Emotions-Fleeting or Forever

Humans, we are funny.

I am watching my kids and they basically have two main expressions - Crying for anything that is emotionally uncomfortable, including frustration, pain and hunger and smiling and laughing for everything that is on the joyful side of their experience.

What I do notice is the ability to switch from crying to laughter / smiles to crying in seconds. Show Téo a stuffed animal or toy and his mood shifts. (When I can’t help him to shift out of his pain it’s parental agony).

And yet humans hold grudges. Countries hold grudges. We hang onto emotions for days, weeks, centuries.

I noticed for the last few weeks I found myself complaining and lacking gratitude.

Complaining makes me feel sour, frustrated, bitter whereas gratitude brings me peace, joy, satisfaction and fulfillment. And all I need to do is shift.

Today I’m grateful for my self reflection, Caroleen’s patience, love and partnership – feeling that presence of a true teammate in my life.

I am grateful for my work that is my purpose + passion.

I am grateful for my struggles that help me gain appreciation and patience.

I am grateful for the people I work with who let me into their lives with vulnerability and trust, granting me the opportunity to give them tools and skills to empower their lives and craft of artistry and singing.

I am grateful to the friends, colleagues and mentors who offer kindness and wisdom in an attempt to let me remove roadblocks from my path.

I am grateful for my children who are two tiny amazing humans gifting me the beauty and challenges of parenthood.

I am grateful to you, who is reading this right now, witnessing and participating in the great aventures of life with me.

What are you grateful for?

A suggest I make to the artists I work with is to make 2 lists a day. a Gratitude List in the morning - 10 things you are grateful for, and a Self Appreciation List in the evening - 10 things you appreciate about yourself that day - from cooking a good meal, setting a boundary to completing your priority work task.

Try it out + let me know how it’s going!
Start a group msg with a circle of friends and share your lists daily - see what that does!