A to Z Challenge the letter I = Intuition

Wikepedia’s definition of INTUITION is that it “provides us with beliefs that we cannot necessarily justify. “

In psychology Carl Jung defined intuition as "perception via the unconscious". There are many times throughout the day we are called upon to make decisions, but how often are these decisions based on intuition? I think in some cases our subconscious has been ”trained”  so that we automatically make the decision based on how the training has gone.

“Mother’s intuition” is often joked about, but I have had a case that proved true for me. I was due to fly over 6 states away for a week long conference one Monday morning and received a phone call from my son the prior Friday morning. He was attending college several hours away and wanted me to find out which doctors there accepted our insurance. He asked if I would make him an appointment for the following Monday. He did not seem to take the symptoms as seriously as I did but after a few moments of thinking the situation over, I asked him to have his roommate drive him to the emergency room. He protested that the pain was not THAT bad, but I was persistent.  Knowing my son’s tolerance for pain and abhorrence of doctor visits, I knew this had to be serious. My “mother’s intuition” kicked in and told him I would leave work and drive there to take him myself.  He promised he would wake his roommate and have him drive him, but for some reason, I just knew I had to get there. I informed my boss and called my sister who was off that day and she volunteered to go with me. By the time I had picked her up, he had called back and said they would be doing an emergency appendectomy and he was being admitted to the hospital. We arrived about 20 minutes before the operation took place.

We often use our intuition when a place or experience does not feel right and sometimes we will ignore our intuition and the experience ends up making us miserable. I like to think that intuition is the “voice of reason”  that is there to assist me as I go through life. I have an impulsive nature so I am thankful for that “little voice” many times. 

A to Z Challenge the letter H = Happiness

In researching this post, I came across many websites touting “10 Keys to True Happiness”, “5 Laws of Happiness”, “You can be Happy Forever”, well that last one I just threw in, but you get the general idea.

The psychology websites tout words like validation, statistically testing, neuro-scientific studies and so on. I have read where your birth order can affect how happy you are and all sorts of probably very sound research initiatives but that does not give us a simple answer.

My opinion of happiness may differ drastically from scientists, psychologist and just everyone else in general. As someone has experienced depression, I can vouch that it can be harder work to feel happiness at times.  I came across an author who decided to chronicle a year of experiments and following different paths to achieve happiness. Her blog is divine and just reading the posts can lift your spirits. I just ordered her book and I will review it here later this month.

I am at my happiness when I am doing something for others. This almost goes back to the Five Languages of Love post, but my language of showing love is acts of service. (Receiving love however is a whole different language.) I have always been a volunteer of some sort throughout my life. Scouting, 4H, and other community related events can count me in. Though I am an unpublished writer, I volunteer to host blog hops, twitter chats, etc. whenever an author I know has a project going on. 

For the word Happiness today, I am going to suggest Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project website and also challenge you to do a small act of random kindness today. I sometimes leave change in a vending machine or drop a quarter into a gumball machine for a lucky kid. I like to do things anonymously though, as I am doing it to help make someone else’s day as well. Being anonymous just gives me a greater satisfaction.

If you want happiness for an hour ? take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day ? go fishing.

If you want happiness for a year ? inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime ? help someone else.

Chinese Proverb 

A to Z Challenge the letter G = GRATITUDE

Wikipedia defines Gratitude as: “Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling,emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.”  The article went on to discuss studies that suggest people who cultivate an attitude of gratitude are more often happier and less stressed that others.

As a interested student of the “Law of Attraction” , I understand gratitude is one of the keys to living a happier and more balanced life.  It is hard in this modern age to get bogged down by the “don’t haves” and forget to be thankful for the “haves”.

Most major religions practice a form of gratitude, but even for those who do not have a religious background, gratitude is a universal practice.   As children, we are taught to say thank you when someone does something for us. We grow up automatically saying it, but how often do we really feel it when we say it?

There is no way for me to come close to summing up the practice of Gratitude as did Leo Babauta,on the Zen Habits blog. It is a marvelous piece that I have printed and have hung it on my vision board.

I also have a truly inspiring and helpful application on my phone. It is called the GratitudeJournal. Daily quotes and the ability to add a photo of something that I am grateful for that day really help keep me stay focused on cultivating the Attitude of Gratitude. 

Whether you record your gratitude for today in a journal or not, I challenge you to think of the things you are thankful for right now this very moment. 

Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.

William Faulkner

A to Z Challenge the letter E= Energize

Meditation Banner from : Mandela Arts

How often have you started to take a photo and realized the battery in camera was dead? In the middle of a cell phone call, the battery goes dead or your laptop shuts down due to low battery while you are in the middle of an important piece of writing.

It stands to reason, if electronics lose their power due to low battery life, why can’t our “batteries” run down as well? We all know we need sleep to relieve tiredness and food to refuel our bodies, but what about our minds and spirits?

I have read that religious people who attend worship services of some sort feel their spirits are recharged afterwards. I feel that way when I go camping for a weekend, away from phones and demands of everyday life. I am sure everyone can think of a place that offers them the activity or even non activity that allows them to feel recharged and relaxed and energized.  An evening at the gym participating in a latin dance class, a poetry reading at a coffee shop or maybe even a Saturday morning writer’s group meeting have often been places I have sought to energize my mind, body and spirit.

We all have demands on our time and most of us to tend place others ahead of our own well-being. One friend says she has a playlist of upbeat dance music that plays while she is doing her house work. Another friend attends a weekly yoga class. My own recent energizing experience came during a busy work day when I simply went to a quiet restaurant with a good book for an hour. Losing myself in a world of historical fiction for those few minutes helped me conquer the busy afternoon with a little more energy and enthusiasm.

Take a few moments today to discover what makes you feel energized. Here is a link to an Instructable about How to Calm, Relax and Re-Energize Yourself in Five Minutes.  Feel free to leave suggestions and tell us what works for you!

A to Z Challenge the letter F = Five and a Quiz

A friend told me about this book several years ago and how it had helped her better understand the fellow she was dating. After a particularly horrifying breakup, I decided to add this one to the collection of self-help books I was reading.  I read it and took the quiz and it really brought out the differences in me and my former boyfriend. There were other factors involved in the demise of our relationship, but this book did explain some of the ways we were thinking.

Dr. Gary Chapman has written several of these books target at certain demographics, such as singles, teenagers, married couples and even children. I hope to read The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace soon.  He has a wonderful with a quick survey that will give you a better understanding of the language you prefer for communication.

The five languages he writes about are:

Acts of service

Physical Touch

Receiving Gifts

Quality Time

Words of Affirmation

After reading this book, I realized I am a huge Quality Time person and my ex was an Acts of Service person. (He even fixed my sink and took out my trash once when he was in the neighborhood to visit way after we broke up)

Today, if you get a few moments, take the quiz just for fun and see what the results are!

A to Z Challenge the letter D = Daring

“Faith is not trying to believe something regardless of the evidence.  Faith is DARING to do something regardless of the consequences.”  Sherwood Eddy

I remember when my son was little and my sentences often started with, “ Don’t you dare….” I was young and probably could have phrased “Don’t you dare drive the lawnmower until you are older” in a more positive manner, but keeping up with him was exhausting. Granted he was a very precocious child and I never dreamed he would stick a key in the electrical outlet or drive off on the lawnmower before he was two year old. He was a very DARING child and observant. He studied people and their actions (sometimes too closely J) and was convinced he could do whatever they did.

So many of the women I admire had a DARING spirit. Amelia Earhart, Josephine Baker, Mae West, and the list goes on. Most if not all of the daring women of history suffered hardships in their pursuit to express themselves. If you firmly believe in something however, you do so with the understanding that you will face hardships.

You need not fly around the world to trek all over the globe to be daring. DARING can start in your own back yard. It could be as simple as trying a new food, taking up a sport, or standing up for a cause. I took up roller derby and today I wore a small tiara to work. Yes, a tiara. It resembles a headband somewhat but it is still a tiara.  I have also gotten comments from women my age who say they would not DARE to try to skate, much less play roller derby.   I DARE you to do something today that is different from your normal routine.

This is my favorite bumper sticker quote of all time and it is one of my mottos:

The A –Z Challenge: CONFIDENT

From Dictionary.com: Sure of oneself; having no uncertainty about one's own abilities, correctness, successfulness, etc.; self-confident;bold: a confident speaker.

I love this photo. I think it pretty much describes most cats in general. I have also seen little dogs that weighed 4 pounds and were absolutely convinced they were the equal of a great dane. On the other hand, my sister has a Labrador that weighs about 110 pounds and he is convinced he is a lap dog. He has seen the terrier and yorkie sit with her in her chair, so why can’t he?

When I look in the mirror and see myself as put together well, I feel confident. I have an awesome pair of Italian pumps that I don’t get to wear often because of the color. I found an extremely discounted pair of pants last week and I am determined to wear those pumps until the pants or the shoes wear out. Those pumps boost my confidence and make me feel like a powerful strong woman for some reason.

What helps you feel your most confident? 

This little girl exudes confidence! What a cool skating photo.