Alexia's Views

How Do You Handle Disappointment?

Do you have expectations going through everyday life? I know I do. I expect friends and family to behave consistently. I expect to be in a good mood most of the time, and I expect time and traffic to flow. We all know that real life doesn't operate that way. Things don't go as planned or expected, and disappointment and frustration result when expectations aren't met.

How do you handle feeling disappointed? I've spent plenty of my life wasting my energy feeling frustrated and fighting what I cannot change. With a little time and enlightenment, I've learned that I prefer to release the need to control something I cannot. I like not wasting energy on peaked, heated emotions. That doesn't change the feeling of disappointment, but it does help me to get to a place of acceptance faster.

When it comes to traffic, you have no control over what other drivers are doing. They can make you late and frustrated.

Discover Personal Alignment

As I've been reading and studying about the law of attraction through reading The Secret and related texts, a new door has opened to me about how to approach every day life, circumstances and relationships. In the daily adventure to personal
growth, I've learned that taking time each day to achieve personal alignment is at the center of your ability to have a harmonious existence within the your environment. 

People and gurus have touted the benefits of "inner peace" for centuries, and I'm only just now realizing the truth behind it. Each day should begin with a practice of gratitude for the good in your life. Gratitude then opens the door to awareness of self. From awareness, you have the ability to choose love, happiness and joy. When you can choose love, anything is possible in your life.

This concept can seem far-fetched and esoteric for many, especially for those who are recovering "Type A" personalities like me. I'm a recovering control freak and loving every second of it. It is honestly still very hard, and I have to practice releasing the things that are out of my control daily. I struggle with patience the most. I want what I want, and I want it NOW!

I get frustrated and grow out of alignment when I'm feeling rushed or impatient. This disharmony is evident to me and others around me. I'll confess that I'm not patient, and maybe that's the first step to learning patience. Now I aim to envision myself as a patient person and see it manifest in my life and relationships.

As I continue on this journey of releasing control and choosing love, gratitude, generosity, happiness and joy, I encourage you to discover your personal alignment, too because you can!

Related articles

• What is Your Primary Love Language?
• Joy Is Your Job
• The Power of Gratitude
• Gratitude & the Law of Attraction

10 Things to Give up to Move Forward | Alignment, Inc. - A Fine Line

Please enjoy this amazing post by my friend and fellow truth seeker, Kristin Kaufman, of Alignment, Inc.

10 Things to Give up to Move Forward | Alignment, Inc. - A Fine Line.

Who Should You Vote For?

As this year's Presidential election approaches, I'm fascinated by the buzz around the polls aiming at predicting the winner of the race. There are statistical polls, state based polls, and Halloween mask polls.  You can find a poll that will tell you just about anything you want to hear, and a number that tells you things you don't want to hear. I'm curious if people will decide their vote based on the polls because they want to have voted for the winner. The fact that there are so many polls that vouch their statistics of predicting the winner, that it almost discredits them all.

I cast my votes earlier in the week to avoid crowds. I'm always surprised by the number of candidates and initiatives on the ballot that I've never even heard of before going to vote. When you're undecided on voting or don't have all the information, how should you vote? How should you decide in the first place?

I look at this decision like many others, and then I hear the voice of my mentor, Rhonda Shasteen, telling me to be true to myself. I hear her leadership advice telling me that you need to make decisions that will be in the best interest of the company in the long run over your immediate personal desire. Rhonda told me that you shouldn't just focus on your short-term strategy even if those present fires consume most of your time.

So how does this apply to our President and the state of our country? We have the privilege of being able to contribute to our nation's future. If we were to apply Rhonda's amazing wisdom, you should vote for someone who has a clear long-term vision for our country and a plan to get there. Vote for the greater good of our great nation over one or two immediate pains you may have. Mostly, follow your intuition and trust that gut feeling. 

Since you don't have to tell anyone whom you voted for, you can be true to yourself and be free from the daily peer pressures of life. Vote for your country because you can!

What is Your Primary Love Language?

I'll tell you straight out that I'm a hugger. I love the warm, fuzzy reassuring feeling of a hug. I love pats on the back, pairs dancing, and holding hands. What does that tell you about me? Some people would say I'm a touch-er, and I'll tell you that my primary love language is physical touch.

If physical touch is my primary love language, then what other ones exist? In the book, The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman, he addresses that people receive love in one of five love languages the best. We even have secondary love languages. In fact, all people can receive love in each of the five love languages, but if a person does not receive love in his or her primary love language, then the person does not feel loved.

Additionally, everyone can learn to speak all five of the love languages that can help enhance every relationship in your life. This book was originally written to address married couples, but its simple, applicable teachings can be applied to friendships, co-workers, family, dating singles, parents and children and any other type of interpersonal relationship you can think of.

So what are the five love languages?

1. Physical Touch. I'll start with this one since I already mentioned it. This means a person feels most loved through personal touch of some sort like a hug or holding hands.
    
2. Words of Affirmation. These can be words of compliment or words of encouragement. If you think someone looks nice with a new hairstyle, say so. Thank your parents for the effort they have made for you in your life. If you have a friend going through a hard time, be sure to reach out to let them know you are thinking of them and feel confident things will turn around soon.
    
3. Quality Time. This love language is expressed through simply being together. You can watch movies or go to the zoo. You can have a deep conversation and listen. Togetherness is the key to making this person feel loved.
   
    
   
   
   
4. Acts of Service. This language is expressed through doing the small things, fixing a broken item around the house, taking out the trash, cooking, fixing things or anything else that will help make a person's life easier.
    
5. Gifts. The person who receives love through gifts isn't really looking for high priced items. A hand made card or a candy bar will make a gift receiver feel special. This person attaches memories and people to gifts which are far more valuable to the person than the gift itself.

I encourage you to read this book. There are many editions for whatever stage in life you find yourself. I found it enlightening in many ways and easy to apply. So what is your primary love language? Take this quiz and discover. You can!