MaXIMIze - The Reason for the Season

There are so many holy days and holidays during this season - Hanukkah (which fell during Thanksgiving this year due to the lunar calendar), Yule, Christmas, Kwanzaa, to name the ones I know of right off the bat.

This is a time to celebrate the return of the light and the Light, miracles, and those intangible things like love, life, friendship and family. Yet somehow we have translated it into a materialistic time of year. Shopping on Thanksgiving, Black Friday fights over things, really folks?

To date this season I have watched Rudolph, The Christmas Angel, The Christmas Box, A Muppet's Christmas Carol, and The Christmas Child, and they have all had the same message - love for thy fellow man - and redemption.

When I said something about the materialism of Christmas to my daughter, she told me a phrase for giving gifts - not only during the holidays, but for birthdays and other gift-giving occasions as well - that fits. Something I want, something I need, something I'll wear, something I'll read. The want and the need can be experiences rather than things. Time spent together, forgiveness, redemption. Emotional connection rather than material goods.

Now don't get me wrong - I like giving and receiving gifts as much as the next person. However, time spent with family and friends making memories to last through the years is much more valuable to me, especially as I get older and need less things in my life.

So, take the time out from the hurry and scurry, the bustle and worry and really look your loved ones in the eyes, give them hugs, and enjoy their company - they are what really matter in the big scheme of things, not that new gadget or toy or piece of clothing that will be forgotten by the turn of the next season.

Until next time, namaste!

MaXIMIze - Self Confidence

So, today's blog has several inspirations - my dear friend, a link from a Twitter post, and Sheryl Sandberg's new book.

First, everyone should have at least one dear friend who is a luminary as well as matter of fact support. Someone who reminds you not to put anyone in a box, least of all yourself.

Second, I am always interested in figuring out what makes people tick - whether it's through the Meyers-Briggs testing, Strength Finders, astrology (oh come on - it is older than and therefore at least as valid as the others - and I'm not talking daily horoscopes from the paper either...), and now, the newest discovery of mine - blood type. Yes, blood type. Who knew?

And third, Sheryl Sandberg - this woman is bloody amazing! She is the COO (chief operating officer) of Facebook, among other things. Her book reinforces my belief and message that we are all human beings first - all else comes after that.

Now on to the recent ah ha moment...

I was sharing the post about blood types mentioned above, and reading mine to my dear friend - I'm type O, by the way - and noted that while it says I am supposed to be extremely self-confident, I disagreed with that part of the description. My friend then informed me that yes, I am indeed self-cofnident...when I allow myself to be. Bing! Light bulb moment!

When I concentrate on my abilities, my talents, the things that make me damned good at my job as well as helping me with the other successes in my life - yes, I am self-confident. When I focus on my failures in life, then not so much. And I am the first to say focus on the positive and turn your face to the sun, the light. Yet, I, as much as anyone else, can allow what I consider failures to fill my mind instead of the successes.

And why shouldn't I be self confident about what I have achieved to date? I have a good job, have raised relatively happy, healthy and responsible children, and and happy, healthy and responsible myself. So, by my own definition, I am successful. I do not hesitate to give a hand up to others, and truly enjoy being of service where I can.

So why shouldn't I believe in and build upon my own abilities? Why shouldn't I be confident in them, and thereby self-confident?

And - why shouldn't you be equally confident in your abilities and thereby self-confident?

As per Eleanor Roosevelt, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent - so why are you allowing yourself to undermine your confidence?

Get out there and share your own special light!

MaXIMIze - Gratitude, a Place of Thankfulness

One way we can MaXIMIze our lives is by cultivating and maintaining a habit of gratitude or thankfulness, not only for things great and small that happen to us, but also those that happen to others. Someone gets a new job, be thankful for them, be happy for them. This generates good energy and helps us all around!

Now, this Thanksgiving is the first one in my 48 years of life that I am very likely to spend alone, and that's okay. This year has thrown me the curve balls of divorce, empty nesting, children in trouble, and job changes. And I am thankful for them all.

As I was journaling this morning, I wrote down many of the things I am grateful for - a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food in my belly, a bed to sleep in, hot showers, books to read, music to lose myself in, birds to watch, flowers to brighten my day, candles to brighten my night, caring people lighting my path, being a light on the paths of others, being a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a mother, a grandmother of two and four legged creatures, having enough, being present in the moment, seizing the day, letting go of anger, working through sorrow, letting go of yesterday, not worrying about tomorrow. I'm thankful for all the people, places and things in my life past, present and future - love and laughter and life ever after - even for the pain for the strength I gain - for time together and time alone. Truly so much to be thankful for.

Here's hoping your list is as full and varied as mine - Namaste!

MaXIMIze - Drawing in the Light

It is all about where you choose to focus your energies. You attract the vibration in which you are dancing. @EkhowBarnes from Twitter

Whatever you worry about, find its contrast. This is what you want to think about. - Marion Ross

Whenever insecurity raises its ugly head, we need to stop and look at what is really in play there. Why did it raise up? What was the trigger? How do we really want to be, feel, react instead of how we did?

Each one of us is worthy of every good thing we want in our lives. What holds us back is ourselves - our assumptions, our insecurities, our lack of belief that we are worthy and deserving of all the riches in the world, our focus on the outer things instead of the inner life.

So many of us focus on being fulfilled by people and things outside of ourselves that we forget we have to love and accept ourselves before others can do so! What we project out into the world is what we draw back to ourselves from the world.

We need to believe we are good, loving, beautiful people before others will. Each of us has the unending capacity within ourselves for love, and therefore is loveable. Each one of us has a deep inner beauty and therefore is beautiful. Each one of us has an immeasurable well of good within us and therefore can share that good with the world.

We each have our own beautiful, unique and treasured light to share with the world. Some of us, however, choose to hide that light under a bushel of insecurity, of fear, of not feeling like we are enough.

Each one of us is enough, right here, right now.

When you believe, you can achieve - so what is stopping you from believing and achieving right here, right now, today?

MaXIMIze - Bringing Things into the Light

If the shadow is repressed and isolated from consciousness, it never gets corrected, and it can burst forth at any time. ~ C.G. Jung

When I read this quote, I immediately thought of my own insecurity issues and how I need to bring them into the light and face each one of them head on, looking them square in the eyes and letting them know they are not going to control me any longer - I will live up to my potential to the true best of my ability.

What shadows do you need to bring into the light and deal with right here, right now so you can truly live your best life?

What is stopping you from doing so?

What is there to truly be afraid of - what is the worst that could happen, really?

Each one of us is worthy of living our best life right here, right now - especially you!