What works?

Today's Tidbit is provided by Sandy Fowler and is adapted from her Choose My Life Now blog.

I did it again. I'm going along, living my life, and things are going well. I'm feeling good, happy and content. Then, I start seeing some issues. Soon I feel "off". Shortly thereafter I find myself standing there, arms flung wide, crying out for direction.

What happened? Where did all my joy go?

After a few days of wondering, I decided to spend some focused time and energy doing the things that I know "work" for me. For me that means taking down time and outdoor time, making time for meditation, regaling myself with stories of all the great things that are happening and counting my blessings.

After doing this for just one day it hit me like a ton of bricks. What "went wrong" is that I stopped doing what works. Those things aren't just practices to use in the tough times or when I feel down, they are the foundation for the good times. They are the basis for growth, happiness and success.

As Americans we have a tendency to get busy and to take the good stuff for granted. Sure, when the going gets tough we pull out all the stops and "do what we have to do". But what do you do when the going is easy and things are good? Those are the habits you need to keep things going well and to give you strength, direction and focus when they aren't.

Action: List 3 practices that sustain you. If you aren't doing all 3 then make time for them starting today and be sure to maintain them as long as they support you.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.)

The Climb

Goals are Fine and Dandy but Habits Create Your Life

Five Good Minutes: 100 Morning Practices To Help You Stay Calm & Focused All Day Long

Ponder Picture Prosper: A Proven Method for Getting What You Want in Life, Love, and Work

Caglon - take me away!

It's that time of year when stress can escalate exponentially. Between jobs, holidays, year end activities and everyday life things can get overwhelming. You start to feel like a piece of taffy, being pulled in every direction and wondering when you'll hit your breaking point.

It's a crazy, busy, stress-filled time of year that is really supposed to be fun and full of joy. So now, more than ever, it's imperative that you take care of yourself. You need to take a serious look at what you need and how you operate best then honor that, ESPECIALLY during this busy season.

When you do that you'll not only feel better, you'll have more fun, help others, and bring joy and meaning to not only your life, but others' lives as well.

Action: Do something today that is all about you, something that soothes your soul and recharges your spirit.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.)

Stress-free Holiday Tip Sheet

It will catch up with you

5 Good Minutes

Letting Go of Stress

Let the dogs find your solution!

This week's Tidbit reprinted with permission from the blog Choose My Life Now by Sandy Fowler

"Next to me in the cab of the pickup sat Benj Sinclair, at his feet a midden of road-food wrappers smeared with the scent of corn dogs, onion rings, and burritos. ...Behind him in the jump seat was Kim Reynolds, an Outward Bound instructor from Colorado known for her grace in a kayak and her long braid of brunette hair, which held the faint odor of a healthy, thirty-two-year-old woman who had sweated in the desert and hadn't used deodorant. Like Benj and me, she had eaten a dinner of pizza in Moab, Utah, a hundred miles up the road where we'd met her. Like us, she gave off the scents of garlic, onions, tomato sauce, basil, oregano and anchovies."

When I first read this introduction to some of the people in "Merle's Door - Lessons from a Freethinking Dog" it struck me as a bit odd. Actually, it only seems odd to me because I'm not a dog. The author was introducing us to the people who were with him, but he was adding in the most important information in a dog's world - our scents.

As human beings we process our world primarily through vision, tailoring everything to what we see, so experiencing a meeting from the dog's perspective of smell is a unique experience. But isn't it fascinating to "see" things from another point of view? It brings different items to our attention. It causes us to ask different questions And if I'm experiencing a problem, seeing it from a different perspective gives me access to new solutions.

Sometimes we get stuck or feel lost. But what if the answer is to experience another view point?

Can't understand why your spouse does that?

Don't know why your customers go to the competition?

Wondering how you can break into a new career?

Be the dog - check out another view point. Ask questions, seek out opinions, get down on your knees, use your nose, stand on a chair, use your ears, do anything you can to get another point of view.

Action: Look at things from a different perspective. Ask friends, strangers or neighbors about their ideas and opinions. Hire a coach or join a group that can offer different ideas and perspectives. Love that talk show? Tune in to the opposition and listen, trying to see their viewpoint. You don't have to agree, just be open to new ideas and see what comes your way.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.)

Find a new perspective

For dog lovers: "Merle's Door" is a great story that challenges your thinking and tugs at your heart.