How to Confront Your Joy Snatchers

Do you ever feel like you're constantly being drained of your positive energy?  Or that you're so distracted by peripheral things that you can't focus on what truly matters to you?  Have you ever slowed down enough and taken a close look at your life to find the sources that are draining you?  In this post, we'll call these things joy snatchers.  This was originally posted on The Write Curl Diary.  What are Joy Snatchers? Joy snatchers are those little things that pick away at your peace of mind and make you feel like poop. Joy snatchers can be people, places or things. They distract you when you are...

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Love Note - Friday 5/25/12

Have an awesome holiday weekend!  ...

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A Challenge to Pursue Life and Love Over Things

There is a quote that is attributed to the Dalai Lama floating around the internet. When asked what most surprised him about humanity, he responded:  ‘Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.’ How many of us live in the way described above? We are constantly running trying to keep our head above water, and then we look up and years of...

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8 Ways to Avoid Living With Regret

source If you're reading this, you probably have a desire to maintain a positive perspective on life.  You get up everyday with the intention of living your life to the fullest.  You don't want drama or chaos to invade your mind.  But you have some regrets - and surely some bad habits as well.   You're constantly having to make choices and sometimes it's hard to keep yourself happy without disappointing others and vice versa.  I'd like to share eight principles to help you simplify your life and live mindfully.  The key to living without regret is being true to yourself -...

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Love Note - Friday 5/18/12

Happy Friday! We hope you choose to be positive this weekend, no matter what life throws your way....

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Pretty Things: 6 Delicate Gold Adornments I Love

Leonardo Da Vinci said that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.  I love the simplicity of the following pieces.  They really capture my evolving personal style - feminine and unassuming.  That's how I'm feeling these days. Rose Gold Initials I love golden leaves His/Her birthstone ring Toe rings are great to cover up blemishes What accessories are you loving right no...

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5 Things I’ve Learned from My Mom’s Example

The older I get, the more I appreciate my Mom: her beauty, her candor and her generosity among other things. But more than that, I realize how much I’ve learned about life, just by watching her and seeing her example. Yesterday, while spending time with her for Mother’s Day, some of those lessons became top-of-mind, so I thought I would share a few: Pearls are the perfect accessory for EVERY outfit—including satin pajamas. It’s a rare occasion that you’ll find my mother without her pearls—even when she is sleeping. It’s a hilarious habit that I tease her about often, but it always reminds me that you don’t need an occasion to look and...

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Love Note - Friday 5/11/12

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How to Avoid Being an Emotional Cutter

Have you ever heard of teens who physically cut their bodies as a way of dealing with emotional pain? They are called cutters. They commit this physical act of hurting themselves as a way to focus; thinking that they won’t feel the emotional hurt if they are focused on the physical pain. It’s not always a logical connection, but in many ways adults can be cutters as well--emotionally. Have you ever felt that “fight or flight” emotion? Ever felt like there was something you needed to do, but couldn’t get motivated to do it until you were backed into a corner? You know—not getting your finances together until you’ve spent 6 months close to...

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10 Ways My 10 Year Old Makes Me a Better Person

  my baby Love, joy, worry, awe and aggravation. These are just a few of the feelings that swirl around inside of me when I look at this picture.  This is my only son, my manchild, my heart and he turned 10 a couple weeks ago.  If you're wondering about the aggravation part, spend one day with a 10 year old boy and you'll know what I'm talking about. While I have to admit that the thought of him growing up terrifies me, I know that I'm here to guide him - not stifle him.   I don't want my desire to protect him to ultimately hinder him from becoming a strong,...

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Love Note - Friday 5/4/12

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Affirmations for When You Feel Like Giving Up

In hindsight, things are usually not quite as bad as they seemed while you were in the moment. Try remembering that when you’re at the height of your frustration and feeling like you want to quit. If you can hold on just a bit longer, you might be right on the edge of your breakthrough. Here are some affirmations to help manage your self-talk and bring you off the ledge. I accept the given details of my circumstances. I acknowledge that there are things about my situation that I do not like, but I know that as long as I continue working towards my ideal outcome, things will work out in my favor. When I feel frustrated, I recognize that...

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