I Choose

I choose happiness

the road less traveled

where the grass is greener

and the flowers bloom wild

I choose joy

in the little things

because these are usually

much bigger when near

I choose peace

in all that surrounds

to give more than I take

to make the world better

I choose love

to friend or stranger

to give big

and perhaps receive

I choose faith

when times seem dark

to find that glint of light

in a cloud of grey

I choose hope

because without it

there is little chance

for a brighter day

Hugs,

Finding Your Inner Om

Worry looks around, sorry looks back, and faith looks up.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Calm is more than just being relaxed. Calm is when your whirling, twirling mind slows down long enough to meet with your spirituality. Calm is when your trust is greater than your worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety can emotionally hurl you to your wit’s end yet they can also be your greatest teachers. These emotions allow the opportunity for your utmost growth and expansion. That is, if you allow them to teach you, seek calm in your life, and aim to connect with that which is larger than yourself.

-Focus on the here and now instead of projecting your apprehension into the future. Worry tends to remove us from the present moment.

-Trust your intuition on when to wait and when to act. Worry and anxiety feeds our need to control.

-Notice when your anxiety rises and recognize that this is your spirituality disengaging. This is the time to move toward reconnecting.

-Ask yourself what divine teaching an emotion is trying to teach you.

-Seek anxiety relief with alternative therapy and bodywork such as massage, acupuncture, reiki, visualization, mediation, or therapeutic touch. You can also try calming yourself by placing your palm of hand over your heart chakra (located mid-chest) which is the energy center for unconditional love.

- Above all else, be more warrior than worrier.

Buddhist Loving-Kindness Prayer

Hugs,

Peace on Earth

I recently took Christy Tomlinson's Whimsy Winter Workshop and this wreath was one of the projects from Chrissy Gardner. This is my version of the wreath:

Peace,

Speak your truth...or at least keep the peace

image credit

So I was taking a quiz recently about strengths on Authentic Happiness (VIA Survey of Character Strengths). My top strength was seeing the beauty in the everyday and my second highest was honesty. I’m not surprised by either of these but something did stand out for me while I was taking the test. I realized that I believe in being honest and telling the truth, and appreciate the same in return, but I don’t always openly share my opinions on controversial items. While I don’t feel that I’m being dishonest, I do feel that I’m not completely speaking my truth. I would much rather keep the peace than state my thoughts on hot topics.

For example, I work with a mostly Republican team who have very strong opinions yet I don’t completely have the same views as they do on issues. I rarely state this and prefer to keep quiet. Not that I have a problem with a healthy debate but being bulldozed for my beliefs is not my idea of fun or productive.

(FYI – I made it a point when creating this blog to not bring politics into discussion. I still stand behind that decision so this is just an example and not an approval of any political party nor meant to bash any party. )

I’ve been in this same position in other social situations and instead of voicing my truth I chose to keep quiet. I don’t want to create an argument, divide a group, force others to choose a side, or cause any unneeded drama. I know who I am and what I believe and that should be enough, right? So that’s where I’m questioning my behavior.

Am I being inauthentic by not sharing? In my mind I’ve always felt that I was making a peaceful decision to practice ahimsa (Sanskrit: nonviolence, do no harm). And maybe there’s nothing wrong with that. If asked I wouldn’t deny but since I’m not I keep my views to myself and things remain peaceful. And honestly (no pun intended!), I don’t feel the need to shout my thoughts from the rooftop. I don’t want to talk for the sake of hearing my own voice or be concerned how others feel about me. That comes from a place of ego and attachment to an outcome. As things stand, there is non-attachment (vairagya).

Hmmm...I’m at peace with that.

P.S.
Check out Authentic Happiness if you get a chance. It was interesting to see my top strengths according to the survey and how accurate I feel they are to me. 

There are 24 strengths in all, here are my top 5:
1) Appreciation of beauty and excellence; 2) honesty, authenticity, and genuineness; 3) Love of learning; 4) Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith; 5) Fairness, equity, and justice.

What are your strengths?

Peacefully yours,