Today's Forecast: Bright and Sunny

Creating Warmth on Bitter Days

Make Your Own Mood Forecast

Today's Forecast: Bright and Sunny

I got a late start this morning and I missed the bit of snow that graced the Philadelphia area this morning. I am not a big fan of snow but it is better than the dreary rain that greeted me as I walked out my front door this morning. Although the weather forecast is calling for 30 degree temperatures and 90% chances of precipitation I am refusing to let it get me down or negatively impact my mood. Today I am making my own mood forecast and it's calling for a bright and sunny demeanor. Today's icy and gloomy weather is just the beginning of the cold days that await us this Winter. In light of this fact we need to figure out how to create warmth on bitter days. I am not talking about methods of staying physically warm- puffy coats, gloves, hats, heaters, hot tea- I am referring to an internal warmth that allows us to shine and feel good even when the weather is less than ideal. We can turn on the news and listen to the weather forecast so we can prepare ourselves and dress properly for the day. But after we turn off the news lets make our own mood forecast. For me today's forecast is bright and sunny. My mood is gradually improving, I feel better today than I did yesterday or the day before, and I anticipate that my bright and sunny mood is only going to escalate over the course of the next few days. I'd like to show you how these mood forecasts can be easily transformed into affirmations.

It may be snowing but I'm full of sunshine !

Today's Forecast: Bright and Sunny-

I will bring brightness and sunshine to everyone that I see today.

Today's Forecast: Warm and Calm

I carry an internal warmth and sense of calm with me as I go about my day.

These forecasts are just a creative way of using the traditional affirmations that we have grown accustomed to. Try it out! If you don't like it or it doesn't work for you go back to using the typical affirmation format. 
As I said before we have a lot of bitter days ahead of us considering it is not even December yet. I can honestly say that I hate the winter. I believe that it's only redeeming quality is the fact that Christmas happens to fall during this season. Christmas is the only day when I welcome and actually enjoy snowfall.

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water."

Winter 2011, Washington D.C.

- Carl Reiner

If it were up to me the weather forecast would always read 75 degrees and sunny but of course this is not how mother nature works. We must accept the unfavorable weather and keep in mind that sunny, warm days will come again. 

"Dear beautiful Spring weather, I miss you. Was it something I said?"

- Kim Corbin

I like this amusing quote because Corbin clearly feels the same way as I do. But we all know it's nothing we have said or done that made Spring go away. Winter is here simply because that is the normal course of nature. We can't sit around wondering we did something to push Spring and Summer time away- we know this is not the case. But we also can't hide out in our rooms feeling depressed or miserable until Spring makes its appearance again. We need to figure out how to carry warmth within us on these bitter days so that we are able to go out and greet the world with a smile! External factors, like the weather, only have the ability to permeate our minds and alter our moods if we allow them to. We need to build up a resistance by creating a strong sense of warmth, brightness, and sunshine that exists within our minds and hearts.

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Angelo's quote speaks exactly to what I am suggesting. We can prepare ourselves for any natural elements but always being equipped with our own sunshine. We can create and carry this sunshine by making our own mood forecasts or by using positive affirmations on a daily basis. As Winter begins to settle in lets try to make it a point to begin each day with an affirmation that will fill us with warmth no matter how cold or disgusting the weather may be. We can't prevent Winter from coming but we can decide how we are going to respond to it. If we stop living and wait out for Spring we are going to miss a whole bunch of wonderful things- family gatherings, dinner with friends, warm fires, hot chocolate, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day! Create warmth each and every day this winter and continue living. It may be cold and dreary but it's not worth missing out on all that life still has to offer!

Stay warm today- inside and out!

xo

"Build up resistance by creating a strong sense of warmth!"

28 Days Til Christmas Eve, 29 Days Til Christmas

A Family Tradition- Baking holiday sugar cookies with my Aunt !

White Christmas, Bing Crosby