Tag: practice

Gratitude, Happiness, Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday: May 18, 2020

Amanda

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” – Napoleon Hill

I feel that many of us expect great things of ourselves in order to have a sense of fulfillment. For some, it may be getting a degree from an ivy league school, a big promotion, or becoming a celebrity, for others it could be finding a cure for cancer, ending poverty, or winning a Nobel Prize. Each of these things means a something different to everyone, and it’s in no way wrong to want or strive for these things. It’s good to have goals, and if these are yours, I give you major kudos for working hard and following your dreams.

I’ve always felt that greatness doesn’t need to be a reflection of the money, titles, or popularity one has. Being great and doing great is so much more than that and I refuse to believe otherwise.

I’m confident that I will not find a cure for cancer or win a Nobel Prize, and that’s okay. To me, as long as I do my best in whatever it is I’m doing, big or small, I can be proud. And if I can make someone else’s life better or easier by going above and beyond what is expected of me, that’s when I know doing a small thing in a great way for another. That makes me feel great, too.

Work toward your goals and set out to accomplish what makes your life feel good and fulfilling, but don’t feel that doing great has to be big. Like Hill says, small things can be done in a great way, which can be just as powerful and meaningful to someone as the “big” stuff.

This week’s practice

This week, find one small thing and commit to doing it in a great way. Take a little extra time to review that report or add something extra your client isn’t expecting. Be exceptionally courteous to the cashier at the supermarket and thank them for their dedication to their work and commitment to helping others during the pandemic. Do the small things in a great way, and own it.

Gratitude, Mindfulness, Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday: May 11, 2020

Amanda

One of my favorite units in grade school was the Monarch Butterfly unit. My classmates and I learned about metamorphosis and the life cycles of insects. We watched our temporary class caterpillar pets chomp on milkweed and climb up the side of their butterfly habitat to form their chrysalis. Days later, we would watch in awe as each emerged as a beautiful, delicate butterfly, and we’d released them in the school flower garden when they were strong enough to fly.

A couple years ago, I recreated this project after I found a caterpillar near my apartment. Looking back on it now though, I was so excited to see a brand new butterfly that I completely ignored the profound changes it was going through; they make it all look so easy. It reminded me of a quote by Maya Angelou,

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.“

So often we get caught up in the glamor and glory of the “endgame,” and we forget the importance of the process. Why don’t we naturally love it just as much as the outcome? Change takes time; it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes work, determination, and the right mindset. It takes patience, acceptance, and the ultimate understanding that the process is often times more astounding than the beauty of the outcome. Change is inevitable, but it’s not as easy as the caterpillar makes it seem. Enjoy the ride; look forward to the beauty of the endgame, but don’t forget to acknowledge and appreciate the challenges of the transformation.

This week’s practice

This week, I hope you take some time to acknowledge the importance of whatever changes you are working through. Not only that, but appreciate the importance and beauty of the process of making those changes. With every change comes growth and opportunity. Don’t waste it!

Happiness, Motivation Monday, Self Love

Motivation Monday: May 4, 2020

Amanda

Happy first Monday of May!

I don’t know about you, but April was stressful. Constant uncertainty, negativity, and anxiety feasts on your happiness and your soul; it has tremendous effect on your overall well-being. But this week will be different, because…

This is your week. Own it.

Even if you don’t believe it, your thoughts can make or break you and your outlook. It may not feel like it, but you are in control of your mindset and how you choose to accept things going on around you. Embrace your inner power and believe in your purpose. Show this week, this month, who’s boss 💪May the Fourth be with you!

(Confession: I’ve never seen any of the Star Wars movies, but I’m hoping to change that this month 😅)

This week’s practice

This week, I hope you take some time to experiment with power poses. Although the benefits of this exercise are still considered scientifically controversial, what harm would it do to pose confidently for a couple minutes a day? For me, power posing helps me channel my inner super-heroine. If you feel silly, maybe this exercise isn’t meant for you, and that’s okay! Not everything is a good fit for everyone.

If you do practice any power poses this week, leave me a comment and let me know how it goes!

Gratitude, Happiness, Motivation Monday, Self Love

Motivation Monday: April 27, 2020

Amanda

How about a little love for this Monday?! Karen Clodfelder has a heartwarming thought about love:

As we grow older together, as we continue to change with age, there is one thing that will never change…I will always keep falling in love with you.

Don’t we all want someone who makes it easy to fall in love with again and again, and have the same in return? That’s what we’re striving for, right? Not for all of us. I think, now more than ever, we need to remind ourselves that it’s just as important to continue falling in love with ourselves too. Through challenges, change, growth, and beyond, we aren’t the same person we were two, ten, or twenty years ago. Our principles and experiences make us genuinely unique, and we deserve to be loved by ourselves unconditionally.

This week’s practice

This week, I hope you celebrate yourself. Spend a few minutes every day recognizing and acknowledging how extraordinary you are. You’ve changed, triumphed, witnessed, and accomplished so much already; you deserve so much self-respect. Give your insecurities and inner critic a break, indefinitely.

Mindfulness, Motivation Monday

Motivation Monday: April 13, 2020

Amanda

Happy (day after) Easter! 🐰

It can be easy to get caught up in things we can’t control, especially nowadays as events are cancelled, non-essential businesses are closed, and social distancing is commonplace. It’s easy for the negativity monster to sneak in, manipulate you, and drain your energy without you knowing until it’s too late.

This week’s motivation is taken from Roy T. Bennet’s book, The Light in the Heart:

“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”

Don’t let uncontrollable circumstances consume you. Instead, intentionally shift your mindset away from what you can’t control and redirect your energy into something productive. For example, instead of fixating on your inability to order your favorite dish from a local restaurant that’s closed due to quarantine (something beyond your control), try recreating it in your own kitchen (or support local business and get takeout if it’s available). Just like that, you’ve repurposed your energy into a creative and productive response! Just think of all we could accomplish if we didn’t dwell on the things we couldn’t control!

This week’s practice

This week, I hope you begin to learn that we will never be able to control everything. I hope you learn to recognize any negative energy that is brought into your space as a result of this, acknowledge and accept the subsequent feelings, breathe deeply, and redirect your energy toward something positive and productive, even if it is only temporarily.

What is the biggest challenge you faced last week? How did it affect your energy?

Motivation Monday, Self Love

Motivation Monday: April 6, 2020

Amanda

Welcome to April’s first Motivation Monday! I don’t know about you, but weekends always seem to pass a little too quickly. But honestly, being unemployed has completely skewed my concept of time. It is Monday, right?

This week, I want to keep it short, sweet, and obvious: love yourself, MORE.

Love yourself more

If you are someone who already practices self love regularly, kudos to you! It is totally necessary but is often forgotten amidst the whirlwind of living (at least for me). Let’s build each other up so we can be strong for the people we love!

*artwork is not my own

This week’s practice

This week, I ask you that you reserve some time for self love, whether that means getting eight hours of sleep, whipping up a gourmet meal just because, or having a virtual coffee date with someone who brings you joy. Self love doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive, it just has to be meaningful for you.

Already know how you will be practicing self love this week? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Gratitude, Motivation Monday, Self Love

Motivation Monday: March 30, 2020

Amanda

I wanted to share a quote from Buddha for my first #MotivationMonday. The world could always use a little extra love.

In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you loved, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.

I hope this week fills your soul with happiness, comfort, and purpose.

This week’s practice

This week, I ask that you take five minutes each day to meditate on a particular moment where you felt love. Acknowledge that feeling and thank its source. Was it from a kind word or gesture from a family member, friend, colleague, or a complete stranger? Was it from the pure bliss of a nice day or a happy pet? Did you do something good for another? Take some time to really feel the love.