Perhaps Rethink Making That List of Naughty vs. Nice

If you are "making a list and checking it twice" to see if you deserve to be rewarded, it is a bad idea.  Once we ask forgiveness and make amends, we need to let go of our need to beat ourselves up.  I used to be an epic worrier, I can almost claim the distinction of being the biggest worrier known to man (and what a prize that would be).  When our children were little, we went to a water park with another family.  My son was eight years old and he was a good swimmer.  The adults watched along side a wave pool as the kids were having fun.  My son was the youngest of the group.  

Unbeknownst to me, the wave pool had the options of going side to side or back and forth; although my son was totally safe when it went back and forth, he lost his balance because he was surprised when it changed direction to go side to side.  I saw it, the lifeguard saw it, and the wave pool was stopped immediately.  Everything was fine, but my "woulda, shoulda, coulda" personality kicked into full gear.  

My son wasn't even afraid, until he saw my reaction and felt my fear.  As I thought about the opportunity for disaster, I was paralyzed by what might have happened.  When disaster strikes or almost strikes, sometimes we use it to expand on why we should be more careful; more diligent; more structured.  

It is difficult to enjoy the freedom of living our best lives if we are restricting our every move.  Learning our lessons means that we use the filter of wisdom as we move outward and forward on our paths.  If you have the tendency to beat yourself up, please understand that a negative self-talk does not serve the world and it does not serve you in any way, after you have asked forgiveness and made amends.

When we talk about the power of staying in the moment, part of that means if our energy is fractured with worry about the past and the future, we cannot use our full power now.  So we do our best, forgive while remembering the wisdom of each lesson, and take steps for a better future while allowing our full energy to stay in the present.  Life should not be a constant tally of what we could have done better or how we can do better in the future, because if we do that, we are missing the point of now.

Have a wonderful day!

xo

Conni

Today's Mantra:  I choose to learn my lessons and move forward without attachment to past mistakes.

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