A New Way of Seeing a Situation

My quest for going 21 days without a complaint has been derailed numerous times since I set out on my brave journey a couple of weeks ago. The most recent setback was due to a note I got from my son's preschool teacher last week. It seems the fruit and cereal bars I've been sending in for his snack for the last several months have trace amounts of some kind of soy product which is in the nut family and there is a student in my son's class with a nut allergy. My first reaction was, "Come on, you've got to be kidding me." That was pretty much the same response offered by my husband.

You see, my son has "sensory issues" and is extremely picky about food. He only tolerates certain textures and tastes. He receives special education for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy. It took us months to find a snack that he will actually eat. We were so pleased (as was his teacher) to have him happily devour something at snack time instead of picking at it and throwing it out. So I wondered who complained and took the time to read all the ingredients on my son's cereal bar. I thought, why can't the kid with the allergy eat in a separate room if he's that sensitive? Why make all the other kids suffer and force parents to be diligently reading all the ingredients on every box of food and trying to figure out what could cause an allergic reaction in someone else's kid?

I knew this was not the energy I wanted to be sending out to the universe, but I was so upset about my own situation, I didn't see it through the other parents' eyes. It must be difficult worrying about your child coming into contact with something that could be lethal to him. I figured I was lucky that my son was just "picky" and doesn't have any food allergies. In fact, I'm grateful that one of his favorite foods is peanut-butter. I can't imagine life without it, myself. The point is, once I stopped and looked at the problem in a different way, I went from outrage to gratitude.

My son is on vacation this week, so I still don't know what kind of snack will replace his beloved fruit and cereal bars, but I'm grateful that I don't have to worry about him dying from something he eats. And next year he starts kindergarten in a nut friendly class--yay! PB&J's, here we come.

I found compassion and changed my attitude--and energy! And since I was successful here, I know I can continue to look at any problem in a different way and find solutions easily. There really is always something to be grateful for if you just open your eyes and look.

Until next time, be prepared for the best!

Happy Valentine's Day

This is a time to send cards of appreciation to people you're lucky to have in your life. I know it's known for lovers and sweethearts, but you don't need to celebrate with a special someone if you don't happen to have one. You can send cards/gifts or just phone calls or e-mails of appreciation to anyone. Kids in particular are grateful for the gesture. What could be more rewarding than giving a child a reason to smile?

So, if you find yourself spending this valentine's day alone, just think of all those people in your life that could use a friendly reminder of why you appreciate them. And also remember, you don't need a special holiday to send gratitude to anyone. Send a card every day and watch your returns start increasing in an abundant way.

Visit http://www.cafepress.com/karmicbulldog for a great selection of gratitude cards and gifts for any occasion.

More On Being Thankful

Here is a message from The Daily Om that really sends the thankful message home better than I can, so I'm posting it here. I keep seeing this same message about being grateful even when things aren't going as well as you'd like. If only we can remember this when we need it most.

November 22, 2007
Beyond Counting Blessings
Being Truly Thankful
Often when we practice being thankful, we go through the process of counting our blessings, acknowledging the wonderful people, things and places that make up our reality. While it is fine to be grateful for the good fortune we have accumulated, true thankfulness stems from a powerful comprehension of the gift of simply being alive, and when we feel it, we feel it regardless of our circumstances. In this deep state of gratitude, we recognize the purity of the experience of being, in and of itself, and our thankfulness is part and parcel of our awareness that we are one with this great mystery that is life.

It is difficult for most of us to access this level of consciousness as we are very caught up in the ups and downs of our individual experiences in the world. The thing to remember about the world, though, is that it ebbs and flows, expands and contracts, gives and takes, and is by its very nature somewhat unreliable. If we only feel gratitude when it serves our desires, this is not true thankfulness. No one is exempt from the twists and turns of fate, which may, at any time, take the possessions, situations, and people we love away from us. Ironically, it is sometimes this kind of loss that awakens us to a thankfulness that goes deeper than just being grateful when things go our way. Illness and near-miss accidents can also serve as wake-up calls to the deeper realization that we are truly lucky to be alive.

We do not have to wait to be shaken to experience this state of being truly thankful for our lives. Tuning in to our breath and making an effort to be fully present for a set period of time each day can do wonders for our ability to connect with true gratitude. We can also awaken ourselves with the intention to be more aware of the unconditional generosity of the life force that flows through us regardless of our circumstances.

Achieving A High Vibration

This is today's Daily Om, which I thought I'd share because it ties in so well with things I've been blogging about. Enjoy and good vibrations!

October 3, 2007To Rise AboveAchieving A High Vibration
All matter is made up of energy, and that energy is in motion continually. Everything in the universe, from the smallest molecules to the most complex living beings, has an optimal rate of vibration to keep it healthy. We reach this high vibrational level when we are whole, healthy, and fulfilling our potential. Human beings are able to consciously control these vibrations within themselves using a variety of techniques. We know when we have reached a high vibrational state because we feel good and can sense that we are aligned with all that is. We find we are capable of healing and have good intuition and perception that are a result of our resonating closer and closer to our ideal frequencies. Thoughts, emotions, intentions, choices, and actions contribute to our vibrational state, as do the environments we inhabit. Affirmative activities that leave us feeling joyous, appreciative, loving, and peaceful raise our vibration. Constructive, creative, and expansive thoughts do the same. When we cultivate habits that contribute to our physical health and strength, our vibration is likewise raised. Certain mantra meditations, breathing exercises, and chants are designed to increase vibration. But simply practicing gratitude and forgiveness, surrounding ourselves with loving high-vibration people, eating whole foods, and spending time in nature can also help us transcend our current vibrational limitations. When your desire for change is strong enough, you will find yourself gravitating toward what can help you achieve and maintain a high vibrational state. A positive outlook will then become the most important tool you possess, and this outlook will sustain you when the path leading toward transformation is wide and winding. As you evolve, your vibrational frequency will also evolve, aiding you in the creation of an even higher reality. Consciously and unconsciously, you will attract auspicious circumstances and positive people that will help you continue exploring the scope of your higher self until you move beyond the earthly plane.
What do you think?Discuss this article and share your opinion
Want more DailyOM?Register for your free email, or browse all articles


Share the OM:

Email this to a friend

Printable version

Save in My DailyOM

Discuss this article
Today's friend of OM:Have you ever walked into a building and felt uneasy? With the Vastu Your Home for Health & Prosperity on-line course offered by DailyOM, Vastu experts Robin & Michael Mastro provide the training for you to create balanced and harmonious living and working environments aligned with the forces of nature.
For more information visit DailyOM.com/courses
From the Library:The Other Withinby Daniel Deardorff
More DailyOM:
Browse the Library
Today's Horoscopes
Shop the Marketplace
Join the Community
Home Gift Shop My DailyOM Marketplace Community Archives Share The OM Contact Us Subscribe Change Email User Settings Unsubscribe Privacy Policy Disclaimer Gift Shop FAQ Advertising Info Make DailyOM Your Homepage Link To Us Publish DailyOM On Your Website

Be A Love Finder, Not A Fault Finder

This was the advice given to me by my energy therapist last night and I thought I'd pass it along. I have a tendency to be a perfectionist and as such, I can't help but find fault with just about everything. And I don't like this but it's something I've always had to live with--up until now. Those words, be a love finder, not a fault finder really made me laugh. I guess because it sounded silly at first. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me. If I'm constantly finding fault with things, people, circumstances, I'm not fully enjoying what's good about them. Or the good things about myself. There is good in everyone and everything--if I choose to look for it. But I won't find it if I'm concentrating on what's wrong.

So today as I was cleaning the kitchen floor, which I always complain about because it seems to be a dirt magnet, instead of lamenting about my husband, dogs or kids bringing the dirt in, I said those words in my head. You're a love finder, not a fault finder. Even as I write this it makes me smile. Something about those words make me laugh. And if I'm laughing, I can't be complaining. It takes me out of the moment and makes me think about what's good, or why I love my family. This has been a helpful tool for me so far, and I intend to keep thinking of those words whenever I find something to criticize. It reminds me of all the things I have to be grateful for. As I'm sure you already know, the more gratitude you have, the more you'll attract into your life to be grateful for. And for some reason, the phrase makes me laugh. Maybe you will too. Why not give it a try? I hope you find it to be of benefit. If it doesn't work for you, why not try finding something else to make you laugh? It works. Laughing beats complaining every time.

Till next time, be prepared for the best!

Changing My Mind Changed My Situation

It's been a while since my last post. Last week was a bad one for me. Let me rephrase that so it doesn't sound so negative; it was a healing week. I needed to take some time, namely yesterday, to heal with EFT (check the link in my sidebar.) I feel much better today. I also started reading "The Attractor Factor" by Joe Vitale. So far I like what I'm reading. I'll let you know how it works for me. The reason I was having such a bad week was because I let it get to me. My husband just wasn't measuring up to my standards and neither was my business--still no sales and my blog readership took a nose-dive. I was feeling like giving up on everything from my marriage to my online ventures. But I realized that just a tiny mental shift was all I needed to really turn things around.

I had a horrible fight with my husband last Tuesday and I thought I couldn't forgive him and kept thinking that I was finished and we were headed for a divorce. And the longer I kept that thought in my head the worse it seemed. Even he was starting to give up on the idea of a reconcilliation. But as soon as I changed my thought to "maybe this isn't so bad and we can work things out," then things changed. When you change your mind, your energy follows and so do your actions. Everything is all how you look at it. Now things are not what I would call back to normal because they're better. I realize that I have control of my thoughts so I have control of my life. I know I can't change anyone else's mind or control other people, but when I see things as I want them to be instead of how I don't want them to be, it not only makes me feel a lot better, it actually starts moving me toward what I want. I can't believe what a difference it makes.

I still haven't attracted a million dollars to buy our B&B but I did receive some good suggestions from a reader--thank you! And I now appreciate my family--my husband and kids--more than ever. They are what's most important to me. I'm so happy and grateful to have them in my life. And I just read a good line the other day: Wherever happiness is, prosperity follows--or something like that. Not sure of the exact wording but their meaning rings true no matter what. Relationships are so important and need to come first. Then you can work on getting rich. I still don't have any sales, but I've done some research and know that it takes time to get listed in the search engines. So I'm not giving up. I believe in my products--especially my Gratitude cards. Once they catch on, people will keep buying more because they'll see the positive results of sending cards to people for no particular reason. In fact, I'm going to start using them myself. I've already used the sorry cards--it's so difficult for me to say that in person. That's what gave me the idea for the sorry cards in the first place. It's hard to say sorry, so let my adorable bulldog say it for you. Then I figured I could make cards for other occasions as well, besides the usual birthday and notecards, I made some gratitude cards, sending hugs cards, sending smiles cards just to let people know that you appreciate them. Or to stay in touch with someone who may have drifted away. Or to surprise someone who may need a smile or hug. Make someone's day, send them a smile today. In turn you'll be filled with positive energy. Try it. What have you got to lose?

If you'd like more information about my cards, t-shirts, gifts or anything else in The Karmic Bulldog store please visit http://cafepress.com/karmicbulldog. Thank you!

Till next time, be prepared for the best!

Acquired a Photographer

My husband's friend from work came over our house today and shot our bulldog--with his $700 digital camera. So I should have some good pictures for my T-shirts, mugs, baby clothes, and of course, my gratitude cards at my new cafe press store. I should have all of them uploaded and the store open for business by next weekend.

We didn't even have to pay for the pictures, so I am attracting good things all the time. Now if I could just get others to do the same, maybe I could really make a difference in the world. Well, I guess that's kind of what I'm doing with the cards.

I will keep you posted--literally--when you can buy them and start spreading the abundance. That way you can get it back to you. Karma is kind of the same thing as The Secret and The Science of Getting Rich. But maybe not so focused on money. It's always better to feel good and that way you'll be attracting more of the same.

Till next time, be prepared for the best!

Welcome to my new blog!

This is an extenstion of my blog, Healing the hardway, at karmicbulldog.wordpress.com. I decided to move to Blogger because there are so many more options here. And I can customize the look of the template. It's so much more flexible! But I'm having a tough time finding a way to write someone to get help. I've only seen forums and groups, and I'd rather e-mail someone directly. If anyone knows how to do that, please leave a comment and let me know. I'd really appreciate it. Anyway, I also appreciate you visiting my blog, so thank you. Remember, it's all about gratitude. If we're full of it (gratitude) we'll get more to be grateful for.

Stay tuned for my new line of gratitude cards featuring my famous bulldog and Boston terrier as well as some cute kids--all happen to be mine.

If you want to read some of my old posts, please feel free to visit Healing the hard way--there's a link on my blog roll. I've also posted a few of them here just to give you an idea of what it's all about. I'm hoping to make this blog more about healing the easy way.

Till next post, be prepared for the best!