Love

Today I ask you to just take 5 minutes and think about how you can show love to yourself and others.  What random acts of kindness can you do?  How can you show compassion and understanding to others? How can you use what you are passionate about to be of service to others?

Think about it and take action.  Do something, even if it is small, and let me know how it made you feel?

A Loving Heart

When we have a loving heart, we are open to everything and it is in being open that we can have anything we desire!

Today, allow yourself to be open to the infinite field of possibilities.  Be open to loving everyone and everything simply because they exist.  Be open to light-heartedness.  Be open to learning and being.

Enjoy the day and let me know how it goes.  Be gentle with yourself and just allow awareness to enter.

Namaste!

Spread Love

"Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." ~ Mother Teresa

I found one of the best ways to have people feel happier after interacting with me is by letting them know how important they are. The way I like to do that is to ask them questions about them.  Give them the opportunity to talk about what is important to them and really listen.  Don't listen with the intention of commenting or responding but listen with the intention of letting them know they are heard.

We are all important and we are all so busy that sometimes we don't spend the time truly connecting to people and seeing what is going on in their life.  Sometimes we leave interactions feeling "unimportant." Genuine interest and concern and listening, along with a glowing smile, will do so much good for the person receiving those gifts.  (The giver benefits, too, since it is in giving that we receive.)

Today, take an extra few minutes to really listen to the people in your life.  Listen closely to your kids, your partner, your neighbor, and the clerk at the store.  We are all people.  We all have ups and downs.  We all have emotions and hopes and dreams.  We are all connected. Feel that connection and let others know you feel it and they will always walk away happier having connected with another human being.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day because it's the one day of the year that we are reminded to focus on love. While most people tend to focus on loving somebody else, I think it's more important to start with loving yourself.

This Valentine's Day I'd like you to know that you are loved and to remember to show yourself love, compassion, and understanding. Take this day to appreciate all that you do and to acknowledge yourself. Do something special for you. Once you've done that, it's a great day to also show everybody else that you love them! While Valentine's Day is traditionally about romantic love, it's just as important to focus on unconditional love with everyone you meet.

Have a spectacular Valentine's Day!

I love you!

P.S.  It's okay to treat every day as Valentine's Day!!

"Do all things with love."  ~ Og Mandino

Would You Rather Be Right or Happy?

A Course in Miracles asks, "Would you rather be right or happy?"  It's really amazing how many people choose right over happy and then wonder why they aren't happy.

Sometimes you are right but you insist everyone else knows you are right rather than being happy and just knowing it yourself.  I see this all the time in work situations but my favorite example is from when my kids were young. They would decide to have a race, and the one who came in second would say that he won. The one who knew he came in first would get so upset and angry because he knew he won and yet his brother insisted that he won. I remember saying, "Did you come in first? Do you know the came in first? Does that mean you won?" Of course the answer would be, "Yes, I won!" Then my response would be, "Then what difference does it make what he says? Why are you getting so upset?"

Too often we search outside of ourselves for recognition rather than just knowing what we know and being happy. Nobody else needs to know what our accomplishments are all the time, we need to just be happy in our own knowing. Of course that does mean we need to recognize and acknowledge ourselves.

The other thing that happens when you insist that you are right (even if you are) is that the other person often becomes defensive and uncooperative.  Hard feelings often emerge. Most times, it doesn't really matter.  There is no need to correct people when they make a mistake, it only makes them feel bad.  (I do recognize there are times when you do need to correct someone if safety is an issue or because you are training them but those happen less often.)

Today, look for the opportunity to choose to be happy!

More smiles

"I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish." ~ Mother Teresa

I know I just wrote about the importance of smiling but I wanted to post again about it.  Smiling has such an amazingly positive impact of others.  It really has the power to change the direction of someone's day and even their life.  It costs nothing.  It has a physical impact of the person smiling, too.  

Who took me up on the challenge to smile at everyone you met the other day?  Who will do it now?  Also, for the ultimate affect, try your most genuine smile.  For everyone you meet, imagine they are you long lost favorite relative or friend.  Imagine that seeing them is the most amazing thing ever.  You can even say, "Hi, it's good to see you!"  Trust me you'll make a difference.

I remember when I was working in Boston and I'd walk down the sidewalk with a big smile on my face and make eye contact with people and acknowledge them as I walked by.  It felt strange when I started doing it and I know a lot of people wondered if I was mentally unstable but... I also know that it made many, many other people smile, too.   I could feel how their smile helped melt some of the stress they were feeling.  That might be even more so for the people who thought I was crazy :-)  The fact is, I felt great, too.  So many people who I saw regularly began to respond as if we were long lost friends.  They knew that they were special and that they made a connection.  That's what we all want and need - connection with others.  So go ahead and make sure you smile at everyone you see today.

Please let me know how it goes!! 

You can make easily make a big difference in this world - all you need to do is smile.

Enjoy Life

Don't be so intent on achieving your goals that you forget to enjoy life!  Goals are super important but too often people move through life trying to make more money and get more "stuff" but they forget to enjoy life.

Every day is a gift and no matter what you have or where you are, you CAN be happy.  Focus on what you do have and you will get more plus you'll be much happier in the process!!

Look around and see the beauty that exists.  Slow down and take a deep breath.  You are alive and you have the power to create your life the way you want it every day.  Be present.  Enjoy!

Let me know what steps you take today to stop and smell the roses!!