Affirmation: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Affirmation

Choose to lighten your burdens.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the week for Living Life Better.

I think positive thoughts that change my life.

 Definition: positive statement used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts

Other: declaration, pledge

Opposite: denial, negative

The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare originally meaning “to make steady, strengthen.” Affirmations are a powerful way to improve your mindset on a daily basis. They encourage positive changes, motivate, and can boost self-esteem. Affirmations are sometimes used alongside other strategies, such as visualization and goal setting, to combat subconscious patterns.

Magic, no.

Science, yes.

It requires regular practice if you want to make lasting, long-term changes to the way that you think and feel. Based on the self-affirmation theory (Steele, 1988) there is MRI evidence suggesting certain neural pathways are increased when people practice regularly. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex becomes more active cultivating a sense of inner peace. Healing affirmations are positive statements about your physical and mental well-being. Louise Hay popularized the idea that your thoughts can influence your health for the better.

Wellness is the natural state of my body. I am in perfect health.

-Louise Hay

 There are numerous benefits to using affirmations:

Decrease stress.

Academic achievement.

Increase physical behavior changes.

Lower rumination.

Resilient to difficulties.

Encourage an optimistic mindset.

It is extremely easy to pick a phrase and repeat it to yourself. There are no hard and fast rules about timing or frequency. Three to five times daily to reinforce the positive belief. Find affirmations that resonate with you. It is important to believe in the potential of an action we desire. Also writing affirmations in a journal or on post-it notes and placing in prominent places you frequent can make them more powerful and effective. Translate thoughts into words and eventually actions in order to manifest our intentions. Affirmations help clarify our thoughts and restructure the dynamic of our brains so we believe it is in the realm of possibility.

Affirmations can be created for many areas in your life.

Here are a few examples to get you started.

Today, I am brimming with energy and overflowing with joy.

Creative energy surges through me and leads to new and brilliant ideas.

Everything that is happening now is for my ultimate good.

I wake up today with strength in my heart and clarity in my mind.

I give myself space to grow and learn.

I listen to my intuition and trust my inner guide.

I trust myself to make the right decision.

Living life better through the practice of affirmations can lead to a life you have only imagined.

Find the Good,

Becky and Janette

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder each week. Sign up for our Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wellness Weekly.

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Silver Lining Specialist

Becky Wilbur is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease.   Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. 

As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. 

She is a widow, a mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Contact her at beckywilbur@yahoo.com

Breathe: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Breathe

In…out…in…out…

BREATHE

In…out…in…out.

Definition: Inhalation and exhalation of life force energy. Respiration. Gift of life.

Other: Life force energy. Prana.

Opposite: Suffocated, inability to sustain respiratory function, life force absence.

 The very act of breathing means we are alive. Breath is essential to life. The ability to breathe is the essential life function, the absence of breath signifies death.

 As I prepared this message, we just hit day 30 of consecutive Spare the Air days here in California. There has been so much smoke in the air this month due to the multiple fires burning in the West. Combined with record heat, it’s been tough to breathe easily. Throw in the required facemask due to the virus that shall remain unnamed in this message, and breathing has been extra tough.

We’ve been asked to remain indoors with the doors and windows closed, restrict our electricity usage and to limit outdoor activities to bare essentials. This is just an added blow due to the challenges of the past 6 months of staying home and staying safe.

Thankfully, the sea breeze has returned, cooled us off, and cleared out some smoke and the fires are getting closer to being contained. Breathing is easier. Ahhh…what a relief!

When we are triggered by something, it’s common to hold our breath and to tense up. You probably know the feeling. Our breath becomes shallow, our shoulders find their way up to our ears, our back tenses up and we feel constricted.  It does not feel good. 

However, we always have a choice and can choose a better-feeling response by taking a moment to stop, center ourselves, and take a deep, beautiful breath, hold it, and exhale with vigor.  Repeat 3 times.  This simple act immediately floods every cell in our body with more oxygen and we feel better, more in control, more relaxed, less constricted, more in the flow of life. Try this next time you find yourself feeling angst, frustration, worry, or anxiety. 

Below is a passage from my second book “On a Path of Joy”, Vol. 2, Day 22. It is an invitation to breathe in peace, breathe out fear. May it bless your heart as you focus on the gift of your breath.

“Today’s devotional is a loving, healing invitation for a peaceful action on your part, beautiful one. It can be accomplished anytime or anywhere today.  Breathe in peace, breathe out fear.  If you feel yourself facing fear in any way today, know that you can release it by exhaling it from your body and breathing in the peace of God. 

Fear is present with us as a safety mechanism.  Fear can keep us safe but it can also paralyze us from taking action.  Fear is anything that is not love. The face of fear can take on many forms such as anger, unrest, frustration, depression, procrastination, indecision, criticism…

Today’s invitation is to “Breathe in peace, breathe out fear.” 

May you be blessed in extraordinary ways today, beautiful one.” 

Find the Good,

Becky and Janette

Each Wednesday we share another Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance card message on Facebook and via email. Come join us and click here so you don’t miss out on ways for Living Life Better.

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com

Ease: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Ease

Choose to lighten your burdens.

Definition: freedom from concern, anxiety; a quiet state of mind, absence of difficulty

Other: simplicity, peace, content, unconcern

Opposite: difficulty, hardship, trouble

Ease in my life is intentional. I want ease because I do not like feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. I’d much rather feel calm, aligned, in flow, and mindful. Ease is a process of discovery. It is surrendering to the things that are out of my control. It is accepting what I’m experiencing instead of resisting.

Ease takes conscious effort, to focus on myself, take action, and learn as I go. When feeling out of balance then it is figuring out what I need more of and want less of. It is getting clear on what’s important and then setting boundaries. Don’t wait unit you are burnt out or feeling completely overwhelmed to make changes. An attitude of ease can be a driving force in your life.

Put your focus on shifting your mood so you can notice many things going well in your life. Tools for transforming daily life will differ from person to person. There are many ways to alleviate anxiety and feel less worried.

Delegate-Don’t assume you have to do everything, other people want to help you.

Declutter-An organized home helps our mind not be filled with the clutter of “SHOULD.”

Do one thing at a time-Notice when you are multitasking.

Buffer in extra time-Not feeling frazzled with traffic or lines helps when doing errands.

Understand energy levels-Get to know yourself; work with preferences such as being a morning person.

Slow down-Your pace and body movement is a signal to your entire being.

Do not over commit-Schedule in white space taking time out to just BE.

No is a complete sentence-period.

Play, laugh, and relax-Add a little fun to your daily chores.

Grounding activities-Breath work, meditation, check-in with your body, and other mindful techniques.

Seek out those who share positive attitudes-Birds of a feather, flock together as my mom used to say.

Say thank you-Again and again and again, continuously.

The truth is, everything is always changing and nothing stays the same. Be prepared to figure out what ease means in your life. Incorporate the needed changes. Feeling calm, balanced and in control can be the ease you need to live life better.

Find the Good,

Becky and Janette

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder each week. Sign up for our Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wellness Weekly.

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Calm: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

CALM

Be still. Feel the peace.

Be still. Feel the peace.

Definition: Centered, peaceful, serene, at ease

Other: Zen, relaxed

Opposite: Frenzied, rigid, tempest, tightly wound

Some thoughts that come to mind when I think of calm are “Be still and know that I am God.” All is calm…all is bright. What songs, verses, or sayings bring calm to you?

People may tell us to “calm down” (which never works, by the way, it just makes matters worse) or to “Stay Calm and Carry On.” 

We learn by example. Think about someone you know who is the definition of calm.  What sets them apart from others?  Is it because they live a charmed life and have no problems?  No, it is that they are using their inner wisdom to mindfully chose to respond to life’s challenges versus reacting. They are using their inner power and strength and not giving it away by letting circumstances dictate the course of their life.

Being calm is a choice. We always have a choice of either reacting or responding.  Reacting is our reflex, our automatic default, whereas responding is making a conscious choice as to how we behave or approach situations. 

Think about a hurricane.  There is a huge force of energy whipping about, rain, wind, thunder, lightning yet, in the midst of all the chaos, is the eye of the storm where it is peaceful and calm.  I love this analogy for our inner operating system.  Chaos can be swirling all around us and we can choose to remain calm and centered.

Think about your normal operating system, are you the eye of the storm (calm) or the raging wind and rain of the hurricane (chaos)?

How does being calm feel in our bodies?

·       Slowed, even breath

·       Relaxed belly, face, jaw, and shoulders

·       Open

·       Controlled

·       Mindful

·       Ease

 How does stress feel in our bodies?

·       Hyperventilating

·       Shoulders up to ears, clenched jaw, lips pursed, jaw set

·       Tense

·       Loss of control

·       Chaotic

·       Stomach in turmoil

 Look at these two lists and add what feels important to each.  We also want to give you some ways to shift from frenzy to calm.  

Here are some ways to increase our sense of calm.

·       Spend time in nature

·       Move your body, shake out the worries

·       Meditate

·       Nap

·       Bathe

·       Listen to peaceful music

·       Create something

·       Spend time with an uplifting person

·       Journal

·       Self-care, getting enough sleep, hydration, and nutrition

·       Ingest positive content

What are some of your favorite ways to shift to a calm state?  Today’s invitation is to do some of those things and embrace the calm. 

 Find the Good.

Becky and Janette  

Each Wednesday we share another Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance card message on Facebook and via email. Come join us and click here so you don’t miss out on ways for Living Life Better.

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com

Fun: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Fun

Make a list of what you like to do then do one thing.

Make a list of what you like to do, then do one thing.

Definition: enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure

Other: Entertaining, leisure, a good time

Opposite: boredom, misery, gloom

Spongebob’s definition of FUN:

F-is for friends, who do stuff together!

U-is for you and me!

N-is for anywhere and anytime at all down there in the deep blue sea!

Most adults have forgotten how to have fun. Playful behavior or good humor can be the farthest thing from our minds in our every day, doing the right thing, kind of life. One of the biggest reasons we can’t seem to have fun is that we don’t even know what brings us true joy.

Daydream.

Stop being a perfectionist.

Count your blessings.

Think about what you liked to do when you were growing up.

Be non-judgmental.

Laugh at yourself.

Fun increases our brain activity and reduces our stress. It opens our minds to see alternative options and helps to solve that dilemma that has been keeping you awake. Fun increases serotonin levels and gives us an improved ability to cope with day to day frustrations. A boost of energy, improved memory, and concentration will make the fun pro list to lead to positive patterns of thought and even sounder sleep.

There are negative consequences of fun deprivation:

-Increased risk of depression

-Increased risk of addictive behavior

-Poor impulse control

-Poor anger management

-Poor self-regulation

Fun is an essential part of a complete life. A perfect time for fun will never come unless you make time for it. Fun does not necessarily mean laughing until tears roll down your face, though that could happen. What’s fun for one person may not be for another person. Fun is about enjoying yourself. Find what’s fun for you. Think of all the different types of fun: joking around, physical, competition, collecting, creating art, telling stories, planning social events and so many more.

Google ways to have fun, i.e. The Frugal Introvert: 50 Ways to Have Fun by Yourself

Make a fun box and fill it with a coloring book and crayons, word search, play dough, note cards and markers, puzzle, joke book, deck of cards, art supplies and dip into it daily.

Write out a list of everything you enjoy doing.

 Having fun is up to you.

It can be free, healthy and it is an important way to boost happiness.

Make it a priority.

Find the Good.

Becky and Janette

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder each week. Sign up for our Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wellness Weekly.

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Declutter: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

DECLUTTER

Outer order contributes to inner peace.

Outer order contributes to inner peace.

Definition: purging, letting go, releasing, clearing away.

Other: lighten up, visual peace, freedom.

Opposite: hoard, hold onto, stifled, chaos.

Both Becky and I have been decluttering our homes recently.  Perhaps you have too. 

Decluttering is an act of transformation and requires a lot of effort.  It is tougher on some of us than others. 

Just the everyday maintenance of balance in our homes is a task.  We’ve all been spending much more time at home and perhaps ordering more items online which comes with additional packaging to get rid of.  It seems we have so many cardboard boxes at the end of the week!  Thank goodness we have a curbside recycling program which makes disposal easier.

We are remodeling our bedroom this month. We’ve lived in our house for 32 years and have not been good about releasing items. We tend to hold on to things too long. We have way more stuff than we need.  We have boxes of our son’s toys from his childhood, books, and photos that require my attention.  The good news, it that we are making progress. 

Decluttering can be healing and invigorating.  The more you do it, the easier it becomes. 

My former boss shared a funny sentiment with me, our items are stuff, our partner's stuff is junk (to us.)  It’s easier to get rid of someone else’s items because the emotional attachment is not there.

I recently decluttered my workspace and the difference is dramatic.  Not only does it look better, it feels better. Clearing away has created a spaciousness that has enabled more creativity and prosperity to flow to me.  I am loving it.  I’m definitely feeling that outer order contributing to my inner peace.

Marie Kondo, Founder, and Author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” talks about releasing anything that no longer brings you joy. She invites the reader to hold an object in their hands and if it no longer brings joy, it’s time for it to go.  It’s a good question to ponder.  You can find out more about her process by visiting https://konmari.com/

Our items may have tremendous sentimental value or market value.  They may have no value to you any longer.  You can bless another person with your cast-off items or they can be recycled, repurposed, or disposed of. 

By clearing away the excess, we gain a sense of spaciousness, a feeling of freedom.

This week’s invitation is to do a bit of decluttering.  Start small, your purse, a drawer, your workspace, a computer file… I have committed to decluttering at least 15 minutes a day and I even manage to do that most days. 

Decluttering also applies to our hearts and minds.  What are we holding onto that no longer benefits us?  It could be time to release a grudge, forgive someone (maybe even ourselves), or a belief that weighs us down.  Are you tired of lugging that heavy burden around all the time?  If so, now is the time to release it.

How can the act of decluttering bring more peace, love, joy, and ease in your life?

Find the Good!

Becky and Janette

Each Wednesday we share another Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance card message on Facebook and via email. Come join us and click here so you don’t miss out on ways for Living Life Better.

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com

Authenticity: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

Authenticity

I’m just trying to be real.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card for Living Life Better for Aug. 5 - 11, 2020.

AUTHENTICITY

Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the week for Living Life Better.

I’m just trying to be real.

Definition: representing one’s true nature or beliefs, true to oneself

Other: genuine, legitimate, true

Opposite: fake, unreliable

Authenticity comes from the Greek word authentikos meaning original, genuine, principle.

It takes courage to live your life being imperfect and vulnerable. It is living by a code of values and morals that remain constant but open to listening for those moments of change that are crucial to our integrity. It is understanding our shortcomings and that these challenges help to make us who we are. It is learning to face fears and doubts. It takes effort, consistency and means leaving SHOULD behind. What I think, feel, say and do magnifies from what I hold important and is fundamental to living a life of honesty and principle.

We can get carried away being trapped by expectations. Sometimes social media presents who we think we should be, hiding who we really are. The mask, facade or pretending we are someone who we aren’t can bring judgment from ourselves which can lead to procrastination, putting yourself last by people pleasing, excuses with false justification or trying to gloss over “bad” emotions by pushing them down or even ignoring them. Trying to fit in, be liked and accepted by others can lead to feeling lonely, disconnected and worthless.

When we live from our authentic selves then our differences do not frighten or challenge us. There are no judgements. What a delight to chat with someone who has an interest in what you are saying, that you mean something and it’s not just all about them. It is a life-long process to find our true self, let go of beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve and replace with true to you actions. Paying attention to what life has to teach you can open up the doors of wonder and delight.

 Actions and words in agreement and harmony with beliefs and values become possibility. Finding out what makes our hearts sing and spirits soar is when we feel most alive, free and unburdened. It is living with conviction and confidence, staying true to yourself. It is giving generously, rather than from obligation or pity, an overflowing of gratitude and abundance. It is the way you choose to live your life, the way you chase your dreams and even the way you stand up to conflict. It is being ok with not knowing for sure what will come next but knowing that whatever it is, you will be all right.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -Steve Jobs

Find the Good!

Becky and Janette

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder each week. Sign up for our Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wellness Weekly.

Becky Wilbur - Silver Lining Specialist at Well-Being and Wonder

Becky Wilbur, Silver Lining Special at Well-Being and Wonder. She is a woman who is wise-hearted and chooses to live with ease. Well-being is the vision which lights her way with peace and love. As an encourager, healer and champion for flourishing and contentment, she is honored to inspire others on their journey of change. She is a widow, and Mom to two girls and a mutt named Sadie from Modesto, CA.

Stillness: Your WOW Card of the Week Message

STILLNESS

Finding extraordinary quiet.

Finding extraordinary quiet.

Definition: intentional slowing down of body and mind, tuning into the spirit, peaceful

Other: deliberate cessation of chaos or activity, relaxed

Opposite: busy, moving, noisy, clamoring.

Stillness produces tranquility and requires a deliberate act of quieting the heart and mind to allow peace to wash over us.

In allowing, we can find inner peace and stillness even when things around us can be anything but still.

Have you ever been able to concentrate intently when the rest of the room was buzzing with activity?  If so, this is an example of finding stillness and extraordinary quiet.

Have you ever witnessed young children being so intent on what they are doing they tune out the rest of the world and focus on what is delighting them and allowing their internal stillness? They are also intuned with their inner truth and have an affinity with nature, animals, angelic beings, or "imaginary friends" as a rule until someone suggests that they are pretend or not real.  This activity is another example of finding stillness and extraordinary quiet.

Being in nature can be a source of stillness even when there is lots of activity and noise because it brings tranquility just by being a part of the grand scheme of things.  There are the sounds of birds, trees swaying in the wind, and water flowing.

Many of us find great comfort by being at the beach, which is a noisy environment yet produces a great sense of inner peace, calm and tranquility.  We can let go of our concerns and bask in the beauty of Mother Nature with the ebb and flow of the waves.  It feeds our soul and takes us back to the stillness and sanctuary of being in the womb.

Creativity is another way to welcome stillness. What is it that you love to do so much you lose all track of time, or would get up super early in the morning to do or stay up until the wee hours enjoying?  For some, it could be writing, painting, playing music, crafting, or cooking.  Whatever that thing is for you, you benefit significantly by doing it.  Also, by delighting in it, your joy ripples out into the world and sprinkles magic upon all you encounter.

When we can allow stillness, we can increase our level of peace in our days.  Think of silence as exquisite self-care.  It is a gift you give yourself to nurture and replenish your body, mind, and spirit.  You are worthy and deserving of this self-care.  It not only benefits you, it benefits all those that interact with you.  Your inner peace is a contagion for good.  

How can you live life better by incorporating some stillness in your day? 

Here are some ideas:

Walk near a body of water.

Meditate.

Create something that delights you.

Listen to sounds of nature or soothing music.

Have a cup of tea.

Go outside and take a break in your own backyard or at the office.

Unplug from technology for a while.

Spend some time in solitude.

May you delight in the gift of stillness today.

Find the Good,

Becky and Janette

Find the Good,

Becky and Janette

Each Wednesday we share another Well-Being and Wonder Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance card message on Facebook and via email. Come join us and click here so you don’t miss out on ways for Living Life Better.

Janette Stuart: Best Selling Author, Certified Angel Card Reader, Blogger, Military Mom, and Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles with Janette Stuart which will assist you to own and embrace your Divine Beauty and live a life of love, joy, and peace. Gentleness and Joy are my Superpowers. www.angel-angles.com