Category Archives: Gratitude

Wrapping Up 2022 With My Last Post for the Year

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It is crazy to me to think that 2022 is wrapping up and that it will be 2023 before we all know it! Although I know there is another week after this week before 2023, it actually falls on my birthday (December 28th) in which I will be away and not have much of an opportunity to write. So I just wanted to make sure that I took the opportunity to write my last post for 2022. It’s been another great year of spiritual content and I appreciate all of my readers who have tuned in this year (or years)! ❤

I hope that everyone has a blessed and happy holiday for those who celebrate. I wish everyone the very best in their lives today and everyday! Let’s continue to better ourselves, the lives of others, and strive for everything that we want in this life. Everything that we want is within our reach, we just have to go out there and make it happen. That’s it for now my friends and until next time in 2023! 🙂

It’s the Day Before Thanksgiving – Take the Time to Show Gratitude By Doing This One Gesture

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Thanksgiving is not only a time to enjoy some amazing food and be with your loved ones but it is also a day to feel gracious and to take the time to be thankful! While practicing gratitude should be an everyday practice, it is especially nice to acknowledge the people who are closest to you. Why not express to them how you feel at Thanksgiving this year?

I recommend taking the time to hand write a letter or card simply to show your gratitude towards at least one person or a few people whom you really care about. You can give specific instances in which they have been there for you and/or write about the qualities that you value most about this person. It can be short and sweet or you can take the time to write a longer message. Remember, it is the quality of the content and the effort that you took to write a message that will mean most to the other person. It may be a simple gesture but it is a gesture that holds meaning, makes others feel appreciated, and a great way of practicing gratitude! 🙂

As always, I love to practice what I preach and will go ahead and write a gratitude message below to my readers this year!

Dear Readers,

I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to read my blog! This is a place where I like to share empowering messages, spread positivity, and provide enlightening wisdom about life! Whether or not you tune in regularly or once in a while, just know that I appreciate all of you who spiritually invest their time reading my content! Blogging is a rewarding hobby that allows me to express my creativity and innermost thoughts. Thank you for being a part of my world!

To all of those who celebrate Thanksgiving, please cherish these moments with your family and friends. Please also take the time to self reflect and count all the lucky blessings that life has granted you up to this point along with focusing on the manifestations that will come into your fruition within your future!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Meli – “Make Up the Life You Love”

The Importance of Turning Burdens Into Blessings – Life Is About Staying Positive and Personal Growth

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I just randomly stumbled upon this saying, “turn burdens into blessings” and although this might sound cliché to some, it was actually the first time that I read this and I could not agree more with this statement which was why I wanted to touch upon it within my blog. Although we cannot always control the highs and the lows that life throws our way, the truth of the matter is that we can choose the way in which we navigate our emotional response in regards to what happens to us in our lifetimes. For example, while one might get very upset over a breakup (which FYI is normal and justified)–another person might look at this “burden” as a “blessing” where they feel liberated to start fresh or maybe take that time to focus on self development. My point is, whatever it is that you perceive as negative, it can very well be translated into something POSITIVE. For all you know, it can open the door to a better opportunity later in time or be a necessary experience that will set you up for something even better. Seriously! I know it is easy for someone to say, “Everything is going to be okay” when you feel miserable and you are entitled to feel sadness, frustration, or negative thoughts from time to time but it is important to look at the bigger picture and to pick yourself back up and shift your mind into a positive one. I truly believe that facing adversity and challenges from time to time are what actually contributes most to our own personal growth. If things were great at all times, people would never pick up any spiritual lessons and life would remain rather stagnant with no motivation to make things better.

Also remember that the people who on the surface you might perceive to have a better life than yours or perhaps have been born into better circumstances than yourself might face their own unique set of challenges and problems that you are not aware of. No one’s life is perfect so it is important to continue to focus on your own personal path and develop your own coping mechanisms when you are faced with a challenge. At the end of the day, it is up to you to build the inner strength that you have the mental capacity to overcome anything because guess what–you can and you will as long as you have the positive mindset to back that belief up! 😉

Learn To Love the Body You Are Born With

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While there are societal pressures to look a certain way or to have the “perfect” body, realistically, we all know that there is no such thing as a perfect body. What one might perceive as perfect might vary from another person’s definition of perfect so we should not care so much about what other people think and focus more on how we perceive ourselves. If you learn to love your body, it will build your confidence levels and help in developing an overall positive body image. Aside from visual aesthetics, everyone should proactively opt to live a healthy lifestyle which means incorporating a healthy diet along with daily exercise. There are endless benefits when you take the time to take care of yourself and this most certainly includes taking care of your body.

It makes me sad when I see people go through extreme measures to look a certain way or to feel good about their bodies when people should genuinely be grateful for and embrace the body they were born with. It is natural to find flaws but it should be just as natural to look for one’s own personal assets because everyone is born with something to be proud of. It is what makes us unique as individuals and we are all born with our own special set of DNA. We should not feel pressured to conform to unrealistic beauty standards which oftentimes is an illusion and/or try to look like someone else. While I understand that some might find the need to turn to plastic surgery in order to make the changes to feel good inside, some of these procedures can be dangerous to one’s health over time and do not really fix the inner problem which comes down to a self esteem issue. Before making any dramatic decisions in regards to one’s appearance, it is much better in the long run to work on the INTERNAL issues by working on building self esteem that can be generated by things other than one’s outer appearance such as expanding a career, starting a new hobby, and/or pursuing new goals that can bring success, happiness, and personal growth in life.

Abundance Is A Mindset

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I am actually typing from my cell phone right now because I am away on vacation but I came across this at a boutique and wanted to share this simple yet powerful message: “Abundance is a mindset.”

I couldn’t agree more with this statement! When I reflect upon my own life and feel a heightened sense of gratitude in regards to everything I have manifested and have attracted at this stage of my life, it is apparent that I have a positive outlook along with a deep spiritual connection with the Universe.

I often preach about having an abundance mindset within my blog because I truly believe we live in a world with unlimited resources and opportunities. In order to receive, it is essential that you trust the process and believe that everything you desire is on the way and that it is attainable. If you have doubts or don’t think that your desires are actual possibilities, then you will never manifest your very best life. Trust me, if you keep your mind abundant, everything does fall into place at the right time in your life so don’t ever let negativity get in the way of that.

Why Practicing Generosity Matters In This World

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When I think about some of the most desirable traits to possess, one of the first things that always comes to mind is generosity or simply the act of being generous. When I use the word “generous,” I do not want anyone to interpret that to solely mean someone who gives an exorbitant amount of money to charity or someone who has the money to buy lavish gifts on a regular basis. While the act of generosity is often associated with money, practicing it can be done so on a regular basis and in very small ways that still can make a lasting impact on others. It does not need to be a grand gesture at all times and even the smallest of gestures can still be rather significant.

Being that this is something that I highly value, in the back of my mind, I try to proactively make this a habit. When you are generous towards other people, you are not only showing your appreciation but also making the other person feel good inside which ultimately makes you feel good in return. It is a win win situation in my book because it not only uplifts the other person but it can fulfill your soul with positivity. It is for this reason that I associate generosity with good karma. Do you want to attract good karma in your life? Then consider finding ways in which you can practice generosity. I also find that when people are generous towards me, it promotes me to want to reciprocate and be extra generous in return. While some people will take advantage and take from people who like to give, it is good to be cautious of people with these behaviors because people with a “taker” mentality tend to never change. However, sometimes people can learn from other people who give and slowly develop it into a habit as well.

From a spiritual standpoint, I truly believe that in order to attract more abundance, generous gestures and the act of giving are essential because there is so much to go around in the Universe–one should never have to worry that there will be a shortage of anything. If you are constantly holding back and taking from others as opposed to giving, this comes from a scarcity mindset that there are not enough resources. It is always far more superior to give more than you take because we live in an abundant world with lots to go around for everyone. Aside from money, time is also a spiritual gift that you can choose to give to someone generously. So if you genuinely feel that your financial resources are tight at the moment, remember that there are plenty of other ways to be generous that do not have a monetary value. All that matters is that you are making the effort to practice generosity because oftentimes, it will not go unnoticed and you could be making a positive difference in someone else’s life–especially someone who is less fortunate than you are.

The Best Response to Any Compliment

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Sometimes when people are faced with a compliment, especially if it comes unexpectedly, they are unsure of how to reply accordingly. I find it is common to hear people react in two ways, both that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is to deflect the compliment and respond in a way that they are not really accepting the compliment. This could be due to the fact that the person is modest by nature or because they do not feel worthy of the compliment. The opposite way people could reply to a compliment is to agree with the person or to take it a step further and confidently boast that they know. While I do agree that it is good to accept a compliment, taking this as an opportunity to brag or show off is not really appropriate in my opinion. I also do not think rejecting a compliment is the right thing to do because although it is a modest response, it can make the other person feel awkward while also making the person who received the compliment appear to be insecure.

So what is the best way to respond to a compliment? Simply say, “thank you” graciously. That is all that is really necessary! It shows that you are appreciative but that it is not going to your head and that you are confident enough to accept it. While most people know to say thank you, it is not always the immediate response that one tends to give which is why it is important to train the brain to just say thank you and keep it moving. Oftentimes less is more and that most certainly applies here–after receiving a compliment.

Happy Thanksgiving! – A Time of Gratitude

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Today is Thanksgiving and I did not plan on writing much because I wanted to enjoy the day with family and loved ones but I also did not want the day to go by without putting out a warm holiday greeting. If you celebrate, I hope you find a way to cherish this time as a time of gratitude. Be thankful for the people you have in your life. Be thankful for everything you have right now. Ultimately, be thankful today but everyday because there is always something to be grateful for!

Also a huge thank you to those who take the time to visit my blog or choose to subscribe and follow my posts. Blogging is a wonderful hobby but also a great platform to express my thoughts within this modern digital world we live in and to connect with others! It is a very cool extension of my life and I am grateful to have a place where I can promote positivity and influence others to live their very best lives! 🙂 Thank you everyone for reading, I genuinely appreciate the love and support–you all are wonderful and mean the world to me! ❤

How Often Should You Count Your Lucky Stars?

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I often like to preach the subject of gratitude throughout my blog and it is something I think people either do or they don’t. Some people do it on a more conscious level while for others it can be done more on a subconscious level. For me personally, I believe I do it on a subconscious level on a daily basis. It becomes more of a conscious practice when I recognize that something I wanted to manifest has been received or when I’m in a bad situation where things were not nearly that bad after all and I think to myself, “Wow, I’m incredibly lucky that things weren’t worse than it is.”

So how often should you count your lucky stars? At all times! You should always be thankful for even the smallest of things. As I mentioned, even during bad times or misfortune, take the time to dig deep and find the silver lining along with acknowledging what you are still grateful for. When people complain to me about their life and what they are lacking, I will take the time to listen but then turn it around to all the things that they do have to shift their perception that life isn’t so bad after all. It is okay to vent and it is okay to feel down when things don’t seem to be going your way; however, it is essential to remain positive and know that things are going to get better.

I always like to point out that being grateful attracts more abundance into your life. Do you think it is a coincidence that some people always seem to have everything going for them? Absolutely not. This is not a coincidence, these are the people who are practicing gratitude and are thankful for what they have which allows for them to be in constant receiving mode from the Universe to keep on receiving. It is an amazing spiritual process that anyone can pick up if they possess an abundant mindset that is open to infinite possibilities and opportunities.

I cannot stress enough the importance of counting your lucky stars, in other words, simply being grateful as often as you can! For those who have trouble doing this or find that they naturally complain more than they practice gratitude, then I recommend creating an actual Gratitude journal. Each day, take the time to write some things you are currently grateful for. It can be general like, “I’m thankful for my loving family and good health” or something specific such as, “I am grateful for being given a potential new job opportunity and acing my interview today.” The great thing is, there’s no such thing as a wrong answer and this is totally personal to YOU! You get to choose what resonates most with you and what you are most appreciative of. Once you get into this practice, you might no longer need to physically write things down as it will become a habit over time that will sink into your subconscious mind. Whatever system that works for you, just do it–it’s never too late to start!

Reflecting on 9/11 – 20 Years Later — A Revelation on Perception and a Deeper Appreciation for Life

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I remember last September in 2020 thinking to myself, I cannot believe that the 20 year anniversary of 9/11 is a year from now. Fast forward to 2021 and the 20 year anniversary since the series of terrorist attacks against the United States is now just days away. It has been weighing on my mind quite heavily since the start of September which is why it only comes natural for me to take the time to write about it. I am still in disbelief that this tragic event had happened then and now two decades ago. Backtracking to 20 years ago, I was only in high school–old enough to process what happened but too young to truly understand the severity of the event and its impact not only on those directly affected but the historical impact it had on the entire world. Little did I know then, what I do now is that I was experiencing a significant moment within modern day American history. Who knew that this was a day that forever would be acknowledged on its anniversary each and every year? Who knew that this was a day that many people will never forget where they were at the time that it happened?

I remember vividly being in a Psychology class and having the TV on to see live coverage of the World Trade Center going up in flames (one tower followed by the second one less than 20 minutes later) which initially appeared to happen quite mysteriously before later discovering the terrifying truth. What I don’t remember as clearly is my actual reaction to what I was seeing. Of course there were a range of mixed emotions and immediate feelings of shock, fear, sadness, and uncertainty. However, as I think about it today, I came to the revelation that although our perception may fundamentally stay the same, it often can change a great amount as we age and go through more life experiences. In this specific scenario, my perception from then to now is the same in that the way in which I felt about what had happened on 9/11 is very much how I feel about it now. However, what has changed is that I care more about it now than I did then–now that I’ve experienced 20 more years of life since it happened. I actually have taken the time to watch some TV documentaries and done my own research on the event where it is like experiencing it all over again with a new set of eyes. I know much more about it now and have seen even more footage as compared to when it was unfolding on television. When you are young, your mind is still developing and your perception is bound to change over time. I actually empathize on a higher level and imagine what it was like to be personally affected by the events of 9/11. Twenty years ago, despite always having the capacity to empathize, it was not at the same intensity because I was too young to really relate to what was going on or understand how traumatic it actually was.

As much as I am one to leave the past in the past, I recognize the importance of reflecting on the past as a way to measure our own self development and to shape the future. After 9/11 occurred, you better believe that airport security was increased in hopes of preventing anything as detrimental to ever happen again. At the time, I believe people began to value their life more and not take a single day for granted as the realization that tomorrow is never guaranteed was proven on September 11, 2001 when thousands of innocent lives were lost. Even though I was much too young to really acquire this takeaway at the time, it is something I think about twenty years later–to appreciate life and be thankful for each and every day.