Watching my mother, I learned many things, but the one that stands out the most was how she didn’t whine. She worried, complained, and criticized, but whining wasn’t her style. When things were going badly for her and life was not fair, she didn’t sit around feeling sorry for herself. She would dig her heels in and find a solution that would help her. Believe me, she had plenty of times she could have given up. Her mother passed away after many years of illness when she was 15. She had to learn to be on her own, so she earned her teaching degree and went to work for the state of Kansas teaching in a one-room schoolhouse. This was not a simple task. She had to move a hundred miles away from her family boarding with strangers. She was to teach first through sixth grade with some students being almost her age. Teaching involved walking to the school–yes, in the snow through the winter months-and gathering wood for the potbelly stove to get the building warm before the students arrived. She had to create all the lessons, activities, supplies and anything else to do with the school. It was all up to her. After my mother married, she became a rancher on the Kansas prairie. She had two children and life changed but her responsibilities were still overwhelming. They lost the ranch because of a cattle illness. After a few years of owning a small grocery store and failing, she ended up, for multiple reasons, getting divorced. This led to working in a variety of jobs, living with family, then having a relationship and marriage with my father. She had two more children, and life was extremely turbulent. The family was the definition of poor. One year she moved seventeen times! She was often scared, angry, and worried, but she continued to find solutions and move forward. Many times, when I would ask her about something that had been difficult in her life she would say, “I did the best I could with what I had.” I believe that is exactly what she did. Recently I came across a Tony Robbins blog about tips for getting through tough times. I was surprised-not surprised that many of the suggestions were the things my mother did. One of his tips was to express your feelings. Robbins said to do whatever you need to release the pressure and clear your mind so you can learn the lesson these tough times can teach you. He said,” Allow yourself to feel. Letting your emotions out will take away their power.” My mother expressed her feelings to friends, family and sometimes anyone who would listen. Another tip from Robbins is to focus on what you can control. My mother liked control, and I, like her, often look for control. Sometimes I believe it becomes a habit when it’s forced upon you too often. Robbins says that you won’t get anywhere by focusing on the things you can’t control. “You must decide to focus on things you can control.” If you change your focus, you will see opportunities rather than a setback. Also, changing your perspective can mean looking at your situation as an end or a beginning. Robbins says, “Every experience of your life has gifts for you.” Practicing gratitude is a proven way to stop dwelling on the negative and start seeing the positive. Finally, self-care is so important for getting through a tough time. My mother’s self-care was her friends, church, and faith. Having a support system, doing mindfulness practices, finding moments of laughter, moving your body all have important effects on your mood and energy. I feel grateful for what my mother could teach me, intended or not. When things go badly, I try not to whine. I focus on the things I can control, but even more so, I look for options and opportunities. I think about my mom working on solutions. She did many things she didn’t want to do but did it anyway to take care of her family. So, whenever my life is a little tough, I try to do the best I can with what I have. My mother’s life made such in impact on me that I wrote a book about her – Available on Amazon Iva Mae: The Book of Mom tells the story of a young girl on the Kansas farm in the 1920’s and the changes she made throughout her lifetime. Beginning in the rural areas of Southeast Kansas and Ozark Mountains of Missouri, Iva Mae traveled the country and Europe while she experienced different cultures, social environments and venues including dinner at the White House. Iva Mae lived her ninety-one years with the attitude that she did the best with what she had to work with at the time. “From the moment I opened my mother’s keepsake box after her death I knew that her story needed to be told. Her life was filled with trials and struggle, yet she remained optimistic and filled her emptiness with faith. She lived many different lives over her years with family, faith and love of new places driving her to experience all she could,” said the author, Robin Anne Griffiths. Iva Mae grew up without electricity or indoor plumbing and faced numerous hardships ranging from a devastating house fire as a child to her mother’s death when she was fifteen. Iva Mae’s adult years were plagued by health problems, money worries and two rocky marriages. Yet through it all, her faith in God, ability to find happiness, and love of family never faltered. Iva Mae: The Book of Mom offers a glimpse into America’s past and one woman’s struggles as well as triumphs. Iva Mae did not let fear stop her from discovering what life had to offer. Known for her cooking, love of holidays, and adventurous, ready-to-go spirit, Iva Mae lived her ninety-one years to the fullest through the decades of change ranging

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Okay, this may appear to be a rant and if so, hopefully it will get a little stress out of my system. But my reason to share is what I am learning from the experience even though I wish I wasn’t having to go through this process. Maybe it will help you too. We have been in a lawsuit for about two years now with the company that was supposed to repair and replace our roof. I won’t go into details, but it’s been a very frustrating, long and expensive process that I would not wish on anyone. It has been wearing, upsetting and victimizing as I often feel like we don’t have control. And as much as I try to restrain myself, I have a pull to be in control of most everything.  My personality is impatient. I drive Jim crazy with my need to have things done and completed. It’s been important to watch myself during the past two years because the entire process can be overwhelming, disturbing and depressing. It has been easy to find myself in a very negative space and I want to be in a positive place. To keep myself from spiraling into the negative abyss, I work on cultivating a positive mindset of gratitude. I look at all the right things we have done, the happiness we create, the fun in our life and the strengths we have. I remind myself of all the good in life. Our health, family, and friends. According to Psychology Today, researchers have proposed that a positive mindset is found in our thoughts, beliefs, values and attitudes, which are a factor in well-being. This type of mindset includes happiness, confidence, motivation, and optimism. It also can be feelings of control, acceptance, resilience, gratitude, mindfulness, integrity and stability. To cultivate this type of mindset, a focus needs to be on strengths. Most often, we are doing the opposite and thinking about what is wrong and second guessing. This shift in focus to our strengths can help with a feeling of confidence. You may be like me and have a pessimistic bias where it’s easy to focus on the negative. Practice on shifting your thoughts to the positive. Doing this may not be easy, but you can do things that break the cycle. Try changing your thoughts by working on things you enjoy. For example, working in your garden, developing a new hobby, reading, or even just taking a cold shower. Other things you can practice are finding gratitude and mindfulness daily while providing yourself with positive self-talk. So, what kind of positive attitude am I talking about? How about not pitching a fit when things don’t go your way? Or enjoying the unexpected even if it’s not what you planned. Getting back up when you fall or fail. Finding the good in every situation. Using the power of a smile. All powerful stuff that I work to incorporate into my life which is not always easy. According to the Mayo Clinic, researchers are continuing to find the benefits of cultivating a positive mindset. Significant benefits like reduced stress, improved mental health, increased resilience, better relationships, enhanced problem-solving abilities, improved physical well-being, longer life span, better resistance to illnesses and a greater sense of happiness and life satisfaction; essentially, it allows you to approach challenges with optimism and confidence, leading to a more fulfilling life.  It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. I envy people who naturally cultivate positive vibrations. Practicing more is on my agenda. I have learned the opposite is unhelpful and unhealthy. Mahatma Gandhi’s advice is what I plan to follow to work towards developing a positive atmosphere in my life. “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become YOUR WORDS. Keep your words positive because your words become YOUR BEHAVIOR Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes YOUR HABITS Keep your habits positive because your habits become YOUR VALUES Keep your values positive because your values become YOUR DESTINY. “ ― Mahatma Gandhi Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker *

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My older sister, Sandy, had a problem with collecting stuff. When she passed away, her house and garage were so full it took weeks to search for the important things to keep, what to trash and what to give away. It was overwhelming. I believe she was overwhelmed too with it all. She had been collecting most of her adult life and once or twice she allowed me to help her downsize the unnecessary items such as ten years of magazine of recipes that she may want to try. I believe that dealing with all that clutter must have been stressful, yet she didn’t want to let go. My sister was not alone. One in four people in the United States have a clutter problem. In the 1980s, George Carlin had an entire comedy routine about “stuff”. I have tried to learn from this and over the years I have parted with collections of books, clothes that I no longer need, little souvenirs and other items that are boxed up and will never be used or unpacked. I still haven’t embraced a minimal lifestyle as some have but I want to move more in that direction. What does a minimal lifestyle mean? It does not mean living with the bare minimum or throwing everything out. The goal is to audit bad habits, get rid of the unnecessary and assess what adds value to your life. You are prioritizing what brings meaning to your life. It also doesn’t mean you don’t buy things, but you are selective about what you are bringing into your life and if it is needed, makes you feel productive and happy. It’s not just about material things, but also our schedules, commitments, as well as toxic relationships. We need to look for ways we can free ourselves up to open our capacity to dream, play, and be of service. Create a white space to think about what we want out of life. More importantly, we generate pockets of time to act. In the end, minimalism is about adding more than it is about subtraction.  Some questions that you may want to ask yourself when thinking of freeing up your environment and lifestyle are:  Do I need it? Do I use it? Why do I have it? Is this giving me stress? The benefits of fewer items can mean more money as you will be more selective about what you are buying, and that extra cash can be used for more quality experiences. You also may find you have more time because you have less to deal with such things as cleaning, organizing, shopping, unhealthy relationships, and unwanted commitments. This extra time may allow you to do what matters most. You may find you feel better because of less stress. Research has suggested that clutter raises cortisol levels and interrupts focus. The more we have the more we have to handle. Yoga philosophy promotes focusing on the essential, reducing excess and being in the present moment so we can find a more authentic way of living and reduce stress and anxiety. Promoting simplicity, mindfulness, and living in harmony with the world. One teaching of yoga philosophy is letting go or non-hoarding. This year I hope to let go of excess and difficult things that no longer add value to my life. I also look forward to accepting change and working toward a more meaningful life, living in the moment with mindfulness. “Happiness is very simple and minimal.” – Tablo Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker *

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Each year I reflect on the previous year. This habit was formed to keep me motivated by the many projects and goals that were on my to do list. Over the years, I have shared several thoughts about beginning the new year. I have urged you to not make resolutions but to explore what has worked for you and how you may change in the future for better health and well-being. This year I hope you will consider a year of gratitude. Why gratitude? Gratitude can lead to a more fulfilling life. Finding appreciation in everyday life can improve a multitude of things in life such as coping with adversity, enhancing your overall well-being, promoting feelings of contentment and strengthening relationships. It’s a mindset or a way to look at the world that can enrich our life. We all have moments of gratitude and during the end of the year and beginning a new year, we think about what we are thankful for. It doesn’t have to just be during the holidays and looking towards a new year. We can practice all year by embracing appreciation in which we can view life with greater clarity and thankfulness. Studies have shown that people who are practicing gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. These studies published on this topic support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being. One study showed that those practicing gratitude exercised more and had fewer visits to health care facilities. Other studies have shown that couples who took time to express gratitude for their partner felt more positive toward the other person and more comfortable expressing concerns. In the workforce, managers who say “thank you” to employees find those people are motivated to work harder. The findings also varied but suggest that gratitude is an attainment associated with emotional maturity. In older adults, gratitude has been linked to greater resilience, improved sleep, and lower stress levels—important factors for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Beginning a gratitude practice doesn’t have to be complicated, but it can create deep moments of reflection and joy. Here are some ideas that may help you begin. Start a Gratitude Jar – Pick out a special container and each night write a brief note of whatever you are thankful for that day on one side and the date on the other. These quick notes can be an experience, emotion, gift, relationship, an insight or something you did for another, or they did for you. It could be a memory, conversation, a quotation, an image, a book you are reading, or a song you heard. It can be anything that you appreciated during the day. Put the notes into the jar and keep them until the end of the year. Beginning the first of the year in a quiet moment, you open the jar and read about your year that has passed and all the wonderful things that you appreciated. A Gratitude Journal – Journaling helps solidify positive moments in your memory and is uplifting to revisit later. Just set aside a few minutes each day to write three things you’re grateful for. Be Mindful of Each Day – Incorporate a routine of taking a moment each day to reflect on what brings you joy. Perhaps as you begin your morning with a cup of coffee or tea or in the evening, as you begin to relax, take time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Express Your Thankfulness – Take time to express gratitude to friends, family, or even neighbors. Whether it’s a phone call, a note, or a simple smile, showing appreciation builds bonds and fosters a sense of community. Practicing gratitude does not mean you will not have negative emotions, but it will magnify positive feelings and help you see the big picture and become more resilient when faced with adversity. It can help with boosting our immune system and heart health, calm the nervous system, help us make better choices, and build stronger connections. Whatever your reasons to begin a gratitude practice, you can open a door to a different viewpoint that values kindness in our lives. “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”–Brene Brown Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker *

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Perfection –the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. Imperfection –a detail that makes something (or someone) less than perfect.  For most of my life, I have been on the road to perfection. This obsession has many avenues. I spent many years working on myself and a lifetime of striving for perfection in my home, lifestyle, career, education, and even in my relationships. The time I have spent perfecting meals, cleaning, finding just the right linens, setting the perfect table, my appearance, writing just the right phrase, and so on. It has been an addiction, plus exhausting. Sad to say, I have beaten myself up for the smallest mistake and have had a hard time relaxing. Many significant accomplishments and great satisfaction have come over the years from my passion to be perfect, but it has also taken a toll. My standards have been impossibly high for myself and unfortunately too high for others. I don’t know where all this preoccupation with perfection began. Perhaps society or over time it grew into a habit. Maybe it began in childhood when many of us learn we need to be a certain way – look a particular way, act a certain way to meet the expectations of others even at our own expense. Or perhaps it came from the peer pressure of the social environment. The notion of ‘perfect’ is unrealistic. So, how do we embrace imperfections that will allow us to lead an authentic and content life? Let’s begin with the word Wabi-Sabi. Taken from the Japanese words wabi, which translates to less is more, and sabi, which means attentive melancholy, Wabi-Sabi refers to an awareness of the transient nature of earthly things and a corresponding pleasure in the things that bear the mark of this impermanence. Wabi-Sabi is a visual that finds beauty in things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.  Remember that perfectionism is an unattainable goal. No matter how much time and energy you put into it. Just let go. Be realistic about what is good enough. You may shock and awe people with a perfect home, latest fashion, manicured lawn, and incredible food, but wouldn’t it be enough if the time with others was simply enough? On the flip side, wouldn’t it be freeing to just accept people with all their flaws and enjoy them for who they are?  Once again, let go, enjoy the time and save yourself a lot of stress. Be in the moment. Trying to be perfect absorbs an incredible amount of time. You are not present for yourself or others. As you are doing your best, be aware of your surroundings and if things don’t go as planned, see the funny side and be forgiving. Become spontaneous. You lose flexibility and creativity when you are working towards perfection. Although you may not be flawless, you may enjoy freedom in the unplanned and uncontrolled. Yoga philosophy includes the practice of recognizing our attachments, ego and judgements and how we define ourselves with these thoughts and feelings. Begin with self-acceptance, and through yoga find transformation. I have changed over the past few years and although the standards I set for myself are still high, I don’t get as upset over the imperfections and lack of control as I once did. I strive to be more accepting of others and less judgmental. I also have stopped judging myself so harshly and began to accept the imperfections in my character and looks. It is a journey, and I have a long way to go. My focus now is more on how I feel and finding peace with myself. Perhaps age has played a part in this change, and possibly yoga and meditation have given me a better perspective. “Imperfection and perfection go so hand in hand, and our dark and our light are so intertwined, that by trying to push the darkness or the so-called negative aspects of our life to the side… we are preventing ourselves from the fullness of life.” – Jeff Bridges Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping People On A Journey For Change.

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Note:  The original blog was published in 2022. Here it is again with a few modifications. I have enjoyed and celebrated the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) in many ways. Many were old-fashioned and traditional. Others have been unconventional and a little outrageous but still provided a memory that I hold dear even today.  My mother loved all holidays. Holidays for her were all about family, cooking, eating, and enjoying time together. Over her lifetime, she held many family dinners during Thanksgiving and Christmas. She enjoyed cooking a multitude of treats for family and friends, which included cakes, candy, cookies, and spent hours in the kitchen preparing turkey, ham, and other mouthwatering dishes for everyone to enjoy. My mom also enjoyed giving gifts. She would spend months picking out items and often would pay for them on a lay-a-way plan until she could bring them home and hide them. I think she enjoyed it more than anyone else.  The holidays were a busy time for everyone in our family. I look back on these memories and wonder how my mother did it all, working a full-time job, raising her children, and being involved with her church and friends. Somehow, she managed it all and on Christmas morning there would be hot chocolate with homemade cinnamon rolls, then a large dinner with extended family arriving throughout the day. She put the “believe” and “miracle” in the holiday spirit between her deep faith, love of family and a childlike wonder for the yuletide.  I have spent the Christmas holiday in Saudi Arabia where we bought a small sickly looking evergreen tree for an enormous price and decorated it with an assortment of made up, do-it-yourself ornaments. I also spent Christmas in Bahrain sightseeing and celebrating with the naval fleet that was in port. A wild and crazy party!  I celebrated Christmas in September, and in April when that was the only time I could be with family, so they set up the tree and we pretended it was December. I have enjoyed the holiday in the nation’s capital seeing the tree on the White House lawn. Also, I have celebrated holidays in many climates from extremely hot to freezing. These times were spent with friends, family, strangers, alone, happy, and sometimes sad. Psychology Today tells us we should honor our feelings, including sadness, and to create new traditions that will be enjoyed and remembered. Remember to respect yourself by finding time to invest in something that matters to you and enjoy the quiet moments that are presented. According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed said their stress increased during the holiday season, which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. They recommend how important it is to recognize your limitations, triggers and to communicate intentions with others if you are not wanting or planning to celebrate in what they may feel is traditional.  Like my mother, I enjoy decorations, cooking and wrapping gifts. I try to do something special that we can all enjoy. But I keep in mind to not overindulge or overwhelm myself with projects plus to keep my self-care a priority. My point of all this rambling is not about a holiday called Christmas or the many other holidays celebrated in December such as Saint Nicholas Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Three Kings Day, or Boxing Day–it’s about HOW we enjoy moments of time and connect to ourselves and others.  My hope for you with the upcoming holidays is to be full of moments that will bring warm smiles and memories for many years to come. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.”–Helen Keller  Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker *

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This past week has been emotionally and physically draining dealing with Hurricane Milton. The preparation, the worry, stress, fear and the cleanup. It’s exhausting. All that aside, we also must keep moving forward and play catch up with all our regular life chores, obligations and demands. You may not realize all the juggling you do to organize and complete the items you need to accomplish daily, weekly, monthly. Even if you are not working any longer, you may find yourself busy. My brother, who retired at age fifty, told me he didn’t know how he got everything done when he was working. But we do and somehow things fall into place as we rearrange our priorities.  We all face trauma, adversity, and other stresses. Each of these changes will affect people differently. Each will trigger our emotions or bring uncertainty. We all adapt over time to life changes and build resilience. According to the Mayo Clinic, resilience means being able to cope with tough events. When something bad happens, you still feel anger, grief, and pain. But you’re able to keep going, both physically and psychologically.  Increasing your resilience takes time and you need to be consistent. Four core components include—connection, wellness, healthy thinking, and meaning—can empower you to withstand and learn from difficult and traumatic experiences. These include things like building bonds with others, finding purpose, having a positive outlook, and taking care of yourself.  How often do you allow yourself to rest? Do you find time to unwind and relax? We rarely realize what we need to restore our energy, and because we have so many responsibilities, we forget or put off our needs. What you may not know is that self-care is important for stress management. Stress can deplete us physically and emotionally. You may experience burn-out, exhaustion, depression or anxiety. Self-care is not about bubble baths and massages, but about being a better caregiver to your health and well-being. Why? Benefits for pampering yourself include less stress, better physical and emotional health and filling up your body, mind and spirit. A few other benefits include: Reduces AnxietyIncreases Self ConfidenceBenefits Everyone Around YouImproves Feelings of Well Being and WorthinessImproves ResilienceHelps with Better SleepImproved FocusBoost Your Immune SystemIncrease Productivity Need some Self-Care ideas? Breathe in fresh air.Sit outdoors by a fire pit, watching the flames and listening to the night sounds.Cuddle with a pet.Stare up at the sky.Listen to music.Garden.Do a craft project.Try a new activity.Immerse yourself in a crossword puzzle.Light a candle.Write in a journal.List five things you’re grateful for.Try yoga.Go for a walk or a run.Go for a bike ride.Take a nap.Takw part in a book club. Find a little time for yourself and see what benefits you feel by replenishing your body, mind, and spirit. “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”— Eleanor Brownn  Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker *

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During my last trip, for some needed rest and relaxation, I turned the television on. I was shocked! I had forgotten what it was like to listen to advertisements, news, and other information on network and cable television. Years ago, our cable was disconnected because of all the negative information that was on the variety of stations. I was a former news junkie. My career was in the media and the news was the center of everything that was important to the newspapers, television and radio stations. Once 24-hour cable news coverage began in the 1980s, the amount of information and drama intensified and has continued to clamor for audience attention ever since. Today I rarely listen to the news but that doesn’t mean I don’t stay informed. I look at multiple sources but stay away from television sound bites and social media. This brings me to my subject for this writing. How do we make our decisions and why do we believe what we do once we are exposed to information? Let’s begin with how we make decisions. Here are the basic steps. We realize we need to make a decision and try to determine what kind of decision needs to be made. Then we begin to gather information that we believe is relevant. Next, we identify what alternatives are available, so we think we have multiple options. We then weigh out those options which lead to a choice, so we are ready to act. Finally, we then review our choice and whatever consequences it may have for us. Often, our emotions can overpower our rational thinking. Plus, our daily life and habits will influence our decision. Which isn’t a bad thing. Think how exhausting it would be to go through the preceding process for everyday decisions like what to eat or how to drive. When you are in a familiar situation, our decisions are usually automatic based on experience. When we are on unfamiliar ground, we need the ability to think critically without bias. This means getting knowledge that is lacking, with an open mind, rather than going with your gut. You may believe your decisions are based on reason and wisdom. Not necessarily true. Many decision-making processes are greatly predisposed by our beliefs. Our decisions mostly come from these factors: environmental, situational, experience, education, and personality. Going back to where I started regarding the media, and its exposure to our thoughts, feelings, and decisions. Let’s look at the types of media you may be exposed to daily. Some media are well-researched, open-source, and as rare as it is, also unbiased. There is also trendy and fun media. This type is entertaining and wants you to keep returning for more. Think of it as the junk food type of media. Then there is toxic media. It’s unhealthy and can affect your well-being. This type of media is based on fear and can make you anxious or angry. For years I have called the media “noise”. It doesn’t matter what type of media it is–newspaper, magazine, television, radio, podcast, social media, etc. Like any other noise, you will want to direct and control how it comes into your life. What are the benefits? Less stress and worry. More clarity and time. Better sleep. A feeling of control of processing information and less impulsive buying. Possibly more energy. You may not find it easy.  Once you begin to pull away from the noise, and look for factual information, you will be surprised or shocked when you next encounter what you are now thinking of as the norm. There is a time and place for information to come into our lives. The benefits are great when we have control of what we are consuming. “The effect of the mass media is not to elicit belief but to maintain the apparatus of addiction.” – Christopher Lasch Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping People On A Journey For Change.

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Several years ago, a craze swept the country that focused on a concept called the law of attraction. Its fundamental principle is “like attracts like.” This law is about manifesting your dreams, wants, and desires. We can be positive, negative, happy, or sad. It’s our choice. If you want and desire something enough, you will find ways to get it. If you truly want to have more money, you can earn it, and if you want to lose those extra pounds, you will by setting your mind to the end result. You will have obstacles that will get in the way. And they will be difficult. We all run into roadblocks and need to find our way through or around them. Sometimes our goals can be delayed for a time while dealing with a tough part of life. You have the power to manifest the results you want. You have the tools to create your determination, purpose, and goal. Here are some thoughts to get you started: Getting to the goal, dream, or the things you want, and desire is not a simple task. But if you are willing to pay the toll, you will achieve the results you are working toward. Remember, you will do what you are thinking and feeling because our thoughts guide us. We create our own circumstances. We have the power within. “The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke Robin Anne Griffiths, E-RYT 200, YACEP – Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping People On A Journey For Change.  Find out more at www.rechargemezone.com.

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Recently I was ill for several days with a head cold and sinus issues. I get it about the same time every few years which I believe begins with allergies from pollen in the air. It annoys me, because I was out of commission for several days. I have a hard time not being able to do anything but rest. It’s not in my nature. I am always busy with projects and a multitude of important and unimportant jobs. But I have to say that recently I have given myself permission to rest. It may be to take a nap, or just to sit outside with no entertainment other than the world around me. The Dutch have perfected the practice of doing nothing, or what they call “niksen”. Niksen means “to do nothing or deliberately do something with no purpose or goal of productivity.” I have written several blogs about mindfulness, but niksen is more about a short period of mindless relaxation. Over the past several years, I have followed studies about the Blue Zones, which are places in the world with the healthiest, longest-living populations. In the blue zones, people downshift daily. They are not immune to stress, but they have routines that help them minimize and shed that stress. They do things like take daily naps, meet with friends and neighbors daily for social time, or just reflect on family and their lives. Also, many have a healthy work-life balance which is slower-paced and simple. The Italians say, “Dolce Far Niente,” which translates as “the sweetness of doing nothing.” This was first brought to my attention when reading the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The Italians were explaining how the American’s idea of relaxing is working hard all week to lie around on the weekends, drinking and watching other people live their lives on television. They explain that Italians may wander home after a few hours of working to take a little nap, they may be inspired by a nearby cafe and sit down to have a glass of wine, or they may just go home to spend time with their family. The idea of doing nothing is an event in and of itself. How to start the art of doing nothing? Don’t overthink. Set a time to sit and stare out a window. Allow your mind to wander aimlessly and let yourself simply be. Being in nature can help you by just listening to the breeze or birds. I have multiple chimes in my yard that I listen to and enjoy just being. Start small. Try 5-10 minutes at a time. Shut off all distractions–TV, computer, and phones. Breathe. Don’t change your breath but listen to it and pay attention to how it moves through the body. Relax. Find a spot where you can be comfortable. Why work on doing nothing? Taking a break is not lazy. It is needed to recharge so you can be more creative and have a better life. Down time is so underrated today. Society has us rushing around to be more, get more, know more, and be totally absorbed. Most of human history, we had time to recharge our mental and physical needs. Do you remember when Sunday was a day of rest? Rest isn’t always about doing absolutely nothing. We need areas in our lives of deep play. We don’t always just turn off a switch to all interest in rest, but allow our attention to deepen, and be fully focused on enjoyment so that nothing can distract us. Winston Churchill himself regarded his midday naps as essential for maintaining his mental balance, renewing his energy, and reviving his spirits. When we take a pause in our daily life and pay attention, we get an internal change and awareness. We notice the small things in life and details that may or may not be important. Think how different the quality of your life may be if you practice the art of doing nothing. “Relax, recharge, reflect. Sometimes it’s OK to do nothing.”–Izey Victoria Odiose.  Robin Anne Griffiths–Founder of ReChargeMe Zone * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping people on a journey for change to live a fuller and healthier life.

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