Failure Facilitates Success

by Merci Gracia | Jun 4, 2012 | Beliefs, Challenges, Fear, interpretation, Solutions, Success

You might feel like a failure if  you don’t achieve the expected outcome in the desired time frame. But, an enormous portion of human creativity and innovation results from the unintended consequences of failures. They can also grow your personal understanding...

Life Is For You

by Merci Gracia | May 22, 2012 | Fear, Freedom, Love

What you perceive in any moment is an incomplete slice of reality seen through your particular filters. If your interpretation causes you distress, don’t take it too seriously. Remember that you can’t know if your fearful thoughts are even true. If you...

Adversity Helps You Grow

by Merci Gracia | May 18, 2012 | Appreciation, Attention, Change, Empowering, Fear, Perception

You wouldn’t intentionally seek out unpleasantness or adversity. However, when you look back at your past and remember challenging times, you probably wouldn’t trade them for anything. You instinctively know they helped you expand, made you more sensitive...

Don’t Let Fear Make you Play Small

by Merci Gracia | Apr 28, 2012 | Awareness, Conscious, Discernment, Fear, Imagine, interpretation, Judgments, Perception

Fight or flight can be an appropriate response to immediate danger. But the mind can trick you into thinking there’s danger when there isn’t (like when you see a snake–but it’s only a rope.) When that happens, the fear impulse can impede your...

New Meaning Revealed

by Merci Gracia | Mar 29, 2012 | Attention, Compassion, Conscious, Discernment, Fear, Feelings, Perception

Even dismal situations can reveal valuable new insights that improve your life. Some remind you how resilient, capable and adaptable you are. Others teach the temporariness of all experience. Still others remind you to appreciate moments you might otherwise take for...

The Wisdom of Uncertainty

by Merci Gracia | Mar 16, 2012 | Acceptance, Balance, Beliefs, Fear, Generous, Honesty, Judgments

Next time you’re arguing with someone and you start to feel indignant because science and popular opinion are on your side, remember even the experts don’t always agree with one another. In the words of Voltaire, “Doubt is not a pleasant...