Saturday, December 31, 2011

How to Be Mindful in the New Year


Ah, a new year 
and a clean slate.

I think everyone looks forward to this time of year, when we all get an opportunity to wipe out the last twelve months and start fresh. On January 1st I almost feel as if someone has breathed new life into me. My lungs are open, my eyes are focused and my body is full of energy. 

What is it about the first day of the New Year that makes us feel this way?

Is it because we now have a new list of things we are hopeful for? Is it that we can associate the new year with a new date, and so now we're able to leave the past behind us? Is it because the New Year really does promise us something special?

It's interesting that we think tomorrow into a different day than it was today...make ourselves believe we will be different than we were yesterday, just because the date changed.

Our minds are very powerful things.

Our mind is strong enough to make us do what I just mentioned and just about anything else we think about. But yet our brains can also discourage us enough to actually procrastinate and fail.

Our brain can be our best friend or our worst enemy.
And oddly enough, we have control over which one it is.

Ever hear these quotes: 
"Don't believe everything you think" or "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right"?

A profound book that goes into more detail on this subject is, 'Think & Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill
It may sound as if the title suggests the only reason you ought to read it is because you want money. 
Well not entirely, because quoting from his first chapter:
Thoughts are Things:"The object of this book is to help all who seek it to learn the art of changing their minds from failure consciousness to success consciousness."

In the book, he describes how powerful the mind is and if we harness that knowledge, and power, we can succeed at anything. 

Or fail at anything. 

Towards the end of that chapter Hill makes this statement,  'we are the masters of our fate..." and that our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds...."

In his book, he describes things like:
  •  Auto-suggestion and it's power over your success
  •  The 31 major causes of failure
  •  How decision plays a large part in your wealth

So, if you are looking at your New Year in a positive light, and are only expecting good things, you most presumably will have them. But, if you cannot envision happiness and success, determine whether or not your mind is on your side.

If it's not, tell your brain to get on board and check these out!



Good luck with your New Year's Goals and Resolutions-
 You can do anything you put your mind to!

Visit Y. I. on Wednesday to see which One Word I chose for 2012! 



















Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Y.I. Wednesday: 9 Reasons Why I Drink Coffee



There have been years of speculation that those who drink coffee are bad.
Well, I guess I am one of them them.

Because I drink coffee and I love it!

Here's 9 Reasons Why I do:

  1. Because as a mother, it is my own guilty pleasure.
  2. Because I am probably addicted to it.
  3. Because it's the only addiction I can do and still drive a vehicle.
  4. Because it's an addiction that is legal and is not killing me with every sip.
  5. Because it tastes yummy and there are so many different ways to have it!
  6. Because someone introduced me to it when I was 22 years old, and working at 5:45 am, it helped me wake up!
  7. Because coffee actually has some health benefits.
  8. Because my mind actually works better when I drink at least one cup of coffee first thing in the morning.
  9. Because I can :)
What do you do and why?

I Share Y.I's every Wednesday!!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

How To Test Drive Your New Year's Resolution


There are many of us who would be more than happy to skip New Year's Resolutions and who would prefer to simply countdown to the ball dropping and enter 2012 accepting things the way they were the year before.

Then there's others who look forward to a new challenge, or a renewed sense of accomplishment, so they set their sites on an item, or weakness, which they plan on tackling in the New Year.

Choosing a New Year's Resolution isn't easy. No one is perfect, and so at any given time we could likely find a dozen things which could use a bit of tweaking.

So, how do you know which one do you choose? 
And...
Which one is more important than the others?
And...
How can you guarantee success with the one you pick?

Well, the first two questions are very personal, and the one making the resolution would be the only person able to answer them.

But the third one depends on the why and if you've tested it or not.

How do you test your chosen New Year's Resolution?

Give it a trial run today!

If your resolution might be to follow a better fitness regimen, add it 'mini-size' to your day for a couple of days.

If you are completely disinterested and unmotivated trying to follow it, than you might want to choose something else. (It's possible that you aren't ready or your 'why', right now, is not great enough.)

We all want to succeed. 


'Try, try again,' is the often muttered motto when we fail, and it can leave us completely discouraged.

I believe that to feel motivated to accomplish something, and be excited to move on to another challenge, it is imperative that we are successful, even if it's only in the littlest increments.

That is a reason to test-drive a resolution. 


If you are not ready, it will be nearly impossible to stick with it.
So, include it today in small doses....then tomorrow try it again....if it is going well and you are excited about it and it is benefiting you, than keep it as your New Years Resolution on January 1st!

If not... go back to the drawing board.

Another reason you should test-drive a resolution: 


To find out if the one you chose will make a large enough impact.

Suppose you make a goal to wake up a half hour earlier every day. The reason you want to do this is so that you get things done around the house... though when hear your alarm, you wake up, but spend the next hour lying there, or you find yourself surfing the net or updating your Facebook status with coffee in hand.  While I enjoy doing all of these things, if my goal is to get up to 'get things done' I have defeated the resolution of getting up earlier.

It may be, that this is not a strong enough resolution.

Last year, I chose to incorporate the One Word approach to my New Year's Resolutions.

This week, I picked a few words to try....
  • Faith
  • Let it Go (I know that's three but I like it and could could consider it- My One Phrase.)
  • Goals
I will let you know how it goes...

What New Year's Resolutions will you choose to test-drive? 

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Fun Friday: Remember Being a Kid at Christmas!?



Christmas reminds me of being a kid! 

Waking up and unwrapping a bunch gifts,
then getting to play with them! 

Although today isn't Friday, this is your Fun Friday post, and it is Christmastime!
 So check out this link and have some fun!

You deserve to feel like a kid again!


Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I'm Addicted to Motivational Quotes

 I try my best to be a positive person, but I can't always get there on my own.
Motivational quotes are always to the point and are quick easy pick me ups that can be posted anywhere!

That is Y.I. rely on motivational quotes!

Here's where I like to find the best motivational quotes:
Thinkexist.com
The bookstore (their journals have quotes and magnets and mugs)
Bits & Pieces (periodical found at 'motivateandinspire.com'
Some of my favorite books have great quotes

Where I post motivational quotes:
on my computer at work
on my car visor
on my desk
on my mirror
on my cell phone
on my computer at home
on my refrigerator
on my wall in the bathroom
on the kids bathroom door (good reading material)
on my shoe
(Just kidding about that last one, but I do love to post them everywhere!)

Where I have the most motivational quotes: 
On my refrigerator


Two of my favorite motivational quotes:
'"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."-Henry Ford
"Just when the caterpillar thought his life was over, he became a butterfly."-Proverb

What's your favorite motivation quote?

Friday, December 16, 2011

Fun Friday: Inpsirational Fact



Most people didn’t know that Napoleon Bonaparte actually drew up his battle plans inside of a sandbox. - Fun Facts Online

Just goes to show you, inspiration can strike ANYWHERE!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Y.I. Wednesday: Why I Chose GRACE for 2011




With the New Year approaching, it's time to start thinking about resolutions.

Since I decided to completely do away with the traditional form of resolution making last year and instead, 
adopted the  
approach....

It's almost time for me to decide which word
I will be focusing on in the year 2012....


See How I'm Doing:




Let me know if you do New Year's Resolutions and what they are...
Maybe you'd like to pick One Word with me!

'Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it, and it is grace itself which makes this void.'
~ Simone Weil

Monday, December 12, 2011

A Lesson on Attitude


One of my favorite books of all time is:

See you at the top by Zig Ziglar.

Amazon.com Zig Ziglar
Here is a simple and straightforward quote from Zig:

'Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.'

Friday, December 9, 2011

A 'Can' Do Attitude


Don't let obstacles get in your way....


Have a 'Can'-Do Attitude! Posted by prockstar on Stumble

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Y.I. Wednesday: Love ART


 Y.I. Love Art: 
There is a certain calm that comes to me when I am looking at a piece of art.....


A fashion magazine ad which I just love because of the unique way it's done...

What is art anyways?

It could be a building... a bridge... or a sculpture...


It could be a photograph...a flower arrangement, potted plant or vegetable garden...

Ultimately, I think I would describe art this way:

Anything that when you look at it brings you joy and peace....

My Children's Artwork
...and that you appreciate and consider a gift every time you lay eyes on it...


A Christmas gift to me last year

Art can be anything that someone created with their hands and their imagination, which makes you smile...

A quilt from a local quilt show

Try this relaxing activity:
View art online
The best places to do this:
(look up art specifically by genre, colors, and types)
Find something that makes you feel tranquil and share it if you like!

What is art to you?
Where do you find it?
And how does it make you feel?

Monday, December 5, 2011

Getting What You Want


Dear Santa, I've been a good kitty and would like....

Cats seem to go on the principle that 
it never does any harm to ask for what you want. 
~ Joesph Wood Krutch
WE SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR LEAD...BECAUSE IT WORKS.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Funny but True...


If you wish to make a man your enemy, tell him simply, "You are wrong." This method works every time. 
~ Henry Link