“WEALTH IS THE ABILITY TO FULLY EXPERIENCE LIFE.” – Henry David Thoreau
I once had a friend who told me he tracked every penny he spent for a 30-day period. It sounded exhausting! No way, I thought! How boring! Until he told me he discovered he was spending $150 a month and $1800 a year on coffee! I’ve been doing the exercise ever since!
I’ve been creating a monthly spending plan for decades, based on the process I’m going to share with you, and find it both grounding and empowering. I now make conscious choices and no longer wonder where my money’s gone when I open my wallet and find there’s not much there! The goal isn’t to pinch pennies, but rather to live abundantly, based on what’s most important to me.
Want to know where your money is going?
Buy a notebook that’s small enough to carry around and divide it into two columns. In the left-hand column, write down everything you spend and what you spend it on, including the candy bar you buy at the news stand! In the right-hand column, write down everything you receive and where it came from – down to the very last penny!
Whatever you do, don’t change your spending habits during the “discovery” period. That way, you’ll get an accurate picture of your patterns.
Do the exercise for a month. To keep it simple, start the process on the first day of the month and when there are no extra expenses, like vacations or holidays.
At the end of the month, divide your expenditures into categories, such as groceries, eating out, rent, gas, newspapers, entertainment, coffee, etc. See what you discover.
Subtract your expenses from your income. See what you have left and what, if any, changes you’d like to make to your future spending.
Lastly, create a monthly spending plan based on the information you gathered, and allocate your income into the categories that are most important to you, including saving for something special you’d like to buy or do. The process will help you take charge of your money, rather than spending randomly.
Some of your expenses, like rent, will be fixed. Others, like eating out, having your nails done, etc. will be more flexible, and the amount you choose to spend can vary month to month.
Who knows, with a little tweaking, before too long, you may have the funds available to take that long awaited vacation!
With love, Theresa
Bio
I was born and raised in New York. I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Facilitator and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. My books include Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure.
I specialize in helping my clients manage their stress and develop inner resources, like confidence, courage and resilience so they can live with greater ease, realize their goals and dreams and better meet life’s challenges.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com
No matter where you live, or what you’re doing, I hope you are taking time to nurture yourself and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather.
Our relationships with family and friends, co-workers, and acquaintances provide us with care and companionship, and also serve to nourish us. Along with eating well, exercise, and other means of self-care, healthy relationships are necessary for our well-being and happiness.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, an American physician who has served as the19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States under Presidents Obama and Biden, tells us that we need three levels of connection for our health and happiness: an intimate relationship; a circle of friends; and a community. So, how do we create them?
I invite you to join me for my next online Courageous Conversation Coaching Call: Embracing Intimacy: Cultivating Genuine Relationships taking place via Zoom on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 6PM CET / 12 PM EST/ 9 AM PST. Additional details are provided below. But first, a few words about this week’s topic, The Power and Practice of Rituals.
With love,
Theresa
THE POWER & PRACTICE OF RITUALS
“In our fast moving world, rituals have the power to ground and stabilize us, and keep us focused and purposeful. They increase confidence, provide us with a sense of security, alleviate the weight of grief and help reduce anxiety. And, above all, rituals are a sure-fire way to increase happiness.” -Deepak Chopra
Rituals are often associated with religious practices, but they’re so much more than that.
Rituals are diverse. They can be spiritual or secular, and we can create and adapt them to our unique needs and personalities. They can help set the tone for the day, and help us relax into a restful sleep before going to bed in the evening. There’s no right or wrong way to practice them, and while you may not call them rituals, I’m guessing you already have a few!
We can change the rituals we practice when they no longer serve us, when we wish to add something new to our experience, or when we want to revive a prior practice. For instance, I’ve recently resumed the ritual of writing Morning Pages shortly after waking, followed by reading, meditation, and listening to an inspiring podcast or u-tube video while eating breakfast.
Other rituals include keeping greeting loved ones – and strangers – with a sense of open heartedness and warmth, baking bread on Sundays or sitting in the garden sewing!
Rituals serve to renew us, help us stay focused, and can increase our well-being and happiness.
Do have a favorite ritual or would you like to establish one? If so, I’d love to hear about your experience. Please leave your comments below. They may help another reader!
We all long for connection – it’s one of our most important and primary needs, and is essential for our health and happiness. Yet, fear of intimacy often keeps us living on the fringe and prevents us from deepening our relationships – with lovers, partners, family and friends. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can learn to open up, take baby steps and, like flowers blossoming in the sunlight, we can allow ourselves to bloom and be seen.
I’m so looking forward to Thursday’s our upcoming coaching call: Embracing Intimacy: Cultivating Genuine Relationships, and hope you will join me, as we discuss…
Three requirements for healthy relationships;
How you feel about intimacyand what it means to you;
What you’re looking for in intimate relationships;
Which relationships in your life display these qualities;
Which people in your life you’d like to feel closer to;
Blocks that may be preventing you from feeling as close to others as you’d like;
Steps you can take to build more satisfying and intimate relationships.
I will send a link to a TED talk on the topic of intimacy and friendships prior to our meeting, which we’ll use to kick off our conversation, along with a link to Zoom.
Space is limited in order to create a safe and intimate environment, and so everyone who wishes to has time to share. Please register by Wednesday morning, May 26th.
When: Thursday, May 27, 2021
Time: 18:00 (Rome Time) / 12 PM EST / 9 AM PST
Duration: Two hours Fee: €25 via IBAN / US via PayPal. PayPal price will vary due to the currency exchange rate.
I was born and raised in New York. I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Facilitator and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. My books include Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure.
I specialize in helping my clients manage their stress and develop inner resources, like confidence, courage and resilience so they can live with greater ease, realize their goals and dreams and better meet life’s challenges.
For more information and to schedule an appointment, email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com
As a contributor to InTrieste.com, a local online and print expat magazine, I recently took part in an initiative to highlight an author who wrote part, or all of, one of their published works while living in the area. I choose Ulysses, by James Joyce, an author I knew little about before embarking on the project.
We filmed the video (which you’ll find in the link at the end of the post), by the Grand Canal, along with a peek-a-boo view of the Gulf of Trieste, and the surrounding area. I’ve included some of Joyce’s background, a few quotes I found particularly poignant, along with a few comments of my own.
I hope you enjoy it!
With love,
Theresa
JAMES JOYCE WRITES ULYSSES IN TRIESTE
“Shut your eyes and see.” – James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysisus Joyce was an Irish novelist, short story writer, poet, teacher and literary critic. He contributed to the modernist avant-garde movement and is regarded as one of the most influential and important writers of the 20th century.
To learn more, and view the video, click on the link below. If so inspired, feel free to leave a comment in the reply section, under the post. I’d love to read your feedback
I was born and raised in New York. I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Facilitator and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. My books include Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure.
I specialize in helping my clients manage their stress and develop inner resources, like confidence, courage and resilience so they can live with greater ease, realize their goals and dreams and better meet life’s challenges. I offer a 30-minute complimentary consultation to get acquainted, discuss your goals and see how we might work together.
Did you know that Valentine’s Day actually began at the end of the 5th century in 496? And that, what we know as a romantic holiday, has glimmers of both ancient Christian and Roman tradition? Interesting, isn’t it?
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, ancient sources reveal that there were several men known as Saint Valentine who died on Feb. 14, although they reportedly died in different years. Two of them were beheaded during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus 269-270 A.D., at a time when persecution of Christians was common. Legend has it that one of the Valentine’s was a preacher who had healed an aristocrat’s daughter of blindness, leading the nobleman’s family converting to Christianity, and the other was a bishop from the city of Terni, in Umbria, who had healed a convert’s son. Both Valentines are buried on the Via Flaminia, an ancient road leading from Rome over the Apennine Mountains to what is now known as Rimini. Who would have thought?
The Internet is filled with stories! For instance other legends suggest that St. Valentine was a Roman priest who performed secret weddings during the 4th century – a practice that was in direct opposition to the authorities wishes, and another, that St. Valentine (who was not yet a saint), helped Christians escape from Roman prisons where they were brutally beaten and tortured.
St. Valentine’s Day is also associated with the ancient Roman festival, Lupercalia, a purifying event which took place from February 13-15. The annual festival was said to ward off evil spirits and promote health and fertility.
So, how did these ancient legends segue into a modern-day romantic holiday? In the latter half of the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet, wrote a poem entitled The Parliament of Fowls, which contains the line “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate.” Shortly thereafter, European nobility began sending love notes during bird-mating season, and the practice took off from there. In subsequent centuries, English men and women designated February 14 as the day to write notes of endearment to their beloveds. The practice eventually led to chocolatiers, greeting card companies, and other industries promoting the holiday among lovers.
So, what began as a fateful day for the Valentines, has become an international holiday to express our love and affection to our significant others. But not all of us are in relationship, or choose to be, and the holiday can stir up painful emotions for some of us.
And although Valentine’s Day has become highly commercialized, we can use it as an opportunity to let the people we love know we are thinking of them, and as a reminder to reflect on our own good qualities, and that the love we seek resides within us, regardless of our relationship status.
As social creatures, it’s natural to seek out others with whom we can share friendship and community. Although the current landscape makes it challenging, we can still reach out and meet our needs for connection, whether it be online or via telephone.
BUILDING FRIENDSHIP
“WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND IS ONE OF THE BRAVEST THINGS WE CAN EVER SAY.” -Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
We all long for a sense of love and belonging, whether we live in the town we grew up in or have relocated and are living as expats in a foreign country. Inviting someone for coffee or doing something fun requires confidence, courage and vulnerability. But we can do it!
When our request for friendship is met, we open the doors for greater joy and fulfillment. When and if our request for friendship is denied, it may not feel very good, but we can take pride in having tried and move on to asking someone new. As one of my beloved teachers once said: “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!”
ANECDOTE:
I learned a valuable lesson when I was in my mid-20’s. A friend and I had gone to a bar to listen to music and dance; something we both loved doing. I was shocked when she got up and someone to dance, as it wasn’t customary at the time for a woman to ask a man. She danced the night away while I sat at the table watching.
The next time we went out, I intended to dance and have fun. I mustered my courage and made the. move. The first man I asked turned me down. I realized, in a split second, that if I retreated and went back to my table I’d never take the chance, so I didn’t let it stop me. Without skipping a beat, I looked around, asked another man, and had a wonderful night!
We can’t control the outcomes of our actions, but we can initiate them. If there’s someone you’d like to meet, they might also like meeting you.
FEELY SHY?
TRY USING THE AFFIRMATIONS BELOW WHILE LETTING THE POSITIVE FEELINGS THAT ARISE SOAK DOWN INTO YOUR BODY.
“I am Confident, Capable and Confident. I express myself with ease.” ***
“I surround myself with Friends and Family who love, respect and value me.” ***
“I am safe. I am filled with peace and Harmony.” ***
***TAKEN FROM THE LETTERS “C,” “F” AND “H” OF ALPHABET AFFIRMATIONS: TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND LOVE YOURSELF.
DON’T LIVE IN THE US? LOOK FOR IT ON AMAZON IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Lovely book! Provides lots of ideas for how to make one’s life more positive by visualizing in a fun way! Highly recommended!”
“Lifts me up. I’m pleased to read one affirmation every morning. These set a positive direction for my work day as well as days of rest and recharging.”
“Simple. Effective. Affirmative. A joyful and positive journey down alphabet lane. Each letter has affirmations that one may reflect on, contemplate and be inspired by. Feeling creative? There is space to insert your own creations. Beautiful concept and execution….”
“Pensieri positivi…ARRIVO! Eh già! Usando questo libro mi sono accorta di quanta resistenza si fa aggiorno d’oggi a vedere, ansi no, a pensare POSITIVO! devo dire GRAZIE GRAZIE e infinitamente GRAZIE all’autrice del libro che con questo semplice esercizio (ma per nulla scontato!) mi ha riportata a vedere le cose diversamente.”
“Positivity. The right tips to focus on positivity and learn a new attitude. A short book that you can use to improve yourself.”
“Finally – the paperback. What an inspiring little book. Something for the bedside table.”
AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND ON KINDLE
CHOOSE THE VERSION THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
BIO
I was born and raised in New York. I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Leader and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. My books include Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure – a little book of inspirational poetry.
If you’d like help managing your stress and developing inner resources, like confidence, courage and resilience, so you can life with greater ease, realize your goals and dreams and better meet life’s challenges, I’d love to hear from you.
Email me at Theresa@reconnecting2you.com to schedule a complimentary consultation to get acquainted, discuss your goals and dreams, and see how we might work together.
PLEASE NOTE: You can also find my blogs under Expert Advice on InTrieste.com, a local online magazine where you’ll find interesting articles, photos, and more about Trieste, Italy, the beautiful city in northern Italy where I live.
If you find today’s post helpful, please leave your commentsbelow or on my blog at InTrieste.com.
“The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way is the key to allowing yourself to take risks.” – Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Do you suffer from procrastination? Indecision? Have a difficult time knowing what to do? How do it? Or when? If so, you’re not alone.
Decision-making can be stressful. Weighing options, and the uncertainty that comes from stepping into the unknown, can make us question our thinking, elicit feelings of anxiety and stop us in our tracks. Whether you are concerned about the affects the pandemic will have on your future, are considering moving abroad and living as an expat in a new country or are wondering who to hire for that project that’s been sitting on the back burner, here are several practices I have developed to build trust and move us forward.
See which of the following six practices resonate with you. Try one or try them all. Whichever you choose, each one will help to free a block that’s been keeping you feeling stuck.
Six Practices A Pathway to Making Good Decisions
Practice #1: Let go.Release your expectations and painful outcomes from the past. Rather than obsess about what might happen, or what you did or did not do, choose to investigate instead. Ask yourself: “What is there for me to learn from this situation?” I am a big fan of journaling and find the practice helpful. Perhaps you will, as well.
Practice #2: When in doubt, don’t. Forcing a solution before its time adds undo stress and can prevent new ideas from surfacing. Refocus your attention and give yourself, and the situation you are deliberating, some space. Trust that the guidance, answers and direction you seek will present themselves – likely when least expected.
Practice #3: Face your fears. If you’re worried about making a wrong choice, start by making small ones. Write your decisions down in a notepad or journal and begin taking small, manageable actions that lead you to your goal. Should you experience an unpleasant result, trust that you can handle it and re-evaluate the situation. People sometimes meet with failure before experiencing success. Look at Bill Gates and Colonel Sanders! ! Life may throw us curveballs, but don’t let fear keep you from moving forward.
Practice #4: Reality check. Make a list of all the good decisions you have made to date, and add to it daily. Re-read as necessary to remember your successes.
Practice #5: Do the next right thing. When feeling overwhelmed, rather than focusing on the big picture, chunk it down into small pieces and do the next right thing. This will reduce your anxiety and develop a foundation of trust. Each step will lead to the next, and will eventually guide you to where you’re meant to be.
Practice #6: Appreciation. Acknowledge yourself for taking the actions and trying something new. Life is meant to be lived, one day at a time. Have fun and enjoy and journey!
Theresa Conti was born and raised in New York. She is a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Facilitator and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. Her books include Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself, and I Am the Treasure.
Theresa specializes in helping her clients manage their stress, and develop inner resources, like confidence, courage and resilience, so they can live with greater ease, realize their goals and dreams and better meet life’s challenges. She offers a 30-minute complimentary consultation to get acquainted, discuss your goals , and see how you might work together. She can be reached at Theresa@reconnecting2you.com.
“You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” – Joni Mitchell
The lyrics to Joni Mitchell’s song, Big Yellow Taxi, has been swirling around my head this week.
It’s been a rough, but inspiring time, filled with various losses, as well as joy and excitement. My niece, Tami, unexpectedly passed away on Monday from heart failure. The news came as quite a shock to everyone, as she seemed to be recovering well after a standard procedure. She was 49 years old. A good spirt. Tough. Resilient. Loved and cherished.
The week also included transitioning from my apartment in Cavana, where I’ve lived for two plus years, and moving my belongings to a friends’ soffitta (attic / storage unit), as one of the owner’s family members has returned to Trieste and will be moving in to my apartment.
Life is constant change, and along with change often comes feelings of sadness and loss, as well as anticipation and delight for what may lie in front of us. While I am grieving the loss of my niece, and my home, I am also feeling deep appreciation for the gifts that both have given me. Love. Safety. Joy. Beauty. Strength. Harmony. Adventure. Challenge. Growth, and so much more. And, as I reflect on the past, I am also aware of how easy it is to take the people we treasure, and the experiences we cherish for granted; overlooking how precious life is, as it is occurring.
As the I-Ching informs us, there is another side to each and every experience. With every loss comes a birth, and with every change an opportunity. For instance, I’ve had the honor of supporting my niece, “J,” in developing the resources within herself to ask for what she needs and wants as she is reaching out to family and friends for the help and support she requires; something she’s been afraid to do up until now. As a result, she is growing confidence, resilience and courage.
As for me and my living situation, while I haven’t yet found a new apartment, the pieces came together to spend the month of August in Amsterdam; a place I’ve been wanting to visit for quite some time. By Divine Design, I was gifted with multiple synchronicities so that my expenses for the trip, including lodging, airfare and ground transportation to get there will equal what I was paying for one month’s rent in Trieste. Quite the deal! And several friends have offered a couch or bed when I return to Trieste in November, if needed. (I’ll be traveling to New York and Seattle, WA after my European trip to visit my son and take care of some personal business; hence the extended date.) And while grieving and exhausted, I am reminded that Life is truly magnificent.
I am so grateful for the care and support that friends and acquaintances have shown me, and trust that my niece, Tami, is now transitioning to a new phase of life, yet to be discovered.
THIS WEEK’S TNT: Remembering Joni Mithcell
This week, take some time to reflect on how you’ve grown or what you’ve learned as a result of a personal challenge or loss.
For instance, I cherish my beautiful niece and the energy with which she blessed the earth. I am also grateful for the two plus years I’ve lived in my apartment in Trieste.
Reflecting on these experiences helps me heal and fills me with love and appreciation. They also help me accept what is, stay in the present, and open to the future.
What do you appreciate about your experience?
Grief has many faces: anger, denial, depression, bargaining and acceptance. Let your feelings surface, whatever they may be. Appreciate and honor all of it.
Then when ready, reflect on what the situations and people in your life have provided you.
Notice the good feelings and let them fill you and soak into your body. Love. Peace. Belonging. Pleasure. Like a cleansing balm, the vibration of appreciation can renew and heal you.
With love, Theresa
Disclaimer: Theresa Conti is a not a licensed therapist or medical doctor. The coaching services and exercises provided by Ms. Conti and Reconneting2You are not a substitute for medical care or mental health counseling and are done at the user’s risk.
PS: If you’re a fan of Joni Mitchell and/or you’d like to hear her sing Big Yellow Taxi, you can watch her perform by clicking on the link at the bottom of the post.
As a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Leader and Author with more than 25 years’ experience, it gives me great pleasure to help my clients grow the resources they need so they can flourish and lead the lives they desire. I look forward to working with you.
For more information and to schedule an appointment email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com. Coaching and healing sessions are available internationally by Skype and telephone, and in person in Trieste, Italy.
Gratitude is literally one of the few things that can measurably change people’s lives.” – Bob Emmons, Ph.D.
I recently had the opportunity to listen to an interview with Bob Emmons, Ph.D. – a leading authority on gratitude and author of Gratitude Works, who spoke on the benefits of gratitude. The interview was part of a year long training program I am attending in the application of positive neuroplasticity with Dr. Rick Hanson.
While gratitude has often been thought of as a touchy-feeling spiritual practice, with perhaps little to no practical implications, gratitude, in fact, has been scientifically proven to have multiple physical, psychological and social benefits. Here are just a few:
Research has shown that adults who practice gratitude on a regular basis experience the following benefits:
Physical
Exercise more regularly and take better care of their health
Report fewer illness symptoms
Have stronger immune systems
Are less bothered by aches and pains
Have lower blood pressure
Respond more effectively to daily stressors, and may show increased resilience when confronted with trauma induced stress
Sleep an average of 30-minutes longer each night and wake feeling more alive and vital
Psychological
Have higher levels of positive emotions, such as joy, enthusiasm and love
Are protected from envy, greed, resentment and bitterness
Are more alert, alive and awake
Feel more optimistic and happier
Have fewer toxic negative emotions
Can experience a decrease in the duration and frequency of depression
Have a higher sense of self-worth
Social
Are more helpful, generous and compassionate
Feel more loving, joyful, forgiving and enthusiastic
Are more outgoing
Have improved relationships
Have increased feelings of connectedness, and even altruism
Experience increased social support
THIS WEEK’S TIP ‘N TOOL
PRACTICE: GROWING HAPPINESS THROUGH GRATITUDE
People who kept a gratitude journal once a week for 10-weeks reported a 25% increase in happiness. So…
This week you can begin your gratitude practice by starting a gratitude journal.
For instance, you might like to purchase a journal or notebook that appeals to you, and that brings a sense of pleasure to look at and write in.
Then, once a week (or more often, if you like), write five things your grateful for.
As an extra boost, at the beginning or end of every day, spend a little quiet time reflecting on the “good facts” in your life.
For instance, the comfortable bed you’re lying on, the sun shining through your window, the warmth (or coolness) of the air on your skin, etc. (I like to do this in the evening, while lying in bed, just prior to sleeping.)
Then, soak in the good feelings that arise as you reflect on what you’ve written in your gratitude journal and as you review the good facts in your life at the beginning or end of the day.
The practice of “soaking in the good” is an important step and will help to tilt your brain in the direction of happiness and positivity.
WANT MORE?
LEARN ABOUT OUR UPCOMING BEAUTIFUL PATHWAYS WALK BELOW
With love, Theresa
JOIN ME FOR MY INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM
BEAUTIFUL PATHWAYS: A NATURE WALK TO NOURISH YOUR BODY AND WAKE UP YOUR MIND™
I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Leader and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. It gives me great pleasure to help my clients grow the resources they need so they can flourish and lead the lives they desire. My books, “Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself, and “I Am the Treasure,” can be found on Amazon.
For more information and to schedule an appointment email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com. Coaching and healing sessions are available internationally by Skype and telephone, and in person in Trieste, Italy.
“The knowledge that you can handle anything that comes your way
is the key to allowing yourself to take risks.”
– Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Do you suffer from procrastination? Indecision? Have a difficult time knowing what to do? How do it? Or when? If so, you’re not alone.
Decision-making can be stressful. Weighing options, and the uncertainty that comes from stepping into the unknown, can make us question our thinking, elicit feelings of anxiety and stop us in our tracks. Whether you are anticipating a new job, a new home, or who to hire for that project that’s been sitting on the back burner, these six practices can help you build trust and move forward.
See which of the following six practices resonate with you. Try one or try them all. Whichever you choose, each one will help to free a block that’s been keeping you feeling stuck.
Six Practices to Build Trust and Spring You Forward
Practice #1: Let go. Release your expectations and painful outcomes from the past. Rather than obsess about what might happen, or what you did or did not do, choose to investigate instead. Ask yourself: “What is there for me to learn from this situation?” I am a big fan of journaling and find the practice helpful. Perhaps you will, as well.
Practice #2: When in doubt, don’t. Forcing a solution before it’s time adds undo stress, and can prevent new ideas from surfacing. Try letting go instead. Refocus your attention and give yourself, and the situation you are deliberating, some space. Trust that the guidance, answers and direction you seek will present themselves. Likely, when least expected.
Practice #3: Face your fears. If you’re worried about making a wrong choice, start by making small decisions. Write your decisions down in a notepad or journal and begin taking compatible actions. Should you experience an unpleasant result, trust that you can handle it and re-evaluate the situation. Making small decisions will strengthen your ability and increase your confidence.
Practice #4: Reality check. Make a list of all the good decisions you have made to date, and add to it daily. Re-read as necessary.
Practice #5: Do the next right thing. When feeling overwhelmed, rather than focusing on the big picture, chunk it down and do the next right thing. This will reduce your anxiety and develop a foundation of trust. Each step will lead to the next, and will eventually guide you exactly where you are meant to be.
Practice #6: Appreciation.Acknowledge yourself for taking the actions and trying something new. Life is meant to be lived one day at a time. Have fun and enjoy the journey!
As always, I would love to hear your comments!
With love,
Theresa
HOW WOULD YOUR LIFE BE DIFFERENT IF YOU FELT MORE CONFIDENT,
TRUSTING AND COURAGEOUS?
MY NEW 6-WEEK COACHING PROGRAM:
“BEAUTIFUL PATHWAYS: GROWING RESOURCES FOR HAPPINESS,
RESILIENCE AND CONNECTION™”
IS BASED ON THE SCIENCE OF POSITIVE NEUROPLASTICITY AND
MAY JUST BE THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
If you know someone you may find this post helpful, please forward.
For more resources, please check out my books, Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure on Amazon.
ABOUT THERESA
I am a Certified Life Coach, Energy Healing Practitioner, Workshop Leader and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. It gives me great pleasure to help my clients grow the resources they need so they can flourish and lead the lives they desire. I look forward to working with you.
For more information and to schedule an appointment email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com. Coaching and healing sessions are available internationally by Skype and telephone, and in person in Trieste, Italy.
Wishing a Happy (now belated!) Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there!
And, as we all give birth to the ideas, dreams, and the lives we create, we are all mothering something. May you give birth to the gifts and talents you are here to share and treat them with loving care.
Hear Your Own Music – Dr. Eric Pearl
It’s been more than 100 years since Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national celebration in May 2014.
As women, we can take pride in having birthed our children, and more extensively, in the gifts we have shared with the world through the very nature of our being.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ONE AND ALL AND QUOTES TO INSPIRE!
We all have special gifts and talents to share. So, in our own way, we are part of the creation process, giving birth to new ideas through our words, our thoughts, our actions, and the visions we hold for ourselves and for the world. The things we create, whether tangible or not, are like our children, and we must care for and nurture them in order for them to excel and grow.
Whether we give birth to something tangible that we can hold and touch, such as a baby, a book, a product, or birth something such as peace, love and gentleness, when we act from inspiration and from the core of our being, our creations bring greater Light, Love and Joy into the world and are part of our personal callings. They feed us, as much as, or more than, they feed and nourish the world.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes. May they inspire your creations:
“Begin to practice taking small steps, doing the things you’ve avoided doing before, experiencing little “risks” and “little” adventures until your love of doing what you want and your experience at taking risks makes you confident enough that living your biggest dream is only one more little “risky” step.” – Barbara Sher
“Everyone has a unique purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.” – Deepak Chopra
“Success comes when you move unerringly forward. Rejecting all that tends to distract you from your master plan.” Catherine Ponder
“Think of your work life not as separate from your spiritual life, but as central to your spiritual life. Whatever your business, it is your ministry.” – Marianne Williamson
“What scares you can free you when you start taking steps to have what you truly desire.” – Theresa Conti
Wishing you a very happy, healthy, joy-filled Mother’s Day! May all of your relations be filled with joy, peace, beauty and love.
If you know someone who found this post helpful, please share.
For more resources, please check out my books, Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself and I Am the Treasure on Amazon.
With love, Theresa
Theresa Conti is a Life Coach, Reconnective Healing® Practitioner, Workshop Leader and Author with more than 25 years’ experience. Theresa specializes is helping her clients manage their stress, realize their dreams, and create happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
For more information and to schedule an appointment email Theresa@reconnecting2you.com. Coaching and healing sessions are available internationally by Skype and telephone, and in person in Trieste, Italy.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu
I took a bus ride to Aurisina a few days ago – a small town about 15 km from Trieste, in the karst part of the commune of Duino-Aurisina, where I often hike along the Rilke Trail – as I had an appointment for a medical exam.
I noticed a woman, somewhere in her 50’s or 60’s, I would guess, who had gotten up from her seat several rows behind me to stand by the door at the front of the bus, although I didn’t know why. I settled in for the 45-minute bus ride, activated the Duolingo Italian program in my cell phone to keep myself occupied, and looked up along the way to take in the lovely view of the Gulf of Trieste as we progressed up the hill toward my destination.
I lost track of the woman standing at the front of the bus, until we both got off in Aurisina. As this was my first time there, I wasn’t sure where to go, and was scoping out the area. The woman from the bus saw me looking around and came over to direct me. Although she didn’t speak English (and I little Italian), we found a way to communicate, and I followed her, as we were both going in the same direction.
Although she was called before me, I finished my exam first, and walked outside to catch the bus to Duino, where I planned to stop for a coffee and walk the Rilke Trail, as it was such a beautiful day. I missed the bus by seconds, and was waiting for the next one, when the nice lady who helped me appeared and crossed the street to catch the bus that was heading back to Trieste. Her bus approached, but it pulled out before she got on, as she stopped to ask me if I was coming! Our eyes met, and we each shrugged our shoulders in recognition of what had just happened, then she came over to my side of the street and decided to ride with me to Duino! We laughed and talked as best we could, and enjoyed the 20-minute ride. I found out she also likes walking, as she asked me if I would like to get together to go hiking sometime. We exchanged phone numbers, and I heard from her this morning.
We never know when and how connections will be made or what their purpose is. The people we meet along the way provide us with whatever we need at the moment, we do the same for them. It’s one of Life’s gifts and blessings.
THIS WEEK’S TNT
Be open to opportunities to connect with the people around you.
You may not know what gifts they bring or those you’re there to share.
If you like, experiment with using the following affirmation from Chapter 11 from “Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself:”
“My heart is open wide. I spread Kindness everywhere I go.”
Soak in the good feelings as you think of a time you experienced someone’s kindness or a time when you were kind.
Let the feelings fill your body for two or more breaths. And notice how your energy shifts.
Then be open to the possibilities Life provides you to connect with those around you.
With love, Theresa
“ALPHABET AFFIRMATIONS: TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND LOVE YOURSELF” IS AN EASY TO USE E-BOOK, AND EMPOWERING PROCESS, THAT CAN HELP YOU REVAMP YOUR MINDSET AND LIVE THE LIFE THAT YOU DESIRE.
HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
“Theresa’s book and techniques will help guide you on your path to transformation. When you create a life you love and are grateful for your life, mind, body and spirit receive the love message and all benefit.” Bernie Siegel, M.D., Author of 365 Prescriptions For The Soul
“A beautiful and simple concept – as easy as ABC! This sweet book offers a creative way to counter the leanings of the mind and provides exercises to stay buoyant and positive — and it offers a section to add even more affirmations to the mix! How cool is that? A great book to have on hand as a reminder that every moment is a new moment and it “affirms” that one can transform their thoughts and their lives in a quick minute. My favorite letter is Q!” – S.G.
Theresa Conti is a Certified Life Coach, Reconnective Healing® Practitioner, Author, and Workshop Facilitator with more 25 years experience. Theresa specializes in helping her clients manage their stress, realize their dreams and create happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
” Traveling solo does not always mean. you’re alone. Most often, you meet marvelous people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.” – Jacqueline Boone
Although I’ve gone to many events alone since I was a teenager (concerts, movies, theater), I haven’t always liked traveling da sola. But when I was in my early 30’s, I grew tired of waiting for other people to join me and decided to venture out on my own! So last Sunday, like many other days, I packed my back and set out. This time to someplace local.
It was the first day, in too many to count, that the sun had finally come out. And what a beautiful day it was!
I began by casting my first vote, ever, in Italy’s national elections. As a dual citizen, I have the ability and privilege. It was quite a beautiful experience.
After casting my vote, I decided to hop on a boat and take the 30-minute ride to Muggia, a quaint little town across the Gulf of Trieste, which I periodically like to go to. The air felt warm on my face and hands and the ride was calm and pleasant. I had gone to Muggia just the day before, when a friend took me on a little adventure and showed me a path that stretches for miles along the shore. That’s where I was heading.
The advantage of traveling alone is that you can follow your nose and change direction whenever you feel inspired. I walked for an hour – about three miles – then decided to hop on the #7 bus and go to Lazzaretto – a small town two miles or so down the road. At first glance, it didn’t look like there was much to see, so contemplated returning to Muggia. But aha! I then spotted a sign for Vigna Sul Mar and hopped off the bus just in time – seconds before it returned to Muggia. What a glorious experience it was! I took lots of photos as I walked through the vineyard, shared an apple with a horse I befriended along the way, and later met Mr. Urizio, the vineyard’s owner, with whom I struck up a conversation. Although my Italian language skills are still pretty basic, we had a nice connection. He asked if I wanted to see the cantina where he stores his wine and oil, and of course, I was delighted! And yes, there’s more – as I was leaving, he called to me, and brought me a bottle of olive oil!
Traveling alone is an adventure! While all types of travel can help us expand and learn from each other, traveling da sola is special. It opens doors and provides us with experiences we would likely never have if we were traveling with another.
THIS WEEKS TNT
Up for some adventure, but feel uncomfortable going alone?
TRY THIS:
Choose someplace you would like to go that helps you stretch, but isn’t too far out of your comfort zone.
It could be someplace near or far, someplace new, or a place you would like to return to.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
Look into resources for how to get to and fro, and timetables to help you plan your trip, if needed.
GET SUPPORT
Connect with friends who have traveled alone to get their support and feedback.
GET READY TO GO!
If going on a day trip, consider bringing a day pack with a bottle of water and snacks.
If going further, take clothes that you can mix and match and keep your suitcase light.
When feeling anxious about striking out on your own, start small and build on your successes!
With love, Theresa
WANT TO BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE AND CREATE A LIFE YOU LOVE?
ALPHABET AFFIRMATIONS: TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND LOVE YOURSELF IS AN EASY TO USE AND EMPOWERING PROCESS THAT CAN HELP YOU REVAMP YOUR MINDSET AND LIVE THE LIFE THAT YOU DESIRE.
HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
“Theresa’s book and techniques will help guide you on your path to transformation. When you create a life you love and are grateful for your life, mind, body and spirit receive the love message and all benefit.” Bernie Siegel, M.D., Author of 365 Prescriptions For The Soul
“A beautiful and simple concept – as easy as ABC! This sweet book offers a creative way to counter the leanings of the mind and provides exercises to stay buoyant and positive — and it offers a section to add even more affirmations to the mix! How cool is that? A great book to have on hand as a reminder that every moment is a new moment and it “affirms” that one can transform their thoughts and their lives in a quick minute. My favorite letter is Q!” – S.G.
Theresa Conti is a Certified Life Coach, Reconnective Healing® Practitioner, Author, and Workshop Facilitator with more 25 years experience. Theresa specializes in helping her clients manage their stress, realize their dreams and create happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
“I do not understand the mystery of Grace – only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.” – Anne Lamott
I recently had the opportunity to support a friend who is struggling with uncertainty and change, something I’m sure most, if not all of us can relate to, especially in these turbulent times.
Yet, by whatever name we call it: Grace, The Universe, Energy, God, Love, Source, or something else, there is a power for good at work in our lives, but it’s up to us to quiet our minds and connect to it.
I felt a deep sense of compassion as I listened to my friend talk about the lack of direction she has been feeling about where to move, as she can no longer stay where she is living. I woke the following morning inspired to share a prayer from A Course in Miracles (ACIM):
God, show me where you would have me go,
What you would have me do,
What you would have me say,
And to whom.
My friend and I continued to email and kept our conversation going. I was later inspired to send her an entry from my e-book, “Alphabet Affirmations: Transform Your Life and Love Yourself,” which seemed to deeply touch her. It comes from the letter “D.”
“I am Divinely guided and make Decisions that Delight me!”
My friend wrote back thanking me, and told me she was almost crying as she read the affirmation, and shared that clarity seemed a very distant and vague idea. She was comforted by my words.
Grace comes in many forms. An inspiring word, a hand extended from a friend, an unexpected gift or blessing.
It’s easy for the mind to focus on what’s wrong and not see the the miracles that are unfolding right before us. A few days ago a friend told me had coats she is no longer using and asked me if I wanted them. She knew the zipper on my jacket had broken and I hadn’t yet found a replacement. We met for coffee a few days later and she brought the two coats with her. They are exactly what I had been looking for and appear to be brand new. I so appreciated her kind and generous gesture.
As Jean Houston likes to say, “What we appreciate, appreciates.” As we reflect on the good in our lives, it opens up the channels for Life’s grace and blessings to flow to us.
THIS WEEK’S TNT
Notice where you are feeling stuck or experiencing a lack of clarity or direction.
Then, for the next week, take note of the good things occurring in your life.
Start your day by expecting something wonderful!
You might like to practice standing with eyes closed and arms outstretched, while repeating the following affirmation:
“I am now open to receive all of Life’s blessings.”
Then see what happens!
The blessings will likely come in unexpected ways.
Take time to reflect on them and soak in the good feelings,
And open to Life’s ever-present Grace.
With love,
Theresa
NEED HELP CHANGING YOUR THOUGHTS AND PERCEPTIONS?
“ALPHABET AFFIRMATIONS: TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE AND LOVE YOURSELF’ IS AN EASY TO USE AND EMPOWERING PROCESS THAT CAN HELP YOU REVAMP YOUR MINDSET AND LIVE THE LIFE THAT YOU DESIRE.
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Theresa Conti is a Certified Life Coach, Reconnective Healing® Practitioner, Author, and Workshop Facilitator with more 25 years experience. Theresa specializes in helping her clients manage their stress, realize their dreams and create happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
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