Better days . . .

Over the last year or so I have really made a turn around in how I see myself and how I react to the world.  Some of the things I struggle with have gotten markedly better and some things are still quite there, I just deal with them better.  As I step back and look at what I have done differently, I can point to a few things that have directly helped and I wanted to outline them here for me as well as whoever might benefit from how I currently see the world . . .

1.  I communicate far better with my husband than I used to.  I try my best not just to snap at him, but explain why I am frustrated.  He has made a point of listening instead of getting defensive.  I think explaining how my mind works and how I perceive things has helped him get a better understanding of who I am and why I get so bent out of shape about certain things.  I take time to explain when things bother me and why.  He has been trying really hard not to take things personally.

2.  Reiki has helped me take control of not only how I relate with people but also my circumstances.  IT has allowed me to rest in the "now" and stop and take a breath.  It lets me "sit" with where I am and revel in the fact that I am alive, breathing and can experience the energy and world around me.  It helps me connect with God on a level that I can "feel".  I feel closer to God than I have in a long while and feel a connection with Him in a different way than I ever had. . . that alone is life changing.

3.  I have tried to surround myself with positivity.  I have affirmations on my wall at work directly above my desk.  I purposely put them on sticky notes so I could change them out and move things around.  I am trying to focus not just on "Woe is me" sayings, but positive things that can affect my mood and my outlook.  It is easy to gravitate toward the "ugly" and wallow in pity, but it is hard to pull yourself out of that and look at the positive side of things.  Having stuff in my face works for me.  Focus on the positives even when you can't see them. For me, when I cannot think of anything positive, I think about a roof over my head, my children, food in my belly, and the love of friends.

4. Tapping.  I use tapping mostly when I feel like blowing up and losing my cool.   Sometimes I find myself tapping even before I am conscious of it.  I also find that I tap in the car alot.  For me it is not about the mantra it is a self soothing technique and it works for me.  Tapping has so many benefits that I truly think it is miraculous.  I am pleased it is in my arsenal!

5.  Unplugged.  I have tried to unplug from 24 hour news media.  The divisiveness  made me crazy.  I try very hard to get my news and move on.  I cannot wallow in that type of negativity that news channels bring.  The same thing with my phone.  My phone that was always attached to my hand gets plugged up in the foyer when I get home.  I am still accessible for friends and family, but I am not constantly receiving news alerts, text alerts and being fed garbage from media.   My home number is only given out to a few friends and family and I know when it rings that it is someone I want to talk to.  I feel so much more relaxed than I use to with that phone stuck to my body!

6.  My Best Friend.  She is amazing.  Always there for me even through her own crap, she is willing to listen and laugh with me.  I couldn't have made it through the last year of family issues, constant pain from my leg accident and "just life" without her.  She is a part of who I am today even though she has only been in my life a short time.  She is the sister I never had and sometimes I think we were separated at birth.  She amazes me with her strength and her resiliency.  She makes me a better person.