A list: Things to make your life more enjoyable

9 PRACTICES TO POP YOUR MENTAL CHERRY

1. STOP BLAME SHIFTING. Learning to take responsibility for our own emotions is freeing. We can learn much about ourselves and others once we begin to get this one down. A lot of us may not even realize we’re doing it. For me it’s taking a lot of practice because I did it often. If you’re not a serial blame shifter, then this could be an easy one. For those fellow blame shifters out there…this one’s for you. We do this often in close relationships and any time we feel stressed or uneasy. We feel obligated to point a finger at something. We need a reason. But to just take responsibility and accept it for being what it is, that’s the challenging part. And once you take on that challenge you will begin to see the rewards.

2. ALWAYS REMEMBER THERE ARE NO RULES. A purpose of life is to create our own individual heaven on Earth. We grow, learn, and work in order to accomplish our dreams. What is right for one, may not be right for another. Rules are guidelines. If you know your path involves living outside of the rules you have been introduced to, then you know following the rules isn’t always the right thing to do. Being you, doing you, living your truth is how you follow your bliss.

3. PRACTICE DEEP BREATHING. Our breath is our life force and can aid us in many things. Deep breathing can be a great reminder to relax the muscles in the body (this is a part of #8, too). When there is tenseness anywhere in the body it prevents the complete relaxation the body needs in order to run properly. Meditations are useful for full body relaxation, don’t forget the brain is a muscle. Full body relaxations include every bit of your being inside and out from the tip of your top hair to the tip of your longest toenail. Happy body, happy life (Just like the happy wife, happy life saying. Both are true).

4. HAVE POSITIVE SELF-TALK. And positive out-talk, meaning to talk aloud about yourself or others positively. This is deep rooted for many. Again, we may not even realize when we’re doing it. We must become more conscious of not only the things we say, but also the things we think. Thoughts are things. Negative thoughts bring negative experiences. Positive thoughts bring positive experiences. Utilize the power of your thinking to create goodness.

5. MOVEMENT. Find the kind that suits you and think of it as medicine for your body. Movement keeps the juices flowing through your joints and organs and everything else we can’t see…like our energy.

6. TRUST. In yourself, in others. You may find sometimes you’re wrong, but were you really? There is a lesson in many situations in life. Trust me.

7. LET YOUR MIND BE STILL. If you think you can’t, then you must.

I was in the shower when my mind was running at full speed and then it stopped for a moment. I realized I forgot what I had started thinking about in the first place. Then I thought, “Well, what should I think about now?” lightbulb goes off  “Jen…you don’t NEED to be thinking, your mind can be clear.” It was a miracle. At least it was a miracle for me, as I didn’t think it was possible to not be thinking about something. Boy was I wrong. And boy was I in need of some quiet.

8. RELEASE ATTACHMENT. Attachment to things, people, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, routines, feelings, everything. This may begin with clothes or other personal possessions, until you realize that your only personal possessions are your thoughts, and even those can be released. Nothing belongs to you. But everything is a part of you. This is the beautiful part of release. Think of something you love and cherish greatly. Now think about loving and cherishing it without it by your side. You can do this because it is a part of you, always connected. We don’t need to be attached to anything because we are connected to everything at all times.

9. LOVE. Love more often, love wider, love longer, love when you think you can’t. Love is looking at the good in others and yourself, having hope for the best in others and yourself. Love is kindness. Be kind in every thought, each word, even when you think you can’t, and you will learn much about love.