Never underestimate the power of a gratitude journal to transform you and those around you. One of the most profoundly transforming disciplines I practice in my life is keeping a gratitude journal. It has opened my heart and my eyes to grace. Over time, it's created a sense of well-being and joy that carries me above difficult circumstances instead of getting swallowed up by them. In fact, I've been doing this long enough that when life rubs hard, I know gratitude will soften the blow, diminish the anxiety response, and put me in a state of being present and mindful. Maybe you've had the idea of keeping a gratitude journal in the past. And maybe that's where it ended, with several empty journals lining shelves or stuffed in closets. That was me for many years. Until life Continue Reading
Refresh With a One Woman Retreat
It seems summer is the best time to retreat from the world and escape the stresses of everyday life. But what do we do when we return from vacation more tired than before we left? Maybe we need a One Woman Retreat. For many years, I planned women's retreats, brought in amazing speakers, created relaxing themes and I loved helping to nurture and refresh other women's hearts, but I wasn't so good at taking care of my own. So a few years ago I experienced the pure joy of a one woman retreat. It wasn't something I was immediately comfortable with, and it took some time for me to acclimate to giving myself permission to exhale. But the reward left me recharged and refreshed for months. I slept...read...walked...slept more...ate...sat on the beach...journaled and practiced finding Continue Reading
7 Perfect Ways to Refresh Your Mind
Summer isn't just about refreshing our soul; it's also about refreshing and energizing our mind. Disconnecting from our routines and tasks to find small stretches of refreshment in our summer will reap huge benefits when fall rolls around and we find ourselves knee-deep in the busyness of life. I don't know about you but my priorities tend to get out of whack the busier I get. When this happens, it's like a domino effect. I get weary, cranky and I complain about the smallest things. I snap at the people closest to me and focus on what's wrong in my life instead of all that is good and right. And truth...well, when my busyness has gotten the best of me, truth gets distorted and hope often evades even my saner moments. Our brains need to disconnect into nothingness. Where thoughts Continue Reading