Just a quick note. I've been ill, so I've been resting. It was definitely needed. A friend doctored me with some good stuff. No, it wasn't morphine. But, I feel much better. I'll share with you what happened when I met with a fellow on Wednesday. I mentioned about him on that day, the entry before last.
I'm getting ready to meet with someone, so I have to go. In the meantime, I'd love hearing your gratitudes.
It's not often that I'm thrown
for a loop, but that happened this week. My body is still recovering from enduring a difficult time, on Wednesday.
for a loop, but that happened this week. My body is still recovering from enduring a difficult time, on Wednesday.
I'm bumping up this post, in the off chance that you have not seen it. I see in the right sidebar that many have peeked at it this week and in the past thirty days. I used all of the strategies mentioned in this entry----to prepare for the meeting on Wednesday.
Here is the post:
The following spiritual disciplines help us get through the day, especially those days that present challenges and stress.
1. Meditation.
This exercise slows us down. It helps us get away from the frenetic white noise of a busy life. Meditation stills our mind. It allows us to get perspective about the events transpiring in our day, the past week or month.
Seeking God's will in the midst of all that confronts us, is what we are attempting. Praying for God's grace to carry out His will, not ours, is our goal. This is known as Step 11 in recovery. Spirituality is humbling, is healing, is rare.
Meditation is connecting with a transcendent God. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is when we stop and listen to Him. I believe we were given one mouth and two ears because we were meant to use them in that proportion. When we open the ears of our heart we find direction.
2. Prayer.
"Prayer is," Victor Hugo said, "no matter what position our body is in, our soul is on its knees." This means we can pray while driving and keep our eyes open. (A good thing.) We are as strong spiritually as we are in our prayer.
If we are weak here, we will also be feeble spiritually. It's best if we don't worry about the words used. We just want to be real like Tevye, in Fiddler On the Roof.
3. Palms down exercise.
Try sitting, with our forearms resting on our thighs, our hands extended beyond our knees, facing downwards. Releasing to God whatever concerns us, is our focus. It can go something like this:
4. Palms up exercise. It looks like this:
With your hands cupped upwards, receive from your Higher Power the gifts He wants to offer you. You might want to use a prayer similar to the following:
5. Reading inspiring literature helps. Yes, I believe in God. I've also found positive, uplifting books are an additional power greater than myself. Our best thinking and actions brought us the problems we face today. We overcome frustration, anger, anxiety and resentment, when we exercise restorative principles above those weak areas in our personality.
We can exercise instead of stewing in our depression. We can call a good friend instead of isolating. We can watch a funny movie when we're in the dumps. Applying constructive alternatives allow us to surmount the unpleasant challenges we face, including anger, being overwhelmed and fear. And good books unlocks doors, helping us consider options for overcoming life's challenges.
Applying healthy principles assists us in becoming emotionally mature, where responding---and not reacting---to the drama life throws at us becomes more of a reality, and not a dream. Literature can be a power greater than ourselves.
6. Friends.
Our needs are God's way of extruding us into relationship with emotionally healthy and discerning others. Using character discernment allows us to invite others into our life who help us become better persons by their presence. For more about this, you can read here.
Though not perfect, safe friends are "good enough" in their own character that the net effect of their presence in my life is positive. They are accepting, honest, and present, and they help me to bear good fruit in my life. (Thoughts taken from Henry Cloud's and John Townsend's, Safe People.)
Calling a friend when we are at wit's end can be a sanity saver. It's good knowing that, "two are better than one, for they have a rich reward for their labor." Ecclesiastes 4:9
7. Gratitudes.
I have a hard copy of my gratitudes. I use one of those marbled, spreckly composition books with a black spine. I keep my daily record of thanks in it. I try writing at least three. At last count I have over 41,000 gratitudes in the several notebooks I've filled up. They help change the direction of my thinking.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every problem.
There are several other things I do that help me to get through the day. I'll have to share them later.
How About You?
What helps you get through the day? I'd love hearing your ideas.
Here is the post:
The following spiritual disciplines help us get through the day, especially those days that present challenges and stress.
1. Meditation.
This exercise slows us down. It helps us get away from the frenetic white noise of a busy life. Meditation stills our mind. It allows us to get perspective about the events transpiring in our day, the past week or month.
Seeking God's will in the midst of all that confronts us, is what we are attempting. Praying for God's grace to carry out His will, not ours, is our goal. This is known as Step 11 in recovery. Spirituality is humbling, is healing, is rare.
Meditation is connecting with a transcendent God. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is when we stop and listen to Him. I believe we were given one mouth and two ears because we were meant to use them in that proportion. When we open the ears of our heart we find direction.
Nothing is as satisfying as having a relationship with a loving, nurturing and gracious God. For those who may not know He is forgiving and kind, I have two words: He is."The mind of man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
2. Prayer.
"Prayer is," Victor Hugo said, "no matter what position our body is in, our soul is on its knees." This means we can pray while driving and keep our eyes open. (A good thing.) We are as strong spiritually as we are in our prayer.
If we are weak here, we will also be feeble spiritually. It's best if we don't worry about the words used. We just want to be real like Tevye, in Fiddler On the Roof.
3. Palms down exercise.
Try sitting, with our forearms resting on our thighs, our hands extended beyond our knees, facing downwards. Releasing to God whatever concerns us, is our focus. It can go something like this:
You will feel the tension release from your body and soul. Try it.Lord, I release to you my worries, my anxiety, my pain, be it mental, physical, emotional or in any other form. I give to you my past history and the pain it contains. Father, I release my resentments, fears, and doubts to You. You can do for me what I can't do for myself. I turn these issues over into your loving care.
4. Palms up exercise. It looks like this:
You get the idea. We give thanks for knowing a God greater than ourselves. He can restore us when we're frazzled. The sanity and serenity we seek is available, when we draw close to Him. There is only one God and we are not it.Dear God, I receive from You your power, strength, perseverance, poise, peace and prosperity. I receive the emotional safety, tranquility, hope, and harmony that you alone provide. I receive the joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control you want me to enjoy. I receive the fantastic community, fellowship and celebration of life I enjoy with my family, loved ones and friends, your hope and abundance.
5. Reading inspiring literature helps. Yes, I believe in God. I've also found positive, uplifting books are an additional power greater than myself. Our best thinking and actions brought us the problems we face today. We overcome frustration, anger, anxiety and resentment, when we exercise restorative principles above those weak areas in our personality.
We can exercise instead of stewing in our depression. We can call a good friend instead of isolating. We can watch a funny movie when we're in the dumps. Applying constructive alternatives allow us to surmount the unpleasant challenges we face, including anger, being overwhelmed and fear. And good books unlocks doors, helping us consider options for overcoming life's challenges.
Applying healthy principles assists us in becoming emotionally mature, where responding---and not reacting---to the drama life throws at us becomes more of a reality, and not a dream. Literature can be a power greater than ourselves.
6. Friends.
Our needs are God's way of extruding us into relationship with emotionally healthy and discerning others. Using character discernment allows us to invite others into our life who help us become better persons by their presence. For more about this, you can read here.
Though not perfect, safe friends are "good enough" in their own character that the net effect of their presence in my life is positive. They are accepting, honest, and present, and they help me to bear good fruit in my life. (Thoughts taken from Henry Cloud's and John Townsend's, Safe People.)
Calling a friend when we are at wit's end can be a sanity saver. It's good knowing that, "two are better than one, for they have a rich reward for their labor." Ecclesiastes 4:9
7. Gratitudes.
I have a hard copy of my gratitudes. I use one of those marbled, spreckly composition books with a black spine. I keep my daily record of thanks in it. I try writing at least three. At last count I have over 41,000 gratitudes in the several notebooks I've filled up. They help change the direction of my thinking.
The optimist sees the opportunity in every problem.
The pessimist sees the problem in every opportunity.
It is only the optimist who soars and it is the pessi-
mist who will try to clip his wings, to prevent him
from flying.
There are several other things I do that help me to get through the day. I'll have to share them later.
How About You?
What helps you get through the day? I'd love hearing your ideas.
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1 comment:
Dear Innkeeper,
On this cooler, Sunday evening, I am grateful for;
1. Seeing bits and pieces of the film "Blind Side" again, with Sandra Bullock; a moving and inspirational true story!
2. For "Letting Go and Letting God" regarding some pending, family medical concerns. We will know more after Wednesday, but hope and pray it will be a non-issue; the best we can do.
3. Catching up with my younger brother at breakfast on Saturday, and with my #2 son today over coffee.
4. Taking care of some work-related issues early Saturday morning (my day off...)- progress, but forgetting to take care of others, mid-morning - my bad. While I dropped the ball re; the later, and wanted to beat myself up over it, I remembered to measure the overall day with "progress not perfection," one day/challenge at a time!
5. Having a busy, productive weekend, but remembering to trim out some items from my to-do list today, to simplify and reduce stress.
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