An Excerpt from The Wisdom of Sundays

Those familiar with Oprah's Super Soul Sundays on her OWN Network will appreciate The Wisdom of Sundays: Life-Changing Insights from Super Soul Conversations. The conversation between Oprah and Michael Singer above is just one of the many gems found in the book. 

Within the pages you will find wisdom from visionaries like Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, and Shonda Rhimes share their lessons in finding purpose through mindfulness and intention. World renowned authors and teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer, explain our complex relationship with the ego and the healing powers of love and connection; and award-winning and bestselling writers like Cheryl Strayed, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Elizabeth Lesser explore the beauty of forgiveness and spirituality.

Looking for the Good, Acts of Kindness are all Around Us.

As Martin Luther King said, 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

This is one of our favorite quotes of the many that we share. In times like these especially, we need to be reminded that there is so much good in the world and around us. These small acts of kindness add up and compound to create so much light. 

The Ellen DeGeneres Show has partnered with Cheerios to spread Ellen’s message of being kind to one another. Ellen and Cheerios are encouraging people around the world to participate in one million acts of good.

To share their acts of good, viewers can submit photos and write-in stories at this link or use #GoodGoesRound on social media.

Below are a few examples of the acts of kindness shared. Remember, these acts are going on every day, all around us. Be a part of the good, and take part of acts of kindness at home, in your workplace and when you are out and about. 

Why We Should be Listening to the Empathetic Individuals & More!

Whether you are raising a sensitive child or you are a sensitive individual yourself or you have one in your family or partnership, we highly recommend this video.

With everything going on in the world, it can become emotionally and physically painful for empathetic people to process it all. Glennon Dole, author of Love Warrior, offers some powerful tips and insight. 

Empathy is Critical We Need to Start Listening to Each Other.

Labels and words are extremely powerful and we often do not look past them, but it is essential in order to truly listen and hear each other. 

A recent study showed just by labeling an issue "Democratic" or "Republican" even when the actual issue details are completely unknown by the opposing party, 80% of that opposing party rejected it right off the bat. That is how powerful labels and one simple word can be. How often in your own life to you immediately place judgement on something or someone instantly due to a label? 

Times like these where so many tragedies are occurring simultaneously, it is more important than ever that we truly listen to each other before making an informed decision. Humans are more alike than different, and what can truly save the world in times of trauma and create healing, is being connected. We have seen this time and time again when a tragedy has happened. Individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds joining forces to save each other from the flood waters of hurricanes, or pulling one another to safety during the devastating shooting in Las Vegas.

This week, we encourage you to see past society's labels and see all of the goodness within each other. Remove the simple labels you place upon your family, your friends, your coworkers and even strangers. Truly listen to them and hear them and where they are coming from. 

You do not Pay for items with Your Money You Pay for Items with Your Time

In a world where materialism can easily get the best of us. It is crucial to remember where our money comes from. It is hard earned, from your personal time.

Remember that the next time an impulse buy becomes tempting, or calculate just how long it would take to earn that shiny new car. Is the object truly worth all the hours you will put into earning it? Are there other experiences that are more worth your time that you would prefer to invest in?

If you are interested in keeping track of your finances a little better, here are some tips:

1. Schedule a family meeting each week to meet with your partner and/or family on upcoming expenditures for the week. This can be difficult to get in the habit in at first, but the impact can be incredible. Save notes on your computer or phone for each week to track your progress.

2. Utilize tools. There are many great money tracking apps out there. One of our favorites is Mint. It keeps track of all your income and expenditures in one place.

3. Educate your children. Check out http://famzoo.com, a hands-on educational system. The virtual family bank is a private family “banking” system designed to teach kids to earn, save, spend, and donate money wisely in a safe, friendly environment. Parents are the “bankers”. Kids are the “customers”.

It is the Small Gestures that make a BIG Difference

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, you may be wondering, what can I do? You may have a lot of financial resources or not much at all. Elizabeth Gilbert posted this, and I found it so true - "Don't worry so much about having the biggest impact that you forget to have an impact at all. And this doesn't just go for times of disaster, either. Arguing about efficacy is a great way to forever stall generosity. Just make a move in the direction of mercy — that's always a good start."

This philosophy is not only important to remember in the wake of a disaster, but every single day. A complete stranger could be having a terrible day, and you could simply hold the door open for them, or let their vehicle in front of yours. A small gesture such as this could completely change the course of their day, which in turn, could change their life. I personally like to surprise people with small treats, such as in the photo above. It is amazing how such a small gesture of kindness can bring a HUGE smile to someone's face.

Do whatever you can to make a difference, there is no gift too small to the world. 

The Power of Kindness Presented by Orly Wahba

Orly empowers the world with kindness and explains that without YOU the world is not complete.

She was a teacher for seven years and has taught thousands internationally the importance of each individual and their power to change the world. Orly has developed Life Vest Inside an organization dedicated in sweeping kindness all over the world. 

Are you an educator, parent or individual looking to inspire your children or students to spread kindness? Kindness Boomerang the book inspired by the touching short film above, empowers you to bring positivity into your everyday life and the lives of those around you. We highly recommend it! If you would like to see Orly live in person, she will be presenting at the Zen Parenting Conference next March! Information can be found here. 

Looking for a local speaker to teach the importance of kindness to your students or associates? Jeff Taylor is available for speaking engagements and creates custom content to help meet your goals! Contact us for a complimentary consultation! 

Have You Subscribed to the THRIVE YouTube Channel?

THRIVE has a channel on YouTube! Stay up to date with the latest tips and travels of Jeff Taylor! You can subscribe here. We look forward to creating more content for you!

Have a question about THRIVE or want to get started changing your life? Contact us for details!

What is your "Why?"

This week, we encourage you to find your "Why," Meaning, what is your intention behind all of your actions?

From our simple daily tasks to the extraordinary things we do for others, why do you feel compelled to do the things that you do?

Many times, we walk through the world on autopilot. We do not think of our intentions behind our actions. From the foods we consume to the way we speak to those closest to us, each decision is an important one. It is crucial to work on being mindful and present so we can be more conscious of our "Why" throughout the day. 

It is especially important to be intentional about our acts of giving. In our times, acts of kindness can be used almost as a marketing technique for ourselves. From individuals to large organizations, outreach is seen as a component of business and lifestyle. As the image above portrays, acts of kindness should be done from your heart, not with the expectation of anything in return. Your "Why" is just as powerful, if not more powerful, than your actions themselves. 

You Won't Remember the "Stuff." You'll Remember the Experiences.

It is a dream of the THRIVE team to go on the Oprah Cruise and we have it on our bucket list. What is on your bucket list? Do you have one? If you don't it is time to start one! There is even an app for that, BucketListly, is one of many!

While you may be tempted to put down a new house, high end car and many objects you would love to own on your bucket list, we encourage you to take it a step further.

What experiences would you like to enjoy during your lifetime? Is it hiking the Grand Canyon? A grand trip backpacking across Europe? Or camping cross country with your family? If you live in a hot climate, is it as simple as seeing a snowfall? Experiences don't have to be grand and they are never out of reach. They don't have to all be travel related, just write down what experiences would be incredibly meaningful to you. Seeing your child's first steps can be more rewarding than any object you could ever possess. 

Your memories are what you will hold onto long into your later years, we encourage you to make them incredible! What is on your partner or parents or loved ones bucket list? How can you make the experiences they desire a reality?