Be grateful. Gratitude unlocks the doors to your heart and opens your world up in ways previously unimaginable. Gratitude is the stage and the players are joy, peace, love, acceptance, belonging, and compassion. Make time to be grateful and happiness will be your reward.
When you find yourself spiraling into thoughts and attitudes of scarcity, stop yourself and think of what you have to be grateful for. Stop spending time wishing things were different and focus on the good things in your life, at this very moment. It is no secret that where our thoughts go our lives go as well.
If you are having trouble being grateful, try this: start with just one small thing to be grateful for. Then add another gratitude to it. Keep this going and when you think there is nothing more to be grateful for, think of one more thing. You’ll be amazed at how wonderful you’ll feel after practicing gratitude.
Take care of yourself. If you don’t, then who will? We are often led to believe that self-care is selfish, especially if others are expecting or wanting something from us. But it’s just the opposite. You must first love yourself before we you can love others; forgive yourself before we can forgive others; be joyful before you can share in the joys of others.
The best real-life analogy for this is the airline oxygen mask spiel: “If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask first, then assist the other person. Keep your mask on until a uniformed crew member advises you to remove it.” This is life and death. Secure your own sanity and wellbeing before going out into the world. No one wants help from a rundown crazy person.
Let go. Release your death grip on life. Instead of barreling through each day in an effort to get it over with, stop and take it all in. Take in these precious moments because tomorrow they will be gone. Let go of your need to control and predict. Stop worrying, judging, stressing, and over-thinking things.
Focus on filling your life with what makes you happy and let go of the rest. Don’t waste another moment around people who treat you badly. Let them go. Don’t waste another Saturday running errands and doing housework. Let go and downsize. Don’t put off today’s pleasures thinking there will be more time tomorrow. Let go of your illusions and seize the day.
Surrender to life. After letting go, you’ll be amazed at how many things filled your life that you never really needed.
Be open. Follow your curiosities. Ask questions. Stay unattached to outcome and expectations. If you can do these things your soul, and your life, will grow and expand in amazing directions. Be open to new experiences, new ideas, and new people. Your heart will burst with the joy of discovery, and this will increase your practice of living in the moment and honoring the world around you.
Comments (0)