Wishful Thinking Works: Create the life you really want

The subtle changes in the weather delight me most.

Autumn has a way of making each of us imagine we are the first to notice the changes it brings, or that the awareness is a private joy, like a new love or a special gift just for us. We embrace the change, assuming no one has ever felt exactly like this before, or that we are special.

And, yet as the day unfolds we realize everyone is talking about the change in weather. We quickly come to understand that others are noticing the changes in the air, the dusty, drier scents and the way the light softens and takes on a golden hue, but instead of being disappointed that others are enjoying the same sensations we are – as we might feel while competing for the same person’s attention or the disappointment that the gift received was given to others, as well, – autumn has a way of making us excited that we will have others to celebrate with.

The change of season hold gifts for all of us.

Explore and enjoy all the ideas, tastes, and plans that pop-up in the weeks ahead. Eat the chili, bake the pie, watch the game, spend time strolling through the woods, or sitting by the fire, pick the apples, meander through the booths at the fairs, and take time to listen to the whispers of your heart that might have been drowned-out by the heat and activities of summer.

Now is it the time to take a deep breath, renew your spirit and follow the path that will light up your life.

The focus of Day 15 of Oprah and Deepak’s free 21 Day series on “Miraculous Relationships”, which I and many folks around the world are participating in is, “The world is my mirror.”

“We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.” – The Talmud

So true and sometimes such a bitter pill to swallow. Our lives truly reflect our souls. What we share in our relationships, we receive in return.

On a good day this is easy for me to accept, but on a bad day I seldom remember to ask myself, “How did I contribute to what is happening?” It takes courage and trust in ourselves to ask the tough questions. (I am not saying everything that happens to us is our fault, but I do believe being kind, loving, aware, and brave can the lessen the impact negative or trying events or people have on us.)

I also try to remember that interactions – loving or otherwise are all a gift. I admit that thought is not my first reaction when times or people seem to be tough or unfair, but it is part of my life now more than ever, which I believe is the result of reflection, meditation and gratitude and many other Wishful Thinking ways.

The benefits of mediation do not only occur as we are taking the time to focus inward, they flow into our everyday lives. I am much slower to blame, more understanding of myself and others, and less likely to judge myself or others as harshly as I did years ago as my awareness and peace increase. I am also better at celebrating my successes rather than allowing myself to wallow in my faults – and there are many, focusing on them could take up most of my day! :-)

My overall goal is to use the practices that bring me joy and peace and trust that the awareness and insight they offer will help me create the life I really want.

What practices make your life better? Are you happy with how the world is treating you and how your relationships are going?

If you are, make sure to celebrate your joy and growth. If not, no problem, there are so many ways to change what is in going on around you! Begin by believing things can change and then add meditation, practicing gratitude, or simply being kinder to yourself and others to your life. Read and use the hundreds of posts on Wishful Thinking Works and other blogs written to help you change your life for the better. There are more free resources available to you than ever before, take advantage of them.

You can do it.

Namaste.

Your life is your once in a lifetime opportunity; what you do with it is up to you.”

Patrice K. Robson

Yesterday’s meditation from Oprah and Deepak’s latest free 21-Day meditation series inspired me to write this post. I love their meditations, especially on the topic of gratitude.

I spend part of almost every day thinking about how gratitude impacts my life, reading about gratitude and its benefits, or savoring and capturing my gratitudes.

Do you have a regular gratitude practice – journal or otherwise? If not, research shows you are missing on out on a plethora of benefits!

Here are a just a few methods I have enjoyed using over the years. Match your practice to your personality – for me, switching up my methods keeps my practice going strong.

1. Gratitude journal – write 3 a day each morning or evening.
2. Penny in the jar – simply dropping a penny in a jar for every gratitude I took the time to savor that day – fun to see the pennies pile up – you will feel rich inside and out!
3. Tiny strips of paper in a jar – same idea as above, but fun to read later.
4. Gratitude chain – similar to a Christmas tree chain except I write a gratitude on each ring and watch my chain grow.
5. I also love doodling one to three-word gratitude descriptions in all sorts of configurations – up, down and all around – with glitter pens or colored pencils in a 6 x 8, 30 page sketch pad I carry around with me. Using glitter pens on heavy sketch paper delights me, and creates a book of sorts for me to review whenever I have a quiet moment, or life seems a bit much! It’s colorful, slightly artsy and always makes me smile.
6. Gratitude letter – 300 words of detailed thanks to someone in your life, who is special to you but you may not have taken the time to let them know – I love this method – good for everyone’s soul.
7. Write a simple, brief, and heartfelt email, text, message, card, etc. at least once a week thanking or complimenting someone one whose actions have touched your life and made it better. You can write to a friend, family, colleague, waitress, barista, bartender, company or customer service representative – get creative!  

No matter the method you use, always remember to savor your gratitudes, it is the savoring that changes your brain chemistry and lets your entire body benefit from the practice. Over time, you will feel a positive difference in your outlook and your life.

You can read more about gratitude, its benefits, and ideas for capturing its goodness by entering the word “gratitude” or “savor” in the search bar on the right.

“Your life is your once in a lifetime opportunity; what you do with it is up to you.”

Patrice K. Robson