Inspire

Shine your light.

Posted on by Shari Swanson

light

You were born to be a blessing to others. To shine your light where there is dark. To sing songs of praise. To give of yourself without holding back.

That’s kind of out there, isn’t it? Scary. Who are you to be shining a light in the dark places of the world, after all?

Marianne Williamson answers this question brilliantly:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Shine, Baby, Shine!

Take a walk.

Posted on by Shari Swanson

morningblessing

There is something magical about walking at sunrise. The world is waking up, the day is brand new, the possibilities seem endless. When that sky begins to light up, it’s like you are present for a secret fireworks display or an unveiling of a masterpiece. It is hard not to gape in awe, frankly. And that experience– awe– is powerful.

Awe can make us at once feel very small in the enormity of the universe,

calvin

but also as if we are very special and uniquely privileged to be let in on a secret. We are part of something beautiful and mysterious and far greater than our own worries and concerns.

In fact, experiencing awe changes us, making us more generous and, maybe, even, more, ethical. That sense of being part of something far larger than ourselves is therapeutic:

Participants consistently reported that awe produced “a reduced sense of self importance relative to something larger and more powerful that they felt connected to,” says Piff. And subsequent analysis confirmed that this feeling of the “small self” was responsible for their ethical behavior. This seems to suggest that experiencing awe prompts people to help others.

And there is something pretty magical about walking, too, especially in nature. Undoubtedly, the physical benefits of walking are many. But the psychological benefits can’t be denied either.

And then there are the benefits to our creative lives. Beethoven was known for his long walks, often incorporating the sounds he heard in the woods into his compositions. In fact, many musicians, artists and philosophers swore by the benefits of walking to their creative lives.

So maybe today, the answer to the stresses facing you, the tumult of disagreement, the anxiety over the future, is to open the front door and hit the pavement or, better yet, the open trail.

 

Show a stranger a little kindness

Posted on by Shari Swanson

strangerkindnessHave you ever been at a restaurant or grocery store with a crying or tantrumming child? It’s awful, that feeling of everyone staring at you and blaming you for somehow disrupting their lives. Not to mention, the criticism and judgment! Some people are only too eager to point out just what you are doing wrong and how you shouldn’t be out in public if you can’t control your children. But, sometimes, a stranger reaches out and helps– offers to amuse the baby, gives you a wink of encouragement, tells you they’ve been there, too, and that things will get better. That little act of kindness makes all the difference. We can’t control whether we will run into the kind sort of stranger when we are most overwhelmed. But, we can remember what it was like when someone was kind when we were overwrought and BE that kind stranger to someone struggling. When we remember what a difference that type of kindness made in our lives, we realize that simple things–holding a door for someone carrying packages, smiling when someone is overwhelmed with their kids, offering to help pick up fallen papers– matter tremendously.

Spread some joy.

Posted on by Shari Swanson

infectiousjoy

Have you seen the video of Chewbacca mom? It is now the most watched video of all time. That laugh! That joy! After this video went viral, Chewbacca masks flew off the shelves. They were virtually unobtainable, with prices going into the tens of thousands of dollars online. Candace Payne became an overnight celebrity, featured on talk shows and invited to Facebook, Kohls, and the Star Wars show. There is even a Chewbacca Mom doll available now.

Why was there a stampede for the masks? Perhaps when watching her unbridled joy, people wanted some of what she was having. And the masks are funny, no doubt. But the joy is in her as you can see by the beautiful video she made in response to the Orlando shooting.

In the second video, singing Michael Jackson’s, Heal the World, Candace Payne invites us to “Make a better place, y’all. Fill it with joy, not hate. Come on.” The lyrics are something we can draw on every day:

If you want to know why
There’s love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares of joyful giving
If we try we shall see
In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear of dread
We stop existing and start living

Today, follow Candace Payne’s lead, not in buying a Chewbacca mask, but in spreading the joy and making the world a better place.

Lighten up

Posted on by Shari Swanson

groucho

Heard a good joke lately? Watched a funny cat video perhaps? Maybe a picture of a spaniel in a Groucho mask?

Humor is always good for the heart and soul. It can even, maybe, cure what ails you. Dr Cynthia Thaik, a cardiologist, says:

An old Yiddish proverb says, “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” Everyone knows that laughter makes you feel good and puts you in high spirits, but did you also know that laughter actually causes physiological responses that protect the body from disease and help your vital organs repair themselves? A good laugh can be compared to a mild workout, as it exercises the muscles, gets the blood flowing, decreases blood pressure and stress hormones, improves sleep patterns and boosts the immune system. Furthermore, a study by the John Hopkins University Medical School showed that humor and laughter can also improve memory and mental performance. Yet despite the fact that laughter has so many benefits, far too many of us forget to even crack a smile every once in a while, let alone laugh.

She suggests some ways to lighten up with humor. Finding the humor in a bad situation can make it better. Mirth releases endorphins and is contagious, a twofer! Surrounding yourself with funny people or remembering funny incidents can lift your mood.

Take time to laugh today. If you need help finding your funny, consider this. Or you can always get a dog and put him in a Groucho mask.