A Year of Resolve

Oh my goodness, another year opens up . . offering opportunities that we cannot even imagine!  I don't really want to throw out the old . . it's the basis of who I am. . .however, I do want to "encourage" the new.  (I use encourage as a way of gently nudging myself into more positive behaviors, rather than parenting forced and foreign actions . . .and of course, I have to smile as I re-read this line . . sounding ever-so therapeutic:)

My horoscope this year looks great!  (I can't remember exactly what it said when I read it on the 1st, but it was really promising.)  And it you ask me if I really believe in horoscopes, well . . the truth is, there is so much in the way of the cosmos that we really don't know, I figure I might as well use all of the support that is out there:)

Yes . . even as I see what I am writing and how, in this post. . .I see those crazy smiley faces:) and wonder why I feel the need to use them so often .. and so I've turned to the research that recently has shown that the more often we see smiling images, our attitudes are more uplifted.  Livi Pierre (Oct 2012) shares that positive attitudes bring about positive rewards.  Not a really novel idea . . however, when we think about the opposite . . I'm certain that the grumpy faces and harrumphing attitudes that seem to be omnipresent in our current society are not helping any of us.  And although I've never been known as one to bury my head in the sand in false cheeriness, I've just got to find a way to see the beauty of life again, rather than focusing on what I/we cannot fix (without a miracle).

One of my friends sent me a link to a YouTube video that really renewed my perspective on the beauty of life and the fact that each day is a gift . . Imagine.  It reminds me how small I am and yet, how I hold the potential each day to create a positive world . . both for myself and for each other.

That is my hope for each of us. . as we find our way to new possibilities . . encouraging, supporting . . and as always, listening.

I can't wait to hear how you are challenging yourself to be more positive . . as we encourage and support each other in this fabulous life.

The Art of Being in a Doing Season

My daughters and I have been having a discussion lately about the increasing stressors that seem to be all around lately.  The everyday demands of our culture are tremendous for those who cling to the values and beliefs of personal interaction in caring and sharing, rather the incessant niggling that more must be done (to the delight of the busywork elves) or the rising tides of sniping/clucking/downright rudeness (again, I am hearing a devil's delight).

If you checked your anxiety level right now, where would it be?  Totally calm or "off the chart"?  If it feels like your anxiety is escalating (especially in this season of spin and "cliffs") . . you are not alone.

Recent research has shown that anxiety levels in women ARE rising. . it is one of the most under-diagnosed disorder in the US and it is often because healthcare providers "dismiss" women's symptoms as hormonal or just a part of their learned behaviors.

In reality, anxiety and hormones are correlated (yes, really:) in the brain. . . and the estrogen/progesterone swings can influence how women perceive danger.  And then again, social expectations are just as scientifically correlated with a significant number of women who have more "jobs" (child care, cooking/cleaning/laundry, career) and an expected body image of youth/attractive physical characteristics . . and of course, that sexual come-hither personality (even if she has cooked, cleaned, worked, gone to parent-teacher conferences and hasn't had a moment to shave her legs in a week :)

OMG . . see what my anxiety has done?!?  I was supposed to be writing about decreasing anxiety!

Ah yes . . breathe in . . .and breathe out.  

All this talk of anxiety led me to do a little research of my own.  How do we decrease anxiety naturally . . and does it work? 

I ended up watching a video by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD discussing his fascinating work with Mindfulness Meditation . . and so I've decided to commit to trying it for myself (yes, yes . . I am an old hippie/earth mother of another generation anyway:)

Not only do I want to do this for the research of reducing anxiety in ordinary women, but also because the resulting "promises" from their research reveal and increased ability for creativity and better use of our minds/bodies in the world.  What a win-win!  

And so I thought it's perfect in this busy holiday season (the season of Santa and Scrambling) . . to increase Being in the world. To really see others . . to be kind . . to help . . to listen.

I just love a good research project . . and I'd love to know what you think.  Mindful Meditation allows me to be present and creative in this season of doing . . with less worry and more hope . . and as always, listening.