Realizing What Gratitude Can Do For You

Beth Vogtchoices, contentment, encouragement, gratitude, holidays, hope, Life, Thanksgiving 5 Comments

“Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savoring; it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented.”     I hope today’s quote encourages you and that you’re able to lean into gratitude. I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. The holiday season doesn’t mean we can push pause on …

Choosing Not To Let Stress Run Our Lives

Beth Vogtanxiety, Beth K. Vogt, challenges, change, choices, emotions, gratitude, health, hope, Life, mental health, perseverance, perspective, Quotes, Reality, stress 10 Comments

@bethvogt I’ve been in an ongoing tug-of-war with stress … and right now stress is winning. I stared at that sentence and considered deleting it, one letter at a time. Choosing another topic for today’s blog. But I’ll go with the reality that, despite my best efforts to “Go placidly amid the noise and haste” … well, I’m not. I’m …

Making Room for Each Other This Holiday Season

Beth Vogtacceptance, Beth K. Vogt, challenges, change, choices, Christmas, expectations, family, grace, holidays, In Others' Words, kindness, Life, perspective, Quotes, Relationships, stress, Thanksgiving 9 Comments

@bethvogt   The holiday season is fast-approaching. Thanksgiving? A mere 22 days away. Christmas? Only 48 days. New Year’s Eve? Counting down 54 days. We all have our do’s and don’ts when it comes to celebrating the holidays – or not celebrating the holidays because, let’s be honest, some people aren’t thankful for all the fa-la-la-la-la. I’ve never hated the …

The Problem of Letting “What If?” Lead Us into Our Future

Beth Vogtanxiety, Beth K. Vogt, choices, emotions, Faith, perspective, Quotes, trust 8 Comments

@bethvogt   Most mornings I wake up and wander into the bathroom down the hall, step on to the small electronic scale, and start the morning off with a quick check of my weight. Some mornings it’s an “all good” kind of day. And some mornings it’s an “uh-oh” kind of day. My reaction is directly related to my actions …

Do You Operate in Crisis Mode?

Beth Vogtchallenges, choices, crisis, emotions, In Others' Words, lifequotes, perseverance, perspective, Quotes 8 Comments

Learning to Balance Our Emotions by @bethvogt   “This is a deadline, not a crisis.” I woke up in the middle of the night with that phrase running through my head. I’d gone to bed a couple of hours earlier frustrated yet again. Staring down a looming writing deadline and an insufficient word count. I’d been chasing that deadline for …

Identifying Unclaimed Emotional Baggage

Beth Vogtchange, choices, courage, freedom, Identity, Life, perspective 18 Comments

Being Brave Enough to Deal with Our Stuff by @bethvogt Last weekend one of my closest friends texted me this question: When does all the baggage stop bubbling to the surface? Her question is a bit of a mixed metaphor, yes, but still it brought to mind a vivid image: a murky lake filled with suitcases bobbing to the the …

In Others’ Words: Choose Your Weapon

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 6 Comments

Our thoughts are powerful forces for good or evil. And no, I’m not overstating this truth. Think about a time when you were juggling some important tasks or facing a major deadline, but still having a good day. And then, for some unknown reason, you found yourself discouraged. Frustrated. Overwhelmed by all you had to do. You’re not sure how …

In Others’ Words: Words of Regret

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, Quotes, Relationships 10 Comments

A few weeks ago, I blew it with a family member. I got upset about something and then I let my anger fuel my words. And yes, I regret what I said to that person. But even more, I regret how I spoke to that person. All this year, I’ve said over and over again that I don’t want to …

In Others’ Words: Life Happens

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 9 Comments

There are certain things I wish I’d learned sooner in life.  This is one of them: “What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.”  Circumstances, both bad and good, come and go. But how I respond in a given situation? That can have a lasting effect on me and on others that lingers for years …

In Others’ Words: A Peace of My Mind

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, perspective, Quotes 5 Comments

I don’t want to do anger anymore. I understand that there are going to be times when I get irritated about something or maybe even lose my temper. Life happens, right? But I don’t want to stay angry. I don’t want to be an angry person. I also don’t want to hang around angry people because, well, I can too …