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Mindful Monday

Mindful Monday: Morning Rituals For A Calm Day

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As morning comes and the sun rises, many of us greet the day with gratitude or moan with grouchiness. Our attitude and activities in the morning can set the whole tone of our day. There are many of us searching for days that are calm and peaceful, this can be your reality.

Some of you are already giving me the side eye, I understand I was at this place at one time. On a hamster wheel for everyone else and lost myself in the process. Please know there is hope. I have shared some morning rituals that have given me peace throughout the years. I’ve somehow been attracted to stressful yet rewarding careers. As a teacher, editor, and manager there are many hats that I have to wear and situations that were less than desirable that I’ve had to deal with. With many deep breaths in the moment, I can say that the centering of a morning ritual helps.

There is nothing like taking time for yourself at the beginning of the day to spend time with yourself, your higher power, and take the time to set intentions and move your body in a way that it will benefit the most. When we start our day mindfully, we can manage the world and the lessons that come our way that many would see as a challenge.

Here are some morning rituals that I incorporate into my day. I can’t tell you that everyday is perfect, calm, and blissful, but I can tell you that when I don’t start with my rituals I do feel off centered.
If you don’t have a morning practice to center yourself yet, try one of these for a week or a month and add on. I hope you incorporate some of these activities during your morning.

My wish for you is to greet each day as a blessing to let your light shine and do your best…
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1. Give Thanks – Gratitude so important. Look around and think of the blessings that are around you. I create a gratitude list daily. Throughout the years this has helped me have a more positive outlook.

2. Stretch – You’ve been resting all night it is important to wake your body up in a gentle way. A few yoga stretches in the morning can go a long way. If you have time, exercise is a great way to get your morning started.

3. Drink Hot Lemon Water – This is the best thing for your body in the morning. It is a natural detox agent, it regulates your PH, cleanses the skin, and hot lemon water is also known to aid in weight loss.

4. Journal – I have practiced Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” for years. I got this from her book “The Artists Way”. Morning Pages is a practice of 10 minutes or three full pages of free writing every day. During your journaling this is a time you can also write your gratitude items. This is a great way to reflect and set some intentions for the day.

If you are beginning a journaling practice and don’t know where to start here are some of my writing prompts that will get you started.

5. Prayer and Meditation– Prayer is the action and meditation is the answer. Everyday take the time to pray and meditate. You will be directed and aligned with your purpose.

6. Affirmations– Words have power and what we speak will come into existence. Affirmations are important to keep you focused and on purpose. Here are some to get you started. These are from my book “Be Calm”.

On Focus
I am committed to staying present and focused.

On Organization
I owe it to myself to be organized, so I can stay stress free and focused.

On Play
I am free to play and enjoy my life.

On Creating
I am a creative being who has a powerful imagination.

Peace and blessings,

Do you need help living a calm and peaceful life?

My book “Be Calm: 31 Mindful Affirmations and Reflections for Living a Peaceful Life” is available. Click here to purchase.

Mindful Monday: Quotes on Seasons + New Beginnings

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With spring comes the beauty of releasing to recharge.  To honor this wonderful time of year, here are some quotes on seasons and new beginnings.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.” – Mother Teresa

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” ― Leo Tolstoy

“Whatever kind of seed is sown in a field, prepared in due season, a plant of that same kind, marked with the peculiar qualities of the seed, springs up in it.” – Guru Nanak

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!” – Robin Williams

“Believe in the growth of your planted seeds.” – Yvelette Stines

“I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something… it’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.” Joyce Meyer

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. “ – Alan Cohen

Peace and blessings,

 

Do you need help living a calm and peaceful life?

My book “Be Calm: 31 Mindful Affirmations and Reflections for Living a Peaceful Life” is available. Click here to purchase.

Mindful Monday: You Have a Great Idea, Now What? Five Tips To Help You Get Started

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There are many times that we are inspired by art, life, someone’s words and we feel that we lack the creativity to pursue an idea or passion. If the idea is there, you have the creativity to make it happen. That idea was specifically given to YOU and it is your job to show gratitude and follow through.  Don’t be afraid, don’t wait for permission, don’t make excuses as to why you can’t, just go for it.

I understand, there is lack of time, resources, and many questions to see it through. Fear not. Again, the idea was given to you, pray, meditate, and follow direction. Carve out the time, if you spend 30 minutes a day focused on your idea, you will see how much you can get done. The key is to be focused and make an intentional plan through your work sessions.

Here are some things you can do to see your idea become a reality.

  1. Write it down – As you get the idea write it down. At this time write down any emotions that come up with this idea. Are you excited, ready to start, hesitant, or scared. If there are any blocks, dig deep and keep writing to find out what is at the root of the hesitation.
  1. Research – Make sure you research what your plan is and understand the industry. If you don’t have a clue, start with google, and go from there. You can also ask your friends or followers on social media if they know of anyone in the industry.
  1. Make a plan – Get out a calendar and write down your monthly goals as it relates to your idea. Then make weekly and daily goals to get it done. Follow through and get it done.
  1. Network – Go to events, conferences, seminars, webinars, and ask people to set up meetings. When you attend these events, make sure you have a plan and strong intention as to what you want to get out of it. There are so many gems that are missed, try to be as focused and intentional as possible.
  1. Review – Reflect on what you completed, your challenges and triumphs. This is important as you make your plans and goals for the weeks and months ahead. This is a good time to journal about the process to understand yourself through the process.

Congratulations on your new idea. Have the courage to follow it through.

God gives us all gifts and ideas, it is what we do with them that will make a difference in the…
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Peace and blessings,

Do you need help living a calm and peaceful life?

My book “Be Calm: 31 Mindful Affirmations and Reflections for Living a Peaceful Life” is available. Click here to purchase.

How To Set Goals And Actually Achieve Them

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by Rana Tarakji

Once someone decides to chase their dreams, the thing that will determine their success isn’t the dream itself but how they pursue it. The reality is that there’s no secret formula to reaching goals. It all depends on the actions that are taken and the level of dedication present. However, having a strategy is necessary to ensure that the actions being taken are going in the right direction and are not wasted effort. Success is always a possibility if a good goal setting strategy is applied, which can be broken down into eight simple steps:

1. Figure Out Exactly What You Want.
In order to achieve a goal, you must first know what it is that you want to accomplish. Create an objective and be as specific as possible. The more you know about your dream, the better prepared you can be on the road to achieving it.
For instance, “Settle down” is too vague and unclear to be an attainable objective. “Get married and have a baby” makes more sense, but it should be even more specific.

2. Give Yourself A Deadline.
When do you want to make this dream a reality? Set up a reasonable time frame for you to accomplish your goal. Depending on the nature of your goal, it can be shorter (several months), or longer (several years). It doesn’t matter how long it takes, as long as you have sufficient time to reach your goal before your allotted deadline.

3. Divide Your Time.
Once you have your deadline figured out, the next step is to integrate into your daily life the time it will take to work on your goals. Figure out how many hours you are willing and able to devote to your goal every week and divide that over seven days. This will give you a general idea of how it is going to fit into your regular schedule. Figure out which days and times are better for you to fit in your new activities so that working towards your goal does not put any strain on your other responsibilities.

4. Choose Activities That Suit Your Goal.
Whether you’re looking to get promoted, or would like to travel more, one of the most important steps is choosing the activities that you will take part in to work toward reaching your goal. These activities don’t have to be the same every day, but they do have to be effective in getting you from point A to point B. If you were specific in defining your goals, you should easily be able to figure out what kinds of actions can help you reach them. Try doing some research if you are still unsure to see what other successful people have done to reach their own goals.

5. Set Up a Calendar.
Once you have figured out which days and times you will devote to your goal as well as the actions that you will take, write them down on a calendar and stick to it! Writing down your schedule can help to integrate it into your routine, and ensure that you don’t make any plans during the specific times that you designated for working on your dreams. It also acts as a daily reminder for when you feel lazy or unmotivated.

6. Figure Out How to Stay Disciplined.
The secret behind discipline is motivation, and the secret behind motivation is knowing why you want to do something. Make a list of all the reasons you created this goal in the first place and keep it somewhere you can see it often. Make copies of the list and keep them in even more places for extra incentive. Find out what inspires you to chase your dreams and keep those pieces of inspiration nearby. Surround yourself with positive reminders of why you want to make this change and what you hope to get out of it.

7. Keep a Journal.
When you’re on an epic quest to realize your dreams, it is a good idea to keep a journal nearby to document your activities. Knowing what works, what doesn’t work, and what you need to change is easier to figure out when you keep everything written down in one place for yourself. You may find that your plan needs adjustment, and reviewing your actions can help you discern what needs to be kept and what needs to be replaced. You can also use your journal to write down any useful research you find along the way or any inspirational quotes you want to keep on hand.

8. Gather Support.
One of the most important things to help you to stay on track with your goals is having a support system. There are countless ways to connect with other people who can help keep you motivated on your journey. You can join an online forum or group where similar people are gathered together for the same purpose, find a friend who has similar goals, hire a life coach to provide professional support, or subscribe to a blog or news source that can deliver useful and inspiring materials to you on a regular basis.

No dream is too big to achieve, and no goal is too high if you believe in yourself and apply a practical strategy or set of steps such as the one provided here.

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Many have already been down the same path that you are on who can help you and support you along the way. You are only a few steps away from living the life of your dreams.

Author bio: Rana Tarakji is an entrepreneur and a contributing writer at Stylerail.

Mindful Monday: Quotes On Faith

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Faith can be beautiful once it is fully developed and scary if you are unsure of your next steps. If you want a clear answer pray and then meditate to hear how to create your next steps. It is important to follow that little voice inside regardless of how it seems impossible. Walk by faith not by sight.

Here are some quotes on faith.

“In my deepest, darkest moments, what really got me through was a prayer. Sometimes my prayer was ‘Help me.’ Sometimes a prayer was ‘Thank you.’ What I’ve discovered is that intimate connection and communication with my creator will always get me through because I know my support, my help, is just a prayer away.” – Iyanla Vanzant

“Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking.” – Khalil Gibran

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” -Mother Teresa

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” -Thomas Aquinas

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” -Blaise Pascal

“Faith is permitting ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see.” – Martin Luther

“As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.” -Emmanuel Teney

Peace and blessings,
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Mindful Monday: Stop Waiting and Just Start

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If you are anything like me, you will plan everything and think of every possible outcome. This can be a good thing in certain situations but not so great when it comes to just starting.
I’ve heard from many thought leaders “start before you are ready” and others say “always be prepared” I understand both aspects of advice but we need to find a middle ground.

For example, can you ever fully be prepared on what’s to come? You can do the work and follow your spiritual guidance but the uncertainty or learning curve, is the thing that helps us learn about ourselves and improve our skill set.

There are also times that we use the “it has to be perfect” to get in the way. Recently, people have been showing up and asking for consulting service that I do well, but never thought about consulting. I saw this as a way to say “yes” and fill in the details along the way. With each client I understand my systems and now it is routine.

I say all of this to say that sometimes we are called and/or moved to do certain things, just go for it and learn along the way. It is better to try than do nothing at all.

Let me know in the comments, what are you waiting to start and what is stopping you?

Peace and blessings,