Power Monday Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Power Monday #70 Why Affirmations Don’t Always Work

March 9, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 59 Comments

After reading these two posts on Mind Body Green and having to do a 21 day affirmation project for one of my classes this semester, I’ve had affirmations on my mind a lot recently. Now first of all, I’m not one for all those motivational quotes and inspiration images you see all over Pinterest and Instagram. Quite frankly, I hate them most of the time.

So when I was forced to do a project with creating an affirmation and saying it everyday for 21 days, I didn’t like it. I think that fact that we crafted our own affirmations instead of using some cheesy “over said” one you might find online, it was a bit better, but still not for me. I thought after 3 weeks I might find it more pleasant, but still not for me.

The problem I find and which is touched upon in those articles from Mind Body Green, is that simply saying something isn’t going to change a thing. You can’t expect to say something a have it magically happen or even change your mindset. Just like you can’t say you’re going to run a marathon tomorrow with no prior training and survive. It’s just not realistic.

Affirmations are supposed to be used to create a positive change in mindset and affirm, “declare”, something. It’s a declaration or supportive statement. But that’s all it is support. It’s really just strung together words that have no meaning if you don’t take action on them (and fully believe them!). It’s the passive “Have a good day!” from the cashier after you check-out at the grocery. That’s great that you should have a good day, it may even put a smile on your face, but if you don’t actually do anything to MAKE it a great day, it’s not just going to happen.Read More

Power Monday #69 Snow, Yoga, And Clarity

March 2, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 48 Comments

Have you ever noticed how just before, most of the time during, and especially after a snow fall, the world just seem much more quiet and at peace? It’s kinda the same way with a yoga practice. Everything is all hustle and bustle before you step on the mat. Then you take a few moments to center and ground yourself. Everything turns quiet and you take some deep breaths. Then you begin your flow. At times there may be a lot of noise and your mind and body may be going crazy with sensations, but for the most part, the flowing sequences are clam and lovely. Very peaceful as the snow falls. Then things wind down and the world becomes still as you lie in savasana. Just like the snow. everything is quiet, freshly laid anew and untainted by outside noise. You take some more deep breaths and lose yourself in the calm, peaceful stillness.

Nothing is yet disturbed as you lay there with a peaceful mind, a depleted, but fresh body, and a still mind. The snow lays there quiet, creating a beautiful serene landscape of glittering untainted beauty. It’s so quiet. You can finally breath. With the laying of a new snow and the finishing of a practice, all the previous noise and chaos is hidden and no longer the glaring ugliness we may find it to be. It gives us a fresh new perspective and the rational calm mind we need to move forward.

With this bright new clarity that comes with the snow fall and the yoga practice, we are able to see things in a new way. It’s literally a whole new world. During the snow fall, as with during the practice, things change. The end result will not be the same as what was started with or was there before. Have you ever simply watched the snow fall outside your window? It’s so peaceful, chaotic, and surely cold, but beautiful non-the-less. The same with a yoga practice. It’s peaceful, beautiful, but also very involved, strong, and a tad chaotic.Read More

Power Monday #68 Finding Happiness In The Little Things

February 2, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 96 Comments

It’s really hard to be happy all the time. No wait, it’s impossible to be happy ALL the time. That’s not human nature, but that’s okay. The majority of these cold winter days are not what I would call “happiness helpers” either. At least for me, when the days stay dark and cold, I fell dark and cold myself. But I’ve been trying to change that. How? By finding happiness in the little things. The little moments and things we so often overlook and don’t really internalize enough to really appreciate. I’ve noticed that by doing this, I am able to get through the day with just a little more happiness and appreciation for life. Even if I forget to internalize these little things during the day, I always make sure to reflect back as I’m lying in bed, about to go to sleep.

And I think, over time, all these little things add up to big things and greater lasting happiness. That’s great, you bought a new car or you’re going on a cruise, but those things don’t create lasting happiness. To create lasting happiness, we need to start appreciating and piling up the little things. Each day is filled with them, thus, a more lasting happiness will be created in life. So here are some of the little things that I’ve taken notice to over the last week that have brought me some happiness.Read More

Power Monday #67 How To Keep The Newness Of The New Year

January 26, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 67 Comments

January is almost over! That means the first month of the new year is ready to be closed in the books. Things are about to get real. This is the time to either continue on with that great motivation and all those intentions you started with a few weeks ago or let them slowly fade and fall back into old habits. As you know, I set out full force and already accomplished a big chunk of the things I listed for myself this year. However, I am not finished since my wishes for the year are about growth and I will never be done with them all.

My motivation to keep working on the things left and the progress I still want to make is still there and I plan to keep it there through the rest of the year and beyond. That feeling of “newness” and endless possibility is wonderful and I don’t want to lose that. Here are my tips on keeping the “newness” of the new year ALL year ‘round!Read More

Power Monday #66 Hey You!

January 12, 2015 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 74 Comments

Hey You, behind the screen! Yes, YOU!

Come a little closer, I have something to tell you. Don’t be scared, but first, let me ask you something.

What do you want? What do you really want to do and achieve in life?

Now, if you’re like the majority of us, you’re probably also going though the reasons in you head as to why you can’t actually do this thing you really want. But why? What’s with all the doubts? All the negativity, the excuses, and endless fruitless wishing?

Really, I want you to say it out loud now. Give real voice to the reasons and excuses you have been telling yourself in your head. Don’t feel silly, it’s okay. I’ll wait right here while you do so. I’ll do it too! Ready, 1…2…3…

You did it? Okay, now say it a few more times. Sounds pretty silly right? Giving voice to that kind of negativity and excuses. It sounds foolish. Those excuses make us look so unconfident and well, rather dumb. Not to be harsh, but it’s the truth.

Sometimes we need that reminder, that reality check and kick-in-the-pants. Now just take a deep breath. I’m going to tell you why we all could use this reality check and why these excuses and self-doubt need to stop.

For some reason we find it so easy to doubt ourselves and give excuses as to why we can’t actually do something of achieve what we so dearly want. Negativity is so much easier to dish out than positivity, but it is so much “harder” on our minds and bodies over time. Once we start with the negativity, it just places us further and further out into a vast and endless ocean of doubt. We’ll keep trying to stay afloat, bu there’s nothing there to hold onto, to give ourselves some relief from the tempest we’ve created. Eventually we’ll become so weak and exhausted that we’ll end up drowning. The endless ocean of doubt we got ourselves so deep into will come out the victor and swallow you up along with those dreams you were making excuses about.Read More