March, 05 2009

Believe it's for the best...

You have probably heard the expression, "Life is what happens when you have other plans." I read this in the late 70's when I was in the midst of a terrible brouhaha at work. It gave me little solace at the time but what could be truer? For years I had that little sign on a bulletin board. It just reminds me that I need to relax and get into the flow. What I know now for sure is that we stress too much over a natural part of living. Stuff doesn't go according to our plan! OFTEN situations arise, which bring us up short. Just when we think we are headed for the result we want -- boom! I know for sure that some of the worst situations turn out for the best. I'm not being a pollyanna -- honest. It's just that lately several people have come to me with stories that vividly point this out. We are living with a fluctuating economy and certainly for many, we could say that life is not going according to our plans.

If we try just a little harder not to react dramatically to every up and down, it will help us.

If we think back to a "for-instance" when the worst thing turned out to be a blessing, it will help us.

If we learn to cope in the moment, it will help us.

While I wish you bright days and peaceful nights, I know that turbulence will visit each of us and I encourage you to face it with hopefulness and equanimity.

February, 20 2009

Imagine

Imagine no limits to what you can achieve. Please do this...

When you begin to do this, you might notice that you see obstacles in your future. I'm not asking you to work out any barriers. What the statement says is just that you imagine that you have no limits to what you can achieve. Does it help you to want more? GOOD if it does.

Many people spend waaaaaaay too much time looking at their to-do list and not enough enough time with the big picture. Sure we need to do both but when you imagine no limits to what you can achieve, you fire up all of yourself.

Imagine no limits to what you can achieve -- Just do it, O.K.?

February, 10 2009

A great quote

I came across a quote today that has been attributed to Katherine Hepburn. She said, "Follow all the rules, miss all the fun."

After I laughed, the quote made me think. How often do I follow silly rules? How do I accept rules? Where do rules come from? When do they make sense? When should I ignore them when I don't.

Here's a silly rule -- don't wear white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day. I live in Northern Florida where the weather is often unpredictable. I know women, who follow the "no-white" rule even though it could be 90 in October and is often "summer" weather in March. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? That doesn't make sense. Plus white purses and white jackets have had a renaissance and aren't meant just for summer.

This isn't the only example of a silly rule by a long shot.

We need to question our rules -- who started them?; what purpose do they now serve?; how are they helpful? We really need to ponder what we do more and accept what others tell us less. I am by no means an anarchist. I also strongly adhere to rules of civility. But I know that change is required for us to grow and I believe that every rule is open for interpretation and adherence. Don't follow all the rules and DON'T miss all the fun.

February, 01 2009

Do Something

All of us become paralyzed into inaction from time to time. We don't know what to do and not one original thought seems to come to mind and so we don't do anything. This can be pervasive and affect us deeply -- we end up with nothing to show for a day's work (or longer.) It's awful. It happens. What to do? Do something. Do anything. Move! Take a step in some direction. I wish we could have a magic wand. We don't. The only answer to unclogging our "mindjam" is action. Like in any logjam as the debris swirls around, eventually, clearing happens. So too with the detritus in our psyche. And the sooner we get to breaking up the pile that is holding us back the better.

Here are some hints.

Pick out 5 words from a dictionary and start writing around those words. Write for a specified period of time. Sometimes an answer to a problem reveals itself.

Smell! Some fragrances have powerful connections for us. Cook something with a strong spice, make a salad with some herbs, pull out your spice rack and start sniffing.

Physically move -- Go for a walk in unfamiliar territory. Focusing on a new route and generating energy throughout the body can be productive.

Remember how temporary this can be and get going...