Inspiration Archive

This archive contains all of the Journal Topics and Thought of the Week
topics that have appeared on the Heal With Hope website.

Journal Topics Archive:
 

~ If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

~ If given the opportunity to go back and relive one day in your life, what day would it be?

~ What I enjoy most about summer is...

~ This summer is going to be different than last, because...

~ What changes can you make that would help you to achieve better health?

~ You are writing your life's story and it is time to write the final chapter...

~ If you could be reincarnated as anyone or anything, who/what would it be?

 ~ The one thing I want people to remember about me when I am gone would be...

~ The meaning of Love is...

~  If you could turn back time: what age would you like to be again, or what experience would you like to have a chance to live over again?

~  What do you like most about Winter?

~  What are your goals for 2010? What steps can you take to accomplish them?

~ What is the greatest gift you have ever given or received?

~ If you were able to be reincarnated, who/what would you like to come back as?

~ The experience that has changed me the most is...

~ Are you in the place in life you want to be? Take some time to evaluate where you are and also where you would like to be...write about this, and include ideas for what you can do to accomplish this!

~  Do you have a pet, past or present, that has had an impact on your life? Write about the lessons you have learned from them.

~ Who is the one person you would most like to meet?

~ Take a moment to sit quietly and relax. Close your eyes. Take several deep, slow breaths. When you feel peaceful and calm, pick up your pen
and start writing about the first thing that comes to mind.~ How do you define independence? Is this a quality you see in yourself?  If so, does it serve you well, or hinder you?

~ As you reflect on your life, what are you most proud of? What would you want be remembered for?

~  Write about summers past...your favorite childhood memories, special vacations, time spent with family and friends...

~  What would your life look like if you stopped making excuses for the things you want, but don't seem to be able to achieve?

~  What people don't know about me that would surprise them is...

~ If you knew you could not fail, and were free of concern about the opinion's of others, what changes would you make in your life??

~  Do you believe in karma - that "what you give is what you get"?

~  Would you describe yourself as a person who lives in positive expectation (good things are on the way, will work out, etc) or one of negative expectation (expecting the worst to happen or focused on what is wrong instead of what is right)?

~  Make a "Will Do" list - all of the things you can do to improve your health and live a happier life.  Then reflect upon changes you can make to make this a reality!

~  It is Spring - a time of rebirth and renewal. It is also a great time to reflect upon your own life and perhaps do a bit of "sprouting" yourself... what new adventure(s) would you like to explore?

~  What is the best advice you have ever received? Did you follow it?  How did it impact your life? 

~  Think back to a year ago...is your life moving in the direction you want it to? If not, what can you do to reverse course?

~ Try keeping a reverse gratitude journal this week - instead of writing about the blessings that have come to you, keep a record of the blessings you have bestowed upon others - perhaps going out of your way for someone, showing kindness to someone in need, lending an ear to someone even though you had lots left on your to-do list, or even just sharing a smile with everyone you come in contact with. Write about how it feels to be focused on giving rather than receiving.
 

Thought of the Week Archive:  

Did you know that people who have an "attitude of gratitude" are happier & healthier?  Test it for yourself: for the next 30 days each night before bed make a list of all that you are grateful for that occurrred that day. It doesn't have to be major things - maybe someone held a door for you when your hands were full, or your enjoyment of nature's beauty as you went for a walk.  At the end of the month don't be surprised if you find your outlook on life is a bit brighter...and your appreciation for life stronger! 

~ People can be toxic too!  In an effort to reduce your toxic exposure you may be eating organic foods, and wearing organic clothing, but have you eliminated the toxic people in your life?  People who cause you stress or bring you down are not good for your health either!  So either find ways to avoid spending time with these people, or find ways to reduce and eliminate the stress they cause you!  Stress; Visualization; Relaxation Techniques; Meditation

~ Affirmations are a powerful tool for keeping you focused on the positive!  Write down the positive things you want to attract and be.  Leave them in ~ places you spend a lot of time - on your desk, your bathroom vanity, kitchen counter, or bedside table. Adding an attitude of gratitude makes affirmations even more powerful.  An example: I give thanks for my healthy body, powerful mind, and peaceful spirit.

~ Are you drinking enough water? As the weather heats up don't forget to increase your fluid intake, particularly water! It is easy to become dehydrated, and the symptoms are not always as you would expect - did you know feeling light-headed, nauseaeous, and tired may mean your body is in need of water?  So get out and enjoy the beautiful warm weather...with a glass of refreshing water by your side!

~ No more excuses! Winter is over and the time for hibernation has ended!  Get out each day for a walk, jog, or bike-ride.  While you strengthen your physical body, you can also improve your mental health if you make exercise time a no-think zone.  Let go of work worries, and personal concerns and give your mind a break, too! 

~ Luck isn't something you get...it is something you make.   It’s a state of being…of possibilities, not limitations. It is the mindset that says, yes I can. It is accepting that everything happens for a reason and has a purpose. It is picking yourself up even when life seems to be pulling you down. It is seeing the sun even when it is hiding behind the clouds. Luck is the promise tomorrow holds, and the blessings of this day.

~  Vitamin D time!  No more excuses - the warmer weather is here.  So set an intention to get some natural Vitamin D (the miracle vitamin - important for preventing illness and keeping you healthy!) each day.  Just 15 minutes will do it!  And remember you need to expose your skin to the sun, so no long sleeves! If you work in an office all day bring your lunch and find a sunny spot to eat it!  Go for a walk, work in the garden, or lounge by the pool.  Enjoy!!

~  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:  Earth Day is upon us (April 22nd) and if you don't practice the 3 R's, it is time you started!!  If each of us took even small steps to reduce consumption, reuse as much as possible, and recycle paper, plastic, and metal...the world would be a healthier place!!

~ Can't Exercise?  What about stretches - a great way to start your day and get your blood circulating! A few suggestions: stretch your arms up to the sky and hold for a count of 15.  Then stretch them to side-to-side, holding for 15 seconds on the right and 15 seconds on the left. Put one leg up on the bed as you stretch to reach your right foot, then your left. Sit on the floor and do a similar toe-touching stretch.  There are lots of fast and easy stretching exercises you can do - it is well worth the few mintues to start your day off right!  Read more about Exercise!  

~ Give it, get it.  The energy we express to the world, is the energy that is returned to us.  So be the love you wish to receive, the gratitude you want extended to you, and the patience you want returned to you.  

~  Pay attention to the words you use!   I never, I can't, I won't can set you up for failure before you even begin!!  Words have power - so choose them carefully!!  

~  Change comes from within.  The page on the calendar may be turning and indicate the beginning of a new year...but if you bring along all of your old attitudes and baggage, then really nothing has changed!   Don't ever forget that the thoughts you think, the words you speak, and the actions you take are a choice...and you have the power to make new choices - to think positive thoughts, to speak uplifting words, and to treat yourself and others with love and respect.  I pray you find a way to be all you want to be, and do all you want to do in the New Year! 

~ No excuses!  The holidays don't have to be an excuse to eat or drink too much.  You know it's not healthy, and that you are going to regret it, so make the choice to honor your body by not overeating, drinking too much, or eating the wrong foods.  That doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself...it means exercising moderation.  And just think how great you are going to feel come the new year!!  Happy Holidays!!

~  Tis the season!  It's not just people who are in need this holiday season, but animals as well.  Would you be able to be a foster family for a shelter dog this holiday?  Visit www.Petfinder.org to get details about their wonderful program enabling families to give a pet a home - even if it is just for the holidays!! 

~  You are probably aware of the importance Vitamin D - this "super vitamin" appears to help support the immune system and prevent diseases like cancer, even heart disease!  One of the best sources of Vitamin D is exposure to the sun, but with the cooler weather upon us it is less likely you will be outdoors with arms and legs exposed.  You may want to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement or Cod Liver Oil, which is high in Vitamin D. You can also increase intake of Vitamin D rich foods, although few foods contain this vital nutrient.  Those that do offer some benefits are: Vitamin D enriched cereals, milk & dairy products, salmon, tuna, and sardines.

~ "First you do what you can, then you do what you can't."  These simple words helped to get through some pretty difficult times...there was a time when I felt I had done everything I could and couldn't image there was any hope that I was going to find healing from 10+ years of illness.  And every time I would feel like giving up I would read these words and somehow found a way to continue to put one foot in front of the other - no matter how tiny those steps may have been...

~ Maybe moderation is the answer! "Eat a high protein diet.  Give up meat.  Eat a diet that consists mainly of complex carbs.  Eat only raw foods. Wine is good for you.  Wine is not good for you".  Are you confused about what we are told we should and shouldn't eat and drink??  Well, I may not have all the answers, but I can tell you this: too much of anything is probably not good for you.  I love cherries, but if I eat too many...well, let's just say I spend the rest of the day in the bathroom.  Fresh fruit is wonderful, but more than one or two pieces will set my blood sugar levels off balance.  I prefer a vegetarian diet but if I don't eat protein with each meal I wind up tired and shaky within an hour or two.  So I do eat protein, but I make sure it is healthy protein (lean, and organic) and I don't eat too much of it.  Same with fruit, carbs, beverages, and just about anything else.  I've found moderation is the key for me...maybe it's the answer you are looking for, too?

~ Want to have a more positive outlook on life??  Try using affirmations to keep your focus on the energy you want to attract to your life.  Check out Today's Affirmation for ideas, or come up with your own.  Great starting phrases would be, "I choose to be aligned with the positive energy of..." or "I give thanks for the blessing of ____ in my life."  Post these affirmations in places where you will see them frequently -  on the bathroom mirror, bedside table, and computer monitor.  It may take a little time, but you just may find that your perspective on life has become a lot more positive!

~ Just not feeling yourself these days?  Try grounding yourself by reconnecting with Mother Nature.  A great way to do this is to get outside,  take off your shoes, and walk through the grass barefoot.  Even better, try doing the Wuji Pose:  stand erect (as though a wire was running from the top of your head through the center of your body), with your arms at your side, feet about 1' apart.   Close your eyes and just breathe slowly and quietly.  Don't fight your thoughts, but try to let them go and just be. Do this for as long as you can - you will feel refreshed and reconnected!

~  Are the dog days of summer getting you down?  If you are starting to count the days to fall, try bringing a little bit of fall into your living space.  The stores have started to put out their fall merchandise, so think about splurging on a new area rug (look for natural wool, or untreated synthetics) and some throw pillows.  I just purchased some beautiful cotton animal print throw pillows and a natural wool rug in a beautiful burnt red/orange that has transformed the look of our family room.  Also think about adding some live plants - they are great for keeping indoor air clean, and add a touch of nature to any room.

~  Want to feel better?  Try turning of the TV!!  Local news is full of negative stories - and daily exposure can  have an impact on your frame of mind.  I stopped watching years ago and  very shortly thereafter I noticed an improvement in my outlook and attitude.  Now I limit my intake of all news - of course I want to stay up-to-date on world events, and not all the news that is presented is bad - but I have learned to click to another channel when the story is dark or disturbing, or just shut the tv off altogether.  Same with the newspaper - I scan the headlines before deciding what to read. I find I am able to stay current  on world and local events, and at the same time limit my exposure to negativity that can be harmful to my health! 

~ Summer is the perfect time to begin the process of learning to slow down, or at least to find moments in your day to decompress and destress from the hecticness of life.  We are all so busy and on the go, it is easy to forget how to "just be."  And like any other habit, it may take practice to get it right...so starting today, and for the next month, set aside 30 minutes each day to do something relaxing, something that you enjoy.  Spend it reading a good book (nothing heavy or dark, this is your feel good time!), or go for a nice relaxing walk (not an exercise walk, but a look around, enjoy the scenery walk),or  find a shady spot under a tree and just sit and enjoy nature...you get the idea. The greatest gift you can give to yourself is to make time for you! 

~ I used to view sweating as something uncomfortable and annoying.  Especially going through menopause, sweating definitely took on new meaning!  But the more I read about detoxing, the more I realized how beneficial sweating is, and that it is the body's way of detoxifying.  So instead of getting upset when I started sweating, I began to shift my thinking to a place of gratitude, giving thanks for the natural detox that I knew my body was undergoing.  It is amazing, but I notice that this summer the heat just doesn't seem to bother me as much.  And those hot flashes - they are few and far between and are no longer a problem, because ya just gotta love a good detox!!

~  The deaths of three well known people this week - Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon - serve as a reminder of how fleeting and fragile life can be.  How very blessed we are to be here, to have the opportunity to take the lessons of their deaths, and  to make the most of the life we have!  We can change the things we have talked about changing, but haven't.  We can do all of the things we've always wanted to, but always seem to find a reason why we can't.  We can live the best life we know in our hearts how to live. And each day we can remember to give thanks for the prescious gift of life we have been given - to treasure it, and make the most of it!

~  Drink up!  If you wait until you are thirsty to drink, your body is already in a state of dehydration. Remain well hydrated by making sure you have lots of fluids throughout the day, particularly now that the warm weather is here.  Pure water is always a great choice.  And  fruits like watermelon, cantelope, honeydew melon, and citrus fruits are also good sources of fluids, as well as providing important nutrients!

~  If you find yourself losing focus from your goals and the positive attitude you want to have, try using Affirmations.  Write out your goals and aspirations...then keep them in a place where you see them often (bathroom mirror, computer screen) and where they can serve as a reminder of where it is you want to keep your attention focused.  A few affirmations I like to keep as reminders: 

"I choose to feel good - no matter what others say, think, or do." " I live in the present moment - grateful for all of my life experiences." "I can accomplish anything I put my mind to as I am divinely inspired to be and do all that I need and want to."

~  Even when you have consciously let go of a traumatic event or an emotional upset , your body may hold on to this memory, which can cause energy blocks in the body ...opening the door for physical symptoms, and even illness.  A great tool for releasing  these blocks is EFT (Emotional Freedom Tecnique).  My new book, Heal With Hope: A Healing Handbook & Journal contains all of the exercises and techniques I use to release pent-up emotion.  Also try meditation, visualization, and breathing exercises.

~  You hear a lot about the power of your thoughts, but are you also aware of the power of the spoken word?  The words you speak are just as powerful as the thoughts you think...so choose them carefully!

~  The common denomiator we all share is the impact our indivdual energy has on everyone and everything around us.  Be the patience you want from others...be the love you wish to receive...be the gratitude you would like expressed to you.

~  Feeling down? Stressed? Overwhelmed?  Sometimes the best way to work your way through challenging times is to take your focus off of your own problems and direct your attention to helping someone else in need.  This shift can help you to put your own challenges into perspective, plus the reward and personal satisfaction you get from knowing you improved someone else's life may be just the thing you needed to turn your own situation around!

~  Sometimes the foods that are most harmful to our bodies are those that we crave the most.  Pay attention to how you feel after eating - do you find yourself fatigued or even irritable a few hours later?  Perhaps you are eating or drinking foods that are not compatible with your body.  Muscle Testing is a great tool for uncovering these hidden irritants!

~  "To thine own self be true." ~ William Shakespeare  No matter how hard you try, you will never please everyone.  Your actions may please one, but not another.  Someone will always try to pass judgement on what you say, how you behave, and perhaps even how you look.  There is only one way to live  life in peace - and that is by being true to you!  Honor your beliefs, your judgements, your standards. Listen to others, but always follow your heart!  

~  With each new day comes the opportunity to focus on our blessings and to live in gratitude for all we have.  It is amazing how much brighter the world appears when you look for the silver lining, even in the most difficult of situations.  Choose to find the lesson in times of struggle and challenge...to have faith that tomorrow will be a better day...to appreciate the beauty of nature that exists all around you...and to know that right now you are exactly where it is intended for you to be.

~  Your home and work environment can impace your mood and sense of well-being.  Incorporating colors, textures, and elements of things that have meaning to you can bring about a greater sense of peacefulness and comfort.  And creating a "sanctuary" within your home - a calming, relaxing space just for you - to meditate or sit quietly, is also important for living  a more healhful, happier life.  Try using candles, art, plants, buddhas, inspirational plaques, and other meaningful mementos to personalize your space.

~  Sometimes our greatest strengths can also be our greatest weaknesses.  For example, you might consider compassion and generosity to be admirable traits, and they are...yet the extreme of these can leave you feeling as though you never do enough, and  feel compelled  to always do more...be more...give more.  As with most things in life, moderation is the key to maintaining a  healthy balance and harmony in life.

~  Acceptance Starts With YOU! I often write and speak about how important acceptance is to good health and healing. Choosing to accept that the circumstances of your life - where you are and what is happening - is exactly as it is intended to be. What I have more recently come to know is that until you can accept YOU - for who are what you are - your weaknesses as well as your strengths, it is more difficult to be able to accept external events and circumstances.

~  Holding on to anger is harmful to your physical and mental health. Learn to let it go with this simple technique: take a deep breath in through the nose as you imagine all of your anger rising up within your body...then visualize it being released through your breath as you exhale through the mouth. For more techniques: Visualization 

~  Regret is a huge waste of time and energy. ..all it serves to do is attract even more negativity to your life!  As great as it would be to be able to go back and redo your mistakes and bad choices, all you really have is this moment - right here, right now.  Use disappointment and regret as learning opportunities. As Oprah always says, "When you know better, you do better!"

~  You may have heard of a gratitude journal - recording all that you are thankful for each day, but have you ever tried graititude prayer?  If you believe that it is possible that thoughts create reality, and that the energy put out is the energy you will attract back, then try this:  instead of a "give me...help me...show me" prayer,  try giving thanks for what it is you want instead.  Praying for healing? Why not try giving thanks for it  instead - "I give thanks for my healthy, strong and powerful body,mind, and spirit."  Instead of praying to achieve financial goals, try giving thanks for the abundance that you know is on the way.   The more grateful you become, the easier it is to find the blessings in even the most difficult of circumstances.

~ If you had to choose one emotion that you believe is holding you back in life, what would it be?  (For example: Fear, Anger, Resentment, Jealousy) 
What steps can you take to dissipate the power this negative hold this emotion has over your life?

~ Is there a situation in your life that is causing you stress or is making you unhappy?Write it all down on paper...then take a deep breath and tear the paper into pieces...as you do this visualize the problem being released and gone as you throw it into the trash!

~ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!  Earth Day is upon us (April 22nd) and if you don't practice the 3 R's, it is time you started!!  If each of us took even small steps to reduce consumption, reuse as much as possible, and recycle paper, plastic, and metal...the world would be a healthier place!!

~ No time for exercise? 

 Stretching is a great way to start your day!  When you get out of bed take a few minutes to stretch - it's a great way to jumpstart your metabolism, get your blood circulating, and energy flowing. 

~ Laughter not only makes you feel good, but research shows it is good for your health too!  Laughing has been shown to improve blood flow, enhance immune function, regulate blood sugar, help you sleep better, and elevate your mood.  Can't find much to laugh about?  Visit You Tube where you'll find lots of  fun videos, subscribe to joke-a-day websites that will email you jokes every day...and if all else fails - fake it!  Research show that even faked smiles and laughter provide the benefits mentioned above.