If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.
- Cavett Robert
February 17, 2011 – A good day
February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
6 Things to Help You Have a Good Day
February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By Irene Conlan -
Today I wanted to post an article about how to have a good day – even if it hasn’t been so good up until now. Well, I couldn’t find one that didn’t preach somebody’s religion or smack you in the face with platitudes, so let’s do this together. Take a moment to think about what would make your day better, maybe even make it great. What would that be? Seeing the face of someone you love and who loves you back? Hearing your favorite music? Knowing you have purpose to your day and to your life? A smile? Money left over after the bills are paid? A pat on the back from your boss? The skies clear and the sun shines? You see the first Spring flower? What?
Think about the small things as well as the big things that would blend together to make your day great.Me? I listen to a little Bach, hear my grandson’s giggle (even if it’s in my mind), take a deep breath and I’m good to go.
Some things that work most of the time for many of us include:
1. Visualize success and then drop your expectations. You have a plan, or a “to do” list, or an idea of what you need to accomplish today. You have visualized yourself having great success every step of the way. Now drop you expectations of the outcome – just for today. If everything gets changed and nothing goes the way it was planned, you can deal with it if you haven’t hung everything on rigid expectations. For example, you have a big project that you have just completed and will present to the boss this morning. You have given it your very best shot. Now drop your expectations of the outcome. Either way it goes you will not be disappointed. If it’s praise you receive, bask in it. If it is criticism, the way to fall isn’t as far as it is from the pinnacle of high expectation and it’s easier to accept suggestions for revision.If she cancels your meeting, you know it will happen later. Dropping expectations now and then makes it possible to enjoy whatever happens or at least to adjust more easily.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying never to have expectations. Sometimes anticipating a good time is what keeps you going. I’m saying don’t always predict the outcome. Do the best you can and let what happens happen.
2. Spend some time with yourself. Take a few minutes of “quiet time.” You are the best possible company you can keep so spend some time getting to know you better. You can use the time to meditate or write in your journal. You can think about all those things you appreciate, the people you love, the kindnesses you have been shown. You can think about your strengths and consider different ways you can use these strengths to improve you life or the lives of others. You can use the time to think about what you really want in life or in this day. Your day will go better if you spend some time with you.
3. Think as positively as you can – just for today. Unless your job depends on it, don’t watch the news today and instead read about something good, uplifting, new and creative or watch something on YouTube that is inspiring or so funny it makes you laugh out loud all by yourself. Just for one day, don’t compare yourself with anyone else or criticize yourself in the mirror. Be aware of words that contain can’t, won’t, don’t, could, would, should and drop them out of your vocabulary.
4. Sing. It doesn’t matter if you sound like a cat with it’s tail caught in the door – sing. It does something wonderful for the soul and lifts your spirits like nothing else can do. If you sound worse than the cat or are always in a group of people, sing inside your head. Try to stay away from the “somebody done me wrong song” or any other music that brings you down. Pick something you like and sing.
5. Breathe. Yes, I know you’re already breathing but are you thinking about it? Take a deep breath – as deep as you can get it – hold it while you think about all that fresh oxygen that’s going in to your system. Breath is life. Think about how fantastic it is that your body does it without you having to direct it to do so. Now let it out and think about how you’ve just let go of what no longer serves you. Take another conscious, deep breath. Three of those does wonders to relax and refresh you. Without breath you wouldn’t have a day at all, much less a good one. Enjoy the breath.
6. Smile. Even if you don’t mean it right now. Smile. Your face won’t crack. Really. Smile even if there isn’t anyone around to see it. And be sure to smile at the next three people you see – give each one a big dazzling smile and see what happens.
So there’s six things to help you have a better day. I know none of them are new ideas – just the same old stuff. But it’s old stuff that works. Try one of them or all of them and see what a difference it makes.
Now go out with a smile and enjoy the day.
When Everything Goes Right
November 20, 2009 By 2 Comments
By Irene Conlan -
Did you ever have one of those days when everything went wrong? Most likely your answer is “yes.” The other day when I had two newly written art icles disappear into cyberspace I thought I was having a bad day, but I was wrong. You do know what I mean about having a bad day, though, don’t you?
Well, then, did you ever have one of those days when everything went right? For some of you that’s a little harder to remember, but think about it. Most of us have lots of those days, but we just aren’t aware of them. We remember the bad ones but we pay no attention to the good ones.We take them for granted.
What would a good day look like to you? Have you ever thought about it?
Perhaps you get up feeling really good – a clear mind after a good nights sleep, ready for the day. At work things go smoothly and you leave with a feeling of accomplishment (or at least of getting something done). The evening isn’t spectacular but it is pleasant. For the day you have clean clothes, plenty to eat, a job, a comfortable environment and pleasant people around you. Wouldn’t you call that a good day?
Some of you are thinking BOR-ING.
A good day, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. A good day is held in the palm of your – attitude.
We probably all know people who, while they have everything money can buy, don’t seem to enjoy a good day. There are just so many things to worry about, so many things that can go wrong. We know others who, with very little, have one good day after another. There are so many things to appreciate and so many things that go right.
Right now, as you read this, what kind of day are you creating for yourself? Oh, yes. You create your day – by what you think, by what you do, by your attitude. So if you create it, why not create a good one?
Take a moment or two to think about it. Each of us is different so I can’t describe for any of you what would constitute a good day.
Is a good day one in which nothing goes wrong? Or can it be a day in which, even though some things go wrong, you find solutions?
Every day has the potential of being a good day. It is you who make it good or bad.
Simplistic? You betcha.
It’s all in the attitude and in the choices you make.
What kind of day are you going to have?
I intend for everything to go right.
Want to have a really good day?
March 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment
By Irene Conlan -
Yesterday I wrote about how to have a bad day. I did that because for two days I was in a really pissy (sorry but thats the only word that describes it) mood. I couldn’t shake it so I stayed as much to myself as possible. I got up this morning and said to myself, That’s enough of that. You will have a good day. You know how to do it so now, lady, walk your talk. So I sat down, worked with my energy, did a rampage of appreciation, spent some time in prayer and meditation and when I was finished, yesterday’s article almost wrote itself. [Read more...]
