 Yes! You can have fun.
Have you ever been in such a state that you feel you don’t even deserve happiness? That you will forever be hardened by doom and gloom or sadness from unpleasant life experiences... I’ve hit that point I my life on multiple occasions. It’s the story of hopelessness and fear of feeling like you don’t deserve to be happy. Continuing to harbor hurt and guilt of the past, blocking any streak of light and hope from entering your soul… If this hits home for you, you are not this person; we are not this person! We shouldn’t feel ashamed of where we’re from or of our past, good and bad. Live in the moment and celebrate where you are now, what you have overcome, and where you are going. Life can turn so gray that we can’t even open our eyes to see if the sun is even shining. Others, just like you and me, need someone positive to help guide them to the sunlight, someone to mentor them on their own journey to becoming a better person. That someone can be you! Allow the sunlight to shine bright through you so that you can be the same ray of light and hope for someone else. That’s what we have to do. It took someone from the gutter to rise up and show the other person that it could be done. Life is too short to stay in the gray. Lesson 4: Find joy! I mean pure joy at least once a day. One thing to bring a smile on your face and escape your past or a negative in your present. A little fun will take you a long way. A feeling of excitement, a laugh or a hug. What will you be enjoying today?
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 Summer time calls for a lighter wardrobe, cool drinks, and an overall sense of relaxation. The #lightload applies to your well-being too!
Lesson 3: Don’t take on too much at a time, and don’t get discouraged by how far you have to go. Instead, focus or re-focus on starting and conquering one thought and one goal at a time. Take the summer approach and unwind. Your release could simply be in your mind, it could be escaping in a book (Life in its Rawest Form – shameless plug) or lightening your normal sphere of influence and taking some time for yourself. Take time to recharge and reset for what lies ahead. This will allow you to see you clearly. Try not to focus on the noise, darkness, pain, and trauma, which can create roadblocks ahead. Summer is a time where you should focus on your mental and physical wellbeing by taking care of you, doing things for you, celebrating how far you have come, recharging for continuing your journey, and build up the anticipation to conquer more!  In every situation, in order to get a positive result, we have to give up something in the process. If you are looking to get healthy, you may have to give up certain foods. If you are going back to school and you are working at the same time, you may need to sacrifice time and give up TV or extra curriculars.
To pick up from the last blog, revisit that thought you held captive and released. What sacrifice will you have to make to not allow that circumstance, situation, or pattern occur again? It may be not engaging in a certain behavior or not allowing someone to re-enter your life. Don’t focus too long on what you have to give up. The quicker you take the first step to move on to what you can and should do, the easier it becomes. Page 79 of the workbook is a great exercise to encourage positivity in thought and behavior. Sacrifice will lead to Success! Lesson 2: Focus on one pattern or habit and find something to offset when you feel you are approaching dangerous territory. Whether it’s a prayer, physically removing yourself from a space, or finding something new to do in its place. Your sacrifice of not entertaining poor decisions will start to reveal your best and true self.  June. The first month of Summer. This time of year usually brings good vibes and outdoor escapades... However, for some, a sunny disposition may be reflected on the outside, but things aren't so bright in the inside. There are many whose soul Is filled with darkness from sadness or discouragement that not even a ray of sunshine have been able to enter through.
This blog series will explore sections of the companion workbook to Life in its Rawest Form, that focus on true work of the soul. I will share simple and actionable steps of how my experiences shaped me from the inside out. Lifestyle shifts start with one simple change. Section 3.9 of the workbook focuses on this concept and is applicable to anyone looking to do just that. My personal change catalyst was that of having my son as a teen. The lessons learned are applicable to anyone facing adversity. One thing that we can all do is learn from what life has taught us (i.e. our experiences). Learn from past failures, poor choices, and mistakes. Lesson One: Take one, single, solitary poor choice from your past. Hold it captive. Once that thought makes it presence – take it, release it, and learn from it. It sounds easier than it really is because negative thoughts take up way more inventory than they should. You can conquer dark with light! Tilt your head to the sun and let it go… Accept the new day and bask in the sun. Be on the lookout for lesson 2 in the next blog. |