Word & Thought of the Day ~ Flexibility

September 24, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Copy of P1040782

I had originally “scheduled” the words and thoughts of the day several weeks in advance, when looking at what events and themes were coming up on our calendar and in our studies.

Then came the surprise kitten!

Today’s word was supposed to be Focus. The thought was to be centered around becoming the type of person who could consistently practice PTC – Present Time Consciousness.

Scrap that plan! I’ll have to reschedule that idea.

On the fly, I decided to change our word to Flexibility! Not the bend-over-and-touch-your-toes kind! The “roll-with-the-punches and go-with-the-flow” kind.

The overwhelming desire to play with “Chloe” (kitty’s name, for now!) has caused us to cast aside the majority of our plans for the day.

As our thought of the day, we’ve been discussing how oftentimes a plan will be altered or wiped out all together. We talked about what type of people we’d like to be when that happens.

We each gave our opinion on the idea of choosing happiness over the plan. For example, I’ve really fallen short on my to-do list today. BUT, I’ve really enjoyed ‘hanging’ with the kids and watching them fall in love with a new animal. They’ve been more kind to each other in the process.

If we can ‘control’ the situation and make it better in some way in order to restore the plan, great! If not, move on. No biggie.

We’ve also been talking about how when plans change, even if we don’t understand why in that precise moment, typically the reason will be revealed at some point down the road… and it’s usually a pretty cool reason! My lack of “work accomplished” today has led to moments with the kids that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Cuddles win over plans every time!

Our quote today has been that famous bumper sticker, “We make plans and God laughs!” I love that one!

(Of course, I’ll need to balance this lesson with a future focus on the importance of being organized and a planner and a goal-setter!! I’m sure they’ll remind me that God is only laughing so why bother!)

Word & Thought of the Day ~ Patience

September 23, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Copy of P1040706

Yesterday, our word and focus of the day was Patience.

I knew that after being gone for a few days, that getting back into a routine could potentially be a catalyst for sibling battles! These two spend a LOT of time with each other!

So, we started off our day talking about patience. (Funny how quickly I lost mine yesterday! That God can be such a funny guy!)

Anyhow, we discussed some of the classic points regarding patience ~ patience being a virtue, all good things coming to those who wait, etc. Really, I wanted them to understand, once again, that they play a direct role in their emotions. How they react to situations or other people is completely up to them.

So, a pretty neat thing happened for them last night. For a good part of the past year, the kids have been asking us if we could get a kitten. My husband and I have been dragging our feet on this for a variety of reasons. We’ve asked them to just “chill” with the asking… so they have (for the most part).

Yesterday, one of our practice members came in and told hubby about a “very cool kitten that you have to see.” Long story short, she IS a really cool little kitten… and she should be an official member of our family later today!

The kids are thrilled, of course! We made a point to tie in the word and thought of the day so they could see that patience doesn’t mean “it’ll never happen”… it just means “chillaxing” for a bit and staying positive… assuming the best. Taking a deep breath and slowing down on the reactions and trying not to force situations.

As usual, the lesson applies to ME as much or even more so than the kids!

Word of the Day & Thought of the Day

September 19, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Today’s word of the day is “Effort”.

I chose it knowing that our son has soccer this morning and our family is going on a LONG bike ride this afternoon.

I figured it would be a good focus for a day like today. I like how sports and physical activity can easily teach lessons in character and life. At this stage, our kids “get it” if I can relate it to their sports and activities. Whatever works!

Some of the quotes we’ll be discussing are centered around the idea that all we really have control over is the effort we put in. I want our kids to understand that they need to give it their all in life (otherwise, why bother?), but NOT to get overly attached to the outcome.Sometimes, we’re just not in charge! (OK, most of the time!)

The journey can be far more noteworthy than the destination. Quite often, the process defines who you are more than the outcome.

Also, we’re reminding them that it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing, focus on what YOU’RE doing. Try as hard as YOU can. That’s all we can ask of ourselves. Only YOU know if you’re giving it your all… or short-changing yourself.

Yes, winning and ‘success’ are important – but not at the expense of being the best you can be. Sometimes you give it your all, and don’t get the result you wanted. Give it your all anyway. That’s what we’re trying to instill in our kids.

BE the person who plays full out in life! That’s TRUE winning and success.

Our quotes today:

If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves. Thomas Edison

For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business. ~T.S. Eliot

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph. ~Author Unknown

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude, The Home School Life Tagged With: attitude

Word and Thought of the Day ~ Appreciation

September 19, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Something that I’ve been doing with our kids for awhile now is starting our day with a word of the day and a thought of the day.

These are different empowering or motivational or inspirational or character-building ideas to focus on throughout our day. As they get older they’ve come to enjoy this part of our day even more, as they try to outdo each other with examples or ways in which they could apply these featured attitudes in their day.

Not a bad ploy on mom’s part!

I thought I’d start sharing these with you here… just in case you’re interested!

Yesterday’s word was “Appreciation”. We talked about what it means to be appreciative and to have a grateful outlook in life. That blended into the thought of the day which was “be thankful and appreciative for everything you have, otherwise why would you ever be granted more?”

I’ve never heard so many thank-you’s and gracious comments in a day!

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: appreciation, gratitude, happiness, joy

Happiness is Part of Being Healthy. Choose Wisely!

September 10, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Choose happiness!

Here’s an attitude adjustment for the day:

If it is to be, then it is up to ME!

What are you waiting for? Nobody’s going to hand you your ideal life on a platter! You’ve got to create it!

Want health? Create it. Make healthier choices.

Want happiness? Create it. Choose happiness… no matter what.

Sound too simple? It probably is! What are your options? Choosing sickness and stress and sadness and negativity? NAH! Choose what you want… over and over and over.

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: happiness, happy life, joy, stress, stress management

Healthy Mindset Shift

August 29, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online 1 Comment

What you think about the most, and how you talk to yourself, determines your beliefs.

Your beliefs determine your behaviors – your choices.

Your behaviors/choices determine whether you will be healthy or sick.

Idea:

Start talking to yourself differently about healthy lifestyle choices.

“I love how I feel after I exercise!”

“I love how great I feel when I eat fresh, pure foods!”

“I feel so relaxed and peaceful when I wake up and find something to be grateful for!”

“I love going to bed earlier – I feel so much better in the morning!”

You get the idea…

Groovin’ Babies! Your Chuckle for the Day!

August 6, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Groovin\’ Babies!

This was just TOO good to pass up! Here’s your happy mindset & stress reduction tip for the day – WATCH THIS CLIP!

Doctor’s orders!

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: balance, happiness, stress reduction

BettER Health Doesn’t Need to be HardER

August 6, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Science has proven that our genes do not determine our level of health or whether or not we will develop chronic illness. Our genes do not make decisions.

Although you may have a genetic ‘code’ for a chronic illness like cancer, or heart disease, or depression, etc., you won’t necessarily EVER express those illnesses. Just because the gene carries that message doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

It’s clearly our environment that will determine whether or not your genes will express their message. Our environment is created as a result of how we eat, how we move and how we think (or adapt to and respond to the world around us).

This is known as the science of Epigenetics – how environment determines our health.

Regardless of how many people in your family have or have not developed a certain illness, YOUR health is up to YOU and the environment you create.

We all know examples of how this works both ways. We all know someone who comes from a family with a long history of certain chronic illnesses, yet that individual has never developed any symptom of the illness. On the other hand, most of us can think of someone we know who was the “first and only” in their family to develop a particular chronic illness.

That’s because chronic illness isn’t genetic, the way we’ve always thought.

So, what does this mean for you… today?

It means that every healthy choice you make matters. Every time you choose purity and sufficiency over toxicity and deficiency in the way you eat, move or think, you move TOWARD health and AWAY from chronic illness.

While “being healthy” may seem like an overwhelming task, getting healthIER is something you can chunk down into simple, easy, better choices.

You can choose to have a few sips of water here and there throughout your day. You can choose to add fresh fruit to your breakfast. You can choose to add a salad to your lunch or dinner. You can choose to pack some healthy snacks to eat at work rather than junk from the vending machine. You can choose to find something positive about a seemingly negative situation. You can choose to get outside for a break rather than turn on the television. You can choose to hug a loved one when you get the chance rather than take the relationship for granted. You can choose to go to bed a few minutes earlier rather than watching the late night ‘bad news’. You can choose to go for a walk while you’re eating your ice cream cone rather than sit on the bench. Sometimes you can even choose love over winning every argument or having the last word!

HealthIER isn’t necessarily hardER!

Begin by adding more “good” to your day. Don’t stress about the toxic choices you might be making. Focus on proactively, intentionally choosing GOOD. Little bits at a time.

Those little, simple choices will add up over time. Your current health is the result of the choices you have made thus far.

The better choices you make today will result in your better health in the future.

Time for Some R & R!

July 9, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Ahhhh… vacation has arrived!

Many years ago, one of my greatest mentors taught me that we should design our day-to-day lives in such a way that it has a “vacation feel” to it.

Not that we need to sprinkle sand beneath our feet or put umbrellas in fruity drinks on a daily basis… unless that floats your boat!

He was referring to how so many people live their lives constantly awaiting their next vacation… trudging through their daily monotony, just awaiting their next escape.

He suggested that we quit wasting the opportunity to create a fabulous life, here and now. Life is short. Each day has its blessings… whether we’re going into work and partaking in our usual routine, or we’re on a fabulous trip to a dreamy destination.

I’ve taken his recommendation to heart for quite a long time… and I feel like I’ve done a pretty darn good with it. I keep my eye on the “prize” – simple, joyful blessings, even in the midst of my usual routine. I’ve mastered the creation of “vacation-like moments”… at least fairly regularly.

BUT, lately… man, oh, man… I’ve been SERIOUSLY wanting a getaway!! I have officially met my maximum level of work, projects, pressure, expectations, and so on!

Enough already!

So… here I am, in one of my most favorite places… Northern Michigan.

Ahhhh….. about an hour before we got here, I finally took a deep breath and began to CHILLAX, as my peanut gallery likes to say!

It’s time to re-create some of that balance, peace and restoration that I’ve inadvertently allowed to get out of whack in recent weeks!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: balance, lifestyle, stress, stress management

The Joy of Life!

June 17, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

I love this little video! It reminds me of the simple joys in life… and the richness of enduring love.

Ahhh… makes my heart smile!

Love and Music in the Mayo Clinic

(Click “Continue Reading”, then open the link in the next page, and click “Proceed to Site”)

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: happiness

Will Smith’s “The Keys to Life” ~ Running and Reading

May 30, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

What a great piece of advice from Will Smith! So simple. So big.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEMEBBwO6J8 Will Smith\’s \”The Keys to Life\”

Aligning Behavior with Beliefs for a Successful, Healthy Transformation

May 22, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

This is an article I recently wrote that relates quite closely to the most recent “Just One Thing” recommendation – before a behavioral change can really “stick”, we need to make sure it’s in alignment with our beliefs.

This is most likely the number one reason many people find it so difficult to make healthy choices, even though they say that health is a top priority.

To read more, click the link below. Enjoy!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Aligning-Behavior-With-Beliefs-For-a-Successful,-Healthy-Transformation&id=2361463

“Just One Thing” ~ Simple Steps to Creating Health and Preventing Chronic Illness

May 18, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online 2 Comments

We’re a smart bunch of cookies here! We have SO much health information already in our noggins, and a gazillion times more at our disposal anytime we need it. If our health isn’t where we’d like it to be, it’s certainly not due to a shortage of information or health tips!

The cover of every magazine in the check-out aisle claims to hold the solutions and secrets within regarding weight loss, fitness and wrinkle-free living! Bookstores are lined with nutrition, fitness and health books. Every news report features some new ‘health’ breakthrough or update. Your friends and family have tips and suggestions and things they’ve tried that have worked wonders.

So, why aren’t we as healthy as we’d like? Or, why aren’t we getting those results that the celebrities on the magazine covers are getting?

Quite often, it’s because our BEHAVIOR (actions, choices) are not aligned with our BELIEF SYSTEM.

This makes behavior “modification” next to impossible. Our beliefs determine our actions, time and time again. Trying to change our behavior without addressing our beliefs is like swimming upstream.

For example, if your belief is, “I LOVE sweets!” and you’re trying to accomplish the behavioral change of “… but they’re bad for me so I’ll NEVER have sweets!”… you can pretty much kiss that behavioral modification good-bye!

When a belief is strongly embedded in us, we need to choose actions that are in alignment with it in order to achieve success. Otherwise, just leave that behavior alone for now and work on something else that you’re more willing and eager to modify.

The same is not only true when trying to “give something up” that is toxic or deficient, but also when you’re trying to get yourself to add a new positive behavior that you’re not necessarily crazy about. For example, if your belief (or inner dialogue) is “I HATE running!”, yet you’re trying to create the behavior and action of, “I’m going to go for a run 3 times each week”… forget it! You either won’t do it or it won’t last for very long.

To truly change behavior, you need to address your belief system. I think that one of the most successful ways to do this is to consider the pros and cons of your choices… the pleasure and pain… the benefits and cost… however you’d like to say it! Essentially, to make a wise choice, your beliefs should be based on accurate information. You’ve got to know the consequences of your choices… the REAL consequences of your choices in order to fully develop your beliefs. Not just the consequences you’re willing to look at!

For example, the negative consequences of eating sweets are NOT just a few extra calories, some possible weight gain and maybe a sugar buzz. Nope. Once you look closely at the effects of the sugar, the refined flour, and so on, you see that a toxic and deficient choice like this initiates the physiological stress response, which is at the core of every chronic illness we suffer from. Wow! That’s a tad more significant than worrying how we might look in a bathing suit!

Perhaps if you understood the myriad of physiological and emotional side effects eating sweets caused, your belief system would evolve and make it MUCH easier for you to choose to reduce or eliminate sweets. If you focused on how great you felt when you chose to avoid sweets (or have less), or when you chose something like fresh fruit instead, that might be enough to shift your beliefs about eating sweets.

Do you see what I mean? Until you truly understand the cost of your toxic or deficient behavior and the benefits of your pure and sufficient behavior, you won’t really change your belief system for the better. And until you change your belief system to one that supports healthy choices, it’s SO challenging to make those healthy decisions consistently.

It’s not your fault! You just didn’t know that health begins between your ears… with how you THINK!

So, my “Just One Thing” recommendation for today is actually two parts:

1) Stop trying to give up (toxic and deficient) things that you currently enjoy.

You’re doomed for failure if you continue on this route. You don’t deserve that… you certainly don’t deserve the guilt that comes along with it – guilt doesn’t serve you at all.

Instead of giving up things that you attach some form of pleasure to, try adding simple (pure and sufficient) things to your day. In the case of the sweets, for example, if your “sweet tooth” time is normally in the mid afternoon, then try having your favorite fruit at that time first. If you still really want the sweet after it… go for it. At least you added more health to that event.

Or, if you want sweets after dinner, go move your body first (or during). Go for a quick walk around the block or do some stretching or go get some fresh air… just add some health. It’s better than parking it on the sofa and inhaling a bag of cookies!

2) Stop trying to make yourself do (pure and sufficient) things that you really don’t enjoy.

Until you change the way you see this behavior and feel more strongly about its benefits, pros, positives and pleasure, you probably won’t stick with it very long… then you’ll just feel bad about that. That’s not fair to you.

Instead, find the ‘good’ things that you actually like, and stick with them.

For example, I see people beat themselves up all the time (figuratively!) about their exercise and diets. They compare themselves to a fit friend or a trainer or a celebrity and say things like, “I can’t do *that* form of exercise!”, whether it’s running, or Pilates, or weight training, or some intense work out or sport. So what!!?? Just find something that YOU like to do, and DO it!!

Or they’ll tell me, “But, I LOVE pizza… I can’t give it up!” So, don’t! Eat some fresh veggies with it or a big salad. It’s automatically a healthier meal now. Or, make the pizza yourself using fresh (possibly even organic) ingredients. Why would you ever give up something you’ve attached so much pleasure to?! You wouldn’t!

If you really want to start a new (pure and sufficient) behavior, then familiarize yourself with all the positives you’ll gain from this new action and all the negatives you’ll no longer experience once you begin.

When you’re ready – when your beliefs shift – your behavior will change MUCH more easily.

Align your behavior with your beliefs. If they’re not aligned now, and you really don’t feel like aligning them, then let it go! Focus on something else instead. It’s better than the guilt and loss of self-esteem that results from this type of incongruent thinking.

If you feel like making a change for the better, do your homework. Make sure you clearly understand the cost/benefit analysis of the choices you’re making. Then, get ready for massive success and empowerment!

“Just One Thing” ~ Simple Steps to Create Health and Prevent Chronic Illness

May 10, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

I thought that Mother’s Day would be the perfect day to introduce another “simple step”… a genetically congruent lifestyle choice that meets our requirements for the creation of health and the prevention of chronic illness.

“Just one thing” for today is: Have a grateful heart. Be thankful. Be appreciative. Feel the many blessings that are bestowed upon you each and every day!

Before you get out of bed in the morning, and before you drift off to sleep at night, take a moment to give thanks and appreciation.

It doesn’t matter exactly *how* you do this… just as long as you do this! Find what works for you ~ it might be prayer, or hugging your loved ones, or journaling, or visualization, or connecting with nature, or whatever! Just get yourself out of any stinkin’ thinkin’, even if only a few minutes is all you can muster up, and have a peaceful, loving, appreciative thought!

Our mental/emotional/spiritual/social health is part of our overall lifestyle… it contributes to our state of Wellness, balance and happiness. In order to reach greater levels of health and balance, we need to give our body/mind the ‘ingredients’ it needs (purity) and provide enough of it (sufficiency). Therefore, feeling gratitude is one more simple way to add Purity and Sufficiency to your lifestyle choices and build a healthier life… easily, gradually and comfortably!

It’s not a “fluff”, tree-hugger, “granola” thing to do! Feeling thankful is an innate genetic requirement for Wellness! We were born with the ‘blueprint’ to feel this way!

Remember – before you go to sleep tonight, shift your thoughts to those of gratitude. Tomorrow morning, don’t even put your feet on the floor until your head and heart are in the right place… a grateful place.

Now, go give thanks to your mommy… whether she’s here or watching over you with the other angels!

I’m thankful for YOU! God bless.

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Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: gratitude, happiness, health, stress

Being Allowed to Choose Health

April 29, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online 2 Comments

Practicing in the field of Wellness for over 14 years, I’ve seen and heard many things regarding people’s beliefs regarding their health. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but the one mindset that never fails to surprise me is the one of rigid avoidance of all-things-holistic-simply-because-they’re-not-medicine!

I completely honor and respect each individual’s belief system. I just tire of the all-too-common story of how they came to those beliefs… by being fed a ‘load of baloney’ from the gatekeeper powers-that-be in the reigning health care (ie. sickness care) system. After so many years, that is truly sad.

I’d much rather see people, myself included, come to a conclusion after hearing truthful, current and complete information from BOTH sides of a story. THEN, an intelligent choice has been made.

Here’s a story about two women I’ve recently met who were deeply entrenched in the mindset of the sickness care model until they could stand it no more.

http://www.pledgingforchange.com/profiles/blogs/being-allowed-to-choose-health

Can Being in a “Funk” Sabotage Your Weight Loss Efforts?

April 15, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online 2 Comments

There are times when we get stuck in a rut… we get ourselves into a “funk”.

At least that’s true with me!

Sometimes we lose our motivation, inspiration, or self-discipline to keep doing the things we know are good for us… and to avoid doing the things that aren’t so good. Oftentimes this is the result of stress.

I think it’s all part of the human story. How boring would it be to be perfect ALL the time? Sheesh! (I’d be willing to be the recipient of the perfect life for a little while for you though, just for experimental purposes!)

In many cases, when we find ourselves in this “funk”, we can end up in a vicious cycle of stress-poor choices- weight gain-loss of health-more stress-more poor choices… etc.

It’s called the Physiological Stress Response.

This is an article I recently wrote on the subject of being in a “funk” and the relationship to weight gain. Enjoy!

http://www.neuro-vision.us/ad/Article/Can-Being-in-a–Funk–Sabotage-Your-Weight-Loss-Efforts-/14627

Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude, Healthy & Permanent Weight Loss and Fat Loss Tagged With: diet, Exercise, fitness, happiness, stress, stress management, weight gain, weight loss

Relationships and Behavior Flourish When You’re In the Moment with P.T.C.

April 13, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about our constant challenge to live in the moment – to not worry excessively about the future, to not dwell on the past… to just BE right here and right now.

Tough!

When we get those moments “right”, though… ahhhh… it feels so fabulous!

Here’s an article I recently wrote on the subject of this ‘being in the moment’, or Present Time Consciousness (PTC). I hope you enjoy creating moments of PTC as much as I do!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Relationships-and-Behavior-Flourish-When-Youre-in-the-Moment-With-PTC&id=2174227

Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: anxiety, depression, family, happiness, joy, stress

The Importance of Morning Rituals

April 8, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

Here’s an article I recently wrote that describes the importance of consistent, proactive morning rituals in my life.

Rituals help you maintain a happy, healthy, fulfilling life. They can also be used as a tool to help you overcome a major life challenge or chronic stress.

My morning rituals were the number one thing I turned to in order to re-create my happy, healthy balance following the most stressful experience of my life.

Click here to read the article, or cut and paste this address into your address bar:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Ultimate-Tips-For-Creating-Unlimited-Health,-Happiness-and-Balanced-Living—Morning-Rituals&id=2151950

Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: balance, breast cancer, grief, happiness, happy life, stress management

The Power of a Mother’s Hug

April 6, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online Leave a Comment

I just read this wonderful article by Joyce Bone of MillionaireMomsBlog that I wanted to share with you.

Here’s the article:

Never Stop Hugging First

By joycebone

This morning my 6 year cried because he has a slight sunburn on one shoulder. This didn’t sit well with him. He wanted to know why the sun “bite him”? I scooped him up and we sat together on the couch. He snuggled up. I calmed him down and we sat arms around each other.

I thought after a minute he’d hop up and run off in a minute. Instead he just relaxed into me. Five minutes turned into thirty five minutes. The coffee I had just poured and left in the kitchen turned cold. I have a rule that I live by with my kids. I never stop hugging first. I wait for them to pull away. It’s an interesting exercise. Most of the time it’s a quick hug or kiss and they are outta there. Sometimes, like today, it becomes much more than that.

It was soon evident that my son wanted some one on one “mommy time”. I resisted the urge to let my mind race through the 100 different things I should be doing for work. I just sat with him and watched the world go by in the window. I saw a hawk flying gracefully overhead. I saw a Red Robin. I saw a baby woodpecker and a butterfly. I ran my fingers through my youngest hair and almost made him fall asleep.

He said two things to me during those thirty five minutes. “Mom, Why are the pyramids shaped the way they are?” (Answer is “they are triangular to look like the rays of the sun) and “Mom, I love you.”

Most of my friends are away on Spring Break this week. We stayed home this year. I thought back to our last family trip to Disney World. How much effort & money we spent to create a family bonding experience. The thirty five minutes I spent holding my youngest son was way better than Disney World!

Remember, never stop hugging first!

Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: family time, motherhood, parenting

Create a Fulfilling Week… and Life!

March 30, 2009 By Dr. Mom Online 1 Comment

I love the start of a new week… so much hope and anticipation!

I have a routine I go through each weekend that I’ve come to depend on for helping me create fulfilling days, and weeks… and life.

I plan.

I’m sure you’re thrilled by the excitement that “planning” stirs up on in your soul! Stay with me…

Each weekend (usually Sunday nights before bed) I sit down with my planner for a few minutes to lay out my upcoming week. I go into quite a bit of detail in my book “Nurtured” about this, so I’ll keep it real simple here.

The first thing I do when I’m looking at my upcoming week is to make sure I block off time for appointments and commitments that require a specifically scheduled time. E.g. an appointment with your favorite Chiropractor, a conference with your child’s teacher, a meeting, an event your child is participating in, and so on.

The very next thing I do is add my “Big Rocks” to the weekly schedule. Many of you are familiar with the ‘rocks in the jar’ analogy that author Steven Covey brought to life. Your ‘rocks’ are your most important priorities: your most significant priorities and roles in life. ‘Pebbles’ and ‘sand’ are less significant relationships and roles that still need to be in your jar to complete it.

The point is to place these rocks in your Jar of Life first before all the less significant things fill up your jar and you’re left wondering what happened to your week!

So who and what are most important to you? That’s the first thing to think about. Then, go out of your way to schedule these priorities… NOT prioritize your schedule. Big difference. Make your schedule revolve around the most important things in your life.

For example, in any given week, I intentionally carve out time for: my own morning rituals (spiritual/mental/emotional nurturing), dedicated time for my marriage; time to spend with the kids ONLY focusing on the kids and playing with them; a family ‘adventure’ or experience (could be as simple as going for a nature walk or renting a family movie and making popcorn); regular time to spend with my dad; time each day for exercise; time to write, and so on.

Notice, I don’t place things like laundry, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, answering emails, paying bills and running errands on this list! Those are the pebbles or sand that fill up the rest of your jar. That’s the stuff that works its way into our lives one way or another, whether we like it or not!

My point is to not let these types of things get in the way of nourishing your most important relationships and roles. Yes, they need to get done. There’s always something that needs to get done. But if that’s at the center of each day, each week… I think that’s how we end up feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, exhausted and unfulfilled. We’re not feeding our heart and soul.

We can end up toxic and deficient in this area of our life as well. In order to restore balance, we need to add purity and sufficiency to our life’s priorities! More time, more focus, more love…

You know the story – at the end of one’s life journey, it’s unlikely anyone is thinking, “Shoot, I really wish I would have spent more time watching television, surfing the internet and dusting my house!” Instead, the focus always comes back to what we love the most. What makes our hearts sing.

So why wait until the end of the journey? Anyway, who knows when the end of the journey will be! Make a commitment to plant those big rocks smack dab in the center of your schedule each and every week… and stick to that commitment.

Then, as you’re spending time with those big rocks, make sure you’re fully PRESENT… not just going through the motions so you can check this off your to-do list! No. Create the time in your life for these relationships and priorities AND fully nurture them in the moment.

I often ask myself, “Who am I BEING while I’m so busy DOING?” This is my own slip & check! If I don’t like the answer, I know I’ve forgotten about some big rocks. Time to re-focus.

So, this week, figure out who and what are most important to you… and get those in your schedule. It might only be a few minutes of purposeful, focused nurturing… but those can be precious moments. These are the ‘pearls’ of life. When you string together enough of these precious moments, you’ve created a beautiful strand of ‘pearls’ that is your very fulfilling life!

Have a great week!

Filed Under: A Healthy Mindset, Outlook and Attitude Tagged With: balance, happy life, stress management

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