Staying Focused on the Positive in Tough Times

Winding Road Ahead

 

 

 

Think about it. . .

 

When in your life have you felt the most:

Confident        Energized         Creative          Challenged               Focused               

Positive           In Control        Motivated        Productive               Interested

Forward Thinking   ?????

 

 

When in your life have you felt the most:

Overwhelmed            Hopeless             Depleted                Negative             Scattered

Disinterested              Stuck                  Helpless                 Bored                 Unmotivated

Non-productive    ?????

 

How can you create more of the first set of feelings even when things are not as you had planned?  If we focus on and practice the kinds of things that bring the positive feelings, do we not create more of those good feelings?

 

When we focus on our strengths, and take action to use them, do we not expand those strengths and the positive feelings that go along with them?

 

 A Precious Human Life by the Dalai Lama is something I will read over and paste up at work to remind myself to focus on the life I have and all the wonderful opportunites I have each day to enjoy it.

 

Today I am fortunate to have woken up.
I am alive; I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.
 
I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,
To expand my heart out to others,
To achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
 
I am going to have kind thoughts towards others.
I am not going to get angry,
Or think badly about others.
I am going to benefit others as much as I can.

                                  —Dalai Lama

 Gail Brokaw

http://www.embracethepossibility.org/Newsletters.html

 

 

 

 

 

Peace

Here are some wonderful ways to celebrate and encourage peace in our lives.

May 2009 bring more Peace, Joy, and Understanding into all our lives.

Peace symbol created by Gerald Holtom 1958

iPeace Day – 31 December 2008
Sharing Peace – Making A Difference
http://www.ipeace.me

Think in the positive = create peacefulness
Dedicate yourself to sharing your peace – ‘infect’ peace around you.
Write a poem for peace
Make a video. Post a video
Organize a concert for peace
Surprise others with random acts of kindness
Play music in the streets for peace
Plant a tree
Blog or write an article
Speak softly, breathe deeply, observe everything
Organize a gathering
Light a candle
Teach peace
Organize iPeace Day events in your campus
Meditate
Run for Peace. Walk for peace.
Slow down and appreciate little moments.
Organize a game or a match for peace (any sport)
Have peace dinner with friends (or with strangers)
Do anything that will express peace – for you.
Live without fear
Get kids involved
Donate to an organization dedicated to creating equality, peace, knowledge, understanding, and sharing.

What can you think of doing? 

Expand Peace

Gail Brokaw, MA, CC

http://www.embracethepossibility.org

The Times They Are a Changing

The old message The Times They Are a Changing rings so true today.  Democrats and Republicans, Obama and McCain, Biden and Palin are all talking a good talk about making changes.  And lord knows we certainly need to make changes in this society whether it is in our politics, our global environment, our education system, our healthcare system or individual rights.  This song sung by Peter, Paul and Mary from the past is as relevant as it was when it was first produced and gives me goose bumps just listening to the strength and passion in their voices.  This is one way that they try to inspire others to make positive changes in our world.  It reminds me that I need to continue in my own way to make changes as an individual to make my little corner of the world a better place.  It’s not always an easy task, but it’s something I’m committed to.  We can hope that our political leaders will make good choices that will affect appropriate change, but it’s really up to each one of us to make some change, in whatever way we can, at the individual level to make our world a better place. 

Simple everyday ways to make change are there at your fingertips. 

Support a friend or coworker that needs encouragement.
Make your employer aware of areas that need improvement and do what you can to bring about that needed change.
Do what you can to make your home more environmentally friendly.
Get involved in local politics.
Help build or improve community resources.
Create artwork or music to open people’s minds and start a new thought process.
Educate your children to think creatively to solve problems rather than just wait for adults to give them the answers.

What else can you think of that might inspire the rest of us to take action to create positive change in our lives and in our community?

http://www.wecansolveit.org/    We Can Solve the Environmental Problems

http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html   October 25 is Make a Difference Day

http://www.voa.org/   Volunteers of America

Gail Brokaw
http://www.embracethepossibility.org
You CAN make the change you want in your life!

Sacred Life Sunday – Mother and daughters

Precious Time Together

Today I am bouncing back and forth between two books and finding similarities in both, written by women of two different ages.  One writer is in her thirties (like my daughters) , the other in her sixties (like me), and both are trying to regain balance and meaning in their lives.  I’m finding more similarities between these two time periods in a woman’s life than I had previously thought.  It seems many women in their thirties are beginning to look at their lives from a new vantage point and wondering if they are on the right path.  Some are wondering how they can redesign their current life to ensure they have enough time and energy left over for that which is most important to them.  It seems to be a time of reexamining everything they have believed in and realizing that time is not infinite.  If they want to arrive at their targeted destination, they’d better make a plan and get going.  Then again in our sixties, I hear many women, including myself, wanting to reexamine our expectations for our life and take time to recreate the life we want in the time we have left.  We both want to continue to experience growth, creativity, relationships, and a sense of contributing, as well as making time for reflection and rejuvenation.  Both the thirties and the sixties are a time for questioning, reviewing and committing to making changes that will serve us best in the years to come.  Mothers and daughters in these age ranges are really not so different; we just have different time lines and energy levels.  (Amen to that one!)  We both want meaningful, successful (however each individual defines that for themselves), and happy years to look forward to, as well as to look back on.

I have had a couple of great days spending time with my two daughters.  We three don’t get to be together at the same time nearly enough.  Heather lives in Maryland and Julia and I in California two hours apart.  I love the precious time I have with the two of them separate and together.  Heather was here in California for a conference in San Francisco.  She is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and a mother of three little ones.  She and her husband do a great job of juggling work and family.  I’m constantly amazed and I know it isn’t easy.   Julia is a singer songwriter and marketing consultant.  She and her partner live in a quiet community in Sonoma County and are involved in music and the theater. I am so proud of all of them.  And I am so thankful for such talented souls in my family that contribute in such a positive way to this world. (And did I mention my grandson, 5 years old, wants to be heart surgeon?  And my granddaughters, age 4, a pony doctor and ballerina?  Look out world, more good stuff coming your way!) 

My daughters and I spent a day together at the beach this week.  We had a picnic of smoked salmon and tuna, cheese, french bread, raw veggies and wine.  What a life!  That kind of food on a sunny, breezy day at the beach with my daughters is the best!  The sea air, the sounds of seagulls and children at the beach in the background made a wonderful backdrop for our conversations.  I wish you all the same kind of day with your someone special.

Gail Brokaw
http://www.embracethepossibility.org
You CAN create the change you want in your life!

Dreams

Emerging From the Fire

Several years ago I took a pottery class and from a basic assignment, this piece emerged from my clay; a waking dream of sorts.  At first I was bothered by what I had created but later realized that it was my subconsious giving form to my rebirth as a woman in my 30’s.  Being born the first time is hard labor for both mother and baby, but as we rebirth ourselves throughout our life it tends to be more of a spiritual and emotional experience.  It can be exciting, difficult, easy, educational, empowering and humbling.  But, it’s all good as we dream, change, and grow. 

One of the feelings I’m experiencing lately is to get back to my creative outlets whether it be pottery, painting, drawing or quilting.  I think I’ll meditate on that one and create more time for myself to let the unconscious speak to me again.

                                            How about you? 

Gail Brokaw, MA, CC

Certified Life Coach

http://www.embracethepossibility.org