Mornings...

This morning I was up just before dawn. The sun began to slip its soft pink glow over the eastern horizon. And even though the weather has grown colder and the days a bit cloudier, I still enjoy being up early and sitting with my first cup of tea, watching the world around me come to life. There's just something solid as well as invigorating in being up early when the day actually begins.

I see those moments watching the sun come up a great start to my day, and it's a ritual I rarely depart from. When I start my day off like this, I find that my days go better. I get the jump on things that need to be done and I'm fresh enough to take care of tasks quickly and efficiently. I enjoy the quiet and the fact that I'm hardly ever interrupted when I work in the early morning hours, so I get an incredible amount of work done during that time.

Of course early rising has other benefits too. Getting up earlier provides you with time you wouldn't normally have to do things you normally wouldn't have time for. If you wish you had time to meditate, exercise or work on some special project you never seem to have time for, early morning is the perfect time to fit these kinds of activities into your day. Your willingness to give up a bit of shut-eye for the personal satisfaction of doing something you truly enjoy can pay off in better physical and emotional health, and maybe even a better job. Many well-known and successful people talk about rising very early to write before going off to their day jobs.

Getting up early also means you are more likely to have time to make a proper breakfast and maybe even a healthy lunch to tide you through the day. Chances are you'll eat foods that are much better for you and you'll save money by avoiding the fast food chains as you make your commute to work. Plus, once you get there you are likely to be brighter, more efficient and will do a better job, which can lead to other workplace benefits such as promotion and salary increase.

There's nothing like looking up from your work at noon and realizing that the majority of what needs doing for the day is already taken care of. I just can't say enough about the benefits of choosing to be an early riser. If you're a night owl give some thought to making the switch. I guarantee you'll be surprised and pleased once you do.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving. It shouldn't be just once in a year, it should be every day of the year. Be thankful for all the mornings that you still get to wake up and see the sun!

Law of Attraction

Are you familiar with the expression, "Like attracts like"? Recently I had seen a man on TV who was struggling with this idea. He was having difficulty coming to grips with certain emotions he was experiencing. He felt controlled by them and this was creating a lot of tension for him. The more he fought his feelings, the stronger their hold over him seemed to be.

I completely understood his frustration and assured him that his situation was not unusual. I felt that with a little work, he could overcome this obstacle. He began by introducing himself to the Universal Law of Attraction. According to this law, we attract that which we focus on with the most intensity, and this attraction can create a positive or negative experience depending on its nature. In his case, it meant that when he focused on emotions or feelings that made him uncomfortable, he ended up creating more of those uncomfortable feelings in the process.

Of course, this wasn't enough for him. He needed a workable solution. They suggested that he try looking at his unresolved emotions in a different way. Instead of battling his feelings, they asked him to look at them without judgment. They wanted him to focus on the root of his emotional turmoil because as that point, he would he would be in a position to make adjustments to his behavior.

Soon after, he took those instructions to heart and began observing his difficult feelings. He reported that life flowed easier when he could refrain from making judgments on his emotions, and as a result, he was soon feeling much better about himself. By just listening to these emotional messages, rather than just getting upset or worried by them, he no longer felt so controlled by them. And, once he could really listen to his feelings, he was able to get a better grip on why those feelings were coming up.

Now, I hope that you too will spend some time thinking about the Law of Attraction and the primary focus of your energy. What are you attracting into your life?

Best Friends...

I want to share some interesting information I recently read on friendship. But first I'd like you to take a moment to think about your closest friends. Are you the type of person who has one best friend or one who prefers a few close friends? Well, if you answered yes to either of these questions, consider yourself fortunate, because dependable friendships bring some amazing benefits.

It is probably no surprise to you that close friendships are good for us. However, the list of actual medical advantages is quite remarkable. Research shows that our good friendships can help us to reduce our blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels, as well as to lower our stress levels. In other words, solid, dependable friendships help us to live a longer, healthier life.

The nice thing about our friendships is that they are ties we choose to develop, sustain and nurture. When we are young, we seek comfort in our companionship, by befriending dogs, cats, dolls and stuffed animals. As we grow into adolescence and later into adulthood, good friends can become more than just companions. A good friend is there through the good and bad times.

A good friend is someone who loves you in spite of yourself. They laugh with you, cry with you, listen to you when you need an ear, tell you the truth when you don't want to hear it and even keep your secrets. And now, you can add the positive health benefits of friendship to that list!

While this information probably won't make you change how you feel about your friends, it may make you appreciate them even more. Enjoy your Veteran's Day weekend! :)

Do You Need Space?

Are there times you feel that you need some space? Actually, we all need some "space," some time to ourselves and some place to recharge our batteries and renew our spirit. In ancient times, such places were considered sacred and were often found in nature – a grove, a hill or valley, or a mountain. But you don't have to go outdoors to find a sacred space. You can create a sacred space right in your own home.

It doesn't matter how small your living quarters are, even a corner of a room can do nicely. A sacred space is an area where you can sit and meditate, contemplate, or let your mind wander and relax, ponder, and dream. You can place a small table or a shelf in a corner on which you arrange images, photos, religious relics or pieces of artwork that hold meaning for you. Bring in nature with perhaps some flowers or a small plant, or seashells, or perhaps a crystal. Lighting a candle or some incense, or an essential oil diffuser can add to the atmosphere of serenity. Place a comfortable chair there. A wind chime or some bells, or perhaps a CD of soothing music can also set the scene.

Joseph Campbell, the famous American author who wrote about myths and incorporating them into our lives, understood the importance of a need for a sacred space. He says it best in his own words, "If you have a sacred space and take advantage of it and use it every day, something will happen… Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again."