Friday, June 22, 2007

Live the Life of Your Dreams

That was the title of the talk I gave last evening to a small but energetic group of women who braved an untimely thunderstorm to attend my talk sponsored by the Women's Services Dept. of the Town of Brookhaven. How do we define the "Life of our Dreams"? To me it's a life with little or no stress accompanied by complete joy and fulfillment. We started off with the little or no stress part.

In order for something to change in your life, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE!!

It starts with INTENTION. We have to consciously intend to have a life of joy. We either fashion our own lives or we live by default. Tomorrow, as soon as you wake up pay attention to what thoughts occupy your mind. Don't be critical, just observe. Does you mind start racing, stressing out over all you have to do that day? That's what happens to many of us. Unfortunately, too often things go downhill from there.

Tomorrow, after you observe what's going on in your head as soon as you wake up, try something a little different. Try just lying there in bed for one minute being grateful for the gift of living another day. Be grateful for the gift of Life. Then as you throw your legs over the side of the bed and stand up, appreciate your ability to get out of bed by yourself. As you walk down to the bathroom appreciate the fact that your have indoor plumbing (consider how many folks in this world don't have indoor plumbing). Notice how good you feel while bringing to mind these thoughts of appreciation.

It doesn't take that much to make this small turn in consciousness each morning. Before you know it, with daily practice, you will have developed the habit of giving thanks as soon as you wake up. It's a big step in beginning to live a life with little or no stress. You'll feel good just appreciating these, too often taken for granted, mundane aspects of life. But even more, you'll feel better yet realizing that you have CHOSEN a course of action that made you feel good. You will have begun to fashion your life the way you want to be.

Read more about a no stress life in my book, "Simple Happiness, 52 Easy Ways to Lighten Up"

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