Greet each day with an outstanding attitude

I woke up in a foul mood this morning. Have been over-tired of late, and struggled to get to sleep last night for “first day of school” fears, inventing conversations in my head to tell my boss how little I knew, and please don’t really ask me to do anything, and I’m struggling to learn… hah! Woke up still tired, and just with those feelings that nothing’s going right. Hence to mediocre motivation noted today!

The shower helped. Making myself focus on now instead of letting my mind wander into misery. Once I woke up a bit, realism kicked in a bit and the doom’n’glooming started to lift a little. Heck, life ain’t so bad, and the work ‘issues’ haven’t even happened – and might not!

At that point I decided to forget about rushing out of the door, and just got through what needed done (and left pretty much on time anyway!). And whoosh – GLORIOUS sunshine! :) How can a day be bad with such lovely weather?

Here’s my moral: when I wake up grumpy it’s really just me, and usually just ‘cos I’m tired. If I take that into the office, then I’m setting myself up for the rest of the day being rubbish. If, however, I fake it – I mean, why inflict my raincloud on the rest of the team? – then the response I get back is usually enough to genuinely lift me out of that misery.

Ain’t headology amazing!?

There is no tomorrow, just a stream of todays – and I can only do one of ‘em at a time.

I can’t change the/my world today. I can only choose to spend my time in ways that seem productive and make me happy.

Remember, a hundred tiny, tiny little bits can still add up to a mountain. Anything – however minute – towards my goals is worth doing.

So, keep in mind the big picture, but remember to live today: fully and happily and busily.

The gorgeous Absnasm

One look at Abs’ page is enough to make me feel more motivated to do… something.

And that’s it! I’m a bit too unfocused right now, which is why I’m finding it difficult to be passionate about anything.

So… pick something. Throw self at it!

Thinking about what I don’t have drains it out of me.

Well, here’s to what I do have – and I want to work hard and be BRILLIANT at all (or at least some ;)) of them! Skimming just isn’t satisfying anymore – time to go deeper, be more committed.

Time to take over the world! Mwhahahah- ::cough::

:)

I think it’s amazing what a couple of days out of the rat race can do for you – sometimes it’s worth being (a little bit) sick, apparently!

Anyway. Yesterday morning went very very well, study-wise, before I ran out of all energy and spent the rest of the day napping, reading and watching tv – all excellent recovery activities methinks :)

This morning I woke up snuffly and headachy again – but also just in such a good mood! Is it just ‘cos I’m off work?! It’s glorious feeling I have the whole day/morning to get on with necessary studying and thus will be able to be ready for the coursework/exams!

More than that, though, was lying in bed this morning thinking past the exams. When suddenly I free up all this time – and I am so determined to use it for everything else I want to do!!

I actually found a fabulous attitude late last night – details here – and am determined to practice applying it today, and tomorrow, and the next day: namely, remembering life is good and viewing everything through that lens!

For instance, I’ve been aware for a few days of impending sniffledom – slightly sore throat, sinus/ear problems… this morning it’s irrefutably turning into a cold. Bah. But, y’know – not that bothered. It actually sounds like a great excuse for a few days off work (!), with all my time spent relaxing and taking care of myself (in between some studying) – something I need! And just like I sometimes find it easier to study when I’m tired (and my brain stops whizzing about it three million other directions), it’s rather calming thinking, “right, I’m under the weather, let’s do what I have to do and nothing else is bothersome.” The gym can wait, in other words!!

It’s so arbitrary but a new calendar month does feel like a mini fresh start!

This month is all about studying – and I’m determined to remain calm and focused! I can do it, and I will do my best! In a way, it’s something of a relief that it’s almost all over for another year – I have but six weeks left, and I can only do what I can do in that time :)

threats weren’t good motivation for me, as I re-read my previous entry about depriving myself of chocolate if I don’t get up in the morning to meditate.

Retreats, however, do wonders. I have two teachers now that I follow. And since each retreat increases my resolve and ability to practice. As well as strengthening my physical and mental endurance, and is wonderful for my attitude. And then I practice more, and it turns into an amazing positive feedback loop….

Now, I’m meditating twice a day, for at least half hour at a time each. And trying to get in Tai Ji, Qi Gong, Yoga and meditation in every day. When I don’t feel like doing it—which is becoming more seldom each day—I’ve been trying a technique that Cheri Huber mentions in one of her books. To talk to different parts of myself, in that instance the one who is sabotaging me. I tell that part, “No, what you’re “saying” isn’t good for me, it’s not a good influence, so I will ignore you.” I’d read things like this before but always felt too silly, or I’d rationalize that it was too contrived, or unreal…. Well, Cheri Huber points out in her book that this is just another part of yourself that is self-defeating, and unfortunately successfully so. This somehow clicked something on in me, and now it seems to be working—increasing my discipline, my practice, improving my attitude, my health….

This study was done a couple of years ago, but I just found out about it. This is the strongest evidence yet of the connection between attitude and health. Here are some excerpts:

Researchers at Yale University found that people with an optimistic outlook lived 7.5 years longer than those with a gloomy view of what lies ahead. In their study, a positive attitude was more important than lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. How could a positive attitude protect our health and extend our life? A recently published study offers one explanation: People who perceive that they are living in a state of chronic stress have cells that age more rapidly. The difference in the rate of cellular aging was equivalent to shaving a decade off their lives.

What does it mean to have a “positive attitude”? The image of a bubbly, fun-loving individual may spring to mind. But such an outgoing, social person may be inclined to engage in riskier behaviors that cause injury and poor health.

Instead, there are several features of a positive attitude that research has found to be associated with healthier aging. If you have a positive attitude, you see relatively few of life’s challenges as overwhelming. You feel in control most of the time. You believe you can strongly influence, if not completely determine, your health. For example, you believe that your lifestyle choices—healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoiding dangerous habits—really can affect your health. Indeed, you take pleasure in controlling your life through your choices, while understanding that there are no guarantees.

Finally, you are flexible. You know that life will sometimes make it hard to follow your agenda for health, but that if things happen that don’t allow you to follow your exact program, you go with the flow. There is time later that day or the next to get back on track.

Doesn’t everyone? ::grin::

I woke up early, gave up on napping for the sheer wish to be out of bed doing! Finished a good book, had that lovely feeling that I could be as lazy as I like all morning :)

Today’s – in fact, the weekend’s – to do list involves lots of lovely things I really want to do! Hurrah :)