Marge Hicke

Let’s continue our exploration of Self Esteem.

We began with self acceptance. How did it go? With self acceptance we learn we can trust ourselves and follow our inner guide to make right decisions. I like to say: Live by your values; be clear, honest and direct.

Today we will look at what we expect from ourselves.
Set realistic dreams, and expectations
Explore the fine line between expecting too much and expecting too little
Break dreams and goals into doable steps

Check out the “fear factors”.
How do you feel about exploring NEW thoughts, behaviors, possibilities? About trying something you have never done before?
About being successful?

Breathe in possibilities;
Breathe out fears.
Picture yourself confident and excited.
Breathe in;
Breathe out.

Try something new; learn more about yourself. Take a risk and accept yourself!

After writing about self-acceptance as a step to high self esteem I had the opportunity to go deeper with my own self acceptance. I took a risk and was richly rewarded. Exploring self acceptance is much like peeling the onion—lots of layers to be explored!!!

Blessings,
Marge

Healthy self-esteem is not something that just happens. Work and practice are needed, especially practice.

Let’s begin with acceptance–and the most important person to accept is YOURSELF! The practice of today is to accept both your strengths and your weaknesses. Perfection is not the goal! You do not have to be perfect to be a good person or to be loveable.

Take action:
Make a list of strengthes and weaknesses
Take a deep breath in and out;
Breathe in acceptance of youself;
Breathe out the  gift you are to others

Practing self acceptance will:
Increase productivity
Decrease stress
Decrease depression
Open the door for possibilities

Breathe in acceptance; breathe out possibilities

The possibilities are the gift for the day.

Marge

Are you seeing stars?  I hope so. 

A couple of weeks ago I was blessed to visit the Anza Borrego Desert in California.  The desert itself  is fascinating. Its ever changing shapes and colors depend on the light and darkness of the day or night.  But the night produced a show!

Some of us stayed the night and when the others had gone home we walked away from all the lights and watched the show.  I haven’t seen stars like that in years.  Brilliant!  The milky way. The shooting stars. Quiet!

I thought about how most of us spend our days in the cities where the cloud cover and city lights make it difficult to see the splendor above us.  Much like the sameness of  our days often keep us from seeing the splendor of the people we care about.

It is worth a trip to the desert!  Take you friends or family or both.  Be amazed; be creative.  Instead of trying to get everyone to see this or that constellation–create  your own. Listen to what others see in the huge sky with its wonderous lights.

And take several deep breaths–in and out–and allow that energy to fill your being and give you life.

Marge

Relaxation Meditation is a tool with multiple benefits

It focuses on breath and imagination. Breath and imagination are always with us–no remembering where we put them, no having to buy them. They are free gifts!

Relaxation Meditation provides an opportunity to learn progressive relaxation, which can be used alone for stress relief and calming or with the meditation for relaxation, quieting of mind and body, reduction of anxiety and enjoyment.

Studies have shown that stress kills and that relaxing and imagining reduce stress. Studies have also shown that relaxing increases performance, in the home, in the workplace, at school, on the stage, on the playing field, in the car, etc.

Enjoy Relaxation Meditation and enjoy life!

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Autumn

One September, when Autumn officially arrived, I was fortunate to be in Tennessee, where I was privileged to watch the trees, one by one, don their garments of red and gold.  I was certainly in touch with how this season heralds transformation.

Unmistakably, Autumn offers the opportunity for change.  She heralds the beginning of the school year and opens the gates to the ending of the calendar year.  Before the season ends, we are presented with opportunities to celebrate 2005 and prepare for 2006. We, however, do not always welcome change.  Change is inevitable but often scary.  All in life is impermanent.  Some change is natural, like the seasons or moving from one place in the lifecycle to another (infancy to adolescence). Other changes are catastrophic, like the devastation from the hurricanes. But, as Autumn offers the opportunity for change, so does change offer the opportunity for growth and transformation within ourselves.

It is rare that change occurs in one grand leap.  Baby steps are more the norm. We often defeat ourselves if we attempt to change in giant steps or change too many things at once, because the effort or pain of letting go of what is known taxes our energy and can even be scary. The trick is to notice and celebrate each small change, for change is most often silent and subtle. And, once we have let go of old patterns, we find ourselves making friends with the unfamiliar—and even risking new adventures.  “Yet every movement in the symphony of our lives is both a challenge to give up the old—and an invitation to hear a new and exhilarating melody.” M.R. Scaperlanda