If you have a pulse, you have life . . . and you have problems . . . and stress in your life. Happy people are those who have found ways to cope and even thrive under stress.
When I was a young engineer, I was visiting Garibaldi Square in Mexico City, Mexico. On Saturday nights, the best mariachi bands (traditional Mexican music bands) play in the crowded square. As I watched the bands play, I saw a very old couple in pretty shabby clothes. It was very apparent that they were not very rich. I had my dreams and frustrations - I was waiting to buy a new car, a house . . . may be even a boat. I saw the contrast between them and I. I was this rich "North Americano" engineer and they were this poor couple with very little material things in their life. But I also saw that they held hands and very much in love with each other. They were enjoying the music. They were enjoying the present.
At that moment, I realized, all I had was the present moment! I could choose to be happy with what I have and where I am in my life. I did not have to have my house, my car and even my boat to be happy.
Three simple rules:
Rule One: Awareness - take the time to see what stress you have in your life and how it manifests. Do you yell at your kids? (I do sometimes), Are you carrying tension in your body (I carry it in my neck and shoulders), Do you have headaches?
Rule Two: Acceptance/ Acknowledgment - Irrespective of your circumstances, you have a choice. Your left brain has specific rules about how life must be for you to be happy! They are "false" rules - your right brain will tell you that.
Rule Three: Action - What is in your control? What can you do about it? Does worrying about your problems help you? As you relax, the answers will come. Take the action you need to help you. In some cases, it may mean no action. For an action oriented person like me, that is the biggest challenge :-)
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