Take a step back before acting or replying, especially to emails, to consider the best approach and make a qualified, studied decision. This helps avoid impulsive actions and fosters more thoughtful engagement.
Approach every situation, even challenging ones or interactions with difficult people, with kindness and dignity, as it costs nothing to be nice. This method can lead to better outcomes by countering expectations of aggression and reminding others that kindness is possible.
Make a conscious decision to not allow shame into your life, telling yourself ‘I’m good enough, I’m fine, it wasn’t me, and I’m going to be okay.’ This helps you move forward and prevents past baggage from dictating your present or future.
Strive for routine and consistent patterns in your daily life to better maintain habits like meditation. A predictable schedule, such as regular work and meal times, makes it easier to integrate and stick with practices.
Start meditating by simply closing your eyes and making an executive decision to go inside and block everything out for a while when feeling stressed or annoyed. This helps in realizing the benefit of quiet time and inner focus.
Establish a more formal meditation practice by sitting on a low chair with hands on knees, focusing on your breathing, and feeling the breath coming in and going out. This helps establish a consistent practice beyond just crisis moments.
View meditation as a form of training or mesmerizing yourself into a beneficial pattern, similar to physical training or vocal practice. This perspective helps in understanding that consistent effort improves the skill over time.
Focus on enjoying the present moment and the journey of life rather than solely striving for achievements and end goals. This approach helps prevent missing out on the current experience by constantly looking ahead.
Craft a life that balances various demands and desires, viewing it as a negotiation to achieve your desired outcomes. Utilize the benefits of one area (e.g., mainstream work) to support other passions (e.g., obscure artistic projects).
Engage in swimming as a meditative activity to find quiet time for reflection and thinking. The anonymity often found in a swimming pool can enhance this experience, allowing for a mental break.
Engage directly with global issues that concern you, such as the refugee crisis, by seeking firsthand experience or supporting organizations like the UNHCR. This helps to understand the root causes and combat rhetoric of hatred and fear.
Avoid using phrases like ‘hashtag blessed’ as they can be a lazy way to avoid analyzing your circumstances and often serve as a humble brag. Instead, be more thoughtful and genuine in expressing gratitude or describing your experiences.