Gratitude is the core ingredient to a rich and fulfilling life. Without it we find ourselves in a constant battle to maintain our emotional wellbeing. As women it is in our nature to nurture and care for those around us. We give to others until there is nothing left to give. We put the needs of others ahead of our own and in the process we are depleted emotionally and physically.
We've all heard the term "my cup runneth over" and "being half-empty", but what does that mean exactly? The fullness of our cup, or life, is a direct reflection of how we view ourselves and our lives. Our cup is easily kept full and overflowing when we live each day in gratitude. Staying focused on everything that is good and beautiful in our lives keeps us from arriving at that feeling of emptiness.
Unfortunately it is easier to focus on the negative: how others don't do their share of the work, what we don't have, what others have done to hurt us and the negative experiences of our past. These feelings and emotions keep us drained, unfulfilled and empty. Even when we begin to fill our cup a little bit, we pour some out, giving a bit of ourselves away because we feel guilty if we don't. The truth is that we simply cannot give what we do not have. If our cup is empty and depleted any attempts to give to others are laced with resentment.
When we stop and change our focus, everything changes. When we live our lives in a constant state of gratitude our cup begins to fill and overflow. Even when the world around us is in chaos we are filled with peace, love and joy. It is from this fullness we can give and are compelled to give. We are overflowing and when we give from the overflow, not only does it not drain us, giving in itself helps to keep us full because of the joy we receive in the process.
Magnificent Women know how to live in a constant state of gratitude. They know when to give, and how much they can afford to give. They understand how to keep themselves full, and help to fill the cup of others.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Magnificent Women are Compassionate
Compassion is among the greatest of all virtues according to every major religion and spiritual teaching. Stronger than empathy, which causes us to 'feel' the pain of others, compassion compels us to 'act' to relieve the pain.
It is compassion that leads us to donate our time and money to causes that uplift and support those less fortunate than ourselves, and compassion drives us to insist on the undeniable rights of others. We are able to see through their eyes and word, the suffering that only we can help to alleviate through our emotional or physical support.
But compassion is not always just for those outside of us. There may be times when we find ourselves in tremendous physical or emotional pain. Rather than asking for compassion and understanding from others or even ourselves, we dig the wounds even deeper by the judgment, justification and guilt we lay on ourselves. We disrespect ourselves by calling ourselves names and using hurtful words. We treat ourselves in a way we would never consider treating another human being.
We should feel compelled to give ourselves the emotional support we deserve, and stop the abuse. Stop the personal disrespect and begin treating ourselves with the same compassion and consideration we so willingly give others. Until we are able to heal our relationship with ourselves, how can we possibly expect to openly and honestly give to others the compassion and understanding they deserve?
Magnificent women have come to understand the power of compassion. They know that when they have compassion with themselves they are free to give it without judgment or condition to everyone around them."
It is compassion that leads us to donate our time and money to causes that uplift and support those less fortunate than ourselves, and compassion drives us to insist on the undeniable rights of others. We are able to see through their eyes and word, the suffering that only we can help to alleviate through our emotional or physical support.
But compassion is not always just for those outside of us. There may be times when we find ourselves in tremendous physical or emotional pain. Rather than asking for compassion and understanding from others or even ourselves, we dig the wounds even deeper by the judgment, justification and guilt we lay on ourselves. We disrespect ourselves by calling ourselves names and using hurtful words. We treat ourselves in a way we would never consider treating another human being.
We should feel compelled to give ourselves the emotional support we deserve, and stop the abuse. Stop the personal disrespect and begin treating ourselves with the same compassion and consideration we so willingly give others. Until we are able to heal our relationship with ourselves, how can we possibly expect to openly and honestly give to others the compassion and understanding they deserve?
Magnificent women have come to understand the power of compassion. They know that when they have compassion with themselves they are free to give it without judgment or condition to everyone around them."
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Fearless Women
The Fearless women of Agape Toastmasters.
At Agape Toastmasters we celebrated Halloween with the theme of "Overcoming Fear". A group fearless women stepped out of the box and spoke about overcoming the fear in their lives. I spoke about my fear of the Devil as a child and how that fear transferred into my adult life. How the devil, his demons and hell had consumed me and the discovery that I can choose not to let them control me. Sheri Zampeli spoke of stepping out of her closet and wearing those things that she loves but is afraid of being judged for wearing them. Linda Lloyd wore her pajamas and spoke of overcoming the perceptions that other people might have of her if she steps outside her house without being "made up". Debra Mittler spoke of overcoming the fear of "not being good enough". Cynthia Lamb came dressed as her mother and wittingly shared with us overcoming her mother's unrealistic expectations. Charmaine Shaw spoke about growing up in Jamaica and running past the cemetery each day on her way home from school. When she finally stopped running and opened her eyes, she saw nothing to be afraid of. We fearless women of Agape Toastmasters have all come to same conclusion in our lives, that fear is nothing more than our imagination and when we face our fear it has no power over us. We ended that day laughing in the face of fear. Fear actually can be funny!
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