Friday, December 9, 2011
THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS
I found this on http://pinterest.com/pin/243312137/ and thought it was good motivation on the beginning of my happy journey.
EXERCISE
Supposedly, people who exercise are healthier, sleep better and think more clearly. Now, why wouldn't I want those things for myself? Especially the think fore clearly. When I think clearly, I am more patient and less impulsive.
1) Take a 20 minute walk every day, even if I don't feel like it or if weather is an issue. Walk around the house if I have to.
2 Make a schedule at the gym to use weights (to increase strength in my arms and legs, and to firm up that "core" everyone keeps talking about) and maybe a cycling class and DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY.
3) If I want something from another room, GET IT MYSELF, instead of asking my kids to get it for me.
4) Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.
5 Take Sunday off without feeling guilty.
6) Only take a day off if I am TRULY sick, not just lazy, or if I am traveling and can't exercise where I am. I can at least do something, like sit ups before going to bed.
When I used to walk years ago, every morning as my kids got on the school bus, I would come home from a 2-5 mile walk and feel energized to do my chores. I remember how odd I always thought that feeling was. Shouldn't I be tired? Shouldn't I feel like I need a nap. Nevertheless, I want that feeling back. I want to exercise to the point of gaining more energy and vitality.
So, why start till January to get started? I seem to be the anal type of person that thinks all things should be in a precise order. Well, I'm tossing that idea out the window (that's a big deal for me) and I'm calling the gym to make an appointment and I'm going to take a walk tonight after dinner, even if it's 8 degrees out. I will plug in my music or find some sermons to download and try to relax my mind.
"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking", Nietzsche
Well, since I need to do a lot of thinking, I guess I'll be doing a lot of walking this year. I need to try to walk during sunlight hours because the sun is so good for me. I hate overcast, cloudy days. I love rain and snow, but could never live where it invades my life. I love the sun and crisp warmth on my skin.
1) Take a 20 minute walk every day, even if I don't feel like it or if weather is an issue. Walk around the house if I have to.
2 Make a schedule at the gym to use weights (to increase strength in my arms and legs, and to firm up that "core" everyone keeps talking about) and maybe a cycling class and DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY.
3) If I want something from another room, GET IT MYSELF, instead of asking my kids to get it for me.
4) Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.
5 Take Sunday off without feeling guilty.
6) Only take a day off if I am TRULY sick, not just lazy, or if I am traveling and can't exercise where I am. I can at least do something, like sit ups before going to bed.
When I used to walk years ago, every morning as my kids got on the school bus, I would come home from a 2-5 mile walk and feel energized to do my chores. I remember how odd I always thought that feeling was. Shouldn't I be tired? Shouldn't I feel like I need a nap. Nevertheless, I want that feeling back. I want to exercise to the point of gaining more energy and vitality.
So, why start till January to get started? I seem to be the anal type of person that thinks all things should be in a precise order. Well, I'm tossing that idea out the window (that's a big deal for me) and I'm calling the gym to make an appointment and I'm going to take a walk tonight after dinner, even if it's 8 degrees out. I will plug in my music or find some sermons to download and try to relax my mind.
"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking", Nietzsche
Well, since I need to do a lot of thinking, I guess I'll be doing a lot of walking this year. I need to try to walk during sunlight hours because the sun is so good for me. I hate overcast, cloudy days. I love rain and snow, but could never live where it invades my life. I love the sun and crisp warmth on my skin.
SLEEP
1) How about I try to be in my room by 9:00 every night and go through my bathroom routine and be in bed by 9:30? Then I can spend 30 minutes reading or flipping through a magazine before bed. Reading at night always makes me sleepy. Then lights off at 10! That should get me around 7 hours of sleep. I need to ask my family to leave me alone after I go to bed. Finish asking me things, turn in phones, don't come in. Since sleep deprivation impairs memory, contributes to weight gain, and weakens the immune system, slows metabolish, I need to point these things out to my family so they can understand why my sleep is so important.2) Make the room dark and cover up all those little lights. Maybe close the curtains.
3) Don't read in bed if I can't sleep. Read in my chair and then return to bed when I feel sleepy.
4) No t.v! or computer.
5) Watch the news in the morning.
6) Adhere to a bathroom bedtime routine (more on that later), so I feel clean and refreshed before I go to bed
7) Don't do any thinking tasks after 8pm so I can start to calm my mind.
8) Stretch my body so I can relax and not be all tensed up
9) Keep my room kind of chilly
10) Make a list of to do items for the next day so I can empty my mind. Keep paper and pen on my nightstand in case I can't sleep because I'm afraid I'll forget something.
3) Don't read in bed if I can't sleep. Read in my chair and then return to bed when I feel sleepy.
4) No t.v! or computer.
5) Watch the news in the morning.
6) Adhere to a bathroom bedtime routine (more on that later), so I feel clean and refreshed before I go to bed
7) Don't do any thinking tasks after 8pm so I can start to calm my mind.
8) Stretch my body so I can relax and not be all tensed up
9) Keep my room kind of chilly
10) Make a list of to do items for the next day so I can empty my mind. Keep paper and pen on my nightstand in case I can't sleep because I'm afraid I'll forget something.
JANUARY - BOOST ENERGY
VITALITY
Some items Gretchen points out as part of her plan:
* Go to sleep earlier
* Exercise better
* Toss, restore, organize
* Act more energetic
My plan:
* Go to bed at a regular time nightly
* Start and continue an exercise program (in the works, joining a gym and getting a personal trainer)
* Organize my KITCHEN so I can start enjoying cooking again
* Toss, restore and organize the rest of my house, mainly paperwork
* Act ALIVE, instead of a lump of flesh. Act like I have more energy, even if I'm tired. Just smile through it
* Cut out food that is not good for me
* Keep a schedule to stay on task and focused
* Just move and act
* Wear make up every day
* Drink lots of water, all day
I need to get my body moving and my mind working, I need rest in order to function through my days without falling asleeep mid afternoon and pouring myself into bed every night. I want to start cooking on a daily basis and making healthy dinner, and snacks for my kids. I want to enjoy every day and make a special event out of the littlest things in life, like setting a nice table for dinner, or making the kid's beds nicely before they go to bed with a mint on their pillow, or raking leaves and then running through them. I know if I boost my energy I may begin to start enjoying life a little more each day. I might make time for friends and family and go to gatherings, instead of finding excuses not to. When I'm tired, all else takes a back seat. I need to get over that and start forcing myself to act like I have energy so I can start to trick my mind into making me feel more energetic. I will become a better person for it, I just know it.
If having more energy makes it easier to be happy and being happy makes it easier to have more energy, I guess I I'd better get started on both. The only of these that will be difficult is exercising. I need to learn how to use the gym equipment. I have told my husband I want a personal trainer for 3 months as a Christmas present. We'll see how that goes. I might just have to go do it and ask for forgiveness later. I need to lose at least 20 pounds, but I'd rather lose 30 or 40. I also need to just move, even when I'm tired. I need to find a way to overcome being tired and in pain all the time. I feel old age and arthritis creepng in. I know the pain won't go away, but I need to learn to deal with it. I guess I need to acquire mental energy so that I can acquire physical energy. Being energetic does put me in the frame of mind to be happy and more involved in the life I'm surrounded by. I don't want my life or that of my kids to pass me by.
Some items Gretchen points out as part of her plan:
* Go to sleep earlier
* Exercise better
* Toss, restore, organize
* Act more energetic
My plan:
* Go to bed at a regular time nightly
* Start and continue an exercise program (in the works, joining a gym and getting a personal trainer)
* Organize my KITCHEN so I can start enjoying cooking again
* Toss, restore and organize the rest of my house, mainly paperwork
* Act ALIVE, instead of a lump of flesh. Act like I have more energy, even if I'm tired. Just smile through it
* Cut out food that is not good for me
* Keep a schedule to stay on task and focused
* Just move and act
* Wear make up every day
* Drink lots of water, all day
I need to get my body moving and my mind working, I need rest in order to function through my days without falling asleeep mid afternoon and pouring myself into bed every night. I want to start cooking on a daily basis and making healthy dinner, and snacks for my kids. I want to enjoy every day and make a special event out of the littlest things in life, like setting a nice table for dinner, or making the kid's beds nicely before they go to bed with a mint on their pillow, or raking leaves and then running through them. I know if I boost my energy I may begin to start enjoying life a little more each day. I might make time for friends and family and go to gatherings, instead of finding excuses not to. When I'm tired, all else takes a back seat. I need to get over that and start forcing myself to act like I have energy so I can start to trick my mind into making me feel more energetic. I will become a better person for it, I just know it.
If having more energy makes it easier to be happy and being happy makes it easier to have more energy, I guess I I'd better get started on both. The only of these that will be difficult is exercising. I need to learn how to use the gym equipment. I have told my husband I want a personal trainer for 3 months as a Christmas present. We'll see how that goes. I might just have to go do it and ask for forgiveness later. I need to lose at least 20 pounds, but I'd rather lose 30 or 40. I also need to just move, even when I'm tired. I need to find a way to overcome being tired and in pain all the time. I feel old age and arthritis creepng in. I know the pain won't go away, but I need to learn to deal with it. I guess I need to acquire mental energy so that I can acquire physical energy. Being energetic does put me in the frame of mind to be happy and more involved in the life I'm surrounded by. I don't want my life or that of my kids to pass me by.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
SOME RULES FOR THIS PROJECT
1. Allow myself to be ME
2. Let a lot of things go, just roll off my back
3. Act the way I want to feel
4. Don't procrastinate
5. Try much harder to be polite
6. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
7. Spend out ???
8. Identify the root of problems before trying to solve them
9. Lighten up, laugh at stupid jokes and silly mistake
10. Do what ought to be done, not just what I want to do
11. No calculation ???
12. Do all things in love
I don't want to be dramatic, colorful or particularly ambitious. I just want to plug away at putting my life in order and finding happiness along the way. I am, by nature, an unadventurous soul, boring really. I don't want to undertake extraordinary change. I'm not rejecting my life, just looking for the goodness and happiness I'm missing out on. I want to feel happier so I can behave better. When I'm in a good mood I tend to be more patient, forgiving, energetic, light hearted and generous. I tend to let things roll off my back instead of turning angry easily.
2. Let a lot of things go, just roll off my back
3. Act the way I want to feel
4. Don't procrastinate
5. Try much harder to be polite
6. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
7. Spend out ???
8. Identify the root of problems before trying to solve them
9. Lighten up, laugh at stupid jokes and silly mistake
10. Do what ought to be done, not just what I want to do
11. No calculation ???
12. Do all things in love
I don't want to be dramatic, colorful or particularly ambitious. I just want to plug away at putting my life in order and finding happiness along the way. I am, by nature, an unadventurous soul, boring really. I don't want to undertake extraordinary change. I'm not rejecting my life, just looking for the goodness and happiness I'm missing out on. I want to feel happier so I can behave better. When I'm in a good mood I tend to be more patient, forgiving, energetic, light hearted and generous. I tend to let things roll off my back instead of turning angry easily.
HAPPINESS PROJECT - INTRODUCTION
As I am nearing 2012 I begin to wonder how I can change my life for the better. I'm not terribly unhappy or hurting, but things could be better. It's all my own doing, and no one but me can make me happier. I came across a wonderful book that I want to start reading and perhaps learn a few things along the way. I am dedicating 2012 to making my life a happier place to dwell.
A happiness project is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy and satisfaction and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part; keeping the resolutions.
One day I’ll stop biting my nails, wearing jeans and frumpy tops, eating junk food. I’ll call my friends more often, remember their birthdays, and visit family. I’ll take a photography class, learn about nutrition and computers. I’ll visit museums and attend the opera, I’ll read the classics. I’ll throw away all the televisions and monitor the kid’s music. I’ll take daily walks and keep a journal. I’ll pray often and attend church more regularly. I’ll enjoy daily interruptions, constant obstacles. I’ll spend quality time with each kid individually. I’ll live in my marriage and listen more mindfully to my husband. I’ll control my finances and let the house get dirty once in a while. I’ll bake more and plant a garden. I will live, laugh, love.
I have a great husband, good Godly kids, a home to house my family and friends, finances that allow us to be generous, a cabin to escape to, a body that still functions, lots of freedom and a relationship with Christ.
However, have too high expectations of my house being clean always, I have a short temper, I yell easily, I get frustrated with my husband’s lack of involvement with the kids, I feel like an outcast amongst school parents, I’m impatient with people who don’t do their job correctly, I’m sad my family lives so far away, I’m insecure about how I am raising my kids, I’m bored sometimes because I’m not busy and I’m guilt-ridden about things I’ve done in the past. I don’t spend enough time praying or talking to God, I don’t attend church weekly and I’ve allowed my kids to nurture their own Godly path. I’m too lazy to take medication or exercise. I wish my husband and I would spend more time alone together and talk. I wish my husband would become the spiritual leader of our home.
I have everything that I could possibly want so that I may be happy. But I get bogged down in petty complaints and passing crises, weary of struggling with my own nature. I too often fail to comprehend the splendor of the life I have. How fortunate I am. I don’t want to take another day for granted. How can I make myself feel grateful for my ordinary life, my mundane days, and my repetitious years? I will start my daily gratitude journal again. I will read The Happiness Project http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Project-Morning-Aristotle-Generally/dp/006158326X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323187968&sr=8-1 and gleam as much information from it as possible that will lead me to a happier life. I will spend from now until January 1st reading the beginning of this book and taking notes. Starting in January I’ll start making concrete changes in my life in order to improve the quality of my daily living. I will find a method to conquer my particular faults and limitations. I’ll find a way to use my talents and abilities so I can bring joy to myself, my family and others. I will take myself less seriously and laugh at dumb jokes. I will be less of a perfectionist, I’ll try not to be anal.
I want to find happiness under my own roof. For far too long I expected my happiness to come from working, being with friends or children, working on my crafts, or organizing projects. I quit my job a few years back and life has changed. I want to be happy staying at home. I’m a 46 year old woman, Hispanic, married, 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 houses, financially stable, Christian, unemployed, housewife, living with a degenerative disease. I want to naturally a happy person. I want my face to exude a look of pleasure.
Benjamin Franklin wanted to cultivate thirteen virtues – temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. He devised a chart and scored himself daily. He relied on measurable actions, structured accountability, and a positive reinforcement. These are not particular goals of mine, though they are grand. I need to find the areas in my life that need changing, and are changeable, and I am willing to change.
A happiness project is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy and satisfaction and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part; keeping the resolutions.
One day I’ll stop biting my nails, wearing jeans and frumpy tops, eating junk food. I’ll call my friends more often, remember their birthdays, and visit family. I’ll take a photography class, learn about nutrition and computers. I’ll visit museums and attend the opera, I’ll read the classics. I’ll throw away all the televisions and monitor the kid’s music. I’ll take daily walks and keep a journal. I’ll pray often and attend church more regularly. I’ll enjoy daily interruptions, constant obstacles. I’ll spend quality time with each kid individually. I’ll live in my marriage and listen more mindfully to my husband. I’ll control my finances and let the house get dirty once in a while. I’ll bake more and plant a garden. I will live, laugh, love.
I have a great husband, good Godly kids, a home to house my family and friends, finances that allow us to be generous, a cabin to escape to, a body that still functions, lots of freedom and a relationship with Christ.
However, have too high expectations of my house being clean always, I have a short temper, I yell easily, I get frustrated with my husband’s lack of involvement with the kids, I feel like an outcast amongst school parents, I’m impatient with people who don’t do their job correctly, I’m sad my family lives so far away, I’m insecure about how I am raising my kids, I’m bored sometimes because I’m not busy and I’m guilt-ridden about things I’ve done in the past. I don’t spend enough time praying or talking to God, I don’t attend church weekly and I’ve allowed my kids to nurture their own Godly path. I’m too lazy to take medication or exercise. I wish my husband and I would spend more time alone together and talk. I wish my husband would become the spiritual leader of our home.
I have everything that I could possibly want so that I may be happy. But I get bogged down in petty complaints and passing crises, weary of struggling with my own nature. I too often fail to comprehend the splendor of the life I have. How fortunate I am. I don’t want to take another day for granted. How can I make myself feel grateful for my ordinary life, my mundane days, and my repetitious years? I will start my daily gratitude journal again. I will read The Happiness Project http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Project-Morning-Aristotle-Generally/dp/006158326X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323187968&sr=8-1 and gleam as much information from it as possible that will lead me to a happier life. I will spend from now until January 1st reading the beginning of this book and taking notes. Starting in January I’ll start making concrete changes in my life in order to improve the quality of my daily living. I will find a method to conquer my particular faults and limitations. I’ll find a way to use my talents and abilities so I can bring joy to myself, my family and others. I will take myself less seriously and laugh at dumb jokes. I will be less of a perfectionist, I’ll try not to be anal.
I want to find happiness under my own roof. For far too long I expected my happiness to come from working, being with friends or children, working on my crafts, or organizing projects. I quit my job a few years back and life has changed. I want to be happy staying at home. I’m a 46 year old woman, Hispanic, married, 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 houses, financially stable, Christian, unemployed, housewife, living with a degenerative disease. I want to naturally a happy person. I want my face to exude a look of pleasure.
Benjamin Franklin wanted to cultivate thirteen virtues – temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. He devised a chart and scored himself daily. He relied on measurable actions, structured accountability, and a positive reinforcement. These are not particular goals of mine, though they are grand. I need to find the areas in my life that need changing, and are changeable, and I am willing to change.
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