Confidence
At times confidence has been seen in a negative light - such as too egotistical and being "full of ourselves". Yet actually, the definition speaks to demonstrating reliability. It's not just about how we feel about ourselves, but also if and how we show up for ourselves.

"Kindness is the way through"
This is the motto of a person working at Little Griddle (on NE Freemont in Portland); they shared it with me when I expressed gratitude for what I witnessed....they were patient and friendly in the face of irritability and generous and kind when a customer shared about their grief. 

Gratitude
I have personally struggled to use gratitude. In my 20s and 30s I read a lot of self-help books and they frequently suggested a gratitude journal. I hated doing it and if I even bothered starting, I stopped early on. I don't recall the external excuses I used, but as I look back on that time in my life naming my personal successes and building a sense of self-efficacy would have been a better start for me. And although Rick Hanson did not call this chapter Gratitude and Self-Appreciation; he does teach us how to build an inner sense of both gladness and success within the chapter. 

The Question
"Everyday she sees her life. Fade away, and pass her by. What can she do?" (Lyrics from: Her Life by Two Feet)

Grit
Grit is defined as "unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger" (Merriam-Webster). Within myself and those around me there seems to be a vast amount of sense of hardship and danger related to the upheaval in the US Government and facing physical health challenges. Both of these situations present challenges on how to maintain a sense of strength and hope.

Learning
I typically consider myself to be capable of learning most anything. My brain gets satisfaction from memorizing things (temporarily) and regurgitating it to pass an exam. This served me well as a child, teen, and adult. But this isn't the learning skill Rick is asking us to grow. He wants to help us understand how to change our brains.

Mindfulness
It is snowing in my neighborhood! As I watched the snow fall  this morning while eating breakfast, I shifted from a frenetic mind to a peaceful mind. And I thought 'ahhh now is the time to write about mindfulness'. Mindfulness was awakened when I became mesmerized by falling snow, as plans were canceled, and while noticing the cheerfulness and quietude that accompanies snow.

Hold Tight
As dark clouds appear
And your mind fills with fear
Hold tight my dear
I'll be with you here

Compassion For Others
I have been working my way up to this post ever since 11/5/24. I am seeking to be able to have compassion for anyone and everyone. Don't get me wrong, I have compassion for a lot of people. I struggle at times and for various reasons. I have one particular person in mind and  I'm not fully