It Isn’t Too Late!

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March. We’re entering the third month of the year.

By now you may be thinking that the resolutions you made and goals you set back in the early days of January are hopelessly lost. You haven’t thought of them in weeks or, if you have, you’ve thought of them with a heaping serving—or two—of guilt at how quickly you abandoned them.

It isn’t too late! You can press the reset button and start where you are.

Take a moment to review your resolutions and goals—especially in light of how the year is shaping up so far. Take your time with this. Sit quietly with it. Listen to your heart and soul. You will most likely find that you’ll need to put some goals and resolutions to the side; right now they aren’t as important to accomplish or you aren’t in a position to work on them.

Out of the goals and resolutions that are still important to you and you think you have a shot at accomplishing—or that you can make progress on them—listen closely because one will stand out to you. Make that one your top priority this month and focus on it. Don’t be surprised if it’s one that your logical mind tells you is really dopey and unimportant. Your heart and spirit know best so follow their counsel.

For instance, a friend of mine recently did this and the word “rest” kept popping up. She discounted it at first because there were other more important goals such as finding balance in her life between building up her business yet still spending time with family and friends. She decided to listen and follow her heart and soul and put more rest periods into each day.

She was surprised to find that these rest periods gave her clarity to identify customers that were unprofitable, which she gently dropped. This gave her a new burst of energy and creativity for her business. Also, during her daily rest periods she discovered that stepping back from activities she no longer enjoyed would give her the extra time she wanted to spend with her family and friends.

Of course my friend had to recommit daily to her rest periods because other things tugged at her. Yes, she felt guilty at taking the rest periods instead of working on “more important” goals. But she stuck with the rest periods and it paid off for her.

The same will happen for you. When you sit quietly with your resolutions and goals and listen with your heart and soul, you will find one that stands out. Make this your top priority in March and stick with it. As with my friend, you may find that you feel guilty or others pooh-pooh your choice, but it’s your life. You know what’s best for yourself so you get to make the choice and you get to stick to it!

It isn’t too late! Choose one goal and make it your top priority this month to work on it a little bit each day.

You can do it, I know you can!

Your friend and pep pal,

Lauren

Blessed by You

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I wish that today and all days, everyone you meet is blessed by you. Just by your twinkling eyes, your bright smile, your gentle touch, and by your sparkling presence. Thank you for letting these gifts overflow to bless those all around you!  ~paraphrased from Brother David Steindl-Rast’s writings

 

You ARE a blessing! Never EVER forget that!!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Trust Life

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When we find ourselves in the midst of difficulties, oftentimes we think it’s always going to be this way and nothing we do is going to change it.

We lose hope.

When we’re in this place of little to no hope, we don’t know how to help ourselves. We don’t know where to turn, what to do, who to reach out to.

This can be very painful. And scary.

But we can always turn to Mother Nature, who is always brimming with Life. Even in the most inhospitable of her environments, life is thriving. Not just one teeny organism hanging on by the skin of its teeth, but rather whole rich, diverse ecosystems thriving and flourishing in conditions that scientists thought nothing could survive.

Life wants to live. Life is built for success. Life is made for abundance.

Look around. We don’t see only one scrawny tree or one tiny bush. No. There are millions of trees and bushes and plants and flowers. All colors, shapes, sizes. Growing in cracks of rocks, on cliff edges, on wind-blown prairies. Animals, insects, raindrops, clouds, rivers…. You get the idea. Nature is all around us brimming with Life.

The next time you’re feeling stuck, unsure, and alone, turn to Mother Nature and Trust Life.

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

You’re Fine Just the Way You Are

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I’m a week late in honoring Mr. Roger’s birthday—he would have been 91 on the 20^th of March. He is best known for his gentle ways and his homespun wisdom. Sometimes now, and especially when he was alive, he is/was ridiculed for this. My thought is that some people make fun of his loving goodwill not because they think it’s stupid but rather because they’re desperate for that gracious acceptance and are terrified that it’s a sham, like so much else in this world.

I assure you that loving kindness is alive and well in this world. There are many people who are welcoming, friendly, and reaching out a hand to others. They are right in your community. In fact, you may be sitting next to them in school or at work. Like Mr. Rogers, they, too, like you just the way you are. You can be yourself, and that’s enough!

I like you just the way you are!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren (and Mr. Rogers!)

Just for Today….

 

Just for today, what if there is nothing wrong with you?

I challenge you this week, as I’m challenging myself, to live each day into the possibility that there is nothing wrong with you.

You are just right, exactly as you are.

What will you do that you haven’t allowed yourself to do because you thought there was something wrong with you? Now that you are just right exactly as you are, you can pursue that thing!

Good luck!

Have FUN!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

An Irish Blessing to Honor St. Patrick’s Day

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To honor St. Patrick’s Day, here is a blessing for luck, peace, and happiness (this blessing was originally posted on March 17, 2016):

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life’s passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

 

May the luck and the blessings of the Irish be with you this whole week through.

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

12 True Statements About You

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For this week’s mid-week boost, let’s remind ourselves of some of the many Truths about ourselves. Repeat these often to yourself:

I unconditionally, unshakably, totally, and completely love myself

I accept myself

I honor myself

I approve of myself

I respect myself

I protect myself

I take care of myself

I forgive myself

I appreciate myself

I am pleased with myself

I am a good person

I am happy to be me

 

You ROCK!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Counteract the Effects of Being Bullied Through Increasing Endorphins

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As we head into the new week, some of us may be worried about how to prepare ourselves for the bully in our workplaces. No matter how much we arrange our schedules to limit our contact with them, sometimes they seem like guided missiles locked onto us intent upon maximum damage and destruction. That statement may seem overly dramatic but when in day-to-day proximity of a bully, their tactics can feel like they’re aiming for total annihilation.

Naturally we should stand up for ourselves as best as we can, but don’t bother trying to change their mind about us and we shouldn’t think that we can show/prove that we’re capable, competent, and worthy of their respect. Their minds are closed and locked against us, so let’s not waste our time.

Instead, let’s concentrate on filling ourselves with endorphins. Our positive thoughts about ourselves and about our happiness, contentedness, and fulfillment from other aspects of our lives are our most potent weapons to counteract a bully’s attack.

Here are some ways to flood ourselves with endorphins in the midst of the workplace:

~in our mind, repeating positive statements about ourselves: I am capable; I am competent; I am doing good work, I am helpful to others; I am cheerful,; I am creative…

~pictures of our loved ones: recreate the happy feelings we had when the picture was taken…

~quietly listening to uplifting music…

~quietly listening to inspiring messages…

~connecting with nature: taking a short walk during the lunch hour, closely observing a small bouquet of flowers we give ourselves to have on our desk, gazing out the window for a few moments and watching the weather, the clouds, the trees swaying in the breeze, birds and wildlife moving around…

~reading poems or essays that create feelings of hope within us…

~reading a short passage from sacred writings…

These techniques are a few ways to remind ourselves that we are much more that our work. We have way more potential and opportunity that just what’s available through work. This can keep us hopeful and looking forward to the Goodness that’s awaiting us in the future!

The more we do these and other techniques to strengthen ourselves within, the less affected we’ll be by the bully’s attacks.

We can do it!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren

Thank You Friends and Loved Ones!

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As we craft soul-prospering lives for ourselves, we can go through challenging times, especially if we’re making seemingly drastic shifts and big changes. It can be very frightening to be out of our comfort zone. We can feel very alone and isolated.

Friends and loved ones to the rescue!

They hold our hand when we need it. They encourage us when we need a boost. They pick us up and dust us off when we fall. They cheer for us and celebrate us even when there seems to be no finish line in sight.

They like us and love us just the way we are.

Each one of our friends and loved ones adds a little something unique and special to our lives that without it, our lives would be so very different and diminished.

Thank you friends and loved ones! You ROCK!!!

Your Friend and Pep Pal,

Lauren