To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
To know that this cold spell will thaw… this morning’s short prayer
Published March 28, 2013 | 
photo credit: Dreamstime
Dear God,
Good morning! Thank you for this new day. I feel well rested and healthy. I know that this day is a gift.
Please help me to:
stay centered and peaceful throughout the day,
to know that this cold spell will thaw,
keep my priorities straight,
If I get grumpy, gently remind me of
what a gift today is.
Thank you for my life.
Thank you for the peace that is in my heart.
Amen.
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Adventures I will have (a fun, spirit lifting journal writing exercise).
Published March 24, 2013 | 
One way I like to use my journal is for times when I feel stressed, anxious, a little run down, or sad. This great exercise immediately lifts my spirits and galvanized my energy to something more cheerful and positive. There is nothing quite like the sweetness of anticipating adventures: big and small.
At the top of your entry, simply write: “I will have these adventures”. *Note, we are affirming these adventures as if they are going to happen (rather than saying “I would like to one day do..”
Then write away. What adventures are in store for you? I find if I write rather quickly, without thinking too hard or editing myself, my heart’s true desires will eventually come out on paper.
Ready to begin? As I often do, I will get my own list started and then you begin yours.
Let’s see…
I will have these adventures:
1. I will explore the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina with my husband. I will stroll the charming streets and tour the mansions and nearby plantations. I will also eat some great food and listen to jazz music.
2. I will take wine tours in the Napa Valley and Tuscany, Italy.
3. I will ride on the Orient Express.
4. I will read a juicy novel.
5. I will try a new recipe out this week.
6. I will go on a retreat! A retreat for writers, yoga enthusiasts, meditation, and one for couples.
7. I will visit Virginia
8. I will go on a class III river rafting trip in North Carolina
photo credit: sunsetfarms.com
This is a great exercise. I feel perkier and excited about my life. I will keep going in my private journal so that you may begin yours.
Have fun!
In Peace,
Debra
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~ Seneca
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As this evening begins, I believe these three things…
Published March 19, 2013 | 
As this day comes to an end, I do believe:
1. That I am exactly where I need to be right now.
2. That God and the universe are working with me.
3. People are basically good (don’t believe everything we see and read in the media).
Much love and peace to you friends.
I am glad you are here.
Rest well. Be well.
Debra
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When we stop trusting… that is when we start losing sleep at night.
Published March 6, 2013 | 
Anxiety and insomnia come when we are afraid. We are afraid when we stop trusting.
When we stop trusting, we start losing sleep at night.
Examples of this are when we stop trusting:
1. our abilities on the job
2. our spouses
3. our kids
4. our country’s leadership
5. our media
6. God
Now, a healthy dose of skepticism is prudent, but when we stop having faith in the hull of our life, the rivets start coming out and things fall apart…
The result? Anxiety. Insomnia. A lack of confidence in ourselves, others, and life in general.
Here at The Warm Milk Journal we envision a wholeness: well balanced healthy people living the life of their dreams by day and sleeping restfully and peacefully by night.
Alas, to counteract all of this anxiety and lack of trust, we need to start trusting again. We need to regain and get solid with our faith,
with our power …
To do this we need to get straight and simply KNOW a few things…
Repeat and affirm…
1. I Am love
2. I Am loved
3. I Am safe
4. I am right where I need to be right now
5. Life works with me
6. I am doing my best and that is good enough
7. Other people are doing their best. I pray and bless them. We are all in this together…
8. All things pass…
9. A pendulum is at work all the time (if something is not to my liking, the pendulum will swing the other way in due time)
10. I am a gift and have so much to offer others.
In Peace,
Debra
To me faith means not worrying. ~ John Dewey
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Posted in Affirmations, Affirmations, anxiety, Depression, Getting a good night sleep, Happiness, insomnia, panic attack, Peace, Positive living, safety, security, Self-empowerment, Spirituality, worry | 
anxiety, faith, god, trust, worry | 
Leave a commentAnd now for the emotional side of insomnia…. Good old anxiety!
Published February 17, 2013 | 
The last couple of posts have been focused on physical pain and physical conditions that can lead to loss of sleep.
As many of us know, there are many emotional and mental causes for a rough night of insomnia (I know. I have experienced many of them).
To list just a few, there are:
1. General anxiety
2. Worry about: finances, world events, job-related issues, our kids, our health, our relationship or marriage….
3. Feeling like we can’t do it all
4. The helpless and hopeless feeling of not being perfect (perfectionism sucks and leads to a lot of sleepless nights).
5. Feeling afraid of people not liking us (people pleasing also sucks and leads to many sleepless nights).
6. Doubting our abilities.
7. Doubting decisions we have made
8. Not being able to make up our minds about something (being stuck in indecision is also a terrible place to be in and leads to insomnia)
9. Not feeling safe.
10. Fear of change.
11. Fear of trying new things, yet feeling like we are missing out by doing the same old things all the time
I could go on, but it is painful.
If any of you experience anxiety that is keeping you awake at night, I highly recommend that you:
1. talk to somebody you trust.
2. Work on your faith and nurturing your spiritual life.
3. Surround yourself with positive people
4. Limit your exposure to the media. Don’t always believe in the “bad news” that makes tv ratings and sells papers and tabloids.
5. Exercise
6. Meditate and breathe
7. Spend time outdoors
8. Allow yourself and others to be human. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect.
9. Learn to let things go…FORGIVE (a huge one)!
10. Tell yourself: “I Am safe” and “Life works with me”.
In Peace,
Debra
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May I never get so caught up in the fatigue of the day… this morning’s short prayer
Published February 5, 2013 | 
Dear God,
Thank you for looking out for me last night. I am safe. My family is safe. I thank you.
I appreciate so many things right now such as this quiet time I have this morning, my warm cup of coffee, and the comfort of my plush couch
and my favorite bathrobe I have on.
I know in just a short while I will be out there in the world again giving the tasks of the day my all.
Please help me to keep in sight the important things:
taking care of myself and family, being a strong and positive leader to my young students, and an encouraging face for someone who meets me in the hallway or on the street.
May I never get so caught up in the fatigue of the day that I take for granted this beautiful thing that is my life.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
Amen.
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Posted in Affirmations, Family life, Good Health, Gratitude list, Happiness, Love, morning prayers, Morning verses, Positive living, Prayers, safety, security, Self-empowerment, Spirituality | morning verse, prayer for the morning, short morning prayer, starting day with prayer, thanking God | 2 CommentsDeclaring Victory Over Anxiety
Published January 19, 2013 | 
On his nightstand, My husband has a copy of Joel Osteen’s book, I Declare 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life stand.
In this inspirational book, Osteen talks about the “mountains” (challenges) in our lives. Instead of praying about our mountains or getting discouraged because of them, he advises us to speak directly to them. He suggests that we declare, “Mountain you are removed. You will not defeat me. I speak favor over this situation”. (p.169).
If anxiety is robbing you of a good night sleep and living your life to the fullest, then I say enough is enough. Why not declare:
“Anxiety, be gone! There is no room for you in my life. I am much bigger and stronger than you. Good bye”!
I love the idea of declarations. When you declare something you are really coming from a place of strength and power.
Give it a try!
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Posted in Affirmations, Affirmations, anxiety, insomnia, intentions, Positive living, Spirituality, worry | anxiety, declaring victory, Joel Osteen | Leave a commentI know that you would never give me more than I can handle… a short morning prayer
Published November 15, 2012 | 
Dear God,
Please help me to not take things so seriously. I feel weighed down with a lot of responsibility.
I know that my burden can be eased if I remember to:
Focus on my blessings,
know that I am doing my best,
breathe,
and know that you would never give me more than I can handle.
I do appreciate having a purposeful life.
I appreciate being healthy.
Thank you for being there.
Amen
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I Am loved. A morning or bedtime prayer
Published June 26, 2012 | 
Dear God,
Thank you for all the love I feel in my heart and the love I experience all around me.
Thank you for reminding me from time to time when I am feeling alone that I am in fact, loved.
I Am loved.
I Am safe.
Thank you.
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Posted in Affirmations, bedtime prayers, morning prayers, Prayers, Spirituality | being loved, daily prayer, thanking God | Leave a commentMy dream home and other dreams…a journal writing and visualization exercise
Published January 16, 2012 | 
What we focus on grows.
I believe in the power of visualization. If we are clear on what we want we will attract it into our lives. Back when I was an 18 year old college student I can remember journaling about my dream home as a young married person raising a family.
When I was in my early thirties gazing out at my view of Mount Rainier (at the time we lived on a beautiful property in Washington State) I realized that I was living in the home that I imagined many years ago as a much younger version of myself. That day I dug out that old journal and sure enough, I had the house, the tall fir trees, and the mountain all drawn out..
Well, I am enjoying a new chapter in my life now. I am now in my forties with a new husband, two teenagers, and two cats. I live in beautiful North Florida near the beach. Although we love our current residence, it is not our dream home.
I am visualizing that dream home now and writing about it in my current journal.
You can do the same. You can visualize and write about your dream home, dream career, dream partner, dream vacation, or anything else you want in your life.
This kind of journal writing is a favorite of mine because it gets me excited about my life and all the possibilities.
A few things to note:
1. Be as specific as possible
2. Feel gratitude about all the good you have now
3. Be thankful for whatever it is you are dreaming about as if you have it now.
Just play with it and have fun. Write. Draw and sketch. Getting out some paper and paints or magazine pictures and a poster board would be fun as well.
Some good resources I recommend:
Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
The Secret Of Creating Your Future by Tad James
The Secret and The Power by Rhonda Byrne
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