Saturday, May 30, 2009

From Shortcuts to Happiness.

I feel that its really sad that schools do not offer classes on “how to be happy” (amongst other classes like how to be a mum or a dad I didn't know one end of a baby from another!!) instead we’re taught to think that we are responsible for all of the problems brought about in our own life and the lives of others. Is it any wonder that we get angry, because of all the pressures real and imagined. We start to take medications to calm us down cos its exam time, cheer us up cos we're depressed, give us energy, help us to sleep…… sometimes abusing those very things that we wanted to help us. Well why not ……..we feel that we have the weight of the world on our shoulders………. or so it seems. So often we try to change the world around us by trying to change others. Well I got news for you guys. It dosn't work. Honestly. I tried, it really dosn't work! We keep looking at solutions to problems all outside of ourselves, which can appear so overwhelming and complex that any reasonable hope of success seems impossible and probably is.!! “What can I do?” we ask ourselves in despair. “I’m just one person.” A kid as well. The simple answer is that we can only change ourselves. The irony is that for us individually and for the planet collectively there perhaps is no issue more important than personal happiness. I don't mean going out partying every night. I'm not talking about 'having a good time' and feeling 'happy for an hour or so' To be happy – and all that happy implies- means, comfortable, loving, accepting, nonjudgmental, joyful, at peace with oneself, doing the next right thing, might in fact be the best prescription for dealing with what most of us are concerned with on a global, communal and personal level. If just one person changes, becomes happier (and it is a choice) touches another with a more loving, peaceful and generous hand, then the world has indeed, become a more loving and peaceful place. This has an effect on the world like a stone being thrown into the middle of a pond, its ripples spread throughout the water. Try it next time your angry, with your, Mum, Dad, brother, sister or friends. Put your pride (hurt feeling, cos usually your just feeling sorry for yourself, sorry but be honest!) to one side and say a loving or kind word instead of an angry one, you’ll be amazed at the difference! Acceptance is the pathway to happiness!! We can’t change what isn’t ours to change. We Are the Difference. www.simsolworks.blogspot.com

Monday, May 25, 2009

I believe one of the most interesting & inspiring pieces of advice I ever recieved was to just take life 'one day at a time'..........a very simple but admittedly not so easy concept. What does it mean exactly...........? Well I used to wake up in a morning worrying about tonight (the date) or tomorrow (the exam) next week (whatever is supposed to happen) next month (a friend getting married) which meant "I've got nothing to wear" and just going on and on and on.........Sound familiar?? You can imagine all of this going on in my head, no wonder I would wake up with panick attacks. Not only were the panick attacks horrible but I was loosing out on sooooo much of life. I was so busy thinking and worrying about all the things in the future I didn't have time to live in the present. Oh yes I would even worry about the past as well. All that wasted energy. I would worry about what I had said or done or hadn't done, as if I could change anything, I remember thinking many times that I wish I had the power to do just that, but I know I'm powerless over any of those words that were spoken in haste or actions that I regretted, except maybe to apologize, but my head was so full of stuff that I didn't LIVE TODAY. Write down on a piece of paper, a journal or diary, all the things that you are worrying about and put it all into columns or the days of the week. Whats really important for today, tomorrow or the day after. Write it down a great tool to help you sort out your thoughts. Once you've got it on paper you can leave it there.! It works for me.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

We Are The Difference.

Unhappiness is not inevitable Even when we are angry, judgmental and miserable, We have the best of intentions. Unhappiness is not an enemy………..just a choice. These writings are not based on a moral imperative: No shoulds or should nots, just choices. When we choose happiness, we choose love & inner peace. When we choose love and inner peace, we will help others on the planet choose it as well…by our example. We can live our dreams….instead of just dreaming them. We can make a difference! We ARE the difference.
I hope I get the opportunity to write on a daily basis my experiences of the day and how I coped with those situations that at one time would certainly have sent me into a frenzy of nervousness or frustration, anger or just plain despair. (Please forgive me if I don't, cos you know what, stuff happens, so I can only do my best) It would help me tremendously if you would write comments after each 'page' the more I get the better!! I want your honesty. I want your deepest thoughts and ideas and feelings. If you think I'm talking from an alien place then say so, confront me...... Honesty is so important to me. After all if I'm not honest with myself what’s the point, I know I can kid anybody if I want, but what's the point of kidding myself, it just means I'm going to wallow in my misery for longer.!