by Geoff
Livingston (cross posted at Livingston Buzz) and Valeria Maltoni
Yup. Times are tough! Whether it's yourself, a friend or family member, everyone knows someone who has been affected by the economic situation. Jobs are less secure and hard to find, every sector has been hit, the news is bloody awful from week to week, and the Wall Street – Capitol Hill mud fight is just downright painful. But that doesn't mean your attitude has to go down with current events.
In reality, successfully handling events like these often depends on your own inner solace. That's not to belittle serious situations, and the somewhat contagious nature of down spirits and news. But as Abraham Lincoln said, "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
We thought it would be really useful to provide 25 tips on ways to break out of "stinking thinking" and get your day back on the right track. Here are some of our preferred methods:
1) Go to the gym and exercise: it cleans your head out!
2) Step away from the big picture and ask yourself, what's the next right thing I can do now? Go do it. Repeat this process until good spirits return.
3) Do some charitable service work, and help someone else out. Sometimes this reminds us others have it worse and we have a lot to be grateful for.
4) Write out a list of 10 things that you are grateful for…
5) Go for a walk and notice everything as if it were the first time you saw it.
6) Get out of the city/town/office/your house and spend sometime outdoors.
7) Have coffee with a friend who you haven't seen in a while.
8) Spend some quality time with your loved ones and family members.
9) Plan a vacation!
10) Watch the sun rise or set. It's hard not to see the beauty there!
11) Watch a movie. That's an instant two hour form of captivated attention that will take your mind off things.
12) Eat a good meal deliberately. Take in the whole experience - appearance, taste, company.
13) If you are spiritually or religiously inclined, meditation and/or prayer can calm the mind.
15) Read more, especially good fiction. There is nothing better than a well-written story to get your creative juices going.
16) Be more available for last minute meet ups with colleagues, friends, and peers. Sometimes the best events are unplanned.
17) Write down your ideas. Put pen and paper in easy-to-reach places. You might be pleasantly surprised at the number that has potential.
18) Think positive! Use this as your new mantra: "Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something."
19) Ask for help. You'll be amazed at how a collaborative effort energizes you.
20) Slow down. Sometimes we miss all the good stuff that happens in between point A and point B.
21) Discover classical music. Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Chopin tell amazing stories with their body of work.
22) Take an improv class. Learning a new skill that can help you in presentations and public speaking will increase your confidence.
23) Listen more, speak less. It will help you learn to appreciate others in whole new ways.
24) Teach a class at the local community college/school/library. Sharing knowledge is very satisfying.
25) Sing along while you drive.
Happiness is a state of mind and a choice. When you step into the field of possibility, you can do anything you put your mind to. What are some of the ways you use to break out of "stinking thinking"?
[Bugs Bunny from the Looney Tunes Spot]
This is a great list and I'm happy to be the first to comment. It does remind me the fact that small things make the difference in our lives and if we are able to renew ourselves and to get surprised by the same small things it means we are alive and kicking.
Posted by: gianandrea facchini | January 21, 2009 at 08:16 AM
I still to this day do stream of conscious walks with the same idea of walking as if it is the first time in this area. moving zen no mind meditation. be here now.
has worked wonders for me. thanks for the reminder. think I will go with the mini and do one now.
ciao
james aka reverendo
http://manmanly.livejournal.com/
Posted by: james | January 21, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Geoff & Valeria,
Thank you for sharing. I'm not one to "wig out" but like everyone, especially those of us who thought we were close to retirement, work for ourselves, and have seen 60% of our investments disappear, stress is a constant companion.
My stress relievers are good food and wine, sports, writing and always looking forward, never back.
Posted by: Lewis Green | January 21, 2009 at 02:59 PM
Can you imagine if we all just did #1 (Go to the gym and exercise...) how much healthier we would all be!! I'm also a big fan of #23 (Listen more, speak less.).
How about jump on Twitter?! I personally use Twitter as a way to engage with others, learn and read up on what is charging others throughout the day. Great post!
Posted by: Matt Batt | January 21, 2009 at 04:36 PM
This does get very tough at times... not the extreme of 'wigging out' but just staying positive amidst the weary, dreary.
Thank you for the reminder to take the time to do some things on your list! Even if you aren't sure it's helping - it probably is :)
Posted by: Kim Wood | January 21, 2009 at 09:08 PM
I love your posts; can't believe I couldn't find the comments!
Go to the movies; a great place to experience yourself in the lives of others!How do you react, did you see another side of yourself?
Posted by: Lisbeth Calandrino | January 21, 2009 at 10:51 PM
@Gianandrea - life *is* in the small things. I truly admire those people who have the rare gift to remember that most of the time.
@James - nice to meet you. Having a personal sanctuary and space is very important - even if it is just a way of being we can conjure in our minds.
@Lewis - stress is so difficult to deal with. We may not even realize how it has affected us until we notice the results of it in us. Good food and wine are a balm to the soul, especially when appreciated in the company of family and friends. Looking forward is a great way to go about it. I'm taking notes!
@Matt - I cannot wait to see your blog go live. I'm a fanatic of exercise and Geoff is into personal fitness as well (I can say that, right Geoff?) We are both on Twitter and you are right, finding ways to be useful and being engaged with others is energizing.
@Kim - it's the path of least resistance and so tempting to just do a little less, wait a little more... however, it is in times such as the present one, when we can utilize our talent to explore and expand our horizons.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | January 21, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Lisbeth:
Thank you, that is very kind of you to say. I love going to the movies, ever since I was very little. I remember when "Gone with the Wind" came back to theaters in Italy. It was a 4-hour movie, and there were lines snaking across the neighborhood to get in to see it. Everyone was talking about it - "there's always Tara". What a story!
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | January 21, 2009 at 11:06 PM
The key to calm is regular exercise.
I was feeling a bit stressed today and went for a run and the stress just melted away.
Posted by: Neil Anuskiewicz | January 24, 2009 at 08:56 PM