Thursday, October 30, 2008 @11:04 PM
Another question we can ask ourselves is, " What is the worst that could happen? & if it did, would i still be alive? " So often, we magnify things out of proportion. The worst that could happen is probably very inconvenient, but not the end of the world.
The next question to ask yourself is, " Am i taking myself too seriously? " Have you ever noticed that you can lose a week's sleep over something that your friends would never give a second thought? This is often because we take ourselves too seriously. We figure the whole world is watching. It is not. & so what if it is? No doubt you living your life the best way you know how.
Next question, " What am i learning from this situation? " With hindsight, looking through a " retrospectoscope ", we can generally learn from our difficult times. The hard bit is being balanced & aware enough to learn while we are suffering or why we are suffering/ The happiest people tend to be able to always see their hard times as a valuable learning experience. They keep their chins up, they keep a smile on their faces, they know things will improve & that they will emerge from their trials better people. This is easier said than done!
Another question: If things really seem serious, will i be okay for the next five minutes? Once you have made it through those five minutes, just aim at getting through the next five minutes. Bite off one small chunk at a time. It saves a lot of indigestion. Also keep yourself busy. Give yourself a five minute job into which you can put your total energy. We always feel so much when we are busy.
What else can i do?
Probably the greatest way to feel better about yourself is to something for somebody else. Excessive worry & self-pity grow out of self-preoccupation. The moment you start to make other people happy, whether you are sending them flowers or digging their garden or giving them your time, you feel better! It is automatic. It is simple. & wonderful.
Disasters aren't so disastrous if we tackle them a piece at a time. Also, the sooner we recognise what we stand to gain from the experience, the easier it is to deal with it.
team.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 @9:38 PM
Everyone of us goes through times when life seems extremely difficult. We are left alone, we can;t pay bills, we have lost our jobs, we have lost a loved one. At These times we wonder how we will possibly make it through the next week. Somehow we usually do!
It is possible to lose our perspective & to paint the picture gloomier than it really it. We look forward a future which seems to be minefield of problems & wonder how any human being could copy with what we face.
A person embarking on a day's march would be foolish enough to carry enough provisions for a lifetime. Is it not strange , then, that many people carry around all their worries for the next twenty years & wonder why life is difficult? We were designed to live twenty four hours at a time. No more. It is pointless worrying about tomorrow's problems today.
Next time you find yourself despairing, ask yourself these questions.
Have i got enough air to breathe? Have i enough food for today?
( If the answer is yes, things are already looking up! )
We often overlook the fact that our important needs are being met. I like the story of the man who phoned Dr. MAX.
The conversation went this way.
The man said, " It's over. I'm finished. All my money has gone. I've lost everything."
Dr. Max asked," Can you still see?"
The man replied," Yes, I can still see."
Max asked, " Can you still walk?"
The man said," Yes, I can still walk."
Max said, " Obviously you can still ear or you wouldn't have phoned me."
" Yes, I can still hear."
" Well," Max said," I figure you have got about everything left. All you have lost is your money!"
team.
Sunday, October 5, 2008 @9:30 PM
Imagine this following piece was written by an 85 year old man who learned that he is dying.
" If i had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes next time. I wouldn't be so perfect. I would relax more. I'd limber up. I'd be sillier than I've been on this trip. In fact, I know very few things that I would take so seriously. I'd be crazier. I'd be less hygienic.
" I'd take more chances, I'd take more trips, I'd climb more mountains, I'd swim more rivers, I'd go more places I've ever been to, I'd eat more ice cream & fewer beans.
" I'd have more actual troubles & fewer imaginary ones!"
" You see, I was one of those people who lived prophylactically & sensibly & sanely hour after hour & day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, & if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of those moments - moment by moment by moment."
" I've been one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat & a parachute. If I had it to do all over again, I'd travel lighter next time."
" If I had it to do all over again, I'd start barefoot earlier in the spring & stay way later in the fall. I'd rude more merry-go-rounds, I'd watch more sunrises, & I'd play with more children, if I had my life to live over again."
" But you see, I don't."
Isn't this a beautiful reminder? We only have so long on this planet. Let's make the most of it. The old man realised that , in order o be happier, in order to get more out of life, he didn't have to go & change the world. The world is already beautiful. He had to change himself.
The world is not " perfect"/ The degree of our happiness is the distance between the way things are & the way they " ought" to be. If we cease to demand that things be perfect, the business of being happy becomes easier. We then choose to have preferences for the way things might be, & decide that if out preferences are not met, we will be happy anyway.
As the Indian Guru once told a pupil who was in desperate search of contentment, " I will give you the secret. if you want to be happy, BE HAPPY! "
:D
GOOD LUCK TO ALL MY GREAT FRIENDS & DEAR JUNIORS / SENIORS TAKING EOYS, PSLE!
team.
