The Espirational theme for this month is A LIfe Well Lived. Please join me this month as we explore what it means to live well.
When many people think of a life well lived they think of a destination, where they will have acquired possessions, fame, accomplishments, power and money. I like to think of it more in terms of the journey and how we travel through this life.
What is most important to you, what you do or who you are? We live in a world where we are all about doing, accomplishing and acquiring. Life becomes so much about jobs, money, degrees, awards and possessions that we can forget who we are. When we forget who we are it is easy to get lost.
This world needs you. Your job needs you. Your family needs you. You were created in all your unique splendor for a purpose only you can fulfill.
When we focus on being the expression of the Divine that we are the doing will fall into place. As we walk in light, love, peace and joy we will discover what is ours to do in this world. We will begin to live a life of service to others.
Next time you find yourself overwhelmed by a frenzy of doing ask yourself these three things:
A life well lived isn’t about achieving or earning. A life well lived is being who you are and then doing what is yours to do to serve others.
We live in perilous times. We all need to show up. Not to run around doing a bunch of senseless things till we are exhausted. We all need to show up as the light that we are, and radiate that light of God out into the world.
“Everybody has a part of her body that she doesn’t like, but I’ve stopped complaining about mine because I don’t want to critique nature’s handiwork … My job is simply to allow the light to shine out of the masterpiece.” — Alfre Woodard, Actress, 65.
‘No matter what you’re going through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keep working towards it and you’ll find the positive side of things.” Demi Lovato
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/positive
Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.
–Desiderius Erasmus
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/light.html
“Each time a person passes by you and you say ‘hello’, imagine that person turning into a candle. The more positivity, love and light you reflect, the more light is mirrored your way. Sharing beautiful hellos is the quickest way to earn spiritual brownie points. You should start seeing hellos as small declarations of faith. Every time you say hello to a stranger, your heart acknowledges over and over again that we are all family.”
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
“Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world. Don’t let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all of your glory.”
― Jim Carrey
“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. “ — Alan Cohen
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/shine.html
Take time during the holiday to create a tangible reminder of the blessings in your life. A gratitude tree may be made using a tree branch you bring inside. Try to use a branch that that has fallen on it’s own. Write things you are grateful for on leaves cut from paper, create a hanger using yarn or string and hang from the branch. Or tie ribbons to a tree or branch.
You could also turn your Christmas tree into a gratitude tree. Or save a tree and tie your blessings to a live tree in your yard. You can add blessing as you think of them and see how they add up or create a special blessing ceremony with readings, songs, prayers, poems or other things you find meaningful.
Of course this is a good activity to use with children. But don’t we all need to stop and remember how blessed we truly are?
For more information on gratitude trees visit:
http://showmecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/10/gratitude-tree.html
https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/how-to-make-a-gratitude-tree
http://momitforward.com/gratitude-tree/
“Love is a spark of light.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!