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]