How Not to Take Yourself So Seriously: 5 Practices

Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.

-- Elbert Hubbard

Last week I was offered another lesson at the indoor pool where I swim. Sunday, it seems, has become everyone's favorite day. The pool was packed. Lane designations are important when it's crowded, and two lanes are reserved for slower, leisurely swimmers--like me.

So, I was in the first leisure lane with two other swimmers, while another very slow swimmer was in the second lane. Things were flowing well until three guys got into the second leisure lane with the slower swimmer. They were much faster and kept running into him--literally.

I got upset and finally spoke to the guys, who had gathered at the end of the pool as I was getting out. I was fairly centered, friendly, curious, and assertive. I asked if this was a new pool for them (no, they'd come a few times), and if they knew that some lanes were reserved for slower swimmers (yes, they knew that). Then, as if in reply to my silence, they said, "We're slow!" I laughed and said they seemed pretty fast to me. At the same moment, they noticed a swimmer leaving the medium lane and decided to move over.

I felt okay about the interaction. Glad that I'd had the courage of my convictions, and also wishing I'd been maybe a little more centered. I like to practice centering by thinking in percentages. And I was maybe 60-70% in that moment. If I'd been 100%, instead of laughing, I might have listened more, and then explained that in my experience at this pool, they were fast swimmers for that lane.

Rule #6

Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, author and motivational speaker, writes about creating a life that works, and the influence we have in helping others to do the same. One of his lessons and best stories revolves around what he calls "Rule #6", which is:

Don't take yourself so g--damn seriously.

5 Practices

I'm pretty familiar with this mental habit of taking myself too seriously, and have five practices that help me catch myself. They fall into two categories:

Committed Practices

1) I meditate daily. A brief time to sit quietly and do nothing each day is restorative over the long term.

2) I exercise. Personally, I enjoy swimming and walking, and do one or both every day.

Rituals and Spontaneous Practices

3) I catch myself. I notice the mental or physical tension and relax. Try it now: lower your shoulders, lengthen your spine, and feel the weight of gravity rooting you to the earth's surface.

4) I breathe and smile at myself. You can do this anytime: exhale and focus on your breathing. Notice how it moves in and out of your body. Count breaths and smile internally. You'll begin to get your perspective back.

5) I do something for me. Have a cup of tea. Take a walk. Read a book. Move. Dance. Sing. Go out into the garden. Look out the window. Do what works for you.

So maybe I could have chosen one of those practices last Sunday at the pool. I could have noticed myself winding up, smiled and relaxed. I could have minded my own business instead of designating myself the "lane police." That's what lifeguards are for.

Did I really need to speak? Was I taking myself too seriously? I'm still not sure. It was a ki moment, and I'm still learning from it. Maybe next time (there will be a next time), I'll smile at myself, relax, take a deep breath, and--like Dory says--"just keep swimming."

What practices help you to stop taking yourself too seriously?

About the Author: Judy Ringer is the author of two books, Turn Enemies into Allies: The Art of Peace in the Workplace and Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10020104

Law of Attraction: How to Know What Actions to Take

Image: Andrew Z. Colvin

What actions should I take to manifest using the Law of Attraction?

The answer to this question is within you. Only you know your life and the path you are taking. Only you know where you want to be in life... what the difference is between where you are now and where you want to be. Only you have the information necessary to plan how to get "from here to there." Only you have the strength to execute the plan once you've made one.

Where, oh Where, Is this Information?

There are a few places within you that hold the answer to the question of action:

• Your conscious mind,
• Your subconscious mind, and
• Your intuition / instinct

In Your Conscious Mind

In your daily thoughts and actions, the answer may be hidden in plain sight. As you go through each day, keep an awareness of what you are doing and thinking. Is there anything that keeps popping up? Anything that seems like a nuisance to you, or a need that people may have that is not filled? This may be a good starting place for some action to take or plan to make.

In Your Subconscious Mind

Repetitive conscious thoughts lead to the subconscious mind "taking on" the question or problem and processing it. This is something that can be used most advantageously by you to unlock the question of action. Repeat to yourself a question about what you need to do to manifest, such as "What do I need to do to get... ?" Repeat this many times a day, especially when you are going to sleep. After some repetition, the subconscious will start working on answering this question. Keep in mind that the subconscious mind operates a lot faster and more efficiently than the conscious mind, so it can process all of the information you have stored in the context of the question you want it to answer. When the answer comes, it will usually come "in a flash" during your daily life. Take notice when this happens and act on it as soon as possible. Taking this action will usually lead to positive results. It will also let your subconscious mind know that you trust it. This leads to better and faster results every time you become inspired to take action.

In Your Intuition

Like your subconscious mind, your intuition is very powerful and needs to "know" that you trust and appreciate all it does for you. The best way to make us of your intuition is to start trusting it and acting on your "hunches."

Affirmations That Help Speed Up this Process

You can use the affirmations below (or some variation that works for you) to enlist all three parts of your mind in this process a bit faster.

I trust my intuition to tell me what I need to do.

My subconscious mind shows me the path to success,

Every day, I notice opportunities to achieve my goals.

I follow my hunches with great reward.

Great ideas flash into my mind all the time.

I always just know what to do.

Be patient and persistent when activating the parts of your mind. If they're out of practice, so to speak, it may take a little time. Hang in there, keep going, and you will soon know exactly what you need to do to manifest your dreams.

Lastly, ACT! When you know what to do, act on it. Even if you do just a little bit each day, it will make all the difference.

For more information on how to use the Law of Attraction, please visit https://ness-numerology.com. As you can see from the link, we combine Numerology with the LoA tools, making a very powerful combination for you to "live the dream."

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Wil_M/2672538

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