1. Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the ways we can improve every aspect of our life. Counting blessings, being grateful for what we have allows us to increase our sense of personal power and decrease cortisol which is our stress hormone. When we are grateful we build a resistance to our every day stress. We are better able to deal with our every day challenges when we can see the positive aspects in our lives.
There have been countless studies on how a grateful heart can really transform our lives. It helps our psychological, physical, social, and our mental wellbeing. Here's a study that specifically dives into more benefits of being grateful in your life. After reading the article, start a gratitude journal where you can write something you're grateful for so you can begin to have a more positive, fulfilling life.
2. Patience
Being patient is sometimes the hardest thing for us as people to do. Whether it be being patient with the people around us or ourselves we tend to get frustrated or stressed when things don't go exactly how we want them to go. The first thing we can do to become more patient is to recognize the things we can and can't control. Most of the time, we get into this rut of thinking everything has to be perfect, and we get discouraged when it's not. We have to understand that not everything can go perfect, and if it did, it would prevent us from the greatest learning opportunities.
In the dictionary, patience is described as "the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset." Patience is one of the greatest tools to managing our emotions because it focuses on our reactions to situations, such as the ones we can't control. It definitely isn't something gained over night, but through self discipline and practice we are able to react postively and live a happier life.
3. Loving
It's sometimes weird to think about it, but how much do you love yourself? So often we are kinder to people around us than we are to our own selves. We can be our own worst critics, and this can be a serious mental block for improving our mind and mood. In order to become more loving we have to start at the source, ourselves. If we can increase our self-acceptance and self-worth, than we will be more loving and accepting of others as well. We will be with ourselves for the rest of our lives so it's important to start loving ourselves...today. Read this blog post called "Being Happy Being Yourself" to see specific steps you can take to improve your self-acceptance so you can become a more loving person.
One of my favorite natural ways to become more self-aware is by using essential oils to promote it. Here's just one way to help you on your journey to loving yourself more!
Self Awareness involves knowing our internal emotional state, our beliefs, feelings, personal resources, and state of well-being.
As we've said, awareness is empowering and can help strengthen our sense of self. As you seek to increase self awareness, try observing the ripple effect of your emotions. Recognize that when you act out because of unhealthy emotions, the effects can be harmful and leave you feeling less than or unworthy.
To Escalate Our Awareness
Single oils: bergamot, jasmine, rose, myrrh, frankincense, ginger, ylang ylang, melaleuca, cinnamon, lavender, wild orange, and lemon.
Blend Protocol: Blend 2 drops each bergamot, fennel, frankincense, geranium, and ylang ylang in a glass vial.
Application: Apply to the core of the body, the bottoms of the feet, or diffuse as desired.
Affirmation/Positive Thought: I love and accept myself.
These basic attributes may be things we already know about, but do we practice them? Do we consciously think about how we can be more grateful, patient, or loving? When you start practicing these simple attributes you will be able to see the changes in your life you wish to see.