By: Heather Blanchard
Last week I took a Zumba class outside, and though it was hot, we were all in high spirits to be able to dance together for a cause. The profits from this class were going to the children’s hospital, and in the midst of our sweat the instructor reminded us how lucky we were to be healthy and be there. So true. The sun was shining, the music was buzzing and the energy was contagious.
I recently saw this quote online:
“Gratitude Changes Everything: Instead of saying “I have to,” start your day with “I get to!”
“I get to exercise. I get to see my friends and family.
I get to tell someone I love them. I get to eat good food.
I get to work and earn money. I get to experience new things.
I get to make someone’s day better. It’s all about perspective.” ~ Unknown
Our words are powerful. Self-talk affects the way we feel about ourselves and can be powerfully positive or negative. It can affect our ability to charge forward or stay stagnant and permeate the way we move through our days. The words we say to others can lift them up or bring them down, and can certainly affect their days. But here’s the good news. We can rewire our brain to a half glass-full perspective by changing the way we view and say things. As the quote above says, and we’ve heard it a lot, “Gratitude changes everything.” Instead of complaining about what you have to do, be grateful for the abundance you have and the reasons for your work (your family) your chores (your home) your day (each day is a gift).
We’ve all spoken words we wish we could take back, and we’ve all heard words that negatively affected us. But the power of a pause – which we talk about often in yoga – can change how we react emotionally in the moment and affect what comes out of our mouth. We can choose to speak words of truth, love and kindness.
I found this paragraph on a blog from the editors of GOOP: (www.goop.com) “Words are extremely powerful tools that we can use to uplift our personal energy and improve our lives, though we’re often not conscious of the words we speak, read, and expose ourselves to. Yes, even the words of others can easily affect our personal vibration. Spend a few minutes with a chronic complainer who uses all sorts of negative terms, and you’ll feel your personal energy bottom out. Words have great power, so choose them (and your friends) wisely!”
It’s estimated that adults make over 30,000 decisions – whether conscious or unconscious – each day! Everything from what to wear to what to eat or where to go… AND what to say. So why not choose to start each day with “I get to?” Choose to spend time with those who lift you up, on things that lift you up and speak words that lift others up.
“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” ~ Rumi
XOXO, Heather
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