Self-aware?...

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.

- Carlos Castenada (Ph. D in Anthropology and critically acclaimed American Author, who was praised by the notable and younger, alternative anthropologists. Castanada's books, as well as the man himself, touched a cord in the counterculture generation and resonated as a myth of adventure and self-discovery).

Self-awareness, like so many things, is a process. Can we just decide to be happy? Well, we can certainly look into it. Maybe there's a different way to go. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Men and women stuff...

Being a woman is exhausting. We don't know what mood we'll be in next, or for how long.

- Unknown

In keeping with this week's comic relief, ha ha ha. Seriously though, some things are just part of being a girl, aren't they. Same goes for some guy tendencies. I wonder what our relationships would look like if we could accept and even embrace our differences. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Cancelled plans...

You know you're an introvert when... you get excited about cancelled plans.

- Unknown

Or, secretly, you just need a night to yourself. I love my devices, but with the pace and intensity of life these days, I don't know how much mindless time we're getting... and they say creativity and invention flourish is those mindless moments. Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Alone time...

My alone time is for everyone's safety.

- Unknown

Ha ha ha. I'm on a comic relief kick this week. Seriously though, like the energizer bunny, we do need to recharge at some point. It takes energy to be "on." Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

To be an adult...

I have decided that I no longer want to be an adult... If anyone needs me, I will be in my blanket fort... colouring.

- Unknown

Ha ha ha. You gotta love comic relief. Seriously though, there's only so much we can take sometimes. Am I right? Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Some days...

Some days I amaze myself. Other days I look for my phone while I'm talking on it.

- Unknown

Ha ha ha. I resemble that remark. Hey, nobody's perfect, right? Just sayin' ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Make it funny...

Remember, if you can't say something nice... make it funny.

- Unknown

Seriously though, it's all in how things are said, isn't it? Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Some days...

Some days, I can conquer the world. Other days, it takes me three hours to convince myself to shower.

- Unknown

Ha ha ha. I'm glad I'm not the only one ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

A little more faith...

Let your faith be bigger than your fear.

- Unknown

We falter at times, don't we. Let's brush ourselves off and try again. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

What we tell ourselves...

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.

- Unknown

Fear is a powerful force, if we let it run wild. I wonder why we go to fear so often, rather than hope and optimism? Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

What man seeks...

What the superior man seeks is in himself;
What the small man seeks is in others.

- Confucius

A lot of wise people say "go within." It took me a long time to figure that one out. At the end of the day, so many things are up to us; what we eat (our weight), how much we tune out and watch TV, how much we procrastinate or how hard we work, how we spend/save our money. Just sayin ;)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Care to understand...

Open-minded people don't care to be right, they care to understand. There's never a right or wrong answer. Everything is about understanding.

 - Unknown

Put feelings and bias aside for a moment and life can be really surprising. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Not easily discouraged...

I am NOT easily discouraged, readily visualize myself as overcoming obstacles, winning out over set backs, ACHIEVING 'impossible' objectives.

- Bruce Lee

They say attitude is everything. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

No regrets... no matter what...

In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

- Andrea Dykstra (Author of The Missing Piece/Speaker/Storyteller, intuitive and Master Life Coach (AUNLP), who uses her personal experiences to guide trauma survivors. Andrea believes that we can heal, no matter what and live life without fear and dread. By recovering a part of us that may have been lost, we can live with more joy, peace and love in our lives). 

The Missing Piece: A Transformational Journey is "for anyone who has ever struggled to overcome disease, death, divorce, unemployment, separation, abuse, or other life-altering challenges."

Sniff sniff to the parts of the world and humanity that put us in scary positions. Just sayin' :( Hugs. xo

Blessings,

Chatgirl 

What is hurting?...

One of the most courageous decisions you'll ever make is to finally let go of what is hurting your heart and soul.

- Unknown

They say remaining angry only hurts us and potentially holds us back from joy and fulfillment. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Opinion...

Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.

- Bull Bullard

Reminds me of the sage advice (not sure who's quote this is) 'spend more time being interested and less time trying to be interesting.' Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Being selective...

Be selective with your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.

- tinybuddha.com

It can be freeing to listen with curiosity and allow others their thoughts and opinions. After all, do they really need to affect us? As the saying goes, "let's agree to disagree." Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Embrace the learning...

Life can be humbling. Whether we like it or now, we are subject to both positive and negative feedback. My favourite therapist says that sometimes we have to "fall on our sword." I've had a couple of these moments lately. Happily, I've managed to wipe the egg off my face and use the "constructive" feedback to elevate myself both personally and professionally. The rewards can be pleasantly surprising, if we're willing to embrace the learning and make adjustments. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Relationship update?...

Your ability to live successfully, however you might define success, depends to a great degree on how you relate to other people. If that part of your life is unsatisfactory, the only way you can revise the old relational circuits that determine your current relationships is to expose them and update them.

- Christiane Northrop, Obstetrician and Gynecologist. (Author of The Wisdom of Menopause and Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom)

Made me feel better reading this book. Dr Northrop includes the role of our emotional world in the discussion of physical health. Very interesting stuff. In a nutshell, research is showing that we can have a positive impact on our health and well-being, as layed out by the many suggestions in the book The Wisdom of Menopause).

Blessings,

Chatgirl

The value of information...

The more informed you are, the less arrogant and aggressive you are.

- Nelson Mandela

I've noticed that if I can listen without being defensive, I'm often surprised by some of the life altering learning and growth. Just sayin' :)

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Misunderstandings...

I stopped explaining myself when I realized people only understand from their level of perception.

- Unknown

Sometimes we're on a different page, and maybe that's ok. Just sayin'

Blessings,

Chatgirl

Feelings provide clues?...

Feelings are just visitors, let them come and go.

- Mooji (Spiritual teacher, originally from Jamaica, who focuses on self-inquiry and the question of who and what we are at the deepest level).

My favourite therapist says our feelings can also provide critical information. For example, if something makes us angry, perhaps our boundaries have been crossed and we need to take action. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Chatgirl

Maturity...

The true mark of maturity is when somebody hurts you and you try to understand their situation."

- Unknown

If it becomes a pattern of behaviour, then maybe we choose to opt out of the relationship, or limit the interactions. My favourite therapist says it is wise to spend our time and energy in a way that supports our own health and well-being. Just sayin' :) Hugs.

Blessings,

Chatgirl