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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Gratitude: How It Opens Hearts & Fills Them with Joy

Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude. ~ Joseph Wood Krutch

When I first came across this quote, I had to stop and think about it. Why would happiness be a kind of gratitude? According to Webster's Dictionary, to be grateful or thankful is to be conscious of a benefit being received and to be well pleased.

So does that mean when we are happy, we are receiving something that is to our benefit, something good? I think the key word here is "receive." When we receive something, we welcome it into our life.  We take hold of it and experience it.  Life is good. Simple blessings are all around us. Once we receive them with thanksgiving and appreciation, we experience true joy. That is why true happiness cannot exist without gratitude. Gratitude opens our hearts to receive the good things in life with joy.
When we do not receive a new day as a gift and blessing, but rather dread it and complain, we are not receiving the benefit and joy it can bring us. When we do not receive love and kindness offered to us, or help and opportunity made available to us, we do not benefit from them, and we do not experience the joy and gratitude they can bring us.

So, is being happy, in a way, also being grateful? I would agree that it is. However, I don’t think we necessarily have to be conscious of all our blessings and benefits in order to be grateful and happy. Ever wake up singing for no particular reason? Life is good and there are so many reasons to have a thankful heart. Simple pleasures and blessings fill our days and the opportunity to enjoy them is always there.

Where there is gratitude, there is true happiness.  Gratitude opens our hearts to receive the good things in life with joy. ~Krystal

Copyright © 2010 BeHappy4Life.com
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 also has several blogs: Be Your Best blog, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!



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Give Thanks for Work Opportunities

I am thankful.... that there is always work to do

Work keeps our minds occupied. It forces us to set and meet goals that lead to a sense of accomplishment. It encourages us to put our skills and talents to use. Work helps us to develop confidence in what we can do and how we can contribute. It connects us to other people. It is an essential part of our lives and a human need.

So how about those who have lost their jobs and cannot find work? Or, how about those with a disability or illness that leaves them unable to join the workforce? Are they resigned to feel idle, useless, or bored? Absolutely not! So long as we are alive, there is work for us to do. Getting paid for a job is not the only thing that constitutes real work. Work is any assignment, duty, or undertaking. It is anything that keeps us busy using our energy in positive ways. It includes simple things like giving someone a ride to the store, mowing the lawn, researching an idea, praying for a need, helping a neighbor, tucking children into bed, cleaning the house, preparing dinner, calling a lonely friend. All of these activities require some effort and skill. They all contribute to making life better or easier for someone. And they all require a willingness to give and to do what we are able.

Every morning presents us with new work opportunities for the day. There may be things we will enjoy and look forward to and others that we will dislike and even dread. But there is always something for us to do. If we are already busy and occupied with plenty to do, it would be wise for us to prioritize our time and make the best use of it. However, if we have more time on our hands than we know what to do with, we ought to invest our time in some short and long term goals that are important to us.

Time spent can never be retrieved. Once it is gone, it is gone forever. All that is left are memories and the consequences of the choices we have made. Let us not waste time. Wasting time is like letting life pass us by. It is letting dreams die and relationships fade. It is missing our potential and settling for less than we were meant to be. May we choose to appreciate our days and use our time with wisdom and purpose today and always.


Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.

~Psalm 90:12

Thank God every morning when you get up that you have something which must be done, whether you like it or not. Work breeds a hundred virtues that idleness never knows. ~Charles Kingsley

Employed for Life & Never Out of Work
Copyright © 2009 BeHappy4Life.com,
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 marriage 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 also has several blogs: Be Your Best blog, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!


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Gratitude: More than Words

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John F. Kennedy

How trustworthy are our words if there is no action behind them? We can tell our kids not to smoke, but if they see us smoking, can we realistically expect them to listen? We can say we care about our health, but do our eating habits support that claim? The old adage rings true: Actions speak louder than words.

It is not just the words we say that reveal the condition of our hearts. People watch what we do more than what we say. Our actions are the best indicators of who we really are. Actions can speak so loud that we may not even need words at all at times. If you see a man treating his wife with love and respect, speaking well of her, supporting and acknowledging her, you don't need him or anyone to tell you that he loves her. If you know someone who gives of their time and resources to help people in need, you do not need to be told that he or she cares or that he or she is a giving person. Observing the actions of others lead us to come to our own conclusions.

When our hearts are truly thankful, it will come out of our mouths and be evident in our words. With a thankful heart we will not find fault, but rather, we will find something to praise. We will not complain, but instead, we will rejoice. With a thankful heart, we will not focus on what is lacking, we will be filled with all that is good. We will not be resentful because we feel cheated; we will cherish and acknowledge the many ways in which we are blessed. The way we live, our attitude, and our perspective is communicating something to someone at all times.

We can be assured that our gratitude and appreciation is being heard when our life becomes a song of praise--realizing our many blessings are undeserved, our life is a gift, the love we share with others is priceless, and the beauty and wonder we see and experience in creation is a privilege.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.  ~William James

What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things.

~Margaret Mead

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved. Written by Krystal Kuehn, co-founder of BeHappy4Life.com and 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 also has several blogs: Be Your Best blog, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!

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Give Thanks for Changing Seasons & Routines

I am thankful.... for changing seasons & routines

Longer days, kids out of school, and ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors makes summer not only fun, but a departure from our regular routines. Many of us like to stay up late and sleep in if we can. It is not easy coming in for the day and getting ready for bed when the sun is still shining, and you hear kids playing outside and people mowing their lawns.

Our routines often change in the summer. For many, it is a time of less structure and more flexibility. This summer I made a new routine to bike ride in the early morning or later in the evening. I also changed the time I go to bed to very late at night. My family has no set meal times, and I don't cook as consistently as I usually would during other seasons.

I have enjoyed this new, flexible schedule all summer long. I know that it will soon have to change and become much more structured as the new season begins. It will take some time to adjust, but it is something that I am looking forward to as well.

Routines help us to organize and manage our time. School begins and ends at the same predictable time every day. This helps students plan their days and schedule time for homework, extracurricular activities, and socializing. Adults with busy jobs have to organize their time around their work and family responsibilities. A consistent routine can help them to prioritize and make better plans to use their time wisely and most efficiently.

Having routine in our lives is healthy. It keeps us on task. It helps us to anticipate and look forward to things to come. It gives us some sense of predictabilty and control.  Routines are shaped by our priorities, responsibilities, work, school, the seasons...  We can always change them as necessary. We can also add new routines to our lives as we develop new goals and habits or encounter new or unexpected situations. I am thankful that we can have a good and healthy balance of structure and flexibility. I am thankful that changing seasons and routines can help us to organize our time and priorities. I am thankful that they can give us a sense of stability, predictability and security. And I am thankful that the changing seasons and routines help us to prepare for and anticipate good things to come!

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~George Santayana

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. ~Anton Chekhov

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. ~Confucius

 
Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved. Written by Krystal Kuehn. 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 also has several blogs: Be Your Best blog, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!


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