a little latte

This idea is something that we need engraved onto the back of our hands so that we can remember every single moment of every single day.

YOU are in control of your energy.

I need help with this all the time. I constantly remind myself that my reactions and thoughts are up to me, regardless of the situation. This is actually a very hard concept to grasp. If somebody wrongs us, we should be angry or sad! Why would anyone want to react happily when being wronged? I truly believe that you have every right to feel whatever way you feel at any given moment. However, it isn’t healthy to remain that way forever. Eventually, you have to come to terms with the situation and your feelings in order to return to a positive, healthy state.

If someone does something that disturbs you, it is up to you to decide how you will react. With this, there are a few words that always come to mind:

1. Resilience. The way we choose to react to situations. Whether we choose to move forward or be stuck. This is a difficult concept. When bad things happen, it’s often easier to sit in those sad emotions. However, resilience is what helps you move forward. Being able to say, “Hey, this happened. Now it’s time to figure out what I’m going to do next.” It allows you to be in charge of your life. Things don’t always go as planned, but you can decide what you wish to do moving forward.
2. Forgiveness. I think we all need to do this more often. Forgiving someone takes a lot of energy. However, it may be one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s important to forgive others because we, too, make mistakes. And there will come a day when we will wish for forgiveness from someone else. If you are incapable of forgiving others (as well as yourself), how do you expect others to forgive you?
3. Love. This word may not seem fitting to some of you, but this word is so important to me. If you act in love…you know you did well. There are no harmful feelings. Sending love to others (and yourself) during times of turmoil is one of the greatest things to do. Acting in love versus acting in hate…which one leads to a positive outcome?

You’re allowed to be upset. You’re allowed to be angry and sad. These are not bad feelings. However, it isn’t very productive to feel this way all of the time. Feelings of resentment or hate never lead to anything good from anyone. Try your best to forgive. Try to give yourself time when reacting to a situation. It’s okay to just breathe sometimes.

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”

–  Ralph Waldo Emerson