Positive Pause – 7th November, 2016 – 3 Things We Must Do Every Morning

3 things we must do every morning3 things we must do every morning.  Many of us say that life is either good or bad to us. The statement, “I hope life is treating you well” is an example of this. However, the real question that I ask this week is this:  “Are you treating life well?

By looking at life from the perspective that we have an active role in how “good” or “bad” our life has been, we start to feel a sense of empowerment rather than of victimisation. That is not to say that we don’t all meet challenges along the way. Victor Frankl, the Jewish psychiatrist who survived Auschwitz and was exposed to the most adverse of conditions said: 3 things we must do every morning

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
Following on from my Positive Pause last week about Carpe Diem, spontaneity, seizing the day and making the most of our lives, I just had to share the video below with you. Sadhguru is an Indian spiritual Yogi leader and a man of many talents.  He studied English literature in his youth and has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to live their lives to their fullest potential. One of his famous quotes is:

“If you choose, you can be joyful every moment of your life. It’s time you made your choice.”
Sadhguru
This week, I welcomed the opportunity that mid-term can give us to come off the merry-go-round of school runs, activities and also juggling full-time work and instead to be able to spend time with my family and friends, to watch movies, read books and generally just be. I even found myself knitting- something I haven’t done for probably 30 years! I found it a very therapeutic activity and it connected me back to the 10-year-old who loved to create new things. I remember a jumper that I knitted that was hilariously misshapen and yet I was so proud of it.

We all need to slow down a little sometimes so that we can build a reserve of physical and mental energy for when life picks up again.  Maintaining that slow pace and connecting with it no matter what mayhem is going on outside is a skill worth cultivating.

Many of us search for things that will give us clear instructions on how we can be truly happy and attain the sense of joy that Sadhguru refers to in the above quote.  In the video entitled “3 Things We Must Do Every Morning” he captures this concept very succinctly.

I am now making a mental note to choose to treat my life well in the coming week. What choice will you make?  I hope you enjoy the video – it really does but things into perspective.

Positive Pause – 31st October, 2016 – Spontaneous Thursday!

spontaneous thursdayIn the midst of a busy life of dealing with our many responsibilities, it can be hard to connect to that part of you that knows what it’s like to be carefree and has a desire  to focus only on fun, playing and laughing.

When I think back to myself as a child, teenager, and young adult I was literally up for anything at the drop of a hat; if there was a party or an opportunity to go on a sleepover or if there was an impromptu gathering of any kind I always grabbed it with both hands. It’s possible that you were the same and would have been more likely to embrace spontaneity in your life when you were younger.   Unplanned occasions are often the best and most memorable. spontaneous thursday 

When we become adults it usually becomes harder to find that spontaneity especially if we are tired from long hours at work, family responsibilities or if we are dealing with stress or personal issues. Our lives can become a strict routine with little leeway for us to deviate from the things we need to do.

Last Thursday, I had the joy of being invited not to one but to two impromptu gatherings that literally did come out of the blue. The first was through one of Luca’s pals – his lovely Brazilian minder decided to make a Halloween cake and have a few of the kids from his class over. I had planned on the normal hockey pick-up followed by homework so was delighted to have an excuse to break the routine.  The second was from one of my very good friends who texted me at lunchtime to say “I know it’s a bit fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants but are you free for supper tonight?” This friend of mine is one of those people we all need in our lives; she is a positive beacon of light and embraces all that life has to offer. She had decided to start a supper club gathering of people she doesn’t know very well in order to get to know them better. All of a sudden, my Thursday was looking a hell of a lot more fun than I had thought it would be!  I felt that giddy child in me being reawakened and I welcomed both opportunities to connect to that part of me that definitely needs more air-time.

If you get a chance to create or bring spontaneity into your life, please do! Often it is the most important things in our lives that we leave till last on our long to-do lists; seeing friends, spending time with family and just having a good old belly laugh is therapy for the soul. That is not to say we should ignore our responsibilities, but instead to find a balance to make sure that they don’t become all we give our precious attention to. Regret is an extremely hard pill to swallow and one of the five top regrets of the dying is “I wish I had let myself be happier.” Let’s work together to make sure that doesn’t happen to us! Enjoy your bank holiday Monday – the perfect chance for spontaneity.