Receive the gifts of the universe just for being you.
Look around today and be aware of all the beauty the world has to offer. Be amazed at the miracle of life, be awed at nature’s gifts, and be inspired by the sunshine, rain, snow or stars. Practice receiving the greatest gifts everyday with gratitude and grace and you will recognize and accept more freely the gifts of love, acceptance and opportunity as they become present in your life.
As the year comes to an end remember to reflect on all the joyous, wonderful, happy moments you experienced. Celebrate! We hope you experience more than you wish for in the coming year!
Happy Holidays from Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana.
If the only prayer you said was “Thank You” it would be enough.
As we head into the first celebration of the Holiday Swing Gratitude becomes the message given and received.
But the real question is how does gratitude help us? Why should this be a daily practice not only on the Thanksgiving Holiday but everyday throughout the year?
Let’s get scientific…
What does gratitude do to our body and mind? Easier done than said. Being grateful releases and changes “ your hormones, from oxytocin to cortisol, and your neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. Recent data suggests gratitude provides behavioral and psychological “glue”—oxytocin is associated with promoting the glue that connects adults in meaningful relationships. Not surprisingly, gratitude increases blood flow and activity in the hypothalamus, the master gland that controls hormones.” Dr Sara Gotfried MD
So your daily task today is to be Grateful. Mentally take count of the things that happen today that you are grateful for. Why not it is good for your brain, your body and your Mental Health 🙂
Reference: Zahn, R., et al. “The neural basis of human social values: evidence from functional MRI.” Cerebral Cortex 19, no. 2 (2009): 276-283.
“Doing something for yourself is not self-indulgence it is self-respect.”
As we enter into the Holiday Season remember to take time and do something for yourself daily. Every day take time to focus on your health, your home, your relationships or just something you love to do. Doing this becomes most important during this time of the year when we get swept up into the Holiday bustle.
So as you begin to ramp up for all the Holiday extravaganza set yourself as a priority. Carve out some time during your daily tasks where your well-being is the main goal of what needs be completed. Do this every day. Remember the way you treat yourself will affect every part of your life starting with your health, leading to your relationship all the down to how you will enjoy this Holiday Season.
Take care of yourself it is the most important thing you can do today.
Daily Thought
When adversity hits, and it will, develop a plan to move through it. This will help to maintain forward momentum vs. giving up and getting stuck, or becoming devastated and defeated. Think of what is the worst thing that can happen? Then think of all the ways you can to support yourself through the toughest time imaginable. There is always a way to make things better.
Daily Practice
Think of your biggest fears? Are they tangible or buried in your mind? What is holding you back from living your life to the fullest? Now develop a plan to move forward by creating support that will keep you from experiencing what you are afraid of.
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
Daily Thought
Remember to always search and focus on the positive side to any situation you are encountering. Remember there is always a positive side. It is natural in the moments of a huge upset all you can see is the downside. But never forget there are two side to everything we encounter. It just depends on what you put your attention to.
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Keep your mind focused on the benefits you are striving to achieve with every step you make forward. Do not let little setbacks distract you from focusing on what you set to achieve. Visualize what the end goal is. Re-evaluate your steps and re-implement some of them if you need to. But make sure you are focusing on what you want not on what is distracting you from achieving it.
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
Daily Thought
It is natural that when things change we will go through a transition period. And depending on the type of transition we are going through will affect the length and emotional reaction to the transition. Understanding that transitions are a part of life’s journey will help prepare you for transitional moments of uncertainty and instability. Remember no matter how difficult the moments appear you always have control over what you focus on.
Daily Practice
Practice focusing on your intentions today. Continuously say a positive mantra that supports you and gives you comfort. Make a list of inspirational people or books that you can go to. These coping resources will help you when transitions occur. Practicing coping skills when there is no need for them makes them readily and easily available to implement when life’s road gets a little bumpy.
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
Daily Thought
When you are setting goals make sure you are clear and specific in what you are looking to achieve. By stating that you want to be happy, have more money, be independent are all illusive general goals. Define and be specific about what those general terms mean. Will you be happy if you enter into a healthy relationship? If you make an additional $10,000? Or if you can buy a car? If you make your intentions clear and specific you will achieve them.
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Think of the goals you have set to achieve. Do they need to be made clearer? Think of every single detail about the end goal. Colors, shapes, how you would interact with the goal. What does your end goal look like? The more you can see what you are trying to achieve the better ability your mind has to develop and act on ways to create it. Don’t be afraid to dream big and never give up!
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
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Take each new day as an opportunity to learn something new. Challenge yourself. Learn to become comfortable with the unknown by looking at it as a chance to grow. Not only will this keep you moving forward toward achieving things you never thought possible it will also help keep you young.
Daily Practice
Challenge yourself today by trying or learning something new. It can be as simple as learning a new word to as challenge as training to run a marathon. Put this practice on repeat and make sure to incorporate into your daily routine.
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
Daily Thought
When you look back at past experiences make sure you are focusing on the wins, the overcoming and the achievements. Don’t focus on what should have been, could have been or the what if? Focus on the positive aspects of you and your life will only grow more of the same. Be strong and support the best you to continue to be better and better.
Daily Practice
Write yourself a small note of congratulations for all you have accomplished. Write it as if it is to someone you are really proud of and inspired by. Write as many details as possible describing what characteristics you see as impressive and awesome! Now read it back to yourself. Save it and read it over and over and over until you can believe it is you.
Have a Great Day and Believe in Yourself!
