ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE
I've decided to commit to
ONE WORD for 2015.
My WORD is ASK.
What does that mean?
Enlighten yourself and go to http://getoneword.com/
The theory behind One Word is simple: Every year people commit to New Year Resolutions they rarely keep. Sometimes their goals are so numerous and/or lofty they can't get out of the starting blocks and fail miserably, feeling more miserable about themselves! Subsequently, their New Year Resolution has been flushed down the toilet by Valentines Day. If you don't believe me, go to the gym in January: It's a MOB SCENE! Go back mid February. The gym is practically empty & it's apparent that New Year Resolutions don't work!
ONE WORD is just that...ONE WORD. It's also a great option to that New Year Resolution you can't/won't keep! The chosen 'WORD' encompasses the entire year. Your focus, in all areas of your life, will be that ONE WORD!! Ok, let's get down to a better understanding. Imagine if you chose 'Patience' as your Word. You decide the goal for the year is to be more patient with everything. How the Word PATIENCE applies in your life looks something like this:
Someone cuts you off in traffic. Your typical M.O. is to lay on the horn and perhaps flip someone the proverbial bird. But since your word is PATIENCE you can simply exhale and smile. You happily resume control of the wheel and accelerate the gas. In that case, your Word 'patience' worked.
It sounds all fine and dandy but then the hard part begins and be warned, you will be challenged! Let's just say, it won't be all positive, regardless of the word you choose! If your Word is patience, don't be surprised if you find yourself at the airport with a 4 hour flight delay ...or worse... sitting in a traffic jam unable to move and the closest public restroom is an empty water bottle in your car. That's all I'm saying...
Here's more to the concept if you truly want it to work for you....
When the ONE WORD arrives; either by your choice or through signs from the Universe, you post the WORD everywhere so it's a constant reminder. You then share it with the coolest, non judgmental people in your life who love you regardless. This way you stay the course and remain accountable to the Word.
Tip from C (aka, me!):
You CAN choose your Word but it's better to get quiet and let the WORD choose you.
How the Word ASK found me? It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I read the info on the One Word website and followed the instructions like a trooper. Then I completed a simple 4 day ONE WORD Lesson Plan on You Version. Ironically, with all this focused intention, The WORD was not coming to me! Dozens of words were running through my brain but nothing stuck; nothing felt like it was for me at this time. After a few days, I decided to let it go. Then, as luck would have it 'the Divine' presented a situation in my life which forced me pause and reflect. If you truly want personal growth in your life you can't ignore these situations. They land in your life on purpose!! If we can deal with these situations rather than brush them under the carpet, we can then begin to walk our predestined life path eventually leading to OUR PURPOSE!
During this recent situation, I decided to reach out to a girlfriend who would clearly have the answer I needed. I premeditated the back and forth ping pong match; my questions, her insights. Then, before I made the call it hit me...
WHY AM I ASKING FOR HELP FROM SOMEONE WHO IS AS LOST AS I AM?
Not to waste another moment I got quiet...real quiet. It's amazing what you begin to hear when it's just you and your inner voices. I decided to ask God for help. NIRVANA!! Within minutes a calm realization crept over me.... All I need to do, in all things, is ASK.
That's how the Word ASK found me. Through a life 'speed bump'. ..finally surrendering and ASKING GOD for the answer to my situation. As I move forward into the year, I plan to ASK for what I need...whether it be help, support, directions, a recipe for fish tacos, divine guidance or simply reply with a question rather than becoming defensive ! Ask, ask, ask and you shall receive, receive receive!
Lastly, while I was C-Searching, I found a great article on ASKING. Perhaps the article and the ONE WORD concept will help as you embark on this New Year!
Peace and Blessings!
Celeste
Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude!
Have you realized lately, everything you read or hear prompts you to be thankful, count your blessings and live in a state of gratitude? What's up with this?
Well, here's my take on it all and why we've been overwhelmed with fostering an Attitude of Gratitude:
Let's face it, we are being bombarded via social media, television, internet, tabloids and evening news constantly reminding us of all the things we don't have and all that we aren't!
Then it's shoved down our throats what we should be... whether it be in looks, brains or stature. Seriously, if we don't own the newest car, have the biggest kitchen, six pack abs, a meaningful job or have a closet like the 'Housewives', there is something significantly wrong with us! We wake to feel as if we don't have enough or will ever BE enough.... in a constant state of discontentment!!
It's such a shame how much we are SHAMED! Arrrrghhh!
With all this "YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH" slapped in our face 24/7, being grateful for what we DO have is becoming increasingly more popular and actually much more necessary than we think. It's actually the only tool to bring a continual ray of sunshine in your life! Something so simple as being grateful for what you DO have can wash out a bad day of DON'T haves!
There has been much research on the benefits of gratitude. Get this, if you were to write just ONE little thing you were grateful for every day you would be 25% happier in six months after following this practice for just 3 weeks!! Imagine that? 25% happier and you didn't even need to buy the newest Ipad or Keep Up with the Kardashians! And not only are grateful people happier but they are healthier! They have fewer diseases, get more sleep and have less stress! Therefore, being thankful for your cozy bed could actually translate to a better nights sleep!
Why not start today? You have nothing to lose and tons of happiness to look forward to! You can be grateful out loud or actually start a gratitude journal. If you don't have a journal, do what I do: head to your local Dollar Store and buy the Old Fashioned Black and White Composition Notebook. It doesn't matter how, when or where you exercise gratitude just as long as you are consistent! Start being thankful for everything and anything!
In 2009 I began writing in a gratitude journal. During the past five years, I've made it a point to write thankful thoughts regardless how difficult things are. Believe me, life isn't always rosy. There are days when you truly have reasons to feel sad and miserable.But I've found, if you can find something to be grateful for, your attitude and perhaps your situation will shift and you've kicked that "woe is me' victim attitude to the curb!
Be mindful of all the blessings given you daily...the penny found on the sidewalk... a sunset....the coffee you're slurping as you read this. Take the time to be grateful. More importantly, MAKE the time to be grateful! In no time you will begin to see the glass half full all the time. I can't make this stuff up!!
Soon you will become one of those happy, loving, smiling, enthusiastic, 'crazy fun' individuals you've always wondered about...
Love and Blessings~
C
What's YOUR Twinkie?
How hard is it NOT to judge? To shut your mouth, not voice your opinion and accept a person for who they are?
Don't lie! It's so hard and you know it!
We judge constantly. In truth, we judge others based on what and who we think they should be based on who we are.
Aren't we soooo special and perfect that we can point fingers at others as we ignore our own issues??? But seriously, isn't easier to find faults in others rather than come to terms with our own gook and actually do something about it?
Here's a great story:
I had a friend who was teaching a weight management class. This class would meet weekly and learn about healthy eating habits and adhere to a fairly strict low glycemic lifestyle. One particular woman in the class caved during the week and fessed up to eating Twinkies. My friend went ballistic and was all over her like white on rice! She shamed this 'yellow cream filled cake eating' yo yo dieter! She truly couldn't understand how someone could eat unhealthy processed food when claiming to want to lose body fat and inches! She couldn't identify with her because she herself "would never eat a Twinkie!" A statement like "If I were you, I would stick to the food plan outlined in the class" spilled from her mouth.
"If I were you...."
Isn't that funny? How often do we make that statement? How often do we think the other person should be US? Have the same thoughts and do the same things we're supposed to do? How sad that we can't see outside ourselves and notice the individual directly in front of us? More importantly have the awareness they're different and can't possibly think and do as we do. For most of us we only see a person based on WHO we are. And we rarely, if ever notice our own gook. But we're pros at pointing out someones shortcomings!
Well, for my friend, this Twinkie incident became her big AH-HA moment:
That evening she began to think about the woman ...how real and authentic she was... to be so honest and share with others her personal weakness. When in reality, she showed strength to be so vulnerable in hopes to receive the help to stay on course with healthy eating.Then my friend thought about herself with a major life altering epiphany: Her life consisted of one bad, unhealthy relationship after another. She would pick the same type of man and wondered why it ended poorly. Yet, she continued to do it over and over again. She claimed to want a healthy relationship but continued to date men who were as toxic and unhealthy as the Twinkie! The lightbulb went off...
"OMG!! I have my own TWINKIE issue!!"
Yes. Everyone has their Twinkie! Everyone has baggage. Everyone has something they're trying hide, identify or overcome. Most people are hurting from one thing or another...whether they are transparent about it or not. Whether they are trying to heal or trying to mask the hurt..but everyone has their Twinkie.
What's the moral of the story ?
Work to 'clean your own step' and try not to judge and point fingers at others.
Accept people for who they are.
Everyone is doing the best they can at this particular time. We need to cut people a break! Lighten up on them because we really don't know what they're going through. We don't know their Twinkie issue!! Remembering we are all different, unique individuals not cut from the same cloth. Accepting people for who they are and understanding they have issues too and letting it all go. Then make the healthy choice to love those for where they are right now, at this moment.
Don't get me wrong, there will be people in your life who no longer serve you; perhaps those you don't spiritually trust. You can still love them, but from a distance! You get their story and they get yours. Maybe not. But it doesn't matter. These are people who are no longer a part of your 'tribe'. Plain and simple. So send them off with love and pray for them. And if necessary, do the work to forgive them so you can forgive yourself. But accept who they are and no longer judge them.
Make the investment in you to diminish your personal 'Twinkies'! Once you choose to come from a place of kindness and acceptance, judging will be a thing of the past!
And btw, I know Twinkies aren't healthy. But scroll back up and look at that picture...YUM!
I could totally eat a package as I type this!
Thanks for sharing this post with others!
Peace and Blessings!
Celeste
