Daily Gratitude: I love this quote. You could replace it with something mundane like “I’ll be happy when…..”, or “I’ll be happy if….’

So many times we think it will make all the difference in the world if just this or that changed (oh and changed to how we want it to be. Ha ha. Like we’re in charge). Then and only then will we be happy.

But being happy is something that isn’t dependent on outside variables (the new landscapes). It’s dependent on our inner thoughts and beliefs (the eyes). When we decide we want to be happy, we can be. That’s not something that’s dependent on external factors. We may have grown up thinking that happiness is dependent on that but it is just a way of thinking.

Wouldn’t you prefer to develop a happiness button or switch where all you had to do was push it or flip it and you’d feel happy ? You can do that. Ask yourself why aren’t you feeling happy right now?

As I am writing this I’ve had vertigo and a headache and fatigue for 36 hours causing me to stay in bed and sleep almost the entire time. Do I feel great? No. Am I happy? Yes. Because I know that this, too, shall pass. And I know that I have so much beauty and wonder in my life. And I don’t want to miss any of it. Why populate my brain circuits with negativity when I can simply flip the switch so the positivity flows along those very same circuits.

It takes some practice if you’re not used to doing it but it’s well worth it.

Daily Gratitude: Does this ring a bell – “Actions speak louder than words”? Sometimes cute phrases are too cute and they lose meaning because people say them over and over and they become rote.

I think this quote puts the relatively abstract “actions speak louder than words” in a much more user friendly perspective- it’s more visual.

I think we see this on an almost daily basis, especially with politicians. They say they are going to do one thing while they are campaigning and then, once elected, they become a totally different person.

People in your everyday lives can be like this too. Once someone does something opposite what they have said, how much do you trust them? Sure, you can give a second chance to someone but if this is repeated, how likely are you to keep giving chances?

More importantly, take a look at yourself. Have you ever told someone how much you love them and then find yourself blowing up at them or continually criticizing them? What’s up with that? Why do you act that way after you’ve spoken of your “love”.

It works internally too. Look at goals or resolutions you make and vow to keep. Next thing you know they’re out the window. Again what’s up?

That might be a good goal – to monitor or review your actions compared to your words and see how often they are incongruent. Then see if you can figure out why and more importantly, what can you do about it.

Daily Gratitude: So much of our lives is expressed in this quote. Can you think of a time when you didn’t venture forth or stopped doing something to avoid the “possibility” of being criticized?

I had an interesting experience last weekend. I had all the good intentions of working diligently on editing my book. But as Saturday’s hours seemed to fly by, I was finding “more important” things to do. As a result I got nothing done on my book.

Sunday came along and I re-affirmed my intentions to “work all day” on the book. However, I started to veer off on the “more important things” path. I decided to investigate what was going on

Using the IFS process, I discovered a part that was deathly afraid of judgement and criticism. It knew that my editing this book would lead people to read it and e decide it was horrible and therefore I was horrible (that’s the route that shame takes – if you do a bad thing, you are bad, not just the thing).

I reassured the part that we weren’t at that stage yet. That this was just fixing things up the first time and we were a long way from anyone reading the book. It breathed a sigh of relief. Then I added to it by reminding it (the scared part) that we’d been through this process before and we survived without anything bad happening. That fact also reassured it.

I could have just gone on procrastinating or somehow forced myself to get some work done. But using this method I ended up having the most productive day of my writing life as far as editing is concerned.

When you find yourself avoiding or stopping something, take a look at what’s going on in your mind to see if there’s a part of you that’s harboring fear – fear of being judged or criticized. If there is something in you that say “yes”, don’t be judgmental or criticize that part (doing the thing it fears) and don’t become impatient with it (or with yourself if you still don’t believe the parts theory). Be gentle, kind and understanding. It will make all the difference in the world, Especially if you thank that procrastinating part for protecting you all these years. It will relax and you may even feel it relax.

Try it.