Well hey there strangers! It's been a couple months and I have been off the grid from writing! When I go this long without making a post it always bums me out just a little, but simultaneously makes me smile because I know it's because I've been busy and living through much hustle, bustle, and excitement!
I hope those of you reading this are sitting somewhere in an environment of peace and surrounded by loving feelings. If you aren't, wherever you may be in your life today, find a way of calming your thoughts and the chaos in your life right now. Take a deep breath and give yourself a silent affirmation that for these next few minutes of reading this post, you will simply relax, and rid your mind of all outside stress that may be affecting you today.
Breathe in...
Breathe out...
Think of one single thing that makes you smile.
And continue reading from here :)
Sometimes life is so crazy that we truly have to remind ourselves to simply breathe! I can't tell you how much I've caused myself unnecessary stress because I allow myself to get caught in the craziness of life, and don't give myself simple moments of calm breath and rest. Those are essential for healthy living!
With all that's been happening in the world, all the anger, hate, natural disasters, conflict, and turmoil in our day to day lives, I always find myself asking what it is that I can do to ensure I'm giving myself and my surroundings the best possible "me" I can be. It's so easy to feel helpless sometimes and feel like we can't really do anything to affect the world in a big way.
But WE FORGET that doing small things in our immediate surroundings, add up to help our smaller worlds in bigger ways than we understand. And if enough people are doing small things that impact our small worlds in big ways, and if a bunch of those smaller little worlds add up, then bigger worlds are affected in bigger ways! Get it? Re-read that one and then keep going with me here :)
It's easy to think that we can't do much to the point that we don't do anything at all; and much of this begins with doing something just for YOU!
I've been asking myself: How can I really take better care of me?
These last couple months have been crazy busy in all the best ways, and a lot of that has come from the ways I've been refocusing and finding new ways to take care of my mind, body, and soul.
For instance, this month I started a new acting contract that I've been working towards and waiting for since last year. God's timing was right on and it happened just when it should have! Since I knew it was something I cared deeply for and had worked hard for, I wanted to go into it with my best foot forward. At the beginning of July I decided to start eating better and working out again; and I've lost about 10 pounds so far in the last two months! Along with this I also decided to stop drinking and to have a sobriety cleanse month. Some of you may remember I've done these during other months before. I find that I am so much more aware and alert and present when alcohol and/or substances aren't a part of the picture. Even if they aren't a "problem" for you in your life, try removing them for a short period of time and see what that does for your self-awareness or your day to day mental focus.
Another thing I've made more of a priority to get to a better me is resting, AKA SLEEP! When was the last time you went to bed and slept for a solid 10-12 hours?? Give yourself and your body time to recuperate from our day to day madness that so many of us have! I've done this consecutively the last couple Fridays when my week is over and it's been wonderful! So many people say "oh I would love to do that but I just don't have time." But you do have that time, you just have to MAKE time. Hire a babysitter, ask your partner to watch the kids that night, plan date night to be a relax-in night, and give your body the genuine rest it deserves.
On the contrary, maybe you sleep or rest too much! What is it that's making you so tired? What's not in your life that used to be there that motivated and made you happier before? Ask these questions to yourself and pinpoint where the issue could be coming from. If you rest or sleep too much, you may find yourself missing out on fun opportunities that can propel you into the next step of your job, social circle, career, or personal goal.
Take inventory of these things above and see how you can assess your own circumstances. What are 3 things you can intentionally focus on in the upcoming month to take better care of you.
At the end of the day, if you are the best version of you, then you can start giving back towards the world that is so in need of our full, selfless, loving hearts.
I've also been asking myself: What can I really do for the world around me?
When was the last time you asked the gas station attendant how their day was? I mean genuinely asked? Made eye contact, smiled at them, and said "how has your day been?" And asked them because you cared, and listened to their response, and then maybe even continued the conversation?
I have truly been trying to intentionally do this everywhere I go. Not only do I feel like I'm doing something small and wonderful, but it usually provokes a smile or moment of joy from them as well!
Tiny things; big differences.
When was the last time you tipped your server or barista a little extra to make their day? I went to Tin Lizzys one recent evening and wasn't eating or drinking. I was just taking up a seat at my friends table. When I left after about an hour, I left a $5 under my water glass. As we walked out and stood under the covered overhang chatting, he specifically came out to find out if that was me, and to specifically thank me and tell me how much that meant to him. $5 was nothing to me that night, but it was something big for him.
Tiny things; big differences.
Where can you do something little in your life?
***Maybe it's speaking to a traffic cop that you drive by everyday, buying him a coffee, or bringing him a muffin one morning after you go by Starbucks.
***Maybe it's praying for someone you don't like or have animosity towards. Praying and finding grace to give to them even through your angst towards them.
***Maybe it's reminding your kids or partner or family member that you love them one extra time than you did yesterday!
The thing is that if we are conscious and intentional with our lives and our actions towards others, it is truly difficult to steer off the path of success, happiness, and the cliché way of "living your best life." A happier, healthier, better you, will lead to happier, healthier, better surroundings, which leads to happier, healthier, better life moments that can be spread and shared throughout our world.
I've been also asking myself: What's needed in the world right now?
With so many vast ranges of tragedies of late, it's important to decide what we can do right now, today, to help our world.
Hurricane Harvey has completely covered Houston and surrounding cities. The link below is from NPR (VERY reputable) and shows where you can make donations to help aid this cities organizations. I don't know if you've really searched pictures from the flooding, but it's truly horrifying and devastating to see. I had no idea it was half as bad as it actually is until I did some research.
And if finances are a struggle, take the next week of not going out to eat, and adding the money you would've spent on a latté or on a combo meal, and donate that $10 or $15 to one of these organizations. EVERY dollar counts to help these cities so don't ever think your donation doesn't matter!
Tiny things; big differences.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/28/546745827/looking-to-help-those-affected-by-harvey-here-s-a-list
Self-love and intentional kindness. That's the solution to nearly all of our issues in this world. If we ALL practiced those, we would live in a very different life and energy realm. Since ALL of us won't always practice those things, why don't you? Why don't you really exemplify the changes you talk about and desire for your life and our world?
Writing things like this always reminds me to ask myself my own questions. I know I can always be kinder, act nicer, love harder; we all can. So let's.
As I bring this post to a close, I'm also reminding myself to breathe more today; to breathe and reflect on how good this life is. Cause it so is... it so, so is.
Breathe in...
Breathe out...
Think of one single thing that makes you smile.
And continue on with your life from here :)
I hope wherever you are today or in the upcoming days that you can find time to reflect on some of this and that it could help you and the world around you feel and be a little better! No matter what state your life is in, what kind of turmoil is in, we can always find sunshine to share, love to give, or hope to hold onto. Look for it babes... it's there. We just have to be the ones that find it.
And no matter where you go or what you do, always share your sunshine.
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