CONSCIOUS LIFE SKILLS NEWSLETTER - December 2007
Conscious Life Skills newsletter
No.6, December 2007
Frequency: 6 times per year
Website: http://www.consciouslifeskills.com
Mail to: frances@consciouslifeskills.com
No.6, December 2007
Frequency: 6 times per year
Website: http://www.consciouslifeskills.com
Mail to: frances@consciouslifeskills.com
c2007 Conscious Life Skills
Of the 58 practical exercises presented, I found the following appealed to me.
The power of maybe exercise for needing to be right
End every one of your statements of certainty with the word, maybe. The goal is to short-circuit our habit of needing to be right and attached to an outcome, thus allowing room for discovery, openness and adventure into the unknown.
For example,
Looking out of the window, seeing the blue sky:
“It’s a perfect day for a walk…..maybe.”
“I know I’ll enjoy the job….maybe.”
The blending energy exercise for verbal attacks
Let’s say you’re facing a strong verbal attack from someone, and you know it’s likely to press your buttons. You can move out of the line of attack by using statements like
“Tell me more”, “I’m interested to hear your views about this”, then follow it up with really listening to what the other is saying (see self coaching tip: When to listen and when to stop talking) Using this approach, you are blending the energy of self-righteousness and attack with openness and flow, thus creating more of an energetic framework for dialogue as you allow yourself to be open to maybe you’re right, maybe you’re wrong, maybe the other is right, maybe the other is wrong.
The I wonder exercise / Scissors in the mind exercise for expectations, hopes and desires that control us
We all have hopes, desires and expectations which colour the way we would like the future to unfold. Often these expectations can lead us to acting in a way that says how things should be, rather than appreciating how they are. We can slip into wanting to take control and when things don’t turn as we planned, we try harder to make sure they do! Quickest way to destroy peace of mind is to stay tied to how things should be. So, consider reframing expectations as "wonder".
Instead of obsessing over hopes and fears, adopt a sense of "wondering" what will happen. Rewrite your messages to yourself from "I hope things work out like so" to "I wonder how things will work out." Then, follow through with an exercise that cuts your tie to your desire and feeds nourishing thoughts to yourself.
Desire: I wonder if he/she will call.
Situation: Last night you met a great person with whom you feel a soul connection. As you go about your business today, you wonder if he/she will call, and find it hard to stay focused on the present. As time passes, you start to brood, hoping he will call.
Shut your eyes, imagine a cord that connects you to this thought bubble. Imagine yourself cutting it, so it floats away into the distance. Reality is, he/she will call, or they won’t. You have no control over their actions. Your mind is now free tothink nourishing thoughts…”This person is not my life. While I would enjoy seeing him/her again, I know I have the power to create a great life whether or not he/she calls me. All is well.”
Enjoy reading. It is both a refreshing and light read that can help you integrate more fully the practice of living as a process of constant change.
The power of maybe exercise for needing to be right
End every one of your statements of certainty with the word, maybe. The goal is to short-circuit our habit of needing to be right and attached to an outcome, thus allowing room for discovery, openness and adventure into the unknown.
For example,
Looking out of the window, seeing the blue sky:
“It’s a perfect day for a walk…..maybe.”
“I know I’ll enjoy the job….maybe.”
The blending energy exercise for verbal attacks
Let’s say you’re facing a strong verbal attack from someone, and you know it’s likely to press your buttons. You can move out of the line of attack by using statements like
“Tell me more”, “I’m interested to hear your views about this”, then follow it up with really listening to what the other is saying (see self coaching tip: When to listen and when to stop talking) Using this approach, you are blending the energy of self-righteousness and attack with openness and flow, thus creating more of an energetic framework for dialogue as you allow yourself to be open to maybe you’re right, maybe you’re wrong, maybe the other is right, maybe the other is wrong.
The I wonder exercise / Scissors in the mind exercise for expectations, hopes and desires that control us
We all have hopes, desires and expectations which colour the way we would like the future to unfold. Often these expectations can lead us to acting in a way that says how things should be, rather than appreciating how they are. We can slip into wanting to take control and when things don’t turn as we planned, we try harder to make sure they do! Quickest way to destroy peace of mind is to stay tied to how things should be. So, consider reframing expectations as "wonder".
Instead of obsessing over hopes and fears, adopt a sense of "wondering" what will happen. Rewrite your messages to yourself from "I hope things work out like so" to "I wonder how things will work out." Then, follow through with an exercise that cuts your tie to your desire and feeds nourishing thoughts to yourself.
Desire: I wonder if he/she will call.
Situation: Last night you met a great person with whom you feel a soul connection. As you go about your business today, you wonder if he/she will call, and find it hard to stay focused on the present. As time passes, you start to brood, hoping he will call.
Shut your eyes, imagine a cord that connects you to this thought bubble. Imagine yourself cutting it, so it floats away into the distance. Reality is, he/she will call, or they won’t. You have no control over their actions. Your mind is now free tothink nourishing thoughts…”This person is not my life. While I would enjoy seeing him/her again, I know I have the power to create a great life whether or not he/she calls me. All is well.”
Enjoy reading. It is both a refreshing and light read that can help you integrate more fully the practice of living as a process of constant change.
Book review
Embracing uncertainity: breakthrough methods for achieving peace of mind when facing the unknown / by Susan Jeffers
Are you feeling trapped by your mind’s need to know how things are going to turn out?
Are you caught up with expectations that are not turning out the way you want?
Would you like to live more comfortably with the fact that the only true fact about life is that it changes?
Embracing uncertainty by Susan Jeffers suggests a methodology for people to attain mental equilibrium and serenity in an uncertain world. It basically can be used to teach yourself the art of allowing and stepping back, through learning practical techniques on how to detach when experiencing every day events.
Embracing uncertainity: breakthrough methods for achieving peace of mind when facing the unknown / by Susan Jeffers
Are you feeling trapped by your mind’s need to know how things are going to turn out?
Are you caught up with expectations that are not turning out the way you want?
Would you like to live more comfortably with the fact that the only true fact about life is that it changes?
Embracing uncertainty by Susan Jeffers suggests a methodology for people to attain mental equilibrium and serenity in an uncertain world. It basically can be used to teach yourself the art of allowing and stepping back, through learning practical techniques on how to detach when experiencing every day events.
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