Portrait of a Mastiff
Tag: best of friends
Love Is In The Air
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Balancing Work and Play
You know the old saying, “All work and no play makes John a dull boy.” Even when you love work, work is work. It is possible to lose your balance. And contacting your core of happiness is dependent on a healthy balance of work and play, light tension and relaxation.
If you find yourself in moments of frustration or irritation, this may be a sign for you to check around you.
Describe how you have spent your recent days
- Who have you spoken to?
- Are your thoughts heavy? Are you carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders?
- Are you worried about the future? about the past? Have you momentarily lost your connection with the present?
- How many hours have you sat in front of the TV? the computer? What did you feel?
- What did you do to express yourself? How did you feel?
- What were you thinking that made you feel sad? irritated? frustrated?
Once you get a report on what has taken place in the last day or two, you will begin to see the balance or lack of balance that only you have control over. Take a breath. If you have been out of balance, try one of the following.
- Play catch with your dog.
- Play Words with Friends
- Send your family a homemade gift even though it is not the holidays, a birthday, anniversary, etc. Send a gift for no reason at all! You’ll feel better. It’s like magic!
- Take a walk and if you have a dog take your dog along. See how many flowers you can name. Bring your camera along and take pictures to share with your family and friends when you get back.
- Go to the park.
- Find a few friends and play Settlers of Cattan.
- Take a shovel and dig in the garden.
- Rearrange your closet and get rid of the things you can’t wear anymore.
- Watch a funny movie.
Most of all, if you have been a little down lately, chances are you have not been that good to yourself. Once you give yourself a break and balance out, your natural inclination will turn back to well-being and happiness.
Peace.
*Available at Amazon.com now: Aunt Barbara’s Powerful Little Book of Comfort
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Two Exercises For Peace, Love and Happiness
Today I am offering two ideas for a more pleasant day.
Number one: Plan your day as if it has already taken place.
This exercise might seem a bit strange at first, but it packs a powerful punch. Instead of getting up in the morning and hoping things will turn out, imagine the actions of the day as already having taken place, as if you are watching a movie. Imagine you are finished with the day. Imagine how you feel because of the day’s events.
You can rise in the morning with enthusiasm, or you may dread the day. The first thing you can do is be thankful for your bed, for the body you are in, for your surroundings and for the people in your life. The best days start with appreciation for what you have. The second thing you can do is to plan for your day. See yourself talking to your co-workers in a happy environment of sharing. See yourself completing your tasks at work with ease and enjoyment. Imagine all sorts of good surprises for yourself. And, top it off with the thought, that all of your dreams have already come true! Imagine you are getting ready for bed tonight and enjoying the memories of the actualization of your dreams.
As I said, this may seem a bit strange at first. But don’t give up! It will bring about happier situations throughout your day as you perfect your skills. You are beginning to achieve the skill of objectivity. You are beginning to see yourself and your situations in a new light and gain power over your daily life and situations. You are in touch with your core of happiness.
Number two: Be your greatest fan
Have you ever heard yourself singing or read something you wrote long ago and been surprised that it was you singing or writing? Have you ever come across a project from work that gave you an amazing feeling that it was you who accomplished that project? If so, you have a rare opportunity to be your greatest fan.
Self-love is the beginning task for all of us. To the extent you love and admire your true self you will be able to love others … and not a speck more. Take time today to find out more about yourself and see if you can be proud to know yourself the same way you would be proud to say you know a rockstar or politician or actress or boss or anyone you admire in your life. Are you proud to know you? Are you proud to be you? That is powerful stuff.
Many people are taught to love their neighbor as themselves. They may work hard on charity events only to find themselves unhappy and in conflict with those they work with. They wonder how it is that they can be so charitable and so irritated at the same time. Of course, you know the answer. You cannot give what you do not have. Love yourself and loving others becomes a natural response.
Perhaps today you will take time to express yourself in art, writing, singing, playing an instrument or creating an audio book. Tomorrow, enjoy what you have created. Don’t worry if you have not received any feedback from anyone regarding how great you are. Take time to enjoy and admire who the person is behind the creation …. you! Allow yourself to admire yourself and you will experience happiness and peace because you will be coming in contact with all that we consider important.
Peace!
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Living In The Moment Means Ability To Succeed
Here is a good example of how negative thought can develop within any one of us. Egos can take over at a moment’s notice and if left unguarded can seriously impede the pursuit of happiness.
Last evening a magazine salesman came to the door. A silent alarm was triggered within me: someone is ringing the door after dark. I was filled with immediate suspicion. Everything I write about took backseat to fear. I heard my husband laughing and speaking to the gentleman at the door and I found myself going upstairs to get to a phone in case this salesman was not legitimate. I felt compelled to save the day!
After the salesman left, I felt ashamed of myself for not helping out my fellow man and I didn’t feel good. Even more, I felt I should remain loyal to this shame because of my reactions. I felt it would be dishonest to now turn all positive and happily get on with the moment. My husband mentioned once or twice to let it go but I felt this strong urge to assess my reactions to a simple ring at the door. …and I began to notice that I was defending my reactions to my husband who was now focused on a basketball game.
I didn’t realize it in the moment. Now I do. I was choosing thoughts that were making me feel bad.
This is one grand opportunity. I am able to observe from a distance share about thoughts that can take hold and, left unguarded, multiplied rapidly. Feed Me! the thoughts pleaded. Feed Me! I have important fears that need protection! I have important guilt you need to pay attention to!
And, then I stopped. Took pause. And I realized I did not feel good. And I remembered that I was wearing fear. I gently turned away from the fear and the self-guilt and all thoughts that did not make me happy. Immediately, I experienced the familiar happiness and peace that has become more and more obvious to me. I am living proof that living in the moment allows me to succeed.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you.
