07 Oct 8 Instant Lifts to Make October Your Happiest Month
via Psychology Today by Bryan Robinson
The year of 2020 has been one of the most challenging for all of us due to pandemic, political turmoil and racial tensions in our country. Few, if any, dispute that we’re living in a new normal, which requires that we take a new perspective. My suggestion for this October is that you give yourself a series of instant lifts by taking extraordinary steps to deal with the extraordinary times we’re living in.
1. Start by looking around you for a few minutes and take in what you see. In October, in the United States and other places, the days are abundant with colorful, falling leaves. Orange pumpkins dot the landscape. The days start to get shorter. And there’s a chill in the air. Perhaps you celebrate the changing seasons with Oktoberfest or Halloween in a new way. But celebrate nonetheless in a safe, sensible way.
2. Consider committing to ongoing mindfulness practices for 5 minutes a day to keep your life on an even keel. Mindfulness meditation quiets your mind. It can help reduce chronic pain, lift depression, boost your immune system, improve your mood and amp up productivity.
3. Pay attention to your reactions. When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power lies. That approach will help you refrain from giving the finger to the slow commuter in front of you or from snarling at a coworker for being a slacker. Be willing to let go of negativity, control, anger and all the other habits that can cause your life to go into the crapper. Continue to take a personal inventory and when wrong promptly admit it without self-condemnation. Contemplate on kindness and compassion and express it in abundance to yourself and others…
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