kindness

Spring – the words itself invokes visions of light, green growth, shoots of flowers, and plants

peaking up out of the dark earth. The scent of fresh air, and damp soil. The melodious song of so many different kinds of birds filling the morning with their cacophony of joy.

The warmth of the sun’s rays beckoning us to come outside, shed your jackets, coats, sweaters and boots. Feel the warm of the sun and a gentle breeze caress your face.

Leave your worries to embrace this new day. This new opportunity for growth, renewal and fresh, creative ideas. This time for play. For within play is afforded the space for creativity.

Spending time with children allows us to view the world with their eyes of innocent and wonder. They don’t concern themselves with the latest election polls, the cost of things or whatever the latest media disaster or distraction is. They are simply joyful in the moment.

Walk with a child in the woods, or a beach or in a backyard and discover how they act? What bugs attract them, ladybug or beetles? What sounds do they pay attention to? What thoughts do they share with you? Listen, and explore this world which holds a natural rhythm that is for our benefit.

Walk with yourself or a friend and let your inner child be refreshed, cherished and listened to. Yes, give yourself permission to be goofy. To jump in those puddles, to stoop to smell the crocuses, snowdrops, and the glorious scent of the hyacinths in bloom. This is our season of renewal. What would you like to renew? What would you like to bring new life to?

A forgotten friendship? A passion for painting or photography? A spiritual journey? Perhaps you want to teach a skill, or learn a new skill? What would the kid in you like to do? Is this the year you join a softball team?

We can plant seeds in this the springtime of our life. We can expect new growth and have expectations of harvesting future bounty. That is called hope. Hope Springs Eternal.

It is not a coincidence that after a winter of isolation, hibernation and Netflix that we crave a new experience. Spring and the increase of sunlight in this hemisphere does create a quickening of the blood, a desire for something new, a spring fling mentality. Go outside. Get some sunshine. Breathe that fresh clean ionized air. Allow a renewal of your state of mind and spirit. The season is changing. You can choose to change with it.

As you put away your boots, and bring out your sandals – can you permit yourself to walk lighter? Can you put away some of the worries that hold you down? Most of the things we worry about, never come to pass. Release them and renew our minds with light and loving thoughts. Let that child-like sense of wonder stay with us. Foster it. Fertilizer the acts of kindness that make our hearts sing like those birds in the morning.

Listen to your inner wisdom, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts. What new adventure awaits today? Who can I call and share this happiness of the season with?

What good trouble can I get into? Where are those puddles?

Wishing you a joy filled, adventurous, bouncy Spring.

Now that we have established what our values are, let’s look at how they affect us. Values are our guide posts. They guide our behavior. Values are the principles, ideals and standards that impact our belief about ourselves and the world. They are the non-conscious record playing in the
background of our psyche, that imprints on how we think and act.

For example “Have a grateful heart” is a simple statement one hears often. What exactly does that mean? Why would it matter if one is grateful or not? If we carry the value of gratitude, it helps us to appreciate the many gifts, opportunities, blessings, and challenges that meet us in this life. It opens us up to be more generous. Through gratitude we discover true appreciation for our friends, family, life, and our circumstances, even if they are challenging. Gratitude gives you a lens through which you view everything.

We are bombarded with external messages from the media, that try to influence us to feel we are lacking. When one holds the value of confidence, we know we are enough. We can be content in all things. That does not mean we are not open for growth. The quote from Socrates, “The unexamined life in not worth living” reminds us to look at what we value. Our actions are often determined by our
unconscious mind.

Pause. Reflect. Consider. Why did I respond in that fashion? What is my underlying belief? What value do I hold that feels like it is incoherent? What values do I hold, that make me feel empowered? Why does this situation make me feel so angry? So Hopeful? So, Inspired? Be Patient with yourself and with others. Give the space needed to examine why you feel, act, re-act, think, judge or not judge.

Remember when we learned to cross the street. Stop. Look. Listen. As we go along our life path, yes sometimes it feels like a super highway. Stop. Look. Listen. Pause. Reflect. Consider. Listen to your inner compass, your inner guidance system, your spirit. It knows what is right for you.

Values are enduring beliefs that help a person decide what is right or wrong and what is detrimental. Values give structure to the goals we strive for and what personal qualifications to develop. What do you want to create in your world? What values do you hold that will align with that creation. Kindness, compassion, abundance, fortitude, gratitude, purity, humour. Add your values to the list.

That which we think about expands. Energy goes where consciousness flows. Let’s examine our values, select the ones we want to lean into. Pick out the ones that no longer serve us. Be conscious of why we do what we do. Choose. Choose With Wisdom.

Comment on what value you hold, how it shows up in your life. What do you love about that? What would you change?

Spring Renewal and Regrowth

How Do Our Values Show Up In Our Lives?