inspiration

All posts tagged inspiration

Excited for the Possibilities

Published June 3, 2014 by Stuff My Brain Thinks
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I felt drawn to this tree yesterday on my walk

I trust in you, God.  I know that you can do leaps and bounds over what I can do.  I am only to be present and excited for what the future holds.  Do I know what that means or what I will be doing?  No…  I am completely uncertain as to where my path is going to take me, but I can say this, I trust it will be amazing.  I will not manipulate it in any way.  I am simply to be observant and still.  I am to build a bridge between the Human that I am and the Being that I am.

Contrary to my ego’s belief that “it’s just to hard”, I know that it is not hard.  It is different.  It is living purposefully.  Yesterday, was the first day that I made it my intention and purpose to be aware of the observer in me.  By having this connection I was able to keep my mind from running away with itself.  I was able to keep that sense of deep inner peace with me while I performed my responsibilities of the day.

Being that yesterday was the end of the month at the office, it was extremely hectic.  I found that two or three times during the day a feeling of stress began to rise within me, but being that I was connected to the spirit in me I was able to let those moments pass.  It took less than a minute to feel, it recognize it, and shift away from it.  LESS THAN A MINUTE!!  This from a girl who was chronically stressed for most of her life.  A girl who would let some small challenge leave her reeling out of control for weeks.

The cross I found while walking to work

The cross I found while walking to work

I also found myself needing less food.  I didn’t think about it.  Being present seemed to curb my appetite which I had a feeling it would.  I mean I am self-aware enough to recognize that I eat for other reasons beside being hungry.  I am an emotional eater as well as an empathetic eater, meaning I will eat my feelings and yours too.

Last night before bed I had no thoughts of eating until I heard my ego pipe up and say; You haven’t had much food today, you are going to be hungry in the night.  Again being that I was so in touch with the God within me I was able to calmly dismiss it as a judgement.  Something I am working to take out of my life.  I took a deep breath and returned to that place of peace, and you know what?  I didn’t get hungry in the night ☺  Surprise…  My ego was wrong….

I woke feeling alive and excited for what today is going to bring.  I am excited for the possibilities.  ♥

If Money Were No an Issue

Published December 6, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

xpk0xipTNeyFpJ8233jj_DollarBills_401K2012This morning I woke up with the idea that I should do a blog about what I would do if money were not an issue.  So here it is.  It was actually fun and interesting as to what I came up with.  This is something we don’t contemplate very often in our lives.

If money were not an issue I would first send a hundred thousand dollars to each of my sister’s and my brother.  I would then send a hundred thousand to each of their kids, and another hundred thousand to each of their kids.  For anyone under the age of eight-teen I would put that money into a trust for them to receive at the age of twenty-one.

Next I would buy each of my kids a house and a car.  I would offer them a monthly allowance only to be received after a hundred and twenty hours of volunteer work a month is completed.  There are also a handful of people who are not related to me that I would love to give a hundred grand to as well.  People who have touched my life, people who have went the extra mile to help me out when they didn’t have to.

I would buy a modest home in rural California so Rog and I had somewhere warm to spend the winter months, as well as a small house in my home town because I love the change of the seasons here.  I would be sure that where ever we live is surrounded by nature, foliage as far as the eye can see.  I would have a meditation garden where I could sit, reflect and become still.  I would spend my days writing and being of service to people.  I would look into the world of philanthropy as I would want to be sure to give back to those who struggle.

I would not spend extravagant amounts of money on clothes, shoes, and cars.  I would still live modestly in order to help other people.

22 Days and Counting…. What will you do with them?

Published December 3, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

I used to be the kind of person that was afraid to be positive because I feared if I was that fate would step in and slam the door on me.  Now I know that is no way to live.  I was the kind of person that wouldn’t even proclaim that today would be a good day because I felt as though by doing so I was dooming myself to a bad day, or jinxing myself, as some would say.  Now, I can see how wrong that way of thinking actually was.  I was setting myself up for those so-called “bad days”.  I was the negative driving force behind my terrible “luck”.

Today I no longer believe in luck.  I believe in blessings and I believe that everything has some good in it.  Whether or not we are able to see it when it is happening.  There will come a day when it will make sense and something good will emerge from the ashes that once was.  I no longer have bad day, and I don’t believe in jinxing myself.  I do believe, however that we manifest our own lives, meaning; if we believe our lives are full of bad circumstances than it surly will be.  On the other hand if we believe we are blessed, than that is also what will be.When I look back at how horrible my story was, I can see how I created that story.  I was overweight and struggling to get by every day because that is what I believed I deserved.  That is what I believed was in the cards for me.  What an unfortunate way to perceive life.  Here we are, given the greatest gift that ever could be and we complain our way through it.  We act selfishly not seeing the hardships of other’s but instead only our own.

I am so grateful for every circumstance in my life.  Every one, because they all have taught me so much.  They have taught me that I am not the most important cog in the universe.  I am merely a microscopic piece of dust that makes up the whole cog.  That is what we all are.  We are just a tiny spec among the vastness of one.  We are all connected, therefore when we hurt someone else, we are only hurting ourselves.

With Christmas approaching how amazing would it be if we each did one kind thing for another person each day for the days leading up to that big day, Jesus Christ’s Birthday.  It doesn’t have to be anything huge, a kind word, a smile, holding the door for someone, a hug,  or a small gift.  Just something that shows God how we appreciate all that we have and all that He has done for us.

Combat the Saboteur

Published December 2, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

timthumbYesterday I read a blog on how to handle saboteur’s when trying to get healthy in one way or another.  We all know that when we decided to get healthy and shed the pounds there are always going to be those people who come out of the woodwork to derail our efforts.  Those people with very little self-confidence that can’t stand to see others change for the better.  So, I thought it would be a good time to share with everyone what I did to combat the saboteur’s in my life.

1.  First I made a plan to get healthy.  It was not about the way I looked but more about the lack of energy I had when facing the smallest chores we all face in our daily life.

2.  I set my plan into action without sharing it with anyone, except my husband of course.  I kept my desire to become healthier close to the vest.

3.  When asked to indulge in unhealthy treats I made up excuses as to why I couldn’t do so.  I would Use “My stomach is off today, I just don’t think I can eat that” or I think I might have that virus that’s going around, maybe next time”.  These worked great for a couple of months.  Long enough to get my bearings and make a significant change.

4.  When the weight-loss became apparent and I had to come clean that I had chosen to live a healthy lifestyle, the Saboteur’s came out in full force.  People who have not so much as spent a nickel on me in the past were buying me muffins and cookies.  When this happened I would politely tell them I was not into that sort of thing any longer.  If they insisted with a response such as “oh, come on, one wont hurt”.  I simply tossed it into the trash in front of them so they knew that they were wasting not only their time but their money.  This put a stop to it almost immediately.  LOL

5.  I stood my ground.  When these people would say “you’re no fun anymore” or my favorite “come on live a little”.  I would be sure to tell them that number one, I was not living to make them happy and number two, I was trying to live a little, a little healthier, and that I have never been happier in my life.  I compassionately explained that my happiness no longer resides in sugary treats that could possibly kill me in the long run, that I finally found my way, and I would not be giving it up for anyone.

It has been almost a year, those that love me are still with me and those that never did are long gone.  I don’t feel as though I am missing anything by not having them in my life.  I am more uplifted and happier than ever.  I am no longer a prisoner inside myself.  I get out and enjoy life.  I share my experience with the hopes that someone else can benefit from it.  I want nothing more than to help people like me make the changes necessary to live full, productive lives.

So get out there and take control of your life and those people around you that would love nothing more than to see you fail.  I should mention that I don’t believe people who sabotage are bad people.  I believe they are wounded people who don’t know how to help themselves.  I believe they are people that look to other’s to gauge their own self worth.  In other words, as long as someone else is worse off than them they don’t feel so bad.

It’s your time, now.  You got this!  We are all in this together.  🙂

A Small Share from the Book; What Are You Hungry For? By Deepak Chopra

Published December 1, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

Here is one really great exercise from the Book What Are You Hungry For?  By Deepak Chopra.  It is a wonderful way to become more self-aware, and self-awareness is the key to breaking any bad habit whether it be overeating, smoking or excessive drinking.

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S-Stop what you are doing

T-Take one minute to breath consciously counting from 1-20 on each inhale and exhale.  For example exhale on 1 and exhale on 2, inhale 3, exhale 4 and so on.

O-Observe your body.  How hungry are you from a scale of 1-5.  Five being famished and 1 being not hungry at all.

P-Proceed with awareness.

The Gift of the Mind-Body Connection Pt. 2

Published November 30, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

mind_body_connectionI have read the first section of the book What Are You Hungry For?  by Deepak Chopra and I must say it has left me feeling amazed at the route my life has taken this past year.  I have come so far and have led myself to exactly what Deepak explains in the book.  I am happy I purchased it because initially I felt as though I didn’t need it, but I am here to tell you that I certainly did.  I needed it like a cake needs icing.  It is helping me to understand just what it is I have been doing and why it has worked for me.  It is helping me understand that I was able to allow my intuition to guide me to this place and I am so thankful for it.  I know that God is the guiding force behind all of my accomplishments that I have faced this year and I know that he will be the driving force behind all of the accomplishments I face in the future.  I am so grateful to have been given this gift.

After spending most of my life as a prisoner within myself I cannot tell you how beautiful it is to be free.  How wonderful it is to know that I am capable of loving me so much that I can and do treat my mind, body and soul with the respect it deserves.  There were times in my life that I felt as though I was a lost cause and would be better off dead.  I couldn’t understand why God was making me live through the torment, but now I know.  Now I know that the torment was what I needed to get me to where I am today.  I felt as though God hated me, but now I know he loved me enough to allow for all the right ingredients to guide me to this day.

I am happy to say that I finally know what bliss is.  I know what it means to have joy emanating from the core of my being.  I no longer look to others to make me feel good about myself.  I no longer need anyone other than myself.  My happiness was always living within me, I just didn’t know it, nor did I know how to access it.  For so many years I felt as though I would always be a burden to myself and those that I loved, but now I can see how I am just the opposite.  I am a blessing.  I live my life, now, to bless others, and I love it.  I feel full, happy and balanced finally, once and for all.

I have been given a gift that I am so grateful for and if possible I ask God to help me share it with others.  I truly would love nothing more than to see other people who struggle with self loathing to change that around, to find the peace and understanding for themselves as I have.  Life can be amazingly beautiful.  Our problems can turn into mini challenges that will excite us to overcome.  Nothing in life is so catastrophic that we can’t learn and grow from it, it’s simply how we perceive it.

What are You Hungry for? By Deepak Chopra

Published November 29, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

51x6uHG5sNLI am considering getting this book does anyone have any insight into it?  I just love Deepak Chopra and have been studying his work for most of this year, so I thought it would be a great addition to what I have already learned.

What are You Thankful for?

Published November 28, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

thankful4Today is Thanksgiving.  It is a day to give thanks.  It is hard for me to believe that every person in the world cannot find at least one thing to be thankful for.  To wake up and be anything other than thankful today is quite sad, to me.  If nothing else, how about the fact that you woke up?  How about the fact that you can see the world before you? How about the fact that you can walk across the floor, or smell the turkey cooking?  How about the fact that you have breath within you to breathe?

Please take a moment to find at least one thing, no  matter how big or how small to be thankful for.  I myself am thankful for;

  • My husband
  • My children
  • My cute little house
  • My car that gets me from here to there
  • My ability to be in the present moment
  • The family I will be enjoying dinner with today
  • The fact that I have a warm place to lay my head
  • The fact that I am able to be better tomorrow than I am today
  • The fact that God has allowed me to walk, talk, see, hear, breathe, smell, taste, love, and understand

These are just a few of the things that come to mind today.  What comes to mind for you?  What are you thankful for?  It’s hard to be down when you find many reasons to be grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving <3

Published November 27, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

Today is our first real snow fall of the year, and Tootsie’s first snow fall ever.  She enjoyed chasing the flakes while I shoveled the driveway.  That is a workout in itself.  It’s my first time shoveling and boy-oh-boy did I worked up a sweat.  I figured since I wouldn’t be making it to Curves this morning I would do a bit of shoveling in its place.  Boo boo kitty, as you can see, hates the snow and the cold weather.  He wont be going out for a while now.  I’m not complaining I like having him in the house since in the summer months we rarely see him.

So, my mini plan is to make up the days missed at Curves by going on Friday and Saturday.  This will ensure that I still get in my four days for the week.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving which means the food shall be pouring in by the truck loads.  The cheese balls, Christmas cookies, and chocolates will be lining the filing cabinets at work from now til the end of the year.  All I can do is ask God to help me to maintain my healthy boundaries throughout the Holiday season.  I ask that I am able to enjoy an occasional treat without over indulging to the point of feeling ill.  I do have a tendency to do that, however, I know that as long as I am fully present and aware I will be able to control it.  Self-awareness, I have found, is the key to success when changing a negative habit.

Over indulgence makes me feel out of control and horrible.  That is not the way I intend on spending my holiday season.  It is only four weeks and should be a happy time.  I can get through this, I know I can.  After all, I do have the best support I could ever ask for, God, and with God all things are possible.  Right?  🙂

I hope you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday and are able to spend with the ones you love.

Nameste Love_heart

Everyday Wisdom by Wayne Dyer

Published November 26, 2013 by Stuff My Brain Thinks

Please take a moment to watch this video, or shall I say take a listen.  I promise you there will be something of value within it that will be just for you.