Uncategorized Archives - Suzanne A. Barron

Are you afraid of the unknown? Consider this….

barron — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 18:26:47 +0000

Many of us are wary of the unknown. We get so used to our days being the same, we think knowing is better.

But the unknown can offer hope and possibility.

I realized this while working on my memoir this week.

I was writing about a time when our son’s prognosis wasn’t good. He was fighting his third cancer at only nine-years old. He was in the hospital and we were waiting two weeks to find out if the chemo was working.

I was spiraling with fear, unable to concentrate or engage with my children or husband. Walking down 2nd Avenue one morning, I had an aha: I could continue as I was or I could believe the treatment was working.

It wasn’t really a choice.

During that two-week period, Christopher couldn’t sleep one night. At 10:30pm, he asked me to go to the playroom. We went down and sat on comfy couches in the dark. Through a large window we could see the city lights. I imagined we were in a hotel room instead of Sloan Kettering. He asked me to tell him a Scooby story. I made him a deal: “I’ll create the story and you do all the voices.” My heart was light as he mimicked the Miner 49, the witch and other villains.

Had I not trusted and found hope and possibility in the unknown, we wouldn’t have had that experience.

Hopefully you’re not dealing with a situation like that.

But what are you waiting to do until you know?

What if not knowing offers a chance to explore, to learn and to live?

The post Are you afraid of the unknown? Consider this…. appeared first on Suzanne A. Barron.

Have you ever noticed the more we complain, the more negative we become?

barron — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:19:15 +0000

Complaining about the weather or politics might not seem like a big deal but complaining becomes a habit and can spill over into other areas of our life, making us more critical about ourselves and others.

According to Jack Canfield, research shows that frequent complaining actually rewires our brain making it harder to clear away negative energy.

When we complain, our body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is helpful when we are in danger but we don’t want it released in our body on a regular basis as too much can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and more.

How do we stop when we don’t even realize we are doing it?

First, we have to want to stop.

Two, we have to become more aware of our thoughts and practice being more positive. Consider setting a timer for 30 minutes and make a conscious effort during that time to watch your thoughts and stop yourself before you say something negative.

Three, consider a practice of meditation. When we meditate, parts of our brain associated with compassion and self-awareness grow while parts associated with stress shrink according to research from the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Four, consider the words of Maya Angelou, “What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.”

If you are interested in reading more posts like this, sign up for my weekly newsletter at https://suzanneabarron.com/

The post Have you ever noticed the more we complain, the more negative we become? appeared first on Suzanne A. Barron.

DO OUR WOUNDS HELP US OR HINDER US?

barron — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 13:11:54 +0000

Oprah Winfrey tells us, “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” Debbie Ford suggests that we look to see how our wounds have benefited us. That’s a challenge for me because it feels like I’m saying that what happened is okay.

But what if we look at our wounds in a different way? Where have they led us? Where are we now that we might not have been otherwise?

A new wound is delicate and must be honored as such. With an older wound, we can ask ourselves if we wish to continue to carry it around like a heavy backpack weighing us down?

One thing that helped me after Christopher died at 9 was to focus more on the good times than the bad, more on the laughter than the sadness. Of course it took time and an earnest desire to want to be happy again.

Our wounds are likely to crack us open, offering us a strength, a sensitivity and an awareness that we may not have had otherwise. I discovered a strength I didn’t know I possessed.

Many of us wish the wound-causing experience never happened. But we often don’t get that choice. However, we can choose how we respond to it?

Photo Credit: Niklas Tinner

The post DO OUR WOUNDS HELP US OR HINDER US? appeared first on Suzanne A. Barron.

What if Your Anxiety is actually Excitement?

barron — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 15:16:06 +0000

Okay well not all of it, but some of our excitement is actually mistaken for anxiety, especially when it relates to good things.

Recently I had an idea about an article I wanted to write. I got really excited about the idea. The next day, when I thought about it again, I got another fluttering, but this time it felt more like anxiety.

The first day, I was focused on the possibility; the next day on the roadblocks and what it would take.

But as soon as I realized it, I paused, shined light on the present moment and dropped down into my heart to see more clearly.

The difference between the two times was: the first time I was in my center or alignment and the next day, I was out off center or out of alignment.

So how do we get into alignment when we are feeling anxious and out of sorts? First, reach for one of your thumbs. Yes your thumb. Either one. It helps to ground you and relax your mind. Reaching for my thumb is my go-to whenever I feel anxiety coming on. Hold it gently and then close your eyes and slow your breath by lengthening your exhales slightly longer than your inhales Concentrate on this breath pattern for a few minutes. Next, begin to notice any sounds in your environment while still lengthening your breath. Stay here until your focus is more on the sounds than on your bothersome thought. You can pick one sound if that’s more settling for you.

If you’re questioning how long this whole process will take, I get it. My mind is probably just as active as your’s. But think of it as an investment in you. By taking these few moments or more to return to your center, you will likely be more purposeful when you open your eyes because you will be in alignment. The more you do this, the quicker you’ll transtion through the steps.

Once you feel more even, begin to think about that vision you had without adding any of how-to’s. Imagine it’s already done; you’ve already accomplished whatever you are seeking. Sit with that. What feelings come up for you? Start with satisfaction. How does it feel in your body? Your mind? Feel the excitement as it floods your body. Step into that future now. What choices will you make today? What things will you do? What experiences await you?

The post What if Your Anxiety is actually Excitement? appeared first on Suzanne A. Barron.

One Person Can Make A Difference – I Did

barron — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:55:34 +0000

It was December, 2016 and one of the doctors on an NBC show, Chicago Fire told a potential donor, ‘bone marrow donation hurts like hell and you’ll feel it for months.”

That simply wasn’t true and I was afraid that type of misinformation on a popular TV show would discourage people from signing up to donate. A nearly perfect donor backed out when my son, Christopher needed a transplant.

I needed to find a way to get in touch with NBC so they would change their storyline. So I got in touch with the National Bone Marrow Registry advising them of the situation and asked them to get in touch with NBC to set the record straight. They did just that and in the next episode the language had been changed saying that a donor would miss only a few shifts vs a few months.

We all have this ability to make a difference. It takes listening to our heart and acting.

The post One Person Can Make A Difference – I Did appeared first on Suzanne A. Barron.