Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Cleaning Up the Mess: #Thankfulness

Last Sunday, Dr. Bob Luckin said this about thankfulness: “When you clean up after a party, be thankful that you have had the opportunity to have special people to your home and were able to experience joy, love, and fun.” After hearing his thoughts, I had realized I had stopped having parties because of the reality that I would have to clean up the mess afterward.

Suddenly, I wondered if I had missed even more blessings in my life because of my distaste for cleaning. I began to search my heart to consider what might be standing in my way about cleaning, as I have learned the three amazing questions to ask myself whenever I feel bad or indifference about anything:

1.) What wants to happen here?
2.) What do I need to let go of, to let this happen? and
3.) What is the gift that I bring to this situation?

In answer to question number one: God wants to bring more joy into my life by gathering my friends and family together.

Question two: I need to let go of the idea that cleaning up is a bad thing. When I was a child, after my mom left my dad, the children were responsible for all the cooking and cleaning. I resented my mother and my father for forcing a kid to get down on his knees and clean up messes. It’s time I let go of that old thought.

Question three: The special gift that I bring is the good news that I can initiate fun and joy with friends without feeling that I have to impose a negative feeling about cleaning afterwards. I can clear an old resentment, simply by understanding it, having compassion about it, and rethinking the old thought in a new way.

What I see even more clearly now is that I have been “ungrateful” during parties that I have thrown every time I let myself grieve the clean-up process. Even during the party, I’m already thinking about the mess afterward—keeping myself from experiencing ALL of the joy of the moment. How many times have you not experienced the NOW, because you were thinking about something negative in the future?

Today, I commit to living in the moment, no matter what the consequence. This year, I’m having a large gathering for Christmas dinner. I noticed that as soon as I offered to have it at my house, I began to regret it, because of all the work. Now, I have resubmitted the issue to my own brain. I will consider how wonderful it is to have great friends and family to invite to my house. As I prepare to cook and then clean up afterwards, the entire time, I will do my best to honor those close relationships, by being grateful.

This is the season to understand thankfulness. I’m grateful to Dr. Bob for uncovering a place in my life where I can love bigger and receive more joy!

Gluten-free cookbook coverBook Cover - Full SizeThe_Leaving_Cellar_Cover_for_KindleFatal Virtues CoverBooks have feelings:Cover Pic

A Cookbook, a Novel, a Self-Help Book, a Yoga DVD! All great gifts from your friend—Bo Sebastian. Simply go to this link at www.Amazon.com or type in my name. Find great gifts for your family members and friends and support another friend in the process! Thank you and happy Holidays! --Bo

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Bo works with people on SKYPE and FaceTime all over the world. He is taking new clients now. Call 954-253-6493 for information.

Take the time to look at Bo’s bookshelf of self-help books, novels, healing downloads, and yoga DVD. All of Bo’s books help people such as you, make SIGNIFICANT CHANGE with habits, find your SOULMATE, your PASSION, reach YOUR DREAMS, and dictate your own FUTURE.

Chosen to show his new hypnotherapeutic techniques on The Learning Channel (TLC) and also given the opportunity to teach at the world conference for Learning, and received the award of excellence for Helping Overcome Obesity in Nashville, Bo Sebastian is the writer and director of Finding Authentic You and Uncommon Gay Spiritual WarriorGo directly to Amazon/Amazon Kindle to buy any of his wonderfully inspired books: ]
 
 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Relatives, Family, and #Thanksgiving

When my mother asked me if she could move in with me, eight years ago, I knew my life would change. How it would change was up to her and I. We had spent the majority of our lives separated, sometimes one thousand miles away. As far as the rest of my family, we have also spent years separated from each other. Now, however, in a time of Thanksgiving, this will be the first time my closest sisters, family members, and my mother will spend the holidays together. Planning the days are special to all of us, as we each are contributing to dinners and times together that will create an entirely new family dynamic.

I have to tell you how thankful I am for the opportunity, at this point in my life, to be near so much love and grace. Most people go through many different growing spurts with family members. Sometimes we leave family to understand ourselves better. Sometimes we separate because of unhealthy relationships. Other times, we come together again, only to find that old patterns never change. However, I want to invite you to a new paradigm during this holiday.

Yes, it takes two people to change a relationship. However, it takes only one to change his/her point of view about any relationship. When I realized that living with my mother could heal the relationship that probably had affected every intimate relationship in my life, I knew that I had to commit to healing the relationship with my mother. I had to become transparent with her and let her know my hurts and allow her to be a part of my personal healing process.

As I did so, my mother intuitively began to nurture my heart in ways I didn’t realize would help my healing. The two people who love me the most in my life are family members. Unconditional love supersedes anything I have ever felt before.

As a result of feeling this family love, I have titrated from caustics relationship (some of them are family, some are friends) and allowed new friendships to bud and bloom in a slow and beautiful way in my life. I sew the seeds; God grows the plant.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, choose a new way. Change your story and perspective about family members. See this time as an opportunity to heal, instead of recapitulate old stories and old beliefs. Know that you have within your mind and heart to create new relationships today and this coming week. I know this for you and for me now.

Happy Holiday!

return to love

A Cookbook, a Novel, a children's book, a Self-Help Book, a Yoga DVD! All great gifts from your friend—Bo Sebastian. Simply go to this link at www.Amazon.com or type in my name. Find great gifts for your family members and friends and support another friend in the process! Thank you and happy Holidays! --Bo

* * *

Bo works with people on SKYPE and FaceTime all over the world. He is taking new clients now. Call 954-253-6493 for information.

Take the time to look at Bo’s bookshelf of self-help books, novels, healing downloads, and yoga DVD. All of Bo’s books help people such as you, make SIGNIFICANT CHANGE with habits, find your SOULMATE, your PASSION, reach YOUR DREAMS, and dictate your own FUTURE.

Chosen to show his new hypnotherapeutic techniques on The Learning Channel (TLC) and also given the opportunity to teach at the world conference for Learning, and received the award of excellence for Helping Overcome Obesity in Nashville, Bo Sebastian is the writer and director of Finding Authentic You and Uncommon Gay Spiritual WarriorGo directly to Amazon/Amazon Kindle to buy any of his wonderfully inspired books: ]
 

Monday, November 25, 2013

Feast on This! Wealth? #Thanksgiving

Feast on This! Wealth? #Thanksgiving

I find gratefulness in the smallest of things. The happiest times of my life were when the biggest harvest NYC had to offer was a grocery bag full of 10-cent Top Ramen and a tray of various chicken parts for soup. Friends accompanied me at almost every meal, thankful and wide-eyed like children on Christmas morning I welcomed every day with expectation of good.

Thanksgiving historically is not just for Americans, as this tradition actually began in the 1500s with the English. The early settlers in the America simply adopted a familiar tradition to give thanks for the harvest, their new land, and all the good in their lives. But people in many different lands also celebrate Thanksgiving, mostly for the same reason as American’s have embraced.

When we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinners, rife with lush and caloric food, do we feast on our over indulgence? Eating too many helpings of apple and pumpkin pie after 3 plates of turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and baked rolls makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it; although, I have definitely been there. When you grow up without ever getting a second helping—except on holidays—one tends to overeat and doesn’t complain—outloud.

The Christian bible says, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” everyday. This promise becomes something to be thankful for, yet most us can’t even fathom the idea of what the kingdom means. Is it inside us (Luke 17:20), as the bible also says? Is it prosperity, truth, love, intimate relationships, the perfect job, or plenty of land? If you were to give thanks this week on #Thanksgiving, exactly what would you be grateful for in your life? And, most importantly, does your gratefulness embrace the belief that God has given you your portion of abundant life?

One tradition I learned from the American Indians is to go around the table and allow each person to express one thankful moment. With this idea, everyone gets to take part of the unified prayer of thanks at the table. You will hear everything from being grateful for beautiful flowers, the smell of jasmine on a summer day, pets, to my beautiful spouse. Rarely will you hear people speak of being thankful for big money and fancy cars, as wealth isn’t the barebones of life. Expensive items become the bobbles in life, not the mainframe or foundation.

This, opposed to an Italian proverb that says, “If you scatter thorns, don’t go barefoot!” Being thankful for the bad in our lives just doesn’t seem to fit the tradition. However, if we look closely, we may thank otherwise.

Absolutely and positively, every horrible event in my life had turned out to be some of the most blessed and cherished moment of growth. So, how do I make room in my prayer on this Thanksgiving Day for things like the recent hurricane or a bombing of an American icon?

Again, I go back to American and Christian traditions of the first settlers. In the book of Romans 8:28 the Christian bible says: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” If we are to be thankful for the rich life God has given us on this day of bounty and harvest, let’s glean the wheat from the chaff as well.

“From the spoils of my terrible childhood, I became a strong man able to help others through difficult times.” “From the bombing of 9-11, I became a more compassionate person.” “From going bankrupt, a understood about building a business on firm foundation.” “From the diagnosis of my cancer, I found a new relationship with my spouse.”

On this week of Thanksgiving, let us all dig a little deeper and be thankful for the amazing lives we now have as a result of so many tragic and wonderful days as humans. Let us also rejoice in the smallest joys, such as our pet greeting us at the door, a consistent paycheck, health, and even the wisdom to compassionately observe this awesome state of humanness.


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New Challenge: Go to Week 5 of the “Year to CLEAR Challenge” at www.Bosebastian.com

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Look for MY LATEST BOOK:  “Finding Authentic You, 7 Steps to Effective Change” with a Year to CLEAR (C-larity, L-ove, E-nthusiasm A-nd R-elationship-Ready) on my Website in the Webstore. Thanks!

Below is information that I will be sharing for about a month, as not every person on my list reads the blog every day. If you have already read it, just skip over it. Thanks for understanding.

A Year to CLEAR Challenge:
(Please Know: You Can Join Us At Any Point in the Year Challenge.)

The masses search outward for things that qualify them as a person, but I always go inward for that which quantifies me for greatness. At twenty-five I preached on street corners in NYC as an in-the-closet Pentecostal minister. One day I heard a still small voice say, ‘God cannot be contained in a book or a law or even in a religion. Dig deeper, reach further to find me, and you will find your authentic Self.’”

A Year to CLEAR Challenge!

The acronym CLEAR stands for (Compassionate, Loving, Enthusiastic, And Relationship-Ready). The goal of this project is to engulf readers in a weekly study that will transform them by removing blocks, promote self-growth, and give them wings to fly freely into daily life. Each week, by going to BoSebastian.com and choosing the Year to CLEAR Challenge tab, a new challenge or thought to provoke conversation, growth, and group functionality.

My vision is to make Finding Authentic You the book to have in your Kindle or on your computer. The book is a comprehensive look at growth—spiritually, mentally, and physically.

As a yoga teacher and student of the Ayurvedic tradition, I bring to the table understanding of physical challenges, the ability to overcome mental problems with Life & Health Coaching, as well as hypnotherapy, and expertise in meditation and spirituality as a minister.

The combination of all three in one book with an interactive connection to like-minded readers, for one year, is what makes this Year to CLEAR Challenge a must-do for every spiritual seeker.

The One-Year Approach to Change

No one believes he or she can change overnight. But success in change comes from the metaphors of nature. Seasonally, life changes all around us in nature. Finding Authentic You offers a gradual change perspective, looking at the triune aspects of change as in yoga: Body, Mind and Spirit.

Accessing the ability to change and finding yourself actually pursuing change must be a daily search, which I call getting to the “observer mind.”

In this frontal cortex of the brain we find the anatomy of change and the power to counter every negative trigger of the human process. The workings of Hypnosis, NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are all positive actions to help the mind and body flow to a positive space for change.

Every aspect of FINDING AUTHENTIC YOU fulfills this constant need for diffusing the negative past and dreaming of a fulfilling future.

Step 1: Recognize That Change is Inevitable
Step 2: Release from Resistance to Change
Step 3: Understanding Change and Allow Spirit to Define It
Step 4: A History Lesson—About You
Step 5: Look at Your Past with Compassion
Step 6: Making a Strong Commitment to Change
Step 7: Dream Your Fabulous Future
Go to www.bosebastian.com for Week One to Four Challenges:
TOOLS FOR CHANGE:
Go to Storefront to buy any of the following or make a donation to Finding Authentic You: www.shop.bosebastian.com

·       My Latest Book: Finding Authentic You—7 Steps to Effective Change (800 page downloadable Kindle version)
·       Introduction to Meditation
·       Smoke Cessation mp3
·       Weight Loss mp3
·       Hypnotic Lap Band surgery Mp3
·       Insomnia mp3
·       Eternal Om mp3
·       Meditation Music mp3
·       Guide to Meditation mp3
·       Healing the Body mp3
·       And my “Lessons from the Heart” book ready for your download purchase.
Go to Home Page: www.BoSebastian.com


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Bo Sebastian is a Hypnotherapist and Life & Health Coach, available for private sessions to QUIT SMOKING, Lose Weight, New Lap-Band Hypnosis for Weight Loss, CHANGE YOUR MIND, CHANGE YOUR LIFE! at 615-400-2334 or www.bosebastian.com. Please feel free to comment and/or sign up to receive your blog sent to you directly or stream with an RSS Feed.

I am trying to spread the word about my blog and I need your help. Please let your friends know it exists, if it gives you hope and blesses you each day.  I would be greatly pleased for you to share anything that you read by clicking the share button in Facebook.com/bo.sebastian, or add it to your Twitter at BoSebastian; or LinkedIN at Bosebastian5@gmail.com; or find this blog home at www.FindingAuthenticYou.com. Any of my books can be found on Amazon or Barnes and Nobel, just by typing my name in the search header.

Also, look for MY LATEST BOOK:  “Finding Authentic You, 7 Steps to Effective Change” with a Year to CLEAR (C-larity, L-ove, E-nthusiasm A-nd R-elationship-Ready) on my Website in the Webstore. Thanks!