Love Your Reflection

In a world that often pressures us to conform to certain standards, it’s essential to remember that you are amazing just as you are. Self-acceptance is a powerful tool that can lead to a happier, more fulfilling life. Let’s dive into some ways you can start embracing your authentic self today.

Challenge Your Thoughts

We all have those negative thoughts that creep in from time to time:

• “I’m too fat.”

• “I’m too skinny.”

• “I’m not good enough.”

These thoughts can be incredibly damaging. The first step to overcoming them is to challenge their validity. Ask yourself, “Is this really true?” More often than not, you’ll find that these negative self-perceptions are unfounded.

Love Your Reflection

Take a moment every day to look at yourself in the mirror and appreciate your unique beauty. Remember, you are beautiful just as you are. There’s no need to compare yourself to others or strive for perfection.

Do It: Post Unfiltered Photos.

One practical way to start embracing your true self is by posting unfiltered photos of yourself on social media. This small act can be incredibly liberating and sets a positive example for others, especially young people, to accept themselves as they are.

Lift Yourself Up and Others

Self-love isn’t just about feeling good about yourself; it’s also about uplifting others. When you lift yourself up, you’re in a better position to lift others up too. Spread positivity and encouragement wherever you go.

Find Your Power Pose

What is your power pose? A power pose is a stance that makes you feel strong and confident. Create one and share it with the world. Not only does this boost your confidence, but it also encourages others to find their inner strength.

In conclusion, embracing your authentic self is a journey that starts with small, intentional steps. Challenge negative thoughts, love your reflection, share unfiltered moments, lift others up, and find your power pose. Remember, you are amazing just as you are.

For more inspirational content and resources, check out some other posts on CounsellorTalk.com.

Embracing Each Day with Positivity and Gratitude: Tips for a Fulfilling Life

Life is a fleeting journey, we never know what tomorrow will bring and it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to cherish the moments that truly matter. Here are some tips to help you embrace each day with positivity and gratitude.

Start Each Day In A Positive Way

Begin your day with a positive mindset. Whether it’s a smile, a morning meditation, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the sunrise, which I do a lot of, setting a positive tone can influence your entire day.

Take time to celebrate the small achievements and happy moments throughout your day. Whether it’s enjoying a walk along the beach, witnessing waves crashing against rocks, or sitting with loved ones by the Mira River, these moments add up to a fulfilling life. I start my day most days by watching the sunrise. I go for a daily walk with my neighbours and I look for ways to make my day as positive as I can.

End Each Day With Gratitude

Reflect on your day with a sense of gratitude. Acknowledge as many good moments as possible. Learn from the challenges, we all have them. It isn’t always easy to embrace the moments, but when you do you will feel much better about yourself and life. Appreciate all the beauty around you. It’s a simple yet powerful practice that can transform your outlook on life.

The Artist Within

Since 2013 I have been discovering the artist within me. Growing up I was into sports playing hockey, lacrosse, ringette, and so many other sports. I continued to play lacrosse until the age of 60. I loved sports they brought me great joy, nurtured wonderful friendships and they allowed me to release my pent-up feelings. There were so many fabulous memories created as a result of playing sports that I will treasure forever.

I never saw myself or even considered that I could be an artist of any kind. But in the last few years, I have come to love art as much as I love sports. Art allows me to go to a place that takes me away for hours and hours at a time. A space where I am free of any negative feelings, a place where I do not worry about anything or have any cares. I am focused on the process and am grateful.

My grandfather who loved to dabble in artistic endeavours encouraged me to expand my mind and keep learning which I did throughout my life and continue to do so to this day. I love learning thanks to my Papa. He did not invite me to join him in his art, which I love to do with my own adult children, but I am grateful for his influence. I hope that someday my children will look back and see that I modeled a way to have fun, play, escape the worries of the world, and be their own kind of creative whatever that means for them.

Today I get to enjoy some sort of artistic endeavour almost daily. I am rereading The Artists Way on audio this time, which I read when it first came out over 30 years ago. If you haven’t read it, it’s a wonderful inspiring book that allows the artist in you to come out. Even though I was not an artist at the time I can see that the book influenced me in many ways throughout my life.

So for those of you who think I am not an artist, I am not a … trust that you can and believe that the gifts you have are meant to be shared. I am no longer afraid of failure, as a result of my etmooc experience in 2013, now I focus on the process and enjoy the journey. If you overcome your fears in one area ( join an online group focused on tech) you will overcome your fears in all other areas of your life with the collaboration and support of others. I keep learning and am constantly growing open to knowing that I am a work in progress and will be until the day I die.

The artist within me is alive and knows that I must continue to stay centered allowing new ideas and creative experiences to flow through me. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I hope you will too. Nurture the artist within.