Monthly Archives: November 2013

Become Your Inner Grinch this Holiday Season

After one too many Black Friday Sales, the Grinch ended up with his heart two sizes too small. Luckily, you don’t have to. Because even Mr. Grinch… the mean one, the one as cuddly as a cactus… was able to change. Even Grinch, during the holidays, was able to open his heart—so big that it busted right out of his chest. The secret? He started giving. He started practicing seva, or service to others—and in the end, he returned the tree, the toys, why… even the roast beast to all the lovely Who’s of Whoville, as they sang their Who…

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How Can I Have More Energy?

"I am a procrastinator, sleepy, always tired, and I am 20. How can I end this permanently?" ~ Tina, Baltimore Dear Tina, I think we can all identify with being sleepy and tired, and with procrastination. Kudos to you in advance for reaching out for help. Being sleepy and tired can be symptoms of an underlying problem, so have your health checked with a professional. That being said, I've found the following things to be of great help to creating unlimited energy. Get 7-8 hours of restful sleep each night. Insomniacs, use lavender oil! Start and end the day with gratitude,…

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Bouncing with Style: Play Your Position

First of all, let me clarify that after playing grade-school and high school soccer, it was shocking to me as to how little I retained about the sport other than keep your feet behind the line when throwing in the ball. But as in all things, God has a reason for what we need to know. I have become an avid sport’s mom for a couple of reasons. I like to watch the kids grow and learn. I like the competition and formation of character through team sports. And sports gives me a chance to see my kids when they…

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How Can I Handle My Kids?

"My kids are driving me crazy. How can I get them to do what I want them to do, when I need them to do it?" Your kids are seeking appreciation, validation, and security, just as we all do. You get whatever you are prepared to give so get yourself into a collaborative frame of mind. 1. Identify what needs to be done. What are the responsibilities or tasks that your child must complete? Help your child understand the long term value of this project. For example, they are developing problem-solving skills, collaboration skills, research skills, computer skills, and identifying…

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Daisy

From Living Hell to Living Well

We’ve all been there – a place that feels like hell on earth. And we ask ourselves the same question over and over: “Why me?” Have you ever stopped to think about this continuous loop and how amazingly coincidental that it continues to happen over and over again? If your thoughts and beliefs are permanently fixed on the “why”, you will never have an opportunity to investigate the “what” for your life. Life obstacles and traumas are inevitable and they happen for a reason. The sooner we learn the lesson, embrace change, and focus our thoughts on what we DO…

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How Do I Live From the Heart?

"How can I move from being in my head to coming from my heart?" ~ Tina, Glenside What a fantastic question! And I’ve found that the answer to it has let me to discover the gateway to transformation, healing, and tremendous breakthroughs. The best way I’ve found to move from my head into my heart is to use meditation. When we are “in our heads” it’s almost like our thoughts are thinking us, rather than us choosing which thoughts to think! We have an extraordinary amount of ideas, things to do, worries, and wonders all rolling around in our minds…

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A Child's Feet in Clover

Noticing the Particulate…

At some point you stood there, in the first living room you ever knew, when you were new to the world, and life seemed simple. And you saw it all with new eyes: the old sofa. The worn table. Toys scattered on the floor A big picture window to let the light in. And at some point, you were playing in this room: maybe it was Saturday and your father napped on the sofa. Maybe it was a weekday, and your mother was in the kitchen. Maybe you were happy; maybe you were sad; maybe you’d been jumping on that…

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Is This Friendship Over?

"I have a question I'd really like to know your thoughts on. I have a friend named Daniel. We recently had a falling out. I was tired of him holding back and I felt like I was always the one giving and getting nothing in return. Some harsh things were said by both of us. I'd really like to know how he is feeling. Can this be repaired? I already reached out, but he's not responding. I wonder if he even cares to have me as a friend. Thanks so much."  ~ Pam Hi Pam, The relationship is over, and…

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How Do I Find My Mission?

"How do I find my mission in life?" ~ Blanca, Denver Your mission will find you, rather than you searching for your mission. In my case, my mission after graduating from college was to have and raise my children while working. It was my top priority during that time, and I was happy taking care of them. But as they got older, I knew there was something else for me. I took a family trip to Greece, which changed my life significantly and when I arrived home, I connected to a new desire—to be a writer. I’ve always love to…

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Home for the Holidays

The holiday season has become more meaningful than ever.  Since we now live in a global community, families can only gather during special occasions.  Although many of us are fortunate to have a family to spend the holidays with, many others are less fortunate.  Some are lucky to experience the holiday spirit thanks to the generosity of friends.  Still, others have managed to find solace from within their hearts since they have no other place to go. Regardless, the kitchen remains the most important room in the house in the coming weeks. Whether a modern-day designer kitchen, an efficiency kitchen…

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How Do I Both Save My New Marriage and Be a Good Parent?

"My daughter (18) asked to move in with me and her step mom (my second marriage) for a week or two. Instead she moved in indefinitely with all her belongings after arguing with her mom. She is in college but goes out 'til the early AM and has been a little nasty. But in general a good girl. I have to communicate with her mom often to discuss my daughter's situation. I suspect drug use and alcohol. "My current wife cannot take all of this, and feels very uncomfortable now at home and with our relationship. I was married 15…

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Experiencing More Than Just This Reality

Physics says that there is no time and space, we live in a multidimensional universe and that we are all connected through energy. It's a heady concept, but if, for a moment, you stop to think about it, physics is describing a larger world than we are able to see and feel. If there is more out there, and we can experience glimpses of it, then why not believe that people's reports of connecting with angels, seeing the future, being able to know about things beyond our immediate space, is not really far fetched. Our minds may actually be able…

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Sunlight on a Mountain Valley

Letter to God from Bernie Siegel, MD

Dear God, First I want to thank You for answering my previous letters. When as a doctor I couldn’t understand why You made a world filled with disease, war, cruelty and all kinds of difficulties You pointed out to me that a perfect world is not creation. That there would be no need for doctors or anyone else and we would all become totally bored by life and find it meaningless. I remember You saying it would be far worse than a spending a lifetime in Hawaii. But what really made the point for me was your letting me visit…

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Thank You in Any Language is Good for Your Health = Global Gratitude Gathering

Each of us has 86,400 seconds of daily once in a lifetime opportunity to be thankful. Every second is precious and unique. And we only get one shot at that precise moment in time. Why not make them grateful? Gratus is the Latin root word for gratitude; meaning appreciativeness, thankfulness and gratefulness. Gratitude is positive acknowledgment for what we receive; albeit, tangible or intangible. Being gracious with our thankfulness is one way to validate the goodness in our lives. It is a profoundly simple process that allows us perspective in recognizing the source of our goodness is oftentimes derived externally…

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How Do I Find My Purpose – Not My Job?

"My life has been quite the journey. Oh, if one could only see what lies behind that statement! I have learned that my life is my choice and I choose to live in today. I practice gratitude daily. I choose my thoughts, taking captive those that are not healthy and promptly discarding them. I choose to envision my relationships as healthy, happy, and secure. I choose to envision my life as fulfilled, complete, successful and prosperous. With all that said, I find myself in a job - that's right, a JOB - NOT my life's purpose! My heart yearns to…

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Let Go and Live the Extraordinary Life

When it comes to letting go and living in the Now, no sincere effort goes unrewarded. In the long run, it is not our ability to succeed with some individual task that determines our spiritual success, but our willingness to learn what is new and true about ourselves. Within each of us dwells a being without bounds, but unless it is explored and exercised wisely we will never know the heights to which we may rise. Imagine a newly fledged eaglet whose home rests high upon some rocky cliff, and that today it rises for the first time to stand…

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How Can I Let Go of Past Loss?

"How can I shed negative, debilitating memories of a job loss many years ago? These memories and thoughts affect me today." ~ Craig, Johannesburg, South Africa Dear Craig: Thank you for reaching out for insights into ways to release the hold the past has on you so that you can move forward. That tells me that you know it is possible. Good sign! One thing I would ask is that you consider the context of the job loss. Was it as a result of actions or inactions on your part or something over which you felt you had no control?…

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Apples

Bouncing with Style: Confidence Builds in Chunks

No, I am not talking about Chunky Monkey or Rocky Road Ice Cream. I am talking about the way confidence is built after a blow, a series of blows or just plain life disaster. When life runs you over like an out of control ice cream truck at a local park knocking over patrons and passerby alike, you have to recover. It doesn't matter if the truck was aiming for you. Good people get knocked down all the time. For some of us that means burying a loved one, moving on from divorce, losing a home or recovering from financial…

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Daisy in a Field

Are You Acting from Gratitude, Love, and Trust – or Doubt and Fear?

As human beings, we operate daily reflecting a wide range of emotions with a multitude of motivations fueling our behaviors. All too often, we react emotionally to what others say or do. If our reactions are preceded by the emotions of fear, anger, or sadness, we forfeit our ability to act with personal power and effectiveness in lieu of a knee-jerk response. This reaction is all too often sourced in fear and low self-esteem. We may focus on what’s wrong with us and our lives, fear being controlled, hurt, or taken advantage of. We may overlook the many things we…

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