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Day 16. Grateful for Your Powerful, Amazing Mind
On Day 16 of our 30 Days Blessed at Christmas Challenge, we will explore something truly amazing – your brain! Here are some fun factoids about the human brain to ruminate on and be grateful for. Human memory begins to function approximately 20 weeks after conception. That’s a lifetime of potential memories to create. The storage capacity of the human brain is virtually limitless. So it’s highly likely that your mental capabilities far exceed your own expectations. Put it to the test and see what you accomplish! It is believed that an adult brain can recall anywhere from 20 to 100,000 words. The more sleep we get, the better our…
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Day 15. Grateful for Your Powerful, Miraculous Body
For today’s 30 Days Blessed rumination, we’re going to dwell positively on the miracle of your body. Your body is a perfect machine, all parts working in concert, directed by your complex power center, the brain and nervous system – the hard wiring that’s responsible for it all coming together so naturally and effortlessly. Regulated by your pulsating heart that carries blood to the outermost edges, and allowing you to exist in this world! When you were born, your mind was an untouched tablet, waiting to be imprinted upon. Your body was a bundle of untapped and undeveloped potential. Look at you now! Isn’t it a wonder. Why do we…
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A Christmas Mission Statement Can Help Reduce Holiday Stress
The holidays come around every year and each year brings the promise of magic and wonder. Christmas delights entire families and gets them excited for gifts, celebrations, and time off from their regular routine. The excitement generated by Christmas can quickly fade when things start to feel overwhelming. Without proper planning, Christmas time can morph into a stressful time filled with too many activities and not enough resources to meet your expectations. Luckily, there’s a simple way to avoid stress during Christmas time. What Is a Mission Statement? You may have heard about mission statements and how they help organizations and businesses laser focus on their overall goals. It’s directly…
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Day 14. Commune With Nature
On Day 14 of our 30 Days Blessed at Christmas Challenge, we’ll talk about giving thanks for the beauty of nature and the miracle of life on this planet. Do you ever marvel at the perfect balance of conditions that sustain life here on Earth? Do you ever think that water is the main reason we’re here, existing in our lives? No other planets in our solar system have an abundance of water as we do. The beautiful, life-giving water that covers our planet and serves so much purpose in our lives for health, pleasure and utilitarian means. It can be fun and illuminating to expand your consciousness to the…
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Christmas Past: Learning from People Who’ve Been There
Christmas is an absolutely magical time of year. The sights, sounds, tastes, and smells all delight the senses. Everyone wants their holiday to be merry, bright and filled with wonder. Sometimes that’s easier said than done and all the good intentions start to feel like a burden. Trying to make everything perfect gets overwhelming and stressful. That’s when it’s great to talk to someone who’s been around the Christmas block a time or two. If you talk to people who’ve raised families into adulthood, you might learn that you don’t need to jam pack your holidays so full that you start to feel dazed and confused. They’ll likely tell you…
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Day 13. Grateful for Your Family in All Their Beautiful Imperfection
Nothing can compare to the relationships we share with family. For some, family life means happy chaos, warmth and affection, and the freedom to be yourself. For others, family life presents some serious challenges to overcome. Most people’s families fall somewhere in the middle – love and support at some times, friction and misunderstanding at others. Having a family of imperfect people is perfectly normal and healthy! Families Are Complex The thing about families is this. There are always positive takeaways, even in the most complex relationships. In your family, are things always what they seem to be? Sometimes not. For example, in a family where the children were lavished…
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Day 12. Appreciating the Wisdom of Our Elders
What do you think of “old people” – seniors? Are you a senior yourself? How are you managing to keep pace with the information age? Do you find that young people tend to want to hurry you along from one activity to the next? Is it difficult for you to find a willing audience to listen to your tales and heed your good advice? In some cultures, elders are held in the highest regard. Younger individuals respect and revere their grandparents and great grandparents for the wisdom they have gained through life experiences. Families are expected to house and financially support their aging parents, providing comfort, care and dignity in…
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Boundaries- The Key to a Joyful Season
There you are, minding your holiday business when someone’s dysfunction crashes into your spirit. There’s a lot of Grinches and Scrooges out there and they have the potential to rub off on you if you can’t set healthy boundaries. There are a lot of reasons why people aren’t at their best during the holidays, but their bad mood doesn’t have to affect you when you are ready, willing, and able to set boundaries and protect yourself from their negativity. Here are the steps you need to set healthy boundaries for a joyful season Step 1. Be aware Some people are going to be negative. Be aware. Be on the alert…
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Day 10. Celebrating the “Moments Between the Moments”
On day 10 of the “30 Days Blessed This Christmas” Challenge, we’ll focus on the moments between the moments. This means that even though the tendency is to fill up our schedules with big events and fantastic experiences… those “moments between the moments” are what really make life worth living. The moments between the moments have to do with communing and connecting with other human beings. Perhaps animals, too. The moments between the moments might be something of an extra surprise bonus experience that unfolded organically without “trying to make something happen”. Maybe you brought your kids to an amusement park, and a nice person who worked there took the…
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Day 8. Nourish Your Soul
Ever think about taking a day to clear your mind, replenish your spirit and feed your soul? Sometimes your soul gets hungry. You want something more, something deeper and more meaningful. You feel a bit low, empty even. When someone asks of your time and energy, you have this vague sense of not being able to provide. This is a serious soul-state that needs tending to. It’s hard to feel blessed in the beauty and joy that’s ever present in our world, when we’re low on sustenance for our soul. You don’t need a lot of money to feed your soul. You don’t need an appointment at the nail salon…
