I just returned from a couple of weeks in the desert, a place I have always associated with solitude and spirituality colored in earth tones. This trip shifted that perspective. On the drive there I experienced a true winter wonderland, as the freshly fallen snow was everywhere. It was an incredibly beautiful sight to see, one that was in sharp contrast to the dry brown desert that I had always known. We even pulled off the highway so that my daughter could feel snow for the very first time.

I just returned from a couple of weeks in the desert, a place I have always associated with solitude and spirituality colored in earth tones. This trip shifted that perspective. On the drive there I experienced a true winter wonderland, as the freshly fallen snow was everywhere. It was an incredibly beautiful sight to see, one that was in sharp contrast to the dry brown desert that I had always known. We even pulled off the highway so that my daughter could feel snow for the very first time.

Fourteen days later on the drive home the desert had returned to its’ usual appearance except for a few patches of white that still remained on the high mountains.

I missed the white blanket of snow. As I thought about it, I realized that it was not the snow that I missed. It was the unexpected beauty of the experience that I longed for.

Now that I am back home, I still can savor the beauty of that drive. It brings a feeling of peace to me.

Life is like that. We experience the beauty of new experiences and we move on, cherishing those memories in our hearts. That beauty and peace stays within us.

We find it easier to see the beauty in others when we can feel beauty within ourselves. We bring peace to others when we are at peace. Amidst the uncertainty of the world, that beauty and peace makes an important difference in our outlooks, attitudes and tolerance levels.

Embrace the beauty and peace in your experiences and see your world change as you change.

I look around my world and see the effects of New Year’s Resolutions at the gym, at the tennis club and on the streets. Fresh energy leads to fresh attitudes, ready to re-shape bodies into healthier ones. This is such so exciting!

It is because as we take charge of our physical bodies, we invite other changes into our lives. Transformation can manifest itself in our emotional, mental and spiritual lives as well.

The power and control that we feel in taking an active step towards a better life is extremely empowering. When we feel better about ourselves and when we take responsibility for change, we become more attractive to ourselves and to others.

We also become more tolerant, kind and joyful because just as our bodies are becoming more flexible, we are inviting emotional and mental flexibility into our everyday existences as well. Flexibility leads to resilience, a quality we all can use in our constantly changing world.

So go ahead and increase your flexibility and your strength and you will see a beautiful difference in so many other areas of your life.

Since we are all affected by the positive and negative energies that surround us, we should try to surround ourselves with positive people and shield ourselves from the negative ones.

However, we can’t always avoid those negative ones in our lives. We work with them, we play with them, we are related to them.

We can all make big differences in small ways to those with negative energy. Someone who is going through a rough patch may be in dire need of someone who takes the time to show them kindness and understanding. This may be the catalyst that causes a shift in their own ways of thinking.

Usually people have negative energy if they have experienced hurt, rejection and anger in the past. They live a life of the glass being half full.

These people are chronically negative and try to keep others down by criticizing. They may never change but YOU can change the way you react to them.

Either way you can be strong. This week when the negative energy person in your life appears, try to listen to them and say something caring. Instead of saying, “Look on the bright side,” (they HATE this) say something like, “That must be hard on you. Would do you wish could happen?” This wishful way of thinking may be a new thing for them and it may stop them in their tracks. It also gives you the opportunity to show them as well as yourself that it is THEIR issue and NOT yours to fix.

When we are given the opportunity to address the issues in our own lives on our terms head-on, it becomes clear just who is the victim and who is the survivor.

There are people around us who are just plain toxic to our health. What can we do when we can’t get them out of our lives?

Continually seek out the wisdom and strength to realize your boundaries. When you deal with these individuals, know that it is more beneficial to your emotional, physical and spiritual health to ACT rather than REACT.

How do you view yourself? When you see yourself as someone who can be constantly criticized, you inevitably act out that role. You start attracting people who criticize.

On the other hand, when you see yourself as someone who can be treated with dignity and respect, your spirit knows this and naturally begins to protect itself by weeding out comments and actions by those who want to belittle you.

We have to believe in ourselves and our actions and reactions will follow suit. We will speak differently and realize that it is ultimately our own opinions that really matter. We begin to treat ourselves with the dignity and respect that we are craving.

This week be mindful of the instances where you feel like you were bullied, criticized or hurt and ask yourself whether you were ACTING or REACTING. You will feel greater power and control than ever before as you move into a beautiful state of harmony.

To Your Fulfillment,

Cara

Dr. Cara Alana is an inspiring Life Coach and author with a Doctorate in Psychology. Her empowering approach focuses on accelerated personal and professional growth where sustainable long-term change can be achieved, resulting in tremendous breakthroughs. Equipped with training in motivational psychology, she provides a safe and soothing place of growth and empowerment. What’s standing between you and your full happiness potential? Visit her website at http://www.lifefulfillmentnow.com