Spirituality
articles of inspiration to be the best we can be and live the lives we are intended to live.
To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
When I choose to open my eyes and my heart… a short morning prayer
Published March 10, 2013 | 
Dear God,
As I begin this new day, I wish to thank you for a good night sleep.
I feel refreshed and alive.
Thank you also for the possibilities and opportunities that are there for me today and every day when
I choose to open my eyes and my heart.
Thank you
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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 commentToday’s journal writing exercise: “How can I be somebody’s miracle?” ~ Joel Osteen
Published March 2, 2013 | 
My journal writing this morning was inspired by something I read from I Declare 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life by Joel Osteen.
In the page I randomly flipped to (page 89), Osteen talks about how we can be a miracle for others by the actions we take. That really spoke to me this morning. So often, we get caught up in our own lives (our own set of challenges, our own dreams and goals) and forget about what we can do for others.
This morning I invite you to join me in thinking about how we can be a miracle for somebody else?
On the top of your journal page, simply write:
How can be somebody’s miracle?
Then just write away and see what inspiration comes out!
For me, as I wrote this morning, this is a bit of what just flooded out of me on paper…
In daily life in general, I can: smile more, be gentle, encourage others, and work on being more patient.
In service to home
As a wife and mother I have an opportunity to be a leader, a lover, and a healer. I can do my best to provide a beautiful and peaceful home for myself and my family members. I can: plan and prepare delicious and nutritious meals, I can make a conscious effort to enter my home with good energy, and keep our home clean and tidy.
In service to my students and community
As a classroom teacher I have an important opportunity and duty that I don’t take lightly. I will do my best to come to work prepared to give my students a positive and meaningful day of learning and growth. In doing this I am serving my community (I work in my local neighborhood school).
In service to my Warm Milk Journal readers
As the creator of this website, I have the honor to share ideas and hopefully inspire others to live a well-balanced life by day and sleep restfully at night (our mission). I am committed to continue to have my readers’ best interests at heart. I wish to offer a valuable, supportive, and loving space for people to visit. In that effort, I will continue to strive to improve this site in order to fulfill The Warm Milk Journal’s mission.
In Peace,
Debra
Debra and Mew writing away…
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~ Anne Frank
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A moonlight bath: a meditation for this full moon night
Published February 25, 2013 | 
Moonlight is sculpture. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne
Last night was Hollywood’s night for the stars. Tonight is the night for the moon.
This beautiful evening I offer you a meditation for this full moon night.
In a quiet space, get comfortable. If you can do this meditation outside or in the house with a view of the moon, I highly recommend it.
If you have a good view of the moon, have all other lights out. Bask in the moonlight.
A meditation and moonlight bath begins with you:
Breathing fully in and out.
Again, breathe fully in and then out slowly.
Let the air fill your belly.
Gently let it out.
Sit upright and imagine the top of your head reaching the moon high up in the sky.
You are going to (for a spell), tune into that powerful energy that our full moon has on this beautiful night.
After breathing in and out fully at least five times, sit and be silent.
Just sit. And breathe. Sit as upright as you can.
The gentle warm light of the moon is reaching you and you are are connecting with it.
In your mind, dance with the moonlight a bit.
Think of all the love that went into making you, and
all the love that you emit everyday.
You are pure love.
The moon’s light is softly touching every part of you.
The healing energy knows where you are tired, and where you are hurt.
If there is a particular part of your body that aches, focus in your mind the moon light to that place.
If your are sad or angry, invite the light to come into your heart.
Soft warm glowing love is now healing every part of you that needs healing.
Keep breathing,
If you wish, you may now open your eyes and click on this link for some beautiful full moon mediation music as you continue to breathe and bask in the gentle loving light of the moon…
Or you may choose to remain silent.
As you bask in this moonlight bath,
consider the tremendous blessing that you are to the world.
The moon recognizes it, and it is shining it’s light on YOU.
You are whole,
as whole as the moon is full tonight…
full,
lush,
abundant,
and radiant…
Have a blessed night!
Debra
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In the quiet space…
Published February 24, 2013 | 
In the quiet space,
the quiet place…
There are both stirrings and calm.
In the space where I can really listen…
I Am blessed,
I Am safe,
and I Am creating…
There are no distractions
taking me away
from the place God wants me to be…
For this is the quiet space,
the place where I can really listen…
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Keeping a lightness in my heart… a short morning prayer for this new day
Published February 21, 2013 |
Dear God,
I am looking forward to this new day so much.
The light is gradually returning and the promise of Spring is already in the air.
Please help me to do my best,
not get overwhelmed,
and keep a lightness in my heart and in my step.
Amen
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Thank you for every breath… a short morning prayer for this new day
Published February 19, 2013 | 
Dear God,
On this morning I just wish to thank you!
Thank you for
1. Every part of my body that is pain free right now
2. Every breath
3. This quiet time I am enjoying before I start my day
4. The wonderful new people I am meeting through this journey of writing this blog…
5. all of the love and support I have in my life.
I will do my best not to take any of this for granted.
If later on in the day I ever get a bit tired and whiny, please gently nudge me back to this peaceful and gracious state.
Much love and amen,
Debra
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And 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 comment 
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