Decadence

Recently, Len and I spent the day walking all over downtown Boise. We got in our 10,000 steps and then some. 

Most of you know that last December (2018), I “Cut the CRAP.” I eliminated Caffeine, Refined sugar, Alcohol, and Processed food from my diet.

However, during our walkabout, we stopped at “The Chocolate Bar—Fine Handcrafted Chocolate” (the epitome of decadence) and selected two White Chocolate Margarita Drops—one each.

Did I feel guilty? Not in the least. This was a tiny exception, not the rule. 

But guilt does serve a purpose. It’s there to alert us when we aren’t congruent with our values, to nudge us back to our best self. 

It’s okay to have guilt. The issue is when guilt leads to a spiral of shame, self-loathing, and depression.

I’m currently traveling, so I’ve turned off comments for this post. I’ll be back with an interactive post next Tuesday.

[bctt tweet=”When was the last time you felt guilty?” username=”@TuesWithLaurie”]

When was the last time you felt guilty?

© TuesdaysWithLaurie.com

Gardening

During our road trip last week, I made a list of the people, places, things, events, and opportunities in my life that aren’t positive, uplifting, constructive, or healing—that don’t support the best version of me. 

I’m currently in the process of weeding them out of my internal and external landscape—of making room in my personal garden for vibrant new growth. 

How’s your garden coming along?

© lauriebuchanan.com

Extend and Receive

When I lay in bed at night, one of the heart-based exercises I do is to mentally go through the alphabet and list things that my best self enjoys extending and receiving:

Acceptance (celebrate our differences)
Benefit of the doubt
Compassion
Divinity in action
Encouragement
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Hospitality
Inclusion
Joie de vivre (joy of life)
Kindness
Listening between the lines (attentiveness)
Mindfulness (present-moment focus)

Namaste’ (honoring the divine spark in self and others)
Optimism
Peace
Quiet strength
Respect
Simplicity (the gift of ease)
Truth
Understanding
Vision (cultivating and nurturing original ideas to fruition)
Wisdom
Xellence (the daily practice of being my best self—living my best life)
Yoga mindset (valuing connection with the world and its inhabitants)
Zen attitude (daily letting go of what I can’t control)

Do you have a consistent nighttime practice?

© lauriebuchanan.com