Music Courtesy of Irene Boggs http://affirmajams.com/
Hi! And welcome to the Dream Big & Bloom Podcast Episode #58
I’m Mardi Lynn, certified DreamBuilder Coach and author of The guidebook and scorecard for achieving your dreams and I help people create lives they absolutely love living.
The DreamBuilder Program that I teach is a proven, reliable system for overcoming any challenge and achieving any dream no matter how big it seems.
This podcast will introduce you to the powerful principles and practices of the DreamBuilder system and show you the mindsets that are growing or slowing your progress.
My Favorite Holiday
This is the week of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday in the United States and it’s my favorite holiday because gratitude it’s such an Important practice for living a life of peace, joy and prosperity. And It feels so good to focus on all our blessings doesn’t it? And the more we focus on our blessings, the more blessings we recognize. It’s one of the keys to feeling “happy, rich and free.”
And then there’s all the yummy food and opportunities to share love and appreciation with others.
And yet, Thanksgiving Day can be very painful for many people when the holiday doesn’t match their expectations or their vision of how it should be.
There are many people who have issues with their children or other family members and this can be very challenging — even heartbreaking.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Today, I’m going to share the DreamBuilder principles and practices for creating a Thanksgiving Day you absolutely love.
If you are unhappy or stressed about Thanksgiving, you will learn how to turn that around.
There Is Only One Problem…
First, it’s important to understand that there is really only one problem — and that’s that we have expectations that are not being met.
The Solution is Simple
The solution is very simple — to shift our perception — to choose to let all our expectations go and to focus on making ourselves happy.
How does that idea sit with you? Are you feeling resistance right now?
The voice of the Ego will say “that’s ridiculous, you can’t just change your mind!”
However, the reality is that it is totally possible to change our minds; and refusing to change our minds won’t make the situation any better and will not make us feel any better either.
If we insist on being angry or frustrated with other people or an outside circumstance, we are hijacking our intelligence and wasting energy that could be put to better use by brainstorming creative solutions that will bring us joy and fulfillment.
How do you shift your perception?
First, write down all your negative thoughts about your Thanksgiving Day. Make a list on the left-hand side of a piece of paper.
Then for each thought consider if it’s really true. Oftentimes we exaggerate and when you see your complaint on paper you will recognize that you don’t really know whether it’s true.
If your complaint is about a person, try to see the situation from the other person’s perspective.
Bear in mind that everyone is doing the best they know how, given their unique history and experiences. Everyone is trying to take care of themselves in some way. (See episode #38 “Forgiveness Practices” and The Ultimate Life Mastery Mentor for more on how to forgive.)
Then, next to each negative thought, right down a better feeling thought.
You may not be able to come up with an ultra-positive thought for each of your painful thoughts but do the best you can to come up with a thought that feels a little bit better.
Ultimately, in order to be happy, you will need to let it all go. It really is a matter of choice. This exercise will help you ease into that state of mind.
The Foundational Principle of DreamBuilding
Remember the foundational principle of DreamBuildering — you are entitled to be happy. You are loved, you are meant to be happy, prosperous and fulfilled, and there is a force within you more powerful than any circumstance, situation or condition.
Now that you’ve cleared the field by releasing your expectations, allowing circumstances to be the way they are and allowing people to be the way they are, your energy is freed up to focus on alternatives that you would love.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm some ideas. Write them all down. Let your creativity flow. Then decide on the things you love the most. And do those things.
You can choose not to attend family gatherings that make you uncomfortable. You can choose to attend and have a good time, no matter what. You can choose to not let a family member’s behavior “get under your skin. You can choose to release all your judgments and expectations that they be different. You can choose to have compassion for them and extend them some grace.
If we don’t have family members to enjoy, we can choose other ways to share love and have a good time. Some people get together with friends, some people get together with people from their spiritual community, and some people volunteer with charities. There are so many ways to make it a happy and joyful occasion. I’ve done all of these at one time or another.
When my children were growing up, they were usually with their fathers for the holidays so I’ve celebrated in many non-traditional ways. It’s a matter of not resisting what is, thinking “outside the box” of convention and choosing something that feels good to you.
So create a vision for what you would love, make a decision to go for it, take action and enjoy your results.!
This year, I will be getting together on a zoom call with my son and daughter in law in Northern California and my daughter and son in law in Denver and then enjoying a Thanksgiving dinner with a special man at Denny’s. It’s not Norman Rockwell. It’s not elegant. And… It’s no cooking, no cleanup, and no stress. It’s what I choose to do this year and I will be feeling blessed, happy, loving, loved and fulfilled.
How can you make your Thanksgiving Day awesome this year?
The process is simple, the only challenge is allowing yourself to give up old ways of thinking and being willing to change — just remember it’s worth it, because you’re worth it. You can do it and I’m here to help if you need it.
Do you have questions or need a little encouragement?
Post in the comments and let me know. Or sign up to be a guest on the podcast.
Here’s to creating a Thanksgiving Day you absolutely love!
Here are the next steps for creating a life you would absolutely love:
1. Try the DreamBuilder Scorecard
The framework of everything we talk about on the Dream Big and Bloom Podcast is based on the 10 DreamBuilder Mindsets. Find out how yours are either growing or slowing your results. Go to http://dreambigscore.com/
2. Be a guest on the Podcast
This is a great way to get a feel for the process in a friendly environment. Coaching women just like you, to use the DreamBuilder principles and practices to overcome any challenge and achieve any dream is one of my favorite things to do. To be a guest just visit DreamBigandBloom.com/guest
3. Join the Dream Builder Program
Imagine having me as your personal coach to believe in your vision, even when you have doubts, and to keep you moving forward. And imagine being a member of an exclusive group of enthusiastic, like-minded people who understand the DreamBuilder process and cheer each other on.
Let’s get together for a complementary Strategy Call. You’ll get clarity on exactly where you are now, where you would love to be, how the DreamBuilder Program works and the results you can expect. Go to dreambigandbloom.com/get-started and book a complementary strategy session.
Now, as you go, remember…
- The Power within you is far more powerful than any circumstance or condition you are facing.
- Your past does not determine your future. Your ‘story’ does not define you or your Infinite potential.
- The dream in your heart is Life seeking to be expressed and realized in the world through you.
- You are here to fulfill your heart’s desire and live a life you “absolutely LOVE living!”
- The dream in your heart really can become the life you absolutely LOVE!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mardi
