Opportunities are Knocking on Our Doors

I am a visual learner.  I understand things I see.  When I was thinking about opportunities, I realized that people often have opportunities they choose to turn down.

I think of opportunities like great, big, brightly wrapped packages on each of our doorsteps.  Some people look out the door and say, "no thanks, not interested".  Others are worried that opportunities might be booby-trapped, or that they are on "Punked" or "Candid Camera" and are afraid to open the package.  Then there are those who say, "If I open this package, I have to reciprocate", so I would be better off letting it go to someone else.

Do you know your "go to" choice for new opportunities knocking at your door?  Here's an example, what do you say when you are given a compliment?  Is it, "please, don't" or "please don't stop (giving me compliments)", received with gratitude and appreciation, of course.  Being willing to receive is a skill and many of us have to practice it.

Start with role-play situations if you need practice, "Here, take this precious gift, I wanted to give it to you just because you are special".  If you are feeling uncomfortable or start looking around for the hidden cameras, you are going to need more practice.  Do you say or think, "No, that's too much" or "I haven't done enough to deserve it"?

All good feelings need to grow and expand.  If you can open your (imaginary) front door and say, "Wow, a big, bright opportunity was just delivered, where's that package opener we bought on that infomercial?"  Then you are heading in the right direction;)

Once you open the opportunity, you don't have to keep it to yourself.  You can share it, pass it on, or return to sender if it has negative connotations.  But knowing that we are taking the time to check it out is an important step in our growth.

Have a great day!

xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I choose to open the door to new opportunities.

Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.

"I Hope You Dance"

My nine-year-old niece and I were pondering life last weekend and she asked me what my favorite songs were.  Being the overachiever that I can be, I played them for her and discussed why they were my favorites.  One was "Seasons of Love" from Rent, which was expounded upon in a previous blog.

Another is "I Hope You Dance", because that is what I wish for you.  First of all, dancing just makes people happy, and happiness can be underrated in certain circles, for sure.  Secondly, the message is so beautiful it makes me cry.  "I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean"; I agree with a slight twist, I hope you are able to see the expansiveness of the ocean as your personal field of possibilites.

"May you never take one single breath for granted" allows us to stay in a state of gratitude.  A state of gratitude leads to wonderful choices.  Do you have missed opportunities in your past?  No judgment, of course, but if we can use our wisdom for good, we are already making progress.  

When I attended a friend's wedding, straight out of college, the group at each table had to sing a love song in order for the bride and groom to kiss.  We were one of the first groups to take the challenge, we had all been resident assistants so we were bold.  I had a layer of bravado but didn't have the best self-esteem at that time.

One of the group grabbed the microphone and said, "I'll lead us".  I thought, "you can do that"?  I thought we all had to politely offer the opportunity to everyone else before we took it for ourselves.  My current friends and I laugh because that is one of our favorite phrases now: "you can do that?".  So often, we restrict ourselves with our beliefs that possibilities are not available when they actually are........if you look up, down, and behind corners for them.

If you get the chance, try to figure out what is holding you back from dancing every dance, singing every song, and enjoying every opportunity you are able to access.  I'm not sure if my niece plans to ask me any questions in the near future.......I may have given her more information than she was looking for; but then we bonded over drawing our best smiley faces; hers are better than mine:)

Have a great day!

xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I hope you dance:)

Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.

Entitlement, to Me, Means Receiving Without Gratitude

(Warning:  controversial subject matter, approach with caution)

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the third definition of entitlement is

"Belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges"

A lot of people talk about the entitled younger generation.  I don't see it in a general way.  A friend of mine described being entitled as receiving without feeling genuinely grateful.  That makes more sense to me.  Many negative or misunderstood issues can be related back to a lack of gratitude.

Understanding how to enjoy plentiful things with the gratitude you feel for something precious is a skill.  We can learn to have a childlike wonder all over again, it only takes practice.   It can bring joy to an ordinary experience, and joy creates more joy.  There is a definite place I go to in my heart when I savor something and it comes with a feeling "ahh, that (sunset; ice cream; bike ride) was amazing, wasn't it??"  Savoring is key.  You can't savor something and take it for granted at the same time.

When my kids had those days that they didn't want to go to school, I told them about how school was a privilege of the chosen few before it was mandated for every child.  Information helps stories become relatable.  There was a time that not all children were allowed to go to school, we are so lucky that we have incredible schools to better ourselves.

A warm house, a dependable car, food when we are hungry; do these sound like answers in the game show $10,000 pyramid?  If yes, the category would have to be: "things that we are lucky to have but sometimes take for granted."  Yes, everyone takes things for granted, that's human nature.

For my toddlers, I used to wait until they said "thank you" to give them privileges, with unlimited reminders until it becomes routine.  With older kids, we move onto a depth of understanding of the choices in our incredible lives, this is a "first world issue" becomes a frequent topic in our home.  We all take things for granted, none of us is perfect.  We all have unlimited chances to make things better.

It is overwhelming to be responsible for another human being; add to that the need to pay the bills, cook dinner, carpool, and sleep and there's not a lot of time left over to share your wisdom.  Car time and dinner time can be the best places to share your thoughts in a relaxed manner.   

Knowing we are lucky enough to not have to worry about basic essentials becomes a safety net for us, allowing us to use our energies for the greater good.  Attaching gratitude changes the dynamic from being entitled to not taking things for granted.  Learning to be grateful for small things usually translates into learning to be grateful for all things.  I firmly believe most of us want to be grateful, given the time and opportunity to be thoughtful about it.  It's another issue where digging deeply and creating space gives us the chance to become more mindful of our blessings.

Have a wonderful day!

Xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I intend to be grateful for my basic needs being met.

Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.

Thank You, Mothers, For Providing Unconditional Love

People who grew up with it assume everyone did.  People who didn't grow up with it have no understanding of what it's like.  It costs nothing but it is the key ingredient for a person to live at her or his highest potential with ease and grace.

The most fortunate received it from both predominant caregivers.  The unlucky children didn't have it from either predominant caregiver.  It's a safety net for life.  It's creates the ability for someone to know that when all else fails, she is valuable because she is loved.  Sometimes, even though both caregivers were able to provide unconditional love, there is something inside of lost souls that can't accept it.  

I weep for the lost souls that have gone before us without fully understanding or embracing the concept of unconditional love.  Whitney Houston comes to mind, Cory Monteith (from "Glee") seemed to be another.  Ironically, they both sang of the concept of love and acceptance to help others. Cory's version of "I'll Stand by You" is on YouTube.  I was moved by it a few years before his premature death.  

Whitney Houston sings of the greatest love of all.  Love has to start within ourselves.  You have to love yourself before you can give someone else unconditional love.  If you didn't receive it as a child, know that the potential is part of us when we are born, we just have to remove the obstacles in our way.  We all deserve to be loved unconditionally.  It's our truth, we have to believe it.

Happy Mother's Day!!  Thank you to all of the moms that have giving their kids the luxury of unconditional love.  It is the greatest gift of all.

Have a wonderful day!!

Xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I am grateful to the people who love me unconditionally.

Mantra for Every Day: I choose to send love to all; receiving love back multiplied in infinite proportions, creating and nurturing pathways of love.