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AFFIRMATIONS

3/19/2013

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I am worthy of the very best in life.



I am free to go forward and release my resistance to change.



I am willing to release the pattern of self-sabotage and self-defeating thoughts.



I am ready to have the life of my dreams.



I release the old behaviors and make way for the new and improved.



I am grateful for growth and change in my life.



I am beautiful, strong, and energetic.



I am lovable.



I   treat myself the way I would treat a good friend.



I am smart, talented, and capable of change.



I am enough right now.



My body is a miracle, and no one else is exactly like me.



I love and appreciate my body, mind, and feelings.



I feel confident and comfortable with others.



My body deserves to be treated with respect and love.



I create positive habits to improve my health.



I am grateful for the life experiences that have brought me to this point.



I find contentment in my daily routine and experiences in life.



I see abundance everywhere, and I attract good things.



I feel empowered and in control.



My life is a wondrous miracle of creation.



I am confident in my ability to succeed.



I am an achiever and a doer.  I get things done.



I believe change is possible for me.



I live one day at a time with God’s help.



Whatever I am doing, God is with me.

I am a precious child of God, and deserve to be happy.  It is my birthright.



God’s will is better than anything I could imagine.



I step aside and let God take over.



I triumph in the face of adversity.



In this moment, everything is exactly as it should be.



I let go of the past and the future.  All I have is now.



I welcome change with joy and eagerness.



I willingly remove my mask and reveal my authentic self.

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Cultivate Your Creativity

9/12/2010

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Late Blooming Gifts and Creative Talents

Creative horizons do not narrow with age.  Our minds are receptive to learning at any age and can master new skills whatever our ability.  Our true inner potential is always expanding not just in our youth, but in our elder years as well.  Don’t limit your mind-set.  Raise the bar and think outside the box, finding a deeper sense of fulfillment and inner peace.  Use your wisdom and insight as an inspirational tool to bring out your curious and playful inner child.  Mindfulness is a bonus of self-expression, which in turn may bring us out of periods of grief, anger, or resentment. The ultimate goal is peace within, serenity, and a sense of purpose we all desire in this life of ours.

 

Cultivate Your Creativity

Trial & Error~Keep working and using different mediums in art.

Exercise~It is proven to spark the brains chemicals that support creative thinking.

Challenge Yourself~Go beyond your normal thinking, and create something with both hands.  Make a mess, if needed!

Get instructions~In order to get started, some people need to be with like-minded people to set the course.

Have Confidence~Go for it, no matter what!  Don’t judge yourself.

Show off your Work~Forget the word “Perfection”, and remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Research~There are so many avenues of art. Check out on-line inspiration, libraries, bookstores, craft shops, etc.
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10 Things to Relieve Stress for Caregivers

7/23/2010

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                             10 Caregiver Stress Relievers

 1.       ACKNOWLEDGE that your situation can be overwhelming.  Don’t suppress your emotions or force positive thoughts.  Be honest with yourself about the situation.  Look for a service that provides guilt-free care for your loved one while you take some time to regroup. You will find an emotional balance without feeling overwhelmed.  See #9 below. 

2.       EDUCATE YOURSELF on the illness of the person you are caring for.  Honor the person’s spiritual level as it changes, providing comfort, support, and care.  Your presence may be the healing guidance they need on their journey while in your care.

3.        TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF first so you are better able to care for your loved one or the one you are caring for.

4.        SCHEDULE BREAKS at the same time each day, guilt free, so that no one will interrupt your needed time to yourself.  It is very important to keep in a routine and schedule time with this or you may never get your much needed break. 

5.        GET ORGANIZED with schedules.  Activities that stay on a structured routine keep everyone happy, because there are no unnecessary surprises.  You don’t want to upset the person in your care, which causes you extra stress. 

6.        GET OUTSIDE of the home environment so you negate isolation.  Interaction with others is crucial for your mental health, and going outside for a walk in a natural setting will do wonders for your mood. 

7.       GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP to avoid grumpiness and mood swings.  Moods turn despondent, social interest disappears, thoughts turn negative, appetite becomes erratic, and concentration wanes.  Depression creeps in slowly, without your realizing it.  Rest is crucial. 

8.        REDUCE YOUR EXPECTATIONS and enjoy the time with the person in your care, making mental snapshots of beautiful, picture-perfect moments instead of trudging through the day missing the miracles.  Our priorities may change as we realize what is really important in our lives.   The lessons in life sometimes come through our service, thereby, providing self-improvement by the giving of ourselves.

9.        ASK FOR HELP if you need it (even the people-pleasers) in emergency situations.  Do not try to do it all.  Your health may depend on it.  Don’t wait until it is too late to call other family members to discuss more care.  Acti-Kare can be there when you need personal care for your loved one.  Visit us at www.actikare.com or call Linda @ (203) 513-8470.  How much does it cost for your mental health and peace of mind?  Take action if needed.  The person in your care would much rather stay in their home than anywhere else.  Care is affordable and available! 

10.    TALK about what you are doing and going through and get support to face your deepest fears and pain.  Experience rather than suppress your feelings.  Talk to other caregivers for their support and advice.
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Top Ten List - Five Minutes A Day To Happiness

5/16/2010

 
FIVE MINUTES A DAY TO HAPPINESS
10 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Life

1.  Attitude of Gratitude~

Don’t take your life for granted.  Be grateful for every birthday, because the more you have, the longer you live!  Gratitude is the interest we owe God for the life He has loaned to us.  If you forget the language of gratitude, you can never be on speaking terms with happiness.

          2.  Laugh/smile/sing~

Watch funny videos, laugh at yourself, or just enjoy a good joke.  Laughing is like jogging on the inside.  When you smile at someone else, you increase the odds of 2 people having a good day.  Sing out loud when you are by yourself (try it you won’t believe the joy you get). Beware. He who sings his own praises is usually off-key.

          3.  Get Creative~

Paint, draw, sculpt, color, or garden.  Any hobby will bring that spark on the inside, let alone “draw” you closer to the Divine.  We could learn a lot from crayons…some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull.  Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box!

          4.  Being Kind & Giving~

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.  It is in the giving that one receives happiness.  If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague! 

5.  Hug/touch~

A hug may be just what someone needs to make them smile that day.  You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

          6.  Keep positive~

Keeping a positive attitude and reminding yourself that “This Too Shall Pass” can keep your thoughts moving forward instead of in reverse.  Positive meditation practice can reap benefits in just 5 minutes per day and leave you with peace of mind and a sense of well-being.  Meditation and prayer feed your soul.

          7.  Act like a Child~

Jump, skip, swing, or climb your way to happiness.  Blowing bubbles to catching butterflies can bring back some of that youthful joy.  We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stopped playing.

          8.  Service/Volunteer work~

Helping others always comes back tenfold.  Service is the rent we pay for living.  We always get more out of our life when we reach down and help another who is struggling.   Love and service equal true happiness. 

          9.  Forgive & Forget~

Forgiveness is the key to physical and spiritual health.   Leave the past in the past.  Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, think of it no more.

          10.  The Secret Jewel Within~

Finding happiness is like finding yourself.  You choose happiness.  You don’t find happiness, you make it.  It comes from within you.  Everyone wants joy, happiness, and a life purpose.  The purpose to life is to have a purpose in your life.  The secret jewel is not in the material things we accumulate, but within the heart; the treasure of infinite value and the key that unlocks the door to happiness.

 

HAPPINESS IS THE STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS WHICH PROCEEDS FROM THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ONE’S VALUES.

Energy Boosters

5/5/2010

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Do It Yourself Quick Energy Boosters
Ten Things to Improve Your Life 

·         1.  Don’t skip break-fast~

This is your first dose of fuel for the start up of your day.  Wake your spirit & tummy with prayer and some low-fat whole grains.

·         2  Enjoy a Balanced Diet~

Keep up your energy level by adding whole grains, bran, almonds, hazelnuts, and fish.  Also 4 to 5 small meals are better than 3 larger ones, which maintains your blood sugar level, as well as energy!

·         3.  Take a nap or meditate~

A power nap restores the mind.  Meditation produces more alpha and theta waves, thereby increasing a sense of well-being, energy, and happiness.

·         4.  Increase your physical activity~

If you add just 10 minutes of walking, you not only increase energy and stamina, but your mood will also improve through the production of endorphins.

·         5.  Drink plenty of water~

Drinking 6-8 glasses of water avoids dehydration and fatigue.  Thirst can masquerade as hunger.  Drinking water will “fill you up” before eating—added bonus!

·         6.  Reduce stress~

Stress is an energy zapper.  Listen to music, read, or meditate, and you will restore your peace.  Deep breathing also is helpful.  Ten breaths in and ten breaths out—slowly…

·         7.  Cut down on sugar~

Sugar gives initial energy, then as blood sugar drops, it steals your energy.  This leaves you feeling lethargic and sluggish.  Keep whole grains  and protein bars handy as substitute.

·         8.  Enjoy a protein snack~

When you start losing energy, eating a protein snack is a quick pick me up—nuts, yogurt, also fruit, and vegetables for a lower calorie substitute. 

·         9.  Engage in social activities~

Surrounding yourself with positive relationships will enhance your energy and mood levels remarkably.  Upbeat and loving people transfer their energy.  They can’t help but energize you!

·         10. Positive Attitude~

I believe this is the most important way to gain energy.  A positive outlook on life , as well as purpose can afford you greater health and reduces sickness and fatigue.   Norman Vincent Peale has written various books on this subject.  I highly recommend them.

Attitudes are contagious.  Are yours worth catching?
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    5 Minutes A Day To Happiness
    Affirmations
    Cultivate Your Creativity
    Energy Boosters

    Author-Linda Beckwith

    I believe everyday is a gift from our Creator. As we age, some may fear the unknown~death. People who become aware of their mortality find they have actually gained freedom to live. They have found they have an appreciation for the present. We are all here to contribute love, forgiveness, and service. As I age, I want to nourish my soul's purpose. If we are open to grace, people will appear in our lives to encourage growth of our souls. Allow me to provide daily nourishment through loving words, because joy is our birthright. I call these my daily "Truth Vitamins" for spiritual health. Join me in discovering together our inner soul purpose with "Love~that's all there is".

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