Happy Spring - Values: Newness/Optimism/Positive Thoughts

Happy Easter/Spring - Values: Newness - Optimism - Positive Thoughts

Today is Easter Sunday. For many, this day has special meaning. Celebrations, prayers and honoring the newness of re-birth. Some people celebrate with family traditions such as egg hunts, special treats, favorite foods, coloring eggs or just taking time to enjoy the beauty that is literally springing forth out of the ground. 

Spring has arrived! What can we learn from this time of the year? We can learn that we can plant new seeds and grow new things. If you are planning a summer garden, this is the time of year we plant seeds for all the different types of vegetables and flowers that we want to have in our Garden. We can also observe Nature’s re-growth, or evolutionary growth of what is already present in nature. We see flowers growing from bulbs that were planted years before, we can see the trees budding and blossoming, preparing for new leaves, fruits and seeds. We can observe birds and animals building nests and preparing for new babies.

The newness of life is all around us in abundant supply. 

“Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature.” Steve Maraboli

                                 

Just like Nature in the Spring, we can plant new thought seeds inside our minds and hearts, and we can also nurture the seeds we have already planted in our lives and watch them grow and evolve. What new thought seeds do you want to plant and watch grow this Spring? This could be learning a new skill, or practicing being more positive. What is something that you already do or know that you would like to nurture and learn more about, or something you would like to become more skilled? Maybe you like to draw, play an instrument or play a sport, what new goals or experiences can you set for yourself?

Our thought seeds need positive feelings to support their growth, and just like a gardener pulls weeds that may be harmful to the growth of the seeds, we also need to be mindful of our negative thoughts and make a practice of removing these thoughts from our minds. 

"Be patient: every seed we plant requires a period of incubation before it manifests. Hold true to your dream, desire it fully with all your heart, and it will, without fail come to you." Maya Mendoza

In the same way that seeds are of a specific kind, ie; apple seeds produce trees that grow apples, pumpkin seeds produce vines and pumpkins, our thought seeds are specific too and it is through our positive thoughts and our positive vision about what our seeds will be like in the future that will help our seeds grow into good things for our life and our world. Having a positive outlook and always expecting the best for your thought seeds create the nutritious soil for your ideas to grow. We call this being optimistic. Optimism is knowing that the outcome will always be the best outcome.

This next week, make time to witness the newness of life around you. The colorful flowers that are blooming. Imagine and build upon the new things in your life that are budding that you wish to nurture and grow. Celebrate what you have and who is in your life. Let joy fill you up and spread it out to the world. Keep your chin up buttercup! 

"We are reminded that, in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame, but rather how well we have loved and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better." Barack Obama

Affirmations:

"Today is a great day to experience all the good that is around me!"

"I blossom into greater Goodness."

"I am open to new opportunities and positive outcomes."

Go with YoYo Affirmations and Positive thinking for kids High energy video to get kids active in the morning and filling themselves up with positive power words! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4dKlldufo

Meditations/Mindfulness:

Meditation for Kids/Spring time 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N6si8ERsZ0

Cosmic Kids Yoga - 5 Mindfulness activities you can do at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsy2L9VvX90

Music:

Think Positive by Luke Britnell 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa29H4sGp5w

Believe! by Fearless Soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OsYCUSIDEE

Try Everything by Shakira (Gazelle) from Zootopia - cute video!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjaPYWMjBVc

Books:

The Magical Yet - Angela Di Terilizzi - art by Lorena Alverez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg-p0uTtULM

Abracadabra it's Spring - by Anne Sibley O'Brei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48WuUWJkKIU

The Extraordinary Gardener - by Sam Boughton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MLhaSCjFLE

Creativity:

Plant your Blessings:

1. Write affirmations, positive words and goals on the outside of a plain paper cup or container and decorate it however you like.

2. Add soil, make holes with your fingers, plant small seeds.

3. While you sow your seeds, bless each one.

4. Think about what the seeds mean to you.

Tend your seeds and watch them grow!

(For an outdoor garden you can use popsicle sticks, paper and tape to make little flags with you affirmations on them.)

Jar of Positivity

1. Find a clear jar - It could be an old jam jar or a fresh mason jar.

2. Create a label for the outside and decorate it any way you wish.

3. You can google positive statements - or make your own using colorful paper.

4. Fill the jar with your positive messages.

5. Each day reach into the jar and pull out a message to set the tone of your day!

Check out - Doodle Art Alley on line - and print out the FREE Spring coloring pages. Fill them with all the colors of Spring.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

(photo credit to Sebastian Staines and Anna Earl on Unsplash.com - content credit to Shiya Stone - Adrianne Cherry - Janelle Shiers and me, Susan Robinson)