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Browse published articles attributed to Kimberley Cohen, with full-archive search.
What to do when life throws you a curve ball: Keep batting and don't give up. Learn to hit them right out into the stands and run all the bases for a home run. Hear the crowd go wild. Feel the glory inside that you didn't throw down your bat in defeat. We are all pitched a few curve balls in life. Some can throw your whole game off if you aren't prepared to deal with them.
Some people are more flexible in their thinking and the way they do things. They seem to flow through changes quite easily and effortlessly whereas for others it can be extremely challenging. If you have ever taken a Yoga class or know a bit about it, you realize that you wouldn’t start at an intermediate class, you would start with the beginners.
When we are in the midst of a crisis, it’s not always easy to see the bigger picture because we are consumed with emotions and often overwhelmed. At the time you might only be seeing the immediate situation and not the ways you are being supported through this turmoil. We don’t always recognize the “good” in the “bad”, so to speak. Our egos like to take a strong hold in keeping us stuck in the situation and not wanting our eyes and hearts to open to the bigger picture. There is more to someone/something than meets the eye.
Earl Nightingale said, "Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savoured." What wonderful words of wisdom. Are you living by them?
What does being true to yourself really mean? It means being able to be "you". The real you, whether you’re at the office or at home, or with friends or family, or with your partner or children, or with co-workers or your boss, or even with someone you don’t even know, you can be you. The question then is, do you know who you are? This is one of the age old questions, "Who are you?"
Have you ever had one of those days when things seem to go wrong instead of right? Perhaps a conversation you wanted to have doesn’t go the way you intended, or an event gets rained out or doesn’t happen the way you expected, or you are stuck in traffic and you’re going to be late, or the dinner party you organized doesn’t work out the way you thought, or things didn’t go well with your boss, partner, friend or family member, or your trip was postponed, etc. A lot of things can seem to go wrong in life and it’s up to you to make them right.
There really aren’t right or wrong decisions. There is the choice you make, what transpires when you make it, and what you do from there. When you make a decision and it doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped, it doesn’t mean it was the "wrong" one, or if you would have chosen differently, it would be the "right" one. Either way, you made your decision, and now it is offering you possibilities and opportunities to learn something new about yourself, another person, or the situation you are in.
Our days can be busy. In fact too busy sometimes with appointments, house and/or office work, to-do lists, schedules, meetings, racing from one place to another, grocery shopping, errands, planning, etc. If you have children, that can add a whole other dimension to busyness just on it's own! Whew... I don't know about you, but I become tired just reading the list of ways our lives can become one gigantic timetable of events and things to do. Then there are days with the extra challenges, as if you didn't have enough already.
Who would have thought that a little four letter word could contain such magnitude and have an impact on people in ways you never knew were possible. This word is empowering, inspiring, moving, heart warming, humbling, kind, gentle, spoken or unspoken. The word I'm referring to is LOVE. It is one of the greatest gifts received and given. L - Let me be an expression and leave an impression of love wherever I go. O- Open my inner eyes and ears to truly hear and see how I can care for myself and others today.
One of the biggest challenges people face today is they feel life is just passing them by. Guess what? It is, unless you are willing to invite life in and try something new. Each day offers us something different if we are willing to see, touch, taste, smell and hear all that life is offering us. If you go to a buffet to eat, do you choose things you’ve never tried before? Or, do you take the same things as always? When you purchase clothes, do you try new colours? Or, do you stick with the same ones? How about your routines at home and work?
A family may include parent(s), sibling(s), partner, children, aunt(s), uncle(s), cousin(s), grandparent(s), grandchildren, step-parent, step brother(s) and sister(s), foster and adoptive families, and in-laws, to name a few. Whew, that's a lot of people to get along with! Whether you have a large family or small one, there always seems to be that one person, and in some cases more than one, who can set you off one way or another. Things were fairly good until they called, or you saw them, or were talking about them. Then you found yourself all riled.
You wake up; it’s a new dawn, a new day, and yet somehow it doesn’t feel much different than the day before. It’s like today has yesterday written all over it. Not only is it the same routine as the day before with perhaps a few variances here and there, but the feelings of yesterday may have also carried forward into this pristine day. It’s tough sometimes not to get caught up in mindsets of “woe is me”, or worrying, or feeling stressed, or stuck in the mundaneness or busyness of the prior day(s) and transfer those feelings into the next.
There really is no such thing as a "bad" day. There are days that are certainly much more challenging than others, to say the least, but that doesn't make them bad. Know that you can make them better. Days are filled with ups and downs. Some will be exciting, heartwarming, moving, encouraging, and hopeful, while others can be exactly the opposite. Perhaps you have, or are currently facing a troubled time in your life. Something, or someone, has you questioning how you will ever make it through this day, let alone the next ones to come.
Each minute is a brand new start. Why wait until tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year to start fresh? In any given moment we can check in and see how we’re doing. Are we rushed, stressed, sad, happy, anxious, content, breathing, etc? The question is whether we’re too occupied in our thoughts and/or actions to be still and listen. Every second and every experience is an opportunity to wake up and recognize the potential within you and it. Think of it like this - have you ever eaten something stale?
When unsettling times occur, your emotions can get the best of you. Fear and doubt can creep in and the feeling of hope seems to be lost. When faced with a problem have unsinkable hope. Whether it's hope for yourself or another person, it may appear to be out of reach or just beyond your grasp, but rest assure, it's not. Your thoughts can be pretty tricky and quite believable sometimes. They may even seem as if they grab hold of you and you find yourself plummeting to the darkest and doubtful places in yourself.
Berthold Auerbach said, “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. I don’t know about you, but music has, and continues to, enhance all areas of my life. No matter what mood or space I am in, I can put on a certain song or type of music and everything seems to just wash away. When you listen to your favourite songs or different genres of music, how do you feel? Perhaps you are inspired, feel energetic, happier, relaxed, romantic, moved, touched, blessed, or even in awe when you listen to it.
I love how photographers can capture the magnitude, beauty, force, serenity, innocence, mystery, and inspiration of just about anything in life as they tell a story. There is something magical about photographs where images seem to come alive, where you can feel the essence within the picture as if you are right there at that very moment. They can evoke intense emotions like happiness, sadness, outrage, sexuality, love, hatred, peace, inspiration, etc. It’s astonishing that just looking at a picture can conjure up pleasant or unpleasant feelings. Our thinking minds project
Appreciating What You Have In Your Life by Kimberley Cohen Sometimes it’s difficult to appreciate what you have in your life because you might be looking at and longing for what you don’t have. When you can be grateful for the love and abundance in your life right now, you are less likely to be stressed or anxious about what you feel is missing or lacking. This isn’t always easy since the grass can look pretty lush and green on the other side of the fence, so to speak.
Do you put on your running shoes and make a mad dash? Hide behind your desk? Try to stay clear of them, or avoid them all together? Do you sometimes find yourself or your mood changing when you are around them? Maybe you become frustrated, impatient, angry, or you try to change their minds or moods with little or no success.
Did you know that affirmations can be a powerful and manifesting tool in your life? They are used to aid in healing, for stress and anxiety reduction, meditation, to uplift moods, bring about a desired goals, and enhance your overall well-being. They can create possibilities and positive outcomes in all areas of your life. Affirming statements can be stated anytime or anywhere and for anything to support your growth, desires and intentions.
What or who can push your buttons? I can think of a few. What about you? We all seem to have this invisible switch that sometimes gets turned on when something doesn’t go our way or someone upsets us. It’s almost as if we lose consciousness for awhile and this other person temporarily takes over. In a way, you do slip into unconsciousness when you are angry. It’s like a momentary, and sometimes longer, lapse of reason. You were fine, and then something/someone sets you off, and boom, you find yourself saying and acting in ways you normally wouldn’t.
"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)", or better known as the "Sunscreen Song", was orginally an article titled "Advice, like youth, probably is just wasted on the young" by Mary Schmich in the Chicago Tribune in 1997. This article found it's way onto the internet and was then attributed to a commencement speech given by author Kurt Vonnegut for MIT grads. Baz Luhrmann, an Austrialian film director, tracked the source of the speech to Mary and contacted the Chicago Tribune to buy the rights for the words to use in a song.
I was driving on the highway the other day and a sign said, "Enjoy Your Commute". I thought to myself, "Thank-you, I am", and not just the road I was driving on, but the road of life. Sure, there are still moments or days where I feel like I’ve hit a pothole, so to speak, where I wasn’t able to steer away from that one. Some are a little bigger than others, in fact, a few may even seem like the Grand Canyon, but the difference is I now remember that the road of life is under construction as well as paved with gold.
Day to day busy schedules at the office and home can leave one feeling as if his/her life has lost meaning. It’s like life has become all work and no play. Deadlines, emails, paperwork, appointments, taking care of others, as well as housework and yard-work can leave you feeling overworked, stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted and even empty. So how do we bring meaning back to our lives, if it was ever there to begin with? 1. Replenish yourself. Due to busy lifestyles at home and work, it’s important to take time to replenish yourself.
Adding "ah" moments to your day is like sipping on a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, or drinking a cup of warm cocoa or tea on a cool winter’s eve, or gazing at the stars in the midnight sky, or paddling a kayak or canoe on the still morning or evening waters. These surreal times seem to create a silent lucidity in the soul where the runaway train of thoughts cease for just an instant. This space where you feel connected, alive, peaceful, and content all in one instant, these are "ah" moments.
We are generally either consumed with too much to do and too little time, or too much time and not enough to do. Where are you? Are you the type of person that is rushing around with a million and one things to do and get done, or are you walking around aimlessly wondering what to do first or next? Perhaps you aren't even sure if you really want to do anything.
When we experience emotions that are fun, joyous, loving, happy, comforting, magical, peaceful, etc. we want to hang on to them like they are our life savers. But when we encounter feelings of anger, doubt, confusion, sadness, depression, anxiety, pain, suffering, etc., we want to cast them away and get rid of them quick like they are the worst things imaginable. Feelings, whether they are comfortable or uncomfortable are filled with emotional insights. We can learn so much about ourselves, our beliefs, our thoughts, our ways, and our existence from them.
We are all connected to the same consciousness but we’re all different. Could you imagine if we were all the same? What a boring or scary existence that would be. Even though identical twins may look exactly the same, their personalities vary. These differences are what make us all unique.
The priceless gifts I’m talking about are so valuable that they go far beyond a price tag. They are the blessings and miracles that occur in our lives each and every day! They are often taken for granted and frequently overlooked unless you are paying attention to these precious gems that are there all the time. At the end of the day I like to jot down all the gifts both big and small, disguised or right before my eyes, that I felt blessed my day. These priceless offerings are to be cherished. These offering might be my first deep breath in the morning, or my child asleep
The words we choose to describe ourselves, others, and situations give us hints about what’s working and/or not working in our lives. Or, what’s in harmony and alignment, or in disharmony and out of sync. Some are subtle like a whisper in a gentle wind and others are booming loudly like a wrecking ball on a construction site. The question is, "Are You Tuned In or Tuned Out? It’s like a foreign language, so to speak.
It's funny how when we finish school we seem to stop celebrating our achievements. Some daycare centres have a little graduation before the children move into kindergarten.
In your circle of friends, or amongst co-workers, or family members, or even from yourself, do you hear more complaining, blaming, criticizing and judging? Or, do you hear the appreciation for things and others in life? Are you the type of person spreading thanks, cheer and good will, or are you contributing to your own or other people’s doom and gloom? You can still appreciate life through all its ups and downs and twists and turns. Do you believe it? Are you able to do this?
Every person is for your growth, learning, and expansion. This can be hard to believe especially from a person who pushes your buttons and you feel like pulling your hair out. It’s much easier to acknowledge the great and awesome qualities that our friends bring for us and reflect in us. Perhaps they are humorous, kind, compassionate, caring, successful, fun to be around, inspiring, loyal, etc. It can be difficult to recognize that we have these same positive virtues. We enjoy being around them because it’s fun, light, and effortless.
As well as enriching our lives, promoting healing, and emotional well-being, animals can teach us much about ourselves. There is something in relation to the animal kingdom that is fascinating and makes us feel alive, sit in awe, tugs at our heart strings or can leave us feeling fearful. Many offices, including doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc., have fish aquariams in their waiting rooms as they promote a calming effect. There are programs for seniors, long-term care patients, prisoners and youths that involve working with animals and/or having them visit thus promoting positive cal
Life’s difficulties are really only as complex, or as simple, as your thinking make them out to be. Sort of like fishing and although I was never a fisher woman, nor do I fish now, I remember fishing when I was young or being with someone who did. There were never any assurances that we would catch something, or what we would reel in, or whether our lines would get snagged, or we might lose our fishing poles, or that the weather would hold out. No matter how your fishing experience might be, your attitude towards the experience has everything to do with how you return home. Y
It's a new dawn, a new day, a clean slate so to speak. You CAN start your day in a positive way! Whatever happened yesterday is in the past. A brand new day that holds promise, new possibilities, and new insights on ways to do or think about things is unfolding before you. A new day offers an opportunity to readjust your attitude and embrace a new beginning. Yesterday is over but today starts anew and is waiting just for you. Before going to bed, or when you wake up, take out a piece of paper and on the top of the page write the words, "Today I will..."
Relationship goals benefit you emotionally and spiritually as well as enrich your day to day experiences and connection to yourself, others, and the divine creator. Many people concentrate on business, personal, or physical goals which are very beneficial, but all too often they overlook or don’t feel relationship goals are as important. They are just as valuable, if not more so, because at the end of the day when your work is done, we are faced with ourselves and the interactions we have with others in our lives.
The dawn of each new day and each new moment is flawless even when it seems flawed by our thinking and emotions. When things are going well it's easier to say or think, "today is a perfect day", but when times are trying in your personal and/or professional life, it can be difficult to see beyond the present impasse or loss. What once seemed like it couldn't be more ideal soon can be filled with sadness, doubt, worry, anxiety, and angst. What happened to those wonderful, exciting, fun, passion filled days? Where did they go? They didn't go anywhere.
You can make the future brighter beginning today. You can be the sun shining through on a cloudy day or the rainbow after a storm. You already have what it takes to do so. Do you know what that is? There are no two greater or endearing qualities than love and kindness. You are an expression of these and they are for you to give and receive freely.
Most of my life I was a worrier. I worried about everything. I was anxious about my appearance, work, doing well, the future, making mistakes and how they would affect my life, being a mom and then a single mom, what others might think or say about me, flying, etc. Whew, that was a lot of worrying. I feel exhausted just thinking about it. Being anxious about anything and everything was not helping me, in fact, it was hurting me. My focus was on what I didn’t want. Guess what happened when I continued with this type of thinking?
Often people don’t take risks because of fear of rejection, judgment, failing, making a mistake, being wrong, or fear of the outcome not being as expected or afraid of how things might turn out. Yet taking a gamble is how to overcome worries, indecision’s, and problems and transmute them into love, healing, action, and possibilities. What are your fears? Making decisions? Being hurt? Asserting yourself? Intimacy? Being wrong? Changing jobs? Being alone? Aging or dying? Ending a relationship or staring a new one? Being judged or not being right? Public speaking?r
If you have ever seen a geode, you would know they look like an ordinary rock on the outside but when broken open, they reveal a beautiful display of crystals. When polished, wow, simply breathtaking. Think of your thoughts like a geode that when opened and polished, they are brilliant gems. So what holds someone back from wanting to discover what’s hidden within? Fear. Apprehension can stop you from delving into yourself.
In last week’s newsletter I talked about receiving feedback and the importance of doing so. You have now mustered up the courage to ask and listen to the points of view from others on how you are doing and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. You are beginning to shift and transform some of those old mindsets and patterns that were keeping you stuck from growing and expanding, as well as giving others feedback, and it seems like the only one who is doing any changing is you, now what?
Changes occur every day in our personal and professional lives. They can be through the death or illness of a loved one, pet, or friend. They can happen in our jobs, relationships, health, finances, where we live, in our communities, or in the world.
Take a moment and look at your personal, professional and spiritual life; what are your thoughts? Are they positive, negative, neutral, indecisive, anxious, confused, doubtful, hopeful, worried, excited, etc.? There is no better time then right now to start doing regular "thought checks".
When we are faced with personal and/or professional challenges, it can be difficult not to jump to the “what if’s” of the future or relive the “should have’s” of the past. When you focus on being here and now, you are living by the invitation of what each moment has to offer. Some people feel being present is passive and that they won’t accomplish anything. They think they will lose the desire to act upon things, or make critical decisions, or not know what choice to make, etc.
Often people are afraid to ask for feedback from their partners, kids, co-workers, bosses, friends, and family because they are afraid of what they might say. Don’t worry, if you ask you have a choice of how you will interpret the comments. You can take them in as negative or positive. You can see them as criticism or constructive criticism. You can let them empower you and explore new possibilities or you can allow them to take your power away and focus on the impossibilities.
Laughter can melt stress away like ice cream on a warm summer day. Victor Borge, known as "The Clown Prince of Denmark" was a extraordinary comedian, conductor and pianist. He said, "If I have caused just one person to wipe away a tear of laughter, that’s my reward". If you haven’t had a chance to see any of his performances, he’s hilarious, and has definitely brought more than one tear to my eye.
Do you write in a journal on a regular basis? There is no right or wrong approach to jou aling, but there are ways that are more effective and helpful to you. What's important about jou aling, is not that you follow a certain criteria, but rather that you are writing on a consistent basis about that which is aiding your continual growth and gratitude. What I often hear from my clients when I ask them to keep a journal is that they don't have time, and/or they don't know what to write about.