, fear, exhaustion or important priorities that attempt to run the show.  Know that these days need to run at a difference pace, we need to be sensitive to ourselves as our bodies are sending us messages.  Think of these times as software updates and we need to be gentle on ourselves as we re-boot for another day.

Be gentle.

Good enough

No matter where you are in your life or in your current journey, know that your are good enough as you are.  You are smart enough, kind enough, strong enough and quite attractive too!  We spend so much time reaching for our future selves or looking back to our past selves that we forget to appreciate the "us" we are right now. 

Imagine all your friends and family in your mind.  Picture each of them coming over, kneeling down to you and saying "you are enough", "you are good enough", "you have done enough".  If you already feel you are enough, try telling a friend that they are enough and see where that might take them.