Living Proof

In all the years I have tortured myself with thoughts of the past, and longings of 'what was,' as well as the anxiety of what was to come---I wish I knew what I knew now, and how powerful the mind is. I read so many articles and books on the laws of attraction and how your mind has the ability to magnetize positive things in your life. I should have known to utilize all that I've learned---but better late than never. It's especially difficult when you go through traumatic events in your life, like a loss of a loved one, divorce, moving to a new home or losing a job. These are all huge life events that can take your positive mindset and bury it into a deep grave. At that point, there's no hope. Sometimes, we even play victim and tell ourselves that only bad things happen to us. The more we think bad things happen to us, the more bad things actually happen. But what if you can turn those thoughts around in the midst of your negative mindset?  I will share what has hel...

What's your reaction when someone hurts you or offends you? What is your initial thought process when your brain (your ego) is triggered? I used to rattle off my mouth with knee-jerk reactions---without even thinking for a second what the repercussions would be. Before I make an initial response, I talk it out calmly. If talking it out calmly doesn't work, it can go one or two ways with me. I either let my emotions get the best of me, or I become distant and indifferent. Sometimes both. But as I go through life, I have become much more non-responsive, or at least, have thrown an attempt to talk it out. I'm not perfect---believe you me, but I'm at that point where I don't have time to deal with petty arguments, unnecessary drama or conflict. I won't allow it near me or around my home. I believe in forgiveness as well as forgetting---where I will never bring up the topic again, however, I also believe you do not need to reconcile with an unhealed person if that me...

Years ago at the gym, they would hold all sorts of classes, including yoga. All of my friends used to go and said it was so peaceful. It was also said to be helpful with stretching exercises before and after a workout. Many told me it would help with my anxiety. It also teaches about helpful ways to breathe properly. Anyone I knew who did yoga seemed to be the most peaceful and chill people I've ever come across. Some "yogis" are very knowledgeable about spirituality, being their authentic selves, and self-awareness overall. I hear a lot of "self" in these descriptions. Self-awareness, self-consciousness, even the "S" capitalized in "Self." Self, self self.  2 Timothy 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.  Yoga literally refers to “yoking” the mind to the source of divinity, and is the process of “intentional stopping of the spontaneous activity ...

Have you ever had a dream that was so incredibly realistic, that you wonder if you were 'somewhere else,' especially if you were interacting with a deceased loved one? I've been having quite a few lucid dreams lately. If you don't know what a lucid dream is---it's when you are in a dream, but you know that you are in a dream, or perhaps, in a different realm, able to control what you say and what you do. For example, most dreams demonstrate that they're mostly involuntary and uncontrollable. "I dreamt I was running down the street with no clothes on," ---and you know for a fact you would never do that... (or maybe some of you wouldn't.)  When my dad passed away, in the dream itself, we made sure that it was a real, authentic interaction.  "Dad, is that really you? Is this real?"  "Yes! C'mere, quick because I only have a little time!" We would hug it out, and then he would always tell me some words of wisdom. Sometimes he...

Have you noticed a change in the atmosphere? Have you noticed the level of impatience in many people, either in your life or those who you come across in the store or at your place of work? You can be the one to deescalate that---but how? Put yourself in their shoes. Try and understand that they may be going through some heavy situations in their own personal life, and pause before reacting. The big "pause" can save you so many headaches along the way.  1. Action/Reaction   It's a law. But it doesn't have to be negative. For instance, if someone does something to upset you, pause. Before you react in a negative way, pause and try to figure out "what" and "why" this person offended or hurt you. I still have to practice this method, because believe me---it's not put into practice all the time. And after the reaction, I'm always like, "I forgot the PAUSE!" When you feel insulted or disrespected, and there is no explanation of ...

Lately, I've been seeing a lot of people losing passion for life---they've lost all hope. The last few years didn't help either. We've all felt that oppressiveness one way or another. But how long did you stay there? Or did it teeter back and forth like it did in my situation? I seem to get into that pit, but God always pulls me back out. It reminds me of when Jesus' disciples were on a boat in the middle of the night, when a storm came up. As the waves battered them, they saw something they couldn't believe: Jesus, walking toward them on the water.  Peter said, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you." Jesus said, "Come!"  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus! But when he saw the wind, he was afraid. And when he began to sink and cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "Oh you of little faith. Why did you doubt?...

Life has this weird way of showing you what you are capable of, and of course what you still need to work on. I always say, "God's testing me today!" But in reality, we also need the good, bad and the ugly, along with the happy and the sad. We should be able to find a piece of joy in the midst of life's chaos. But I admit, sometimes it's so difficult to find a crumb of joy when you are in that miserable state of depression. I used to stay way too comfortable there, until it was agonizing to find my way back out of that pit. And of course---it's OK not to be OK. Feel the feels, but please don't stay there too long.  Happiness Is Not The Absence of Problems - It's the Ability to Deal With Them Easier said than done, right? Even if you are unable to "deal with them" --- doing nothing at all is still a decision, (I think that was quoted in a Rush song.) When in doubt---do nothing. Then there are times when you need to let yourself go with the flo...