Photo courtesy of D Jonez
I am in the editing stages of my “masterpiece” book, “Feel Better Now – Elder Wisdom For All Ages.” Including more than sixty years of study, I am attempting to include everything possible to help one do just that, feel better. As I am paring down the content of twenty-four chapters, I was thinking of how I might just condense a couple thousand points into just a half dozen. Here they are, but do buy the book when it’s finished.
s In more than 30,000 hours of coaching, this has always been my “silver bullet” or “secret sauce.” This is one of the best antidotes for mild depression and opening up creative channels.
Don’t hold onto grudges, forgive. Intended or unintended, we all do wrong and hurt others sometime in our lives. Remember that when you feel that someone has done the same to you. It is part of our humanness. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself that your future self will thank you.
Eliminate any negative self-talk. When you do speak to yourself negatively, your subconscious mind records and continues to replay the talk throughout your life. It potentially limits you in everything you will ever do. Love yourself in a healthy sense and allow that to become the standard in what you face and how you respond to life.
Serve others. When we give without expectation, we completely change our focus. Serving and helping others brings us back closer to our true interconnected, tribal nature and thus is very fulfilling.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Focus on your own progress and achievements. Besides, what is observable in others is usually a partial illusion. I know. I have coached and observed some uber-successful, famous, and wealthy folks. Most do not even approach their public persona and they share the same fears and self-images that you do. Observe others only to emulate their best. Your only necessary comparison is to check to see how you are progressing from your previous self.
Stay curious and maintain a growth mindset. We tend to remain happier when we are progressing and growing. I recommend facing life as a “realistic optimist.” What do I mean by this? Expect the best, but also realize that life will include missteps, wrong decisions/choices, so-called failures, and even tragedies. When you face the unintended, consider long and hard what are the lessons and blessings in your adventures? Holding regret or shame is akin to lugging a very heavy anchor to you as you proceed. Instead, choose a growth orientation and stay authentic and curious!
