They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

–ANDY WARHOL

 

Things do not change; we change.

–HENRY DAVID THOREAU

 

Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.

–MARCUS AURELIUS

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~Agnes M. Pahro

 

Mantra #1: Be here now, and breathe. -- Life often leads us on journeys we would never go on if it were up to us. Don’t be afraid. Trust the journey, and give yourself credit for your resilience and how far you’ve come this year. You’ve lived, you’ve learned, you’ve survived all your bad days, and you’re still here growing. So just remind yourself right now: You are not your bad days. You are not your mistakes. You are not your scars. You are not your past. Be here now... and breathe.

Mantra #2: This is the beginning. -- Everything in life—every situation and every relationship—has to come to an end eventually. It’s important to appreciate and accept the end of an era—to walk away sensibly when something has reached its inevitable conclusion. Letting go, turning the page, moving forward, etc. It doesn’t matter what you call it, what matters is that you leave the past where it belongs so you can make the best of the life that’s presently available to be lived. This ending is not THE END, it’s just your life beginning again in a new way. It’s a point in your story where one chapter fades into the next.

Mantra #3: In your present response is your power. -- The goal isn’t to get rid of all your negative thoughts, feelings, and life situations from this past year. That’s impossible. The goal is to change your response to them. The first step? Anchoring yourself in the present. Because no matter what, you can always fight the battles of today. It’s only when you add the infinite battles of yesterday and tomorrow that life gets overly complicated.

The bottom line is, despite the real world challenges you face, the biggest and most complex obstacle you will ever have to personally overcome is your own mind. In other words, you aren't responsible for everything that happens to you in life, but you ARE responsible for undoing the self-defeating thinking patterns that these undesirable experiences create.

 

Marc & Angel 

 "We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves." Buddha

 "You can't go wrong doing the right thing."

Mark Twain

 

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

–EMILY DICKINSON