Mindfulness is hot and happening. It’s a way to calm the mind, in stressful times. But to actually be ‘mindful’ is not always easy. It takes time to practice. So here’s a little exercise you can do any time of the day. Even at the office. The challenge is to do nothing for 2 minutes and to just listen to the waves. To proof you’re doing well, don’t touch your mouse or keyboard. Sounds easy? Do the test.
This is, if not the most famous, at least the most inspirational speech by Steve Jobs, who died yesterday, october 5th 2011, at the age of 56. The former chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios urges Stanford University graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks, including death itself. It’s a remarkably personal speech and makes you want to grab every inch life has to offer you. Stay hungry, stay foolish. To learn more on how to stay foolish, please read this post and this post and this column.
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You’ve heard this song before, I’m sure. I recently came across it and listened to it again. And though I always thought of it as a ‘funny’ song, it’s lyrics – so I found out – are just great. Simple and soothing, just like the tune itself. By the way, At the 1989 Grammy Awards, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” won the awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Not to mention the video, with a cameo by Robin Williams. So, just for a moment sit back and relax. Enjoy this great little happy tune. Oh, you want to get some more information? Check out: this.
Don’t worry…
Earlier today I came across a quote about worrying. It’s from the movie Van Wilder. The main character, a high school hero, at one point says: “Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere”. It made me think, because worrying is all about focus. I don’t know about you, but I often find myself worrying quite a while before changing my focus and move foreward. So why does it take me so long to snap out of this worrying state of mind?
In our attempt to manage daily life, we sometimes get overwhelmed by our own thinking. Although good at first (to fill in our tax forms and get a wide range of other practical things done) it’s sometimes hard to stop thinking. Like we’re in a roller coaster that we can’t get out of. And this makes us feel restless. Like we’re out of control. So here you’ll find 10 sayings that remind you of the Wisdom of the Heart. I didn’t make that up. The Dalai Lama did. And reading them slowly, made me feel really peaceful. At least for a moment. I hope it has the same effect on you too.
We all make mistakes. Blunders even. We screw things up, we fail and flounder. And because we all do, the world as a whole does too. Here are the Seven Blunders of the World. I didn’t make them up. Mahatma Gandhi did. And reading them attentively, makes me wonder about my own ‘blunders’. Of course being aware of a blunder, is half – if not more – of the solution for setting it straight again.
Being succesfull or a failure, far away or closeby, having lots of opportunities or no chance at all: it all depends on your perspective. Change your perspective and your world will change. To discover what your perspective is on something, simply ask yourself: do I feel good or bad? To change your perspective simply challenge yourself by asking: why? Why do I feel the way I do? Do I really have to feel this way? Is the way I see it, the absolute and only truth? Or, are there any other options? It’s like a mind game, because you always have other options – the trick is to find them and to choose the option that meets your needs. In the midst of things this can be hard to do, but even the awareness of a possible other option, gives you space to breathe – in(side) and out(side) – a bit more calmly.
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