So how was your Thanksgiving? Did you hold to the same traditions of the past? Did you experience the same kinds of things you did at this time last year? Did you do something different?

Reflect on the day. Whether you were with a large group or alone, think about what went well. What did you do to contribute to that experience?

Without being aware of what you did or who you were with my guess is, if you were around others the best part of the day centered on something you did for them. Maybe you invited someone to dinner at your home, cooked the entire dinner (as I did) or washed the dishes after the meal. You may have even picked up the tab for the family’s meal, spent an extra few minutes talking with a family member, shared a laugh or a smile. If you were alone it was probably some type of nurturing activity for yourself that you are now reflecting on as the best part of your day.

Focus on your actions and how you felt during that positive experience. Replay it in your mind. Close your eyes for a moment go back to that situation. Feel the emotions, smell the aromas and focus on how you responded in that best part of your day. If you were able to actually go back in your mind’s eye you were able to return to that good feeling, to replicate it, just as if it were happening to you now!

While this Thanksgiving may not have been a day totally filled with you breaking out into a version of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, anything good during the day came from God. In the book of James at chapter one verse 17 we are reminded that every good and perfect gift comes from above. So those moments of peace and joy that you just reflected on did not happen by accident. It was orchestrated by design.

If you will take those moments and revisit them often by mentally transporting yourself back in time to those choices and how your actions precipitated such outcomes you can develop a plan for increasing those positive outcomes in the future. If you could operate with tried and true strategies that will give you more peace and joy in your life would you take the step to get more information and practice those skills? Well will you?

Likewise if you had a day, filled with one emotionally charged encounter after another and at the end of the day you vowed never, ever, ever, ever to forgive the latest offenses you added to your personal count, you too contributed to that experience. It is likely that next year or next holiday season will find you exactly where you are now, living in the biggest house on the hill in the community of love me nor thee not! It is your choice. You can always move to a place where past burdens are lifted. Where peace and joy are the new resident welcoming committee. A place where no one is perfect but everyone is working on perfecting by loving thy neighbor as thyself.

I have learned that the old adage, “Practice makes perfect” does not serve as well as the one I stand by, “Correct practice makes perfect”! If we are doing something wrong, and we continue to practice that same errant way we are likely to continue to get the same undesirable result. However, if we look at being emotional intelligent and its markers of success we note that forgiveness and the ability to look beyond past hurts while focusing on the “Big Picture” are key indicators of one who is moving through this life with significant joy and peace.

I offer you time-tested solutions to dilemmas currently facing you. How do I get more peace and joy in my life? If you are at your capacity for peace and joy I applaud you for taking the necessary inventory and action in your life!! However, if you, your spouse, your family members or others in your inner circle are living with unforgivness, strife or are laden with baggage of past hurts, share this blog with them. My personal triumphs and liberation of countless others bound in dread has enabled me to share tools which bring about light and a clear path to loving your neighbor as yourself. Theses tools are not influenced by gender, race, ethnicity, political party affiliation or socioeconomic category.

I offer tools to create perfecting of joy and peace using the correct practice of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,
Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”