Choose Your Bumper Stickers Wisely

by Merci Gracia | Jul 7, 2011 | Appreciation, Attention, Discernment, Grateful, Understanding

You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker, “If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.” Here’s a new one: “If you aren’t grateful, you aren’t paying attention.” Either could be true for you – it...

Your Mood, Your Call

by Merci Gracia | Jul 1, 2011 | Attention, Balance, Create, Discernment, Focus, Perception, Present moment, Self-Awareness

Learning to be content right here, right now is quite possibly the best skill you can develop. How? By looking for what’s right. Avoid the downward spirals of worry, fear, and pity. While it’s good to acknowledge your feelings, don’t spend time...

The Benefits of Brevity

by Merci Gracia | Jun 26, 2011 | Attention, Effort, Focus, Self-Awareness

The best jokes and stories often use the fewest words to get to the point. The same technique works for your troubles too. When you don’t complain or add extra verbiage, you make it possible for them to turn into good stories. Or at the very least, fade away...

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...