gratitude
The Gift Of Kindness
I was thinking today of the many beautiful acts of kindness people have shown me since my husband passed away last year. And then, some song lyrics from the movie, The Sound of Music, came to mind:
Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good.
Yes, perhaps I did some good somewhere in my life, and now I am getting some of it back, tenfold, or more!
There was a period of time, after his sudden death, when it felt as if I was carried by the locals here in Spain. I was pretty much told what to do and not just offered help. For example, when I got the news of his passing from the policeman who answered his phone at the car crash scene, I immediately went on ‘autopilot’ and attempted to cancel a coffee date I had with one of my best friends. But she simply said, “I am coming, you aren’t going alone to the scene. I am going with you!” And then she saw to everything. I was unable to speak in any language at that point, and fortunately she took over.
Christmas and New Year followed, and again my friend told me, in no uncertain terms: you are going to be with me and my family during this period. I began finding reasons and excuses as to why I might not be able to get to their home, including a possibility of snow, which had us housebound for a few days a couple of years prior. But, they were having none of that. My friend’s husband said, “My tractor will reach you whatever the weather!”
Quick Ways To Manifest Abundance In Your Life
Could you use a little, or perhaps a lot of extra cash? I think most everyone can. Few people would mind a little financial flow increase. But if you’re like many people in this busy day and age, you don’t always have the time to focus on manifesting abundance in your life. Below I’ve outlined a few quick fixes for using the law of attracting to bring cash flow your way.
But first, let’s define abundance. The word certainly has a monetary connotation to it, but abundance is even bigger and better than a few extra bucks in your pocket. Abundance means an overflow, and generous current of all that is needed to live a prosperous, fulfilled life.
And although love isn’t always enough to keep us warm at night, there are many things in this world that are more needed beyond the cash notes, such as family, love, home. But what do these things have in common? They are things of value. Things of value are different than money, but they all benefit from the availability of money. Whereas money itself, means very little without things of value.
Knowing and understanding the energy of abundance is the first and most important step in manifesting abundance. With that in mind, let’s consider five quick ways to manifest greater abundance..
Crystals
Invest in a few abundance crystals or ‘money stones.’ There are many options available, but a few of the main players are Citrine, Green Aventurine and Lodestone. Lodestone can be charged with magnetic sand before being put to use, for added potency.
Good Vibes At Home With Crystals, Stones And Feng Shui
Crystals and stones have enhanced and blessed my life in so many ways. I like to use them in combination with Feng Shui. It’s all about energy and vibrations and how to work with the energy of the stones in our home, office or even a temporary space. As with everything we do, the intention we give it amplifies the vibes.
I choose certain stones to place in the interior of my house, using Feng Shui principles and the attributes of various stones. After I choose the stones, I find the Feng Shui geographic directions using a compass. I then place one stone or crystal in each of the directions, to correspond with the Feng Shui system. They can be placed on window sills, cabinets, desks, or any place where they will be secure.
As I place each stone, I say my intention or prayer aloud and ring a bell. Many of my selected stones have been in place for years. Once a year, I take a soft cloth and lovingly wipe the stones to clean them, before I replace them. I also reaffirm my intention, say a prayer and ring the bell again. Sound reactivates a crystal or stone. I then offer my gratitude and appreciation to the stone or crystal ‘guest,’ and thank it for the blessings it brings and energetic work it does.
Below are a few suggestions for combining Feng Shui with the energy of various crystals and stones, to imbue your space with good vibrations. These are suggestions from my personal knowledge and experience, but I recommend that you bond with those stones or crystals that resonate with your own intention.
The Power Of Gratitude In Difficult Times
It is just as important to express gratitude and appreciation when we face the difficult times in our life, as it is when things are going well. In fact, it is even more important to express it during the hard times.
When our lives are on a downswing, the last thing on most people’s hearts or minds is to be thankful, or in a state of appreciation and joy. When we are struggling, our soul tends to be more aware of the negative energy of what is going on around us. This can ultimately attract the manifestation of even more negative energy, stressful situations and unpleasant events. In the end, even more bad days will come our way.
However, when we decide to stand strong and stop the downward spiral of our energy, and to be grateful for all of life’s lessons, whether good or bad, our energy begin to shift for the better.
When I pay my bills (a task that most of us really do not enjoy), I always write thank you under the last entry in my bank journal. When I think of the reason for doing this, especially when it means spending money on things that are not tangible and sitting in my hand, the explanation comes very easily. I am saying thank you for actually having the money to pay these bills – the hydro bill so I can have lights, the gas bill so I can have heat in the winter, the credit card bill for those urgent things I had to purchase, and the medical bill that allowed me to purchase the medication I need to keep my health in check, and so on. Even though these things may not be material things that I can feel or see every day, it means something at some point to make my life better.
How To Slow Down Time
We live in a world today where we are constantly being challenged to get everything done as a matter of urgency. We have to check every item on our ‘to-do lists’ by a specific deadline, which leads to stress overload and energy depletion.
The pressure to constantly perform drains our energy, which ultimately leads to exhaustion, depression, irritability and even ill health. It also negatively impacts our day-to-day interactions with others. And from personal experience, you can’t truly enjoy any task or moment when you’re always in a rush, or living only for the future.
Let me remind you today that it’s okay to sometimes ‘press pause’ for a moment and allow life to just flow in its own time, without getting frustrated or stressed. Inner peace comes from surrendering time to the Universe and finding a routine that works for your unique needs. Here are some ways you can slow down time and help you live in the present:
Breathing – Get involved in a form of exercise that encourages you to breathe deeply, like Yoga, Qigong, and even strength training.
Disconnect – Logout from the internet and social media on a regular basis.
Recreation – Go for a walk in the woods, sit by water or find a beautiful landscape that you find calming. Use your hands to make something with food or art materials. Continue reading
The War Veteran’s Belongings
It is sad when someone dies and there is no one around to pick up the pieces; no one there to take care of one’s belongings.
There was an old man who lived in the same building as one of my clients. After the he had passed away, all of his belongings ended up scattered all over the communal storage area in the basement. The boxes had been ripped open and kicked around, and people just picked though his things and looted whatever they wanted, leaving the rest in a chaotic mess.
My client felt bad about this, because when she came upon this pilfered disarray, she noticed some items among his belongings indicating that he was a Vietnam war veteran, including a baseball cap with many pins on it, which he obviously had worked hard for. There were also many cards that people had sent him, thanking him for the gifts he brought back from Hawaii.
He had clearly been a good person, but those that lived in this building with him regarded him as a busy body who was always meddling in other people’s business. Only after he was no longer there did people begin to realize how many things he got accomplished and how many things he had actually taken care of on everyone’s behalf.
How To Boost Your Confidence
Sometimes I wish that confidence was for sale! Feeling confident can make all the difference, for example, when you are anxious about accepting a social invitation, without the need for spending hours of internal dialogue trying to convince yourself it will be okay for you to attend. Confidence also means being able to easily decide what to wear for the big night out, and so on.
Indeed, I have marveled at other people’s ability to do such things with ease. However, these very same people are no different than you or me. It is just that they have mastered their mindset with regards being confident, and so can you! Here’s how:
Maintain Healthy Boundaries
Have you noticed certain people in your life encroaching on your space and time? If so, it may be time to implement some polite, yet firm boundaries. By doing so, you should find that this really builds your confidence in both professional and personal relationships, and you no longer feel drained or undermined by specific individuals you have to share some of your time and space with.
Practice Self-Awareness
We hear a lot these days about being more self-aware, but just what is meant by this? Well, it simply means having the ability to recognize when you are falling into a pattern of self-sabotage. Let’s say, for example, you are due to meet a person who continually makes significant demands on you, but you find great difficulty in saying no to them. By learning the art of becoming more self-aware, you can plan, in advance, how to remain strong and firm with this particular individual, so that your relationship with them becomes far healthier.