Sitting alone with your Self

"No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in the still water we can see." - The Wisdom of the Taoists

The other day, I rode in the car on my way to see clients with no radio- just my thoughts. I've been doing it a lot more lately and I'm finding a sense of clarity. I used to hate to hear silence. It always made me think that something was about to happen because I was used to hearing a lot of noise. Silence made me uncomfortable. As I get older, I understand that there is something valuable about sitting alone with your Self. All of the noise and clutter around me was like going on a first date to the movies- you never get to concentrate on getting to know one another because you are focused on the distraction purposely set there between the two of you.

How often do you set aside time to sit alone and get to know yourself. It's a scary thought, but if more of us did so, we would have to be honest about who we really are. The internet is full of personality tests, career tests, tests that tell you who the perfect mate would be for you. The reality of taking those tests are that we sometimes fudge on how we would really answer those questions. We answer those questions based on how we would like to see ourselves, not always based on who we truly are. Then we continue to walk around in this fog of who we would like to be and risk hurt, rejection, and unnecessary disappointments that we inflict on ourselves. Why? Because we don't spend time alone with our Self to understand who we truly are.

Today's challenge:

Take time out to get to know your Self. Go to the movies alone. Go to dinner alone. Understand that you may experience discomfort you may feel being alone with your Self. Find peace with being alone to think clearly and become honest with yourself about who you truly are.

Peace and Blessings

Achieving My Dream As An Author

About 4 years ago, my husband convinced me I should publish the kind of books I like to read. I thought he was crazy at first, but he was on to something.

I've published 3 paperbacks and 3 ebook short stories. I've endured a publisher that didn't keep good records and give me monthly statements without me asking, and an ebook publisher that vanished like Houdini. I also found a great publisher who provides a wonderful home for my books.

I've had the chance to edit for new authors as well as do publicist duties for authors. I realized I prefer the creative space of writing and using the talent God gave me.

Writing has given me a chance to let my readers enjoy literature as much as I do. I've learned so much about business and how to manage the creative side as well.

The literary world is not for the timid, the weak, or those with thin skin. But then and again, going after your dreams involves risk, determination, and ability to endure rejection.

Today's challenge: Go for your dreams as if rejection could not be a factor.

Follow me on Twitter @tgrantlifecoach

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Live Passionately

If you could wake up tomorrow morning and do whatever you always wanted to do, what would that be?

Many of us do what people think we should do and not necessarily what we always envisioned ourselves doing. Maybe you always wanted to go into fashion design, but you instead got a master's in business. You may have a knack for decorating or organizing. What are your talents? What are your interests? Always wanted to take a trip to Paris or Barcelona? What's stopping you?

Sometimes you are your own worst enemy and you spend your time doubting yourself and giving into fear and worry. Then time passes you by and you're left with regret and the ever troublesome "What if?

Live passionately. Make sure you take advantage of opportunity. How much happier would you be if you lived a life fulfilling your dreams?

Today's Challenge: Create a bucket list and enjoy the sense of accomplishment you feel when cross the items you've done off the list!


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Peace and Blessings

Take Time Out

This is the day and age of multi-tasking. So many of us are learning how to do our work, listen to music, and click back and forth to surf the net all at once. Then we go home and have to cook dinner, check homework, and run bathwater simultaneously.

How often do you take time out to walk through your day slowly and take notice of all of the positive things and people in your surroundings? Are you moving too fast to do so?

Your challenge is to take time in the next 24 hours to stop and smell the roses. Appreciate the little things. Pick up the phone to call someone instead of texting. Read a bedtime story to your kids instead of letting the television tuck them in. Eat dinner with your family and talk about how your day was instead of coming home and going through your routine and going straight to bed.

When we take a second in time to really pay attention to life, we will find more positivity in our day than we anticipated, making it impossible to complain or focus on what we don't have.

Peace and Blessings,
Tamara

Follow me on twitter @tgrantlifecoach

Check me out on http://www.iamrenaissance.com/blog/2011/06/28/Health-Forum.aspx posting in the Mental Health and Spiritual Forum!

The Simple Life

I've recently started work with a company that provides mental health services at nursing homes. Working with the geriatric demographic is different for me. I'm used to working with children and families and having a lot of drama when I go out for a visit. Now when I go see my geriatric patients, their needs are totally different- very simple.

Some of the oldest patients I have are in their 90s. By that time, they've seen and done so much. When I come to see them, they often talk about wanting to hear from their families twice a day instead of once a day. Not knowing how to work their cell phones can cause stress. All they want to do is have something else to do besides play Bingo today. I talked to one of my patients and she began to detail some of the problems she's had because of her diabetes. She cut it short saying "Baby, what am I complaining about. I'm 91 and I'm still here. No complaining is necessary, darling. God is good and I'm here to see another day."

I walked out of her room amazed. I'm over here thinking about how to spread my paycheck around to pay all of our bills. I'm over here worrying about how to work extra hours to catch up with bills. My days are now 12 hour days because the work doesn't end when I'm home. I'm blessed enough to work from home as well as the field.

After visiting my patients yesterday, I woke up this morning asking God for some peace. Trying to figure out how to be calm in the midst of the storm. How to effectively ignore negativity and see it coming when negativity is coming my way.

I'm a work in progress. My goal is to live the simple life. And I pray that I'm blessed to see 91 years old and have clarity and peace of mind.

What's your purpose?

My grandmother used to say that there is a season and a purpose for everything. I get it now. To understand the importance of walking in one's purpose is a huge challenge. It involves you being uncomfortable for a little while and understanding why you are here on Earth.

Each of us has a purpose. There is reason and purpose for our lives. We are all spiritually connected and the sooner we figure that out, the better.

I've been in the midst of a storm for at least a year now. Just recently, I've gained the clarity that I've been praying for. I now see that God had to lead me through some things to prepare me for what was in store. I also had to see my way to understanding my purpose.

I'm a dreamer and I sometimes miss the point that is right in front of me. I'm also a planner and I tend to plan things to the point where I may miss taking the first steps when God wants me to. So now I'm at the point where He has dropped it all right in my lap, and the light bulb has finally come on. My husband pointed out to me that I was struggling with some of the ideas that I had because they were not aligned in my purpose. Things finally got to the point where God had to give me a wake up call by leading me by my hand to the place where I needed to be, only for me to recognize that I had used my talents before in the same way because it's what I'm good at.

Your challenge:

What is it that you do that people always ask you to do? Recognize your talents and use them regularly. When we use our talents, we are a blessing to others and we walk in our divine purpose.

Peace and Blessings

Follow me @tgrantlifecoach or on Facebook facebook.com/serenitystrengthconsulting

All in due time

I'm a worrier by nature. I'm always worried about how things will turn out. The reality is that some things are in your control and some things are not. As much as I know that, I still worry. I'm always trying to fix things and maybe some of the worry comes from the control freak in me that wants things to turn out the way I envision them.

This week I had a life lesson that God is burning the midnight oil and working things out, By the morning, there was no need for me to worry because He was moving and working while I should have been calm and asleep. Things do work out and they work out in divine order.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that you are applying for jobs and it you are not getting calls back or landing the job after the interview. God is preparing you. All you can see is that you did not get the job, but maybe that job was not for you because you are not ready or there is something else in store for you.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that your journey to finding the right man or woman seems to wind up in dead end relationships. God wants you to learn from these relationships because he is molding and shaping you for the person that He is sending for you.

Remember all in due time. Remember that when it seems that everyone around you is acheiving their goals and they seem to be where they want to be in their careers and in their personal lives. God has carved out a road ahead made just for you. And yes that road has bumps along the way, but we need those bumps and bruises to remind us to not look back and focus on what's ahead.

Remember all in due time. What God has for you is for you and no one else. Stop looking over at what the next person has. That person has walked their own path to get to where they are. You will get to your destination all in due time.

Peace and Blessings,

Serenity and Strength Consulting

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