How to get what YOU want out of your day

How you start the day can impact on how the rest of the day turns out.   I set my day up by going for a walk along the beach and having coffee with friends most days.  That way I get to have exercise, socialise a bit, watch the sun come up and sometimes see dolphins and the odd whale.  Now, it can’t get much better than that   After those types of mornings I feel I can deal with anything, also knowing that I can do it again the next day.   It is something I choose to do, to think and to feel.

When my children were very young I used to get up early, before they did so I could have breakfast and read the newspaper in peace.   The purpose of that was to have my timeout BEFORE the day started.   

At a seminar I attended many months ago,  the main speaker was an international businessman who said that he set up his day by asking himself a series of questions as soon as he woke up.   Here they are:

• What am I grateful for?
• Who do I love?
• Why am I so happy?
• What am I committed to?
• How committed am I?
• What is my intention?
• What is my wish?
• Why am I here?

Now I get that it would take a while to remember all these questions to ask yourself every day so maybe you’d like to pick just one or two to start with.   

Or, make a list of your own questions.

I have a couple of questions I ask, especially when I have to attend a workplace workshop or something I am not looking forward to –  “I wonder what it will be like?” and “What can I take away from this?  If there is something you do not want to do or take part in, ask yourself about your intention.  Or what you are committed to.

Sometimes no matter what you do things can appear to be getting out of control as the day progresses (or regresses).   In that case, ask some of these questions at those times if they are appropriate to the situation.  If yesterday was awful, ask “What can I do differently today?”.  The reality is that your day depends on your thoughts and your responses.

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”  Marcus Aurelius

What are you going to ask yourself tomorrow?   I’d love to hear your ideas.

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Rainy days and dolphins

Have you ever had something wonderful happen when you least expect it?  I think that those moments are so much more pleasurable than when you are expecting something and get it.  I know that there is a lot said about the law of attraction, but how much more exciting is it when you didn’t even think about, or desire, it. 

Yesterday was one of those days that looked like it was going to stay grey and rainy – it had rained most of the night and at times the rain was very heavy, waking me up several times.  I had a look outside after 6am to see if it was worth getting ready for my usual walk but it wasn’t.  I waited a while and then grabbed my umbrella and went down to the harbour to have coffee and buy the paper.

While I was there someone pointed out that there were dolphins coming in close in the small harbour area near the coffee shop, closer than I had ever seen them, even in the surf.  And you know what? It was the only day I didn’t have my camera with me – bugger.  Anyway, it was a surprise and I am glad I took the time to go out in the rain.  Maybe it was a bonus by the dolphins for those of us who braved the wet weather

There was also the day a friend and I were standing outside a café waiting for our take away order, looking down into the water, when we saw a very large mantra ray swimming along – the sort you would think you’d need to go to an aquarium, or to a tropical area to see. 

Then there was the time last year when after a 14 hour flight I got an upgrade from cattle class to business class for the next 9 hour leg of the journey, something I would never have expected to happen (as I have little international flying experience) and which someone else I know, who was flying a few days later, was desperate for – she didn’t get one.  Sometimes all it takes is to let go of any expectations, to just be, and wonderful things can happen.

What are some of the things that have happened in your life that gave you pleasure, that you were not expecting? 

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Acknowledgement: the power of being at cause

 

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: and the power of  being at cause 

There has been a lot written about the Attitude of Gratitude.  People have gratitude journals, gratitude boards, even bubbles of gratitude.  These can be great when you want to acknowledge the things you can be grateful for. Many people like to share the positivity by acknowledging others and encouraging them.  But how often do we acknowledge ourselves for playing a part in the very things we are grateful for?

For example you may feel grateful for a wonderful friend in a time of need.  Have you ever acknowledged yourself for being a great person who attracts that type of friend?

I was stuck in traffic during road-works just outside Katoomba a couple of years ago.  Instead of feeling annoyed and impatient I looked out at the view.  It was amazing – the colours of the cliff faces were wonderful.  I had never noticed this view before because I was always too busy keeping my eyes on the road while I was driving. After that I found myself looking forward to having to stop that those road works – can you believe it???

So, I acknowledged myself for having the patience to notice and appreciate that view.  The funny thing is that since I did that I have become more aware of other opportunities when I am stuck in traffic or behind a very slow moving truck.   I now notice things I had never noticed before.  I am now grateful to myself for taking time to be patient and calm, finding something to be happy about in a situation most people would chose to be stressful.

Look at what is happening in your life and what it is that you can be grateful for; then acknowledge yourself for the part you have played in being able to have that thing for which you are expressing gratitude.

Once you begin focusing on the good things in your life and how you played a part, it is so much easier to be the creator of your life.  I mean, do you really want to be the victim, to be at effect of everything that is happening, or would you prefer to be a cause, to have some control over what is happening? 

The same goes for the reverse – if things aren’t going well, then look at what it is that you are doing and how you can change your contribution to that situation so the outcome is different.  Then acknowledge yourself for that insight. 

How about being grateful to yourself because you recognised an opportunity to learn or notice something instead of complaining or passing judgement?  I’d love to hear how it is working for you.

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

- Albert Camus,

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