Hug Your Ego

I started doing this awhile back, and don't always remember to do it in every moment it is needed but  seriously this one thing helps A LOT!
If you can manage to do this before ego is in full tantrum it works really quickly, if in full blow tantrum it sometimes takes a little longer to remember to do.
Practice this visualization so that you can call on the visual whenever you need to.

First - start out picturing your ego, visualize a 2-5 year old version of yourself, and make sure that version is an unhappy kid, the one with a little snot hanging out, with red eyes from crying, shoulders slumped, maybe the arm of a teddy bear in one hand with the rest of it dragging on the floor, head down with your hair limply hanging in front of your face, feet pointing awkwardly inward. This is your ego, a sad, probably scared little kid.

Second - picture you now, happy, loving and compassionate, and really feel it.

Third - Picture you now giving that sad, scared little kid a great big loving hug. Feel what it would feel like to be that little kid getting such love, kindness, compassion and support in knowing that everything is going to be okay.

That's it. easy peasy. If you are not a visual person and are more auditory, hear the sounds of a tantrum - yelling, screaming, moaning, crying and then think of the soothing words that would make that child feel better and have them quiet down. Choose a couple of words and use them as your trigger words (shhh everything is going to be alright etc. be creative)

You can be proactive with this one too, if you don't like public speaking but know you have to do a presentation in front of co-workers, fellow students, bosses, teachers, whoever, before you go up there take those deep breaths, and picture this, let your ego be calmed before you need to go out there, your fear will instantly be soothed as your ego is soothed, for they are often one and the same.

An A-HA Moment

I had a moment today where I realized that I have the absolute confidence in what I do and what I am creating with my Holistic business, and for once (and forever now), that confidence is unshakable. I know that it can be a hard thing when other people (especially family) express their thoughts, opinions, or judgement's, for me to not take it to heart and second guess what I am doing in my life, and if it really is the correct decision. So today I had a family member randomly make a comment, I don't think it was intended as a 'dig' or as something that I would have held on to to think about later, but I am grateful for them saying what they did! it created the thought process that led me to really understand and own that I am confident in my chosen path and the success of said path.
I think that my striving to achieve lasting happiness gave me the tools to really look at my situation at any given time and try to see the positive in everything which lead me to my a-ha today! and allowed me to enjoy my happiness and not focus on the initial negative 5 second moment, that I could have stretched out all day!

I love positive growth!

The gratitude five

Something that I find really useful is writing down 5 things at the end of the day that I am really grateful for. I like to do this right before I go to bed, I find that it helps me fall asleep faster and have a better sleep. I think it's because I am focusing on something really positive that it prevents me from worrying myself awake.
Plus, I look for things in my day that I am going to put in my gratitude journal so I try to see positive thing throughout my day to make it easier at night.
I do have a journal that is specifically for gratitude too, I still like to have a journal that I can vent in if I want to!
And I don't limit myself to five things but I do make that my minimum required happy/grateful things!

I have noticed that I am happier because of this simple thing!