Awaken Your Day - Sept 2, 2010 - The Tortoise and the You

"For fast acting relief, try slowing down."
- Lily Tomlin

We do it to ourselves really. Most often we only have the reflection in the mirror to blame.
We get overwhelmed, and the biggest reason is the urgency we put onto a task or all tasks.
That urgency tenses up so many of our nerve endings at the same time, we exhaust ourselves and often find ourselves spent and wondering why we are so tired when we really have not accomplished much.

Like most energy drinks...we charge ourselves up...just to crash shortly there after, and we are twice as useless as we were before we sought our boost, or roared into action.

Try taking ten full deep breaths before you carry on any further. Don't just read " ten deep breaths"... do it. Now, and not while you are flipping your eggs, pouring your coffee, confirming the meeting, adjusting your tie, folding the laundry, washing your hair, checking the weather etc etc etc....

The key is to STOP.

Let me put it another way. That guy you swerved out to pass because he just was in your way and you were in a rush... look over to the left. That is him sitting there with you at the red light. Yes, you got there first...but look at his relaxed demeanor...and now look at your tight grip on the steering wheel. Watch him for a second. I bet he hasn't looked at his watch once.

Take a moment to collect yourself. When you feel like you are picking up speed at the cost of maintaining control, put the world on pause and take a moment to yourself.

It will all be there when you step back into play.

Good morning, and you still owe me 10 full deep breaths.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, "Da-dee", Author, Friend.
Entrepreneur

Awaken Your Day - Sept 1, 2010 - And This Day is Mine

"Every morning I remind myself that I can make the choice to feel good."
- Louise L. Hay, "Affirmations"

Did you wake up this morning prestressed over a day you already anticipated would be difficult?
Did you already start off choosing to be defeated before you had even begun?
Did you lay in bed, brain mapping your anxiety?
Have you lost the race before you have even stepped up to the starting line?

Shame on you.

You are missing this grand opportunity to dress the part of the champion. To read for the lead role in the script of today.

It is not too late. The day has not seen you "unprepared" yet.
The events on the schedule, not yet unwrapped.
The contract is not yet signed.
The dots, are not yet connected.
"I"s dotted, "T"s crossed? Nope.
No commitments have been made to be miserable.
You didn't make any promises yesterday to be miserable today did you?

You are only warming up. Stretching before the starting line.
And what do we feel as we step up to the starting line? As we anticipate the sharp sound of the gun, and our heartbeat gets faster with energized emotion. We are excited. Our chest heaves as we focus on the start. "I will have a good start. So many races are Won, right at the start."

So many races are won...right at the start.

Your day today, is yours to command; right from the start. Put your good energy into that thought instead of reaching for and poking a dark cloud.

We lose so much of our energy reserves, speculating the negative that has not even occured yet. So when something happens in our day where we need just a little strength to see it clearly for what it is and to avoid the left hook, we are already too distracted to get out of the way, and too weak to attempt a counter.

Every morning, we need to remind ourselves, that we have a choice.
See you at the starting line.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, "Da-Dee", Author and Friend.

Awaken Your Day - Aug 30, Triumph

"I've made the most important discovery of my career...the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found. I'm only here tonite because of you. You are the only reason I am ... you are all my reasons."
- John Nash - as taken from "A Beautiful Mind"

Again, I am certain that these words, like so many other meaningful expressions, are right now being interpretted in an assortment of ways. As we each trace the path from our own present circumstances to the part of us that words such as these touch, we see a multitude of ranging stories, travelling a scattering of routes and pathways.

That is the beauty of expression. It can carry so much meaning while it shares the road with others on the same quest...or while carving a road named just for you. Either way, we can all share the value it brings.

What this shares with me today is Triumph. The story itself is one of great Triumph over greater adversity. But take it one step further, and enjoy the Triumph that comes with understanding love. Being able to define your "reason". The Triump... that comes with being able to give as well as you receive. To see the effect on someone you care about so deeply, when they come to understand and feel how loved they are.

When you are able to find the logic in your "Reason"...when you are able to express understanding to yourself, this is a great day of success and Triumph.

If you feel as though you have not yet found it, please do not feel discouraged, for the journey to finding it, can be a most wonderful ride as well.

Embrace your day, your reason...and enjoy your Triumphs...all of them.

Pierre Couturier