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Ideas for a Better Life
These ideas can lead to a wonderful life. If your life seems bad, and you act that way, there is no room for change, no road to make it better.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1610187/ideas_for_a_better_life.html
Monday, March 30, 2009
Ideas for a Better Life
Ideas for a Better Life
Even if your life isn’t wonderful, act like it is.
Every now and then ask yourself, ‘How can I help people?’
Smile at strangers, especially babies. A smile from a baby is a precious gift.
Helping with no thought of reward is a reward itself.
Every now and then, go outside and just ‘be’ with the sky.
If you see someone looking lovely, tell them.
If someone offers you a compliment, just smile and say ‘Thank you’.
Try to look at things through the other person’s eyes.
Never complain unless you’re prepared to help make it better.
Assume everybody is at least as nice as you are.
Try to make your best behaviour your only behaviour.
Bad things are lessons in life, embrace them and learn.
If you have nothing to do, do nothing. It is a gift.
There are no problems, only challenges and chances to learn.
Every now and then ask yourself, ‘How can I help people?’
Smile at strangers, especially babies. A smile from a baby is a precious gift.
Helping with no thought of reward is a reward itself.
Every now and then, go outside and just ‘be’ with the sky.
If you see someone looking lovely, tell them.
If someone offers you a compliment, just smile and say ‘Thank you’.
Try to look at things through the other person’s eyes.
Never complain unless you’re prepared to help make it better.
Assume everybody is at least as nice as you are.
Try to make your best behaviour your only behaviour.
Bad things are lessons in life, embrace them and learn.
If you have nothing to do, do nothing. It is a gift.
There are no problems, only challenges and chances to learn.
Stewing – Good for Fruit, Bad for People
Some people worry and stew over issues, and never focus on getting to the main cause of their problems. Stewing is great for fruit, but it is bad for people. If a person is stewing over an issue, they tend to go over and over it, never going toward a solution.
Another way of dealing with problems, a method that has been found to be effective in a huge range of situations, is to actually write your thoughts down. Journal writing has been going on for centuries.
Journal writing is not just keeping a diary. People from many different cultures have written in journals for many different reasons, including personal reflection, record keeping, scientific observation, cultural analysis, and travel documentation. These journals are an amazing record people’s lives from the past.
So if you begin keeping a journal, you can be creating a resource for the future, both for yourself and for those who come after you. A journal is different from a diary in a few vital ways. A journal can take up pages and pages, it is not limited to one page with the date and available space dictated. A journal is for whichever days you have the time to write, and you won’t have accusing blank pages if you can’t write anything for a while. Many attempts at keeping a diary are abandoned because of those empty pages that say you haven’t been doing what you should.
A journal though, is a place where you can write down thoughts as they occur to you, you can burrow deeply into your thoughts and you can travel far and wide with your thoughts. As you journey, you will make discoveries about yourself and others, and about your life. You might realise you are in the wrong relationship, you might re-discover the love you have for your partner.
It will be all written down for you, and for you alone, unless you want to share. It is important to put a date on your journal entry, so that in the future, when you go back and read what you have written, you can remember the circumstances you were facing when you made the entry. It can be empowering for you to go back and read, and realise you solved whatever the problem was with the knowledge you gained through your journal.
Many creative people have kept journals, including perhaps the most creative person ever Leonardo Da Vinci. He kept his journal as the place to try ideas out, to see them in two dimensions so that they could later become three dimensional. Where would the world be now if Leonardo hadn’t kept a journal? We would be a poorer place.
You may not have the mind power of Leonardo Da Vinci, but, with your journal, you can become a more thoughtful and more creative person. Your journal can be the first home for new poetry, you can try out new characters or story ideas in your journal. Some people plot out ideas for craft projects, which become an invaluable resource when starting new projects. You have a record of what did and didn’t work, so you don’t need to make the same mistakes again.
If you have personal problems you are worrying about, your journal can be where you try out ideas, rehearse conversations you might have. Your journal can be where you make a list of the worst thing that might happen, given the current situation. Sometimes, when your problem is written down in your journal, you might realise it isn’t as bad as you’d thought, and others have problems far worse than yours.
A journal doesn’t have to be ornate and fancy, but some people like the idea of having a very special book to be their journal, to emphasise the importance of the journal in their life. Some others keep it simple believing the words they write down are the most important thing. Both types of journal are correct – the journal is so personal to you, you cannot be wrong in the type of journal you want to write in. Lined pages, if you are not into drawing, make the writing and reading of your journal easier, but blank pages are ideal if you draw diagrams and word webs. Check out the stationery section of a store and find the journal you want.
Try to set aside a certain time for your journal writing, but don’t stress if you can’t write. And if you sit down with your journal there open in front of you, and then can’t think of anything to write, write that down. Then if you think you are wasting you time and you are stupid, write that to. Start a conversation with yourself, arguing whether you are or aren’t stupid. You might be surprised at where you end up going with that discussion. Just get in the habit of simply opening up your mind and writing down the words as they come. There is nothing lovelier than re-reading you words months or years later and realising the wonder and beauty of your words.
Keeping a journal is a promise you keep to yourself, that you think your own words are worthwhile and precious. That thought is a nurturing thought and your self-nurturing is vital in maintaining your idea of self-worth. You are special, your journal proves it, in your own words.
Give journal writing a place in your life. You deserve it.
Another way of dealing with problems, a method that has been found to be effective in a huge range of situations, is to actually write your thoughts down. Journal writing has been going on for centuries.
Journal writing is not just keeping a diary. People from many different cultures have written in journals for many different reasons, including personal reflection, record keeping, scientific observation, cultural analysis, and travel documentation. These journals are an amazing record people’s lives from the past.
So if you begin keeping a journal, you can be creating a resource for the future, both for yourself and for those who come after you. A journal is different from a diary in a few vital ways. A journal can take up pages and pages, it is not limited to one page with the date and available space dictated. A journal is for whichever days you have the time to write, and you won’t have accusing blank pages if you can’t write anything for a while. Many attempts at keeping a diary are abandoned because of those empty pages that say you haven’t been doing what you should.
A journal though, is a place where you can write down thoughts as they occur to you, you can burrow deeply into your thoughts and you can travel far and wide with your thoughts. As you journey, you will make discoveries about yourself and others, and about your life. You might realise you are in the wrong relationship, you might re-discover the love you have for your partner.
It will be all written down for you, and for you alone, unless you want to share. It is important to put a date on your journal entry, so that in the future, when you go back and read what you have written, you can remember the circumstances you were facing when you made the entry. It can be empowering for you to go back and read, and realise you solved whatever the problem was with the knowledge you gained through your journal.
Many creative people have kept journals, including perhaps the most creative person ever Leonardo Da Vinci. He kept his journal as the place to try ideas out, to see them in two dimensions so that they could later become three dimensional. Where would the world be now if Leonardo hadn’t kept a journal? We would be a poorer place.
You may not have the mind power of Leonardo Da Vinci, but, with your journal, you can become a more thoughtful and more creative person. Your journal can be the first home for new poetry, you can try out new characters or story ideas in your journal. Some people plot out ideas for craft projects, which become an invaluable resource when starting new projects. You have a record of what did and didn’t work, so you don’t need to make the same mistakes again.
If you have personal problems you are worrying about, your journal can be where you try out ideas, rehearse conversations you might have. Your journal can be where you make a list of the worst thing that might happen, given the current situation. Sometimes, when your problem is written down in your journal, you might realise it isn’t as bad as you’d thought, and others have problems far worse than yours.
A journal doesn’t have to be ornate and fancy, but some people like the idea of having a very special book to be their journal, to emphasise the importance of the journal in their life. Some others keep it simple believing the words they write down are the most important thing. Both types of journal are correct – the journal is so personal to you, you cannot be wrong in the type of journal you want to write in. Lined pages, if you are not into drawing, make the writing and reading of your journal easier, but blank pages are ideal if you draw diagrams and word webs. Check out the stationery section of a store and find the journal you want.
Try to set aside a certain time for your journal writing, but don’t stress if you can’t write. And if you sit down with your journal there open in front of you, and then can’t think of anything to write, write that down. Then if you think you are wasting you time and you are stupid, write that to. Start a conversation with yourself, arguing whether you are or aren’t stupid. You might be surprised at where you end up going with that discussion. Just get in the habit of simply opening up your mind and writing down the words as they come. There is nothing lovelier than re-reading you words months or years later and realising the wonder and beauty of your words.
Keeping a journal is a promise you keep to yourself, that you think your own words are worthwhile and precious. That thought is a nurturing thought and your self-nurturing is vital in maintaining your idea of self-worth. You are special, your journal proves it, in your own words.
Give journal writing a place in your life. You deserve it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wondering What to Blog About
Some days are filled with ideas, some days are not. Today brought one of the not filled with ideas moments to me when I decided it was time to finally create a new post for this blog.
I'm feeling tired, a little concerned about on of our dog's health, and worn out after a lawn bowls game.
I also am contending with on and on barking from another of our dogs, and warfare happening on the TV screen about five metres from where I'm sitting (my son is home from school and killing the enemy, in his loving kind of way).
I didn't feel up to writing a lengthy piece on creativity, but I had to do something.
So I opened a blank page on my computer and started typing in phrases, just as they occurred to me, based on the theme of creativity and wellness. I did a couple of very scratchy Google searches first and got typing.
This is what I came up with, all within the space of about ten minutes.
If I can do this, this quickly, imagine what you can do with more time and more research. Any one of my points could lead to something much, much bigger. And every person would come up with different results, because we are human beings, we are creative creatures!
Let you mind go free and ssee what you can come up with.
I'm feeling tired, a little concerned about on of our dog's health, and worn out after a lawn bowls game.
I also am contending with on and on barking from another of our dogs, and warfare happening on the TV screen about five metres from where I'm sitting (my son is home from school and killing the enemy, in his loving kind of way).
I didn't feel up to writing a lengthy piece on creativity, but I had to do something.
So I opened a blank page on my computer and started typing in phrases, just as they occurred to me, based on the theme of creativity and wellness. I did a couple of very scratchy Google searches first and got typing.
This is what I came up with, all within the space of about ten minutes.
- Arts and good health
- Creativity may ward against Alzheimer's disease
- Dancing your way to happiness
- Literature, thinking and health
- New ideas, new ways of living and thinking
- Creative crafts to help with arthritis
- Sick of the daily grind of “What’s for tea”? Get creative, you’ll enjoy the cooking more, and they might get a pleasant surprise
- So many writers are mad – does literature lead to insanity?
- Creativity can help with depression
- Creative people are fun people
- Ideas are never totally bad, bad ideas lead the way to good ideas
- Strengthen you child's chances in life, nurture them and nurture their creativity too
If I can do this, this quickly, imagine what you can do with more time and more research. Any one of my points could lead to something much, much bigger. And every person would come up with different results, because we are human beings, we are creative creatures!
Let you mind go free and ssee what you can come up with.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Does This Appeal to You?
"You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life." -Les Brown
I don't know much about this Les Brown person, but I know he's a motivational speaker and best selling author, so I guess he knows something of what he's talking about.
I read this quote on this website - the quotes change daily, and I don't always pay a lot of attention to them, but this one just jumped out and nipped me. I think that is because I did something yesterday that may finally lead to meeting some of my urgent goals, that I've just been floating past for years now.
A job, a paid job, is very important in our society. If you can't give a good answer to the question "What do you do?", then you're often deemed to be nobody. Up until now I've given answers that don't usually make people think more of me. And up until now, I haven't been pulling my weight on the family finance situation.
But yesterday, I had an interview with a person from an employment agency, and together we decided I will train to be a trainer and assessor at TAFE. I finally think I know the answer to the question of what I want to do when I grow up.
Of course, I'm a forty-five year old wife and mother, so I guess I am finally grown up, but still...
Anyway, this is what I'm going to do, and this morning my son congratulated me for making the decision. He's fifteen, he already knows what he's going to do when he grows up. When I was his age I wanted to do 'something with animals'. Well, I'm a dog breeder and owner, but that's not enough to be a career and the wages aren't great!
I love helping people, I'm not afraid to speak in public, I love giving my own opinion. I'm going to be a trainer, and it feels good!
I don't know much about this Les Brown person, but I know he's a motivational speaker and best selling author, so I guess he knows something of what he's talking about.
I read this quote on this website - the quotes change daily, and I don't always pay a lot of attention to them, but this one just jumped out and nipped me. I think that is because I did something yesterday that may finally lead to meeting some of my urgent goals, that I've just been floating past for years now.
A job, a paid job, is very important in our society. If you can't give a good answer to the question "What do you do?", then you're often deemed to be nobody. Up until now I've given answers that don't usually make people think more of me. And up until now, I haven't been pulling my weight on the family finance situation.
But yesterday, I had an interview with a person from an employment agency, and together we decided I will train to be a trainer and assessor at TAFE. I finally think I know the answer to the question of what I want to do when I grow up.
Of course, I'm a forty-five year old wife and mother, so I guess I am finally grown up, but still...
Anyway, this is what I'm going to do, and this morning my son congratulated me for making the decision. He's fifteen, he already knows what he's going to do when he grows up. When I was his age I wanted to do 'something with animals'. Well, I'm a dog breeder and owner, but that's not enough to be a career and the wages aren't great!
I love helping people, I'm not afraid to speak in public, I love giving my own opinion. I'm going to be a trainer, and it feels good!
Monday, March 9, 2009
I do heaps of stuff, some of it I can't tell you about.
I take care of the animals, human and canine, and dream a bit, think a lot, write stuff. The things I think about would make you blush, or if they wouldn't make you blush you should be ashamed of yourself!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Creativity and Lawn Bowls
Can you see a link between the two? Creativity is letting your mind go free and come up with new things, it is seeing new links, making connections you've never thought of before.
I was playing lawn bowls this morning, and I feel I had moved into new territory. When my skipper showed me, from the other end of the rink, what she wanted me to do with my bowl, I stepped onto the mat and imagined the shot I would have to perform, where my bowl would end up, and what the result would be.
Previously, I've gone through this process, or to be more truthful, I have tried to go through this process, only to end up with a pathetic attempt at it that leads to nothing good.
But today, on the mat, it all happened. I put the bowl exactly where my skip wanted it. We'll ignore all of my other bowls of the day, some of which were good, some OK, some terrible. This one bowl was just perfect. It takes many more bowls than just one perfect one to win a game. You have to imagine you are getting somewhere, otherwise your bad shots will bring you down and perhaps lead you to leaving the game of bowls.
The skipper has to have knowledge, but also imagination, to be able to know what needs to be done from the other end of the rink. The team members all have to imagine a result that leads them to working at making their game better, bowl after bowl, hour after hour, week after week.
There's also the fun of deciding what to blame when the bowl doesn't go where you wanted it to go. The wind, the green, the moron in the rink next to you who stood in exactly the wrong spot and so ruined your concentration.
And if you decide the fault was yours, you have to have the creativity to see beyond your failure, to the glorious time in the future when every shot will be the best shot, and you and your team will be the winners!
It's a funny old game, lawn bowls.
I was playing lawn bowls this morning, and I feel I had moved into new territory. When my skipper showed me, from the other end of the rink, what she wanted me to do with my bowl, I stepped onto the mat and imagined the shot I would have to perform, where my bowl would end up, and what the result would be.
Previously, I've gone through this process, or to be more truthful, I have tried to go through this process, only to end up with a pathetic attempt at it that leads to nothing good.
But today, on the mat, it all happened. I put the bowl exactly where my skip wanted it. We'll ignore all of my other bowls of the day, some of which were good, some OK, some terrible. This one bowl was just perfect. It takes many more bowls than just one perfect one to win a game. You have to imagine you are getting somewhere, otherwise your bad shots will bring you down and perhaps lead you to leaving the game of bowls.
The skipper has to have knowledge, but also imagination, to be able to know what needs to be done from the other end of the rink. The team members all have to imagine a result that leads them to working at making their game better, bowl after bowl, hour after hour, week after week.
There's also the fun of deciding what to blame when the bowl doesn't go where you wanted it to go. The wind, the green, the moron in the rink next to you who stood in exactly the wrong spot and so ruined your concentration.
And if you decide the fault was yours, you have to have the creativity to see beyond your failure, to the glorious time in the future when every shot will be the best shot, and you and your team will be the winners!
It's a funny old game, lawn bowls.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Evil Side of Creativity
We're all creative people here, aren't we? And we're proud of our creativity and nurture it too, but do you ever think about the Dark Side of Creativity?
Because, of course, there is always a Dark side to everything. Confused? Well, what I'm talking about are the uses of creativity that don't bring light or goodness or understanding to the world.
Advertising. Politician's spin. Media advisers. Journalists.
All are creative users of words, but they toy with the dark side, and sometimes teeter over into pure black. When a politician puts their spin to an issue, or the spin their media advisers have advised them to use, that's when creativity can be used for bad purposes, if not actual Evil.
Should this worry us? It worries me. I want to be able to believe things when I am told them with seeming sincerity. I rarely believe pollies.
Advertising, well, the Romans had that one sussed our thousands of years ago - Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware - it seems to have been coined just for today's advertisers, doesn't it?
Does anybody read the newspapers anymore and expect to read things that are true? By the time the journo and sub-editor are finished with facts, they often take the truth right out of it. And so many times journalists take the easy way out and rely on media releases, without bothering to do any checking. Who knows what the real truth is?
When I write, I'm not always writing strict truth, but I aim to have a inner core of truth in everything I write. The facts might be slippery, but the aim and inner meaning are true. That is my aim.
Advertising, well, the Romans had that one sussed our thousands of years ago - Caveat Emptor - let the buyer beware - it seems to have been coined just for today's advertisers, doesn't it?
Does anybody read the newspapers anymore and expect to read things that are true? By the time the journo and sub-editor are finished with facts, they often take the truth right out of it. And so many times journalists take the easy way out and rely on media releases, without bothering to do any checking. Who knows what the real truth is?
When I write, I'm not always writing strict truth, but I aim to have a inner core of truth in everything I write. The facts might be slippery, but the aim and inner meaning are true. That is my aim.
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