Time for Reflection

Time to Reflect

I have been reading a lot of posts on reflection, gratitude, creating your own happiness etc. However, the newsletter from my friend I met through networking, Caryl Ayearst, really stood out! Which inspired me to include a lot of her advice in this article.

I have shared many times that I start my day with deep breathing exercises, while thinking about 3-5 things that went well the day before (this has helped start my day on a positive note).

Many people dismiss the importance of reflecting & making a written or mental note of what we are grateful for, as they are thinking on a grander scale, rather than focuses on the little wins.

The key is to remember they don’t have to be big things, little moments count too & are almost more important, since they are often the things we take for granted, but they actually bring us a lot of joy.

For some, the last year, month or day, might have been tough & perhaps you are struggling thinking of things that went well. But if you spend some time in reflection, you can find those happy moments.

For example, you enjoyed your delicious morning coffee, you finish the puzzle you were working on for weeks, you got a phone call from someone you wanted to hear from or received an email that you had been waiting for, gas prices dropped & you filled your tank up at record low prices, a neighbor smiled & waved to you as you got in your car, the soup was delicious, you started a new book & it is really good , the sun is shining, a snuggle with your pet & so on……I think you get the idea that you can have moments in your day that you don’t really think about, but that do bring you happiness.

When you can name a couple of things that you are grateful for in your day, this helps to shift the brain & thinking. So, the next day, you might start seeking out & noticing those moments as they occur.

The brain wants you to find those moments & this helps to shift from negative thoughts to more positive thoughts. You naturally will start to notice more pleasant moments during the day.

This doesn’t happen overnight & some days will be harder than others.

There is much to navigate in life, & it can all be overwhelming. Even though hard or sad things have occurred, we can remember all the good memories we shared with our loved ones.

I recently learned of a friend who was diagnosed with cancer back in the summer, she didn’t want people to know, so for 5 months she carried the weight & worry on her own.

I wish I could have been there for her over the last few months but instead of regret, I find myself thinking, what can I do to help? How can I support her now? What can I contribute?

Two years ago, I was going through my own cancer treatments/surgeries…now I am grateful that I can step up & help her & share the knowledge that helps support her.

Bad things happen, but learning to look for the small ‘wins’, will help us get through.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow" ~ Albert Einstein.

#Reflection #livingtoxinfree #breastcancersurvivor #onlinewellnessentrepreneur