PERHAPS A NAP IS A GOOD IDEA

The other day I was feeling weary. As my friend Sabine likes to say, I needed to get horizontal. Instead of listening to myself, I found myself in a long since useful habit of pushing myself to do one more thing. Problem is that I pushed too far and I crashed, meaning I wore myself out.

Next thing I noticed was that my world was irritating me. I seemed to be in complaint mode.

Someplace inside of me I knew I was a bit off course. And I was adding to my fatigue by choosing to focus on what I found irritating. Instead I challenged myself to listen to what I was saying and ask myself, "What could I do to handle my complaint?"

I wondered, "What if every time I complained about somebody or something, I took it upon myself to do what I think the other person 'should' do?"

What if I catch myself saying that so and so 'should' pay more attention to me, that I choose to pay more attention to myself, or even choose to give so and so more attention than I have been giving?

What if I hear myself say, "People 'should' pick up the mess around here," and I realize that is a statement about me and I look around and I pick up things the way I like them to be, so my home is the way I want it to be?

What if I don't want people to tailgate me, so I don't tailgate others, and if someone is tailgating, I move out of the way so that is no longer happening?

And what if I take a nap right now and get horizontal? Maybe when I awake my attitude will have shifted and my world will feel cozy again - especially if I ask myself - what feels good right now?

QUOTES

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." 
  ~ Viktor Frankl ~

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING

• Notice the complaining going on either silently to yourself or to others.
• STOP
• Ask yourself... do I need a nap?
• If yes, take a break, a nap, a walk, shift your body, stretch.
• Now ask yourself, if I am aware of what is wrong...can I also be aware of possible choices? "What can I do to make things better for myself?"
• Challenge yourself to come up with three suggestions.
• Take action
• Focus on what is working right now - what feels good in this moment.

WONDER QUESTIONS:

• Are you willing to take a nap when you are tired?
• Are you willing to choose your own way and create your own happiness?

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Copyright 2007 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
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leslie@living-bydesign.com

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Copyright 2007 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved. 
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