Do you think this Lego man has a care in the world about anything? No.
We need to be more like this Lego man.
Big thanks to Dr. Carol Morgan for putting together this list of 13 things you should remember next time you’re down and out. I had to repost because it was exactly what I needed this morning. If any of you are having doubtful thoughts or stress, this will be a great read for you too!
I’ve truncated some of the explanations but you can the entire post here.
1. What is, is.
Buddha’s famous saying tells us: “It is your resistance to ‘what is’ that causes your suffering.” Think about that for a minute. It means that our suffering only occurs when we resist how things are. If you can change something, then take action! Change it! But if you can’t change it, then you have two choices: (1) either accept it and let go of the negativity, or (2) make yourself miserable by obsessing over it.
2. It’s only a problem if you think it’s a problem.
Many times, we are our own worst enemy. Happiness is really dependent on perspective. If you think something is a problem, then your thoughts and emotions will be negative. But if you think it’s something you can learn from, then suddenly, it’s not a problem anymore.
3. If you want things to change, you need to start with changing yourself.
Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Don’t you know people whose lives are chaotic and stressful? And isn’t that largely because they feel chaotic inside? Yes, it is. We like to think that changing our circumstances will change us. But we have it backwards—we need to change ourselves first before our circumstances will change.
4. There is no such thing as failure—only learning opportunities.
You should just wipe the word “failure” right out of your vocabulary. All great people who have ever achieved anything have “failed” over and over. Take your so-called “failures” and learn something from them. Learn how to do it better next time.
5. If you don’t get something you want, it just means something better is coming.
That’s hard to believe sometimes – but it’s true. Usually, when you look back at your life, you will be able to see why it was actually a good thing that something didn’t work out. Just have faith that everything happens exactly the way it’s supposed to.
6. Appreciate the present moment.
This moment will never come again. And there is always something precious about every moment. So don’t let it pass you by! Soon it will just be a memory. Even moments that don’t seem happy can be looked upon as something that you might miss someday.
7. Let go of desire.
Most people live with “attached mind.” What this means is that they attach themselves to a desire, and when they don’t get it, their emotions plummet into negativity. Instead, try to practice “detached mind.” That means that when you want something, you will still be happy whether you get it or not. Your emotions remain happy or neutral.
8. Understand and be grateful for your fears.
Fear can be a great teacher. And overcoming fears can also make you feel victorious. Overcoming fears just takes practice. Fear is really just an illusion. It’s optional.
9. Allow yourself to experience joy.
Believe it or not, I know way too many people who don’t allow themselves to have fun. And they don’t even know how to be happy. Some people are actually addicted to their problems and the chaos in them so much that they wouldn’t even know who they are without them.
10. Don’t compare yourself to other people.
But if you do compare yourself, compare yourself with people who have it worse than you. Unemployed? Be grateful that you live in a country that gives unemployment compensation, because most people in the world live on less that $750 a year.
11. You are not a victim.
You need to get out of your own way. You are only a “victim” of your own thoughts, words and actions. No one “does” something to you. You are the creator of your own experience. Take personal responsibility and realize that you can get out of your hard times.
12. Things can—and do—change.
“And this too shall pass” – when we are stuck in a bad situation, we think that there is no way out. We think nothing will ever change. But guess what? It will! Nothing is permanent except death.
13. Anything is possible.
Miracles happen every day. Really—they do. I wish I had enough space to write about all the miraculous things that have happened to people I know—from healing stage 4 cancer naturally to having their soul mate appear out of nowhere.
Slippers & Vino 