It’s nearly 2017. With all that’s happening in the world, things can sometimes feel unbearable. What can we do? Remember these Five Secret Ways of the Heart.
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Remember to Breathe, or Die
In moments of stress or fear or anxiety, or when people act like total ______, when everything seems too much or goes wrong (it’s probably not that bad compared to the whole range of human struggles, but feels horrible nonetheless) let us remember to pause, and breathe deep. Even better? A good long sigh. Go ahead, let one out now: “Ahhhhhh…” Feel better?
Breathing is easy. Cheaper than drugs, alcohol or therapy. But so damn hard to remember.
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Remember: Emotions are like Pizza
After breathing, may we remember that strong feelings are messengers. Something needs our attention. Like a pizza delivery guy knocking on the door. How can we respond?
- Go hide in the closet and pray he’ll go away
- Peek out, decide he looks like a crazy person, and slam the door in his face
- Invite him in, to hang out in the living room for hours and hours and hours
- Run away with him, leaving everyone at home to fend for themselves
May we remember instead to acknowledge the feeling, and open it up, like a mysterious box of pizza. Get curious. Smell it. Taste it. Digest it. Use the info. And poop out what you don’t need.
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Remember: You don’t have to do it Right
Many of us walk around with little haters inside us, telling us we are pieces of shite. They’re just waiting for the right moment to catch us off guard and say, “See, there you go again, ___________. Didn’t get it right. Again. You never will. I wonder if you even deserve to live.”
May we remember to breathe and say to the haters, “Yup, I’m a Human. Again. An imperfect, totally loveable human being, just as I am.” That usually hushes them up. Until next time.
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Remember to Laugh
The whole world is weird, but who’s the funniest comedian you know? You. So let’s remember to smile at the one who goofs up regularly, slips on social banana peels, and argues with people you love (but only about really important things like how to drive or load the dishwasher).
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Remember Love, dang it
Although we are the center of the universe, and all things ‘should’ revolve around our world view and preferences, let us remember that others have other priorities, other ways of doing things.
Let us remember that we too want everything to go our way, so we’re not all that different, really.
May we remember tolerance and empathy, even for those who have none, which is pretty much the same as love, only harder.
So let’s remember to Love, because without that, we’re totally effed.
With Love from my Heart,
Christine
Download this post as a PDF to share: Five Secrets to Remember When Sh*i Happens 2016
