Give Thanks for the Artist Within Each of Us

I am thankful...for the artist within each of us

Now that fall has arrived, I have been winding down a little and making time to watch some movies.  A friend once recommended Walk the Line, based on the true life story of Johnny Cash, so that is what I decided to watch and I am so glad I did.  I thought it was an excellent movie--very sad and touching, yet inspiring and moving.  The pain and rejection that Johnny experienced early in his life almost destroyed him.  In his music, the artist within was able to express himself, release some of his pain, anger, hope and faith.  Ultimately, it was love that saved him and changed his life forever. 

Don't we all have an artist within us?  I love these beautiful words I recently came across:  He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head and his heart is an artist. It reminded me of the part in the movie when the record producer told Johnny that he heard the remake of the gospel tune Johnny was playing for him tons of times.  Instead, he wanted Johnny to play something original.  He wanted to hear the artist within--something that expressed Johnny's very heart and soul.  The artist within emerged.  It was a hit.  It was authentic, moving, beautiful!

Within each of us is an artist.  Whatever we put our heart into is an expression of who we really are.  I remember observing the contractor who was laying tile down in our kitchen.  He did an amazing custom job, very precise, professional and creative.  I thought about what an outstanding craftsman he was.  Then one day he shared how much he loved his work and put his whole heart into it.  I then thought about how he came in every day whistling and singing as he worked.  He truly loved what he was doing.  His work was his art.  It was the true expression of the artist within him.

We don't have to be a Michelangelo or Mozart to be an artist.  All we have to be is our true selves and let it show in what we do.  We can put our hands, head and heart to work and let the artist within us emerge.  Remember, when it comes to true art, there is no right or wrong, good or bad, it's about being real, creative, imaginative and expressive.  I give thanks for the artist within each of us and I encourage you to let that artist out.  There is so much within you to express, share and give.  People love the real you, so let the artist within you emerge freely!
  
Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

You don’t get harmony when everyone sings the same note. ~Doug Floyd
A man that has a taste of music, painting, or architecture is like one that has another sense. ~Joseph Addison


Copyright © 2010 Krystal Kuehn. All Rights Reserved.

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Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a family couples counseling, children counseling and teen counseling center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & words of inspiration to change your life, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes, cute sayings & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy! Check out Krystal's other blogs: Be Your Best, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!




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Give Thanks for a New Day

I am thankful... for a New Day
Take a moment and think about how you began your new day. When you woke up this morning, what was the first thing that you began to think about? How did you feel about today?

From the start of our day, we unconsciously decide what kind of day we are going to have by how we think and feel about it. The attitude toward which we approach our coming hours, ours plans, goals and responsibilities determines what kind of day we are going to have.

If we are thankful to be alive, we will appreciate today. If we look forward to the day with anticipation, we will be excited about today. If we expect our day to be filled with problems, we will approach today with dread.

Today we woke up to new mercies, new challenges and problems, new hopes, new joys, and new reasons to be thankful. What we choose to focus on is up to us. There is a old proverb that says, As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you think you are blessed, you are. If you think you are defeated, you are. If you see obstacles as mountains that cannot be moved, you will not try to remove them. If you see obstacles as stumbling stones that can be overcome, you will overcome them. Think like a winner and you will be a winner!

Choosing gratitude, happiness, optimism, and hope is a daily decision. The choices we make determine what kind of day we are going to have as well as our destiny. It is a life principle--what we believe and act upon brings results in our lives. Those who develop their faith and belief in themselves and God have the power to live each day fully, successfully, and with true joy. How do we develop a strong and positive faith? Like all good things in life, it takes practice. Practice focusing on the solution instead of the problem and you will conquer it. Practice starting each day with thanks and good things will come your way. Practice looking for the best in everyone and you will find it. Practice seeing yourself as a winner and you will walk in confidence and accomplish great things. The power of faith is available to all of us. But, some of us put our faith in fear, defeat, or failure. Faith works either way--for good or for bad. Let your faith work wonders in your life. Start each new day believing for a good day and you will have it!

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. ~Marcus Aurelius


Today let's concentrate on being happy. Live life like a child! If you capture the spirit of a child, life becomes much easier. Never let life pressures bring you down! This is the day the Lord has made--we will rejoice and be glad in it! ~Rev Run

 
Inspirational Way to Start Each New Day
Copyright © 2008, 2010 Krystal Kuehn, New Day Counseling Center. All Rights Reserved.



Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a family marriage counseling and children counseling center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & words of inspiration to change your life, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes, cute sayings & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy! Check out Krystal's other blogs: Words of Inspiration, Baby Poems & Be Your Best blog.


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Gratitude - The Antidote for Toxic Emotions

You cannot be grateful and bitter.
You cannot be grateful and unhappy.
You cannot be grateful and without hope.
You cannot be grateful and unloving.
So just be grateful.
        ~author unknown

Are you experiencing some toxic emotions like anger, bitterness, irritability, hopelessness or depression? When negative emotions occupy much of our attention and drain our energy, they have become toxic. Something that is toxic is like poison; it causes harm and serious debilitation. Isn't that what anger and bitterness do? Like poison, they impair and destroy our ability to function at our best. They keep us chained to unforgiveness and self-destruction. How about hopelessness? Its toxicity saps our strength and makes us weak. Irritability is another toxin that steals our peace and harms our relationships.

When we experience toxic levels of negative emotions, we need to detox. That is, we need to counteract and remove their destructive effects. We may need to release some anger, process some hurt, change our perspective, recall our past victories, take some time away, or talk to someone who can help us. These are healthy coping methods that can all be very helpful in dealing with toxic emotions. However, what is especially helpful and probably the best antidote for toxic emotions is practicing gratitude. One of the best ways to do this is to get our minds off the problem and change our focus. Instead of thinking about how angry we are about what went wrong, we can give thanks for what went right or for what additional sorrows we escaped. Instead of focusing on the hopelessness of a situation and what we cannot change, we can give thanks for what we can change and the control we have over our thoughts and actions. We can be thankful that we have options and can choose to respond in a healthy manner.

Gratitude and toxic emotions cannot coexist. The next time you experience toxic emotions, counteract them with gratitude before they poison your mind, body and relationships. Toxic emotions may not always be completely eradicated from our lives, but their destructive effects can be!


In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. ~Brother David Steindl-Rast


Copyright © 2010 BeHappy4Life.com All Rights Reserved.

written by Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC
New Day Counseling Center


Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a family couples counseling and child teen counseling center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & words of inspiration to change your life, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes, cute sayings & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy! Krystal is also author of several other blogs: Be Your Best, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!



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