Metamorphose to Positive Living

Lately, I’ve attended several funerals of family and friends. The funerals have caused me to ponder about life and how I show value in my life and the lives of those I love? Funerals are a reminder that we will not be alive forever. We should spend time thinking of what we value in life. Perhaps, once you have done some reflection, you can live humbly and appreciate what you have in life. Surround yourself with people who value the same things as you and leave the people with values not the same as yours behind.  A first step to valuing our lives is to take inventory of what adds joy and happiness to everyday life. Next, take opportunities to train your mind to be stronger, more resilient, and more equipped to deal with things life throws at you. Then, take on a mindset to just live in the moment. Avoid the urge to overanalyze or predict and plan things too far out. I believe that one of the reasons little kids and happy couples on dates are happy is because they live in the moment...

We should celebrate life every day in some way. Life has a way of bringing sadness and joy. We naturally dwell on what is making us miserable. It takes a new mindset and daily practice to celebrate the bliss. It takes practice to let go of the thought that our circumstances affect our happiness. Therefore, we must constantly tell ourselves we hold the power for our pleasure. Essentially, the first step is allowing our minds to acknowledge that we can create our delight. As a teacher, I have witnessed students struggle with learning content. They felt defeated or inadequate when the assignments seemed overwhelming or challenging. On the other hand, I have observed these same students feel confident in their abilities to do other things. The students got small wins through their successes. I always made a big deal about the little wins. I did it because I knew celebrating built their confidence. Their confidence would be greater for the next arduous task. A beautiful life that is celebra...

Day-to-day schedules for many are jammed packed with activities. We are running from the time our heads are lifted from the pillows. No breaks to just breathe and take in what is going on around us. Have you ever assessed your ability to be fully present and aware of where you are and what you are doing? We must slow down and be mindful of taking care of ourselves. Thus, learn how to be less busy and overly reactive to what is going on around us. Mindfulness is a great way to connect to your inner mental, emotional, and physical processes. Having a technique or tool to focus on pausing and breathing in between all the moments we encounter in our day enhances our well-being and health. Mindfulness is available to us everywhere. For example, taking breathing breaks, closing our eyes for a few seconds, or simply sitting quietly for periods. Here are some benefits of using mindfulness to be present ad less reactive to all that goes on in the day:  1. Reduce stress 2. Enhance performanc...

Often, we probably experience a range of emotions, unease, frustration, joy, or disappointment. These emotions often are sparked from some event based on our interactions throughout our day. Your response to these events can fluctuate based on your frame of mind and the circumstances encompassing the situation. Many folks have some emotional triggers. However, emotional triggers might look a little different from person to person. As seen at this year’s Oscars, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on public television. Will Smith could not control his emotions. Even after the slapping, he continued to say defiled words towards Chris Rock. Emotional problems, including depression and anxiety disorders, are in very high quantities lately. The pandemic may be an imperative piece of the puzzle represented by these rampant social and public health problems. Whatever the case, emotional associated concerns must be acknowledged and treated as significant.  How to Identify Them An emotional trigg...