Posts tagged with “wisdom”
When Things Donāt Work Out: Who Knows If It’s Good or Bad?
āItās not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean.ā ~Tony Robbins
I recently received a rejection letter for a voluntary role befriending and supporting a child in the care system. I was excited at the prospect of supporting a child who had likely been through a lot, and had been quietly confident that I would be great in the role.
After all, I am an emotionally responsible, fun-loving, deeply caring adult who had lived through a ton of difficulty: addiction and alcoholism (my own and my motherās); growing up in …
When We Love and Accept Ourselves, the World Fits Around Us
āIf you feel like you donāt fit in in this world, it is because you are here to help create a new one.ā ~Jocelyn Daher
Since I can remember, I never felt comfortable in my skin. I would watch everyone else, and it seemed as though they knew exactly how to be themselves. Even as a toddler I couldnāt understand why I wasnāt like everybody else. From those earliest memories I thought something was wrong with me if I didnāt feel, understand, or think the same as someone else.
My insecurities started young and grew as I got older. …
10 Creative Ways to Express Gratitude
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ~William Arthur Ward
Itās probably no surprise to you that gratitude is one of the most effective ways to increase your own happinessāand the happiness of others. But did you know that practicing gratitude can also make you healthier, less stressed, and more optimistic? Plus, itās even been shown to have positive effects on your career and relationships.
Gratitude is clearly a worthwhile practice, and there are tons of wonderful resources online (even here on Tiny Buddha!) filled with insights, inspiration, and ideas for …
Choose to Shine: Your Smile Is More Powerful Than You Think
āShine like the whole Universe is yours.ā ~Rumi
I had a revolutionary experience at a grocery store. Yes, a grocery store. Iāll never forget that day.
I believe that some of the most mundane and unimportant places Iāve visited have been the bedrock of my spiritual growth.
There is so much to witness at a store: people frantically trying to load up for the weekend, elderly in their motorized carts, people in line glued to their smart phones, and then of course the workers that 90% of the time seem achingly miserable and sad.
It was like any other day …
A Surprising Way to Let Go of Painful Feelings and the Past
āWe do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.ā ~Marianne Williamson
Iāve struggled with it.
Letting go, I mean. Iāve struggled with moving on from my past. Iāve struggled with ridding myself of guilt, shame, and grief. Iāve struggled with freeing myself from mistakes, past relationships, and worries about the future.
Itās not that I havenāt tried. Believe me, Iāve tried really hard. Iāve written goodbye letters, mentally cut the energetic cords, and fiercely gone back into the pain to free myself fully from it. Iāve cried my eyes …
The Self-Analysis Trap: Stop Dissecting Your Every Thought and Action
āExplanation separates us from astonishment, which is the only gateway to the incomprehensible.ā ~Eugene Ionesco
We are taught from a very young age that it is our responsibility to reflect on the motives behind our actions and behaviors. From the time we can form sentences, we are asked the questions: āWhy did you make that choice?ā and āWhat made you do that?ā
These questions often follow bad behavior and punishment. Our parents were trying to teach us, with the best of intentions, that we are responsible for our own actions.
This is a necessary lesson for young children, who are …
Healing from Heartache: How to Ease the Pain
āBe gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.ā ~Max EhrmannĀ
If you looked at your broken heart and allowed for tenderness, you would feel better. Maybe not completely better, but there would be a softening. Compassion for yourself is soothing. When our hearts are aching, we need all the soothing we can get.
If you looked at your broken heart from the perspective of the loving mother within you, you would see that the only thing you need right now is …
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 