How to deal with a painful situation

God's Day to you!

If you experience some type of painful situation is your response usually to mull it over and over in your mind? Do you replay the situation or the conversation or the scene? Do you hold yourself and others hostage to your pain?

When deeply hurt, we have to find healthy ways to deal with the pain, otherwise it will color and affect our interactions and experience of the world.

The author of the book, "choosing happiness" says we should wrtie down our feelings, our attitudes, how we think the situation is going to affect us for the rest of our lives, how will we be changed, wha does it mean for the future, etc. Then.....go back in a few days read your statements and write two new lists; one titled "Helpful Attitudes" and one titled "Hurtful Attitudes"' the see on which list all of your responses from your first writing fall into! Boy will you get some clarity!

So....How do you handle your pain? What is your process?

Make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia

Painful Feelings, Painful Attitudes

Greetings Beloved Ones,

Have you ever been wronged, hurt, betrayed, left out or misjudged? Well, we all have suffered some injustice in life. The question is, what have you done with those feelings? What have you done with the hurt and pain? What have you done with the sense of rejection and loss?

Often times we simply keep it all buried within our heart, mind, body, and spirit. We may tell ourselves and others that we are ok, that we are working on it, getting over it, but in reality we are reliving it, holding it in consciousness and letting it affect our attitudes and behavior even if unconsciously.

How long is long enough to hold on to our hurt? Feelings are to be felt, that's ok. It can become problematic when those feelings are then allowed to. Interfere with present day actions, choices, and perceptions.

I say feel them and then heal them! That is our work. Your growth comes through right perception and right thinking! Don't just hold them heal them!

. What hurts or painful situations need to be healed in your life?
. What are you holding on to that needs to be released?
. How do you work on or with your feelings?

Well, make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia

A change in attitude can change a relationship

God's Day to you,

Stephanie Dowrick says, "Attitude rules your inner world. And because attitude drives behavior, it also rules our relationships. ...Attitude can heal relationships or bring them to a painful end."

If you want to heal them, it is going to take a shift in attitude, a shift in perception and a desire to work it out; which means a willingness to see things differently. If you can start with and hold the premise throughout your interaction that you want to support one another, it will really help shift you from your stuck places. Being honest about your needs while also being fully open to the other's needs will also help. The point is to be willing to alter your attitude. It will change the way you experience life!

. What attitude do you carry toward your partner, your boss, your best friend, your colleague, and your neighbor?
. How does your deeply seated attitude affect your relationships?
. What is the basic attitude that needs to be changed right now for you?

Well, make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia

Practice Gratitude

Oops, I didn't finish before i accidentally sent the blog. So.....here is the rest of my thoughts.

I told the woman to find at least three things she was grateful for daily. It is hard to remain sad or empty when you are focused on gratitude! The quickest way to feel God's presence, is to fill your heart with gratitude.

. What are you thankful for?
. What do you do to fill any feelings of emptiness?
. What represents beauty to you?
. What lifts your spirit?

Well, make it a grateful day!
Rev. Sylvia

Practice Gratitude

Greetings Beloved Ones,

An older woman came up to me in church and said she was visiting from another church. She told me of some health challenges she had and how she was feeling empty. She said she needed to feel God's presence in her life.

Have you ever felt empty or that you couldn't find the meaning of your life? Well, here is what I told the woman and what I would offer you. I told her to name at least three things she as grateful for

Focus on process not applause

Greetings Beloved Ones!

Our author states, "our culture is highly critical and competitive." How true! The media thrives on critiquing others and our young are encouraged to compete as a way of success. Both of these qualities has a lasting effect upon our developement.

Instead of striving to "be the best", why not simply strive to "do your best.". Doing your best without fear of judgement, criticism, or comparison will free you beyond measure. It will bring an inner sense of fulfillment that allows you to access even higher levels of creativity. It is the inner process that matters most.

. Is there something you are not particularly good at but you enjoy doing immensely?
. What brings you a sense of fulfillment ?
. Are you overcritical of yourself?
. How do you encourage yourself?

Make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia

Saying No as well as Yes

Greetings Beloved Ones!

No is such a powerful word yet are you really comfortable saying it when you think you will hurt someone else or let someone down? There are so many situations were we are tempted to hold back our no in favor of offering something that will keep the peace or not cause others to think of you poorly.

When we are not honest with others about how we feel or what we truly want, it gives them the wrong picture of who we are and how they can and should respond to us.

. Can you and do you say no when there is a lot at stake that you might have to give up?
. How do you say "No to Power"?
. When was the last time you said yes when you wanted to say no? What prevented your no?

Well, make it a valuable day!
Rev. Sylvia