REFLECTION - THE CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU GIVE
YOURSELF
For some years now I've made a habit of taking
time out from the frantic pre-Christmas craze
for some reflective moments that I use to ask
myself:
* How many of the hopes and dreams that I've
had for this year have actually come to pass?
* Which of the goals I had hoped to achieve am I
able to tick off my goals list?
* What did I do particularly well this year?
What can I be especially proud of?
* Which areas in my life need fine-tuning or
would benefit from greater balance?
* Which areas of my life require a radical
change?
Some years my achievement list is long and
satisfying, while in others the scales are
heavier on the balancing and changing side. Each
year, however, I make a point of finalising my
reflecting process with the creation of a list
of the things in my life for which I am
grateful. I find this exercise to be such a
grounding experience that I would like to
encourage you to consider doing the same.
FROM DISTRESS TO SUCCESS
As we are reflecting on the year that was, it
can be tempting to focus on the areas in which
we perhaps didn't achieve the desired outcomes,
maybe didn't progress as rapidly towards some
cherished goal as we would have liked - didn't
get the promotion, obtain the desired raise,
control an unhelpful habit, repair a damaged
relationship - and thus can easily get lost in
feelings of frustration, guilt, regret or
failure. Whilst it is important to
challenge ourselves as to why we didn't get to
where we wanted to go, it serves no purpose to
dwell on this but is much more useful to focus
on how we can do things differently in the
coming year so as to achieve a different
outcome. Whilst revisiting our year's successes
and recognising the areas that need improvement
is really important, the most important and best
foundation for next year's happiness and success
is a conscious awareness and appreciation for
all that is 'right' in our world.
THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE
How often do we consciously think about the
absolute privilege of:
* Possessing two seeing eyes - even if, sooner
or later, they require glasses in order to do
their job.
* Having two arms and two legs that perform the
functions our brain tells them to perform.
* Having medical care available for any of our
health concerns.
Did you know that if you woke up this morning
in good health rather than illness, you are more
blessed than the millions around the globe who
will not survive the week?
* Having a solid roof over our heads and
nourishing food in our tummies.
* Living in a free country where we don't have
to worry about having a gun put to our head for
declaring our stand on political or religious
issues.
Did you know that if you have food to eat,
clothes on your back, a roof over your head and
a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the
people in this world?
* Having access to good education.
* Having jobs that take care of our financial
needs.
Did you know that if you have money in the
bank or in your wallet, you are amongst the top
8% of the world's wealthy?
* Enjoying the capacity to think and reason.
* Possessing the ability to say 'yes' or 'no'.
* Being able to give and receive love.
Now, these are just the meager beginning of what
a Gratitude List could look like. Each one of us
will have many things to add that are specific
to us and our individual circumstances.
Did you know that if you give yourself the
gift of pondering upon these amazing privileges
you enjoy and if you are thankful for each and
every one of them, you are truly blessed because
the majority of people living in our environment
can, but most do not.
So, please don't let the simplicity or perceived
lack of time hinder you from making your very
own Gratitude List. It could be the most
important task you perform in 2006 and will
definitely be a wonderful foundation for
LIVING ON PURPOSE IN 2007
With this in mind, I'd like to wish you a very
happy, peaceful and memorable Christmas and a
New Year in which you will appreciate all that
is right in your world and be consciously
aware of making every moment count.
Many Christmas blessings,
Sonja
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
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THE WORKSHOPS WE WILL BE RUNNING IN 2007
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NEW BOOKLETS AVAILABLE NOW - in hardcover and
e-book format:
* Second Families - Second Chances
* You and Your Stepchildren
* The Ex-Factor
* Effective Discipline in Stepfamilies
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WORDS OF WISDOM
If the only prayer you said in your whole life
was 'thank you', that would suffice. (Meister
Eckhart) *****************
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like
wrapping a present and not giving it. (William
Arthur Ward) ****************
Appreciation of life itself, becoming suddenly
aware of the miracle of being alive on this
planet, can turn what we call ordinary life into
a miracle. We come awake to such a realization
when we recognize our connection to a spiritual
dimension. (Dan Wakefield) ****************
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CONTACT DETAILS:
Sonja Ridden
331 Mona Vale Road
Terrey Hills NSW 2084
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