I often wonder how we can keep our spirits up and be hopeful when everywhere we turn there is more evidence of hardship and despair. I have come to avoid watching television and have limited my exposure to certain radio broadcasts because I find them sad and endlessly fraught with violence and victimization and anger.

I have mindfully and consciously decided to start my day in a very deliberate and healthy way.  I decided that I have a say in how today will be!

I begin each day by setting my intention before I even let my feet hit the floor. I sit up on the side of the bed, take a few deep breaths, and while doing so, awaken my mind and define three distinct intentions for the day ahead of me. For example, I say something like, “today, I will try to listen more closely; I will serve my clients with full attention; I will be watchful of my physical responses to what I hear and see, and determine the highest good before I respond.”

These intentions start my day off. I do not dwell consciously on these intentions during the day. When I am in bed at night, I reflect on my day and assess how I served my clients.

During the day, my mind is filled with listening, anticipating, interpreting, and helping others on varying levels of complexity. Sometimes, I envision an open blue. Sometimes, I get random thoughts which I picture as lightning bolts, cumulus dark stormy clouds, and even whips ‘of clouds as thoughts streaming through my consciousness.  Here is where I have to stop myself and pay attention. To be in the moment and fully present for myself and my clients, I take a moment to observe my thoughts and critically evaluate where they came from. Is this my thought or something I heard,  a feeling that I hold deep inside from my journey?  Once identified, I can release it or come back to it later but stay in present with my client.

My responses are formed from interpreting and understanding the person’s needs and desires. They are a mirror reflection of their highest good and for the individual to decide if they want to move in a different direction, change or arrive at a new perspective. Often, they come to a different perspective of how they see their journey unfolding and pursue the higher road with more positive thoughts and greater intentions.

I remind my clients to understand that they are in charge of their self-care. No one can do this for you. You must value your heart, mind, spirit, and time; and that you protect yourself from being pulled into another’s drama and taking on other people’s issues and causes.

Finally, I encourage each client to realize that they can stand firm and clear on their own intentions and vision of the day.

At the end of the day, only one person looks back at you in the mirror—YOU.

Enjoy, Believe, be Mindful, have clear Intentions….and be the person you want to be.

Namaste/Aloha

Photo by Dingzeyu Li on Unsplash