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One Minute Wake-Ups

By Susie Cortright

We all get frazzled. We all get overwhelmed and snappy. The key is to re-center before we share that feeling with the rest of the world.

Here are a few one-minute "wake-ups" that help me to re-focus on what's important. I'd love for you to add your own.

Sing a classic children's song, changing the words into an empowering message. (This comes from The Joyful Child by Peggy Jenkins, a resource packed with great ideas.) Try "I Am Joyful" to the tune of "Are You Sleeping" or "What I Focus on Expands" to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Teach your kids the new words.

If there's someone with whom you are angry, forgive him/her. You don't have to contact the person if you don't want to. Just forgive them in your heart.

What are you thankful for? List as many Gratitudes as you can in one minute. Don't think; just write.

Recite one-liners: uplifting quotes or favorite Bible verses.

Close your eyes and listen to your life in all its noisy glory.

Change your mental scenery. Close your eyes and imagine that you are somewhere else. Somewhere with sand.

Drink a towering glass of cold water. Visualize it as an energy elixir (because it is.)

Light a candle and enjoy a mini-meditation staring into its flame.

Pray.

Smile for an entire minute (This falls into the category of "fake it till you make it.")

Really look at your family. Leo Buscaglia once took a poll of college students. "What color are your mother's eyes?" he wanted to know. Only 20 percent of them could answer the question. Take an entire minute to look-really look-at your spouse or one of your kids. Strive to be fully present with them, one minute at a time.

Read an uplifting children's book to your kids.

Read a devotional or meditation.

Be silent.

Turn on some classical music. Close your eyes to listen.

Jot a few things in your "Bliss Book," a personal journal that contains only positive thoughts, positive memories, positive ideas.

Ask yourself: How can I find more patience, calm and strength right now?

Write your own "wake-ups..."

© Susie Michelle Cortright, 2001-

Susie Cortright is the founder of momscape.com and Momscape's Scrapbooking Playground -
http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking. Join her scrapbooking club here:
http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/scrapbook-club or learn more about starting your own scrapbooking business on Susie's team.

Read more articles by Susie Michelle Cortright.

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