Stepping Into Life’s Adventures
25 ways to start loving life right now!
“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver
It seems like more and more I’m hearing “When I have time, I’ll” or “Someday I will….”. We keep waiting for something in our external world to change before we can make changes in our internal world.
This way of thinking increases our stress and contributes to our worry and feelings of anxiety.
The thing is, we have no control over anything outside of ourselves, we only have control over our inner world.
So what can we do about that? It all starts with our mindset. It’s hard, though, to instantly change our thoughts because our brain likes to think the same way day after day. Why? Because it is easier and our brain will always pick the easy way.
In order to change our thinking, it’s a good idea to start small. Otherwise we’ll have difficulty due to a concept called cognitive dissonance. That’s when our brain won’t believe the new thought we’re trying to tell it because it’s too different from what it’s always believed. For example, if you’ve been thinking “When I have time, I’ll…” for years, then suddenly trying to tell your brain “I always have enough time” won’t work. You’ll need to gradually and gently get yourself there. Start by telling yourself “I notice that I keep thinking I don’t have enough time to….(fill in the blank)”.
Here is a list of 25 small things you can do today (in no particular order) to start training your brain to think more positively and move YOU up on your list of responsibilities to create a life you will fall in love with. There are of course many more, and your list will look different from mine, but this list may get your creative juices flowing:
Say thank you often throughout the day.
Bring fresh flowers into your home. I’ve been doing that a lot lately and it’s an instant pick me up.
Stretch your limits (do something that scares you!) every single day.
Create a beautiful and comfortable living space - it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money - use your imagination!
Keep a gratitude journal.
Make your bed as soon as you get up. You wouldn’t believe what a difference that can make in your day!
Write a letter of appreciation to someone (or to yourself!)
Visit a public garden or walk down the street and admire gardens in your neighborhood..
Exercise every single day, even if it is only for 10-15 minutes. You get to choose the kind of exercise you like best.
Sit quietly in meditation for at least 5 minutes, more if you can manage it.
Forgive someone you’re mad at.
Clean out your closet and donate clothes you no longer wear.
Read a funny book or watch a funny movie.
Practice mindfully living in the moment.
Meet a friend for lunch or coffee. Have an inspiring conversation while you’re with them.
Volunteer somewhere for a cause you feel passionate about.
Pack a picnic lunch. Take your picnic lunch for a walk in nature.
Join a book club.
Get your hands dirty in the garden.
Perform a random act of kindness for a stranger.
Use your good dishes. You’re special too.
Learn something new.
Give someone a genuine compliment.
Paint, draw, quilt, stitch or do any other type of artwork.
Alway, always be kind to yourself as well as to others.
Can you come up with 25 more?
Finally, remember to surround yourself with people who support you and who also want to love life! It will make a world of difference.
Tell me, “what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
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I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
Are you interested in life change & mindset coaching? If you are interested in exploring new ways to bring joy into your world and live your best life, please email me to set up a complimentary 30 minute coaching session/discovery call at sharon@sharonashtonmindulyoga.com or visit my website coaching page.
If you’re interested in more inspiration and community around positive mindset, slow mindful yoga, meditation and mindful writing practices, come join our private Facebook group here:
You can access your free Find Your Inner Coach Guide including a guided visualization and journal prompts here:
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"I felt at complete ease with Sharon from our first conversation. She has a wonderful, gentle but firm way that made me focus on my thoughts / feelings so I could remove / change to move forward with a completely different feeling to what felt like obstacles. It was great having regular coaching that gently kept me accountable to actioning and moving towards my goals. Sharon has vast experience in so many areas, I felt that makes her an amazing coach.”
— Michelle Carney, East Galway, Ireland