Tips From The Muse
Copyright © 2008 by Tricia Stuart
All Rights Reserved
We are lucky that we have the freedom to vote as we choose, unlike in dictator-ruled countries. According to the 2007 Statistical Abstract of the United States, which gets its information from the US Census Bureau Population Reports, 65.9% of the voting age population over age 18 was registered to vote in the 2004 elections, but only 58.3% of those registered voters actually voted. I wonder how differently the 2004 elections might have turned out if every person of voting age in the country had voted. Presidential, vice presidential, Senate, House of Representatives, gubernatorial, and many state and local elections will be held November 4, 2008. If you are registered to vote, by all means vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, you have time to register. Vote! Our continued freedom depends on it. It’s easy and it’s free. If you feel you need more information about this year’s elections, the candidates, and the process, check out the following web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008#Candidates_and_potential_candidates
Did you know that if you write 500-1000 words a day (one-to-two double-spaced pages) at least five days a week, for nine months to a year, you would complete the first draft of a book? Where is that book you’ve always been meaning to write? Reading is the inspiration for writing. What do you read?
What would you like to accomplish? If you spent 15-30 minutes a day, every day, toward your goal, what accomplishments will you have achieved at the end of a year? Great things are accomplished a little bit at a time over a long period of time.
If you feel blue or tired during these darker winter days (especially if you live in the Northern climes), you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Natural sunlight (when you can get it) or sitting under a special light that has full-spectrum light for at least 30 minutes a day can help. When weather allows, sitting outside, undisturbed, for at least 15 minutes a day, and just focusing on your breathing is a relaxing, and centering activity.
Are your internal messages positive? If your mental dialogue doesn’t make you feel good, change the messages. Give yourself a pat on the back for all the good things that you do every day. Appreciate yourself for all your good qualities. The way others view you begins with how you see yourself.
How do you spend your time and energy? Energy spent on meaningful tasks that bring joy and add value to your life (and to other’s lives) brings happiness. How do you feel? If the things that you do result in feelings of anger or turmoil, ask yourself why you are doing them, and then just stop. The fabric of your life is built of the brick and mortar of your actions and thoughts, and how you spend your time and energy.
We get busy with work, obligations to family and friends, and To Do lists to keep our selves and our home life together. From time to time, problems arise that tug at our attention. After awhile, instead of being human beings, we’ve become human doings. Take time to just BE. Sit still, away from everything and everyone, in a quiet place and just pay attention to your breathing, gently pushing away all intruding thoughts. Practice this for 15-30 minutes a day, and the calming influence it will have will give clarity to your life.
Whenever beginning something new, perhaps something you’ve never done before that is particularly challenging or scary, allow yourself to begin with a clean slate. Your life begins in the present moment and starts from this moment forward. Each day you are a brand shiny new energy source full of power and possibility.
Everything may look greener on the other side of the fence until you get there. How often and how much do you appreciate what you have now?
When trying to make a change in one of your habits, whether to improve diet, health, exercise, sleep, productivity, or something else, keep a journal about the details of your current habits that include what you do, when you do it (dates, and what times of day), how much (quantity) or how long (duration) you are doing it, and then write a plan for altering that habit. The journal is a report that you can review that tells you how well you are doing and the reasons why you are succeeding, or times you have not met your goals. Keep the journal going and do not allow self-blame or guilt. Be sure to write down how you felt about it at the time. Seek a counselor or partner to help coach and empower you in what you want to achieve. Strong willpower may not be enough to get you through it, but a strong achievement partner will help pave an easier path for your success. The journal brings all of your actions up-front-and-center so you can see the path clearer without rose-colored glasses.
Have you been a stranger in a room full of people and walked up to join the conversation of a small group of people only to have them ignore you? If you are having a conversation, when a new person joins you, welcome them, give them eye contact and a smile, and briefly explain what the conversation is about. This will help the person feel included. If you are new to the group, you want to be welcomed in this way, too. If you happen to be the one talking, give every person in your group eye contact while talking, allow others to comment, and let others take the lead. Remember, listening is just as important as talking, and all people are important. When you value others, you too, will be valued.
Have you thought about the clutter of incompletes in your life? Uncompleted tasks take attention and energy, forming mental black clouds that shadow you everywhere you go. Ask yourself what is really important in your life. Analyze your To-Do list and make the decision to do it, delete it, delegate it, or dump it. What are the priorities in your life? Be brave: Let busy work go. No one ever saved his or her life (or someone else’s) through busy work, and no one wins any prizes for it. Remember to include relaxation time to re-energize your life on your priority list. What should be on that list? Professional and personal goal achievement, personal improvement, loving self and loving others, relaxation to renew and re-energize, learning and exploring something new that stretches your experience and viewpoint, nurturing and supporting self and others in all aspects of life, volunteering to help others, connecting with others in positive ways through actions and conversation, enjoy vocation and avocation, and find the passions in your life and just do it. All that other stuff really isn’t important and it takes up mental space that would be better spent doing something that energizes your life and brings you joy.
