Tess

Well being at the very end of the Baby Boomer age I feel that this is a time in history when society and technology have changed at the speed of light. With these changes has come what I feel is a disconnect from one on one connection and more of a connection through technology and social media. From what I can see of the millennials, they are onto something big….people need to take a stand, speak out and help others. I think we all have to take action like what was done during the civil rights movement, women’s movement and anti-Vietnam war movements. Vote, speka up, don’t stand for intolerance.

That is a great question! too often I think that we can so easily focus on the negative and what doesn’t make us happy. I think that society, particularly the media feeds us negative stories and images that get imprinted in our psyches. And let’s face it life can be a struggle. Hurtful words and actions sting and seem to resonate louder than the positive. However, we can place emphasis on what is good and what brings us joy. There are several ways in which we can do this, one way that I have done this is to keep a gratitude journal. As the days pass, the list grows and before you know it, there are dozens of reason to see the light and joy that there is in my life.Another fun way to do this is to keep a gratitude jar and each time something positive or joyful happens I write it down on a piece of paper, fold it up and put it in the jar. Then after a period of say 6 months or a year, I go into that jar and open each piece of of folded paper, reading them on e by one; it feels like I am opening up all these little gifts that have accumulated. For a few years I would start the gratitude jar on New Year;s Day and open it up on the following New Year;s Day and look back on all the gifts the previous year had brought. Personally, taking a walk in nature, visiting with a friend or loved one, listening to music, cooking a healthy meal, sitting with my cats and reading a book, are all ways that I fill my soul with happiness. It s the little things in life , like those little pieces of folded paper in the jar that add up to a larger profound shift into happiness.

Hmm, well before reading what Emotional Intelligence meant, my initial interpretation of those words were that emotional intelligence is to be aware of our emotions and how we respond to our experiences and people in our lives. The intelligence part comes into play when we can understand why we have the feelings that we do to understand the reactions that we have. Through reading the book, The Mind is the Map, I came to understand the writing on my wall as the perceptions and patterns that got ingrained in my mind or that got written on my wall” of life experiences. By seeing and understanding these patterns I can move through the landmine of emotions and respond from a place in my heart.”Living Mindfully from the Heart.”