Personal growth
-
Who are you, really?
“You are what you are when nobody is looking.” ~Abigail Van Buren Today’s quote invites us to think about authenticity. It’s human nature to present our best image in public, but being truly authentic takes self-reflection and courage. That’s not so easy. Consider all the photo-shopped selfies and stage-managed lifestyles that are posted daily on social media platforms. Once in a while, it’s worth doing a reality check: Who are you when nobody’s looking? ~CL
-
Second helpings
“That thing that you are obsessing about — no one else is obsessing about it with the same intensity as you are. People are thinking about themselves. Remember that, and move through your day.” ~Gretchen Hydo Ages ago, I had a college room mate who was too shy to get back in line for second helpings at meal time. She worried that other students in the cafeteria would judge her for overindulging. Enabler that I was, I often returned to the line to fetch a second omelette or slice of chocolate cake for her. As today’s quote reminds us, other people are usually preoccupied with their own thoughts and their…
-
Let it bloom by itself
“Don’t try to force anything. Let life be a deep let-go. God opens millions of flowers every day without forcing their buds.” ~Osho Control freaks, take note: The act of letting go is an act of courage that requires trust and faith. It’s not our job to keep the earth spinning on its axis — and isn’t that a relief? Sometimes letting go means stepping back and allowing others to make their own decisions (or mistakes) despite our well-intended guidance. It can be frightening to loosen your grip on a difficult situation. But no matter how hard you try to force or manipulate an outcome, things have a way of…
-
Those who comfort us
“Do not believe that the person who is trying to offer you solace lives his life effortlessly among the simple and quiet words that might occasionally comfort you. His life also is filled with much hardship and sadness….But if it were otherwise, he could never have found these words.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke in Letters on Life I’ve been thinking a lot about grief, loss, and comfort in recent weeks. My mother-in-law died Saturday in her home, just a couple of weeks short of her 94th birthday. She was the widowed matriarch and pillar of a large family, a strong-willed woman who outlived her initial diagnosis after a stroke last year. My husband…
-
Are you stuck in stubborn habits?
“I need to take an emotional breath, step back, and remind myself who’s actually in charge of my life.” ~Judith M. Knowlton Are you following patterns or routines that aren’t serving you anymore? Creatures of habit, most of us stay on the same-old beaten path, rarely stepping away from our comfort zone. We keep buying the same brand of coffee, hanging out with the same people, walking the same route with the dog, wearing the same clothes, watching the same news station … or continually putting up with the same disrespectful treatment from others. It’s time to shake things up. Time to hit the reset button and reclaim your personal…
