Everywhere you look there’s lists – 7 ways to lose 20 pounds overnight, 10 ways to make your family comfortable during the winter, 3 steps to having the shortest wait in line….etc etc.

So I decided that this would be the week of lists (it’s actually 9 days), starting with the day before Christmas (a day of birth no matter what your religious beliefs) and ending on the 1st of January. Why? Because taking an inventory in this way is very helpful for you to start the new year off right. I also will be putting out two things in this coming week – 1) a special report on “New Beginnings, Not New Resolutions” and 2) information on what’s coming in 2016 for Getting Unstuck, LLC and me.

These list ideas will only take you a few minutes to do but they will help you develop a great inventory and plan for what you want next year.

7 Gifts You’ve Received This Year

This first list is appropriate since tomorrow is traditionally the day of giving gifts. But before you start receiving the gifts from friends and loved ones, take out a piece of paper and write down 7 gifts you’ve received this year.

Remember that a gift does NOT have to be a material one. It may be the gift of love, the gift of friendship, the gift of health, the gift of spiritual awakening, and on and on.

Put down the 7 most important gifts you were given in 2016. After you’ve listed them, take several minutes to express gratitude for these wonderful gifts. Say it out loud if you are in a place where you can. If not, say your “Gratitudes” silently.

Enjoy this week of lists!

Terrie

This is a follow-on from yesterday’s post. But it definitely bears repeating. I love to follow this philosophy every day of the year but this is a great time to start practicing it in preparation for the coming year.

What is something small you can do today that will be a bit extra and help someone? You know, it could be just talking to someone for a bit longer than usual – making them realize that someone else in the world knows they exist. I always remember the movie (sorry I can’t remember the name but it might be “switch” where the guy has an accident and can hear everything that’s going on in other people’s minds. And he accidentally bumps into a young girl who is carrying supplies that tumble all over. He stops and helps and she is so impressed that he even notices her. Later he just “knows” something is going on with her and his actions prevent her from killing herself. It was something simple but it made her feel as if someone cared about her. You have no idea what your kinds words might do for another person.

Spend a little more time writing letters or thank you notes. You don’t have to receive something to write a thank you note. Did you ever think of that? Just write a thank you note for someone being in your life. For them being your friend or still liking you even though you’re family (sort of a joke).

What extra thing can you do for someone today…and tomorrow and every day after that? Remember to journal all that you do. It will be great to help you when you try to chronicle your year next year!

Have  a great holiday week and be safe!

Terrie

Everywhere you look, there’s ads for this and ads for that. If you look at them closely, you’ll also see that the marketers seem to associate all the things you can buy with love. I find that kind of irritating but I definitely understand marketing techniques so I have to accept that.

What we don’t have to accept, however, is that Christmas equates to the stress, tension and worry about what gift to give to whom and “shop til you drop” attitude. I am so “over” that.

What are we teaching the younger folks (and your children if you have them) about the meaning of the holidays and whatever religious observance is yours? Do they even understand that Christmas does NOT equal “Gift-mas” (in Spanish wouldn’t that be “more gifts”?)?

What are the non-physical gifts that you can give to someone? And even though you could give them all year round, there’s nothing wrong with reaffirming them at this time of year.

Could you give the gift of friendship? Or even strengthen your friendship with someone? Is there anyone you have a relationship with that you could talk to more, reach out to more, find out if there’s anything in their lives that they might need some help with? How do you define friendship anyway? Do you need to revisit that definition?

What about family? Are there family members that you don’t communicate with frequently through the year? Could you make more of an effort to do that? Do you want to reach out to them and let them know what’s going on in your life and find out what’s going on in theirs?

What about volunteering? Is there something you’ve “been meaning” to do but just ‘haven’t gotten around to it”? Even though there are places you can do a one or two time volunteering, think about whether you’re ready to make a commitment for the upcoming year. Is there some place you’d really feel it’s rewarding to volunteer at all the time? Make a list of things you like to do and places you might want to volunteer at. Then see what the commitment will be and if you have the time and are interested enough to do that. If so, then go talk to them. If you don’t have that much time, is there any place you can go periodically to help them out?

What type of charities do you support? Do they need additional support at this time of year? If so, can you start some spring cleaning and pick up the coins around the house and donate them? You may think that’s not much and you’d be embarrassed to donate that but if everyone did that, can you imagine how much money we could donate to various charities?

Is there something or someone at work that you can influence with the gift of love? Is there anyone who has some problems with the holidays – maybe having lost a loved one, doesn’t have a loved one, or is geographically separated from one? What can you do to help?

These are just some ideas to try to get people beyond the “what should I buy for Joe Blow” mentality of the holidays.

Terrie

Although I posted this on Facebook last week, I wanted to put it here because it’s the embodiment of metaphysical principles. And what a perfect time of year for this too!

This is very funny as well as extremely pertinent. Watch it, listen to the message and then practice it. The fact that illness is caused by anger and resentment (and many of the other negative emotions) is such a powerful concept – and the fact that it’s delayed is also important to realize. We hold on to anger, hate, blame, resentment for so long that it just eats away inside your body (who would have ever thought that the expression – “what’s eating you” would have real meaning). Send out love to free your body from disease and stress. Watch and enjoy.

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a Yankee fan and although there are many famous Yankees, Yogi Berra is an American Icon and lives on despite his passing this year.

I think this quote of his is pertinent to our studies. Many people just stop cold when they come to the fork in a road. They are indecisive and don’t have any idea where to go. So, instead of being courageous and picking one of the paths, they just stop and then never go anywhere else in life.

Has this ever happened to you? Have you been so scared or uncertain that you’ve just remained immobile and not done anything. I know that’s happened to me. It also occurs when people are feeling insecure and have the perfectionistic procrastination complex. Procrastination often results from perfectionism and people don’t complete what they start (or even start doing it) because they are afraid it’s not going to be perfect. So they just don’t do anything at all.

Don’t be that way. Just move and know that the Universe is on your side and will take you where you’re supposed to be – if you trust it and relax into making your decision.  I also know from running on paths in the woods that sometimes the paths will merge together again after awhile (far enough away that you can’t see the merge from where you are). So, you have no idea what’s ahead. You just need to know that you are going to be taken care of by the Universe.

So, stop stalling and take one of the paths…go on, you can do it!

Terrie