TWO PLUS ONE EQUALS HAPPY

As we seemingly fly into this year's holiday season, some with snow outside, some with blessed rain, and some on a beach, it is a good time to be still for moment.  

How do you want to feel come January?  

Happy?  Satisfied?  Filled up with good memories?  Surrounded by some sweet love?

Yep, me too!

So how does one go about creating this experience?  My clients and friends have always kidded me about MISTY"S RULES..... whether it be about dating or sobriety or getting through a stressful time. I guess I like sifting through the mechanics of things and finding an axiom, a story or a way of holding onto an idea that serves us.  That gives us a better shot at actually doing the new behavior..

So here is MISTY'S RULE #???  for getting to January in good shape: TWO PLUS ONE EQUALS HAPPY!!!!



This exercise is about A LOT OF THINGS:  
surviving the holidays with a happier heart
     doing a little  brain training, 
serving either the planet, the community, the family or friends, 
     or nurturing the same,
getting good at being grateful, 
     learning to focus outside of ourselves       AND
                                                                        just maybe acknowledging that we are part of worlds created than the sphere in which we are daily focused.

So:   TWO PLUS ONE EQUALS HAPPY

What does that mean?  Well TWO PLUS ONE   is three right?  So the practice is about choosing one
                                                   from each of three lists:

 The first is ACTION, the second is WORDS, and the third is GRATITUDE.


So for ACTION, it simply means to do one small act of kindness or assistance or service to one of the following groups:  my world, my community, my family or simply the human in front of me.




This could be as small as picking up one piece of trash from the street, or opening the door for someone.  It could be grand, a financial donation to PBS, or RED CROSS, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, or your church.  It could be anonymous or personal,  a secret Santa or cleaning someones house.    ONE generous ACTION, EVERY DAY.

The second is WORDS.    Finding a kind WORD for at least one person every day..  Not just Hello, although acknowledging people is a wonderful thing, but actually saying "Hey you are good at this!"  or "You know I just love this about you...."  Or "You look lovely today, what a treat for me!"  It is surprising how few times we actually compliment the people in our families and in our work, or even in the stores or restaurants that we visit.  Your words are your wealth.  You can give away all of them every day and still have plenty for tomorrow.  And believe me, what you get back from this act is in size far greater than what you will leave behind you.  So one complete sentence of admiration or gratitude for not just WHAT people do, but WHO people are..  Ok so: 

 ONE FULL ADMIRING SENTENCE, EVERY DAY.


And the last piece is GRATITUDE.  This involves is saying  OUT LOUD  to yourself, once a day....."Thank you for........"  Yep, something you are grateful for in your life.   Today it could be your job, or your health or your favorite purple toothbrush,  or your favorite TV show, or a good bowl of soup, or your partner, your kids, your garage, your dog, or the sunset... so #3 is:

ONE OUTLOUD SENTENCE OF SOMETHING YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR TODAY.

So let's review  TWO PLUS ONE EQUALS HAPPY  means:

1 ACTION,
          1 FULL SENTENCE OF WORDS OF ADMIRATION OR APPRECIATION and
                    1 OUT LOUD VOICING OF GRATITUDE.

Can you do it every day?  Well maybe, or maybe you will use the coming 42 days UNTIL JANUARY 1ST to get better and better at it.   Make a habit of reviewing your list as you brush your teeth in the morning or just as you turn your light out for the day.  Think about who you will see today and make a commitment to speak to them. Or at night,note what you missed and what you could try tomorrow, or the person to whom you would like to especially speak with tomorrow.   And of course EVERY DAY you can do your out loud thank you.    You could start right now!

THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT FOLLOW ME AND LOVE ME!!  I AM BLESSED.

So remember MISTY'S RULE:  















TWO PLUS ONE EQUALS HAPPY = ACTION, WORD, GRATITUDE

                                                                         And don't forget the critters!!

Misty Wycoff November 21, 2014