First You, Then Everything Else

by Merci Gracia | Jun 23, 2011 | Attention, Beliefs, Change, Create, Perception, Self-Awareness

The way to change anything in your life is to change yourself first. You may succeed in fixing the outside world in small ways, but it’ll only be temporary. There’s only one way to experience real change. Inside out. Merci

Enjoy Life Now

by Merci Gracia | Jun 21, 2011 | Abundance, Appreciation, Attention, Focus, Joy, Perception

Notice the aspects of your life that are going well and take a moment to appreciate them. While goals and dreams are great to pursue, don’t believe for second that these things you want to see or do or have in the future means you can’t enjoy the marvelous...

Empathy the Easy Way

by Merci Gracia | Jun 19, 2011 | Acceptance, Appreciation, Attention, Balance, Compassion, Discernment, Kindness, Love, Perception, Understanding

It’s easy to feel compassion and empathy for people you identify with. But what about the rest? When you realize the truth that your judgments are really more about you than they are about them, you lighten up. Increased self-awareness takes the place of...

Instant Mood Change

by Merci Gracia | Jun 18, 2011 | Acceptance, Attention, Balance, Ease, Fear, Focus

If you find yourself in a sour mood or notice something tugging at you slightly below the surface, try this easy technique for relief. Stop what you’re doing for a moment, pay attention to your body, and just notice how it feels. When you face a feeling head on...

Fear Dumbs You Down

by Merci Gracia | Jun 17, 2011 | Attention, Fear, Focus, Perception, Relax

Fear is an instinctual response to a perceived threat. It shifts your thought processes to the more primitive part of your brain causing you to react with less finesse and intelligence. It prevents you from playing a bigger game. Next time you make a decision because...

Look For What’s Right

by Merci Gracia | Jun 15, 2011 | Attention, Balance, Create, Focus

If 85% of your life is going well, how do you increase this percentage? Most people dissect the 15%, focus on it, analyze it, and spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to fix it. The trick is to focus on the part that’s going well. It expands with your...