Just be there..

"Sometimes we need someone to simply be there, not to fix anything, or to do anything in particular, but just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported."

- Unknown

Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

A little pain...

everybody wants happiness
nobody wants pain
but you can't have a rainbow
without a little rain

 - Unknown

I admit it. I only want happiness ;) I guess we have to find a way to accept the stuff we don't want. That's life and there's no way to fight it. Just sayin'

Blessings,

Chatgirl

It's all okay...

"Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come."

- Unknown

Is it just me, or does that kinda make yah feel better about your life. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Determination...

"A determined mind and a strong will bear endless possibilities."

- Unknown

Many helping professionals focus on our thinking. They say, if we tell ourselves, "nothing is going to stand in the way of me and the life I want," the odds will be in our favour! Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

The big picture...

We so badly want things to happen, like yesterday, Lol ;) Waiting can be painful and anxiety causing, especially with the unknown looming large. But in the end, most things are a process and they take as long as they take; getting a degree, looking for, or changing jobs, finding that perfect partner, raising children, getting in shape, losing weight, finding a new home, saving money, paying off debts, starting a new business etc.. It seems the best and most important things in life take patience and perseverance. They're usually worth the wait too! Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Perfection...

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."

- Salvador Dali

A lot of cliche sayings come to mind, like "It's all about the journey, not the destination or final result." I don't remember who coined the statistic around 10,000 hours and the highest level of proficiency, but keeping all of this in mind, we should seriously cut ourselves some slack when we "mess up" or when something isn't "good enough." Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Effortlessness...

The nature of Grace is effortless ease. It has a natural flow, just as a river flows easily over and around smooth stones with no need to fight, resist or remove the obstacles.

Are you trying to force or control something? Are you making an effort to put a square peg into a round hole. Are you trying to make things work in a particular way?

Just step back, breathe, and open up to other possibilities. Give up the notion that things have to be done in a fixed way and stop making an effort. Relax and trust that there is an effortless, guided way - maybe one you haven't yet thought of. Ask Grace for it to be revealed.

 - Compliments of The Journey Cards

Letting go and "surrendering" may be one of the toughest things in the world to do. Feels freeing though. Just sayin' :) Hugs

Blessings,

Chatgirl

You are significant...

"I hope you know you're capable & brave & significant. Even when if feels like you're not."

- Unknown

Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

A wee bit of me time...

"Slow down.
 Calm down.
 Don't worry.
 Don't hurry.
 Trust the process."

- Alexandra Stoddard, author of Living a Beautiful Life, Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life and Happiness For Two: 75 Secrets for Finding More Joy Together.

I was listening to a radio show today and each of the three panelists agreed that stress is pretty much a constant these days. The consensus was this; take little mental health breaks at least once a day to preserve sanity. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Break free...

"Nothing holds you back more than your own insecurities."

- Unknown

So, what's the fix??

"The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire and not the things we fear."

- Brian Tracy

I think this may be like exercise...  requiring practice, discipline and commitment. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

What are we telling ourselves? ...

What world you end up living in depends at least in part on your use of language.

Do you want to move and breathe amidst infertile chaos where nothing makes sense and no one really  loves anyone? Then speak with unconscious carelessness, expressing yourself lazily. Constantly materialize and entertain angry thoughts in the privacy of your own imagination, beaming silent curses out into eternity.

Or would you prefer to live in a realm that's rich with fluid epiphanies and intriguing coincidences and mysterious harmonies? Then be discerning and inventive in how you speak, primed to name the unexpected codes that are always being born right in front of your eyes. Turn your imagination into an ebullient laboratory where the somethings you create out of nothings are tinctures with the secret light you see in your dreams of invisible fire.

- Compliments of Rob Brezny

Very poetic and profound indeed. Said more directly, experts from all walks of life talk about the importance of what we think/how we think/the choices we make. We have a role to play in how our lives shake out. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

I'm fine...

The age old question: "How are you?"

The age old answer: "Fine thanks."

When really, we may be any of the following... 

Broken. Useless. Alone. Clueless. Confused. Betrayed. Fragile. On the verge of tears. Depressed. Anxious. About to break down. Ready to give up. Pathetic. Annoying. Burdened. Distant. Lonely. Bitter. Heartbroken. Rejected. Crushed. Ready to fall apart at any moment. Empty. Defeated. Never good enough.

And maybe that's normal and just a part of life. Just sayin' :/ Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl 

Managing emotions...

"Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality, but of attempting to make reality fit one's emotions."

- Ayn Rand

Emotions can be tricky because they're often irrational and anchored to past trauma. I think we all get "triggered" at one time or another, despite our best efforts and intentions. A good therapist will say we should look at our old "stuff" in order to minimize potential fall out. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Never give up...

"You are only as strong a you allow yourself to be; never get discouraged, never give up because consistency & dedication is the key to success."

- Unknown 

Said another way...

"Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th."

- Julie Andrews

And another way...

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

- Thomas A. Edison

We can let ourselves off the hook and give up, but then what? Just sayin' :) Hugs

Blessings,

Chatgirl 

Unexpressed emotion...

"Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways."

- Sigmund Freud

Now that's profound. Goes to show, you can't sum people up with a sound bite or a notion. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

To persevere...

Persevere

to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

To live is to persevere. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Fun fact about flirting ;) ...

A study published in the peer-reviewed Communications Research suggests that only 28 percent of us realize when someone is flirting with us. Think of the possibilities and what we could be missing out on! Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Being human...

"Don't forget that you're human. It's okay to have a melt down. Just don't unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed."

- Unknown

Maybe we can keep reminding ourselves that "this too shall pass." Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Depth of experience...

I am strong
Because I know my weaknesses
I am beautiful
Because I am aware of my flaws
I am fearless
Because I learned to recognize illusion from real
I am wise
Because I learn from my mistakes
I am a lover
Because I have felt hate
And...
I can laugh
Becuase I have known sadness

-  Unknown

Said another way...

Wake up everyday stronger than yesterday. Face your fears and wipe your tears."

- picturequotes.com

There is no escaping fear. We don't get to know what's coming and the unknown is a tricky thing to manage. All we can do is be brave and strive to talk ourselves down from the ledge. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving :) ...

A great day to remember the good stuff. No matter how tough life can be, there's always something to be grateful for. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Worry and fatigue...

"When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened."

- Winston Churchill

We do not always win the battle in our minds, but it can't hurt to keep up the good fight! 

As Dale Carenegie says "our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment." Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl 

Not about us...

People say "it's not you, it's me," but that doesn't necessarily mean anything to us in the moment. It just feels like a kiss off. But I do believe there is an epiphany in that saying. Sometimes when people do things, it's not about us. It's about them. Odds are, we're not being factored into the equation at all. And maybe that's the right thing. It's hard to let a relationship go because change is uncomfortable and we have to find a place to put the old feelings. Thing is, facing reality can set us free. Letting go of something that's good at best and leaving room for great is so much better because we might actually find it! Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Living in the past...

"Stop allowing the pain from past relationships to keep you stuck in resentment. Stop being a prisoner to your past choices. Grow yourself beyond who you were when you gave your power away!"

- Unknown

Said another way...

"Being trapped in your past will eventually rob you of your future."

-Unknown

We cannot change the past. It's that simple. Forgiving ourselves for our past choices may be the biggest act of kindness we can imagine. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Think trap...

"Don't believe everything you think."

- Unknown

The mind so often goes to fear. It can take ongoing commitment and discipline to override worrisome and pesky negative thoughts. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Good enough...

"Be gentle with yourself, you're doing the best you can."

- pinterest.com

It's so easy to beat ourselves up. We've had to endure years of  hearing about how we could do better, or be better, which can make it difficult to accept ourselves for who we are and what we are capable or not capable of doing. At some point, our happiness is more important than being "perfect," which isn't really possible anyway. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Nourish the soul...

"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life."

- Jean Shinoda Bolen, M. D, a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, clinical professor of  psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatrist Association and recipient of the Institute for Health and Healing's 'Pioneer in Art, Science, and the Soul of Healing Award.'

Educated and caring advice. :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl