Happy Monday everyone!! I hope that your Saturday and Sunday were dynamic! Mine was full and delightful in putting words to page as I plug along at completing my first book of a six part series. Day by day, 5,000 to 10,000 words put to the white canvas of my computer screen. I am so excited to share these small little life changing books. They are a compilation of thirty plus years of study, practice, and living these simple ways which transform your life from the inside out and the outside in.

This week, I thought it would be fun to explore the profound impact of the “little picture or little things”, since last week we looked at life from the BIG picture. As with so many things, we underestimate the extreme power of the little things. The small moment by moment interactive experiences, like how wonderful it is that you can climb out of bed, the coffee machine works, the car starts when you turn the key, you have clothes to put on, you drive safely to your destination, people greet you at work… I know these are “mundane” things, however, how would you feel if one small aspect did not happen or work as expected? How would it change your day? The “little things” add up!

I want to take a peek at something that really drives me crazy, for it is a “little thing” that we do not even notice, yet it is almost always going on – our INNER VOICE/INNER CRITIC!! Let’s play a game!! Close your eyes. Take a few deep clearing breaths, the kind that go all the way down to your belly, not shallow chest breaths. Now, in your mind I want you to visualize yourself getting ready for the day. You are standing before the mirror, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, getting all prepped for the outside world. What are you saying to yourself? Seriously, put yourself there, hear and feel the words you typically banter to yourself as you prepare for the day.

I am going to guess on some of what might be stated – “Ugh.., it’s another Monday, man I can’t wait until Friday.” “You really gotta lose some weight, seriously you said you were going to start working out and eating healthy. What’s wrong with you, why can’t you just do it?” “Man look at those dark circles under my eyes, more wrinkles seem to show up everyday.” “I am so tired, someday I won’t have to get up so early, man I can’t wait to retire! Why are the work weeks so long and the days off so few…” Here is the really sad part, the examples I chose to share, are probably nice and mellow compared to how you truly bombard yourself.

I teach a class called “Mirror Work”, it is one of my favorites, for people do not realize how much they avoid truly seeing themselves. They do not connect the dots that the inner critic sabotages and harms their personal being everyday, and often all day long. It truly hurts my heart to hear how negatively people talk to themselves. Why? Would you talk to a friend this way, your children, spouse, even a stranger? Then why in the world would you talk to the most important person in your life – YOU, this way???

I personally practice and engage in “Mirror Work” everyday, it is one of the gifts I bestow upon myself, a moment to honor, heal, thank, and appreciate the person I am. I started exploring this practice and work over fifteen years ago, sharing it with clients and friends. Then I discovered in recent years Louise Hay’s book and classes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZFcN5qB8yM) with the mirror, a great opportunity for me to learn more. I admire this amazing woman who healed herself and started Hay House when she was sixty – a true inspiration that life is about living full on!

Okay, back to you looking in the mirror. What if you changed that conversation? What if you looked in the mirror and I mean really look in the mirror – this means see yourself, don’t just glance, look deeply into your eyes. As you gaze upon yourself, what might you feel, if you selected phrases more like this, “It’s Monday, I wonder what new experiences I might have today? What small miracles can I notice and enjoy today?” “Good morning, thank you for getting up to take care of yourself and those you care about.” “Wow, look at you, here you are, ready to go forth into the day doing your best! I wonder how many people I can positively impact today.” “Thank you for being you, thank you for always showing up, thank you for taking such good care of yourself and the people you love.” “You got this today!! It’s going to be a great day!”

Play with both scenarios, feel them in your whole being. How does your physical body feel, your mind, heart, soul? Now, let’s stretch the exploration. What are you saying to yourself in the car? As you sit at your desk? When you go to the restroom? When you are sitting in the meeting? What is your inner voice and most often your inner critic blabbering to your mind, body, and spirit? Start to notice.

The other day I was listening to someone who kept saying “I can’t”, it took me back to my high school days playing basketball. If you uttered the words “I can’t”, you got to run a lap around the gym, or interval bursts. Little did I know the gift my coach was giving me at that time, for when you have to run every time you say that phrase, you become seriously aware of how often you state it. As I listened to this person, I watched their body and facial expressions, they were rigid, closed off, scowling with a furrowed brow. Hmmm… I thought, there is no room for anything but failure – for “I can’t” is a pretty clear statement.

What would happen in our world, at your job, in your home, within your being if all of the “I can’t” phrases turned to “I can”, “I will”, “I am”? Just by changing this one little internal and outspoken phrase to “I can, I will, I am”, might you begin to transform your life? I know it sounds way to simple, but I dare you to try it. I think you will first be shocked by how often you limit yourself with “I can’t” or any limiting statement, such as – “There’s no way I could ever do that. I’m not good at that. I don’t know how. Who am I to think I can succeed at that. I’ll look really stupid if I try to do that. I should go to the gym more often. Etc…”, you get the point!

What if today you gave yourself the “little thing gift”, to notice and choose differently how you use your inner voice? I am going to tell you right now, it has been my experience that this takes focused, aware, practice. I can also tell you that I have been blessed to watch “Mirror Work” and “Inner Voice Shift” transform people. Maybe this week you can give it a go, no one else has to know, it can be the quiet game you play to see what might become.

May today be full of little miracles for you, may you notice them, embrace them, and celebrate them. Until tomorrow enjoy and celebrate YOU, A.C.T (Always Choose Truth – your inner truth).