Encouraging Women Today

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Recently I have come across several individuals who are working at REPLACEMENT of thoughts and actions. THE ART OF FINDING SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WORKS - try it!

1. Don't grab the first solution to a problem: SEEK THE BEST ONE.
2. Find the HUMOR in your situation.
3. Make the Choice: ANY OPPORTUNITY TO GET ANGRY IS A HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE PATIENCE.
4. Move it: STAND UP IF YOU ARE SITTING. DOODLE. STRETCH. RELAX MUSCLES ONE AT A TIME.
5. PRAY
6. Read: CARRY A BOOK OR MAGAZINE IN CASE YOU ARE KEPT WAITING.
7. Reframe the situation: ASK, "HOW CAN I GET SOMETHING GOOD OUT OF THIS?"
8. Shift attention to something you CAN CONTROL.
9. SING a silly song in your head, or OUT LOUD.
10.Slow the pace of your breathing. BE AWARE OF EACH INHALATION AND EXHALATION.
11.SMILE AND TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.
12.Take the long view: "HOW MUCH WILL THIS REALLY MATTER IN 20 YEARS?"

Martha Sheridan

Thursday, April 02, 2009

FORGIVENESS IS A DOOR TO PEACE AND HAPPINESS. IT IS A SMALL, NARROW DOOR, AND CANNOT BE ENTERED WITHOUT STOOPING. Johann C. Arnold

Forgiveness does not mean to deny our hurt. In teaching a young couple's class on "Forgiveness" we have come to the conclusion "forgiveness" is simple, but complex. Forgiveness does not mean to deny our hurt.
Forgiveness is what happens when the victim of some hurtful action freely chooses to release the perpetrator of that action from the bondage of guilt, gives up his or her own feelings of ill will and surrenders any attempt to hurt or damage the perpetrator in return, thus clearing the way for reconciliation and restoration of relationship. Christopher Marshall

To forgive is to make a conscious choice to release the person who has wounded us from the sentence of our judgment, however justified that judgment may be. It represents a choice to leave behind our resentment and desire for retribution however fair such punishment might seem. Margorie J. Thompson

Forgiveness is taking responsibility from my side to release the offender from the alienating effect of the offense on our relationship. MJT

God has forgiven us and we must forgive others in order to be forgiven by the Father.
"Father, Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others." (Message)

FORGIVENESS is power...It can heal both the forgiver and the forgiven. In fact, it could change the world if we allowed it to. Johann Arnold