Say Yes!

To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge up to the elbows. It is easy to say no, even if saying no means dying.

~ Jean Anouila

Don’t we all want to just get down and dirty in the muck of things and sling mud back at someone who has hurt us!? Surely, I cannot be alone in this. Of course, it would be easier to just lower ourselves into their level of behavior. Recenty, I have been tempted twice to take up battle and to go to war over what most would consider trite issues. They mattered to me. But, thanks to loving support and direction, I managed to pull back and not engage either time. Thank goodness, as I am not sure of the limits of my rage. It would have not been a pretty picture. It would have been easier, but I deserve better.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will choose my battles to pick and those I wish to retreat from. Discernment. Now, I will come up with 3 alternative strategies that are positive and pro-active that I could otherwise use. It will be harder because these are new and unpracticed behaviors. But, I will be happier with the results.

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

A Child of the Universe

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have the right to be here. And, whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

~ Desiderata, 1692

I so love this passage as it is life affirming and positive through and through. Far too many of us receive negative messages and untruths served up as truth from society. Not good enough! Too pushy! Too sensitive! Too loud! Cry too much! All lies. All negative and toxic. The reality is… the truth is…. it is all good, even the bad stuff and the negative stuff. We learn from regardless. Lately, I have had someone find fault with me and my property. Much of what was said was toxic and said out of anger and loss of control. It took me a few hours, but I finally swam through it intact. The reality and truth for me is that humans act inhumanley when they act out of fear and a sense of loss of control. That is my truth.

Today’s Life Action Plan: Just for today, I will take action on the negative messages. Write them down. Now, I will ask God for the truth. Embrace the truth. I don’t have to own anyone’s opinion of you. I will keep them out of my head.

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Contentment

If we find nothing of interest where we are, we are likely to find little of interest where we wish to go.

~ Edwin Way Teale

Have you ever felt restless, irritable and discontent? I felt that way yesterday…no one, nothing, and no situtation was going to suit me just fine. I was up in everyone else’s grill over minor stuff…you’re driving to slow! too fast! too close to me!! I crack myself up. The reality is that the attitude with which I was coming at society and situations was all about me! I wanted what I wanted, and no amount of conjoling would assuage me. Ohhh, what I difference a day makes… Today is brighter and gentler on my spirit.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan:  Just for today, I will wait 24 hours before taking any action on important decisions…just wait. If I not in a good mood? Then I will be quiet and wait.

Note: please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Seeking Courage

Every man has his own courage, but is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

When we look outside of ourselves for support and affirmation of our acheivements (such as money, raises, bonuses, new houses, etc.) then we lose a grip on what is of most value…our sense of self = Our own worth, as we define it, not society’s definitions.

Today’s Life Action Plan: Just for today, I will list 5 great things I have accomplished this year.  I will draw on those deeds and strengths gained to face today. We are enough.

Note: Pleae comment below and let me know how this works for you.

A Quiet Retreat

Nowhere can a man find and quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.

~ Marcus Aurelius

We live in a nonstop, noisy, go get em society….radios blasting, internet buzzing, texting, phones beeping…..no rest. No reprieve. No peace. There was a quieter, more innocent time. Ronnie Reagan won two elections with the promise to take us back to the 50’s when things were simpler and more peaceful…even more prosperous.  These days you get the wars, fighting and crime scenes right in your own living room. I pray for a happier medium. I like knowing the news, but I also like peace and quiet. How can we obtain that for ourselves. My solace is in my gardens.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will create a quiet room or environment in my own home. It can be as simple as an easy chair in a corner of the bedroom. Now, I will put only spiritual books, maybe some candles, and silence in the surroundings.

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Motivated to Change

I have never seen a person grow or change in a constructive direction when motivated by guilt, shame, &/or hate.

~ William Goldberg

We are raised in a society that likes to think all the guilt, shame, and hate will somehow motivate people around us to change. Just today, I heard someone advise that only hate and anger could drive humans toward social change. Perhaps that is what the intitial feelings might be, but for me anger and hate breed only more anger and hate. We may want change, but we will get is retaliation in response when we charge in and force change.

Today Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will act lovingly toward everyone I meet. I will greet them with a smile. I will offer hope, happiness, and acceptance. See how far that gets you.  

Note: Please comment belowand let me know how this works for you.

A Way Out

The best way out is through.

~ Robert Frost

This guy’s orientation and works were mostly related to forests and trees…nature. Sometimes, we are so caught up in our pain and disillusionment with life and people, that we cannot see the forest for the trees… way too many details blur our vision of what might really be there or what could be the real situation.  We are too close to it. We need a new perspective.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will talk to a friend, advocate, or professional.  I will tell them the situation. Breathe. Stop. Now, I will listen and be open to feedback. An objective third person is better suited to see things clearly and be able to see solutions. 

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Intellect is Not God

We should take care not to make the intellect our God.

~ Albert Einstein

His greatest fear was that his inventions would be used to destroy mankind. He is often misquoted as being an atheist. He was not; he merely stated that what could not be proved could not be disproved….as related to believing in any God’s existence.

One mistake I made, was to think an advanced education and self knowledge would make me happier and free me of life’s pain. The reality is that education has given me more sense of self worth, more earning power, and it helped free me from single parent poverty for awhile. There is no harm in being educated. However, it is not the solution to happiness, security, or perfection. It is not God. Those things only come from my belief in something greater than myself.

Today’s Life Action Plan: Just for today, I will write a want ad for a higher power that describes any attributes that I can believe in. Now, I will hire Him or Her. 🙂 

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Humor as Prayer

Humor is a prelude to faith; and laughter is the beginning of prayer.

~ Reinhold Niebuhr

If we don’t laugh, we shall surely cry…at least that is something I heard that rings true for me, when dealing with major loss. At my father’s funeral, we sat around and told his old jokes, life stories, and fishing tales for 3 hours…it was part of the grieving process…It may sound outrageous to some of you. That is ok. It helped us not despair, but to remember his finer hours. I say one good belly laugh per day….keeps me sane and healthy. Laughter releases the bodies natural endorphins (feel good hormones)…great as an anti-depressant.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will watch a comedy, read the cartoons, or watch cartoons on t.v…..I will laugh for Pete’s sake. I will have one laugh each day.

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.

Enemy of Truth

The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie deliberate, contrived, and dishonest; but the myth persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.

~ John F. Kennedy

We are all told “lies” or myths from early childhood. Women, were you told that you were too fat, too loud, and too forward? And men, were you told that you were too emotional, too tender hearted, and too weak? We are either too much or not enough in this society. These are myths. They must be busted, for us to live freely.

Today’s Life Coach Action Plan: Just for today, I will list my myths. I will list any ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’ messages that I have heard said about myself. Now, for each one, I will write the truth…starting with the words “I am absolutely…” Own your innate goodness.

Note: Please comment below and let me know how this works for you.