photo credit: oskay

“What a difference a day makes,” I said as I looked around my home this morning, the day after an impromptu cookout with my friends. Five children and eight adults all having a great time, you can imagine the aftermath! 

As soon as I said it, I thought a little bit deeper about that statement.

What a difference a day makes. 

 

I love the song by the Miriam Dee Band, especially the part where Miriam belts out, “Twenty-four little hours, brought the sun and the flowers, where there used be rain. …”  Time does change things, but never forget we have a choice in the matter. Sometimes that is hard to see, though. 

Every day, we’re bombarded with to-do lists full of have-to-dos, urgent-dos, and earth-shattering must-dos. Our minds get on a rollercoaster, stuck on all the details of our day. Yet, when the day is done, many times we don’t even know what took up all our time. 

I attended a Shambala Meditation recently, and I loved what the leaders said there.  “You can always start over. You always have this moment, and now this moment, and now this one,” they said.  The implications of that simple line are huge. What a difference a moment DOES make, when I can choose to stop, breathe, re-evaluate. 

Like today. My choices, after seeing my house scattered with toys and dirty dishes, were to either be overwhelmed, tired, and overcome with all that “must” get done … or I could relish in all the fun I had with friends and loved ones, the happiness and joy we experienced together. 

Which path do you think I picked? 

 

Right! Just as you can do, if you follow these three tips: 

1. Do nothing. NOTHING! Just breathe. And no, you don’t need a desert island to pull this off. Just spend a few moments to slow your brain down. Try taking a walk, riding you bike, curling up in the fetal position (my personal favorite). Or just zone out in the seat you’re in now (unless it’s the driver’s seat). 

2. Take a “mental health day.” That’s what your sick days are for (imho!). So use them–and make that day all about you! 

3. Give yourself permission to stop. In the middle of the day’s chaos, in the middle of all those to-do lists, allow yourself to throw up your hands, shut down the computer, and simply stop.

Remember what a difference a day makes…or a moment makes.  This moment doesn’t have to be like the next moment - you can choose to feel, think and act differently!  

Tags: breathe, choice, mental health
Posted in Anxiety and Stress Management, Mindset Development, Uncategorized |