Category Archives: gratitude

What’s the difference between SURVIVING and THRIVING?

Blog, Domestic Violence, energy, gratitude, life, women

What is the difference between SURVIVING and THRIVING? Which do YOU choose?

“It's not about surviving, it's about THRIVING!”TO SURVIVE:

  • To remain alive or in existence.
  • To carry on despite hardships or trauma.
  • To remain functional or usable.
  • To cope.

TO THRIVE:

  • To grow strongly and vigorously.
  • To do well/prosper.
  • To flourish.

What can we do to begin to thrive?  Be specific.

  • Make sure you get enough sleep.
  • Eat well.
  • Exercise.
  • Learn healthy ways of managing stress and anxiety.
  • Seek support (social and professional services, resources and materials).
  • Avoid intake of alcohol or other drugs.
  • Regularly go to a doctor for a check-up.
  • Make sure you correctly take your prescription medication.
  • Set aside time during the day for self-care, including finding and enjoying positive emotion, keeping company with yourself, enjoying the company of others important to you, being part of something larger than yourself, and identifying which goals are most important to you.

Are you ready to THRIVE is your life?  Our Live A Brighter Life online workshop series is completely FREE, and it can be anonymous if you need to attend privately.  It’s worth every minute!

Join us this summer for our 6-week Live A Brighter Life Online weekly workshop series starting Thursday, June 30th.  It’s that easy.  Click here for all of the details and a way to sign up.

With Love & Light,

Team ILF

What IS self-care?

Blog, Domestic Violence, energy, gratitude, life, women

self-careSELF-CARE is personal, physical, and mental health maintenance.  It is any activity of an individual, family, or community with the intention of improving or restoring health, or treating or preventing disease.  It is about taking the time out to restore oneself.

As women, (and especially as mothers), we are often taught to take care of everyone but ourselves.  Our lives are full, the needs of others are many; the result is that we tap our energy stores to serve others until we are literally bankrupt – physically, emotionally, and psychologically.

Here are some ways you might find relief:

  • Take a walk.
  • Read.
  • Take a bath.
  • Read a story to my children.
  • Watch a funny movie.
  • Work in my garden.
  • Exercise.
  • Become active in my community.

If you are struggling with taking care of yourself, and unable to get motivated, please let us help you.  Our Live A Brighter Life online workshop series is completely FREE, and it can be anonymous if you need to attend privately.  It’s worth every minute!  Isn’t it time to THRIVE is life, and not just SURVIVE?

Join us this summer for our 6-week Live A Brighter Life Online weekly workshop series starting Thursday, June 30th.  It’s that easy.  Click here for all of the details and a way to sign up.

With Love & Light,

Team ILF

A Peek into my Gratitude process

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I have used the MOLESKIN 12-pack calendar this whole year to make it easy for me to record the things that I am grateful for at the end of each day.

These little books are small enough to travel with and IF it gets lost I am only losing about 1 month’s worth of items. I TRY to keep my nightstand clean ( Ahem.. I cleaned it up for the photo!) and I see the small book right there and I remember to put something in.

Here is a sample of some of the things I have been grateful for this year:

Jan 2nd 2010

  • Rolled down a HILL for first time in 30 years
  • Played Wii with Mo John and had tones of fun

April 7th 2010

  • Buddha story on PBS left me feeling so peaceful. I meditated before I went to sleep.

July 7th 2010

  • Did my first Energy Forum class. I am so happy to share this work.

September 19th 2010

  • Lovely day to “fight” away “poor me” thoughts.
  • Nice dinner with Anita and wonderful chat with Racha
  • Grateful for secure home, alarm system, Wolf, Andrea Lee, new client.

So as you can see, I don’t have to write long epistles of gratitude. And guess what… just rereading those few random entries brought a smile to my face and heart.

Here are some other ideas for starting a Gratitude practice  or refining one already in place:

  • Hope that you find some joy and spaciousness with your gratitude practice: Moleskine 2011 12 Month Color A Month Daily Planner
  • Online: Search for “Gratitude Journal app”, several are available under itunes/appstore for iPhone, iTouch, and iPad.  They are also available for Android based smartphones, search for “Gratitude Journal for Android”.

Love and Light,

Indrani