"I found myself at a difficult place in my life at as I looked forward into 2011 and I became determined to do something about it.  I decided that balance, inside and out, was key to improving my life.  I increased my 2-3 time a week yoga practice to 5-6 times, I took a meditation class and traded a daily relaxation and visualization routine into a morning meditation practice and I found the following list of 12 things one can do to bring balance and self awareness into your life:

 

Have a Mantra ... A mantra is the fain focus of mediation a word or phrase that you use to center your ind, bringing calmness to the body and assist with concentration.  Use whatever word or phrase that brings you to meditation, and use ti throughout the day to gain more control and feel calmer.

 

Maintain Rituals ... A routine is something you do habitually, like drinking a cup of coffee in the mornings or sitting quietly in your favorite chair or writing in your journal.  Ritual or routine keeps your emotions in check., and conveys the balance on a regular basis.

 

Do One Thing at a Time ... We become experts with multi tasking these days.  Try to do just one thing at a time.  Carefully pay attention to what you are doing, and where you are at the moment.  When you feel panic, ask yourself what one task has to be done first.

 

Just Say Thank You ... Keep a gratitude Journal that will give you better self esteem, more energy and help you feel more alert.  Write down three things that you are grateful for every day, and make it a habit to say thank you to someone you admire, love or has done you a favor.

 

Practice Acceptance March ... Acceptance means peace, and also means you are willing to face things without reacting, blaming or getting angry.  When you feel annoyed or irritated, try to connect with yourself and the the other person.  Practice acceptance to feel calmer and use positive thinking to replace agitation.

 

Do Something for Others ... Kindness acts give us a deep feeling of purpose.  When you do something nice for another, you have a sense of connecting with the person and it does wonders for the mind.

 

Do Something for Yourself ... You will not be able to take care of anyone or anything else in your life if you’re burned our or rung down.  Have at least 15 minutes every day do something pleasurable just for yourself.

 

Learn to Say No ... It is challenging to say no on the spot.  If you have a hard time saying no, then just tell them the famous phrase the we’ve heard al the time: “Let me get back to you.” 

 

Tune Into Nature ... Spend Time listening to the sounds of nature, birds singing, leaves rushing, rain drops, ocean waves, wind blowing to filter out the noises of modern life.

 

Visualize Beauty ... Let your mind go, and visualize a beautiful picture you have seen or been at.   Concentrate on the beauty of the world to center your thoughts, and feelings.

 

Clean up your Surroundings ... Simply your desk, kitchen counters or any other spot in the house that collects clutter.  You will have more time to do what you love and less stress if you are not overwhelmed by environment.

 

Learn Something New ... There is so much to learn every day.  Find somethings is not familiar to ou and learn about it.  You never know what you might discover.

 

Some have been very easy for me, some have not.  {I'm not looking forward to Do Something for Yourself.}  All have helped me.  I choose the months focus as the month arrives based on what I feel will benefit me most based on where I am at that moment in time.  As you can see, July is Do Something For Others.  I resumed fostering dogs and I am adopting a bird but I still find myself at a loss and I feel as if this task has not been done well.  I feel your Smile Deck can contribute greatly to my quest for the tools to bring and keep balance in my life."

 

What a joy (and privilege!) to ship Smile Decks to such beautiful spirits.