LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is THANKSGIVING (with a shift)

Definition: Merriam Webster Dictionary: The act of giving thanks.

Posted 12/9/24

My Story on Thanksgiving

I love words, mostly because they carry the power to shape stories and teach life lessons, which is why, I like to give certain words a second look. Having just enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday, I decided to offer a new take on the word Thanksgiving by adding a simple hyphen: Thanks - giving.

Thanks - giving hyphenated can deliver not one but two distinct and meaningful interpretations, stories, and life lessons. One is for giving thanks for what we have and the other is for recognizing the joy of giving to others.

Commercial purchases aside, let me share a story about giving. Last weekend, I gave my 4-year-old grandson the gift of teaching him to cook one of his favorite cookies. Cookies I traditionally make for him and not with him. Something he has always been thankful for.

By giving him my time, a chef's apron, M&M’s, chocolate chips, sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts with which to sprinkle over a pastry dough, I gave him the gift of fun, of making a memory with his grandmother and the pride in having created something he could enjoy and share with others. 

Giving to others by sharing what we are lucky enough to have to enhance their lives can take many forms. During the holiday season, when my children were younger, we would be given the name of a family and a wish list with their needs. We would wrap the gifts and deliver them to the welcoming family. We also asked our children to donate one of their holiday gifts as a life lesson. The lesson, "It is better to give than to receive".

As a Life Coach, I take pride in giving my clients specific tools. Reframing is one. It means taking a bad situation and making it better. Being stuck in traffic can be frustrating, or being stuck in traffic allows you time to make a call or listen to a favorite podcast. Turning a bad situation into somewhat of a gift. In this case, the gift of time. That's the tool of reframing in a nutshell.

The tool of memory is a reminder of past success. This is another helpful tool. If a current client is not happy with the job you completed (even though they approved it every step of the way) you can remember all the satisfied clients you had, thereby restoring your confidence and moving on to the next job feeling inspired and not deflated.

The gift my clients give back to me is the smile on their faces and the pride they share for reaching their goals. I am very thankful for that.

As we move through this holiday season, may you feel gratitude for all you have, and may you feel the joy that comes with giving to others. That is the true spirit behind the word Thanks - giving (with a hyphen).

Happy Holidays to all. May this coming year be filled with kindness, peace, and love.

***********************************************

If you or someone you know are looking to prepare for the challenges the holidays can stir up, I invite you to have a conversation with me. There is no cost or obligation, simply an opportunity to share your concerns with a Life Coach who is looking to empower you with a few of life's management tools.

Please click on this link to schedule an appointment. I am confident it will be time well spent.

https://www.innervoicehealthandlifecoaching.com/contact-4

A reminder, there is no cost or obligation, merely an opportunity for me to embrace the gift of giving.

LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is CHOICE

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary - the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen. Choosing: to select freely and after consideration

“Today I make great choices because they are made with full awareness”.  Deepak Chopra

Given the unsettling events happening across the world, I have made a conscious choice to seek peace. I do this through selective engagement—allowing myself to step back from sources of negativity and stress occasionally, and instead embrace what brings me peace. It’s a mindful practice that lets me focus on the joy within my control while minimizing the impact of what’s beyond my reach.

My Story on Choice

My mom, a 93-year-old stroke survivor of five years, has lost much of her independence. Some mornings, when I see the look of defeat on her face, I tell her it’s okay to feel overwhelmed by life’s difficulties. We all need moments of pause to acknowledge the weight of our struggles. But then, I remind her to lift her head and take in the beauty that still surrounds her—the photos, paintings, music, and memories that fill her apartment. I encourage her to look beyond the immediate challenges and into the vast space of hope and possibility.

I’m not advocating burying your head in the sand, far from it. I’m encouraging those around me to consciously shift focus to the simple moments that bring a smile, a laugh, or a sense of accomplishment. It’s about taking control of your thoughts and actions in ways that lift you, rather than allowing external forces to tear you down.

Here are some choices I've made that I'd like to offer you:

1. Selective engagement a.k.a. selective avoidance. It protects my mental health and allows me to focus on the life I love. For example, I limit my news consumption to 15 minutes in the morning. This brief update is enough to keep me informed, without overwhelming me or setting a negative tone for the day.

2. Minimize the worry. Most of what we worry about never happens. Research shows that 80% of our fears are unfounded. I hold on to that statistic, reminding myself not to waste energy on things I can’t control or that may never come to pass.

3. Practice gratitude daily. As part of my morning routine, I meditate. Meditation allows me to contemplate the good in my life. Gratitude shifts our focus to the positive, even in difficult times.

4. Three good things. When negative thoughts creep in, I pause and ask myself: What are three good things about today? Neuroscientists have discovered that thinking of three positive things can quickly shift our mood from down to uplifted. Try it yourself, and you’ll notice how the smile replaces the frown. Thankfully, our brains are wired this way. This is an option with an unlimited lifespan.

As a Life Coach, I understand how avoidance is often viewed negatively, as a way to escape or ignore life’s challenges. The common wisdom is that we must confront our problems because, if left unchecked, they often grow more difficult to face. And while this is true, I also believe there are times when a thoughtful, temporary retreat can preserve our mental and emotional health. Sometimes, in particularly troubling times—whether illness, loss, or world events—stepping back to protect your peace is not only healthy, it’s necessary.

I encourage everyone struggling with life’s many challenges to take a moment to imagine the sun on your face—that feeling of warmth and calm. Know that every day we have the power to lift our heads out of the darkness and into the light. And it’s in that light that we find our strength.

If you are struggling, let's have a conversation. There is no cost or obligation, just an opportunity to share your thoughts with a certified Life Coach. After our discussion, if you feel uplifted and ready to make some changes, on your own, that's great. But if you'd like to have more conversations I welcome the opportunity to work with you as your coach. Please follow this link to contact me and set up an appointment. Thank you.

https://www.innervoicehealthandlifecoaching.com/contact-4

LIFE IN A WORD

The Word is REUNITED

Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: to come together again

My Story on Reunited

This past weekend I attended my 50th High School reunion. 

Now, I’m not a neurologist or psychologist, so I don’t claim to fully understand the vast capacity of the human mind. But I know that mine provided me with some remarkable flashbacks, as I circled the venue, surrounded by people from my childhood. It was incredible how memories seemed to transport me back to my youth. As the night progressed, the light became brighter and brighter in my mind. Familiar smiles, contagious laughter, and a vivid version of my younger self resurfaced. It was truly amazing.

As the night continued, I found myself regressing. I hesitated, using that word for fear it might sound negative. So, I consulted the dictionary and found the definition I hoped for. 

"Regress: to return to a former or less developed state." Isn’t that precisely who we were in grades K-12? In what I would call the foundational phase of life, we experienced social, academic, physical, and emotional challenges. In those formative years, we may have been gifted with teachers who saw a quality or talent in us that inspired or motivated us in one direction over another. Or perhaps we had a friend who protected us from bullying or awkward adolescent experiences, preparing us for the real world.

At the reunion, I overheard a group of former classmates reminiscing about their art class and how it propelled them into artistic pursuits as they moved into college and careers. Social justice came up in another conversation, reminding me of the high school sociology and anthropology classes that sparked my curiosity and love of learning. I believe those impressionable lessons planted seeds that influenced the career and life paths many of us chose.  

Maybe not all of us pursued those early interests in our careers, but I believe they remain a part of us, manifesting in different ways throughout the personal journeys we embarked on.

Ultimately, we are like clay, molded by the hands of teachers, classmates, and the times we lived in. Those hands helped shape and reshape us as we navigated the phases and challenges of early life. Being reunited with my classmates stirred up gratitude for those many hands that touched my life. I hope it had the same impact on all who attended that night.

Paraphrasing the words of a familiar song, which my friend Nancy reminded me of - Reunited and it felt so good. 

Email: innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com or visit my website to learn more about my coaching practice: innervoicehealthandlifcoaching.com