self-love — Page 3

May 3, 2013 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Leave Room for Wisdom | Inspirational Quotes and Sayings

I’ve decided to get myself a little bit more organized. So, I was searching around on the internet for a daily “to-do” list form – something that could help me focus in a little better on what I need to get done each day. I found this great sheet that has all kinds of little places to write things… including getting stuff done and even a place to track how much water I drink (love this feature!). I really think this sheet will help me stay on track! What I really love about it, though, is there is this place for you to write your daily inspiration, motivation or encouragement… and for me it is a no brainer to use this as a place to write down inspirational quotes and sayings!

Here’s the quote I wrote down for today:

“There is little room left for wisdom when one is filled with judgment.” ~ Malcolm Hein

In some ways this quote seems a little hard-edged… at least to me. I mean, a person reading this might think I was judging them for being judgmental! But that isn’t why I picked this quote. I mean, really… we’re human, after all. That is kind of a function of our ego. I think we should continuously work towards putting aside that function, but the reality is, we aren’t going to escape it – not entirely. And sometimes, we really need to rely on our ability to make judgments. We may prefer to call that discernment, but it is only through our ability to make judgments that we can discern what we want to let into our lives and what we draw boundaries against. That’s healthy.

So, what was I thinking then. How is this an inspirational quote? Well, I wrote it on my to-do list because I want to remember to mind my own business each day. I strive to not sit in a place of judgment of my fellow human beings. Each person has their own struggles, and I know, in my heart of hearts, that each person truly is doing the best they can. Whether I agree with what they are doing, or whether I could get behind what they are doing, or whether I think it is wrong or right… It really isn’t my business. I think I can accomplish more towards my own goals and my own vision and dreams (and gain more wisdom) if I stay focused on myself. And if I have compassion and strive to love others, I can live a happier and more joy-filled life.

But there is another reason I chose this quote to add to my inspirational quotes and sayings list… because I want to remind myself to not be so harsh on myself… to quit being so judgmental of myself. I’m not perfect. And I can’t be. I can only do what I can do each day. I can only set my goals and do what I can each day to move closer to completing them. And I just have to be gentle with myself. When I judge myself, I not only don’t leave room for wisdom, I don’t leave room for me.

So, I hope you will take this for what it is… my pick to post for today in the Inspirational Quotes and Sayings category. Just a gentle reminder to not be so harsh on ourselves, or on others… to leave room for wisdom… and leave room to just be.

Blessings!

May 2, 2013 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Inspirational Quotes and Sayings | Love IS a Miracle Cure

Louise Hay is always one of my go-to people when I’m looking for inspirational quotes and sayings. She offers us so many amazing affirmations that can help us to heal our bodies and lives and to simply feel good. And Louise Hay, as a public figure, as a leader, as an author and more, is a living example of inspiration. Her amazing and inspirational life is a testament to her own belief in the power of love to heal and to create miracles.

This is one of my favorite quotes from Louise Hay, and I chose this picture to represent it because I see love in the golden light surrounding the woman.

When I apply this principle I have found it to be very true in my life. Love really can cure all. I think that if we can stay in our hearts, as we go through our day to day lives, we can create more and better and we will have a positive effect on those we encounter.

When we have challenges that confront us, when we encounter difficulties in dealing with situations or love, I think the best advice is to call on the Creator to help us to breathe in and out… only love. When we can remember to truly love ourselves, we can affect healing in our bodies in ways that seem unbelievable. I’ve seen this work in my own life, and for others.

When you ask to be surrounded in loving light, when you ask for all those you care for to be surrounded in loving light, and when you ask for even those you have difficulties with to be surrounded in loving light, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish… you will be blown away by the incredible things that can happen… you won’t be able to help yourself… you’ll believe in miracles.
In the end, this isn’t simply an inspirational quote or saying… it is a fundamental truth. I do believe that LOVE truly is the great miracle cure. Try it for yourself and see what miracles you can create in your life!

February 10, 2013 by Donna Thornton Leave a Comment

Inspired Action | The Spiritual Side of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Like most people, I figure, I have personal issues I am working on healing. I’ve done a lot of healing over the last several years, and feel really good about a lot of the stuff that used to challenge me. One of the challenges that still confronts me on most days, however, is my body. I haven’t made peace with it (this human vehicle) yet, I guess. I’m working on it.

I’m determined to find a spiritual solution to this challenge. Throughout my life I have gone through many different periods of dieting and “eating healthy” and “just” making “lifestyle changes” (these are code words for dieting, I think!). I’ve been healthier and less healthy. I’ve been heavier and less heavy (I don’t think I’ve been “thin” since before puberty, though). I’ve been extremely unhappy and just delighted with my body. I’ve been accepting of and very disapproving of myself.

I’ve worked on healing the emotional causes, too – I consider this to be “mental” and “emotional” work. And through the ups and downs and trying to deal with my body issues in a myriad of physical, mental and emotional ways, I’ve started to believe that it truly comes down to finding a spiritual solution.

I am now embarking on a new journey around finding that spiritual solution, and I plan to share that journey – so stay tuned! But as I am starting down the road, it occurs to me that this spiritual solution must start with what I think about, what I focus my attention on. So, I want to share something I’ve been thinking about today, with you.

I have been spending a lot of time on Pinterest these days. I look at all the amazing pictures of food, and I read the recipes and my mouth waters as I think about all the great new ideas for cooking and baking that I see, and how I could make all of that in my own kitchen (I used to cook and bake quite a lot while the kids were growing up). But I read something the other day that makes me pause. It was just a little blurb, and it said something about how the calorie-counts on most of the recipes people pin to their boards are huge.

Anyway, I find this recipe for what seems to be very delicious gluten-free chocolate peanut butter cupcakes, and I think, “this I’ve got to try” – calorie-count be damned! Off to the grocery store I go, to pick up the ingredients I need that I don’t have, and I just keep thinking, as I’m shopping… no matter how high the calorie count is, it has to be better for my body than anything I might buy at the grocery store bakery… or worse yet, at the convenience store or fast-food restaurant!

So, this is where my thoughts end up – we (and I mean me, as well as so many of us in this culture), often eat out of fast-food restaurants, and the deli (and bakery) at the market, and when we do cook, we get mixes and quick fixes. All of this food is basically lifeless. It is started in factories and is completed by either mostly unhappy workers or by ourselves in a hurried and mindless fashion. I wonder what would happen if we quit eating all of that stuff, and only eat whole (naturally intact) foods, and food that we make, from recipes (instead of boxes) in our own kitchens – with love, mindfulness and positive intention?

I bet that if we did this, we could eat ALL of those high-calorie dishes made from ALL those mouth-watering recipes on Pinterest, every single day, and still be healthier and lighter in our shoes than most of us are right now. Even if we eat cupcakes that have Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups baked into them!

Well… I’ll let you know how the cupcakes turned out!

Blessings and JOYFUL eating to you!

Donna

PS – You can find the recipe (and the original of the above picture) for those cupcakes here:

http://chocolateandcarrots.com/2011/05/chocolate-peanut-butter-cupcakes-gluten-free