Encouragement Living

A Ritual to Read to Each Other

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

If you don't know the kind of person I am

and I don't know the kind of person you are

a pattern that others made may prevail in the world

and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,

a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break

sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood

storming out to play through the broken dyke.

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,

but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,

I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty

to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,

a remote important region in all who talk:

Though we could fool each other, we should consider-

lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.

For it is important that awake people be awake

or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep,

the signals we give - yes or no, or maybe -

Should be clear; the darkness around us is deep.

~ William Stafford, American Poet

When we feel good inside we treat others better

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0000

There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity. – Nathaniel Branden, Psychologist/Philosopher

Bill Moyers always gets it right!

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:05:00 +0000

Another terrific essay from one of the nation's truly wise persons, Bill Moyers. Woody Guthrie, more relevant than ever

Beyond the Clouds There is More

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:29:00 +0000

Excellent thoughs on staying power, endurance, seeing past the gloom, surviving the storm. See them here: Fleeting Gold

Put a little light in YOUR life, and light up someone's life today.

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Here are some terrific thoughts to begin 2012 with: Put a little light in YOUR life, and light up someone's life today.

Let the Magic Begin

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:47:00 +0000

Happy 2012!

Let the Magic Begin

Holiday Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Beautiful thoughts for this season. See them here: Lasting Happiness

8 Sleep Myths

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:16:00 +0000

Sleep deprivation adversely effects us in a whole variety of ways. Too many of us in these days of endless activities, long work schedules, physical tension and emotional stress often fail to get enough sleep. Our bodies remain in a perpetual state of weariness. Here are some common myths about sleep that may help you get a better night of sleep. 8 Sleep Myths | Yahoo! Health

The stronger pull...

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:42:00 +0000

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of that which you really love.” ~ Rumi, Persian Poet

Yoga for an Ache-Free Winter

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Easy yoga moves that don't take long and will help protect you from winter aches, pains, and stiffness. Try them out! Yoga for an Ache-Free Winter

What is success, really?

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:11:00 +0000

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

How to Stay Flu-Free for the Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:12:00 +0000

This all sounds a bit extreme to me, sort of like we can't really have human contact any longer without conscious rules of guarding ourselves against germs. But the flu is nothing to laugh at so maybe all of these tips are necessary. See what you think: How to Stay Flu-Free for the Holidays - Health News - Health.com

We are all here for a reason

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:39:00 +0000

"I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason." ~ Hugo Cabret, from the movie "Hugo"

The sometimes drain of always giving to others

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:32:00 +0000

Encouragement needs to be reciprocal. If you are always encouraging, affirming, supporting, giving pats on the back, but never receiving any of your own, then it's easy to wear down and begin to feel emotionally depleted.

We don't encourage others just so we can be praised for it or told how great we are. We do it because we care, we love, we empathize, we identify, and because we want something good for that person.

But caregivers, people who give of themselves to others, also need their own good feelings of affirmation, acceptance, and appreciation.

Find ways to be available to good feelings of acceptance, appreciation, and gratitude for who you are, how you give of yourself to others, and for the love you share. Be with those who offer these affirmations to you. Be open to the generosity and care of others. Freely accept smiles, warm embraces, encouraging words, loving touches, and grace from the friends and people who love and appreciate you.

Be willing to treat yourself in ways that fulfill some of your own needs for acknowledgement and care.

Finding meaning in life

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:02:00 +0000

“By declaring that man is responsible and must actualize the potential meaning of his life, I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system. I have termed this constitutive characteristic ‘the self-transcendence of human existence.’ It denotes the fact that being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself--be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself--by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love--the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself.” ~ Viktor Frankl, Man in Search of Meaning

Our Inner Wounds

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:48:00 +0000

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.” ~ David Richo, Psychotherapist/Teacher/Author

Perseverance

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:47:00 +0000

A Happiness Tale

6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Work can often be the worst place for sedentary routines. Unless your job requires a lot of indoor or outdoor activity you may then forget how much you sit each day. Here are some simple easy ways to keep moving during work even if you spend most of your day in a cubicle or small space. See the tips here: Health.com

Ten Thoughts to Help You Avoid Discouragement .

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:51:00 +0000

"Judge no one, and disappointment and forgiveness won't be an issue. No one can let you down if you're not leaning on them. People can't hurt you unless you allow them to." This is number 9 from the article below. Good thoughts for all of us. See the rest of them here: Ten Thoughts to Help You Avoid Discouragement .

Black Friday - Seriously?

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:31:00 +0000

I do not comprehend the Black Friday phenomenon. What is the allure of that wild masochistic activity? Fair minded marketing experts who stay with just the facts say that a couple of weeks, sometimes just days after it's all over those great prices people fought the insanity to get drop significantly. Why put yourself through all of that? Supposedly, if you don't subject yourself to that stampeding, frenzy abuse you might miss getting that prized gift at a bargain price. Most of it will be junk in a year or two. Do we realize the value we are putting on things? How many of us give that much energy and time and expense to our relationships? Our job? Our health?

Shopping can be a fun, useful, enjoyable experience. But waiting in long lines outside some mall or giant store in the middle of the night and then once in elbowing your way through narrow aisles packed with angry, pushy shoppers seems somehow strangely messed up. It may be good for store owners, and it might provide some kind of boost to the economy, but is this just another way of contributing to the collapse of our society? Giving so much of ourselves to this orgy of spending at the expense of our social order, how we treat others, and what we consider really important, is worth thinking about.

Forget Black Friday. Stay home and bake a pie. Take your dog for a long walk. Play with your kids at the park. Watch a good movie. Spend the day with someone you love. All that stuff in the stores will still be there and probably be cheaper next week. And if not, so what? There will always be something else to buy.

(c) 2011 Timothy Moody

A place of quiet in the madness of the season

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:55:00 +0000

It is a hectic time. People are getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Relatives are coming in. There is the food list to carry to the store and check off down the aisles. Gotta get the house ready. Kids are out of school and the long break has the potential for exhaustion. Take a moment to read this brief essay. See if you can find your own place of quiet in the midst of all the season's chaos. Disappear here: The Golden Hours

The New Secret to Being Emotionally Healthy, Fit, and Happy for Life

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Most of us have times when we catch ourselves in very critical self talk. If we fail to go to the gym, eat a sugary treat, have too much to drink, miss a deadline at work, for some of us, it's very easy to start in on ourselves. But health experts say negative self talk is counter productive and ruins our motivation to stay fit, make healthy choices, and be more responsible. Here is a brief article with some excellent thoughts on how to give ourselves some slack even when we mess up. See it here: Self-Compassion

What Thanksgiving is for

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:34:00 +0000

“Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.”

~ Sanaya Roman, Writer/Mystic

I am not a believer in seed faith and the popular prosperity gospel that has almost completely taken over modern Christianity in this country. These TV and other preachers who tell you that if you give a seed gift of $1,000 you will be changed forever and God will send you a harvest of money rolling endlessly into your life is just old fashioned circus barking.

I do, however, believe there is something to appreciating life and showing gratitude for the gifts we are given. I think Roman's quote above is good but it needs another line. One that says the increases in the things we appreciate and give thanks for come from our personal acts of appreciation and gratitude. In other words, when we show that we are grateful, the things/people/circumstances we appreciate, most often respond in good and receptive ways.

In this Thanksgiving season, find ways to demonstrate your appreciation and gratitude for the people you love, for the gifts you have been given, for life itself. Skip the easy e-card route and send an actual greeting card with a personal note to someone you appreciate. Give a thoughtful present. Pull out your cell and make a call. Stop by and visit an old friend or a lonely person. Order someone flowers. Make an anonymous contribution to a charity. Share a smile with a passing stranger or one of those tired sales associates at the end of the grueling lines at the mall.

Just being glad and showing it, for what poet Mary Oliver called "a little cup of sun," is what Thanksgiving is for.

The Birds’ Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:27:00 +0000

I like this author. She captures visual images in her words, images that are common and simple but so instructive. As we move into the last days of autumn and prepare soon for Thanksgiving, enjoy this brief essay. See it here: A Happiness Tale

Connecting to others

noreply@blogger.com (theuncladsoul.blogspot.com) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:55:00 +0000

"Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others." ~ Harriet Goldhor Learner, Psychologist/Author