06 Aug Flex your mind for more happiness
by Leo Babauta from Zen Habits
When I reflect back on how much happier I am these days compared to my life about 8 years ago, I realize it’s not all a result of better habits (though that’s a part of it).
Here’s what I’ve changed that makes me happier:
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Instead of stressing out about meeting goals, deadlines, timelines, I have learned a way of flowing.
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Instead of getting mad at people not meeting my expectations, I’m looser with what I expect of others.
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Instead of getting mad at things not turning out how I’d like, I accept that things are unpredictable, and accept what happens.
Most of the time, that is.
In other words, I’ve developed a flexible mind.
This is one of the best changes I’ve made, because it gives me more peace of mind and happiness. It took some time to develop this mental habit, and I’ll share with you here why and how I did it.
Why Develop Flexible Mind
The root cause of frustration, irritation, anger, sadness is an inflexible mind — one that wants to hold onto the way we wish things were, the ideas we’re comfortable with. When things don’t go this way, we are then frustrated, angry, sad.
So developing a flexible mind is a way to be open to anything, happy with change, prepared for any situation. Think about it: if there’s a major disruption in your life, it’s only a bad thing because you’re holding onto the way you wish things could be, what you’re comfortable with. If you let go of that wish, the change isn’t bad. It’s just different, and in fact it could be good if you embrace it and see the opportunity.
It’s about developing the ability to cope with change, to be flexible, to simplify.
How: Small Practices
You don’t develop flexible mind overnight — your mind isn’t as easy to change as your outfit. You have to develop mental habits with small changes, consistently over time.
Here’s how:
Make a commitment, for one week, to try to let go of what you’re holding onto when you get irritated, frustrated, sad, etc…
…keep reading the full & original article HERE