To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Sponsors
Sponsors
My Copyright Info
If you’re doubting yourself…
Published October 18, 2010 | 
Many of us who are prone to anxiety doubt ourselves. We play and replay negative self talk tapes in our minds. This habit affects our sleep and well being. It affects how we relate to others , how we perform on the job, and how we feel about ourselves.
If you are doubting yourself…
- Get out your journal and write down a list of your achievements.
- In your journal, keep a record of compliments you receive.
- Be kind and gentle with yourself.
- Doing your best is great, being perfect is not possible. Perfectionists put a lot of pressure on themselves.
- Relax and lighten up. Live a little and have fun.
Have a blessed day,
Debra
Related Posts:
Sometimes the best of intentions backfire
Published October 13, 2010 | 
Even when we are doing and trying our best, sometimes it seems life still wants to kick us around a bit.
For example:
- We are working hard at our jobs and we still never feel caught up.
- We spend all day at our jobs and still feel like we are not getting ahead financially.
- Worst, we put in years at our jobs and we out of the blue get laid off.
- We intend to offer our love and support to our spouses but instead tension and conflict occurs.
- We intend to raise perfectly happy and well adjusted children. Our kids will still grow up imperfect with issues of their own to deal with despite our best parental efforts over the years.
- We intend to be gracious in our interactions with others but still put our feet in our mouths from time to time.
- We intend to have a great day but then something happens and it all falls apart.
I could go on. Any of this sound familiar?
We are human. I believe most of us really are doing our best. We just don’t always get the outcome we want at times despite our best efforts.
I can’t pretend to have the answers on this. Here are a few thoughts I will post before heading off to work this morning. We can revisit this later.
- Work on being flexible. The more rigid we are in our beliefs etc, the harder it will be for us when things don’t go our way.
- Do your best. Then be accepting with whatever the outcome.
- Put good stuff out there, no matter what else is going on.
- Know that things come in cycles. Sometimes things are rolling smoothly and sometimes it is an uphill battle for everything (or so it seems) Oh well… it will pass either way if we are just patient enough.
- Remember to smile and laugh even if you don’t feel like it.
Have a blessed day,
Debra
Related Posts:
Posted in anxiety, Family life, finances, Positive living | 
acceptance, being flexible, being positive, life challenges, smiling | 
Leave a commentFlying to greater heights
Published October 10, 2010 | 
I wish to fly above it all, to soar to a much higher level where I :
- No longer judge my partner or others
- I choose to focus on loving and serving others rather than worrying about being loved enough myself
- stop worrying about things that have not happened (and probably never will) or things that are not in my control.
- See the innocence in people I feel challenged with.
- no longer identify with my job, the amount in my bank account, or my credit score.
- know with absolute certainty that anything is possible and that I can live the life I am intended to live starting now.
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Posted in Affirmations, finances, Love, Prosperity, Self-empowerment | acceptance, agape love, free, life's purpose, positive affirmations | Leave a commentEase, not dis-ease: Going easy on yourself and others
Published October 6, 2010 | 
Being easy on yourself and others can be easier said than done. We tend to get attached to expectations of certain outcomes and when they don’t happen we get disappointed. We are driven. We are on the go and have goals. We are working hard and achieving.
If we are too hard on ourselves and others in our lives we can get very stressed, burned out, cranky, irritable, and just miserable. We won’t like our demanding selves very much and people won’t be attracted to us either.
We can still achieve our goals but be easy on ourselves and others. This is what I mean:
- Accept the fact that we are all human. Perfectionism is not a healthy trait. Mistakes will be made.
- Be flexible.
- Breathe deep and accept what is
- Know that your in box will never be empty (or not for long anyhow) and be okay with that.
- Practice acceptance.
- Practice forgiveness whenever possible.
- Choose words carefully
- Don’t take things personally.
- Know that we are all doing our best.
- Smile
- Be patient
- Don’t multi-task. It’s better to focus and do one thing well than do many things with mediocrity and a scattered brain.
Being easy and gentle on yourself and others will result in more peace, greater health, and probably a longer life.
You will also more than likely get more done on your to do lists and accomplish your most important goals when you feel less pressure and you are living life at your ease.
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Posted in Good Health, Positive living, Self-empowerment, stress | acceptance, being gentle, ease, flexible, forgiveness, goals, stress | Leave a commentTo my friend
Published September 2, 2010 | 
I’ll hold your hand when you feel afraid
and listen to your concerns.
I won’t judge or interrupt
for we all need to be heard and accepted.
Don’t take it all too seriously
for life rolls on
whether we do or not.
You are affirmed and enough
just as you are.
Debra : )
Related Posts:
The Mew Way: Don’t sweat getting older (another life lesson from my cat)
Published August 27, 2010 | 
Every now and then my adorable cat Mew inspires a post. I write the Warm Milk Journal on my bed with my MacBook (appropriate, huh?) Most of the time Mew is in “his spot”: on the corner of the bed. We have a special brown towel folded on that corner for him and his brother, Patches.
We’ve noticed lately that Mew’s long black fur is turning gray. I grew up with tabby cats so I don’t know if this is normal for a black cat or not. Mew is 7 years old. In cat years he is entering mid life I would say. Now Mew and I are about at the same point in our life spans (I’ll be turning 44 this September).
So mew is turning gray. Is he worrying about it? He doesn’t appear to be, no. Is he examining himself in the mirror looking for wrinkles, sagging skin, and cellulite? Don’t think so.
Middle age doesn’t seem to be phasing Mew one tiny bit. He is just going about his life like he normally does.
The lesson I am learning from my cat is to just live my life. Don’t worry about getting and looking older. I am above the ground. That is good! Not only am I alive but I am healthy and happy and have a rich life. Triply good!
So, I don’t look like I did in my twenties or thirties anymore. The practice of acceptance brings the gift of peace. Resistance to the idea of getting older will only give me anxiety and fear (and perhaps gray hair quicker?). Whereas, being in the Now and being happy with the age I am will bring me happiness and contentment.
Whatever age you happen to be this evening, happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend. Embrace whatever wonderful stage of life you are in. It’s all good. Mew purrs in agreement.
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Nothing lasts forever..and thank goodness for that!
Published August 17, 2010 | 
“This too shall pass”.
A certain amount of peace comes with the knowledge that nothing lasts forever. Whatever we think is giving us a hardship right now or causing us to worry- well, guess what? It will pass! Life is really about change and impermanence. Once we understand and accept that we can enjoy what we have right now: this moment. With this perspective, the intensity of our “problems” may lessen somewhat. Why get so stressed and caught up about things when they won’t last anyway?
We can hold on tightly to people, circumstances, things, issues. We can be worried, tense, and literally make ourselves sick.
Or, the other path is one of peace, one of acceptance, one of being in The Now. Whatever is bothering you will not last.
Tonight, as you write in your journal or meditate, think about some of the things that have been causing you distress.
Now, in your mind, escort them onto a vessel of some kind: a ship or boat (whatever you want to imagine). Once you board with them, look at them (people, situations, problems, bills, whatever). Really look at them. Breathe. Bless them. And mean it. Wish them well. Wish them a good trip. Bon voyage! You may shake their hand, hug them, bow, nod your head, or wave your hand good bye. Then you leave.
From the shore watch the ship sail away. Watch it until it disappears on the horizon. It is gone. Peace.
Sweet dreams,
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Don’t complain unless you absolutely have to : a life lesson from my cat, Mew
Published August 2, 2010 | 
No worries here!
My cat is an inspiration to me. He is so sweet and knows how to enjoy life. He is good at going with the flow of life without much complaining. When we complain we are screaming out to the universe: “give me more of this!” If we don’t want more of what we are complaining about then it is best to be like my cat mew: hold our tongues, change our thinking into something more positive, and only complain when we absolutely have to.
For instance, it is okay to complain if:
- You are getting stepped on.
- Your food or water dish is empty.
- Your litter box is dirty.
- Your owners are going on a trip and you are about to be abandoned.
- You are being treated roughly.
- Someone is making a lot of noise (such as a hammer or vacuum)
If these six scenarios above are not currently applicable to you, then don’t complain and enjoy your life!
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Posted in Humor, The Mew Way | acceptance, being happy, cat behavior, don't complain, law of attraction | 1 Comment“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” ~ Mother Teresa
Published July 31, 2010 | 
Love is everywhere if you love unconditionally yourself. Be on the look out for love for it is there!
- Our pets give so unconditionally and sweetly.
- Our spouses and partners who accept and love us (imperfections and all)
- Our parents never stop loving us even when we are grown.
- Have you ever noticed the loving glint in the eyes of strangers? It is there..that spark that we all share…
- God’s love
- Our friends.
- Any place you want to look, it is there.
In peace and love,
Debra : )
Related Posts:
Posted in Love, Self-empowerment, Spirituality | acceptance, fear, God's love, love, unconditional love | Leave a commentIf you are happy with yourself, everything else will fall into place
Published July 24, 2010 | 
I think we get back what we put out there. So if we are not happy with ourselves, then we are not attracting and creating the best life for ourselves.
What do I mean by being happy with ourselves? I mean:
- Letting go of guilt
- Forgiving ourselves
- Letting the past go
- Focusing on all the good we have
- Working to and playing up our strengths
- Coming from a place of love rather than fear
- Consciously smiling, laughing, and playing more
- knowing that we are enough
- We are doing our best
- We are successful.
- We are good receivers
- We surround ourselves with good supportive people.
- We are confident enough to take risks and try new things
- When we make mistakes we don’t beat ourselves up about them. We just get up and keep going.
- We don’t take ourselves too seriously.
- We cancel negative tapes and stories we tell ourselves.
- We encourage ourselves rather than criticize ourselves with self defeatist attitudes.
- We are doing work we love..
- We are nurturing our physical, mental, and spiritual lives
- We carry ourselves strongly with good posture and a strong swift gait.
Being happy with ourselves will attract excellence to our lives: healthy bodies, relationships, work, prosperity etc.
You probably have an idea of what not being happy with yourself brings to your life. Why not work on reversing that now?
Just observe yourself and write down ideas in your journal about ways that you can be more accepting and loving of yourself. See where that gets you…
Related Posts:
Join the fun!
Sponsor
Copyright © 2012 - The Warm Milk Journal. All Rights Reserved. 