Last week"s Journal Thursday was about writing about others who showed kindness to you. This week will be about your kindness toward others.
Think of 3 people on 3 different occasions where you acted in kindness toward them. These can be those you know or those you had (or have) never met. Journal about each of these experiences. Please limit these 3 entries to actions you took that had no ulterior motives attached.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Journal Thursday
Tis the season of giving, sharing and gratefulness. Many times we may find ourselves overlooking kindness done for us especially when we are in emotional or mental pain.
Take a moment and reflect back to 3 times when someone extended kindness to you...no matter how big or small. This could have been from a friend, family member, an acquaintance or complete stranger. Whether the person may or may not have had ulterior motives is irrelevant at this point. The emphasis is on an act of kindness...not reading into motives. If, however, ulterior motives would negatively affect your journaling, pick another act of kindness.
Now journal about what frame of mind you were in prior to each act of kindness. Then, journal about what you thought, how you felt and acted during and after these events.
May I encourage you to focus on what is kind, good, lovely, and admirable.
Take a moment and reflect back to 3 times when someone extended kindness to you...no matter how big or small. This could have been from a friend, family member, an acquaintance or complete stranger. Whether the person may or may not have had ulterior motives is irrelevant at this point. The emphasis is on an act of kindness...not reading into motives. If, however, ulterior motives would negatively affect your journaling, pick another act of kindness.
Now journal about what frame of mind you were in prior to each act of kindness. Then, journal about what you thought, how you felt and acted during and after these events.
May I encourage you to focus on what is kind, good, lovely, and admirable.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Got Bad Holiday Stress???
These are the days where holiday cheer can easily become holiday jeer!
You may have been hurt by others in the past with a miserable experience or this may be a time of feeling empty due to a loved one who has passed or a separation from a close friend or spouse due to a move, discontentment or a divorce. The need to be loved, respected and appreciated is always a plus as well as a need we all have and yet on these holiday times we are not in such a festive mood to receive them.
So how do we change this? Do we want things to be better? Do we want to feel better about ourselves? Even though we cannot change the past, we can change, with some help, encouragement and hope the present. How?
One way is to be for others what you seek for yourself. This is demonstrated by not expecting anything in return but to be a joy and encouragement to others...Some examples may be to send a personalized card, visit a retirement, nursing home, or an orphanage, or bake cookies or goodies for those who others may have "forgotten". Don't join any "pity" party...misery may love company but this is not for you.
You may have been hurt by others in the past with a miserable experience or this may be a time of feeling empty due to a loved one who has passed or a separation from a close friend or spouse due to a move, discontentment or a divorce. The need to be loved, respected and appreciated is always a plus as well as a need we all have and yet on these holiday times we are not in such a festive mood to receive them.
So how do we change this? Do we want things to be better? Do we want to feel better about ourselves? Even though we cannot change the past, we can change, with some help, encouragement and hope the present. How?
One way is to be for others what you seek for yourself. This is demonstrated by not expecting anything in return but to be a joy and encouragement to others...Some examples may be to send a personalized card, visit a retirement, nursing home, or an orphanage, or bake cookies or goodies for those who others may have "forgotten". Don't join any "pity" party...misery may love company but this is not for you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Got Good Holiday Stress???
Yeah...these are the days that fly by with a blur or a painful crawl. But can we make these feelings change for ourselves? Yes!
Stress can be good or bad depending on what it's about and your interpretation of it. Good? Yes! Say, for example, you are setting up a Christmas tree with all the lights and trimmings, or outdoor holiday lights and decor, or preparing a 5 course meal for a festive occasion for family and friends. It takes preparation, detailed work and timing and a bit of defining your space or menu, etc. You may think, "How will this look with this?", or "I wonder if grandma will like my new casserole dish?" or "Will Uncle Homer be offended by the Santa on the lawn?" or "Will all these lights blink the way they are suppose to?"or ???
Pace yourself for enjoyable memories that you can hold for you...savor the good times as well as embrace the trying times.
Stress can be good or bad depending on what it's about and your interpretation of it. Good? Yes! Say, for example, you are setting up a Christmas tree with all the lights and trimmings, or outdoor holiday lights and decor, or preparing a 5 course meal for a festive occasion for family and friends. It takes preparation, detailed work and timing and a bit of defining your space or menu, etc. You may think, "How will this look with this?", or "I wonder if grandma will like my new casserole dish?" or "Will Uncle Homer be offended by the Santa on the lawn?" or "Will all these lights blink the way they are suppose to?"or ???
Pace yourself for enjoyable memories that you can hold for you...savor the good times as well as embrace the trying times.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Journal Thursday
For today's journal entry, identify 3 traits you admire of 2-3 people in your life who are close to you. Take a moment and journal about each trait...what it is, what it means to you, and how it is demonstrated by these people. Then, consider a word of thanks to each of them for these traits. I believe it would be a blessing to them with a smile :).
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