Being conscientious (taking obligations to others seriously and desiring to do tasks well) are forms of being present.
This is a success factor as what you focus on, grows.
positive psychology
I’ve Joined…
Creativebug.com.
Since taking a (trial) Lisa Congdon art class in watercolor, I’ve made drawing and painting part of my morning ritual. I don’t know where this will lead me (maybe my second self-published children’s book as author and illustrator?)…but I know I enjoy the process.
Subscription options for Creativebug.com are below:
They offer a multitude of art classes:
When you consider the cost of classes at your neighborhood art academy or fabric store, this is a steal: unlimited classes all month for $8!
What if…
you chose to enjoy the very thing you dread most today?
Wouldn’t the entire day be lifted?
Bliss of Solitude
Nature teaches us how to be quiet and calm.
*from William Wordsworth’s poem, “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
My favorite lines are the last three:
Which is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.
True Freedom
We believe the “right” amount of money will afford us freedom.
We believe that being 100% safe will make us free.
But what will really give you freedom is complete acceptance of reality and even looking forward to your “fears” coming true.
When you practice dread, you practice imprisonment.
When you welcome everything, you liberate yourself.
*creativebug.com (Lisa Congdon)
Why We Lash Out
Anger is a huge ego inflator. Lashing out is an attempt to make someone feel guilty. And then your ego feels superior. But it’s not helpful to you or the recipient. It simply creates more drama.
Elkhart Tolle
Rx for Joy
Current symptoms: listlessness, insomnia, constant hood of worry, anxiety, pessimism, road rage
Prescription: (To do at least once a day until symptoms disappear)
Go to a mall or your sister’s house or other place where toddlers are eating or playing (a children’s playground at the park or school is not advised for you might be reported for peculiar behavior – not your fault)
Observe toddler’s feet dangling from the chair; his cherubic cheeks and glistening eyes focused on what’s in front of him;
Note the fat hands hungrily – joyfully – grabbing the sandwich/spoon/bowl;
Listen, really listen, to his easy laughter and his babble.
If you could ask him, he’d tell you:
He’s not worried about tomorrow or fretting about the past;
He’s here, with you, and nothing else matters.
When toddler begins to cry or have a temper tantrum, cease the observation and seek a quiet place immediately.
Maternal Meditation
Motherhood To Dos:
change their diapers
anticipate their needs
hug and kiss through tears
teach them to be strong
allow them to feel pain
buy them clothes
(and school supplies and prom tickets and flowers for their first crush)
listen as they complain about school, frenemies and hormones
bite your tongue when they complain about you
And that’s why there’s an “Om” in “Mom”
Endless Supply
The most important resource is resourcefulness.
Tony Robbins
The Trick
If you’ve read Aesop’s fable, The Crow and the Pitcher, you know that the moral is “Little by little does the trick.” My 5th graders read the fable and then were assigned a response: Give an example from your own life that describes this moral.
Here are a few responses:
- “I got more flexible by stretching every single day, now I can do the full splits!”
- “I practiced drawing every day and now I’m really good.”
- “I saved up for an expensive video game by practicing piano every day (got paid $2 each day).”
- “My mom used to be addicted to soda. Each day, she drank a little less. Now, when she has some, she feels sick.”
- “We planted watermelon seeds and watered it every day. We got a watermelon!”
- “I have played tennis since I was three. I play three to five times a week and I’m really good now.”
- “It’s really hard for me to wake up in the mornings. When my alarm goes off, slowly, inch by inch, I move sideways to the lamp and turn it on and get out of bed.”
When can you do little by little to achieve your goals?
Kismet 