Gratitude Archives - Denise Hansard https://denisehansard.com/category/gratitude/ Life Coach Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:52:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://denisehansard.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cropped-favion-32x32.gif Gratitude Archives - Denise Hansard https://denisehansard.com/category/gratitude/ 32 32 I’m Done https://denisehansard.com/im-done/ Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 https://denisehansard.com/?p=6044 The post I’m Done appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]>

I’m DONE!

For the past several weeks, you may have noticed that I have been silent. I needed time to retreat within my feelings and thoughts for what is going on at this time. I needed this time for reflection and a refresh of what I want in my life. 

As I went within, seeking answers, I’ve come to realize that it’s not up to me to try to change all that is going on. It is up to me to allow the changes that are taking place (as change will never stop) and to go with the flow of change to live within all that is transforming. 


That is when I realized that some things in my life I needed to be DONE with. I shifted my mindset as that is the only way to flow with change. 

For me, I’m DONE with …

  • Listening to the inner critical voice
  • Falling prey to the questioning of “what’s next” in a fearful way
  • Doubting my worth in anything that I do 

 Socrates said it so well …

 “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

 I believe this is where we are today. We are at a crossroad of choosing to build for the future as it is being presented to us and not on living in the past. That is why I am DONE with the small things that have limited me in  my growth and potential. Letting go of the old is exactly what is needed. (If you’d like to read more about how we need to let go, read this blog post New vs Old)   

I am DONE with those things.

What about you?

What will you be DONE with to have change be a positive force in your life?

P.S. If you feel overwhelmed by this change, reach out and ask for help. Be open to receiving that help in the way that it comes to you. It may not be given in the way that you want it to be given and, yet, it can be exactly what is needed. 

 

Recent Posts

If you liked this one, maybe you’ll want to check out others.

View All Posts

 

Don't Miss A Step!

 

SUBSCRIBE

The post I’m Done appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> When Bad Is Good: Finding Meaning in “Negative” Events https://denisehansard.com/when-bad-is-good-finding-meaning-in-negative-events/ Tue, 21 Apr 2020 19:54:31 +0000 https://denisehansard.com/?p=6012 The post When Bad Is Good: Finding Meaning in “Negative” Events appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]>

The Silver Lining

My thoughts ...

Finding meaning ...

There’s a Taoist story of an old farmer whose horse inexplicably ran away. His neighbors said, “What bad luck!” to which he replied, “Perhaps.”

The next day, the horse returned, bringing with it a wild horse. The farmer’s son tried to ride it, fell, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors sent their sympathy: “How terrible this is.” “Perhaps,” the farmer said.

The following day, military officials came to the village to draft every young man into the army. With his leg broken, the farmer’s son was spared from service.

There’s always more than one way to look at what life brings you, and for every event that seems negative there is a way to reframe it so that you can see the positive. And that can be a very good thing: your experiences become more meaningful, purposeful and valuable when you are able to recognize the gift contained in adversity. 

The trouble is that, during the time you are experiencing adversity it’s often challenging, if not impossible, to see the proverbial silver lining.

So, how do you find the silver lining when troubles arrive at your doorstep?”

Shift your perspective … See the opposite.

Every day may not be good, but there is good to be found in every day—and a hidden gift in all our experiences. Search for the positive interpretation of the event.

Doing this might seem, at first, alien to you, but thinking outside of your initial interpretation of the event, and learning to be proficient at finding meaning in the challenges that come your way, is an excellent exercise in expanding your view of what’s possible.

Be curious … Ask yourself lots of questions.

Adversity can serve you in positive ways, and one of the best ways to open yourself up and leverage negative experiences is by asking questions like:

  • How can I use this experience to learn (and change) something about myself? Positive or negative, our experiences are our guides and teachers, and can help us, if we pay attention to the lessons, to improve the quality of our lives.
  • How could this negative experience affect me in a positive way? This can be a challenging question to ask when you feel stuck in the middle of an uncomfortable situation. But being a partner with your pain allows you to open up to the beneficent possibilities instead of merely wallowing in the negativity.
  • How will this make me a stronger person? It’s not about handling difficult circumstances better than others (a mere ego boost), but how an expanded perspective empowers you to be a more capable and resilient spouse, parent, employee, entrepreneur, etc.
  • How does this negative event (and your reaction to it) reflect your life purpose? Sometimes, what we initially perceive as being an obstacle is actually a guide changing our course and steering us to our true path.
  • What’s the opportunity in the negative experience? Personal/professional growth? Developing a thicker skin? Service to others? Connection? A call to adventure? A mindset shift? Reassessing negative situations means converting them into something productive.

It’s your choice … Be grateful.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes. —William James

If not for the negative event itself, be grateful for the insight or lesson learned.

Being present in the moment and appreciating all aspects of your life can act as a calming salve when times get rough.

And remember: finding the silver lining in every cloud doesn’t mean ignoring feelings associated with the event—quite the opposite. It means acknowledging and experiencing those feelings fully AND leveraging them to your advantage. 

Giving meaning to events, both positive and negative ones, is empowering. A positive life skill is gained when we realize that for every single thing that happens in our lives, we get to choose whether it’s good or bad, whether it will weaken or strengthen us.

 

P.S. If you feel overwhelmed by this change, reach out and ask for help. Be open to receiving that help in the way that it comes to you. It may not be given in the way that you want it to be given and, yet, it can be exactly what is needed.

 

Recent Posts

If you liked this one, maybe you’ll want to check out others.

View All Posts

 

Don't Miss A Step!

 

SUBSCRIBE

The post When Bad Is Good: Finding Meaning in “Negative” Events appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Your greatest gift … https://denisehansard.com/your-greatest-gift/ Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:09:44 +0000 https://denisehansard.com/?p=4278 The post Your greatest gift … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]>

At this time of year, you may find yourself feeling the hustle and bustle of getting everything done. From decorating the house, buying the gifts, wrapping the presents, sending out cards and making arrangements to visit with family and friends. In the midst of all this, do you ever find time to slow down?

I was out shopping the other day finding all the parking spots taken and tons of people scurrying about trying to get it all done before moving on to the next thing on their to-do list. The other thing I noticed was that people were so busy in their scurrying that they were not aware of what was going on around them with cars driving recklessly through an open mall parking lot not seeing the potential for horrific accidents. I cringed and was very grateful that nothing went amiss.
It was at this moment that I realized the greatest gift everyone could give themselves and others was the ability to slow down and enjoy the season.

What about you? Are you taking the time to be in the moment allowing yourself to slow down, to be present to what is going on around you, to being grateful?

The best way to do this is to pause, breathe, and feel the love that is within you and within others. Share a smile. Hold the door for someone. Allow a car to merge in front of you.

It is the gift of slowing down, to be in this moment that is your greatest gift.  

 

 

To the holidays!

 

Don't Miss A Step!

 

SUBSCRIBE

The post Your greatest gift … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Accessing the Power of Gratitude https://denisehansard.com/accessing-the-power-of-gratitude/ Thu, 17 May 2018 14:36:24 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=4017 The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery. While […]

The post Accessing the Power of Gratitude appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.
While we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.
That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.
Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.
There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, home grown tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?
Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

  • Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.
  • Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures and make it your phone screen.
  • Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine or say Thank You 20 times per day.
  • Make a game of finding the hidden gratitude blessing in a challenging situation.
  • When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
  • Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.
If you would like to learn more about the choices you are making and how to make more empowering choices, let’s talk.  Click here to set up a time.

The post Accessing the Power of Gratitude appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> It’s the little things … https://denisehansard.com/its-the-little-things/ Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:59:15 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=2517 The post It’s the little things … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]>

At Christmas time, one of my nephews gave me a picture of his college graduation day with a note on the back.

I have this sitting on my desk to give me inspiration each and every day.  It reminds me of those moments of being grateful in all times and expressing this gratitude to everyone that matters.  I carry this gratitude over into every coaching call that I am blessed to conduct, every phone call that I have, every moment I begin to feel the world of being a solopreneur.

A lost art …

Saying “thank you” in a hand written note is a lost art, I believe.  I know I don’t always do enough of it.  I mean how many of us take the time to literally write out our thanks beyond an putting that thanks in an email or a “like” on Facebook or a “congratulations” note on LinkedIn?

It is with the little things in life that have us pause and appreciate the life we have … giving thanks in every moment. 

Here’s an exercise for you …

Take the time to write a letter expressing your “thanks” to someone that has touched your heart and made your life better.  This will be challenging as I also want you to not only write it out … I also want you to mail it as in “snail” mail.

It will be worth the joy that you give to that person when he/she opens the mailbox to see a letter, holding it and reading & re-reading it time and time again … the long lost art of giving thanks and connecting beyond just a one-time event!

I want to hear from you …

Let me know if you did this as I would love to hear your thoughts on this endeavor … what did the other person say and how did it make you feel, etc.
Yes, I am off to write mine!  My plans are to make this my practice for the year … a hand-written letter each month.  I hope it will bring joy to the person I send the letter to as I know it will bring joy and happiness to me.

The post It’s the little things … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> What is the next step for you? https://denisehansard.com/what-is-the-next-step-for-you/ Tue, 26 May 2015 21:47:23 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=1810 Let’s go back to the beginning … Are you choosing to invest in you … in your dreams, your vision for your life, on who you want to be when you grow up? This was the choice I made 3 years ago when I was let go from my corporate position. I was given the […]

The post What is the next step for you? appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Let’s go back to the beginning …

Are you choosing to invest in you … in your dreams, your vision for your life, on who you want to be when you grow up? This was the choice I made 3 years ago when I was let go from my corporate position. I was given the opportunity to choose differently … do I stay in the corporate world not loving whom I was yet pulling in a healthy paycheck. Or do I move on into something more for me, something greater in my life. Choosing to finally put myself first was the best thing that happened in my life. Acting on the choice that I made was wondrous and life giving. I love, love, love what I do … each and every day. I wake up energized, ready to start my day, as I know that I am living my dream.

Are you living your dream life?

This takes me to the next step in this process of investing in you. Being grateful in your life and what is happening in your life right now.

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.”

Tecumseh, Native American Leader

Many times in your life you give “thanks”. The blessing given for the meal … especially during holiday times. The near miss of almost hitting another car when you are not paying attention.   The moment that you know a loved one is OK and nothing has happened to them. These moments you are extremely grateful for life and what you have in this life.
What about the other moments? The moments of your career and the stress that can go with that career; the moments of having an intimate relationship with someone that you are not sure you want to be with at that time; the moments of not knowing how you are going to make ends meet financially. What about these moments? Do they also deserve your “thanks”?

Yes! Each and every moment counts in life.

With that said, let’s go to the next step in this process of investing in you!
Step 2: Have a Gratitude List

  • Begin each day with at least 3 things that you are grateful for in your life.  It can be as simple as “I woke up”. For some of us, that is huge.
  • Keep this in a journal with your vision. This way you are beginning your day with a heart filled with moments of “thanks”. This is a way of setting your intention for the day.
  • End each day with writing down, at least, 3 things that brought you moments of amazement and gratitude that you experienced. This helps you to release energy of bliss in your life for those moments.

This is it. Just a simple step of gratitude, giving thanks for those moments in your life that you would love to have more of. The energy of this process will help to align you to moments of being who you are meant to be in this life — being happy!

TAKE THAT NEXT STEP!
YOU ARE READY TO LIVE YOUR DREAM LIFE!

 CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME.

IT IS A CONVERSATION THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE EXHAUSTED TO EXHILARATED DISCOVERY SESSION!

The post What is the next step for you? appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Shocked Response! https://denisehansard.com/shocked-response/ Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:30:06 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=320 Unless you were hidden under a rock or maybe out of the country, you all saw or read that 2 inches of snow shut down a major city with that city being Atlanta!  I was there for that wonderful event. I grew up outside of Atlanta and anticipated that when it snowed, it became a […]

The post Shocked Response! appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Unless you were hidden under a rock or maybe out of the country, you all saw or read that 2 inches of snow shut down a major city with that city being Atlanta!  I was there for that wonderful event.
I grew up outside of Atlanta and anticipated that when it snowed, it became a SNOW DAY!  Being a kid, I loved this.  Now as an adult experiencing just 2 inches of snow, I knew it was going to be an event to remember.
The thing that stood out for me was my flight home.  With the airport having been basically shut down for one day and then trying to catch up on the second day, I knew that it was going to be dicey for my flight home.  As the good prepared person that I am, I arrived at the airport at least 4 hours before my flight – a 10 pm flight back to Chicago.
I really wanted to get out of there as Chicago was predicting another snowstorm to hit them later the next day.  Sometimes even Chicago is not as prepared for the snow as people would think.  So, here I am in the airport waiting patiently on my flight along with the other hundreds of people trying to get home.  We were all quite calm and just enjoying the extra time for a meal with our favorite drink of choice.
When my flight was delayed from 10 pm until midnight (changed terminals and gates), I was ok with that.  Tired but ok.  Then when it was changed another time until 2:30 am (another terminal and another gate), I was really beginning to wonder what was going to happen.  I think this was the case for all the passengers embarking home on this flight.  One more thing happened – we were told that the plane was there and the crew was there except for the pilot.  Delta was unsure if the pilot coming out of Ohio would have enough flying hours left to get us all home.  We held our breath with each announcement made regarding the status of our trip home … to our own beds!
Woo Hoo!  The pilot made it and we all made it home at 4:00 am Friday morning!  This was great!  No one overtly complained, as we were all grateful to just get home.  Thank you, Delta!
What was really surprising was the email I received from Delta saying how sorry they were for the delay and to help me with the angst I went through on this massively delayed (my words) flight; I was to receive 2,500 miles toward my account.  WOW!
That became the shocking response!  I was convinced that there was no customer service left in this day and time, especially when it was a weather related event.  I am happy to say, I was wrong.
Delta is now my favorite airline and will be for a while!  Thank you!
In your business, how are you treating your clients or potential clients?  It can make a difference!

About Denise Hansard
Denise Hansard is a Transformational Life Coach and professional speaker. She offers inspiring workshops as well as in-depth coaching programs that help individuals & businesses achieve new heights of success toward accelerated results. This is her commitment and passion. … to help you live like you were meant to! www.DeniseHansard.com

The post Shocked Response! appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> 3 Keys to Opening the Door to Your Deserving … https://denisehansard.com/3-keys-to-opening-the-door-to-your-deserving/ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 07:32:57 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=314 In order to manifest our dreams, we need to align our self-image with the life we would love living. If your sense of deserving isn’t wide and deep enough to hold your dream, you will fall short. How do you know if you deserve your dream?  If you are breathing, you deserve to have your […]

The post 3 Keys to Opening the Door to Your Deserving … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> In order to manifest our dreams, we need to align our self-image with the life we would love living.
If your sense of deserving isn’t wide and deep enough to hold your dream, you will fall short.
How do you know if you deserve your dream?  If you are breathing, you deserve to have your heart’s desire.  Simply by virtue of you being alive you are worthy and deserving of your dream.
You wouldn’t feel the longing if you didn’t have the capacity to manifest your dream.
Here are three keys to increasing your sense of deserving:
1.    Focus on the good
Circumstances are bad only if you perceive them as such.  Instead of panicking when life appears to throw you a curve, wait and invite the good to be revealed.  Then give yourself the same benefit of the doubt.  You are inherently good – just accept that.

2.    Let go of past mistakes
It’s hard to move confidently into the life you have imagined if you are lugging deadweight.  When you persist in carrying the baggage of your childhood, your shame or your belief that you are unlovable, you have no room for greater possibility.  Let go of encumbrances by identifying and releasing your own baggage.
3.    Practice gratitude to increase your sense of deserving
An “attitude of gratitude” enables you to construct your dream on a solid foundation of deserving.  Begin by spending a day giving thanks to those you’ve criticized.  From there, build a pattern of daily gratitude.  When we begin to appreciate those we once condemned or took for granted, the field around the object of our appreciation broadens, attracting to itself even greater good.
When you practice these three principles, you will feel your sense of deserving expand and you’ll begin to see unexpected good things flow into your life.
Your Are Worthy!
P.S. Want support in discovering and building your dreams?
In between my coaching and speaking schedule, I carve out a few strategy sessions each month.  If you would like a complimentary strategy session (Value = $250), simply contact me here coaching2dream@aol.com.
Photo courtesy of the Wellness Place, Palatine, Illinois  www.wellnessplace.org

About Denise Hansard
Denise Hansard is a Transformational Life Coach and professional speaker. She offers inspiring workshops as well as in-depth coaching programs that help individuals & businesses achieve new heights of success toward accelerated results. This is her commitment and passion. … to help you live like you were meant to! www.DeniseHansard.com

The post 3 Keys to Opening the Door to Your Deserving … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> Harvest the Good in Life’s Moments … https://denisehansard.com/harvest-the-good-in-lifes-moments/ Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:35:57 +0000 http://denisehansard.com/?p=311 One morning not too long ago, my older sister decided to respond to some texts I had sent her the night before – glad to know that she had received them. Her response time (5 am EST or 4 am CST – which is the time zone I am in) was classic. This one morning […]

The post Harvest the Good in Life’s Moments … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]> One morning not too long ago, my older sister decided to respond to some texts I had sent her the night before – glad to know that she had received them. Her response time (5 am EST or 4 am CST – which is the time zone I am in) was classic. This one morning I had decided to allow my body to catch up on some much-needed sleep. I had not been sleeping well the past couple of days and this was a day that I had no pressing activities. As you can see, her response came at the time she woke up that morning – 5 am – which, in essence was 4 am for me. I am a light sleeper so when the “Whoosh” sound went off, I immediately woke up, looked at my text and diligently tried to go back to sleep. I remembered too late that I had sent her two text messages the night before so the second “Whoosh” came not too long after the first.
Now I am slowly beginning to wake up – 4:15 am – ugh! Just about the time I was falling back to sleep one hour later, my dear friend in Texas decided that 5:30 am was a good time to talk. Sleep was not to be mine on this day!
I look back on that day and realized something. Life hands you what is needed at the right time and not necessarily when you think you need it. I was missing my family and therefore I text them often. When they don’t respond, I begin to feel the distance between us – me living in the Chicago area and they in the Atlanta area. So her text message, regardless of the time delivered, was welcomed. The was the same with my friend calling me. We had not talked in days. I was missing her as well – therefore talking that early in the morning (when I am usually up and going) was not a big deal. We talked for an hour, laughed and were able to catch up. What a great way to start the day – family and friends showing how much they do care.
So when life hands me something at a most unwanted time, I stop and become grateful harvesting the moments that are precious. These are the times that will help support me when I do need it most. In this gratitude, I realize how different life would be without these moments … moments that could be viewed as an irritation instead of choosing to see them as the blessing they are in my life.

Harvest the Good!

About Denise Hansard
Denise Hansard is a Transformational Life Coach and professional speaker. She offers inspiring workshops as well as in-depth coaching programs that help individuals & businesses achieve new heights of success toward accelerated results. This is her commitment and passion. … to help you live like you were meant to! www.DeniseHansard.com

The post Harvest the Good in Life’s Moments … appeared first on Denise Hansard.

]]>