For the first part of excerpts, see Excerpts from "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff", Part 1
The truth is, life is almost never as bad as it seems when you're in a low mood. Rather than staying stuck in a bad temper, convinced you are seeing life realistically, you can learn to question your judgment. Learn to pass it off as simply that: an unavoidable human condition that will pass with time, if you leave it alone. A low mood is not the time to analyze your life...remind yourself, "This too shall pass." It will.
"Life is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do". - Unknown
When you look at life and its many challenges as a test, or series of tests, you begin to see each issue you face as an opportunity to grow, a chance to roll with the punches. Whether you're being bombarded with problems, responsibilities, even insurmountable hurdles, when looked at as a test, you always have a chance to succeed, in the sense of rising above that which is challenging you.
If on the other hand, you see each new issue you face as a serious battle that must be won in order to survive, you're probably in for a very rocky journey. The only time your're likely to be happy is when everything is working out just right. And we all know how often that happens.
Ask yourself, "Why is this issue in my life? What would it mean and what would be involved to rise above it? Could I possibly look at this issue any differently? Can I see it as a test of some kind?"
When you expect to be dished out your share of disapproval instead of struggling against this fact, you'll develop a helpful perspective to assist your life journey. Rather than feeling rejected by disapproval, you can remind yourself, "Here it is again. That's okay." You can learn to be pleasantly surprised, even grateful when you receive the approval you're hoping for.
"Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty." - Bumper sticker
Practicing random kindness is an effective way to get in touch with the joy of giving without expecting anything in return...giving is fun and it doesn't have to be expensive...it brings great contentment into your life.
Learn to be less bothered by people. Underneath even the most annoying behavior is a frustrated person who is crying out for compassion. When someone acts in a strange way, look for the innocence in his behavior. When you're not frustrated by the actions of others, it's a lot easier to stay focused on the beauty of life.
It's impossible to feel better at the expense of someone else.
Humility and inner peace go hand in hand. The less compelled you are to try to prove yourself to others, the easier it is to feel peaceful inside.
Being interested in the way other people act is a way of replacing judgments with loving-kindness. When you are genuinely curious about theway someone reacts or the way they feel about something, it's unlikely that you will also be annoyed.
One of the cardinal rules of joyful living is that judging others takes a great deal of energy and, without exception, pulls you away from where you want to be.
Consider deeply an respect the fact that we are all very different. When you do, the love you feel for others as well as the appreciation you have for your own uniqueness will increase.
Our minds are powerful instruments. When we decide that something is true or beyond our reach, it's very difficult to pierce tthrough this self-created hurdle.
I have learned that when I argue for my own limitations, very seldom do I disappoint myself.
It's easy to see God's beauty in a beautiful sunrise, a snow-capped mountain, the smile of a healthy child, or in ocean waves crashing on a sandy beach. But can we learn to find the holiness in seemingly ugly circumstances - difficult life lessons, a family tragedy, or a struggle for life?
Somewhere, in the back of your mind, try to remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it. The fact that we can't see the beauty in something doesn't suggest that it's not there. Rather, it suggests that we are not looking carefully enough or with a broad enough perspective to see it.
When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.
There are many times when simply agreeing with criticism defuse the situation, satisfies a person's need to express a point of view, offers you a chance to learn something about yourself by seeing a grain of truth in another position, and perhaps most important, provides you an opportunity to remain calm.
Reacting to criticism never makes the criticism go away. In fact, negative reactions to criticism often convince the person doing the criticizing that they are accurate in their assessment of you.
Stop constantly wishing your were somewhere else. As you focus more on becoming more peaceful with where you are, rather than focusing on where you would rather be, you begin to find peace right now, in the present.
Being listened to is one of the rarest and most treasured gifts you can offer.
Often the difference between a person who is happy and someone who is unhappy isn't how often they get low, or even how low they drop, but instead, it's what they do with their low moods.
If you don't fght your negative feelings, if you are graceful, they will pass away just as surely as the sun sets in the evening.
Try to see your driving not only as a way of getting you somewhere, but as a chance to breathe and to reflect. You can spend those moments being frustrated, or you can use them wisely.
It's useful to think of relaxation as a quality of heart that you can access on a regular basis rather than reserved for some later time.
You have a choice in how you respond to life.
See more at:
Part 3 - Excerpts from "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff".html
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