Life's Small Pleasures

Today, I'd like to bring up one of life's small pleasures that actually provides quite a bit of satisfaction: the houseplant. Have you ever noticed how houseplants make a décor more warm and welcoming? There's something pleasing and comforting about them.

The Chinese have long believed that houseplants generate positive energy, and modern scientific studies support the value of having plants in homes, offices, or environments such as hospitals, schools, and other institutions.

Actually, there are many benefits to having plants around us. As plants take in the air around them, they actually remove some of the airborne toxins and replenish the environment with oxygen. Peace lilies, bamboo, palms, and spider plants are thought to be especially effective at clearing the air of unpleasant toxic chemicals. In addition, studies have shown that plants also have a positive physiological effect on us, by providing relief from anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and adding to a general sense of well-being.

Plants in school and work environments have been credited for boosting productivity, shortening reaction time, increasing spatial perceptions, and building concentration. Students who study with plants nearby are more likely to be in regular attendance, while people who work in offices surrounded by plants tend to enjoy their jobs more than employees who work in more sterile environments.

Personally, I think the nicest thing about plants is the simple fact of having these living, green organisms growing in my home and office, not because I love gardening and flowers; maybe you might think I encourage to do some gardening too. I hope you are already enjoying the calming and pleasant benefits of these houseplants. But if you haven't been exercising your green thumb, maybe it's time to get your hands a little dirty!

Can Money Change Your Life?

How we think about money has a direct effect on how money works for us. One of my friends, is an excellent example of how changing the way you think about money can change your life. A while back, he came to me complaining that he never had enough money and that he just couldn't get ahead. He had been raised to believe that money was the root of all evil and that rich people were snobby and unfriendly.

His relationship with money came from his subconscious belief that because money was bad, he shouldn't have it. Interestingly enough, his situation is not unusual. The difficulties that many people experience with money are a result of their hang-ups from past experiences. This can be difficult because we need money in our day-to-day lives and to survive in the world. In fact, if we want to be comfortable and live in harmony, we really need to have a good relationship with money.

So, it was clear to me that he desperately needed to change his attitude and feelings about money and I set about helping him to do that. First I reminded him that money is just a tool and that using money to pay bills, buy groceries, and keep his car maintained are all ways she expresses love and care for himself and his family. And as providing love and care for one's self and family is a good thing, money becomes the tool that helps us to accomplish this good thing.

He also needed to develop an "attitude of gratitude" for the money he did have, even if much of it was going to pay the phone company, car payment, and electricity bills. The fact that he had a place to live and was able to pay for his rent, electricity, water, and phone meant that he was already in better shape than many other people on the planet. So I asked him to thank the universe for meeting his needs every time he wrote out a check.

And finally, I challenged him to seek some opportunities to share his wealth with others, whether through a charity, at his church, or simply buying a meal for a hungry person. Giving to others with gratitude and willingness attracts even more back to the giver.

As you might guess, the last time I spoke with Jake, he was feeling much better about his money situation. By changing his attitude toward money, he was finding it easier to attract what he needed. Fortunately, he no longer felt cheated by the universe and no longer craved unnecessary purchases. I am pleased to say that he received special recognition at work and even a small promotion that included a slight salary increase in these trying times. Jake says he is grateful for what he has and now feels good about having money.

Money definitely has an ebb and flow like the tides. Sometimes there is more and sometimes there is less, but like the ocean there is always plenty to be had and many ways to find it. I hope that Jake's story will inspire you to think about how you view money so that you can attract all that you require with ease and grace.

Did you sleep well last night?

It seems that many of us are feeling so stressed that when we finally do get into bed for a little shut-eye, we just can't sleep. With the current economic environment and concerns about foreclosures, company stability, and job security, it is no wonder that many people are losing sleep.

This vicious cycle of stress and sleeplessness is very hard on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When we don't get enough sleep, we are more likely to be accident prone, short-tempered, and susceptible to illness. We all need to take special care of ourselves during periods of uncertainty and stress, and there are things we can do can do to encourage good sleep, no matter what may be going on around us. This is what I want to share with you this week.

Many people are under the misconceptions that vigorous exercise or a nice glass of wine before bed will tire out or relax one enough to sleep. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Alcohol before bed can actually disrupt your deeper sleep cycle and exercise in the few hours before bed may make you feel tired but it boosts your metabolism and energy levels, so it, too, can disrupt your sleep. And, of course, drinking caffeinated drinks before at bedtime does not encourage shut-eye.

Restful sleep requires a comfortable, quiet, and pleasant environment. If your bedroom isn't relaxing, do what you can to make it feel like a safe and serene oasis. And, it is best to refrain from watching TV just before bedtime, as the hormones released by the bright lights can keep you awake for hours afterwards. If you do happen to have a television in your bedroom, Feng shui experts recommend covering it with an attractive piece of fabric when it is not in use to make your sleep less distracted and more peaceful.

Hopefully, you are getting plenty of restorative and healthful sleep in spite of these uncertain times. However, if you are experiencing sleep difficulties, give these tips a try to see if they help you to sleep more soundly. Right now you need to wake up with the energy to cope with anything that comes your way.

Until next week -- and sweet dreams!

What you see is what you get...

I'm sure you have heard the expression, "What you see is what you get." This is a strong phrase when it comes to attracting the things you desire in life. That's because what we choose to see and focus on is likely to come to pass! I have heard people talk about the value of visualizations to increase health, attract wealth, and improve relationships. In these difficult times, I thought that it would be a good idea to bring this up.

The idea of using visualization to attract desired items or situations is not a new one. Visionaries like Norman Vincent Peale, Dale Carnegie, and Zig Ziglar understood the power of visualizing what you want and where you want to go. They shared this message with the public, and over time their knowledge bore fruit for many who tried and benefited from their techniques. As a result, visualizations have become a popular, simple, and effective method for manifesting what you want to come to pass.

Many goals can be achieved through visualization, and it is a relatively simple technique to undertake. You just need to take the time on a regular basis to imagine things you want to have happen in your life as if they have already come to pass. And you can combat pesky, negative thoughts by replacing them with visions of what you desire to create.

The more detailed you make your visualizations, the more powerful they will be. Begin by picturing what you want in your mind's eye. Once you have achieved this step, extend your creative visualizations to include sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings associated with the object or situation you desire. This last step will dramatically increase the effectiveness of your visualization.

Let me give you an example. If you want a new car, visualize the car in your mind's eye or picture it in your driveway. Then make your visualization more effective by imagining yourself in the driver's seat, feeling the luxury of the seats, enjoying the fabulous sound system, smelling the new car smell, and enjoying the feeling of acceleration and handling of the vehicle. By making your experience as full and complete as possible, you will be sending out many messages to the universe to fill your order for a new car.

And be sure to thank the universe before you have already received what it is you desire. Acting as if you already have it and expressing gratitude actually increases the power of your visualizations even more.

I hope you will find these tips on visualization helpful and that you'll give them a try. I feel sure that as you apply these ideas you will be pleased with the results, bringing you the many things you deserve in life.

Looking at the brighter side...

People seem to pull together when times get tough, and the current economic crisis is no exception. One of my friends recently had an experience that illustrates this point well. My friend lives in a lovely house with a granny flat on the back of the property, which he rents out to a young yuppie and his wife. Things had been going fine, but recently over the course of a few weeks of our current financial crisis, the young man lost his job and his wife was laid off from her work as a receptionist.

Around that time he had a plumbing leak that caused a lot of ceiling and wall damage and was faced with a huge and expensive repair job. Fortunately, as it turns out, he ran into his tenant, and while chatting, they both shared their problems. As it turned out, the young man had done construction work with his father during summer breaks from school, and so they agreed to a barter exchange. He is getting his wall repairs done for the cost of the supplies, while the young man gets a big break on his rent, allowing time for him and his wife to find work and get back on their feet.

As a kid, I remember my Mom and Dad telling my brother and I stories about bartering goods and services during hard times. My grandmother used to sew for neighbors who in turn provided her family with eggs, milk, and other foodstuffs. We may not be experiencing a major world war or a great depression, but many people are finding themselves between a financial rock and a hard place these days. So it makes sense to look at ways to get goods and services that don't require cash.

For some it might be trading babysitting for housecleaning or repair work or for others offering a free ride to the job for help with bookkeeping or taxes. Offering services to a friend, coworker, or a professional in exchange for something they could in turn provide for you is an excellent way to get what you need even when cash flow is low.

Should you find yourself a bit short on cash during these uncertain times, or if you simply wish to keep your overhead down, you might want to consider a little bartering. Think about a special talent or service that you could offer. Then think about services you could use at this time and how you could barter for them. In addition to saving money, you'll also build ties in your community. It can be a win-win situation for all in the end.


Until next week, have a great weekend!

These little things...

Every day, there are things in our lives that we dismiss as luck or chance or simply take for granted. Certainly there are times when events throw us completely off balance or make us feel vulnerable or afraid. But I think that most of the time we are so involved with our daily routine, whether it be with work, errands, chores and the like, that we forget to notice the things around us that make our lives better.

The truth is that, no matter what is going on in our lives, there are no ordinary moments, no minutes or seconds that are meaningless. And most of all, we will never get back those moments that pass without recognition. So, that is why it makes sense to look for and acknowledge the daily gifts that come from the universe.

Only this morning I awoke to hear birds singing outside my window and then got up and made myself a nice hot cup of coffee. Later during the day I came upon my dog taking advantage of a golden patch of sun glowing across my garage floor. I enjoyed some playful moments with my dog, all the while feeling grateful for the little things, the many small pleasant gifts in my life, like hot coffee, a happy dog and singing birds.

At first glance these things may seem rather unimportant, but when I think about what life might be like without them, I appreciate them all the more, and the bigger and more wonderful they seem to be. And if you think about it, you may agree that the little things are what either drive us crazy or make us happy. So, the little things in life really are important, even if they may not seem to be at the time.

For me, the best thing about recognizing such moments is that when I pay attention and open myself up to them, I notice them all the more and feel like I may even attract more of them my way. The end result is that I am happier and more content with my life and consider each day different in its own way.

Beautiful, little miracles happen every day. Flowers bloom, babies are born, the sunshine warms our skin and we get to be a living, breathing part of the living, breathing universe. I hope that this blog post will take the time for you to recognize the warm, special moments that make you feel good about yourself and the world around you. Have great weekend!

Contentment...

Sometimes I feel that our culture has become too obsessed with the idea of finding happiness. Advertising is constantly bombarding us with products, and lifestyles that promise to make our lives better and easier.

While I am a big believer in seeking contentment in life, I know that a breakfast cereal or certain car model is not going to help me find it. Moreover, I don't believe it is possible to achieve a constant state of happiness. Just think about it, the feeling of being intensely happy never lasts for long. Yes, we can be happy about a new job, extra money or even a bigger car, but such feelings of happiness and elation are fleeting.

The people who seem to have the most contentment in life have something that brings them a sense of purpose. It could be a creative project, involvement helping others or even a spiritual quest. For myself, I have discovered that my work as an adviser is what makes me feel good. However, it is different for everyone and this is what I share with my clients when they come to me needing direction or lacking enthusiasm in their lives. I ask them to think about the things that bring meaning to their life and that give them a sense of purpose and then look for ways to fulfill that purpose.

Sometimes it could be something as small as taking a little walk in nature, tending a garden or calling to check up on a friend or neighbor. The positive feelings these moments bring are mean to be savored. There are many ways to experience contentment in your life. You just have to find what works for you. In my experience, once you start this process, it becomes easier and easier. It is about taking the time to honor our selves and those around us.