I like to think of myself as a glass half-full person, but I'm realistic enough to know that it's a tall order to love every single minute of every single day of our lives. Stuff happens...sometimes good...sometimes bad. Many things that happen are out of our control...but we do have a choice when it comes to how we react to them.
We really do. When I stub my toe in front of my little niece it hurts like hell, but I'm somehow able to keep the string of obscenities that I'd normally let fly to myself. When a car suddenly pulls out in front of me I can let it make my blood-pressure boil or I can let it go. Either way, I can't change the fact that I've just been cut off in traffic, but I can choose to not let it bother me so much, take a deep breath and move on with my day.
Am I able to make this grown-up, Zen-like decision every time? Of course not. I'm human and fairly new to this "letting things go" philosophy in the grand scheme of my life. But I can honestly say that when I'm able to take a deep breath and release things that are out of my control I feel soooo much better than when I give myself over to feelings of anger and frustration.
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| Great example of positive reframing via Blondie! |
The flip-side of this coin is I can remind myself of the endless things that are within my control!
The many choices that I can make on any given day that help me love my life a little more.
For example, rather than watching mindless TV or surfing Facebook
I can choose to spend five or ten minutes:
#1 – making a collage in my Creative Oasis Journal
#2 – coloring in a mandala
#3 – reading an inspiring book
#4 – playing the piano
#5 – I can remember that saying "No" to someone else's request means
I'm saying "Yes" to my own well-being.
Here are a few small questions that might help you love your life a little more:
What's a choice you can make that will empower your creative spirit this week?
Who might you say "No" to in order to say "Yes" to yourself?
What's one small way you can love your life a little more today?
We'll be learning and practicing wonderful new ways to make more time and space for the creative fulfillment we crave in my teleclass beginning September 18, 2013.
Creating Time for Your Creative Oasis
Until next time, all the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,
Jill
You'll also receive a free copy of "Permission to Be Creative 101" – my short e-book that will help you take the first small steps to make the time and space for creative fulfillment – your Creative Oasis – in your busy life!
