Coming Out Of A Funk - Healing

Hi All,

Well, it's winter here in the desert.  It's really a beautiful time of year.  Most of us are still recovering from the long hot summer and are enjoying every rain and every beautiful sunny day.  Sounds like it's perfect right?  Well, it's pretty good, but people still have their ups and downs.   Some have more serious issues than others and we all need some healing once in a while....right?

So I'll make myself a little vulnerable here and speak to my own experience.  I don't care who you are, nobody's life is 100% pain free.  Life is good, but once in a while I need some healing too.  This last week was one of those times.  Around the middle of this past week, I got into a bit of a funk.  It had been a busy few weeks and I let a few external factors affect my serenity.  I was not in a good place mentally or emotionally.  So I sat in it for a day or so and tried to let it go and ride it out, but I couldn't really shake it.  I typically bounce back pretty quickly and get my perspective back, but this time was a little tougher.  Finally, I had to really examine what was going on and get back to feeling good.

 So while I was at work, waiting on a client,  I took out pen and paper and started writing.  Here's some of what came out of that.

Don't Judge -  It's easy to judge anyone or everyone around you.  Being in a place of judgement will not serve you (and it wasn't serving me).   I was judging some people, situations, and events and it was not helping in any way.  It never does, does it?  Which leads too the next thing...

Don't Take it Personally/Don't hold Grievances - I was taking some things personally, and it just made me feel bad.  People/situations were "taking up space in my head, rent free."  For me, this is a key - it's only personal if I make it personal.  It's my choice.  I needed to choose again - and choose not to take things personally.  It sounds simplistic and is usually easier said than done, I know.  It takes practice and remember, it doesn't mean being a doormat either.  It doesn't mean I have to accept unacceptable behavior from people.  It means I don't have to take other people's issues and make them my problem.

Many times the things we take personally, aren't even directed at us.  People typically are caught up in their own stuff and just living life.  When I make the decision not to take things personally, I go on with my day, feeling good, not thinking about or dwelling on whatever I perceived as an offense against me.

This works the same way when people purposefully take aim at me.  It is still a decision that I make to take it personally or not.  This can be trickier for sure, because it is a direct action (in some way), intended to hurt me.  I still have choices.  Sometimes, its best do leave it alone or I can take positive action to resolve the situation rather than react in a way that will ultimately hang with me and that I will usually regret.  We'll likely always have someone who wants to push our buttons, and we may not even know why, and that's really their business and usually not ours.

Expectations - Expectations are a trap.  Why was I taking things personally and holding on to them?  Because I expected a different result or different behavior from people.  Sure, we expect things from people, but how flexible are we when they don't live up to what we expect?  Is it personal?  Do we feel wronged and hold on to that?  Or can we just let it go, making the decision, that we don't make it personal.  When we make it personal, we give it momentum and it continues to bother us. 

Depending on the situation there may be a course of action we can take to address the unfulfilled expectation, like with an employee or service provider that does not measure up to their obligations.  If it's someone not being or acting like who we think they should be, then we need to look at what we're expecting of them and why.  Many times, they're just being who they are and doing what they feel they should do.  I don't have to condone any of it, but it's still not my business.

Gratitude - I was not feeling gratitude when I was in the funk and it just made things appear worse than they were.  When I consciously remember that I am blessed with so much, and have so much in my life to be grateful for, it has a benefit; it makes me feel good.  It doesn't mean everything is always how I want and that life goes smoothly every day.  We all have things to deal with and some of it is difficult - that's OK.  I can still be grateful for the good things in life, even the things that most take for granted like clean water and air, indoor plumbing.   I've heard it said that nothing changes the energy of a situation like gratitude.  It is a practice and the more you practice the easier it is and the better and stronger you feel.  It's always uplifting.

When I sat down and got to the core of what I was doing, I simply employed these tools, in my mind, got my perspective back, and immediately started feeling better.  I know for some these tools/techniques are built in or were learned at a young, but I know there's plenty of folks who are like me, who have had to learn to use tools like these to feel good on a regular basis.  For other folks, other processes may work better for them, and that's good too.  Use what works.  Remember - it's all an "inside job."

Love yourself and take care of yourself.  If you're in an airplane and the oxygen masks deploy, you put your mask on first, then you'll be helpful to others.  If you need more to feel better, you may have to put in some work.  If you need help, get it.  It's good to get professional help if you need it, or whatever you need; spiritual groups, support groups and churches, recovery programs or even self help literature can be a huge help.  Life's short - take action to feel good.

Have a great week.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink, LMT, RM, CST
Holistic Therapy Solutions, Phoenix, AZ
cell/text: 443-850-4126
email: tom.kbrink@gmail.com
web: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Take Care of Yourself

Hi All,

I hope you're doing well and taking good care of yourself.  I'm working on it.  It's heating up here in Phoenix....summer's coming fast.  But really, it's always a good time to take care of ourselves, isn't it?

I know it can be a well worn topic, but it's always good to revisit it.  Are we taking good care of ourselves?  How do we do that?  So on a basic level, we're taught to have good hygiene, get some exercise, eat some good food and get a check-up every so often from your physician.  Right?  OK - we're done...have a good weekend.  Well...not so fast.  Perhaps there's more to add to all of that.  How do we ensure we have balance and wellness in our lives?

So where do we put ourselves in order of getting cared for by ourselves?  Do we always put others first?  Is it alright to put ourselves first?  Is that a selfish thing?   I would suggest that some of us may tend to take care of others first, and take the scraps that are left (usually not much if any), for ourselves.  Is that good?  Or - is it just being a martyr, when we really don't need to be one?

I like the analogy of being on an aircraft when the oxygen masks come down in an emergency.  The first thing we're told is that we have to put our mask on first, before we assist others around us.  In other words; its good to love and care for others that may depend on us for help, but if we're not taking care of ourselves properly, we may be setting ourselves up for a crash.

I would suggest - make time in your day for the things you need.  As I suggested before, at a basic survival level, good food, proper rest and exercise are essential for our health and well being.  More and more studies are coming out and more emphasis is being placed on getting 8 or more hours of sleep each night.  We need that re-charge....physically, mentally, emotionally.  I know some people only need 4 or 5 hours a night...but they are the rare exception.  Most of us function optimally on 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.

Meditation or a power nap every day is also good for us.  It's good to take a period of time each day and slow down the mind, close your eyes, and enjoy a little break.  It can be a formal approach with music and a learned meditation technique, or just closing your eyes and "shutting er down" for 15 to 30 minutes before the afternoon or evening begins.  I try to get in an hour of meditation every day.  It feels so good to let go of the stress and pressures of daily life for a bit and enjoy some deep relaxation.  Its also good to help bring down stress levels in our lives and reduce blood pressure.  It can offer the body and mind a space to do some healing.

What are we feeding our spirits?  Do you have Spiritual beliefs?  Or do you consider it nonsense?  Do you go to church weekly, but maybe let it sit by the wayside during the week?  Having a spiritual practice can be nourishing to the Soul.  Most of us have had some kind of spiritual training....it may be time to dust it off, or look around for a church, class, or Spiritual practice that fulfills you.

Of course, there's so many things we can do with self care.  Love yourself enough to offer yourself the gift of your time and $$.  Be good to yourself.  Do something good for yourself daily, like taking a walk, going for that ride on your motorcycle, getting a massage, or hitting that yoga class.  Do some deep breathing and get your head out of the job or routine for a bit.

One other thing - be kind to yourself.  How to you talk to yourself?  Do you beat yourself up about little things (or big things too)?  We're all doing the best we can with what we have.  We have our daily struggles...be kind to yourself.  Treat yourself like you would treat a dear friend who's feeling down.  We all fall short once in a while - don't sweat it.  Don't dwell in the past...learn from it and enjoy the present moment.

This summer - put your oxygen mask on first...then of course, enjoy and love those around you too.  Be kind to yourself...it's not selfish.  Take care of yourself and enjoy the summer.

Peace and Love,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink
I'm a massage and holistic therapist located in Phoenix, AZ.
For more information go to:  www.holistictherapysolutions.weebly.com
have a blessed day.

Present Moment Awareness

Hi Everyone,

I hope you're having a great start to 2016.  It's a great day to be alive...I hope you all feel the same way.  Enjoy it....I'm going to talk about how you can lower stress in your life.  You don't have to change anything on the outside - just make a little change on the inside.

Stress in your life can be a killer.  It's hard on the body and the mind....mentally, emotionally, physically - it's damaging in every aspect of our lives.  We live in a busy time.  Many of us have demanding jobs and hecktic lives.  It's hard not to be stressed out, right?  Surely there are ways of dealing with and reducing stress, right?

There are several things I do to reduce stress in my life.  I try to eat good food, get enough rest, regular massage, exercise, prayer, have an attitude of gratitude and feed my spirit.  One other thing that I find very helpful is being present; being in the present moment...or just being. 

Being present is simply being in the moment.  That's pretty simple...OK, my work here is done, right?  Ha...well maybe not so fast.  I don't know about you, but for me, my mind can drift off into past situations, memories, etc...  Or, conversely, I can get going about the future.  How am I going to, "make that happen," or plan out something in my mind, working out all the details, how it'll go, what I'll say, etc. 

Why do I want to be present and in the moment?  Too often thoughts of the past run over regrets and scenarios of what we should have said or done differently.  And we can go thru them over and over again.  Whether you're going over very deep seeded stuff or maybe something pretty innocuous,  it's all the same and has the same result: we cannot change it.  Period.  It's the same with anticipating the future.  As much as we plot and plan, does it ever really work out to our exact specifications or expectations?  Running these tapes over in our minds is distracting and adds stress in our mind and also in the tissues in our bodies.

Now - try this.  Take a nice slow deep breath and exhale...while doing this, bring your mind and awareness to the present moment.  Be right here and right now, in this moment, without judgement or expectation.  As you breathe, pay attention to the air going in and then going out.  How good does it feel to be right here (releasing the past and staying out anticipating the future).  How does that feel?  Perhaps your shoulders soften a bit, and you may find your forehead relaxing.  Now see how long you can stay right here, right now.  It's not long before your mind starts to drift off into thoughts of something else, right?  That's ok...just gently come back to the breath and present.  Now do this for the next few minutes as your body and mind relax in the present moment...no worries, no fear....

This is referred to as Mindfulness practice.  It's a meditation of sorts.  You can do it with your eyes closed, sitting or lying down.  You can do this while doing chores around the house or walking the dog.  It takes practice, (which is why it's called a mindfulness practice).  It's not always easy.  A lot of people have so much going on in their heads that they have a very difficult time being in the present.  Many get frustrated and give up, especailly if they try it on their own.  I would invite you to try this for 5 minutes at a time at first.  Also - be kind to yourself.  Don't get frustrated or down, and don't beat yourself up if it's difficult for you.   

As you spend more and more time in the present, you'll find you probably feel a lot less weighed down by so many concerns - most of which we have absolutely no control over.  On a physical level it can help you to relax and reduce your blood pressure, release muscle tension, and even help reduce pain that you may have in your body.  I even saw a  scientific study recently that noted some amazing physiological changes in the brain from mindfulness and meditation, (which doesn't surprise me at all).

So this winter, take care of yourself in all the ways you should (diet, exercise, massage, etc...), and stay in the present.  Don't long for Summer or even the weekend...enjoy this one moment and whatever you're doing.  Whether you're working, driving in traffic, chilling on the beach or whatever - stay right here, right now and enjoy.  You'll feel much better - in many ways.

I do have to make a note here, just so no one misunderstands.  I'm not saying, never make plans, or never enjoy remeniscing with an old friend.  Of course we'll do that.  Also - will we perfect this ability to be present?  I haven't.  But, today I can enjoy the moment and whatever activity I'm participating in, a little more than I did in the past.  I also enjoy less stress in my life today.    

If you feel like you need some help or support with meditation, let me know.  I have a mindfulness class - I can work with you in a group or one on one.  There's also a lot of materials on-line and books on meditation and mindfulness.  If you ever feel stressed out...give it a try.  I hope this helps...have a great day.

Peace,

Tom

Web: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Mindfulness and Meditation

Hi All,

Today I'd like to introduce you to a technique that can help you be more at peace and serene.  It's called mindfulness.

Imagine it's an ordinary weekday afternoon and you're in rush hour traffic.  People are driving in an all out frenzy to try to get home, or wherever they're going.  Your day at work was hectic and stressful.  You've been dealing with demanding and sometimes unreasonable customers.  You're still playing the tapes over and over in your head when thoughts of all you have to do this evening enter your consciousness as well...kids soccer practice, shopping, dinner, maybe do some laundry....etc.

Is that an accurate picture of how our busy lives can be sometimes?  We wonder why our life is so stressful and how come so many people are sick, depressed, and anxious?  You've tried jogging, eating well, yoga...it helps a little, but not really enough.  You go to church and it's good, yet, that doesn't always address your situation at hand and may not always help with the stress and chattering mind.  You did try buying a meditation CD once, but your mind wandering was too much and you gave up.  Does some of this (or all of this), sound familiar?  All to often the demands of life can be crazy and overwhelming.  However, there are things you can do that can help you have peace in the midst of the storm.

I'd like to introduce you to the practice of mindfulness and also explain a little bit, how this can be an amazingly helpful tool to assist with relaxing your body and mind.  First, what is mindfulness?  It's simply being in the present moment.  Jon Kabat-Zinn, author and leading expert in mindfulness describes it as, "Paying attention, in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally."  Essentially, it's a technique to help you be in the present moment and at the same time, releasing the need to judge everything.

Here's something you can try.  Sit quietly and in a dignified position.  Now watch your breath go in and out.  Be with your breath and detach from all past events and thoughts about them and let go of future planning or anticipation.  Just sit and breathe and be present in the moment.  When thoughts arise - don't judge the thoughts, just come back to focusing on the breath....and breathe...  It's a simple process right?  Yes.  It's not necessarily an easy one though.

Mindfulness is a practice.  Notice the word practice.  You probably won't be able to practice an hour of mindfulness meditation the first day.  It takes practice.  Perhaps you can set aside 20 minutes a day to start, and keep at it.  Be gentle with yourself and don't beat yourself up if you struggle a little at times.  That defeats the purpose, right?  You may have a very easy meditation one day and struggle a little the next.  However, if you're persistent, you'll get better at it and it will become easier.

The benefits of mindfulness can be profound.  It can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression.  All of these can affect your physical health as well.  Some benefits can include reducing blood pressure, stronger immune system and more.  Just think - being able to calm the worries, concerns and tapes you play over and over in your head.

You can take this practice to work, use it at home, while doing the dishes, driving, or wherever.  It doesn't turn you into a zombie or anything like that either.  It fits with your religion or no religion. It just helps you to be in the present moment more often.  As you know, the present moment is all you have to work with.  Being present is very powerful with your relationships; with customers, your family members, friends.  How do you feel when you're with someone and you know you have their absolute undecided attention?  Conversely, how do you feel when you don't? 

I'm finishing preparation for a mindfulness workshop that I'll be starting to teach soon.  In this workshop, I'll provide in-depth information about mindfulness, how to meditate, I'll lead the group thru a meditation, and provide the tools for you to do this one your own.  I'm also starting a meditation group again, thru my holistic practice.  It'll be a great place to continue practicing and for sharing your progress and stumbling (at times), in a safe and supportive place.  It'll be a place to continue to grow and learn more as well.

If you have questions, let me know.  If you're in the Phoenix area, come to my workshop.  More to come soon.  For info on workshops, and other services, check my website at:
www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
I'll be scheduling the first workshop soon.

Take care everyone.

Peace and Love,

Tom

Stress Kills - How Are You Dealing With Stress?

Hi All,

How are you all doing today? I've been thinking lately about how stress or managing stress fits into an holistic lifestyle.

It occurred to me that among a lot of health conscious people, there's a lot of emphasis placed on eating right, (sometimes all organic or a vegan diet).  Exercise is also a big focal point as well.  Both are important, of course.  However, I wondered how many times do people put a lot of effort into all of that and yet neglect their own mental, emotional, and spiritual health? 

Dealing with stress is key for good health and a healthy lifestyle.   I've talked to many people who are very health conscious about meditation.  So many times, the response it, "I've tried, but I can't do it."  We live in a fast paced society and most everyone works hard, has a lot going on all the time, and can have a hard time relaxing the body and mind.  Many people worry about the future or spend a lot of time reflecting on regrets or events of the past.  All of these can lead to stress...and a lot of it.  We all get caught up in these occasionally; so what are some practical things we can do?

First - take time to relax and/or meditate every day.  My grandmother knew the power of meditation, but she didn't call it that.  When I'd help her on the farm as a kid, we would "take a rest" after lunch for 30 minutes, every day.  We would also do a devotional reading.  Both are good for de-stressing the body and feeding the spirit.  A period of meditation every day is good for you on every level.

Reducing Stress...It's all a balancing act.

 There's many ways to meditate.  Find one and practice.  It's as easy as reclining in a comfortable position and relaxing the body.  Start with a few deep breaths and then relax into a nice easy rhythmic breathing...monitor your breath and relax.  Bring your conscious mind back to the present and continue to relax and watch your breath.  I know, sounds easy, right?  It takes practice, but will pay major dividends, so don't give up.  With practice, you will get better at it and it will get easier.

Add a little mindfulness into your day.  Be present.  Don't worry or think too much about the future or the past.  Keep coming back to present moment...enjoy whatever you're doing.  Whether you're at work or washing the dishes.  It doesn't matter - come back to now....and be grateful for wherever you're at or whatever you're doing.  Remember the saying, "it's all an inside job."  

How about feeding your soul?  Do you have a church or spiritual community?  Do you have not only a weekly practice, but how about a daily spiritual practice?  Like Grandma - the daily spiritual practice is a great way to keep you feeling good and will feed your spirit as well; great for keeping things in perspective and keeping the stress level down.

Of course eating well and exercise are both great for stress busting as well.  Here's a twist though.  Sometimes we may fall short of our goals.  We may not eat as well as we'd like or meet our exercise goals.  Don't beat yourself up.  Do your best and if you fall short, be happy with what you're doing and move on.  You'll do a little better tomorrow.

My Holistic Nutrition teacher in school would talk about nutrition and noticed how everyone would get excited and wanted to really make big changes.  He'd tell us if you can't eat organic locally grown produce, don't beat yourself up, just eat good non organic local.  It that wasn't available, eat non-local.  If not that, eat what you have...and be grateful and bless the food.  Be happy you have something to eat.  Same with exercise - set goals and work hard, but boost yourself up - if you don't meet your goals always, don't beat yourself up.  Do what you can and be happy about it.

It sounds a little simple and easy right?  There's a lot to be said for eating right, regular exercise, and proper rest.  It's good to have fun, get out into nature, spend time with pets and friends, and so many more things that help also.  But remember - an holistic lifestyle is taking care of the whole person.  Taking care of our internal self is just as important as taking care of the physical body.  It all works together.

Have a great day.  Be kind to the people around you today.  That's good for all of us.  Enjoy.

Peace,

Tom

Tom Kreienbrink, LMT
web: www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Serenity NOW! Want more Peace?

Hello,

I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year.  I hope the Holiday Season was good for you.  We had a nice, relatively quiet Christmas and New Year, and I'm grateful for that.  It's winter here in Phoenix - even feels a little like winter right now, with the cooler temperatures.

One thing that's always difficult for many people at the holidays and throughout the year is dealing with stress.  Stress - our old friend.  There can be many external things - like holiday traffic, crowded stores and parking lots that stress us out.  However, most of the time stress is exacerbated by our own internal reactions to the pressures of life or just life around us.

One tool in the toolbag of life that can help with cultivate serenity is the Serenity Prayer.  It goes like this:  God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.

This little prayer can really be quite helpful.  There was a time when I was struggling and prayed this prayer many times a day.  Unfortunately, I didn't always know that I could accept the things I couldn't change - or how to accept that.  The word acceptance almost had a negative connotation to me...I had no idea.

One example - changing other people.  I cannot change another  person, no matter how hard I try.  I can have personal boundaries, and I can take an action if someone crosses those, but I will not change someone else.  Here's one I like; holiday chaos and traffic.  I have now power over any of it.  However, if I'm going to participate and enjoy the wonderful season there are things I can do when I'm in the thick of it.  I can take a deep breath and accept that I'm not going to change it.  I can practice acceptance, say the serenity prayer, and practice a little patience.  I can be in and enjoying the moment  with gratitude.  Practicing those can make a huge difference in your day.

Sometimes there are changes that need to be made and Wisdom and Courage are necessary.  When I pray to God for these (with the Serenity Prayer), I get a sense of calm and clarity.  Prayer works.  Knowing what's mine to change and what I need to leave alone can be an enormous relief.

I find this extremely helpful in my relationships.  Whether at work, at home, with relatives, or even social media contacts - we can find it frustrating to deal with certain people.  There are always things we disagree on and we may strongly feel we're right...but, sometimes we can come back to this prayer.  God...grant me Serenity.  Perhaps, acceptance is key - not changing the other?  We need wisdom and courage also....and with the help of God, we can sort all of this out.

I found that my loss of serenity in the past (and of course now sometimes), is really an "inside job."  But, using the tools like the Serenity Prayer, practicing acceptance, watching my expectations of others,  reminding myself to be grateful and in present moment, and others; all help me to stay in a calm and serene place on the inside.

Other times - action is called for.  But - with the help of my Higher Power - and the tools I've listed - I can calmly and courageously take action - and not jump into a huge over-reaction.  Taking action in this manner is not always easy, but say the serenity prayer, or whatever prayer you like - and move forward with some calm and grace and deal with the situation in a much better way.

Now - I won't tell you I'm always perfect with all of this, but things are better than they used to be.  The more I use some of these tools (with grace and humility) - the more peace, serenity, and happiness I have in my life.

I wish for all of you a very wonderful 2015.  Enjoy it with gratitude and love for yourself and all of those around you.  Enjoy each and every moment.

Peace,

Tom

Check out my website and Facebook page:

www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com

www.Facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Expectations - It's a Trap

Hi All,

It's been a while...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  I hope the holiday season is going well for you.  Things are starting to get a little hectic here, but that's how it gets.  Humbly, I'm grateful for having lived another blessed year.

So I was thinking about a topic for today and what could be helpful.  The topic of expectations came to me.  It can be such a trap for us so many times.  What do we expect of others?  our careers?  stores at Christmas time?  traffic? etc... Sometimes we're disappointed by people, by life; we can have high or even lower expectations that aren't met.  When that happens, how often do we go into a funk with a mindset like, "Wow...that's so unfair, life isn't fair," or, "is it too much to expect that my friend would...(fill in the blank)."  It can mess with our inner peace and serenity.  It can start those thoughts rolling around and around in our head...nonstop.  Maybe it keeps us awake at night.  And, of course, we may even be right, but that doesn't really change anything...does it?

First of all, having expectations of people, events, outcomes, etc...can be a trap.  Holding on to expectations can cause you to have a huge resentment.  Look at any resentments you have; was there an expectation in there somewhere?

What I'm talking about is; how attached are we to our expectations, and how do we act or react when our expectations are not met?

Now - think.  How do you react when your expectations aren't met?  Do you freak out?  Do you get on a soapbox and preach?  After all...you've been wronged.....right?  If you react like that, you're probably going to be upset a lot.  Even when our expectations are low, people, events, and outcomes will still fail us, on a regular basis.  It just happens.

First - It's not personal - it's life.  Don't take it personally.  Things happen.  Even if someone tries to make it personal for you, you can choose to take it personally or not.  It's always your choice.  Are you flexible?  When life throws you a detour (and it will...usually daily), can you go with the flow?  When I was in the Air Force, they used to say, "Flexibility is the Key to Air Power."  The more flexible you are, the more you'll be able to deal with life on life's terms.  Learn to flow with life.

If someone let us down, maybe there's more going on than we know.  We can be kind and maybe give them a break, maybe even ask how they're doing; instead of reacting.  If its an event or outcome that lets us down, we can remain calm and be flexible knowing that everything happens for a reason...usually for reasons that I don't know.  Again - I can get mad and frustrated or I can be present, take a breath, and remember to have gratitude...and move on.

From a spiritual standpoint, I can give it over to God.  Let go and Let God, as they say in the 12 Step community.  I trust that there is a plan for my day and my life and that if I do what's in front of me, things will work out.   When I'm frustrated and mad that my expectations weren't met, perhaps I'm trying to be controlling and I'm being inflexible.  Do I want a result that, (no matter how right I am), is just not going to happen?  Having a little humility and remembering that I'm not in control or responsible for everyone and everything, usually helps a lot.

Of course I'm not recommending that we be a doormat and let people walk all over us.  Sometimes we need to take action...that means to act - not react poorly.  This also has nothing to do with optimism.  I'm very optimistic.
It's all about detaching from expectations.  There's an old saying - "you can be right, or you can be happy."

This Holiday Season, and every day thru the year.  Watch your expectations.  Detach in a loving way, be flexible without being a doormat.  Let go and Let God.  You may find a lot more peace in your mind and thoughts....what a great Christmas present that would be.

Peace,

Tom

www.HolisticTherapySolutions.weebly.com
www.Facebook.com/HolisticTherapySolutions

Having a bad Day?

Hi All,

I hope everyone is having a good day today.  I know it's not always easy out there.  Here are some ideas...they help me have a better day.

You can always choose again - right now.... to start your day over - and have a good day.

Peace and Love,

Tom