Are you an energy drain? Check your attitude at the door.

Gratitude and grumbles cannot co-exist. Two words: self-fulfilling prophecy. And it works for both the big and the small stuff. Think about it: When we adopt an attitude of gratitude, we automatically align ourselves to receive a positive outcome. I’m sure you’ve heard this advice: You attract more flies with honey. Same concept. Conversely, grumbling and focusing on everything wrong obscures many of the joys of life and invites cynicism and negativity into our heart space. Plus, it can prove an energy drain on those around us. As with any new habit, or lifestyle change, we must allow ourselves time and patience—beginning with baby steps. For example, start by expecting light traffic… an ideal parking space… a short wait in line… a waived service fee… and give thanks upon receipt. With consistent use, our gratitude “muscles” will grow stronger and it’ll become easier to expect the big(ger) stuff: the job promotion… a healed injury… the published short story… Consistency is key.

What are you grateful for today?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Setting the bar: Think it. Believe it. Speak it.

For years, I attempted to live by Kratos’ quote: Keep your expectations low and you will never be disappointed. However, if it’s true that you are what you think, and that “Words we speak about an experience become the experience,” then we must set the bar for who we are and what we expect. Our minds and our words should be used to attract positive results. OK, at this point I may lose a reader or four. Hear me, though: I know about the cancer diagnosis. I know about (near) fatal accidents, deadly catastrophes, etc. Truth be told: I don’t view the world through rose-colored glasses. But when the bad stuff happens—because it will—let’s turn the script on its head and, rather than fear the worst, expect the best. Where do we begin? With an attitude of gratitude. And an expectation of favor in the midst of life’s storms. Think it. Believe it. Speak it. And watch favor unfold.

Are you ready to set the bar?

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

New year new decade: 7 steps to success

In my post, “It’s not too early…” I share a link on strategies to attract everything you want in 2020. With two months remaining in 2019, I challenge readers (and myself) to begin now. To recap: 1) Identify what you really want and be sure you really want it; 2) visualize your future self doing what it takes to get there; 3) believe that you can do it; 4) clarify your intention and give it your attention; 5) prepare for when the slope gets slippery; 6) hold yourself accountable, but be gentle with yourself and 7) practice gratitude every step of the way. It all sounds simple, right? I think where I struggle the most is at the beginning: What do I really want? Going forward into this new decade, the key for me is to keep it simple and straightforward. And one (major) “want” only. Otherwise, it looks a lot like self-sabotage and my best intentions go up in smoke. Every time.

What do you really want?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

There’s no ‘i’ in team: what happens when we apply good sportsmanship

Ouch. That’s the sound of conviction. For me, it often transpires during my morning quiet time. I read a quote or scripture and realize, once again, that I fall short. For instance, in one breath I push an attitude of gratitude, but in the next I grumble when I don’t get my way. The most recent “my bad” happened while my partner of 30 years and I were in the middle of planning a getaway to celebrate our wedding anniversary later this year. While studying the topic of pride, I watched the entire play unfold as if in instant replay—with me in center field—and it wasn’t pretty. You see, all of a sudden it had become “my anniversary” and what “I want.” Yet for three decades, now, my husband and I have shared a partnership based, primarily, on good sportsmanship. What does this look like? The ability to take turns. Cheer each other on. Compromise when necessary. And play fair for the win.

Got team spirit?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Monday’s got me like oh. My. Gosh.

Have I mentioned I can’t even? My mojo-with-a-twist intentions out the window faster than the weekend flew by, I realize one thing: I need to get it together ASAP. Apply, with abundance, positive affirmations to my day—my life—and get a grip. It’s one thing to tout an attitude of gratitude, it’s another to live it. Plus it’s not getting any easier. In fact, more often than not, I want to call in sick. From the mundane to the earth-shattering, I just can’t seem to walk the talk. I wrestle with my demons. I struggle with my monkey mind. I’m tired. Yet I hesitate to be real, to be honest. Because it’s not attractive. And someone else lives with a much harder row to hoe than I do. But then I run across my “Rx for a woe-is-me mentality:” If you always see the negative side of things, eventually that’s all there is. Reality check: thank God tomorrow is a new day.

How do you survive Mondays?

Image courtesy of aechan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.