A cross-country train trip in September 2014 provided me an opportunity to catch up on my reading. As usual, when I found something particularly interesting, I jotted it down in a notebook.
Author/Speaker/Mentor Michael Hyatt had written a post around 2012 (I told you I was behind in my reading) about tools to fight back when you’re feeling discouraged. Those tools are reflection, rest, recreation, and relationships. The post was called The Four Disciplines of the Heart. That idea resonated with me and it went into my notebook.
Just minutes after jotting down those notes, our train stopped in Denver for a two hour layover. My husband and I walked around a bit and in a gift shop I found four beautiful small glass hearts. Well, how could I not buy them?
As you can see in the top photo, they nest together nicely in an antique glass coaster and sit quietly on my writing desk. Frankly, I can’t believe I’ve waited until now to write about them.
Wouldn’t it be great for each of us to come up with our own Four (fill in the blank) of the Heart to fit our unique situations? Below is an A-Z list of choices. Think about where you are right now in life and choose one of these or come up with your own. Then develop four “tools” or “aspects” to help you cope or share or move forward on or rejoice in!
Acceptances Blessings Celebrations Dreams Empathies Faces Generosities Hopes Imaginations Joys Kindnesses Learnings Moments Nurtures Outreaches Passions Quiet moments Reflections Songs Teachings Unburdenings Victories Welcomings Xeniums Yesses Zests (Note: Xenium, from the Greek, is a gift to a stranger. Now isn’t that a wonderful thought?!)
For example, if you’re thinking you’d like to step out of your comfort zone, maybe you’ll choose The Four Reaches of the Heart. You might come up with:
- Conviction that you can do it!
- Courage to take the first step.
- Calculate how you have succeeded in the past.
- Contact a positive person to cheer you on.
Or you could make an acronym such as STAR.
- Succeeded in past, so I will again!
- Talk to positive people about my goal.
- Aim high – create goals.
- Rally my courage.
Keeping your four items alliterative isn’t a requirement. And neither is making an acronym. The important point is to write! Writing is a wonderful outlet, and I encourage you to keep a notebook.
You know, I’ve had several people say things like this: “I’d like to comment on your posts, but I’m not a good writer.” Or, “I don’t want other people to see how I write.” Guess what…my audience and I would love to hear from you. This is a positive space and no one will make any judgments against you. Hey, I saw in a post from last week that I left out a preposition. I’m pretty sure that no one unfriended me on Facebook because of that error.
So please—write your own Four Somethings of the Heart. And then…
To my readers: Share with us what you’ve chosen!
I am certainly guilty of not posting… so here is my first leap out of my comfort zone.
My “C” list (named for my dog Casey)…
Take chances
Make changes
Collaborate with positive people
Celebrate results.
Yay….a first time poster! Love the C list. Heartfelt and positive thoughts that the celebration of results is just around the corner!
This is wonderful and on time. Funny I read the first two words as “Accepting Blessings.” Guess that was how I was to see them. You see my last job let me go last June, My job was everything to me. I ignored family and life for work. So it left me in a cloud of darkness resulting from being attached for 26 yrs and then cast away. But God is a wonderful Father – he let me sulk and sink in my sadness and anger but pulled me out before letting me drown. A recruiter contacted me about a job 7 hrs away. didn’t want to move but the recruiter would not let go. For months he called. Finally I agreed to go for interview and I was offered and took the job . It was hard leaving family and friends so far away. And it will be first time in my life I’ve ever lived alone (although I’m mid 60’s) But I was able to get a beautiful home which I really like. I get to talk to my daughter everyday and most of my grandkids at least once a week. So again. Accepting Blessings. I’m still healing but everything feels good and peaceful. I am so thankful to God for plucking me to make this move.
What an inspiring story. I’m so glad you shared it since it will likely inspire others who may be down right now. And I love the concept of “accepting blessings.” There’s sure to be a story in that some time. And it was courageous of you to take that step to be on your own for the very first time in your mid 60s. Bravo, my friend. Love and peace to you in your new home.