5 Ways To Help Your Kids Do Math
Uh oh.
Your kids arrive home with their school reports and it's poor marks from the math department. Now what do you do?
You may not be a math teacher, but thankfully there are ways you can help your kids improve their grades.
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Baby Shower Themes
Once the type of shower has been decided on, the fun begins in creating a theme. Sometimes, the shower will be very elegant, sometimes more casual, and sometimes, just downright fun. The theme of the shower should be a direct reflection on the...
Don't Mock Me!
My favorite part of the Noah's Ark story is not that he listened
to his god and therefore managed to save mankind and the
animals, and it's not the rainbows, or even the dove as a symbol
of divine peace and love. My favorite part happens long...
Risk Inclination - How Do You Compare To Others?
Based on Proprietary Research
Ever wonder how risk inclined you are? And how you compare to others.
As a part of my forthcoming book, Seize Opportunity - A Practical Guide to Taking Advantage of Opportunities, I conducted some research on...
The Ideal Web Design Firm
Choosing a web design firm isn't as easy as you think it is. Sure, you could get a firm to do your requirements and specifications as long as you have the money to pay for it. However, getting an inexperienced web design firm may hurt you more and...
Humble Riches
"We come equipped with everything we need to experience a powerful life full of joy, incredible passion, and profound peace. The difficult part is giving ourselves permission to live it." – Deborah Rosado Shaw
Today is a great day to practice slowing down and re-connecting with what you enjoy most in life -- spending time appreciating nature, barbequing with old friends, or expressing yourself through a creative hobby such as painting or gardening. These are what I call the "humble riches" of life. They don't necessarily cost a lot of money but their "bang for your buck" in terms of your quality of life is huge.
Often when we think of taking steps to improve our quality of life we think about big steps --quitting a job, getting physically fit or moving house. Today I would like to introduce you to another approach. I call it Momentary Contentment. This means not necessarily waiting for one of those perfect times when everything feels completely in alignment and you wouldn't change a thing, but rather, it is recognizing when you feel mostly content. You may have a few worries about your life but nothing so pressing that it stops you from enjoying the humble riches that are available to you here and now.
Recognizing any moments of contentment, be they Momentary or perfect, pulls you back in touch with what is good about your day and your life. It lifts your spirits and naturally shifts your mental state from your anxieties, worries, and concerns to possibilities, appreciation, and gratitude.
Recently I was traveling on a morning commuter bus to Boston. As I was riding along I was worrying about all the to-do's ahead of me that day. Just then something caught my eye and I looked out the window next to me. What a sight! Beautiful wispy clouds were strewn across the blue summer sky. The silver glint of a jet was flying across and leaving behind two streams of ethereal white vapor. The tops
of the nearby trees were bursting with full, summery green leaves. The vibrant mix of colors looked like a painting.
I thought to myself, "Ah ha! This is as close to a quiet, contemplative moment as I'm likely to get all day. I feel mostly content -- I have a few worries about my work day but nothing so demanding as to stop me from taking this moment to enjoy the view nature is offering to me."
I continued watching as the bright sunlight caught the edges of some of the clouds and not others. The scene changed from moment to moment in front of my eyes, never to be repeated in exactly the same way again. White, Blue, Green. White feathery clouds, blue skies and green trees. It was beautiful.
While gazing at this scene, my thoughts shifted to what a warm and sunny day it was and how lucky I was to have such good weather for my trip into the city. I couldn't have asked for a better day for walking between bus stations and T stops and my various meetings. Starting to feel gratitude for the good things in the day, I effortlessly let go of the tension I had been holding about the schedule of obligations laid out before me. I was able to sit back and literally, enjoy the ride. I felt blessed by life’s humble riches.
Think of this article as permission to give your self a few much deserved breaks of Momentary Contentment this month. Why not notice the world around you and revel in its wonders, call an old friend you haven't talked to in a while, or take a half an hour to do something you love?
Lucky you, these riches are yours for the taking. Enjoy!
About the Author
Deirdre Maigread McEachern is an experienced writer, speaker and personal coach who works one-on-one to help her clients find their ideal career and create more balance in their lives. You can contact Deirdre at 207-439-4280, deirdre@vip-coaching.com or sign up for her free e-newsletter at www.vip-coaching.com/news.
