Watch this experiment in discrimination. The first two links took place in 1970 with a third grade class. Wow! It was simply amazing how fast the class broke down.
We all discriminate in some fashion every day. Sometimes the discrimination is big while other times are more subtle or small. Jane Elliot’s experiment is a great lesson for all times.
Michael
How simple it is to see that all the worry in the world cannot control the future. How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now. And that there will never be a time when it is not now. – Gerald Jampolsky
What is holding you back from being happy now? Lack of money? Hate your job? Don’t have the relationship you are looking for? Don’t feel fulfilled? Not being who you really are? Too many responsibilities? Too much work to do? Worry too much?
Whatever your particular problem areas turn out to be, in the long run they aren’t the reason you are unhappy. In fact they are simply excuses or justifications we have made that put the responsibility for our happiness on someone or something else. It’s a lot easier to blame external forces for our unhappiness. Taking responsibility for your own happiness can be challenging for most of us. I know it was for me.
No matter what our circumstances are…. No matter what life we were born into…. No matter what our parents have done…. No matter how much money we have…. We always have the choice to be happier at any moment in time.
Make the choice to be happier one thought at a time. You really don’t have to do any more than this. Take any thought and turn it just a little more positive. Take that new thought and turn it just a little more positive. It doesn’t matter where you start from; depression, anger, frustration, optimism, hope, joy. You can do this anywhere and anyplace. No special training is needed.
Just one thought at a time. Think about it. Make the choice now.
Have a great day!
Michael
The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof. – Barbara Kingsolver
Have you figured out what you hope for? Do you think about them on a daily or regular basis? Do you adjust your hopes when you become clearer about what you want? Do you share your hopes and dreams with people who are close to you?
Using your imagination in combination with what you like and dislike is all that is needed to create a new hope. A hope or dream is a positive statement of a future event. Hope and dream statements never contain the word “but”. An example of a positive hope; “I’m going to take a long drive in the mountains after I get my brand new Toyota Rav 4.” An example of a hope with a “but” statement; “I’m going to take a long drive in the mountains after I get my brand new Toyota Rav 4, but it will take a long time to save enough money.” Leave out the “buts”.
In my opinion, living inside your hope, consists of four parts:
Inspired action comes from having a solid and clear hope or dream. You take action towards your goal because you feel the passion of your desire. Uninspired action is simply action without being attached to a hope or dream. With uninspired action, a lot seems to be going on but nothing is really being accomplished.
I’m going for the most you can do which is living under the roof of your hopes. What about you?
Michael
Waterfire is a Rhode Island tradition dating back to 1997 when it was created by Barnaby Evans. It’s classified as a sculpture but it touches a number of senses; sight, smell, sound plus the imagination.
Waterfire typically starts in late May and runs until the end of August with fires being lit every other week. The events typically last until midnight. After sunset, fire tenders in boats light the bonfires, which sit in metal baskets floating above the water. Music is piped through the entire area helping to set the mood. Vendors with tasty morsels of food can be found along the streets. Street performers are also popular.
The Waterfire events are extremely popular and thousands of people spend the evening walking along the rivers watching the fires, listening to the incredible range of music, talking with friends and enjoying the evening air.
I enjoy the play of light on the water. The shimmering reflections are very soothing in combination with the fires themselves. I also like the smell of burning wood. It’s reminiscent of a fireplace.
Erica and spend the evening with friends walking along the water’s edge before we went to dinner. Even though it was raining at the beginning, the whole experience was special.
Michael
The Shift Movie is all about the positive changes that are happening around the world. In times of negativity, despair and a feeling that the world is heading towards disaster, the Shift Movie gives a message of hope.
It’s less than 7 minutes long but worth every second. The short movie emphasizes the worldwide phenomenon of people making positive changes. It highlights leaders and people that span religious, culture, political and socio-economic barriers who are coming together to make a difference. It’s happening in every country around the world.
Do you want to be a part? Change in the world starts with you.
Have a great day!
Michael
The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. – Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
I love short and to the point life lessons. The first rule mentioned above, I talk about all the time. Read almost any of my blog posts to get a sense of how I personally do that.
The second rule is great advice. I believe that the challenge is being able to clearly look at our internal thoughts. Most of us have a difficult time looking at ourselves with an outside perspective. We are too wrapped in our own “stuff” to really see things for what they are.
Our experiences, events in our lives, beliefs, relationships, likes and dislikes are all windows of how we view not only ourselves but the outside world.
One way at starting to be more open and seeing things for “what they really are” is to stop listening to what you or others say. Instead, watch the behavior. You will get great insight into understanding what you or they truly are. I’m not talking about judging here. I’m talking about understanding.
Another thing is to have a conversation in your mind where you pretend to be the outsider or another person. Ask yourself questions just like you would if you wanted to understand someone else and/or their point of view.
Write in a journal daily. You’ll be amazed at what comes out. I tried this several years ago and practiced it faithfully for many months. I found it to be tremendously eye opening and very therapeutic.
Have a great day!
Michael
The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge. – Elbert Hubbard
Do you suffer from ORS, generally called opinion rigidity syndrome*? It can be a common malady. Some of us go through life unaware that we have this chronic problem. It’s insidious and can affect our daily lives in unforeseen ways.
If you have any of the following symptoms, there’s a good chance you have ORS:
What can you do to release your mind from rigidity? Here are some suggestions:
Have a great day!
Michael
* I made up this name, so please don’t go looking for it in a psychology manual. 
When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. – African Proverb
We have met the enemy, and he is us. – Walt Kelly
Many times we get in the way of ourselves. We over think. We contemplate too long. We put off making decisions. We avoid confrontation. We believe our fears are real. We don’t understand that we can change directions at any moment. We believe that external people or events are the reasons for why something isn’t working for ourselves.
We truly are the sole roadblock to our own happiness and a fulfilling life.
Here a few thoughts on activities you could do to help you gain control in your life and generate more happiness for yourself.
Have a great day!
Michael
Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit, and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these. – Susan B. Anthony
Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them. – Robert Updegraff
The really important moments for me are the small ones, the seemingly insignificant events and the surprising observations of life around me. You know the ones. The smile between friends that speaks volumes. The realization that you and a stranger have just noticed something that has escaped the attention of others.
Playing with puppies or children are very special times, because they are living life to the fullest at every moment. They are completely focused in the present and extracting every ounce of fun that could be had in every second.
I find a lot of solace in watching the flames in a campfire. I can and have watched for hours with friends. There is something fascinating, mesmerizing and comforting all at the same time.
I also love to watch the ocean waves crashing into the seashore. I find that I get into the rhythm of the moment and begin to notice patterns (can’t help it) in their unceasing and seemingly random battering of the shore.
Taking a hike or walk in the forest is another really important activity. For me its therapy, a recharge and time to just be.
There are many more: that perfect cup of coffee, the smell of pancakes while camping, the sound of a guitar, the scent of fir trees in the fall, sunsets, reading a good book, sleeping in on the weekend, cooking a meal for someone, gardening and on and on.
Life for me is about the small things. I feel alive more during those times than in any other.
What are the small things that make life meaningful for you?
Michael
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. – Maya Angelou
I think that how you handle life’s little bumps is a big indication of inner struggles causing you to feel out of control. How we act in the external world is a reflection of what is going on internally. Our reactions to the world around us can also be indicative of our true beliefs regardless of what we say. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is to always view how people behaved and not what they said. One’s behavior is a much better indicator of personality, belief systems and integrity than mere words.
How do you handle a rainy day? Do you take it in stride or do you get upset, bothered or aggravated? Do you realize the benefits of the rain or revel in the cycles of nature? Or do you become annoyed that you have to deal with it? I learned a great lesson from my daughter. She used to come alive when it rained. As a little girl she would play for hours during a rainstorm. It really changed my perspective.
Lost luggage is a great example. I’ve seen people yelling and screaming at the airline representative. Of course, the people dealing with the issue are not the cause but they become the focal point for everyone’s frustration.
Tangled Christmas tree lights can make some people go over the “edge.” It can be quite amusing (from my perspective at least). On this issue, I tend to go into problem solving mode and treat it like a puzzle. What about you?
Traffic jams are a favorite of mine. I used to get completely frustrated and vocal about having to wait in traffic. Those behaviors did nothing to change the traffic pattern. What I had to do was distract myself. Now, I listen to music or the radio, talk with a friend if they are in the car and just relax. It took conscious effort on my part to get over this issue. I feel much better now.
If you find yourself one of those people that get annoyed, aggravated, pissed off or “put out” by life’s bumps, do yourself a favor and take a look inside. Are there any internal issues causing you to feel out of control? Are you dealing with some repressed feelings about a completely unrelated issue? Do you have a sense of entitlement supporting a belief that these kinds of things shouldn’t happen to you? Do you simply hate dealing with anything out of the ordinary?
Next time you react negatively to an event, take some time out and evaluate/contemplate on the possible reasons why. You’ll start feeling much better about your life when you can relax during life’s bumps.
Have a great day!
Michael
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