Growing up, my parents taught me and my sisters to share.  We did it.  Sometimes begrudgingly! It wasn’t always easy…

As I evolve and move through my life, I find that I worry less about the small things.  With experience, I have become more mellow.  I see the world through a broader lens. I have also found joy in sharing!

I understand that we are all trying to do our best in life.  We are all in this together.  When we look after for each other, we feel connected.  And, connection sustains us.

We can share so many things: our wisdom, food, love and kindness, products and resources and even time.  We can put the needs of others ahead of our own.  We can share happy times and some unhappy moments. Anything we share, with good intentions, brings us together.

The interesting thing is that we gain so much by sharing. When we share, something magical happens.  We feel more confident.  We feel like we did something meaningful.  We feel like we made a difference for someone.  Our sense of well-being grows when we share with others.

It is paradoxical and quite magical.  When we share – instead of having less – we have so much more.

Please share today!

 

 

 

Sometimes we know something but our understanding deepens when we have a lived-experience.

For most of my life, I knew that gratitude was an incredibly powerful way of being.  From a very, very young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of being grateful for who I was, what I had and what I could do.  They consistently taught me the power and significance of saying thank you and other along with other expressions of good manners.  Gratitude has always been an important part of the fabric of my life, and I am very grateful, because it taught me resilience.

I have been recently experiencing the power of gratitude in a most remarkable way.  It is transformative to use both gratitude and forgiveness to negotiate the terrain of everyday emotions.  When even a slight unsettled emotion surfaces, I use forgiveness and gratitude to heal the feelings.

If you want to learn to do this, please write a comment and we can connect.

I recently experienced an extraordinary moment with my husband. I saw him with my heart.

A few nights ago, we had a disagreement. It was painful and disconnecting. Yet, when I stepped beyond my emotions and looked at my Beloved with my heart, my heart opened-up fully… Poof-Whoosh!

There was instant connection and our love began flowing freely. There was pure stillness, love and joy. All pain and disconnection melted away. Love, peace and harmony remained.

The pathway to seeing with my husband with my heart began with a sincere, deep apology and an equally sincere expression of unconditional forgiveness.… Then, suddenly, it happened. Poof Whoosh! I truly saw him… as part of my own heart!

This moment reminded me that we are all in this together. It was a reminder of who we truly are. We are one heart.

The whole experience was astonishing. It helped me understand that healing can happen in a heartbeat… in an instant… in a brief second in time. We just need to step beyond the emotions of the moment.

I have always been a deep thinker. When I was young, I watched people and I listened. I inwardly questioned why I was here. What was the meaning of my life? I consistently came up with two things: happiness and helping.

I figured out, early on, that the meaning of life is rooted in happiness. From experience, I learned that when others helped me, it made a difference. I felt grateful and relieved. I felt happy. If I was happy, then all my life challenges became a little more manageable. If others were happy, their challenges would become easier, too.

Then I knew, without a doubt, that the pathway to my happiness was to help others and make a difference – big or small. My work would make people happy. I may have seen the world naively, but I simply believed in this philosophy.

As an adult, some people tell me that I work too hard… but I do not see it that way. I am happiest when I am helping others. This means working hard makes me happy. It is a win-win situation. Helping others is one of the best, self-reinforcing and happiness producing actions in life!

There are so many ways to help others. Sometimes, the small things I do make an important difference: a supportive word, a kind smile, acceptance, letting others have first pick and giving my time. The bigger ways: going the extra mile, doing specific tasks, keeping a commitment, changing my plans to accommodate someone else are equally significant. All forms of goodness count when they are done sincerely with an open heart.

How do you make your happiness?

When I was in high school, a large print copy of the Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann, was taped to the back of my home room door. Each morning, I would read it over and over again. I understood the wisdom of the world through his words. It resonated deeply in my heart and soul. Every word spoke truth to me. It surprised me that my peers did not seem pay attention to it.

Years later, as a re-read it, the timeless words continue to nourish my soul and open my heart even further. I am very grateful.

I copied the Desiderata below. Please let me know your heart-felt response.

 

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann

Over coffee, a friend recently remarked, “If you are nice, people just walk all over you!”  Frankly, I felt her pain.  I understood.  She was very hurt and disappointed in someone who took her goodness for granted.  I am sure, with a little time, my friend will re-discover her resilience and bounce back.  I know she will forgive and recover because she is super nice.

I recently went to a Passover Sedar and sat in my manual wheelchair at a small table with my (young adult) nieces and nephew.  I idly listened to a lot of enthusiastic chatter about which Netflix shows they were binge-watching.

However, what impressed me about the evening was the kindness my nephew showed throughout the meal – and afterward.  He frequently asked if there was anything he could do to help.  I could feel his heart and his sincerity.  It made me stop and take notice.

When leaving, my nephew was the first one to help and hold open the front door.  Again, I was deeply touched by his kindness.  It was a small and perhaps insignificant thing, but again it showed an inner quality that is so important.

Being nice is sometimes overlooked.  Occasionally, it comes with its vulnerabilities. Yet, being nice is an important quality that has depth and heart.  There is Power in Being Nice.  It positively impacts ourselves and those around us.

I believe the best way to heal and grow is to look inward.  Often, we do the opposite. We get defensive and judge or point fingers at other people.  But, what would happen if we owned our own emotions?  We could heal, change and grow exponentially.

Why do we point fingers?

1. A person has triggered us and we become flooded with strong emotions.
2. We are invested in another outcome.
3. We are not getting what we need.

If we sit with our emotions without reacting, we are half way there. If we take this one step further, the results can be very calming.

That second step is forgiveness: forgiving ourselves and forgiving others.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Everyone.  Mistakes are universal.  Knowing this, it is easier for me to admit to and accept my mistakes.  It is easier for me to have compassion for the mistakes of others.  Ultimately, this empathy helps me go into a sincere state of forgiveness.

Over time, if we make self-reflection, emotional ownership and sincere forgiveness our usual go-to response, we will notice that our relationship with ourselves and with others becomes smoother, healthier and happier.

Let me help you!  Comment below or contact me for an appointment.

Although many of us are exposed to sensationalized information daily by the media, I am deeply touched by the goodness in the world. I pay attention to current events just enough to stay informed.  Otherwise, I focus my attention and efforts on making the world a better place.

Intentionally focusing on the goodness in my life, in others and in the world makes an important difference to me.  I see past the grrrrr that people have.  I look past the pettiness and selfishness.  I understand that pain is underneath.  I do not take on issues that do not belong to me.  When I practice having no attachment, life becomes easier and easier.  I feel happy and content.

I am far from perfect. I still make a lot of mistakes.  I believe that is why I can be compassionate toward others.  I know what it is like to have blockages.  I also know how I feel when I transform them.  It’s extraordinary.

                 I CHOOSE TO LOOK FOR GOODNESS.

                 Let me help you do the same!

Have you ever taken a step back and seen the bigger picture in your daily life?  Everything seems to fit together when you examine your life through a slightly larger lens.

Things happen all the time.  Awesome things. Good things. Ordinary things. Small tests. Big challenges.   It all fits together.  It is there to teach us something; show us something; help us understand ourselves and others; allow us to heal; assist us to find our place in the world; and, ultimately reward us for trying our best.

Things seem to dovetail and fit together – like a well choreographed dance.  I feel deeply grateful that I am enjoying my dance – even the hardest bits because I am open to learning from them.

This perspective allows me to relax more and lean into life.  It allows me to understand that everything is unfolding as it should and, that in the end, all is well.

Does this resonate with you?  Please share!  I want to know your perspective!

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves and others.  It truly brings inner joy and inner peace.  When I had a deep, significant experience of forgiveness, I learned so much about myself.  I learned about my ego, my resistance, my shame and embarrassment and how hurt I felt.  It was painful.

Yet, I also experienced the magic that comes with forgiving someone deeply.  I felt light and free.  I felt unburdened and happy.  I felt like I did something important and right. But the biggest gift I received was that it became infinitely easier to forgive myself and others after this powerful experience.

I can let go of issues easier now.  I take things in stride more.  I do my forgiveness work more quickly because I want to feel the inner peace and inner joy it brings.

Forgiveness is an ongoing experience because we are human and make mistakes.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the process of forgiveness became easier?

Go on your own forgiveness journey and experience these gifts.  If you need my help, please contact me!