Be the Director of Your Own Mind

The moment that I realized that I could actually CHOOSE what to believe and how to react was shortly after completing the Landmark Education Forum Class.  I slowly began to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for my own experience of life and the affect that I was having on others.

It is incredible when you get the distinction of getting to "be right" by gathering evidence for your own agenda, or instead being open to another's way of seeing things.  We all come at an issue with our own filters and past experiences, so the truth looks one way to one person and an entirely different way to another.  And most of the time neither really have the full truth, just their interpretations using their experiences as the backdrop.

I still can't do it immediately after being triggered and in an emotional state, but, with a little time, I can distinguish that someones words or actions were just harmless and the meaning I was giving to those words is what was painful.  

It is easier to start with a Witness to help you with this.  They are like training wheels until you are able to do this alone.  Discuss out loud what someone said to you, and then what you translated that to mean.  And keep a sense of humor, don't beat yourself up, we all do it!

So next time you feel angry, fearful or hurt, try to put yourself in their shoes and think of a positive and good reason why they could have said that to you!

What a difference a choice makes!

My PHONE and COMPUTERS are OFF for MOST OF THE DAY every day! Isn't that just AWESOME?

Also, I don't have CABLE TV.

I actually have real conversations IN PERSON!

I make MY OWN experiences on the tennis court, having lunch, going to the park, doing community service, on the golf course, at the gym, in a coffee shop, grocery shopping etc, and DON'T need to watch TV to be entertained!

I am NOT an ER doctor and that text, ping, FB post or VM can WAIT until I have some time to give attention to it.

I don't need to document every fun time on Instagram!

(Camel Ride with my Daddy)

Oh and I don't need to go partying with intensely loud music and loads of alcohol to have a good time!

My life is peaceful and beautiful and I am SO VERY GRATEFUL for it!

Not too long ago my life was just the opposite of this. I had 2 mobiles, 2 cars, was on the computer all the time and watched 6+ hours of TV a DAY!

It just goes to show you, you don't have to wait for the New Year, or the new month, or Monday, or even tomorrow to make a change in your life to increase your happiness! 

In this moment, what is one thing that you can do to make your life better?

Fake It Until You Make It!

I have realized that I am able to trick myself into enjoying things that I have to do.  This mind set serves me very well!  Over time, I have become happier and happier.  And when you are happy, the people around you become happier, and are nicer to you too, making you even happier.  Daily life becomes much more fun with a positive and optimistic attitude.  

As an example, we all have to brush our teeth, and do laundry, and drive in traffic.  Why not make it FUN?

How about doing a happy dance when you are brushing your teeth?

Or putting music on and singing while doing laundry?

Or making eye contact and smiling to people in other cars in traffic?  Or noticing the beautiful buildings, sky and trees?

Even when something sad happens, like losing a pet, you can turn that sadness to happiness by making a scrap book of photos and writing down all the happy memories you had with him.

This acceptance of all that is.  A consciousness that "LIFE is right" - instead of ME being right!  An understanding that all that happens is for the collective higher good.

So now as I go about my day, I am SWEET!  (Because I can)!!

A better relationship with myself

Getting things on the schedule is the first step to doing what you need to do, but for me, I have noticed that putting things on my calender is not enough.

I need a better relationship with MYSELF!  For example, if I have an appointment with a friend I will not cancel it.  If I make a promise to cook dinner for my Grandma I will do it.  If I agree to pick up the dry cleaning for my boyfriend, I take care of it.

But, I don't have the same commitment to myself.  I have noticed that I put yoga on the calender and just don't go.  I decide to cook myself healthful foods but I don't.  I have errand to do but I get lazy and don't do them.

My honesty and reliability to myself is EVEN MORE important than the one to others.  After all, keeping my agreements to others helps me LOOK GOOD, but being faithful to myself makes me FEEL GOOD.

For true and deep happiness, I will start treating myself even better than I treat others.  Here is my first step - yummy fresh nourishing food!