A Word About Being in the Middle and Declaring Devotion

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card for Living Life Better will be on HIATUS this week. There are so many words out in the world right now, circulating, enticing, emoting and invoking.

Words like hope, commitment, freedom. Every week Well-Being & Wonder strives to instill encouragement and make you think about living life better, for YOU and the world.

We are in Week 24 of this year.
Not quite the middle of the 53 weeks that make up 2020.
June is the middle of the year.

We are in the middle, not the beginning or the end of many circumstances and situations. We are in the middle of a global pandemic, financial uncertainty, and civil unrest including protests for change, much hostility and public safety in question in many areas.

We are in the middle of life-changing happenings, events, crisis, attitudes and it is probable that we are not feeling centered and calm. I know I am not. Trying to live peacefully does not mean you don’t feel pain, sadness and grief. No practice, no meditation, no discipline makes you immune from experiencing the challenges of life.

Between extremes is something intermediate, the middle or center.

Not everything is hard.
Not everything is easy.
Not everything hurts.
Not everything feels good.
Not everything feels sad.
Not everything feels happy.

Daily renewal to live with the intention to do better, feel better and be better is at the heart of our lives. The heart is kind of the middle of the human body. Our heart, that central portion leads us with love and compassion for others and ourselves.

What is the middle of the middle?
The dd letters in the middle are calling me to DECLARE DEVOTION!

I don’t want to live in the past. Regret keeps me stuck.
I can’t see the future. Worry will not change it.
I declare devotion to NOW.

The edge of beginning and end blend into the middle.
The middle is now.
Declare devotion to NOW.
Do better.
Feel better.
Be better.
Now.


Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on June 12, 2020, written by Becky Wilbur

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us. This month we focus on CELEBRATE.

Flourish - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week June 4-9, 2023, is here!

FLOURISH



I choose to thrive knowing I am living life better.

Definition: Grow or thrive, vitality

Other: Blossom, favorable, profuse

Opposite: Fade, deteriorate, decline

The word flourish holds a very special place in my heart. It was my focus word in 2019. I chose the word flourish because not only did I want to enjoy my life, I wanted to thrive with a huge sense of health and vitality.

Little did I know how impactful the word would become for me. It was my constant companion as I was on my healing journey with pancreatic cancer.

Flourish means to sparkle and shine despite circumstances. Laser-focused on health and vitality comes to mind. To stand firmly rooted, digging deep with a strong support system so that we can thrive despite the raging conditions going on around us.

• If you feel a little unsteady, stop, take a deep breath, and ask, how can I best flourish right now?

Ways to Flourish:
• Enough rest
• Proper nutrition
• Fully hydrated
• Strength and courage to be mentally, physically, and spiritually resilient
• Basic life needs must be met

Here are some great affirmations for flourishing:

• Today, I choose to flourish despite circumstances.
• Today, I radiate vitality as I embrace flourishing.
• I am strongly anchored and supported so that I may flourish.

How can you live life better by allowing yourself to flourish today?

Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on June 3, 2020, written by Janette Stuart

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

DREAM - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week May 28, 2023 through June 3, 2023, is here!

DREAM

If you could do or be anything, what would it be?

Definition: a cherished aspiration, ambition or idea
Other: desire, wish, hope, intention
Opposite: apathy, indifference, contentment

Everything starts with a dream.
The vision of a new reality.
A possibility in the making.
A strongly desired goal or purpose.
A wish your heart makes.

Become your own dream detective and figure out what it is that you love and want more of in your life.
Sit in the stillness and quiet.
Think of what your life could be if there were no boundaries on the possibilities.

What image is created by your imagination?
What sensations are occurring in your mind?
What area of your life is calling for a dream?

Unlocking your dreams comes with the willingness to change, commit and clear the way by setting goals and taking action.

Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind,
Be led by the dreams in your heart.
-Roy T. Bennett

Every dream precedes a goal which needs determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort to make progress towards the end result. Dreams can come true if we have the courage to figure out what is important and then do it. By living a lifestyle that is conducive to making our dreams a reality, we encourage others to reach out for their dreams also.

A dream helps to inspire, gives us hope, and fill our lives with purpose. It shapes our everyday life with intention and becomes a way of living life better.

Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on May 27, 2020, written by Becky Wilbur.

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

SELF-CARE - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week May 21-27, 2023, is here!

SELF-CARE

I tend to myself because I am worthy and deserving.

Definition: Intentional upkeep for mind, body, and spirit.

Other: Filling up, nurturing oneself, tending

Opposite: Depleted, spent, deflated

Self-Care is a sacred act of appreciating the gift of you. Honoring the gift of your life. Valuing yourself, confidently knowing that caring for yourself, makes life better for you and those you interact with.

Self-Care is not just an occasional facial, bubble bath, cup of hot cocoa, or time away from our routine although all of those things certainly can be self-care measures.

Self-Care can be removing or limiting exposure to things in our life that are not nourishing to us such as excess noise, media, toxins, places, people…which are draining to us.

Think of your body as a precious holder or vessel which contains all that we put inside it. What or who are we listening to? What media are we ingesting? What are we consuming? What type of people are we spending time with? What are we eating and drinking and filling our surroundings with?

What we put inside of ourselves, will fuel us and that’s what we have to “share” with others. If we feed it garbage, scary images, neglect, or negativity that’s what we’ll cultivate and dispense. If we feed it nutritious food, uplifting content, care, and positivity, that’s what we’ll cultivate and dispense.

Today is a prime example of taking the necessary steps for self-care. I felt like I was doing and experiencing too much and wanted to take today and perhaps tomorrow as rest days to nurture and fill up my cup. I am planning to be off social media for a few days.

I also see a nap in my future, I’m listening to soothing sounds and I am writing which always replenishes me. I’ve also been for a walk with my dog and spent time out in the yard enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty at my fingertips.

What do you need more of?

What do you need less of?

How do you tend to yourself?

Here are some ideas:

• Soothe yourself
• Nap
• Get still
• Connect with an uplifting friend, relative or pet
• Listen to peaceful music or sounds
• Move your precious body
• Meditate
• Journal
• Unplug from media or electronics
• Be out in nature
• Diffuse essential oils
• Bathe
• Drink a green smoothie
• Hydrate
• Enjoy a favorite meal, snack or beverage

Here are some Self-Care Quotes you may enjoy.

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.” — Audre Lorde

“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” – Unknown

How can you live life better by allowing yourself the gift of Self-Care today?


Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on May 20, 2020, written by Janette Stuart.

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

NATURE - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week May 14-20, 2023, is here!

NATURE

Go outside. Look up. Be amazed.

Definition: physical world, including plants, animals, landscape
Other: outdoors, Mother Earth, flora and fauna, universe
Opposite: barren, void, nothingness

Our affinity toward nature is genetic and deep-rooted in evolution. The biological need to connect with nature is called The Biophilia Hypothesis. Super interesting. Nature helps us survive and is in our DNA. There are natural oils found in plants called terpenes that are critical to our well-being. Natural light is also therapeutic. Earth grounding affects our bodies.

Nature impacts health. Nature deprivation, a lack of time in the natural world, has been associated with depression. Nature helps us cope with pain. Being outdoors reduces stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol.

WAYS NATURE HELPS WELL-BEING

-reduction in anxiety levels
-increase problem-solving skills
-heightened concentration
-improve creative abilities
-more grateful and appreciative
-mindful of what we see, hear, smell, feel
-alleviates feelings of social isolation
-reduces fear, anger and stress
-increases pleasant feelings

As we shelter in place and stay at home more than we usually do we can feel trapped and hopeless. Our daily lives have changed and we are faced with uncertainty. We are in survival mode. We can make the choice every day to do the best we can in these challenging circumstances.

INCORPORATE NATURE INTO DAILY LIFE

Walk outdoors, sit on the lawn
Plants scattered around your home
Natural scents-candles, diffusers, spray
Natural items as decor-wicker baskets, driftwood, rocks and pebbles
Get creative and draw nature, color flowers
Indoor herb garden
Play nature sounds-gentle rain, whale song, birdsong
Garden dreaming or doing
Fresh flowers
Open the curtains
Bath-epsom salt and scent of your choice
Look up at the stars
Study the moon phases

NATURE MAKES US FEEL ALIVE FROM THE INSIDE

Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on May 13, 2020, written by Becky Wilbur.

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

REST - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week May 7-13, 2023, is here!

REST

Allow your mind and body to LET GO.

Definition: Stillness, Sleep, Receive, Relax

Other: Meditate, At Peace, Pause, Replenish

Opposite: Action, Exertion, Movement, Force

Sleep is not needed to rest but rest is needed to sleep.

For me, resting is a quick way to shift my negative thoughts to better feeling thoughts.

I aim to include a high percentage of my thoughts as positive ones and to do that I need to take good self-care measures such as enough rest, nutrition, hydration, and motion.

Today is a prime example of taking the necessary steps to get the rest I need. I felt like I was doing and experiencing too much and wanted to take today and perhaps tomorrow as rest days to nurture and fill up my cup. I am planning to be off social media for a few days. I also see a nap in my future, I’m listening to soothing sounds and I am writing which always replenishes me.

I’ve also been for a walk with my dog and spent time out in the yard enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty at my fingertips.

How do you get the rest you need?

Here are some ideas:

Ways to Rest
• Soothe yourself
• Nap
• Get still
• Receive
• Listen to peaceful music or sounds
• Meditate
• Journal
• Unplug from media or electronics
• Be out in nature
• Diffuse essential oils
• Bathe

”Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” – Ralph Marston

How can you live life better by allowing yourself the gift of rest today?

Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on May 6, 2020, written by Janette Stuart

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

SUPPORT - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week April 30, 2023 to May 6, 2023, is here!

SUPPORT

I think I can. I think I can. I know I can. I ask for help when needed.

Definition: give assistance, give approval, comfort or encouragement
Other: reassure, help, console, hearten
Opposite: neglect, abandon

You can take your “I’m ok” hat off now. It’s just me. Fall apart. I’m not going anywhere.

THIS IS SUPPORT

I want you to know that someone out there cares. Sometimes we need someone to simply be there. Not to fix anything or even do anything in particular. Just to let us feel cared about.

THIS IS SUPPORT

Hey, how can I help?

THIS IS SUPPORT

Someone to encourage you. Someone to pick you up when down. Someone to listen. Someone to hug you. Someone to be quiet with. Someone to laugh with. Or cry.

THIS IS SUPPORT

You are not alone in this. I am here. What can I do?

THIS IS SUPPORT

Support goes both ways.
-To support others
-To be supported

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.
-Charles Dickens


Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on April 29, 2020, written by Becky Wilbur

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.

INNER CHILD - Your WOW message of the Week

Welcome to the WOW Card of the Week series. A new card will be featured every week for you to think about, mull over, and maybe change something to fill your life with well-being and wonder.

Your Words of Wisdom (WOW) Guidance Card of the Week April 23-29, 2023, is here!

Eenie meanie, miney mo…Having fun is never a no.

Definition: Innocence, Precious, Joyous, Vulnerable
Other: Fun-loving, Free, Curious, Exuberant
Opposite: Rigid, Stoic, Mean-spirited, Critic

We each have an inner child inside of us. This is our precious, fun-loving, curious self.

I like to envision myself as a 5-year old and cater to that precious part of me that longs to play, be nurtured, adored, loved, out in nature, to be bold and brave. She wants to be treated with compassion, use her creativity and dream big while being one with nature.

I keep a picture of myself as that precious 5- year old as a reminder that she is an important part of me. I consider her needs, wants and desires often.

We also may have trauma from our childhood where were did not feel safe, cared for or nurtured. This trauma needs to be healed. That is a lesson for another day.

I remember clearly when I was 12 years old, purposefully squashing my inner child’s wants and desires by thinking ‘now that I was a woman, I’d better act like one’ and in the process I lost aspects of my joy for many years during my teens because I neglected her. Those were some very difficult years.

Today, I have learned to value my inner child and embrace her sweetness, curiosity and zest for living a life of joy. She is an important part of me. I adore her.

Today, what are some ways you can nurture your inner child?

Here are a few ideas:
• Build a fort or clubhouse
• Take a nap
• Enjoy a favorite childhood meal, snack or drink
• Go outside and play
• Stay inside and play
• Play dress-up
• Write a love letter to your precious inner 5-year old
• Watch a favorite show or movie you adored as a child
• Read a favorite childhood book

“There is a parent inside each of us, as well as a child. And most of the time, the parent scolds the child—almost nonstop! If we listen to our inner dialogue, we can hear the scolding. We can hear the parent tell the child what it is doing wrong or how it is not good enough. We need to allow our parent to become more nurturing to our child. “
Louise Hay

How can you live life better by nurturing your inner child today?

Find the Good,
Becky and Janette


Originally posted on April 22, 2020, written by Janette Stuart

We share uplifting messages of Well-Being and Wonder for Living Life Better. Find out about Well-Being for ME in 2023. A year-long program of self-discovery to Live Life Better through peace, love, joy, and ease HERE. It’s not too late to join us.