What’s the role of anger? Here it is: it should wake us up to what else we’re feeling that we wouldn’t otherwise pay attention to. Anger is like the orange warning light inside your car that says, “Something else is going on. Look inside!” Whatever you're feeling - it all matters. Because you and me, and we, all matter.
Anger steals the show! I’m Dr. Chris. As summer temperatures rise, I’m thinking about the habits I’ve developed when I feel the heat of anger. Anger can help us stand up for ourselves and our importance –and it can also run right over the rights of others. How can we use anger to uncover what we really need and want: respect and affirmation that we all matter? My anger ranges from worry to fury. It is both a beauty and sometimes a beast. It can dream, or silently steam and dramatically scream. Anger looks and sounds different on everyone. But [...]
We hang on to a lot of painfully destructive stuff that doesn’t add value to our lives but in fact diminishes it. Sometimes we just forget that there’s a lot of unproductive worn-out stuff taking up space in our life. So, choosing carefully what to hold on to and what to let go of is one of the hardest and most important habits to change.
We hang on to a lot of painfully destructive stuff that doesn’t add value to our lives but in fact diminishes it. Sometimes we just forget that there’s a lot of unproductive worn-out stuff taking up space in our life. So, choosing carefully what to hold on to and what to let go of is one of the hardest and most important habits to change.
We change because we MUST. It just doesn't happen the way we always want. Here’s what I’m learning about change. My lesson from nature is NOT that we have to wait for change and growth--- I mean we do... But my bigger lesson is that sometimes change is happening in ways that we can’t see. Don't give up on yourself or others. Create the best environment for the change to appear above ground to exist and persist.
You see we heal by sharing our stories. The words “I’m sorry” are a part of our story that creates new beginnings and hopefully happier endings. The spoken apology is an opening to understanding, which doesn’t necessarily mean reconciliation or resolution. Understanding helps us think about how we offend, hurt, or are just simply inconsiderate to others, and how a good apology heals.
You see we heal by sharing our stories. The words “I’m sorry” are a part of our story that creates new beginnings and hopefully happier endings. The spoken apology is an opening to understanding, which doesn’t necessarily mean reconciliation or resolution. Understanding helps us think about how we offend, hurt, or are just simply inconsiderate to others, and how a good apology heals.
Lately I’ve begun to notice what I call the triceps and biceps of our emotional health: HUMILITY and CURIOSITY. These are different types of muscles that I need to get in shape too! These work together to support our entire emotional well-being. So this year I am resolving to get my physical and mental health in better shape.
Now here’s the connection I’ve made between this habit of turning the lights on and making life better and brighter: We celebrate life with lights. Lights hint that something special is happening: Whether it’s Christmas, birthdays, or the dawn of the new day, we celebrate with twinkling, candle, sun and star light. Celebrations - are - important to us. They are more than food and fun. They cause us to pause, savor the good stuff, and buffer out the stressors of life. Light and celebrations are inseparable. Every time you turn on a light, look for ways to celebrate. And let them remind you to BE a light in someone's life, especially your own.
I believe small gestures that really express focused, concentrated appreciation for people will bring out the best in them. When done well, personal thank you notes have a powerful, magical effect. Between the lines they can say, “I’m not only grateful for the gift, I’m grateful for YOU too!” In our global world more and more friendships live in the virtual world. Our personal, life-sustaining relationships are eroding. A thank you note can be a gift back to the giver that preserves and builds personal relationships that our survival depends on. A gift may not change lives. But our response of gratitude certainly can. Enjoy the Gratitude! It's one of the easy habits to build and share.
