Motivational sayings and/or affirmations.

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony."
~Thomas Merton
 
"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
~William Shakespeare

"Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish."
~John Jakes
 
"Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become."
~Maxwell Maltz

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."
~Henry Ford

 

How to Meditate for Beginners

Choose a conducive environment. Find a nice, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for fifteen minutes or longer. Sit down, relax and rest your hands on your lap. You can sit on the floor cross-legged with the support of a meditation cushion, or on any chair with your feet resting on the ground. It’s not necessary to force yourself into a lotus position if you’re not used to it.

Regardless of how you sit, it’s important to maintain the natural curve of your back. That means no slouching forward or leaning backward — either of which can strain and hurt your back. People with a chronic back problem may find a kneeling meditation bench useful, especially for prolonged meditation.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Close your eyes softly. Begin by taking a few slow and deep breaths — inhaling with your nose and exhaling from your mouth. Don’t force your breathing. Let it come naturally. The first few intakes of air are likely to be shallow, but as you allow more air to fill your lungs each time, your breaths will gradually become deeper and fuller. Take as long as you need to breathe slowly and deeply.

Be aware. When you are breathing deeply, you’ll begin to feel calmer and more relaxed. That’s a good sign. Now, focus your attention on your breathing. Be aware of each breath that you take in through your nose. Be mindful of each breath that you exhale with your mouth. Continue focusing on your breaths for as long as you like.

If you find your attention straying away from your breaths, just gently bring it back. It may happen many times. Don’t be disheartened. What’s important is to realize that you’ve wandered and bring your attention back to where it should be. As you develop greater focus power, you will find it easier to concentrate.

Ending the session. When you are ready to end the session, open your eyes and stand up slowly. Stretch yourself and extend your increased awareness to whatever will be you next activity.

Try to meditate at least once every day. It doesn't take much out of your day but it will help you cope with life's worries.

It may take 5-10 minutes for your mind to slow down so aim for a 15 minute session. Set a peaceful sounding timer (your phone?) to let you know when 15 mins is up. You don't want to be clock-watching.
Try it. :) Even if you only try it once you will notice a benefit. xoxo Cate
 
Thanks for posting the meditation instructions, Cate. I've always had trouble relaxing. I can't get my brain to stop! I've never learned how to clear my mind, I guess. My husband is always saying, "Give that brain a rest!" I will definitely try, and your instructions will help.
 
You're welcome Misty xo

A Creed to Live By
(one the most classic motivational poems)

Don't undermine your worth by comparing
yourself with others,

It is because we are different that each
of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people
deem important,

Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest
to your heart

Cling to that as you would your life, for without
them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living
in the past or the future.

By living your life one day at a time, you live all the
days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give

Nothing is really over … until the moment
you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less
than perfect,

It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks,

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's
impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,

And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your Dreams. To be without
dreams is to be without hope.

To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget
where you've been,

But also know where you're going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored
every step of the way."

~Author Unknown
 
I think the above post deserves to rest on it's laurels for a day or two.
I love it & am going to print it up.
Enjoy your journey xo
 

“It's choice--not chance--that determines your destiny.”
~ Jean Nidetch.

The following quote is taken directly from my May Cohen's Newsletter-

"Think how often you say to yourself, "I feel sad; I feel happy; I feel angry; I feel bored; I feel sorry for myself"...
Then think how often those thoughts are followed by "I think I'll eat...".
Sometimes there is no verbalising of the thought and suddenly the chocolate is in the mouth! It did not just happen, you decided to do it.
Train yourself to simply acknowledge "I feel sad, down, depressed and angry..." but nevertheless, "I choose to eat well". Talk to yourself in a different way. Tell yourself "My choices are not governed by my feelings or my circumstances, my family and or friends". When you choose an action, you are saying "I am in control... I am responsible... I am accountable for all my actions. There is no one forcing me to do things, I do it willingly and freely. I am the one who makes the final choice."
 
"The beauty of life is, while we cannot undo what is done,
we can see it, understand it, learn from it and change.
So that every new moment is spent not in regret, guilt, fear or anger,
but in wisdom, understanding and love."
~Jennifer Edwards
 
Do you like this one Cate hun?

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings! ~Author Unknown
 
Emerald said:
Do you like this one Cate hun?

Remember the tea kettle - it is always up to its neck in hot water, yet it still sings! ~Author Unknown
Click to expand...
Emerald- I love that one thank you sweets, xo

“Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!”
~Eleanor Roosevelt
 
“Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.”
~Norman Vincent Peale
 
Let It Be.

"When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be"

~The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)
From the album Let It Be.

This song was put out to the universe by a friend today & I took it on board & it made me feel good. Thank you Sim xo:D
 
"Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded."
~Goethe.
 
"How we perceive a situation and how we react to it is the basis of our stress. If you focus on the negative in any situation, you can expect high stress levels. However, if you try and see the good in the situation, your stress levels will greatly diminish."
~Catherine Pulsifer

Yes, there are times we all feel a little stressed, but it is how your allow yourself to react, which will measure your ability to overcome it. If you can find something positive to learn in any situation, you will be able to control your state of well-being. Try to look for the positive in every negative.
 
I don't know if I've said this before, but even if I did, it deserves a second wave.
"Thank you so much for making this thread. So far, it's a fantastic 62 page collection of some of the wisest things to come out of the mouths of humans in history, all in one spot.

I really do read them everyday that you post one. It's a quick boost. Sometimes it even leads me to go do a little reading about the person that was credited with the saying or the meaning behind the quote. I believe that motivation or hope is the fuel for every action. And when it comes to weight loss in particular, you need motivation to continue and keep up the drive. (fuel + drive...lol no pun intended). I occasionally tell newcomers about your thread and recommend they come here often for motivation. Thank you Cate for helping others like this. Really."
 
Thank you Emerald for cheering me up today. I needed it. It has been a very rough week.

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. " ~William Arthur Ward
 
Failure
~ Tim Connor

Failure

It’s only a word.

But it carries with it so much pain
and so little concern
so much frustration
and so little respect,

so much stress and so little
understanding
that people spend their lives
running through their days

in the hope of avoiding the long arm
of this little word.

To test our vision, you must risk
failure.

To temper your ego, you must attempt
the impossible.

To tell your story, you must
take a chance.

To see beyond the horizon, you must
spread your wings.

To be all you can be, you must
stretch, flex, try, and go beyond
your proven limits.

To bridge the silence, you must risk
rejection.

To advance into the unknown, you must
risk the peril of all your
previous beliefs and emotions
that feel so secure.

Failure is not negative. It is a teacher.
It molds, refines, and polishes you
so that one day your light will
shine for all to see.

It isn’t the failure you experience
that will determine your destiny,
but your next step and then the next
that will tell
the story of your life.
 
"When it gets dark enough, you can see the stars."
~Lee Salk

"Sadness flies away on the wings of time." ~Jean de La Fontaine
 
Insight
~Charles Ghigna

"Close your eyes and look inside,
A mirror shines within;
To find where you are going,
First see where you have been."
 
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