Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts

Thursday, September 7, 2017

A Tribute to Louise Hay and Thoughts of Change

A couple of days ago I learned that my favorite self help author, Louise Hay, died peacefully at the age of 90 on August 30.



I have given away more of her book, "You Can Heal Your Life" to my friends, relatives and clients than I can count. I give it away, buy a new one, and then give it away again. It is the book that I credit with helping me change my life from a life of misery to a more empowered and joyful version of myself that I now enjoy.

I can't even count how many times I read her book over and over and over again. The first time I read it I could hardly believe some of the words which jumped off the page and slapped me in the face. I became such an advocate for the words on the pages of that book that anytime someone around me was sick, I would run to the book to find the emotional trigger and find the positive affirmation to turn it around. Everytime I got a bladder infection (once a month or so at the time), I would go within to see who I was pissed off at (always the same person). However, she helped me realize it was not that person's fault that I was pissed off. It was my choice to be angry and to internalize that anger until it affected my health.

Some claim that to say that our conditions in life are a direct result of our thinking is not possible. What about those who are born into poverty or with a deadly illness? How can we say we are responsible for everything that happens to us in our lives? I can't say for sure that 100 percent of our issues are self generated, but our thinking and our emotions are responsible for many illnesses and problems. For myself, when I began to take responsibility for my thinking and my emotions, many of my physical issues have disappeared. (yes,  no more bladder infections!)

I will have to offset the claim of belief generated illnesses with a disclaimer that, yes, sometimes, shit just happens. I think we as Souls choose certain experiences to help our Souls evolve and what better way to grow a strong soul than to go through a challenge of some sort. Kind of like weight lifting for the Soul. But who is to say that our Soul on some higher plane of existence did not set it up? Or maybe our Soul chose it to help someone else grow their soul? Who knows. These days I am not so much about why did it happen as what was my reaction to what happened and how can I get through this with a good attitude? And yes, I am still working on this. I still sometimes get angry while driving or while standing in a long line. I am a perfect combination of the best and worst versions of myself. Instead of asking myself, what belief created this challenge, I ask, what can I do to make myself feel better? Louise's postive affirmations always do the trick.

I guess it is not surprising that her message was not readily supported by the press. It is so easy to blame something outside of ourselves for our problems. One of the favorite scapegoats is the devil in many of the churches I attended. "The devil made me do it" was a popular catch phrase a few years ago. Although I have left behind the thoughts of a devil whose main objective is to make our lives a living hell, apparently many still hold to that belief. To my relief when I left behind that belief, I ceased to run into the devil much.

What can I say about a woman who loved so much and made such a contribution to the lives of so many? Thank you seems like such a small token.

Can you think of one person who maybe said one thing that completely changed your thought processes and began the road to a completely different version of yourself? For me that was Louise Hay. Maybe you don't hold to the belief that your thoughts and emotions affect your health to the degree that Louise Hay claimed. That is fine. Her loving affirmations could do no possible harm. Now I don't claim to advocate refusing medical treatment or professional help when you have a life threatening illness or issue, but I do advocate suplementing your care with positive affirmations and happy thoughts!

When we empower ourselves we empower our children, we empower the people in our lives who we call friends, lovers, relatives, co workers, or even just someone we are friends with on Facebook or Twitter. If we affect even one person to make a change in their lives that then affects everyone they are connected to, think of the changes that happen.

Just for today, take one of Louise's affirmations and say it at least ten times and see if you don't feel better. Here are a few:

"I love and approve of myself."
"I am open and receptive to change,"
"Every thought we think is creating our future."
"My happy thoughts help create my healthy body."

If we feel better, we will feel healthier. If we feel good, we will be able to handle crisis in a more positive and loving way. Maybe your illnesses and problems will go away on their own and maybe they won't. But you may feel more peaceful and loving going through your difficult times. What could be wrong with that?

Thanks Louise Hay. Rest in peace.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/obituaries/louise-hay-dead-widely-read-self-help-author.html?mcubz=1

http://www.hayhouse.com/



Wednesday, September 24, 2014

All We Need is Love..

Ever have one of those days, or weeks, or months, where nothing you planned turned out the way you wanted it to? It seemed like it was hard to get up in the morning, you drug through your day, forced yourself to do those things that were necessary? Everything you tried to accomplish seemed just beyond your reach?

I can't really say every day this month has been this way, but let's just say that there have been a few difficult days. Getting up at 5 a.m. just has seemed to be harder than usual. I force myself outside to run. Sometimes getting things accomplished has been like pulling teeth.

This morning I got up and it just seemed like I could not wake up. I drug myself into the bathroom to get ready for work, and my mind was just REALLY complaining. My warm bed kept calling me to come back come back!!

I am one of those proponents for what you think in your heart, that is what you create in your life. At first my mind was too groggy to start this early creating anything, but my spirit was wide awake, and began to call my mind to come into line!

Okay, Joy, I began to quietly talk to myself, it is only your mind who doesn't like getting up this early. You begin to think and believe that you enjoy getting up, that you are happy to do it! That you LOVE getting up to go to work.

Immediately my mind came into line!

I created in my mind the intention that I enjoyed getting up to go to work! I began to feel better!

When I set my intention that I loved to get up and that it was not a hard thing to do, but I really LOVED it, my attitude immediately changed!

It was then that Spirit prompted me that my assignment today was to send love to anything and everything that came to my mind or that came across my path. I sent love to my warm bed and that sweet man that lay sleeping in it. That was easy.

Then I sent love to my soul. Then to my toothbrush. Throughout the day, I would remember and once again send love... to the mail I was weighing, to the computer, even to the trash can. To the floor under my feet. To the air I was breathing. To all the people who touch my life, whether on purpose or by default.

I have often said that every thought you think is a prayer. My question for you today is, what are you praying for?

When we spend our time sending love to all those who come across our path, whether they be loved ones or challenging ones, whether they be human or plant or animal or even non-breathing, then love cannot help but come back to us multiplied! 

Do not send love with the intention of getting something in return! Just send love with the intention of sending love for love's sake! Go throughout your day, enjoying each moment, whether you are doing something that is easy to love or whether you are choosing to love what you are doing, your mind does not know the difference! 

You will be amazed at how differently your day unfolds!

Just for today, send love! Send love intentionally, and send it arbitrarily. Remember also to send love to yourself! If you want love, then BE LOVE.

And love is all there is anyway.