I am currently reading (actually working) Rhonda Byrne’s book The Magic (Atria Books 2012).

The book focuses on the magic of gratitude. How many times to you say thank you each day? Think about all the things and people in your life that you can be thankful for.

I am now on day 23 of working the magic. I have found that in the busyness of life I sometimes forget to be grateful for the daily wonders of my life. The book is provoking thought and the practice of being grateful for everything including the lessons I learn on a daily basis.

So if you want to have more in your life….start being grateful for what you currently have. See the positives in your current circumstances. And don’t take things and people for granted. I wish you an abundant life and a grateful heart.

What are you grateful for?

Happy Mother’s Day!

In memory of my mother, Dorothy, and in honor of all mothers…I am grateful for all they give and all I have received from those that have touched my life.

I am appreciative for all the neighborhood moms on Edwin Street that watched out for me when I was growing up and playing with their children. I am indebted to the mentors I had who were my professional “moms”; they taught me about work ethic and professionalism and “took me under their wing”.

This Mother’s Day and every day let’s have a thankful heart for Mothers and others who have touched our life. When you fill your life with gratitude you will receive more in return. Who are you grateful for?

I recently read a saying that captured my attention…  “The direction of your mouth will determine the type of day you will have”. Since I have been focusing on gratitude and positive thinking I thought it significant that this statement presented itself to me.

It is a long-held belief that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. But there are other reasons to smile?

If we smile even when we don’t feel like it our mood will elevate. People who smile more often have a more positive effect on their environment, and are better received by others.

Smiling may help to reduce symptoms associated with anxiety. When you smile your body releases endorphins which will help you feel better and release stress.

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. It will draw people to you.

Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better.

So up or down? I choose up!

 Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available. ~Jim Beggs

Have you resolved to change? Have you declared your intention to change? Have you started to make choices that will start the change process?

Great!  But are you still struggling?

Then ask yourself…Have you made room for change in your life? Let go of the things that no longer serve you so that you can move forward with those things that are most beneficial. You can’t have room for anything new — or be anyone new — if you have a cluttered mind or space.

Here are some thoughts about making room for change:

• Multi-tasking makes it harder to get things done. When possible, complete one task at a time.
• Manage social media, which is a time and energy sucker. Start by turning off all notifications for new comments and mentions on Facebook and Twitter.
• Set specific times (once or twice a day) to read email and just deal with it then and there. Don’t keep going back over and over again.
• Have only one calendar and put all your appointments on it.
• As much as possible, go paperless. It’s much easier to maintain to-do lists and build files online.
• De-clutter your office, your counter and other physical spaces in your life.

Eliminating clutter creates:

• more energy
• more productive time
• more money, and
• less stress

De-cluttering and organizing your paperwork and filing systems, emptying out old folders and creating new blank folders – helps to create both the mental and physical space for growth.

Do you have the capacity to grow and change? If not, create it for yourself.

Are you feeling stuck in a situation that you don’t like and want to change? Are you tired of trying to figure out how to make a change? Have you given up?

Each day offers an opportunity to renew your resolve and to declare to the world that you are ready for change. Proclaim out loud that you are open to help and that you intend to create change for yourself.  This affirmation to the world, and to yourself, may be just what you need to remove the inertia you are experiencing. This may be enough of a shift to allow you to get out of the phase that has been keeping you stuck.

Let today to be the day to end this phase and become involved in a new way of being.

…so get up and change it!

The only person that can make your life better is YOU! The only person that ever stands in the way of your happiness and prosperity is YOU.

Change the way you take responsibility of your happiness and you will change your life. Take 100% responsibility for your choices- no blaming, complaining or justifying.

It is difficult to understand, even in retrospect, how the choices you have made have added up to your current situation, but it is a good idea to examine the story that you tell yourself. If you tend to regard yourself as a failure, this will block your ability to succeed. You have the power to change the story you tell yourself. Acknowledge that in the past you did your best and recognize that you have many positive qualities.  Admit that you have learned from your experiences and this well help you with your current choices.

Now get up and make the changes that you desire!

Today I have been reflecting on lifestyle choices. I am wondering why some changes or choices are easier to make than others. And why some changes don’t stick.

I realized that it’s not about making them stick. It about recommiting on a daily basis to live a healthy lifestyle. I am so amazed right now that I have had this “light bulb moment” because this is something I teach in one of my presentations.

So the real secret to to long-term, permanent lifestyle change is making daily choices.

For me, today’s choice is to focus on my water consumption and to lift weights in addition to my cardio workout.

What healthy lifestyle choices are you making today?

Are you feeling the pressures of a chaotic life?

The busyness of life can drain us of energy, drag us down and cause disorder.

Daily pressures can be more bearable if you are careful enough during your daily and weekly planning to provide yourself with plenty of time to relax and rejuvenate. You are probably responsible for many things on a daily basis, but I am here to tell you that you are also responsible for including quality free time into your schedule. Scheduling regular free time into your schedule plays a large role in your ability to sustain a positive outlook. Each time you take a break from the disorder that is an unavoidable part of daily life, you can recover. Carving out some private time allows you to achieve a relaxed state in a relatively short period of time because you won’t be distracted from your efforts to unwind. The things that are distressing you today will be minimized once you have taken the time to recover and restore yourself.

Take a small step to carve out some private time today. Try taking some time out of your day to pamper yourself, even if it is a brief 10 minute stroll around the block for some fresh air and a little bit of nature.

A little time spent alone today can be the respite that soothes your chaotic soul.

I would love to hear what one thing you did to soothe your soul today.

Are you feeling the pressures of a chaotic life?

The busyness of life can drain us of energy, drag us down and cause disorder.

Daily pressures can be more bearable if you are careful enough during your daily and weekly planning to provide yourself with plenty of time to relax and rejuvenate. You are probably responsible for many things on a daily basis, but I am here to tell you that you are also responsible for including quality free time into your schedule. Scheduling regular free time into your schedule plays a large role in your ability to sustain a positive outlook. Each time you take a break from the disorder that is an unavoidable part of daily life, you can recover. Carving out some private time allows you to achieve a relaxed state in a relatively short period of time because you won’t be distracted from your efforts to unwind. The things that are distressing you today will be minimized once you have taken the time to recover and restore yourself.

Take a small step to carve out some private time today. Try taking some time out of your day to pamper yourself, even if it is a brief 10 minute stroll around the block for some fresh air and a little bit of nature.

A little time spent alone today can be the respite that soothes your chaotic soul.

I would love to hear what one thing you did to soothe your soul today.

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring.” ~Bern Williams

Spring and hope are interconnected in the mind, body, and spirit. In spring, nature provides inspiration and hints that there are new possibilities. The feeling of expectation flourishes.

Spring gives us hope for rejuvenation in our own lives. Spring is a time to renew the excitement and zest for life that lives inside us…a life full of possibilities and opportunities.

Spring is in the air. It calls us back to nature, soothes our weary bones, and lifts our spirits. Spring is full of potential because it gives us hope.

What hopes do you have this Spring?