by Tracey Payton | Mar 1, 2023 | Self Care Toolbox, Spirit, Uncategorized
You are an amazing person, thank you and your smile brightens a room!!
Today, March 1 is world compliment day. Compliments are a simple, easy, everyday acts of kindness that we should encourage. Compliments help lift other people up, build their confidence, and boost their self-esteem – they just make us feel good.
Are you a giver or receiver of compliments? Or both? Research shows getting a sincere compliment gives us the same positive boost as receiving cash. 
I have a wonderful friend, who starts every conversation with a compliment. She has the amazing talents of making you feel like the most special person in the room based on her genuine compliments. I truly think that effortlessly giving compliments to others is a talent. Whether we’re good at giving compliments or not, I do think we all find it easier to give compliments than to receive them.
How do you receive a compliment? Do you look away and respond back something to the effect of “this ole thing” or maybe a short thank you. Are you a person who responds to a complement with another complement?
Accepting compliments is particularly hard. However, I think it’s valuable for us to learn to both gift compliments as well as receive them. This creates a sense of balance in the giving and taking of the universe. It is a full circle moment.
I encourage you to take the challenge of giving compliments and receiving compliments with grace and authenticity. For mee this challenge comes when received complement, I have made a commitment to receive the compliment and then thanking the other person for their kind words, knowing I don’t have to return the favor to them right this moment.
How you do feel about receiving compliment from yourself – this might be a really good place to start. Get good at it with compliment to yourself in the mirror. Was that weird or uncomfortable? Keep trying – you are worth it.
We can create the habit of giving other complements, it helps us celebrate them as well as ourselves in the process.
I have compiled a simple list of compliments that you can share with friends and family:
- I appreciate you.
- You are perfect just the way you are.
- You are enough.
- You’re all that and a super-size bag of chips.
- On a scale from 1 to 10, you’re an 11.
- You’ve got all the right moves.
- Everything would be better if more people were like you.
- You are an incredible human.
- You’re wonderful.
- You’re better than a triple-scoop ice cream cone. With sprinkles.
- You’re one of a kind.
- If you were a box of crayons, you’d be the big industrial name-brand one with a built-in sharpener.
- Who raised you? They deserve a medal for a job well done.
- Somehow you make time stop and fly all at the same time.
- In high school, I bet you were voted “most likely to continue being awesome.”
- If you were a scented candle they’d have to call it Perfectly Imperfect (and it would smell like summer).
- There’s ordinary, and then there’s you.
- You’re even better than a unicorn because you’re real.
- You’re really something special.
- Your smile is contagious.
- You have the best laugh.
- You light up the room.
- You have a great sense of humor.
- You’re like sunshine on a rainy day.
- You bring out the best in other people.
- You always know how to find that silver lining.
- Being around you is like a happy little vacation.
- You’re more fun than bubble wrap.
- You’re like a breath of fresh air.
- I like your style.
- You’re strong.
- You are brave.
- You are beautiful on the inside and outside.
- You’re a great listener.
- You’re inspiring.
- You’re so thoughtful.
- When you make up your mind, nothing stands in your way.
- You seem to really know who you are.
- You’re a smart cookie.
- Your perspective is refreshing.
- You have the best ideas.
- You’re always learning new things and trying to better yourself. That’s awesome.
- You could survive a zombie apocalypse.
- You’re great at figuring stuff out.
- Your creative potential seems limitless.
- I bet you do crossword puzzles in ink.
- I am so proud of you, and I hope you are too!
- You are making a difference.
- You deserve a hug right now.
- You’re a great example to others.
- Actions speak louder than words, and yours tell an incredible story.
- You’re an awesome friend.
- You’re more helpful than you realize.
- Hanging out with you is always fun.
- The way you always know when someone needs something is amazing.
- Being around you makes everything better.
- You should be thanked more often. Thank you.
- Our community is better because you’re in it.
- You always know just what to say.
- The people you love are lucky to have you in their lives.
- Any team would be lucky to have you on it.
- The way you treasure your loved ones is incredible.
- You’re a gift to those around you.
by Tracey Payton | Feb 1, 2023 | Heart, Self Care Toolbox, Spirit
Love in the Library 
Many years ago, Jimmy Buffett wrote a song called “Love in the Library” about two people who would never talk, just exchanged glances in the library. I love that song. But I never thought my own version of falling in love in the library would come true.
I’ve always loved books, reading and learning. I even worked in the library once. (Sidenote, working in a library when you’re going to school is a great way to get paid to study!)
But I never thought I would find my own love in the library. Honestly, I never even occurred to me to go to the library to look for love.
A few years ago after moving to a new town and parking in the library parking lot almost every day – the library and the dog park share a parking lot – I thought maybe I should go into the library. Just to see what they had to offer.
The entrance to our library is nothing special. Sliding doors, small pile carpet, bathrooms, a few meeting rooms, a sleepy security guard, and of course plenty of books. There is one beautiful glass sculpture hanging on the ceiling. It’s a Chihuly. An amazing artist, if you don’t know about his gorgeous artworks and pieces of glass, I highly encourage you to look him up.
But this is just an ordinary library. Nothing special, just a good ole fashion public library.
Soon I found myself wandering through the stacks, looking at books, checking out different authors, holding the books and it became like a love affair. I love sitting at the library reading, watching the different people come in and out what they chose to read or sit and do. The people watching with books. It was magical.
My introverted self loves a quite space and a library where your voice must remand quite it perfect for me. So back to this love affair. It started with books. Other people’s stories and idea, some real, some made-up and some you just don’t know. All these books with some much knowledge and emotion. All put together in neat little shelves and waiting for people to read and share. But the love of book was only amplified by being a part of this space where so many people came to read or just be.
The day I notice my own personal love affairs with the library, was the same as some many before and after it. I was there to “work”, but after a bit of time I just needed to stretch my legs and move. As I walked around the library, I notice so much good and love in the humans around me. Some read the newspaper in semi-recliner and others upright at desks clicking away at laptops. So much collective humanness all in a one space for so many different reasons and purposes. I was a wonderfully interesting energetic collective.
Really the love affair was not only with the millions of stories the books on the shelves but with the people; how they enjoyed the stories and used this average public library for their own personal sanctuary. The love of people coming together to use a space and share different opinions, thoughts, and feelings. But doing it in a calm, quiet and pleasant way with each other. The love affair brings me hope for what could be.
I hope you create a love affair that brings you internal peace, love and joy just like my library does for me.
by Tracey Payton | Nov 8, 2022 | Body, Heart, Mind, Self Care Toolbox, Spirit, TOOLSday
Gratitude!!
Looking for some more ways to express gratitude. Check out this quick one minute video on gratitude.
http://youtu.be/eDf8OlmQWso
by Tracey Payton | Oct 5, 2022 | Body, Heart, Mind, Self Care Toolbox, Spirit
Stress Sucks! I’ve never heard anyone say, “I cannot wait to be stressed out today!” or “I’m so excited out all the stress I’m under”. Have you? Well, probable not. That because we all know stress sucks!
The more people I coach, the more I get the same answer – “well stress is just part of life, and we have to get used to it.” Does that feel like a good answer? Because I don’t like it at all.
Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It makes us feel out of control. The stress may cause physical, emotional or psychological strain on us. While stress, like some many of our amazing mind and body responses, was originally designed to cause awareness and help keep us safe. But in today’s world stress has taken on a life of it own.
According to the American Psychological Association, more than 70% of adults have some significant form of stress in their life. The last 3 years of a global pandemic certainly have played a key role in the amount of stress people feel. Plus the uncertainly of our economy, politics, mass shootings, healthcare, climate change – just to name a few. And by the way most of the above are external things there is still the everyday stress of life, family, friends, job, cooking, cleaning and living. It can seem overwhelming.
All this stress is probably affecting a lot of things you do every day; including your sleep, your food choices, what you do for fun, how much movement you get and how you feel. These are just a few of the reasons to create stress awareness in your life.
So now that we recognize that stress sucks, and I have totally bummed you out with all the ways stress surrounds you. (sorry about that!). Let’s talk about what do we do or how do we make it better.
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another” – William James
Here are my 5 favorite away to help minimize and eliminate stress:
• Guided Mediation
• Connect with other
• Get outside – movement
• Play
• Sleep
Guided Mediation – meditation can be tricky for some. But honestly, I made it so much harder for myself. If you are new to meditation, or getting back into it or even an daily meditator – guided meditation can always help. Many apps have 5-10 minutes free guided meditation. This isa. Great way to meditation without having to be in charge. You get to sit back and have someone else help you clear your mind and guide you to a place of peace.
Connect with other – people, whether it be friends, family or strangers, can be a wonderful stress reducer. You may need to be a bit picky about who those people are, so that it is not causing more stress for you. But the people you can be totally yourself, laugh and share space with can help reduce your stress.
Get outside – Movement – So much of our loves are spend at a desk, or inside. Getting outside, smell the air, seeing the tress and birds, enjoying the sunshine. These are all ways to give you brain a break. You might even take it a step further by incorporating movement going for a walk, or run, a hike, a jog or even a skip. Anything that is just a few moments of movement can help clear our brain and create a few moments of stress relief.
Play – Children never stop playing, they play with boxes, pots and pans, there food, their clothes. They are always playing. But as adult we hardly play with anything. Play does not have to include a jungle gym, but could include anything that bring you joy, that make you laugh and provide you a moment of relief. You can see why play is so important to stress reduction. It is hard as an adult to find ways to play, but in encourage you to try,
Sleep – Is one of my favorite self-care and stress reduction tools. I’m not just talking about a good nap (which I also love); but planning and creating a good night sleep more nights than not. Let me take some planning and experimentation to find what your best sleep routine is. But when you wake up clearheaded you are able to more clearly and concisely look at the day and the to-do list. Without sleep everything can feel overwhelming only creating more stress.
Which one of these ideas are you willing to try? Do you have another way you love to reduce stress, comment below.
by stephdaviswebsites | Apr 7, 2022 | Featured, Heart, Mind, Spirit
Amy is autistic and works with an amazing service dog, Rila to bring healing to her clients. 2020 closed her thriving bodywork business where she combined photographic recall of anatomy with advanced sports medicine techniques, and powerful energy practices to provide pain relief, and support of those changing their lives in big ways.
She is offering Reiki sessions online, combining shamanic practices with over 30 years of angelic work for deep, supportive help for those in need. Be ready to change. She is honored to witness your struggle and facilitate your becoming whole.
by stephdaviswebsites | Apr 7, 2022 | Body, Featured, Heart, Mind, Spirit
Moana helps individuals of all ages relieve their pain so that they can live enjoyable and productive lives. Her unique therapeutic approach blends several treatment techniques into a personalized treatment session to unite your body, mind and spirit, leading you to inner harmony and vibrant health.
Polarity and CranioSacral Therapy completely transformed her life and healed her chronic pain, which is why she became a practitioner to heal others using the methods that helped her.
Now as a Board-Certified Polarity Practitioner, her intention is to support you in your journey to better health with result-oriented bodywork.
