Young woman at her toilet (detail) by Giovanni Bellini
Cultivate gratitude.
Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation, reflection.
Keep it simple.
Keep your house picked up.
Don't overschedule.
Strive for realistic deadlines.
Never make a promise you can't keep.
Allow an extra half hour for everything you do.
Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.
Go to bed at nineo'clock twice a week.
Always carry something interesting to read.
Breath -- deeply and often.
Move--walk, dance, run, find a sport you enjoy.
Drink pure spring water. Lots of it.
Eat only when hungry.
If it's not delicous, don't eat it.
Be instead of do.
Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal.
Laugh more often.
Luxuriate in your senses.
Always opt for comfort.
If you don't love it, live without it.
Let Nature nurture.
(Let God nurture. ~me)
Don't answer the telephone during dinner.
Stop trying to please everybody.
Start pleasing yourself.
Stay away from negative people.
Don't squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion.
Nurture friendships.
Don't be afraid of your passion.
Approach problems as challenges.
Honor your aspirations.
(Honor your parents. ~me)
Set achievable goals.
Surrender expectations.
Savor beauty.
Create boundaries.
For every "yes," let there be a "no."
Don't worry, be happy.
Remember, happiness is a living emotion.
Exchange security for serenity.
Care for your soul.
Cherish your dreams.
Express love every day.
Search for your authentic self until you find her.
(Search for God and you will find Him. ~me)
~Excerpt from October 9, Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
By Sarah Ban Breathnach
Do you have anything to add to this list? As you can see, I added a few of my own.
What can I say...I would love to do all of them...but...the stress of the job loss has me buried. I am reaching out to the only one who can grab my hand and hold on to it...believing that there is something more coming..as we follow the footprint he has left in the sand for us. Dianntha
ReplyDeleteI like them - and also the ones you've added.
ReplyDeleteA simple one that I've only begun to do is to allow 30 extra min on to where ever you want to go. We were always running late but now we don't - and it certainly does lower the stress level.
Those are wonderful and I like yours. I am gently decluttering as a way to reduce stress of taking care of stuff -- taking my time so that it reduces stress to let go. And along the way thinking about why I have things and what I really want. I'm deciding that it's not worth worrying about anything at all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, it's perfect for me. :)
What a great list! I'm such a poor estimator of time -- I need to add at least an hour instead of 30 minutes to every task (I think part of the problem is that I'm slowing down as I get older) and I need to up the yes/no ration -- for every yes, there need to be 10 or 20 nos.
ReplyDeleteSomething good to be reminded of at times. I find myself stressed more than I should. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat list and I liked your eXtra additions. Here's one that sometimes helps me: If all else fails, curl up like a kitten and take a nap! A little rest can sometimes give one fresh perspective.
ReplyDeleteI would add "Sing more often, and don't forget to dance around the kitchen from time to time."
ReplyDeleteGood list, Jody.
frances