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Monday Motivation Moment: Make Gratitude a Daily Habit with These Four Steps 

02.27.2017 by Emelda De Coteau // 4 Comments

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Emelda De Coteau
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Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
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Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017
Photo via Unsplash

Gratitude, I am learning, is a daily practice, not once a year for Thanksgiving, or on those occasions when you are happy something has come together. No. Some days it means getting up, looking around and saying: What is beautiful in my life? How can I lift that up in my consciousness?

These past few years have brought our family struggle, but I now understand hardships awaken us to blessings others dismiss. Those daily miracles which are not so mundane after all – the ability to speak and connect in conversations with another person, walking without difficulty, food and shelter.

Committing to Gratitude
Staying in gratitude takes commitment and consistent reflection. Frankly, you have to be willing to face yourself despite wanting to escape into complacency. Some weeks ago, after a particularly rough day, I texted one of my best friends about a series of setbacks. She replied by challenging me to think of ten things I was grateful for right now.

I would love to tell you all I responded quickly, my mind springing forward with renewed faith and optimism. The truth is pain and disappointment obscured much in that moment. It took days to fully emerge from a place of suffocating sorrow. When I did, I began to grasp the power of her urging me to push into gratefulness and away from complaint.

Gratitude is work. And yet, cultivating a grateful heart and perspective remains possible for all of us. In Choosing Gratitude: The Journey to Joy, author Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes: “Even in the most turbulent waters, choosing gratitude rescues me from myself and my runaway emotions. It buoys me on the grace of God and keeps me from drowning in what otherwise would be my natural bent toward doubt, negativity, discouragement, and anxiety.”

Four Steps to Cultivate Thankfulness in Your Daily Life:

1. Reflect on Your Blessings Throughout Your Day: Many times we are told to make a list of what we are grateful for at either the beginning or end of the day. Why wait? As you recognize blessings, grand and small, during the day, honor them by standing in a place of thankfulness. I find doing this helps tremendously with your mood and gives you resilience.

2. Find a Gratitude Friend: Remember my best friend I mentioned earlier? Well, Shannon is a wholistic healing strategist; she’s also my gratitude girlfriend. After I have cried, she encourages me to keep going because there is much to be grateful for despite obstacles. We talk and text almost every day. It’s wonderful to have an accountability partner standing alongside you. Get your own!

3. Deepen Your Relationship with God: When we are connected to our Creator, through daily prayer and meditation, our eyes are opened to the abundance surrounding us. Praise becomes part of our vocabulary and even during the most arduous seasons, we find small joys. Set aside time to talk with God, mediating on the words found in scripture and your appreciation will grow.

4. Serve Others: There is a quote from Rabindranath Tagore, writer and thinker, which speaks deeply to the importance of service in our lives: “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” Often when we take our eyes off of our circumstances, and find a way to serve others (whether through volunteering, helping a neighbor or friend, etc.), we develop a greater spirit of thankfulness for all living beings surrounding us.

Living in gratitude sounds simple, but it’s actually quite radical, and deciding to see the world in this way, not as a place to merely endure, but to thrive, transforms and liberates us.

Categories // Inspiration Tags // author Nancy Leigh DeMoss, awareness, Choosing Gratitude: The Journey to Joy, community, counting your blessings, empowerment, faith, gratitude, healing, inspiration, mindfulness, possibilities, prayer, purpose, Rabindranath Tagore, reflection, relationships, self awareness, self love

Inspiration For Your Ears & Soul: Leon Bridges, Embracing Rest and Living in the Now  

05.14.2016 by Emelda De Coteau // 1 Comment

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Emelda De Coteau
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Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
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Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017


Oh such a busy week, lovelies. But I still managed to discover some gems along the way. Check out the inspiration from around the web:

Leon Bridges soulful Tiny Desk concert series. So much life! I couldn’t stop dancing or humming along. 

Every now and then, nourish yourself with an uplifting film! 

Out of the box ideas for quinoa at dinner!   

Returning to rest for Mamas is a really good thing. Oh how I can relate! 

Via LinkedIn Feed

So this popped up on my LinkedIn feed. It’s such a powerful reminder to live in gratitude and be present. 

During a few rare quiet moments yesterday, I discovered  Iyanla Vanzant’s audiobook, Finding Faith in Difficult Times. She gives us so much to think about and act upon as we hold fast to faith in challenging situations. 

Categories // Inspiration & Style, Inspiration For Your Ears & Soul Tags // community, creativity, Finding Faith in Difficult Times, gratitude, Iyanla Vanzant, Leon Bridges, Lindy Thompson, live in the now, music, NPR Tiny Desk Series, quotes, rest for Moms, vintage

Inspiration For Your Ears & Soul: From Iyanla Vanzant to Self Care 

04.30.2016 by Emelda De Coteau // 1 Comment

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Emelda De Coteau
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Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017
Photo via Eharmony

One of my favorite writers / thinkers Iyanla Vanzant on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday making me laugh and throwing some wisdom all at the same time! Her latest book is Trust.

Do you struggle with faith, particularly in seasons of difficulty? I pray this post from my new IG blogging friend, Tiffany Parry, “When Sunday Feels Broken,” lifts you up, and reminds you, we’re all in this walk together.

Helpful blog post on everyday ways to reward yourself after accomplishing goals. Self care is a critical part of our own growth.

This rich dialogue with Barabara Smith and other dynamic women on black feminism, the LGBT community and the black lives matter movement.

Oh Lianne La Havas, your music makes my heart soar! “Unstoppable” is such a sunny-day, open-your-sunroof kinda song!

Positivity starts in the first 15 minutes of our day. Short but insightful blog post!

Categories // Inspiration & Style Tags // activism, authentic faith, awareness, Barbara Smith, black feminism, Black Lives Matter, Blog Lovin', community, creative, empowerment, encouragement, faith, grace, gratitude, Inspiration For Your Ears & Soul, Iyanla Vanzant, Lianne La Havas, postivity, prayer, reward yourself, self awareness, self care, self care for women of color, Simply For One Blog, Super Soul Sunday, women, women of color

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Emelda De Coteau
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Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017

Ever since elementary school, I have stood up against any perceived injustice. Not on a picket line, more subtly I suppose, as my early protesting involved befriending kids others made fun of or ignored. On the weekends, Dad told my brother and I stories about his life, the years he spent in Hounduras before coming… [Continue Reading]

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017

I do not know about you all, but during the busyness of life, I forget a lot; the chaotic nature of days with a little one moves some chores further down the list. Let’s take watering plants – easily thrown into the nonessential pile. It’s why I can count the number we have sprinkled haphazardly… [Continue Reading]

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017

Americans like our leaders sanitized, captured in Pinterest quotes and witty tweets. We teach kids to swallow comfortable myths about historical figures, instead of thinking outside the box. But now in the age of Google, you and I can seek different narratives, rediscovering these men and women in the fullness of their humanity, not reduced… [Continue Reading]

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Emelda De Coteau

Mother, wife, sister, friend, writer / blogger / communications consultant, budding photographer... These are just a few of the many hats I juggle each day. I believe creativity is oxygen for the soul. I created Live In Color blog to celebrate the beauty in every moment, from faith to inspiration and motherhood.Follow the inspiration on Instagram: @liveincolorblog



Emelda De Coteau
Follow Me:

Latest posts by Emelda De Coteau (see all)

  • Why God’s Grace Changes Everything  - June 23, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer Christina of The Whole Cook - April 28, 2017
  • Living by Faith (Blog Series): Writer and Podcaster Tiffany T. Huff - April 21, 2017

I fight sadness with busyness. There, I admitted it to you and myself. Somehow hurt seems to evaporate for me, even if only momentarily, under a mountain of to-do lists and phone alerts, that is until the pain catches up to me. And it always does… No one talks about rest. Everyone I know is… [Continue Reading]

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