Friday, October 09, 2009

Some great suggestions...

This morning as I turned to the October 9th reading in the book Simple Abundance- A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach it was such a great list full of good ideas to strive for in regards to coping with stress. Maybe some of the things on this list are things that you need to work on, refine, and implement in your life too. I know I'm not perfect and unless you are, there is sure to be something to strike a chord with you too. Enjoy these suggestions and good luck as you seek to become more of who you are meant be today.
Oct. 9- Coping with Stress
Is there a woman alive who doesn't suffer from stress? If there is, seek her out, ask her to share her wisdom. When you find her, I'd be willing to bet she'll offer the following suggestions:
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 nine o'clock twice a week.
Always carry around something interesting to read.
Breathe- 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 delicious, 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 Mother Nature nuture.
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.
Nuture friendships.
Don't be afraid of your passion.
Approach problems as challenges.
Honor your aspirations.
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.

While I don't agree with every single thing on this list, nor does it seem possible to put them all into practice in my life, I think there are some worthy goals and great suggestions on it. Seeking ways to be better is one step toward actually getting there; actually doing something is the next step!

7 comments:

Lauren said...

LOVE it!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Beckypdj said...

Great post!

Michelle Gautreaux said...

wow, awesome post!!!

Erika said...

thank you for reminding me of Simple Abundance. I need to dust my book off and read a few pages for inspiration. :-)

-Erika

http://littletinyfootprints.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

jodi, i just read this also!!!
(great minds think alike- heee!)
love and prayers, rose

Caren said...

In my busy life I'm behind in my blogging...so I just read this post on Great Suggestions. Wow...they are awesome. I try to keep many of these on my plate ... and now have more to add. Thanks!

Abbie said...

Some of those are great suggestions - keep the house picked up and begin and end with prayer are two that are doing great things for me as a mama to three very small ones right now!