So, this past weekend I was completely freaking out at the state of my house. It is beyond a wreck! When you have two people who work full time and a little bit who can undo faster than you can do, it can be an uphill battle. To add to that my hubby and I are not the neatest people anyways. We both can be messy in our own ways, but never as bad as it is these days.
While I was having my massive panic attack regarding the house, I stopped and sat down completely overwhelmed and then asked myself "what is going to happen if I don't get all this done today?" The answer is nothing. The sky is not going to fall. The world is not going to end. Their is not going to be any major travesty. Yep, I may be a bit annoyed by the clutter and if someone stops by I'll be embarrassed.
Once I realized that, I was much less overwhelmed and able to make progress cleaning up. My house is still a wreck, but I have a much better perspective on the situation, which has helped me tip my happy scale back in the right direction.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
4th of July Happy Day
Today was a great day. It was one of those busy days that by the end you feel like you have accomplished a lot and also managed to have fun. As a result it turned out to be a really happy day.
A lot of times, even when I'm looking forward to an activity, if I know it is going to be mentally or physically exhausting I tend to dread it at first. Heck, there have been times where I may have even tried to get out of the task if at all possible. However, these days, getting out of it doesn't even cross my mind. That doesn't mean it's always easy to get my lazy behind up and in gear, but now that I keep my happy scale in mind I can recognize activities that I know will make me happy in the end and thus it's easier to get moving.
Today I woke up started making desserts for a family get together. Once I finished that I started to fall into lazy mode. The next task on the agenda was loading the family and going to pick up a very heavy bed thus it meant brief manual labor on my part in hot sun. However, this isn't just any bed, it is a special bed for my little girl handmade by her Papa. It's supper cute and my little girl was super excited to get it. So excited this very minute she is sound asleep in her room in that bed. She never wants to sleep in her room. For the past month she has slept in the guest room, any room but hers until tonight. So, I knew that considering how special this bed was, although I was not motivated to do the physical work associated with the task, the end result would be much happiness. Needless to say, I got up, got moving and it was well worth it.
After we finished the manual labor part of our morning, and I do mean right after as in within minutes, we headed off to the beach for a family gathering. We got there just in time for the rain to clear up, to have a shrimp boil, and to then enjoy the water with the kids. It was so much fun. I love watching people I love having fun, especially my daughter. Let me tell you, she had a blast! It was fantastic. Her and her cousins were just adorable together.
It doesn't sound like all that spectacular of a day, but it was. It was just one of those rewarding days. And now, if my daughter will sleep in until eight tomorrow we will be off to the start of another happy day. Talk about tipping the happy scale! I'm thinking I can keep dreaming about little bit sleeping until eight. I honestly can't remember the last time she did that at home. Oh well, I can't lie no matter how early it is, when I see that little smiling face come creeping down the hall in the morning, it always makes me smile. So no matter how tired I am, it is always a happy day when it starts with one of her smiles.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Fear of Failure
Wednesday I talked about how important it is to step outside our comfort zone. Well, I'll be the first to recognize that sometimes that is easier said than done. I have failed many times in my life, however I always get back up and try again. It's not always easy to try again. Sometimes it is just plain hard to get back up and try.
Today I am actually dealing with this in my own life. In the book The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin talks about setting and telling yourself you only have to do something for a few minutes in order to get motivated. Often once the allotted time runs out, you don't want to stop what you dreaded starting. This is the technique I am testing in order to overcome my fears related to a little project I want to work on but can't get myself to do.
I set my clock timer to go off in one hour. During that time I worked on my project. As it turns out I actually did work on the project I've been avoiding for more than an hour. This seems to have worked for today. Surprise surprise I actually had fun.
If we don't try we will always wonder "what if?" What is worse, knowing the answer or not knowing the answer?
Today I am actually dealing with this in my own life. In the book The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin talks about setting and telling yourself you only have to do something for a few minutes in order to get motivated. Often once the allotted time runs out, you don't want to stop what you dreaded starting. This is the technique I am testing in order to overcome my fears related to a little project I want to work on but can't get myself to do.
I set my clock timer to go off in one hour. During that time I worked on my project. As it turns out I actually did work on the project I've been avoiding for more than an hour. This seems to have worked for today. Surprise surprise I actually had fun.
If we don't try we will always wonder "what if?" What is worse, knowing the answer or not knowing the answer?
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Negative Nelly's
I get so irritated when I hear people putting down other peoples dreams. The world is full of people who are afraid of change and can come up with reason after reason why things can't be done. You have two choices on how to deal with them.
Option 1: Listen to them and let them bring you down and give up before you even start.
Option 2: Listen to them and let them tell you why it won't work while you figure out for each obstacle how to make it work.
Can you guess which one I vote for? Often the neigh sayors have lots of great objections. They are often able to bring up obsticals we have not thought of yet. Some of the objections are hog wash, but some are true obsticals. The more they point them out, the less work we have to do. You know why? Because the fact is whether it is a business you want to go into, a peronal goal you want to reach like losing weight or running a marathon these obsticals may eventually present themselves. By these Negative Nelly's doing all the negative thinking for us, we get to focus on the positive. We get to think about the solutions. Knowing what the obstical is makes it easier to jump over and keep moving. These Negative Nelly's may think they are keeping us down, like they do themselves, but they are not. They are just making us better prepared and more likely to succeed.
So go for it listen to the Negative Nelly's!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Step Out of the Box
One of the things in life that makes me feel the absolute best is stepping outside my box. When I take chances, do things I have been afraid to do, or try to do things I have not thought I could do, I always feel so fantastic afterwards. Even if I fail, I feel stronger. My most memorable successes come from stepping outside my comfort zone. I believe this is true of most people.
I have gotten away from doing this and it shows. I think I became complacent and then apprehensive of rocking the boat. My life is so great in so many ways, and trust me I am beyond grateful for this but it does not mean that I should quit striving and growing because I'm scared of standing on unsteady ground again.
When I was younger I use to decide I wanted to do something and I'd just do it. That was before the days of family and responsibilities. Now, I talk talk talk about doing things and to never do them. I can talk myself in and out something ten times in one day, especially when it is something that I find intimidating. I use to get butterflies in my stomach at the thought of a big intimidating goal, now I a tightness of the chest. I have to say I liked the butterflies better.
Regardless of whether it's a tightness of the chest or butterflies in my stomach, it is still a sign that I'm about to step outside my box and onto unsteady ground and that is a good thing. So reality check- the anxiety in my chest, caused by a fear not just rocking the boat but sinking it completely is 100% irrational. That is why I have started stepping outside my box again. As I'm sure you have heard, the first step is always the hardest...so cliche but true. I have found the more I do it the easier it gets and the happier I get.
Tip your happy scale- step outside your box!
I have gotten away from doing this and it shows. I think I became complacent and then apprehensive of rocking the boat. My life is so great in so many ways, and trust me I am beyond grateful for this but it does not mean that I should quit striving and growing because I'm scared of standing on unsteady ground again.
When I was younger I use to decide I wanted to do something and I'd just do it. That was before the days of family and responsibilities. Now, I talk talk talk about doing things and to never do them. I can talk myself in and out something ten times in one day, especially when it is something that I find intimidating. I use to get butterflies in my stomach at the thought of a big intimidating goal, now I a tightness of the chest. I have to say I liked the butterflies better.
Regardless of whether it's a tightness of the chest or butterflies in my stomach, it is still a sign that I'm about to step outside my box and onto unsteady ground and that is a good thing. So reality check- the anxiety in my chest, caused by a fear not just rocking the boat but sinking it completely is 100% irrational. That is why I have started stepping outside my box again. As I'm sure you have heard, the first step is always the hardest...so cliche but true. I have found the more I do it the easier it gets and the happier I get.
Tip your happy scale- step outside your box!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I'm Unhealthy and I know It
One of the categories I mentioned yesterday which needs dire attention is healthy living. In order to tip the happy scale further in to happy land, I really need to get back to living healthy. This means more nutritious eating, more active lifestyle, and thus getting in shape.
There are so many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle and losing weight I don't know if I can even begin to name them all. Here are my top ten reasons:
1. Health- feel better, better health stats, lower risk of diabetes.
2. Energy- more energy to get things done and to keep up with kids.
3. Self-esteem- feel much better in social and professional settings when I feel good about myself.
4. Self-expression- much more fun and much easier to find clothes that fit my personality when I'm fit.
5. Role Model- much better role model for my daughter on how to live.
6. Mental Clarity- the better the body works, the better the mind works as well.
7. Fun- I have a lot more fun, because I am physically able to do more things I enjoy.
8. Attitude- it's natural to have a better attitude as a result of all the positive benefits of being healthy.
9 Perceptions- whether it be because of unintended bias, stereotypes or even changes in how an individual carries themselves as a result of perceptions of how they will be treated, people do get treated differently, and are assumed to have various characteristics based on appearance. The better looking an individual the more favorable the stereotypes from competence to cleanliness.
10. Reach Goal-it feels so good to reach a goal, what satisfaction.
In a former life I use to be very healthy. I ate extremely healthy, exercised not only for the health benefits but also because it was fun. Living that lifestyle made me feel very good. I have never been 100% happy with my physical appearance, but there was a time when I was fairly happy with it. I remember a time when I enjoyed shopping. I remember when I did activities with friends other than going out to eat. I want all that back and I have no doubt I can have it back if I am willing to do the work. Nothing worth doing comes without effort.
I'm a Pinterest addict. I've found several motivational quotes there, here are a few I found especially inspiring related to fitness, but these could be applied to any big goal.
There are so many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle and losing weight I don't know if I can even begin to name them all. Here are my top ten reasons:
1. Health- feel better, better health stats, lower risk of diabetes.
2. Energy- more energy to get things done and to keep up with kids.
3. Self-esteem- feel much better in social and professional settings when I feel good about myself.
4. Self-expression- much more fun and much easier to find clothes that fit my personality when I'm fit.
5. Role Model- much better role model for my daughter on how to live.
6. Mental Clarity- the better the body works, the better the mind works as well.
7. Fun- I have a lot more fun, because I am physically able to do more things I enjoy.
8. Attitude- it's natural to have a better attitude as a result of all the positive benefits of being healthy.
9 Perceptions- whether it be because of unintended bias, stereotypes or even changes in how an individual carries themselves as a result of perceptions of how they will be treated, people do get treated differently, and are assumed to have various characteristics based on appearance. The better looking an individual the more favorable the stereotypes from competence to cleanliness.
10. Reach Goal-it feels so good to reach a goal, what satisfaction.
In a former life I use to be very healthy. I ate extremely healthy, exercised not only for the health benefits but also because it was fun. Living that lifestyle made me feel very good. I have never been 100% happy with my physical appearance, but there was a time when I was fairly happy with it. I remember a time when I enjoyed shopping. I remember when I did activities with friends other than going out to eat. I want all that back and I have no doubt I can have it back if I am willing to do the work. Nothing worth doing comes without effort.
I'm a Pinterest addict. I've found several motivational quotes there, here are a few I found especially inspiring related to fitness, but these could be applied to any big goal.
Sometimes facing a problem we have ignored is daunting. I've found the sooner I face something I've been avoiding the better I feel. Avoidance just makes a problem grow, I think my behind is proof of that! (ha!) In all seriousness though, no matter what the problem, it's amazing the relief you feel when you face it head on.
I was recently faced with a work issue I avoided that was significantly impacting my happiness. I can not begin to express the level of stress I felt and ultimately even the impact it had on my self-esteem. Recently, I decided I just had to deal with it head on, no matter the outcome. When I made that decision and dealt with the situation, I felt like a piece of me I had lost returned. It was empowering. It's time to do it again.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Getting Started
OK, so in my last post I gave you an introduction to my purpose on this blog. Today I am going to tell you about the areas I want to focus on.
In order to determine that categories I want to focus on, I revisited a life plan I had to complete several years ago. I once worked for a company that required we all complete a life plan. We had to determine the major categories in our life that were important to us, determine our ultimate goals in these categories, and a time frame for completing each. Then we had to work backwards and determine how we would reach each goal.
Let's say an ultimate goal had a target date of ten years, if that was the case, where did I need to be in five years to reach the ten year goal? Then where did I need to be in one year to reach the five year goal? Ultimately I ended up with a list of action items that I needed to accomplish today in order to reach each mini goal needed for the final goal. I personally loved this and I am considering revisiting this approach. For today though I am just going to focus on the categories, like those in the life plan.
The life plan template we were provided with gave some initial category examples which we could use or we could modify and reorder in terms of priority based on our own needs. An example of some of the categories that were listed are:
In order to determine that categories I want to focus on, I revisited a life plan I had to complete several years ago. I once worked for a company that required we all complete a life plan. We had to determine the major categories in our life that were important to us, determine our ultimate goals in these categories, and a time frame for completing each. Then we had to work backwards and determine how we would reach each goal.
Let's say an ultimate goal had a target date of ten years, if that was the case, where did I need to be in five years to reach the ten year goal? Then where did I need to be in one year to reach the five year goal? Ultimately I ended up with a list of action items that I needed to accomplish today in order to reach each mini goal needed for the final goal. I personally loved this and I am considering revisiting this approach. For today though I am just going to focus on the categories, like those in the life plan.
The life plan template we were provided with gave some initial category examples which we could use or we could modify and reorder in terms of priority based on our own needs. An example of some of the categories that were listed are:
- Family
- Finances/Security
- Spiritual/Religion/Community
- Health/Wellness
- Professional/Career
- Social/Friendships
- Finances
- Family
- Social
- Self-Fulfillment
- Healthy Living
- Spiritual
- Professional
These are the categories that are important to me in my life and that warrant exploration and continuous dedication and improvement. The big red flashing light is currently on healthy living, which is screaming, "I've been neglected! I've been neglected! I need attention, NOW!" Thus, I think I will be doing some heavy duty focusing there in the very near future.
I have put thought into each of these areas and I can vision what happiness is in each, which I gladly plan to share. When I look back at my life plan from several years ago, I am amazed at what I have accomplished and what has actually changed. Some things I wanted, I now realize really are not necessary to be happy. There are also things that were missing from my plan that I now know are very important to my personal happiness.
I plan to expand more on each category and tell you not only what each means to me, but also things I have worked on in each as well. Eventually I would like to share stories from others as well.
Have a great day tipping you happy scale!
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