by Connie Whitman
Last week my sons were told by one of their friends, Alan, about a miniseries he watched called The Walking Dead. Of course zombie movies are all the rage with teenage boys. The old seasons can now be streamed through Netflix, if you are interested. Of course we had to see what Alan’s hype was all about and we began watching them as a family. The first episode was a bit slow and freaky, with zombies walking around trying to eat the very few living humans that remained in the United States. Surprisingly, my boys did not end up in bed with my husband and me due to fear!
Needless to say, I had a rough night sleep due to the graphic nature of these flesh eating zombies. My mind kept going to a place that kept questioning, what would I do if something catastrophic happened to us? What would be the most important things that we would take with us? Of course water, food, flash lights and other survival things. But what else would really matter? The bottom line to this question was my family and not the things we have accumulated.
So this got me thinking, what do most people worry about today? I came to the conclusion that we think that by gathering more “stuff,” that we will finally be happy. Instead of finding happiness right now, in the moment, with our family and friends we look for more.
As I have been contemplating this thought I received an email from one of my motivational sources, Mind Movies and the email spoke to this direct thought of being happy in the NOW!
So how do we do this?
Well here are 4 things that you can do right now to help you let go and will help
make you a happier and a more peaceful person today:
1) Let go of the need to impress others.
Most of us care about what other people think of us, how we live our lives, etc. After all, we are living in society and have social connections and interactions.
If you find yourself spending too much time, money or energy trying to impress other people, and perhaps seeking their approval, you’re not being true to yourself. There’s no need to try and be something you’re not, because you are AWESOME right now!
So instead of worrying about what other people think; focus on being the most authentic version of YOU.
When you fully embrace who you are and share it with others, you’ll find that people will appreciate how REAL you are and will flock to you effortlessly.
2) Let go of the need to be right.
This is a tough one for me! When we feel mistreated or misunderstood, we seek admission from the other person that they were wrong. We want an apology or at least have them acknowledge that we are right.
The problem is that we all don’t see things from the same perspective. Perception is reality for each of us! So in my world I am right and they are wrong and in their world they are right and I am wrong.
Of course there are times when an apology is necessary and the right thing to do. We all make mistakes, but to own those mistakes allows us to grow and become even more AWESOME.
Unfortunately, what often happens is that we hold onto these negative feelings of right and wrong and that negative energy takes hold of us deep inside. Negative energy has a way of depleting us of good energy and our good vibrations. It ultimately spills over into other areas of our lives.
So how do you combat this right and wrong belief system? Take a look at two questions:
“Do I want to be right? Or do I want to be happy?”
Usually, it’s our ego that gets in our way and keeps us holding on to past resentments and arguments. The better alternative is to consider letting go of the need to be right and just agree that you and the other person have different views on certain topics. If you can let go of that desire to be right, you will find that you can instantly restore happiness, balance, and contentment in your life.
3) Let go of the desire to gossip.
There is an old saying; gossip is just a cheap way to make yourself feel good.
We all know that gossiping about other people is wrong and sometimes mean. Yet when people around us are doing it, it is easy to join in and do it too.
So ask yourself this question, do I want quality conversations and relationships in my life? If you are able to answer this question with a yes; then start thinking that the quality of your life directly correlates to the quality of the conversations you have with others.
I try to teach my children that they have a voice and they need to learn how to use their voice to be an advocate for themselves. Also, they need to be able to share their positive energy with the world, by using their voice.
If we all embrace the power of our words, thoughts, and conversations, we can make a difference in the quality of the lives we touch. Your voice is powerful, so use it with thought and kindness, not gossip. Be committed to having and seeking more positive conversations about things that really matter and not about people. See how quickly you’ll brighten your outlook on life for yourself and those around you.
4) Let go of the past.
It’s easy to dwell on the past, especially because the future is so unknown! The past is safe and familiar. We know what happened and what we would change, if we had the chance to go back in time.
Reality check…we cannot go back in time and change our mistakes. You have to see the value of your past and the purpose it has served to bring you to this point in your life of who you are and where you are right now. You have to think that where you are now is where you are meant to be.
So I go back to my opening thoughts about the miniseries, The Walking Dead, and think that we need to be grateful for all our experiences, good or bad. We also need to know that NOW is all we have and that we need to do our best to enjoy each moment and each other.
One last thought, give yourself the gift of living in the present!
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