Monday, February 22, 2021

The Myth of Blooming Where You Are Planted!






Imagine if you will, the most beautiful, lush hibiscus with vibrant scarlet blossoms and verdant dense foliage. The plant is uprooted from its tropical paradise and transplanted in the dry, desert sand. A nearby cactus with its blossoms in full splendor is taken and transplanted in the tropical paradise location. 

Both the tropical paradise and the desert as well as the two plants are magnificent creations. Each is miraculously designed to be unique, adding to the beauty and wonder of the universe. However, a short time later, each plant is barely surviving whereas they were both once thriving! The hibiscus is dry and burnt. The foliage is sparse and the blossoms have all withered away. The branches are dry and cracking. The cactus blooms are also gone. The cactus itself is spongy and rotting.

How does it happen that the two once beautiful plants are now dying?

The answer is quite simple and yet profound. No matter how beautiful the plant or the environment, the two must be matched to encourage each to not only survive, but to thrive! There is nothing intrinsically wrong with either plant or even the two different environments. And furthermore, passing judgment about the devastating results and bemoaning what has already occurred would be futile and a waste of energy. The fact is, the divine design must prevail, thus the myth of blooming where you are planted must be laid to rest.

Each of us is a magnificent creation capable of radiating our beauty, joy, and love out into the universe through our own special skills, talents, and abilities. This can only occur if we acknowledge, respect, and appreciate ourselves for the divine beings that we are and honor our own unique needs. As we choose to do so, this benefits not only us, but all those around us as well. How we care for ourselves impacts all that we think, say, and do. In other words, if we want to be happy, be healthy, and live a life that matters, we simply cannot afford to live any other way.

So, if you are feeling like you are just (or barely) surviving rather than thriving, there is a way out and up. We need to tune into our thoughts and feelings as important barometers that measure whether we are in alignment with happiness, health, and purpose. If you are having a variety of chronic health issues, that's your body's way of alerting you to pay more attention to nourishing your body, mind, and spirit in ways that add to your well being. If you find that your moods are negative and heavy, again, that's a signal that you are off track and need to head in a new direction. We really do get these messages each and every day and if we ignore them, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the messages can and do get louder and often result in conditions that demand our time and attention.

That's why, the number one message of Nurture U has always been that "Healthy self-care is NOT a luxury; it's a necessity!" You are the only one that has the power to make the decision to give yourself what you need to flourish and yes, that means if what you are currently doing and experiencing is not working for you, then it's time to change. It's time to Nurture U! 

Yes, YOU CAN and I can help! Together we can help you get clear about what it is that you DO want, set positive intentions, and choose the inspired action that will head you in that new direction. Perhaps, most importantly, you will experience and learn the incredible power of tapping into the mind-body-spirit connection in the process of change. That is truly "the difference that makes the difference!"

Why wait? Find out how Nurture U Life Coaching can be tailored to help you to meet your unique challenges. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

If you or someone you love would like to keep in touch with the latest News to Nurture U, please sign up here and you will receive a copy of the Nurture U Holistic Wellness Self-Assessment Tool. That is a great first step toward the healthy self-care that you not only need, but deserve. 
Trust me, it's a process; so let's get you started. 

Be well. Be blessed.
๐Ÿ’›Mary Ellen 

 

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Get Out of Your HEAD and into Your HEART


I love walking in the woods. I will freely admit however, that this time of year it is much more challenging for me due to the cold. But, if the sun is out, it makes all the difference in the world! My solitary walks help me to get out of my head and into my heart. Just to be clear, I'm not saying that being in our head is always a bad thing. It's only when we get caught in a downward spiral of negative looping and feedback that we need to recalibrate.

I'm a big fan of acronyms as anyone who has followed my work over the years probably already knows. So as I was preparing to write this post, the acronyms for HEAD and HEART flowed right to me.

Let's start with what happens when we get stuck in our HEAD: Hijacked Emotions And Detours. I have a feeling just reading those words may create some resonance with the message already. 

When we are stuck in our heads, it really does feel like our emotions have been hijacked and are out of control. We often end up wandering off the path leading to our best and highest good and end up in some dark, desolate, and dreary places that we would rather not ever visit let alone get stuck in. How does this even happen so fast that we get so far off track before we even realize what is happening?

If we work our way backwards, we find that what we are feeling was likely triggered by a disempowering thought in response to something or someone in our environment. Continuing to work in that direction, the thought may have arisen from a cluster of thoughts that were repeated over and over again and became solidified into a deep-seated  attitude or even a long held belief. Beliefs are formed over the years through all that we observe and experience, especially when accompanied by an intense emotion. Unfortunately, before the age of 7, our beliefs are simply downloaded into the subconscious mind without our ability to pick and choose according to the filter of what is in our best interest. That's why we often refer to that as our "programming' because it is running in the background of our lives at all times until we actually do something to change that. Of course, not all programming is negative, disempowering, or undesirable. In fact, much of it helps us to lead productive lives. It's only the disempowering programs that cause us to sit up and take notice.

When the negative programs rear their ugly heads, that's when it's time to get into our HEART: Healthy Empowerment And Receiving Truth. When life gets out of whack, that's exactly what we most need. (It's rather unfortunate that far too often we let it get to that point before we realize what we need.) As alluded to by the acronym, to be in our heart means that we need to s l o w down, stop thinking so much, and get into a quieter, more receptive state of being. When we are running around (and that can be physically or even mentally) on default mode, we miss so much of the inner wisdom that is always available if we can just find our way back to that innate connection. We can do this eyes open or eyes closed, in solitude or even in a crowd, in silence or not. It's a silence of the heart that we are looking to cultivate.

This takes practice. If the only time we try to tap into the fountain of intuition is when we are desperate and fried, it is going to take a whole lot more effort to stop spinning and start grinning. That's why a daily meditation practice is so very important. You literally teach your brain and body how to disconnect from chronic stress and develop new habits of calm and clarity. This allows you to build healthy neural networks in your brain and positively alters your biochemistry. It's not rocket science! It's even more exciting than that; it's neuroscience! And the way to help your head has been proven to be through your heart. Why? Because it's your heart that has the strongest electromagnetic field of the entire body. Did you know that more information is sent out from the heart than from the brain? It's true! Isn't that amazing? 

If you are interested, I can teach you a heart-centered meditation technique. It's based on research, fast, and effective! It's a great way to get started with meditation. In fact, in honor of February being Heart Health Month, I will even send you a complimentary copy of my "cheat sheet" that explains how to do SIMPLE Meditation! This is a technique that you can't learn anywhere else because it is a Nurture U Exclusive. ๐Ÿ’˜ If you are not yet a subscriber, just CLICK HERE so you can get started learning and practicing this powerful and uplifting meditation. Just send me an email requesting the SIMPLE Meditation PDF and I will send it to you. After trying it out, you are also welcome to call me with any questions you might have. 

That brings me to the last and perhaps the most important point of all. You may so desperately want to bring about change to allow yourself to cultivate that calm and clarity but feel like every time you sit down to meditate, you feel like it should be called "agitate!" Believe me, I get it! That's why as a coach, I went on to get certified as a Hypnotherapist. I needed a tool to help my clients (and myself!) to get unstuck and that's exactly what I learned!

Honestly, I feel that when we get stuck, Hypnotherapy is THE BEST TOOL for healing and insight, and then mediation can be used for maintenance. Sometimes we just can't forge ahead on our own. We need some support to move forward, to release blocks, to tap into the mind, body, spirit connection and then once we have done that, we are better able to continue on our own. Hypnotherapy can help you to "marry a positive intention with an elevated emotion", as Dr. Joe Dispenza puts it. Without the ability to do that, you will not be able to achieve the Heart-Brain Coherence needed to make the changes that you desire. Hypnotherapy helps you to do just that! It's a beautiful, healing process that I am so passionate about offering to others.

For more information, please visit the Nurture U Life Coaching Hypnotherapy page. You are also welcome to contact me with any questions you may have related to your specific challenges as well.

As always, wishing you wellness, love and light, and all that is good.

Mary Ellen 

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Keep Calm and Be Fabulous!


HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Honestly, this mug says it all: Keep Calm and Be Fabulous! This is indeed the theme I have chosen for the entire year. 2021 is definitely the time to Nurture U and perhaps we need that now more than ever. Although I sound like a broken record, the main message of Nurture U Life Coaching bears repeating: "Healthy self-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity!" You simply can't Be Happy, Be Healthy, and Live a Life that Matters without making self-care a priority. You just can't. This holds true for everyone and is even more pertinent to those of us who have been identified as a Highly Sensitive Person, also known by the acronym HSP. We need to be even more vigilant, especially regarding the need for downtime and alone time.

The reason why I love the theme of Keep Calm and Be Fabulous is that for me, it sums up what I most want out of life at this point AND states it in the right order. We've all heard of "the calm before the storm" right? Well, I'm here to tell you we need to cultivate the calm before we can feel fabulous!

What do I mean by "Be Fabulous?"  Well, I am certainly not referring to the need to look like a super model, say and do all the right things, or even the need to be anything in particular except for BEING YOU! This is something that I have learned through struggle and pain, stress and strain, over many years and with lots of tears. Most of us spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME trying to figure out who and what we should be instead of being who we already are! 

So, WHO ARE YOU?  

Whoever you are, I know you are a beautiful soul who was sent to this world to experience life to the fullest. You have been gifted with strengths and talents that are a unique combination never having been seen or experienced before and never to be repeated. It is up to each and every one of us to own our wonder and our magic and to share it with the world. We each have a beautiful light to shine on all those around us in a way that only we can. We all have some desire planted within our hearts to make the world a better place and we can do so every day just by our presence. The thoughts we think send out a certain vibrational energy as do the words we speak and the actions we choose. Think about it - you are quite literally broadcasting your signal on a moment to moment basis in a way that affects not only you, but all those around you as well. We really are all connected. We really are all one as all the perennial wisdom traditions have always taught. And may I share with you what I think is the most exciting thing of all? We are living in an age when science is now able to corroborate and even explain these phenomena. (And yes, I think that is what I'd aptly deem phenomenal!) We can now understand what the mystics have always known and begin to demonstrate this power in our own lives today. THAT'S what I mean by "Be Fabulous!"

Now that brings us back to the starting point which is to "Be Calm." Let's make 2021 the year that we step out of crazy busy and fretting over that which we can't control. Let's resolve to take the time for peace and quiet to build our resilience and function at our best in what can seem to be a chaotic world. Let's steep ourselves in time honored virtues such as faith, hope, and love. Let's take good care of ourselves and practice a great deal of self-compassion. 

From that calm energy, let's strengthen our connections. Let's extend that compassion out into the world to other people in our immediate circle, to our extended families, our communities, country, and while we are at it, let's stretch the boundaries of compassion to the entire globe. Let's care for the earth itself, the air, the water, the animals, etc. It's all a part of the oneness we are only starting to understand at deeper and deeper levels. We can do this. It doesn't have to be our job, our career, or even our passion. It just has to be a conscious choice of how we journey through life from the simplest things such as smiling at a passerby to the bigger things such as promoting a campaign to slow global warming. We are all called to play a role because we are all in this together. While our circumstances may determine the scale at which we act, we are all called to do something and to do something consistently. 

May all that we do this year come from that center of calm and tap into the connection to something far greater than ourselves. 

My wish for you is, as always, to Be Happy, Be Healthy, and Live a Life that Matters.

Yes, WE CAN! 

Keep Calm and Be Fabulous!

Need a little help to get back on track or to stay there?

Visit Nurture U Life Coaching to get your complimentary Holistic Wellness Self-Assessment Tool today! 

With much love,

Mary Ellen


Saturday, November 28, 2020

Downtime to Prevent Down Time



I enjoy adding photos to my blog posts. So, as I sat down to write this post, I literally laughed out loud when I found this picture of my cat Bella. She is truly my Furry Guru when it comes to relaxation! As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), relaxation never came easy to me. In fact, I had to actually LEARN HOW TO RELAX! To someone without this issue, that may seem downright ridiculous, but if you're anything like me, you know it to be true. (Just as an aside, the trait of High Sensitivity is found in at least 100 animal species and Bella is definitely my little HSP.)

In order for an HSP to truly relax in a restorative manner, we absolutely need downtime. As Julie Bjelland, Sensitivity Expert/Psychotherapist has stated, having alone time is a "medical necessity." Why? Because as HSPs, we simply take in way more stimuli than the 80-85% of the population that does not have this trait. Plus, once we take it in, we have an inborn preference to process everything much more deeply. Add to that our propensity to be more emotionally responsive and empathetic and you can see why we have a tendency to get overstimulated, overloaded, and if that continues we can get quite overwhelmed. BUT, this tendency can be mitigated through healthy self-care and increased awareness so that whenever possible, we can prevent this downward spiral from happening.

YES, WE CAN! That's where downtime is so important to our well-being. Again, this is true for everyone, but especially for HSPs. However, as heart-centered people who care deeply about others, take responsibilities seriously, want to do a good job, etc. we can run ourselves ragged if we don't ensure that we make the time for downtime! Trust me, you will never "find" the time, you have to MAKE THE TIME. Ideally, many experts recommend at least 2 hours each day. This might seem impossible in this busy, chaotic life we all seem to be leading, but here's the thing: Downtime may not be what you think it is. Read on my friends and you will find the golden key to unlock the door to more inner peace.

The definition of the downtime we most need as HSPs is "time spent not taking in any new data that needs to be processed." It is SO IMPORTANT that you get this point! I can't stress this fact enough. This is so different than what the majority of us have always thought of as downtime which essentially can cause us to chase peace rather than basking in the glow of it.

Let me explain further. Before I understood this way of looking at downtime, I was unable to feel relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated even if I wasn't "working." In fact, sometimes I actually ended up feeling worse after a "day off." How can that be? I inadvertently filled my days with way too much of what I can enjoy in moderation and it kept me too preoccupied with such things as reading nonfiction, scrolling social media, talking on the phone to friends and loved ones, watching YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, and what I consider to be the biggest factor in the mix - THINKING WAY TOO MUCH. Yep, thinking, pondering, wondering, planning, etc. My days off were often exhausting, even if I was alone! 

As a result, I continued to live in a state of chronic stress and busyness even if it appeared I wasn't doing much at all. You see, we can be overstimulated by both internal and external factors and the combination has a cumulative effect on body, mind, and spirit. That's what I am referring to as the need for downtime to prevent down time. If you continue to ignore your needs, they don't go away. The messages get louder and louder and often are accompanied by physical symptoms ranging from headaches and muscle tension to more serious health conditions. UGH! So now what???

Embrace what downtime is and what it isn't and commit to incorporate it into your day every day! Here's the beauty of it too. There are many things that you may enjoy that don't necessarily add to the sensory processing load that you are already carrying. Downtime does not mean you need to escape to some mountain retreat to finally relax. It doesn't mean you need to spend 2 hours in silent meditation until your mind achieves "tabula rasa" AKA a blank slate. No, you just need to spend time doing things that do not add more sensory information for you to have to process.

Here are some of the things that I now do during my downtime:
Lay quietly with my cat on the couch
Listen to soothing instrumental music
Walk alone in nature
Spend time alone near water
Sit in the sun or shade (depending on the weather)
Observe the wonders of nature - birds, squirrels, butterflies, sunrises, sunsets
Tap into my connection with my Higher Power
Do gentle yoga
Close my eyes
Take a bath or a shower
Focus on the feeling of my breath coming in and out of my body
(Sometimes even routine tasks such as cleaning, cooking, or baking can get me out of my head)

Everyone is different. Find what is most soothing to you. Just remember, the most important thing of all is that you DO IT! Make the commitment today to Nurture U!  Everything you do to enhance your well-being positively affects not only you, but all those around you as well. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be the happiest, healthiest version of yourself that you can be.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to support you in this beautiful endeavor.


 

 

Thursday, September 10, 2020

The Highly Sensitive Person Label: Limitation or Liberation?

 

As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) myself, this question is indeed near and dear to my heart! Once you "find out" you are an HSP, that is the main issue that you need to address to move from acknowledging the trait to accepting the trait. It is only then that you can learn to effectively accommodate and accentuate your inherent nature. Essentially, the HSP label is either an asset or a liability depending on how you choose to view it.

Therein lies the answer to whether the HSP label is a limitation or liberation: 
It really IS your choice!

Your decision is the difference that will make the difference. If you allow yourself to fall into a victim mentality because this is a trait you were born with and it's not going to go away, you will tend toward avoidance in life and spend a great deal of your energy working to control people, circumstances and events so as to not upset the proverbial apple cart. This is an exhausting way to live. Unfortunately, I know that from past experience. It is in fact, quite limiting!

On the other hand, the HSP label can be the best thing that has ever happened to you! Suddenly you realize why you have felt "different" all of your life, why you have been conditioned to react the way you do, and it is a terrific relief to finally know that 20% of the population can relate to your experience. You embrace this new knowledge and learn the most effective strategies for healing the past, enjoying the present, and co-creating the future. You now know that there are certain things you need to do to balance your nervous system for optimal functioning. You understand that there are ways that you will choose to practice healthy self-care that may differ from the 80% of the population that are non-HSPs and you set the healthy boundaries that allow you the time and space to do so. In other words, Hallelujah! This is what liberation looks like!

So, how can you make the empowering choice to be liberated by the HSP label? You absolutely need to heal the past in order to bring your best self into the present. This involves reframing your experiences prior to realizing you are an HSP in light of this new knowledge. This will allow you to release the negative energy and beliefs of the past and to reclaim the positive energy and beliefs in the present. It really is a beautiful thing to behold - even though there is work to be done to get there.

That's where you may benefit from seeking support. Read books about the HSP trait by reputable authors like Dr. Elaine Aron. Watch videos, read blog posts, join Facebook groups. Do what you can to realize what you feel is real. You are not alone. And most importantly - YOU ARE AWESOME!

Please contact me if I can support your journey to acknowledge, accept, accommodate, and accentuate your trait as a Highly Sensitive Person. Visit the Nurture U website for more information about Holistic Wellness Life Coaching and tapping into the mind-body-spirit connection in the process of change. Hypnotherapy and hypnosis are especially effective tools for learning how to lovingly direct your mind and therefore your life. If you have any questions, you are welcome to request a complimentary phone consultation as well.

As for me? I am so happy I chose liberation over limitation. 
I know you can too.
It's time to learn to thrive not just survive!
Healthy self-care is NOT a luxury; it's a necessity.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Back to Basics: Adulting 101


In her groundbreaking book The Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Elaine Aron refers to the work of Mary Rothbart of the University of Oregon on human development and temperament. As adults, we are capable of using the power of reason to make choices, consciously direct our attention, and exert our willpower to follow through on our decisions and commitments. As the title so clearly states, this is absolutely nothing new at this point. It is a statement of basic common knowledge about how to successfully navigate adulthood. So what's the problem? We all at some point get hijacked and start to doubt these truths that while proven by research, are really quite self-evident.

Why the doubt?
How many times have you set out to achieve some goal or complete a long overdue project with great enthusiasm only to find yourself ready to throw in the towel when you come up against the first obstacle or two? I'm guessing you can relate. I know I can! At those times, it seems that reason, choice, and willpower have left the station and there you are metaphorically standing on the platform wondering what just happened and perhaps even feeling abandoned. Of course, in this case, you haven't really been abandoned by anyone or anything but honestly, self-abandonment can feel even worse. 

Each time throughout our lives that we encounter difficulties, the way we handle them is largely based on our conditioning and past experiences. The deepest level of our conditioning took place BEFORE we reached the age of reason. We were conditioned to believe certain things about ourselves, our family, other people, and the world and life in general. At this young age, we were literally like little sponges soaking up everything we saw, heard, felt, and experienced. Because we did not have the skills to evaluate and filter these experiences, we simply absorbed them as is. In other words, our conditioning reflects the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of those around us, NOT our preferences and choices. And that is the start of the inner conflict. As this sets the stage, our experiences begin to both reflect and reinforce our early conditioning.

When what we are experiencing in life is not reflective of what we SAY we want, it is often due to our programming. Let's be honest, that is not always the case. As we know, we are not in control of other people, circumstances, and events that surround and befall us. So, let's not get caught up in magical thinking or quibbling over every cosmic quandary, but rather let's focus on what we CAN DO which is to deal with those persistent inherited beliefs about what we can and cannot do, the shoulds, oughts, and musts, and all the rest that keep us feeling stuck. We can loosen the grip of the past and begin to feel more freedom in the present by identifying that negative prior programming and choosing anew that which will truly reflect who we are and what we want to do with this one wild and precious life as Mary Oliver poetically refers to it.

That's why I have always been a "different kind of coach with a decidedly different approach!" After first getting my coaching credentials, I realized that I needed another way to help my clients get unstuck from ingrained habits and beliefs in order to be happy, healthy, and live a life that matters. That's why I went on to be trained in hypnotherapy and to study meditation through my yoga teacher training. That provided me with the ability to expertly guide my clients through relaxation and meditation to tap into the power of the mind-body-spirit connection in the process of change to access inner wisdom, heal and release the past, and commit to inspired action in the present. It is truly an amazingly effective process that I feel humbled and privileged to be a part of.

So, in order to get back to the basics of adulting and exercise the power of reason, choice, and will, we need to do some work to clear out the old in order to welcome the new. Growth and healing our energy is indeed possible. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to support you on your continued journey of wholeness.

Be well. Be blessed. And do what needs to be done.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Stay in Your "Circle of Influence"



The term "Circle of Influence" comes from Stephen Covey's classic book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Although it has been many years since I first read it, I distinctly remember the impact it had on me as it and continues to have on me as well. Reading the book precipitated a number of a-ha moments and still does. It is one of those classic books that you can read multiple times and the content sinks in at a deeper level as your own consciousness has expanded along the way. It is a true gem in my personal library.

Covey distinguishes between the Circle of Influence and your Circle of Concern. He has a graphic showing the circle of our concerns as the outer circle and the circle of our influence as the inner circle. One of the fascinating aspects of his work around this concept is that the inner circle actually grows or shrinks in response to how we live our lives, thus being what we CAN exert a degree of influence over. This circle includes such things as choices we make, the words we say, our actions, and even the thoughts we give our time, attention, and credence to. This is indeed the circle that encompasses the key foundational skills that are the basis for all the work I do through Nurture U Life Coaching:
1) Calm Your Life
2) Care for Your Body
3) Grow Your Joy!

All three of those areas are contained within the Circle of Influence and that, my friends, is exactly where we should be spending our life's energy - our greatest resource - to make the greatest impact on ourselves, and the people, circumstances, and events of our lives. In other words, that is how we can enhance our happiness and health and be up for the task of making a meaningful contribution during our time on this planet. I simply cannot stress this fact enough. It is vital to the well-being of society and contributes to the highest good of all concerned including YOU!

Contrast that hope-inspiring picture with spending the bulk of your life hanging out in the Circle of Concern. This outer circle represents all of the things that we are, well...concerned about! These are the really big things that people have dealt with throughout the ages and currently in our society, we have been facing some monumental challenges indeed: the global pandemic, systemic racism, climate change, and violent crime - just to name a few. Those are indeed things that concern us, and should concern us, BUT due to their magnitude, there's only so much we can do. These concerns can lead us to anxiety, depression, a sense of being hopeless victims, and even trigger an almost obsessive rumination on all that is wrong with society and often to the exclusion of the bigger picture that includes all that IS working in our lives and the lives of others.The Circle of Concern also includes a myriad of "little things" we have no control over yet can consume our daily lives such as the weather, clothes left scattered on the floor, the cap not replaced on the tube of toothpaste, people being late, the way people drive, being ignored by a coworker, and obviously this list could go on and on and on, but you get the idea.

So, what are we to do?
Focus the majority of your resources - your time, attention, money, and all else that involves the expenditure of your energy on your Circle of Influence. When you find yourself feeling frustrated, sad, angry, overwhelmed or any such emotions regarding those worries and issues in your Circle of Concern, ask yourself, "What CAN I do about this?" If there is a concrete action you can take?
Is there something you need to say about this issue?  If so, does it need to be expressed to a particular person or group or is it something you just need to share with a trusted friend or even in the privacy of your own journal? Is there a shift in your thinking that would help? Can you offer a prayer and/or send compassionate, loving energy to the person or situation? You get the point. The idea here is to stay out of or shift out of being stuck in reacting to what is happening around you and to choose to be more responsive. That is our power.

So next time you find yourself getting reactive, pause for a moment, take a deep breath and start moving in the direction of being more responsive. This allows you to get into the habit of creating space between a stimulus and your response. As it has been said so many times by so many others (yet it bears repeating)  that is what it means to be responsible - to be responseABLE - able to respond rather than to simply react.

This is an area that will inevitably give us on-going opportunities for growth. It is not something we learn once and then we've got it! No, this is one of those "journey of a lifetime" processes that require us to continue our commitment to becoming more mindful and transforming ourselves and our lives for the betterment of all. 

May you be blessed on this journey. I'm here to support you. 
In the words of Ram Dass, "We're all just walking each other home."

Namaste"