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7 Secrets to Loving the Life You Live

Living a richer, more rewarding life isn't always about achieving a goal or dream; sometimes it's simply a matter of adding a bit of peace, connection, and balance to the life you already have.

CREATE A MANTRA
When the stress begins to build, repeating a personal mantra will work wonders to return you to a state of peace and calm.

Short phrases such as "I am in control of me" or
"This too shall pass" . as long as it works for you.

FOCUS ON THE MOMENT
In times like these, the multitasker is king - or queen. And this may be part of the problem. You may be able to split your focus among more than one task, but this could end up splitting your efficiency and peace of mind as well.

Whatever you do, try to focus intently on that one thing. Have to prepare breakfast? Listen to the sizzle of the sausage in the pan, the feel of the fork in your hand, and the taste of each bite you take.

ORGANIZE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
The space around you if often a strong indicator of what's happening inside you. A cluttered or disorganized home or office makes for just as much clutter and disorder in your mind.

To steer clear of the chaos and confusion, spend five minutes every day cleaning up or clearing out the easiest targets for clutter accumulation in your home or office. Junk mail continue to pile up on the kitchen counter? Miscellaneous items always end up on your night stand? 5 minutes a day clear the clutter.

DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Experience a sense of contribution and connection only possible through doing something for someone else.
Volunteer at the local library, or share the gift of literacy with those who can't yet read. Don't have time for a major commitment? Give extra clothes or blankets to your local shelter.

DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF
As strange as it may sound, people often have a much harder time with this task than with doing something for others.
Our gut reaction is to feel a sense of guilt or selfishness
but there's nothing selfish about it. If you don't tend to your own needs and wants, you can't begin to be there for someone else.

Create a list of ten things to treat yourself. Do you love an hour
to read? Perhaps a day at the spa? Remember the list
for a quick recharge and learn to enjoy.

TURN UP THE QUIET
Life is full of noise. Everywhere you go, something is beeping
or blaring its way into your ears.
You needn't be still, just have a bit of quiet.
For 20 minutes each day, turn everything off.
No TV, stereo, appliances. Nothing. You'll quickly find
a little time spent in silence will help you to hear
your innermost thoughts and ideas.

PRACTICE PATIENCE
Perhaps the most difficult tip to pull off, but also the most beneficial, is bringing a sense of patience and acceptance into your life. If you tried hard enough, you could easily find something to complain about twenty-four hours a day, but at the end of the day you wouldn't be any better off - things would actually be worse.

When you encounter a situation that tests your patience, focus first on how you can improve upon it. If you can't, accept the facts and move on. Getting upset wastes every ounce of your energy that could be spent making things better. The next time you're stuck in line or trapped in a traffic jam, think only about how you can make the situation better. If no solution comes to mind, accept it with patience and understanding.

Sounds pretty sound mindfful....I like the turn up the quiet part the best.....

I like the first one about little phrases. I do that already. My favorites are, "This too shall pass", "What goes around, comes around", & "Everything happens for a reason".

Oo Nice one MF

YES! Thank you!
Clues to the highly sought-after, Secret to Happiness... being happy with what you have!

All of these practices are great and attainable. They are important in keeping you mentally "fit". Most of these, I have put in practice for years. The one I need to concentrate on DAILY, as I do it like bi-monthly, would be to take the 5 minutes to organize my environment. There are areas of my house which must be immaculate at all times, such as livingroom, diningroom and kitchen. Always looking perfect. But in other rooms, such as my bedroom, I have a fancy french sofa type thing which has become a "catch all". I set folded clothes which need to be put away, extra blankets, jackets, anything I don't feel like putting in its place at the time. I hate it that I do it cos it is an ugly clutter in an otherwise perfectly organized room. Also, the desk where I put the mail. Store ads, junk mail, they pile up, until I take the time to throw them out, long after the sales are over, having never looked at them. I should take time to clean up the clutter on a daily basis as this thread suggests. It is an area I definitely need to try to improve on.
Taking time throughout the day to collect your thoughts, being self-aware and keeping yourself in check through self-examination, helps us to be healthy individuals and a better person to our world.

Thank you MF for sharing this with us. Very Very good things we should all make a part of our healthy lifestyle.

yeah as we know
i didnt make this stuff up
just vascillating (sp) between shining and sniping today

stoopid grayday again!
dont feel like doin chores
dont feel like doin nuffin but crawl back in me lil beddy


but i do actually practice this stuff-
prolly more than it shows-

im reallllll remedial-may not see results til im in my 70's

Say it isn't so!!!

That's ok, I don't believe you. We all have our "lazy days" especially when it's grey out! It's okay to take them now and then. But I believe you practice this more than you are telling... only cos it's a grey day and that's how you feel in this moment.

Enjoy your grey day! I stayed in bed till almost noon, myself. The sun is out now, so I think I will go do some stuff outside, grab a little Vitamin D!

LESS IS MORE!

good post

Hey HL That must have been nice sleeping in like that. How are ya!

Hi SF!

It was nice, especially when you are nice and tired... slept on a get off ramp by the interstate, 16 miles from the terminal... couldn't go no mo!
I am fine, going outside to play in the sun... change a headlight and a clearance light bulb. Maybe start to mow my 3 acres, it's getting high again. You doing alright?

i only have 2 acres but ive no mower

Nothing but sexy positive energy. Enjoy the sun sweety. Wow! You sure do have a big frontyard....

EASY DOES IT!and a Special Friend of mine would add BUT DO IT!
Hi MF

I use a self-propelled push mower, it's part of my exercise program.
Got most of the mowing done, just a little to do tomarrow.

We must find you a mower!!

Anyone know of a really good mower for mindfull??

preferably six foot, 220 and blond-
mute




i am not physically able to push mow but good for you
smoke em if ya got em

---

CONRAD
I LOOOOOVE YOU

yes.
thank you.

Hi MF

Wow! wonderful. How simple and yet so profound.

I do practice gratitude so therefore are 'mindful' of all my blessings.

There are some on here that I will pay attention to.

I will print and stick on my fridge and in my bedroom.


Thank you for posting you are a star.

Good advice. Too many of us are either trying to live in the past or the future, and sometimes forget about today and the simple things we can do to make it better.