gratitude

Bono, Nurtured Heart Approach, Howard Glasser, happiness, gratitude, quotes

Filters

no-spam“Filter out anything that doesn’t allow you to thrive, and fill your life with things that help you become all you strive to be.”  Soulseeds

Just as we may set filters on our computers to keep viruses from infiltrating or even our emails to keep the spam at bay, occasionally something may slip through and sadly, the damage is done.
When we do have the proper supports in place and are feeding our souls, hearts and relationships with the proper ” greatness nutrition,” it feels good to not have to worry all the time about the not so good stuff getting in — and we can continue to move forward in ways that we hope will continue to meet our goals and continue to support our greatness in a magnificent way.

Living in a state of….
-mormonshare.com

-mormonshare.com

“A state of affairs which leads to daily vexation is not the right state.” Goethe

When faced with a trying situation, we have a decision to make that will either lead us to misery or to a happier state.  It can be difficult to change the circumstances we are in, however, how we choose to react is our choice. Our choices can impact others as well. We can drag them with us into further despair, pain and misery or lift and create another level that puts us and others above the flack with a much different perspective. Today, I choose to live in the moment, reflect on the good and great rather than let the “seemingly big or little things” get to me.  I’m moving on…. will you join me?

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A Season of Joy and Love

Generally the holidays bring with them the hustle and bustle of commercialism and we get caught up with buying gifts, wrapping, mailing or maybe even doing online shopping and ensuring that the shipping of said gifts are taken care of. We plan parties or check our calendars often to make sure we can squeeze in one more event for our children, ourselves, our grandchildren or for work or church. At the end of it all, we’re exhausted and we Funny, Funny Mother has come to pass one more year again.

But with all the hustle and bustle, are we listening to those memories that come from our heart?  Those first stories we heard as children of the real meaning of Christmas – the reason of the season. A true celebration of Joy and LOVE.

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December has always been a special month for me.  Traditions are important to many families – including ours. As empty nesters, we know that some of the traditions we had as a family our children have adopted and continue to do in their homes. Others, they are establishing of their own and what wonderful ones those are.

This year, we decided to establish a new tradition – and break an old one. We used to decorate the trees the day after Thanksgiving.  This year, we decided to hold off for a while and wait until after the first of December.  The trees are still not decorated.  You know, it’s okay.  I”m not devastated.  We didn’t turn on the Christmas music until the 1st of December, no hurry, no rush… there was a reason.  We wanted it to be for the right reason, not because the some commercials said to do so.

New tradition:  Elf on the Shelf!  We’re taking it a bit further than the norm.  Our elf is going to find greatness and report it – and not just to Santa.  He’s going to report it back to the person he sees doing it.  We want all of our family to be in on this.  It’s going to be an interesting experiment and we’re so excited that we already have something in place that allows us to make sure we can make that happen.  Our elf arrives on Tuesday and we’re so excited – the challenge will be naming him!

We have so much to be thankful for – and it definitely is a season of Joy and Love — one to be shared with family.  Start a new tradition with your family this year.  Let that tradition begin in your heart and spread outward.  Greatness begins in your heart.  Share the joy you feel this year with your family and friends by sharing a tradition, old or new.

To our collective greatness in the journey this Christmas season,
Jan

Karen Salmonsohan

You have it!

Karen SalmonsohanNot too long ago I was asked to share a message with some women in our church.  I generally incorporate a message about “Nurturing”  if the message has anything to do with families as this lesson did – and I often get the same response to a question when posed about how they feel about themselves.  Dead silence or the meek answer of “… many have low self-esteem.”  But no one shares the word “I” taking ownership of their own feelings – until we get deeper into the message and I share a story with them of my own from long ago.  It is then that their hearts become open — they begin to accept the message of who they are in a new and open way.  It is then that they  listen with new ears and they sit a little taller in their chairs. They begin to recognize once again WHO they are and just how precious and choice they are and accept some of their greatness again into their hearts.  You are a miracle!  You are a Gift!  Believe it!

Too often we neglect that side of ourselves.  We’ve forgotten how to accept a compliment without making an excuse for some vulnerability or shortcoming.  Today is your day to break free!  Honor the divine beauty that dwells within you.  That greatness and all the gifts you have to share.  Let them shine and glow.

My friend, Laurie, has written an excellent blog post again — I’d like to share it with you.  So stop by her blog again today and read it!  Greatness is glowing over there 100%!  Are you ready?  I hope you are.

Seeking Light

A little gratitude changes your whole outlook, like lighting a single
match in a dark room. You see things that were there all along and
realize how amazing your life already is.  Soulseeds

Now is the time to take a look at where you are on your pathway — light the match, see those hidden things and change your outlook if needed or ramp it up a bit more.  Be grateful for what you do have in your corner.

This past week has brought so much to light for us.  There could be so much more going wrong — but there isn’t.  I’m grateful for what we have going right and trusting that the what and where will lead us to answers we have been seeking.  We are being blessed in so many ways, there are the temporal things: health, a home, food on the table, a job that is still paying bills, friends, the freedoms to say these things in a forum such as this, and so much more.  There are also the spiritual things as well – these are very private and personal feelings at the moment yet intertwined in every aspect of who I am.

Another blessing to lighting your pathway, is that you are also lighting the way for others to follow — who are you reaching out to help today?

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a new day

“Trials, temptations, disappointments — all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fibre of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.” James Buckham

Recently we’ve been personally bombarded with a series of what I would consider “challenges.”  I’m hoping we’re weathering them relatively well.  We have a couple to face in the months to come and hope they’re not as insurmountable as they first seemed to be when we first heard them. Maybe they’ll soon only become “blips” on the radar screen of life as we learn the lessons we need to, find other ways of dealing with them and solve that challenges we’re currently facing move on to the next phase of our lives whatever that may be.

What makes it easier is that I have a companion to face them with and know that I also have a Heavenly Father who loves and cares for us as well.  We can pray and seek help in our decisions and we’re not alone as we move forward together as a couple facing the future together.  Our prayers are heard and often answered.

One thing I’m absolutely sure of is that WE are stronger together than alone.  WE ARE a couple united and working together!  I’m truly grateful for that and for our walking and working together the past 18 years.  What a blessing that has been.

take stock…

“ A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle.
Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or
trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective… Otherwise
they can easily overtake our vision, absorb all our energy, and
deprive us of the joy and beauty intended us to receive here on
earth.” Richard G Scott (paraphrased)

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, maybe it’s time to stop, breathe, drop our burdens even for just a few minutes and take a new look with a new perspective and see what we can do to handle them with new eyes and thoughts.  When our eyes are clouded and we can’t see beyond the this very moment – we need to stop and just let go.

It’s time to pause and listen. Take stock of what you do have, what you can do or would like to accomplish or more importantly is essential.  Who knows, that miracle you’re looking for, may be just around the corner — or in the next moment.  It is all a matter of perspective.

an inner love

“The love, or lack of love, we give ourselves and share with others
will determine whether life is sweet or sour. It determines the fabric
and texture of our relationships and how others perceive and receive
us.”  Jon Gordon

Our own self-perception is the aura we share with others.  What is it that we share when we walk in the room?  Does the lighten or darken?  Is the air sweeter or more fragrant?  Are we a joy to be around or do people shrink when we approach them?

What am I doing well now?  What can I do better?  What do I need to change?  What steps will get me to those goals?

Growing Inner Wealth

“Your presence and unique style makes an enormous difference in the
world. Raise your gifts for all to see, as an inspiration to others to
be all they can be. Your authentic life inspires others to soar.”
Soulseeds

Take a look at this short clip.  Do you see the gifts of greatness in each of these two teens?  Do you feel  the teacher might have been inspired in pairing these two together?  Did the teacher see their gifts and how they complimented each other?  AND how they might give back to each other even more greatness and build even more inner wealth in each other?

What gifts can you share today?

Make a difference

“Kindness gives birth to kindness.”

This thought and  many such acts of gracious kindness have been repeated over and over by many, throughout the ages – there goes that rippling again!  Simplistic?  Yes. It’s simple to do.  The more we give away, the more we get in return.  I truly believe that and I truly have been the recipient — maybe not in monetary gain, but in so many other ways.

Give a little more, stand a little taller, and more will come your way… as paraphrased from a song by Nancy Hanson and Sam Payne.  You definitely will be better for it.  Think of those who paved the way for us with their generosity, courage, and other gifts – and without them, we would not have the gifts we have today.

Give a gift, large or small today.  Pay it forward — be it a smile to a stranger, a hug, a donation to your favorite charity, some time at your child’s school, or an organization of your choosing.  Just do it and let the ripples begin….. be the difference today and every day.  Make it happen.