Sweet N Social

Category: Awareness

  • Apple Juice

    Apple Juice

    I love watching my granddaughter grow up because as she is learning, I’m still learning through her.  The latest lesson came from watching her transition from the bottle to the sippy cup.  We have been trying to introduce juices to her through the sippy cup instead of just giving in and giving her the bottle when she asks for it.

    I would put the apple juice in a small cup and offer it to her after she finished eating her breakfast.  She would push the cup away or throw it while still asking for her bottle.  I couldn’t even get her to take a sip. I slowly began to realize we were tackling two different issues; new cup and new juice. We would have to change our strategy.  Slowly we would offer water in the sippy cup and she would drink it. Once she became more comfortable with the sippy cup we would offer apple juice in the cup.  Once she started taking the apple juice we offered milk in the sippy cup as well.

    It wasn’t until we noticed that everything can’t be offered at once.  It takes “baby steps” in order to change.  This practice is one I always have to remind myself as I try and implement new habits.  As my granddaughter reminded me, do not give me “change” all at once, offer me a “little change” at a time.

     

     

  • Not Today!

    Not Today!

    My favorite quote is “how you do anything is how you do everything.”  Its in those moments when I feel like giving up or simply thinking that no one will know the difference that this thought always comes to mind.

    It is not true that no one will know the difference, YOU will!  And that is the most important person it should mean the most to.  Only you know the thoughts that are floating around in your head. The negative ones are the ones that keep you from living the kind of life you want to live. Its the thoughts that we feed on that create the reality of our lives.

    Once I learned that little tidbit of information, I started to pay closer attention to the thoughts I had once let roam freely in my mind.  I stand guard each day to the quality of thoughts that I will allow to enter my mind or even attempt to tiptoe in.  I must admit that once I decided to take care of my mind like I take care of my body,  life got a whole lot more generous!

  • My Way Mentality

    My Way Mentality

    When my children were younger, I took on many of the tasks of child rearing not considering what effect it had on my husband.  There are many joys and frustrations that come with raising children.  Many arguments usually started at times when I was tired and just didn’t know how to ask for help.  I took too much on and wasn’t willing to share the load with my partner because I though it had to be done MY way.  When people offer to help, let them.  We get so caught of in the belief that if something is not done in a particular way, that it is wrong.

    Of course at the time I didn’t know this.  It is now, as a grandparent, that I realized that some of the frustration was self-induced.  My husband loves taking care of our granddaughter. I can see how it has changed him and I know she absolutely loves to spend time with him.

    Many people just want to know that they matter.  By opening yourself up to receive help from others,  you are allowing them to experience purpose and meaning in their life.

  • Plant Yourself a Garden

    Plant Yourself a Garden

    What is it about reading that I love?  I was not always a reader.  I picked up the habit of reading more once I turned off the television.  I love to read nonfiction books. The self-help to the neuroscience.  Not everything I read do I understand at first, but the more I read, the more I learn and start to understand.  Slowly the information sinks in to my brain.

    It has happened over many years that some of the information that I’ve read started to make sense years after I’ve read it.  It’s like planting a garden. The harvest will not bloom immediately, but eventually the seeds start to sprout.  I start to understand.  Another way to look at it is in the effects of compound interest.  We build a foundation and everything after the foundation is built upon the information that we learned previously. Each layer is helping you raise up to the next level. Each new book plants a new fruit, flower or tree.

    I would also like to share that the more I read, the more my world expands.  You do not have to put into action everything that you read nor do you necessary have to agree with the author’s opinion. Learn to process what works for you and let go of the stuff that doesn’t. In the end, you have a much broader harvest to pick from.

  • The Fill Up

    The Fill Up

    When is enough, enough?  There is a such thing as being there to help your friends in times of need but when your friend no longer takes responsibility for the decisions that they make. Its okay to say “NO”.  It’s called self-care and there is nothing selfish about it.

    Many years ago I learned that so many of us are always ready to help others but fail to put the same kind of energy into helping ourselves.  We can’t pour out what we have not taken the time to pour into.  I like to think of ourselves as vehicles on this Earth. We zoom around running errands for our children, spouses, and friends.  As in life, we need to gas up the car in order to keep the car in motion.  The self-care that we do for ourselves is like going to the gas station for a fill up.  When we don take acre of the car, we run the risk of damaging the vehicle.  Everyone I know, hates to see the check engine light come on. That’s the same thing that our bodies are doing with headaches, backaches and other aches.

    Don’t wait for the check engine light to come on before you decide to take care of yourself.  You are just as important as your children, spouse and friends. We are given this one life to live. Make is your best life by taking care of yourself like you take care of your car.

  • It’s Time to Donate

    It’s Time to Donate

    For many years I had adopted the habit of clearing out my closet in order to make room for the winter clothes by putting the summer clothes in storage bins and pulling out the the old winter clothes. I know this is a common practice for many of us. I would go out and buy extra hangers and hold onto clothes that no longer fit me, not to mention were out-dated. It was a habit I picked up watching my mother do for years.

    It wasn’t until I realized that this practice was an old unconscionable belief that perpetuated from a scarcity mindset. I would justify holding on to things with the “just in case” mentality. I stated in “Seasons of Change“, we have to clear out some of our old thoughts and ideas in order to prepare for the new season. I still believe it’s true but what I would like to add is pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and actions. Awareness is the key. And if you ever find yourself thinking “I need to buy more hangers”, it just might mean it’s time to donate.

  • Hit The Light Switch

    Hit The Light Switch

    I have to say the most profound changes in my life happened when I decided to take my life off autopilot. I began to question some of the beliefs that I had held on to for years.  In the beginning it was the small things that I began to ponder like why do I drink coffee with my breakfast, to eventually leading to my bigger questions, like how do I really feel about marriage. Some of the answers I received in return shocked me.

    Awareness is the definitely key to change.  Effective and long lasting change has to come from something deeper then just wanting it. Taking time out to understand the driving force, the “why” behind the change is what makes it really take hold.  To me, awareness was like switching on a light switch and looking for the cobwebs within the room.  What I found were old beliefs and outdated actions that no longer served their purpose.  Imagine what you will find when you begin to look inside yourself.  The answers just might surprise you.

  • Playing Catch

    Playing Catch

    Today is the day I walk with a walking club.  I don’t compete but I do use other walkers as incentive to push myself.  In most cases, you look for a walker who is ahead of you and you make them your focal point.  Once I can find a target walker, I put my head down and focus on my walking technique and breathing.  With such focus, you can usually “walk them down” in other words, you can catch them.  I’ve been catch and I have caught others.

    I did not try and walk anyone down today. I started late so I just focused on my walking stride and breath. I did start to pass people.  After the walk was over, a gentleman can over and told me he looks for me on the trail.  I’ve seen this man on several occasions but we’ve never spoken to each other before.  He told me he had to let me know, he looks to try and stay ahead a head of me but he knows that I will pass him eventually.

    What I’ve found most beneficial is to not worry about who is behind you. Stay focused on whose ahead.  Its not about getting catch, its about making them reach.

  • Goal Analysis

    Goal Analysis

    Like so many people, I struggle with getting things done, especially if it makes me feel like work to me.  It’s a real struggle especially when I retired from the military years ago.  I battle with laziness.  I know if I can admit it, I am recognizing it, and ultimately I can change it. Like a cost analysis, I assess my productivity by conducting a goal analysis.  Its simple. Let me explain.

    On many occasions for instance, I love to run to my favorite book buying spot to browse the books. I use browsing loosely because I can always find something to buy.  I have many books at home, not to mention a library reading list that will definitely take time to read through. What I have to do for myself is redirect my impulse to run to the store towards something that will actually get me closer to creating a legacy for my family.  I know that just buying more books will not get me there.

    Awareness is the first key to conducting my analysis.  I ask myself this: “is what I want to do going to get me closer or father away from my goal?” If the answer is no, the next question is: “what action can I do right now, that will?” I realize it just a simple matter of redirecting my energy and focus into more productive activities that will get me closer to what I want to achieve in life rather than what I want to buy throughout life.

  • Sharing is Caring

    Sharing is Caring

    I started recording little videos and sharing tidbits of my story online because I read so many success books over the years. I realized that the best part of your learning is in sharing the knowledge you gain with others.  For example when a woman buys a new dress and she gets a great deal on it, she will, like many other woman, she will tell you where she got it and more than likely, how much she paid for it.  I do it!

    Like the things we buy, holding on to it will not benefit anyone in the end.  The more you share, the more knowledge we gain in return.  It’s like creativity or oxygen, you simply can’t run out of it.