December 2020 - Dr. Joan Rosenberg

Who Do You Want To Be

Confidence, Emotional Strength, Emotional Well-Being

Hello,

WHEW! Geez, what a rollercoaster ride this year has been.

I know I have talked at length about the countless challenges we have faced over the past nine months.

I hope that this year has evolved for you into one of reflection, resilience and reconnection.

Sheltering in place and quiet with fewer distractions can invite reflection. What have you discovered from your reflections?

So much change demands resilience. How have you been flexible and adaptive facing all this change?

With all that you have been through, remember to “ride the waves” of difficult feelings if they occur, and see if you can identify the source. Pause. Take some time to sort out what’s going on. Be gentle on yourself.

Sheltering has also provided us with opportunities to reconnect more deeply with ourselves, with others, with earlier interests and hobbies, and with important values. Who have you reconnected with? What have you recommitted to?

I hold an optimistic view on who we can become on the other side of the challenges we have faced.

So I want you to know that your best life truly is within your reach.

And that no hardship, nor challenge, can truly prevent you from being your best self … from being the person you want to be in this coming new year.

As we say goodbye to 2020, and enter 2021, I want to pose these questions: What would you love in 2021? Who do you want to become?

Wishing you a great year to come – one that is filled with health, deep connections, a sense of inner peace and love.

Lead with gratitude and love.

May 2021 bring you joy and blessings.

– Joan

Gratitude Journey 2020

Confidence, Emotional Strength, Emotional Well-Being

Hello!

I hope that you have been able to participate in a December of Gratitude, or what I am affectionately calling “Grati-December”. I invited you into 31 days of gratitude and I have used this time as one of reflection and understanding. I hope you have also been taking the time each day to practice graciousness and gratitude towards others, yourself, and life.

I think it’s important to end this challenging year with an optimistic attitude, with our thoughts on what we envision and our actions centered on what we want more of in our lives.

To help with that, let’s continue with the practice of experiencing and moving through the 8 unpleasant feelings. Once you have experienced any of the given feelings, pause, and take some time to reflect, and see if you can identify and invite the more positive counterparts of these 8 feelings.

Last week, I suggested positive feeling counterparts to anger, disappointment, and helplessness. This week we will address shame, embarrassment, and vulnerability.

Once you have experienced shame, follow with self-compassion and forgiveness.

Likewise, with embarrassment, recall moments of confidence that can inspire trust in yourself.

And, with vulnerability, work on framing moments of vulnerability, instead as moments of empowerment, to shed the idea that vulnerability equals weakness.

Grati-December Gratitude List

I am so happy and grateful for:

1. The blessing of my mother and her health, wisdom and model of graceful aging.

2. The team that quietly supports my work and makes possible my connection with you.

3. You . . . and learning that my work has made a positive difference in and for your life.

4. My siblings, who invite me in their own unique ways to be a better person.

5. My family and friends, who nourish, nurture and support me in times of need.

6. All the mentors who have guided and inspired me.

7. The ability to laugh despite individual and collective challenges and pain.

8. The capacity to imagine.

9. A mind that remains clear thinking and a heart that loves and loves to love.

10. Love, being loved and loving others.

11. Having access to the basics in life of shelter, food, clean air and water.

12. Nature and those interested in preserving our collective home.

13. Good health.

14. The opportunity to serve and work.

15. Opportunities that I could never predict.

16. Life delivering more than imagined.

17. The ability to recognize change is the constant.

18. Holding optimistic and resilient attitudes and beliefs.

19. Those who hold big visions and inspire me.

20. Everyone who chooses and leans into living into their higher nature.

21. All health care and support workers at every level of who have served magnificently.

Here’s to “GratiDecember”. I hope you’ll continue to join me on my “GratiJourney”, and I look forward to the “GratiMoments” that you share with me on my social media channels.

No matter what you celebrate, I wish you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season.

– Joan

December of Gratitude

Confidence, Emotional Strength, Emotional Well-Being

For those of you celebrating, I hope you were able to enjoy the American Thanksgiving holiday in a way that felt safe, comfortable and satisfying – even if it didn’t resemble past holidays.

Without question, this year has been challenging in quite an unrelenting way.

No doubt, it has tested us in ways we never expected. Yet behind these challenges is something more. It’s an invitation to be more than we are now.

I believe that throughout the year there are times, dates or seasons that invite more reflection.

The Thanksgiving holiday (celebrated by Americans) is one of those times.

In fact, you can consider it a “GratitudeGiving” holiday.

In the spirit of gratitude – and other values like it (e.g. compassion, generosity, kindness, love), I’m proposing we make December a month of gratitude and giving. I’ll likely start each day of the week in December with “Grati” as the lead.

Despite what each one of us has faced, I also think it’s important to end this challenging year with an optimistic attitude, with our thoughts on what we envision and our actions centered on what we want more of in our lives . . . even if it feels like you have to pretend and don’t yet fully believe it. For now, that’s totally okay.

I have a mentor that often says to give more of what you want in your life.
If you are up for a 31 day adventure in generosity, gratitude, kindness and love, here is what I am proposing.

1. For each numbered day of the week, I’d like you to engage in some expression or action that shows your gratitude, generosity, kindness and love to the people in your life. I want them to be able to be touched by the experience of your sharing. [Or it could be people you don’t know – especially if you engage in charitable giving or volunteer work.]

2. Day 1 would be 1 person and 1 expression or action. So, for today, December 1st, I want to let you know how meaningful it is to me that my work in the world supports and helps you. I am deeply touched and filled with immense gratitude for your interest in, involvement with and the sharing of my work.

3. Day 2 (December 2) would be 2 people, Day 3 would be 3 people and so on. On December 2, I’ll reach out to my siblings and let them know I love and appreciate them. Day 3, it will be 3 other people in my life.

4. Now, you can go back to the same people throughout the 31 days, except you have to say or do something different each time.

5. You could write thank you cards to people who have supported you throughout your life. You could make phone calls, or text, or facetime, or zoom. If it’s safe, you could do important chores for them, cook a meal, run errands, etc. Write a poem, sing a song, play a musical instrument, or paint something. Your creativity adds to the fun and experience.

6. The goal is for people to feel appreciated and “loved on”.

7. So, who in your life would you like to shower with gratitude, generosity, kindness and/or love?

8. Feel free to post what you are doing in the Life You Love Facebook Group or tag me on Instagram or Twitter with what you are doing. I’ll be inviting those who follow me on those platforms to do the same.

Here’s to GratiDecember. I hope you’ll join me.

Warmly,

Joan

Archives for December 2020