Tag: Self-Help

My Abundant Life 4-18-26

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April 18th, 2026

The Face in the Looking Glass

“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.”

Yves Saint Laurent (French Fashion Designer; August 1st, 1936 to June 1st, 2008)

“I began to become aware of the fact that looking your best, working with what you have, and bringing out your natural beauty with makeup was not as superficial a goal as I had originally thought. Makeup was simply a tool to help me look my best. When I looked my best, I felt better. When I felt better, I had more energy and accomplished more and was more outgoing. When I accomplished more and reached out more to others, they responded positively and my self-esteem grew.”

“I began to see that the ten minutes I took in the morning to put my best face forward for myself and not the world was a small but important way of nurturing my authenticity.”

“I grew up with no one showing me how to use make-up beyond advertisements in magazines. It wasn’t until adulthood when I began to find my niche. I wanted a classy, sexy, subtle enhancement of my features. I already liked who looked back at me in the mirror and just wanted to extenuate my assets. One thing I thin would be fun to have in the bathroom was one of the mirrors that reverses your image to how others actually see you. That additional and new perspective might change how you choose your enhancements.“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 123 to 124 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-17-26

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April 17th, 2026

Making Peace with Your Hair

“Genius is of small use to a woman who does not know how to do her hair.”

Edith Wharton (American Writer and Designer; January 24th, 1862 to August 11th, 1937)

“Hair is a living, powerful, mercurial, metaphysical energy force to be respected, reckoned with, and reconciled to, but it cannot be controlled any more than atomic fusion.”

“Hair humbles us, and we need to make peace with it.”

“Growing up, I was obliged to have a short cut as I was told it was easier to keep up, etc. I hated my short hair. I understand better now as I embrace my cultural roots. Hair is sacred and a reflection of the sweet grass on Mother earth. My hair is a gift and I enjoy playing with it, untangling it and wrestling with it in the wind. I feel blessed to have fine dark hair which is an expression of my authentic self. With wedding #3 approaching, I believe wedding braids might be in order soon.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 120 to 123 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-16-26

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April 16th, 2026

Walking as Meditation

“I will tell you what I learned myself. For me a long, five- or six-mile walks helps. And one must got alone and every day.”

Brenda Ueland (American Journalist and Editor; October 24th, 1891 to March 5th, 1985)

“It requires a direct dispensation from Heaven to become a walker.”

Henry David Thoreau (American Naturalist and essayist; July 12th,1817 to May 6th, 1862)

“…most days I go on walks for a ‘movement meditation’–fitness of the spirit. I try to quiet the voices in my head, take long strides, and concentrate on the slow, steady rhythm of my breath, comforted by the interior silence.”

“I love walking and try to get in a 3-5 minute walk every hour at work. Usually once around the block is enough to clear my head and breath fresh air. My favorite meditative walks are holding my husband’s hand and walking quietly together in wonder of the majesty of the beautiful planet we inhabit.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 120 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-15-26

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April 15th, 2026

Discovering the Momentum of Creative Movement

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.”

Martha Graham (American Dancer and Teacher; May 11th, 1894 to April 1st, 1991)

“The world as I know it is divided into two types of women–those who exercise and those who don’t.”

“Those who do exercise seem to have more energy, less stress, fewer weight problems, and generally a more positive and optimistic outlook on life. Women who are fit will tell you that regular exercise is the single most important thing they have ever done to improve their life.”

“Women who do not exercise don’t believe them and have every excuse in the world for why they can’t or won’t find out for themselves: they don’t have the time, they’re too out of shape, they’re coming down with the flu, it’s too cold or too hot, they’re too tired, they’re too depressed, maybe next week.

“Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.”

Robert Maynard Hutchins (American Educator and Former Chancellor of the University of Chicago; January 17th, 1899 to May 17th, 1977)

“This is not good. This is not self-nurturing. This is not healthy. We know this intellectually.”

“Don’t refer to the activity as exercise or fitness any longer. If you must call it something, call it creative movement.”

“Think of creative movement as a life-enhancing, enjoyable pastime, because it is. Just pause for a moment and imagine all the ways that you could move creatively that bring you pleasure: dancing (ballet, jazz, or tap), swimming, fencing, horseback riding, racquetball. tennis, golf, riding a bike. …Start moving, a step at a time, step after step. The positive momentum will take if from there.”

“With enlightenment and self-awareness, we can reguide and realign our whole selves: our bodies, by finding new ways of moving and celebrating them and by adding good food in amounts they tell us they need; our souls, our sense of ourselves as good and worthwhile, by connecting them to the earth and to each other.”

Diana Roesch (Theater and Film Producer)

“I have always loved movement and feel more of myself when moving. I have learned to move in new ways in this chapter of my life. Specifically, my husband introduced me to rowing regularly which eases the stress on aging joints. BRILLIANT! I had coached rowing for years and in all that time, I rarely participated. Now I have an rowing ergometer in our living room. WINNING!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 119 to 120 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-14-26

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April 14th, 2026

When You Hunger and Thirst

“The body must ne nourished, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We’re spiritually starved in this culture–not underfed but undernourished.”

Carol Hornig

“When I first became aware that when I ‘swallowed’ life I was really hungry and thirsty for joy and serenity, it was a turning point for me in learning self-nurturance. Finally, I understood that I wasn’t underfed but spiritually undernourished. I realized I could go within and ask my soul–my authentic self–what I needed. I learned to stop and ask myself the questions ‘How can I care for you? What is it you truly need?'”

“As you nurture your spirit with kindness, your physical cravings will loose their grip.”

“Realize today that your hunger and thirst for a reason. Ask your authentic self to reveal your deeper needs, so that Spirit can quench and satisfy your parched and ravenous soul.”

“I love food for all the ways it flirts with me in smell, taste, texture and sight. I used to only look as food as fuel and from a lens of scarcity. I have never been an overeater, more of a grazer. I eat when I’m hungry. I often get engrossed in whatever I am up to and forget to eat until my project is done. When this happens, I assess what my body needs and take in the fuel my body is demanding…usually protein. I really have never been much of an emotional eater. I notice more my desire based on cravings which usually point out other deficiencies in my daily diet. I do my best to listen.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 118 to 119 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-13-26

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April 13th, 2026

The Only Weight-Loss Aid You’ll Ever Need

“Self-love is the only weight-loss aid that really works in the long run.”

Genevieve Marie Craig (Jenny Craig) (American Businesswoman; August 7th, 1932)

“…food is not our enemy. If we’re alive, we’re supposed to love to eat. Food is the source of vital fuel our bodies convert to energy in order to survive.”

“Don’t fight your hunger. Instead, respect it and respond to it with nutritious food that appeals to all your senses–not just taste but sight and smell as well.”

“..the more we starve ourselves, the more weight we eventually gain, and then we end up hating ourselves.”

“The only way to stop this heartbreaking cycle of self-loathing is to stop dieting and use our common sense. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thristy, sleep when you’re tired, get in harmony with your body through regular exercise, and nourish your soul through prayer and meditation.”

“Be really whole, and all things will come to you.”

Lao-Tzu (Chinese Philosopher; 571 B.C.)

“Taoism–the Eastern philosophy of Lao-Tzu–teaches that the only way to be made Whole is to yield. Yield to the fact that your body answers to a Wisdom that’s higher than wanting to look like the waif on the cover of Vogue.”

“Every woman has an ideal weight that’s ideal for her opposed to an ideal weight. This is the weight at which you feel the most comfortable, have the mot energy, can stay well and feel good about how you look. We can achieve that weight whenwe begin to trust our bodies. Forget size and abandon the scale. Instead, of weighing yourself, let your favorite clothes tell you how you are doing. Above all, trust the guidance of your authentic self. Go within and visualize her. See what weoght she carries. Ask her to help you achieve your perfect weight through the power of Love. Today, be willing to believe that self-love is the only weight-loss aid you’ll ever truly need, because it’s the only one that works.”

“All of this advice is true. For the last 30+ years I have been counseling and working alongside all types of people desiring to get to their full potential. Whether that be weight, athletics, mental toughness, etc. they all had to let go or yield to what they thought they knew and listen to their bodies.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 117 to 118 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-12-26

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April 12th, 2026

Learning to Love and Honor Your Body

“The body is a sacred garment. It’s your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.”

Martha Graham (American Dancer and Teacher; May 11th, 1894 to April 1st, 1991)

“Which comes first, learning to love our bodies or possessing a positive body image?”

“If you can learn to like how you look, and not the way you think you look, it can set you free.”

Gloria Steinem (American Journalist and Social Activist; March 25th, 1934)

“Don’t wait for the world to celebrate you. Carve your own niche. Focus on what’s great, forget what’s not. Find joy in your own reflection. Instead of obsessing about a body that’s impossible to achieve without a personal trainer, begin to discover how you can feel better about living in the on e you now inhabit.”

“A woman’s relationship with her body is the most important relationship she’ll ever have. More important than husband, lover, children, friends, colleagues. This isn’t selfishness–it’s just fact. The body is, quite literally, our vehicle for being–for giving, for loving, for moving, for feeling–and if it doesn’t work, it’s fairly certain that nothing else in our lives will work, either.”

Diana K. Roesch (Health & Fitness Expert; December 2nd, 1963)

“Today, instead of hating your body, make peace with it. Choose to consciously love and honor the sacred garment Spirit provided for this lifetime’s journey.”

“I am so appreciative that my genetics and health active lifestyle has yielded me youth beyond my years. I have always liked my body and valued the movement it has been able to experience. I have counseled many young teens to adult women on body image for over 30+ years. On this path, the main culprit preventing women from achieving their health and wellness goals has largely been their own invisible conversation in their head about body image and self-love. For those who were able to share honestly with me how they saw themselves, I was able to help be their advocate and accountability partner in changing both behavior and their physical appearance. For those looking for a gimmick or a quick fix, they largely stayed trapped in their own story and thus their insides tended to match there outsides. It is not magic, it IS self love and grace for the garment that the Universe gifted you to wear in this life journey. Take care of it and it will take care of you. Use it or lose it.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 116 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-11-26

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April 11th, 2026

Finishing Touches: The Art of Fashion Accessories

“Perhaps too much of everything is as bad as too little.”

Edna Ferber (American Novelist and Short Story Writer; April 27th, 1855 to January 24th, 1897)

“I have recently been a slave to AI as it fills my feed with native beading ideas. Accenting my clothing with beading is intriguing to me and feels authentic.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 114-116 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-10-26

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April 10th, 2026

Trompe I’oeil: Thrift-Shop Pleasures

“Beauty is altogether in the eyes of the beholder.”

Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (Irish Novelist; April 27th, 1855 to January 24th, 1897)

“I love thrift stores as I always seem to find a gem for my wardrobe at a fraction of the price.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 113-114 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

My Abundant Life 4-9-26

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April 9th, 2026

Affordable Luxury

“Luxury need not have a price–comfort itself is luxury.”

Geoffrey Beene (American Fashion Designer; August 30th, 1924 to September 28th, 2004)

“The Universe is not stingy. We are. Some of us have very stingy souls. Perhaps not in how we treat others–our family, friends, and those less fortunate–but in how we treat ourselves. Yet how can Spirit give more to is if our fists, hearts, and minds are clenched tight?”

“Today, declare to the Universe that you are open to receiving all the abundance it’s waiting patiently to bestow. Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving. it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart.”

“I find that my ability to embrace the abundance in my life daily has unfolded greater happiness and peace in my life.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 112-113 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.