Tuesday, November 3, 2009
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY NOW!
In researching why some people seem happy all of the time, the first thing I learned was...they aren't. They have down days like everyone else. It may seem obvious, but at times when we may all be struggling to find happiness, it just seems those amazing people are floating on clouds, but in reality, they have the same issues as the rest of us, they just handle them differently.
I've compiled some ideas and research as a good guideline:
1. Be optimistic, laid back...live in the moment.
2. Follow your gut, your intuition...stop hesitating.
3. Make enough money to meet your basic needs. Remember, most lottery winners are less happy with their lives within a year of winning than before they won.
4. Stay close with friends and family.
5. STOP expecting your job to make you happy.
6. SMILE
7. Don't take things to heart.
8. Practice acts of kindness.
9. Exercise and take Vitamin B.
10. Meditate.
11. Practice forgiveness.
12. Love yourself!
Here are Forbes Happiest Places 05/05/09:
Denmark (#1), Finland and Netherlands rate at the top. New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium also rated in the top 10. The US did not make it, sadly.
Help spread the happiness!!
The Danish, the number 1 happiest country, say their expectations are lower so one is rarely disappointed. What do you think about this? What is the flip side to lower expectations?
It is also said they know how to handle humiliation well after "400 years of forced relinquishments of land, surrenders and lost battles." Hmmm... thoughts?
There are claims Finland and Belgium have the highest suicide rates in the world. Whether that's true or not, I don't think we need to run from what we have, but work within ourselves each day to spread the happiness because I still believe the US is the best place to live.
What things do you do for yourself or others to try to be happy, even in the most difficult of times?
I've compiled some ideas and research as a good guideline:
1. Be optimistic, laid back...live in the moment.
2. Follow your gut, your intuition...stop hesitating.
3. Make enough money to meet your basic needs. Remember, most lottery winners are less happy with their lives within a year of winning than before they won.
4. Stay close with friends and family.
5. STOP expecting your job to make you happy.
6. SMILE
7. Don't take things to heart.
8. Practice acts of kindness.
9. Exercise and take Vitamin B.
10. Meditate.
11. Practice forgiveness.
12. Love yourself!
Here are Forbes Happiest Places 05/05/09:
Denmark (#1), Finland and Netherlands rate at the top. New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium also rated in the top 10. The US did not make it, sadly.
Help spread the happiness!!
The Danish, the number 1 happiest country, say their expectations are lower so one is rarely disappointed. What do you think about this? What is the flip side to lower expectations?
It is also said they know how to handle humiliation well after "400 years of forced relinquishments of land, surrenders and lost battles." Hmmm... thoughts?
There are claims Finland and Belgium have the highest suicide rates in the world. Whether that's true or not, I don't think we need to run from what we have, but work within ourselves each day to spread the happiness because I still believe the US is the best place to live.
What things do you do for yourself or others to try to be happy, even in the most difficult of times?
Monday, October 12, 2009
I DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE SICK!
I thought I was doing the right thing by getting my very first full physical now that I'm 40. All is well. I even left the doctor's office with a little something extra...SWINE FLU! I should have thought otherwise while I sat in the lobby as a healthy person with others wearing masks. I have been fighting it for almost 2 weeks now. Just as I think I'm having a better day, it sneaks up and hits me again.
But the problem is, I don't have time to be sick. How does this fit into my legacy? It doesn't, which is why I need to take care of myself and fight it off so I can continue living. I think that's one of the greatest mistakes we as mom's and women in the workforce make, we don't take time to care for ourselves. Even in my own legacy building plans, there's very little discussion of "me" and that's my own fault. I think we can say the same for men, without question, I'm just focused a little more on women since it's Breast Cancer Awareness month.
SO, this week, besides taking care of myself to get healthy again, I am going to get extra help to do the following (all of which I'll have to hire help for):
* House cleaning
* Carpooling
* Dinner making
* Leaf raking
Once I'm healthy, I'm also going to make a reservation at my spa and get back on a regular gym schedule. If I don't take care of myself, how do I expect to be able to live the life I'm aiming for?
This will all allow me to do the following:
* Pumpkin hunting
* Halloween decorating
* Charity fundraising
* LOTS of snuggling
* Networking with colleagues and friends
How do we do it?
But the problem is, I don't have time to be sick. How does this fit into my legacy? It doesn't, which is why I need to take care of myself and fight it off so I can continue living. I think that's one of the greatest mistakes we as mom's and women in the workforce make, we don't take time to care for ourselves. Even in my own legacy building plans, there's very little discussion of "me" and that's my own fault. I think we can say the same for men, without question, I'm just focused a little more on women since it's Breast Cancer Awareness month.
SO, this week, besides taking care of myself to get healthy again, I am going to get extra help to do the following (all of which I'll have to hire help for):
* House cleaning
* Carpooling
* Dinner making
* Leaf raking
Once I'm healthy, I'm also going to make a reservation at my spa and get back on a regular gym schedule. If I don't take care of myself, how do I expect to be able to live the life I'm aiming for?
This will all allow me to do the following:
* Pumpkin hunting
* Halloween decorating
* Charity fundraising
* LOTS of snuggling
* Networking with colleagues and friends
How do we do it?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
3 THINGS I DID TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY THIS WEEK
What will your legacy be? Will it be said that you were the best multi-tasking person one ever knew? Will it be that you never slept, you were like the energizer bunny and could keep going and going? Some days it feels like we want people to know these things about us but I don't believe it's because we want to be remembered that way, I think at the time it's simply an outlet for us to vent our exhaustion.
How do you really want to be remembered? That's a tough question. I think we often avoid it because it is a pretty big can of worms to open. I think it's a deeper question than most of us will take the time to answer and I also think we're afraid of what that answer would be if today was the day we left our legacy for others to review. It's the same reason many people intend on writing a will, obtaining life insurance and forming the trusts they need to protect their families but never get around to it. It's interesting to me because this is the one guaranty we have in life, that we will leave it behind one day. We are truly good planners and multi-taskers so why won't we take the time to plan the inevitable? Well, that's a simple question with a simple answer, it's depressing and sad.
BUT, if we start by making small changes in the way we live our lives each day, changes that support the person we want to be remembered for and the person we want to become, then I feel it will begin to bring a sense of peace into our lives that will help us treasure each day a little more.
Thank you for following me in my journey to live my legacy. My goal is to make 3 changes a week. Here's what I did this past week:
1. I am donating my time and services to one of my favorite charities: Children's Grief Education Association. I know one of my greatest skills is being detailed and organized. I, like the rest of the world, don't have as much cash to give as I did a year ago, but I do have my time and can help organize a fundraiser to assist them in reaching their goals through both cash and other donations. Volunteering my time has been on my "wish list" for quite some time so I'm really excited about this. The event will be on 11/19/09 so I will keep you posted on the process.
2. I spent a special day with each one of my girls last week: I believe strongly in a good education which includes good grades and attendance. I also believe strongly in good mental health and believe that "sick days" could also be used as "wellness days," allowing us humans to take a break outside of regular vacations, without being sick. I've always told my kids as long as their grades are good and they have not missed school due to illness, I will allow them one "mental health day" a quarter, or three a year. I'd rather they be honest with me than wake up and say "mommy my tummy hurts" becuase she needs a break.
3. Cassie was hot from dancing and asked if she could dump her water bottle on her head when we walked outside before we got in the car. I said "YES." This may not sound like a big deal, but when you're running around on a schedule, does that fit into things...a dripping wet child in the car? Not usually, but once in a while, moving forward, it does!
Please share with me some of things you're doing to change your path so we can support one another. I'm looking forward to learning new ways to spread my wings.
Warmest Regards,
Lori Greenly
How do you really want to be remembered? That's a tough question. I think we often avoid it because it is a pretty big can of worms to open. I think it's a deeper question than most of us will take the time to answer and I also think we're afraid of what that answer would be if today was the day we left our legacy for others to review. It's the same reason many people intend on writing a will, obtaining life insurance and forming the trusts they need to protect their families but never get around to it. It's interesting to me because this is the one guaranty we have in life, that we will leave it behind one day. We are truly good planners and multi-taskers so why won't we take the time to plan the inevitable? Well, that's a simple question with a simple answer, it's depressing and sad.
BUT, if we start by making small changes in the way we live our lives each day, changes that support the person we want to be remembered for and the person we want to become, then I feel it will begin to bring a sense of peace into our lives that will help us treasure each day a little more.
Thank you for following me in my journey to live my legacy. My goal is to make 3 changes a week. Here's what I did this past week:
1. I am donating my time and services to one of my favorite charities: Children's Grief Education Association. I know one of my greatest skills is being detailed and organized. I, like the rest of the world, don't have as much cash to give as I did a year ago, but I do have my time and can help organize a fundraiser to assist them in reaching their goals through both cash and other donations. Volunteering my time has been on my "wish list" for quite some time so I'm really excited about this. The event will be on 11/19/09 so I will keep you posted on the process.
2. I spent a special day with each one of my girls last week: I believe strongly in a good education which includes good grades and attendance. I also believe strongly in good mental health and believe that "sick days" could also be used as "wellness days," allowing us humans to take a break outside of regular vacations, without being sick. I've always told my kids as long as their grades are good and they have not missed school due to illness, I will allow them one "mental health day" a quarter, or three a year. I'd rather they be honest with me than wake up and say "mommy my tummy hurts" becuase she needs a break.
3. Cassie was hot from dancing and asked if she could dump her water bottle on her head when we walked outside before we got in the car. I said "YES." This may not sound like a big deal, but when you're running around on a schedule, does that fit into things...a dripping wet child in the car? Not usually, but once in a while, moving forward, it does!
Please share with me some of things you're doing to change your path so we can support one another. I'm looking forward to learning new ways to spread my wings.
Warmest Regards,
Lori Greenly
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
WHAT IS STRESSING YOU OUT?
What is it that's stressing you out? Is it any one or a number of the following?
~ Concerns about weight
~ Health of a family member
~ Rising price of common goods
~ Home maintenance
~ Too many things to do
~ Misplacing or losing things
According to Kanner et al (1981), 100 middle-aged adults were tested over a 9 month period and these were the top 6 comments. Now that was 28 years ago and today is a different time, a different world. Can this still be the case?
In 1990, Chamberlain and Zika (New Zealand) uncovered some additional stresses and in a different order.
~ Not enough time
~ Too many things to do
~ Troubling thoughts about the future
~ Too many interruptions
~ Misplacing or losing things
~ Health of a family member
~ Social obligations
~ Concerns about standards
~ Concerns about getting ahead
~ Too many responsibilities
Now this list sounds much more appropriate of the average person, even today, 19 years later.
As technology continues to progress we tend to think we can handle more on a daily basis. Is this how we're defining success, by how much we can accomplish on a given day? I personally don't think so. I think the average person defines TRUE success in many ways but when they dig deep, I think most of us just want to leave a legacy for our family and friends that was sincere and meaningful. But how many of us really take the time to dig that deep? It's a BIG can of worms to open, but the peace you can find once you do is worth it! Imagine not being able to relate to that list of concerns above. It's my personal goal! I look forward to advice and guidance and sharing my path to this lifestyle with you!
~ Concerns about weight
~ Health of a family member
~ Rising price of common goods
~ Home maintenance
~ Too many things to do
~ Misplacing or losing things
According to Kanner et al (1981), 100 middle-aged adults were tested over a 9 month period and these were the top 6 comments. Now that was 28 years ago and today is a different time, a different world. Can this still be the case?
In 1990, Chamberlain and Zika (New Zealand) uncovered some additional stresses and in a different order.
~ Not enough time
~ Too many things to do
~ Troubling thoughts about the future
~ Too many interruptions
~ Misplacing or losing things
~ Health of a family member
~ Social obligations
~ Concerns about standards
~ Concerns about getting ahead
~ Too many responsibilities
Now this list sounds much more appropriate of the average person, even today, 19 years later.
As technology continues to progress we tend to think we can handle more on a daily basis. Is this how we're defining success, by how much we can accomplish on a given day? I personally don't think so. I think the average person defines TRUE success in many ways but when they dig deep, I think most of us just want to leave a legacy for our family and friends that was sincere and meaningful. But how many of us really take the time to dig that deep? It's a BIG can of worms to open, but the peace you can find once you do is worth it! Imagine not being able to relate to that list of concerns above. It's my personal goal! I look forward to advice and guidance and sharing my path to this lifestyle with you!
Labels: STRESS RELIEF
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