Daily Gratitude

Research shows that people who keep a daily gratitude list feel better about their lives as a whole and feel more optimistic about the coming week. Compared to control groups, they exercise more frequently and report fewer physical complaints. They also experience more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and exhibit more helpful behavior towards friends and neighbors. (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) -- more... What are you grateful for? Here's my list today. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

Wow. I am just so grateful for my life...I am bursting! Thank you for a great sleep last night. Thank you for a great mental rehearsal this morning. Thank you for my wonderful husband that I get to wake up next to every morning. Thank you for my beautiful, incredible kids--and thank you that they both got up on their own this morning! Thank you that we got to the bus on time and everything was relatively smooth. Thank you for Lyn's reminder bracelet--as well as all of the other inspiration and tools that help me be a better mom to her. Thank you for my talkcast last night! Thank you for vision, wisdom, clarity, and understanding. Thank you for my new sanctuary! Thank you for all of the wonderful, amazing things that are popping up all around me--just what I always wanted!!!! It is so beautiful and wonderful. Thank you for my GREAT bike ride this morning--the new places I discovered, the beautiful falling leaves, and still getting back on time! Thank you for Tony and Wendy--wow...thank you for Wendy. That was incredible! Thank you for Sue, and for all the lessons learned that make me a better and better person every day.

Talkcast 11/4: Stress & The Body

Notes from tonight's Stress Solutions talkcast. Did you miss the show? Listen the recording online or download the mp3 here: www.StressFreeRevolution.com/talkcast

Additional links & resources:

Dr. Joe Dispenza's website: www.DrJoeDispenza.com

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's website: www.DrJillTaylor.com

Dr. Jill on Oprah's Soul Series: Click here.

Dr. Frank Lawlis' book The Stress Answer on Amazon.com.

The Lawlis & Peavey Center: www.LawlisPeavey.com

Stressed Out to the Max on the Dr. Phil Show.

Stress: Portrait of a Killer on PBS: www.PBS.org/stress

What are some ways you can jolt your synaptic connections apart?

• Stand on furniture
• Do things with the opposite hand
• Go to a new town, new restaurant, new country!
• Move furniture
• Get rid of your "stuff"
• Take alternate transportation
• Smell fresh cut flowers
• Start dancing

Add your ideas in the comments!

Lesson 19: Change and Acceptance (Part 5)

This post is my thoughts on a lesson from the Beyond Freedom home study course for personal growth and life achievement. This course has been instrumental in transforming my life from stress-full to stress-FREE. Order your own copy today at: http://www.LibertyLeague.com/margieremmers And transform YOUR life from where you are now, to where you want to be.

Over the last few days I have really been working through this lesson. This is why Beyond Freedom is considered a 90-day program even though there are actually only 29 lessons. Sometimes you just need time to work through stuff!

Yesterday I answered the question, "What are the top three things you would like to change about yourself?"

You can read the entire post here, but basically I chose:
1. My physical appearance
2. My social standing
3. My perfectionism

Today's question is...

3. What are the habits you have established to enable those undesirable behaviors to flourish?

Wow. Placing the responsibility smack on my shoulders!!!!

In fact, yesterday I wrote about those very habits. I know I could be thinner and have a better body--but I just don't do it.

I know I could have more friends if I put in the effort--but I just don't do it.

Now, the perfectionism thing...that's a little harder. I think it's because with losing weight and gaining friends are things I can DO, whereas with perfectionism, it's things I should NOT do.

But thinking about it now, perhaps the answer is to find things that specifically break my perfectionism habit--like leave a (gasp!) typo in this post?! :o)

The point is, and what this lesson brings out so clearly, is that everything we want to change about ourselves is just a choice--choosing to walk toward what we want or walk away from what we want.

So I think I have time to answer one more question in this exercise:

4. Can you forgive yourself and accept who you are? (Write the answer in a complete sentence.)

Yes, I can forgive myself and accept who I am.

It's interesting. I got back from the Bahamas a few weeks ago, where I had the opportunity to spend time with Andy Andrews, author of The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success. One of the decisions is "The Responsible Decision." Andy explained that taking responsibility for something does not mean taking the blame for how you got there, but rather, taking responsibility for your future. He quotes Harry S. Truman, "The buck stops here," and says that we must decide that, "I will not let my history control my destiny."

So yes, I can forgive myself and accept who I am, but I will also take responsibility for my future. If I want these things to change, then I must be responsible for taking the action to make it happen.