Mother Knows Best

Every Thanksgiving friends and family reminisce about memorable moments for which they are grateful. The afterglow of sharing gratitude can do wonders for one’s well-being. Just a few words of kindness can go a long way. So, why not treat every day like Thanksgiving? Daily practice is really the only way to make something a habit. If you exercise daily, your muscles grow. If you brush your teeth daily, you prevent cavities. If you practice gratitude daily, you enhance your well-being and the well-being of others.

Some people think I love my dogs more than most people — and in part, that may be true. Don’t get me wrong, I love people as well, but my dogs are my therapy. My two dogs, Peyton and Eli, give me so much joy and help me focus on what is important in life. They teach me so much more than anything I’ve ever learned in a classroom. Here are some helpful things my furry friends have taught me about life. 

There is so much going on in the world — life can be overwhelming at times and it can be difficult to focus and be still. One way to practice focus is to use your senses. If you think about it, what our senses do for us is pretty amazing. Have you ever tried to focus on one sense at a time? This can be a helpful tool when you find yourself overstimulated with the activities and demands of everyday life.

It can be hard to let go of old habits. Clinging to patterns is easy to justify, but this can weigh you down and make you unhappy. There’s no time like the present to put your life into alignment. Find ways to rid yourself of unhealthy relationships, learn how to cope during challenging times and find ways to appreciate your mind and body. Here are three powerful ways to help you purge anything that might be weighing you down emotionally, physically or spiritually.

Self-soothing involves bringing calm to your mind and body as a way of making yourself feel good in tough situations. It’s also an excellent way to maintain balance and prevent upset in your life. Although it’s pretty easy to do, it can be hard to remember to do it. In fact, it’s so simple, you may laugh and think it won't work — but it does. Plus, there are a variety of ways you can do it. Try these simple self-soothing techniques for the five senses.