Ordinary Zen
Why you need more celebration in your life
If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Setting up your own special days to celebrate key life events can give you more joy and contentment
Americans have many special days in the year which they celebrate. There are national holidays and also events like Mother’s Day or [...]
The Zen of Survival
Voluntary simplicity may be the best way to survive difficult times
However much you want to be able to have that perfect wedding, give your kids the best vacation ever, treat your nearest and dearest to a slap-up meal, now may not be the time to do it. With the uncertainty in the financial markets, higher [...]
Everyday fiction: thoughts on the stories we tell ourselves
When it comes to telling others what happened, do you prefer dull truth or exciting fiction?
Do you like to hear other people’s views of what’s happening in the news — or would you prefer to find out for yourself? Do you want the ‘truth’; or do you want a good story? How much of what [...]
The secret to living well that too few people know
Giving up resentment and revenge are the keys to a better (and happier) life
Resentment is a form of reciprocal behavior: I’ll do to you what you did to me. It’s nursing a grudge and waiting until an opportunity occurs to pay the other person back in kind. During that time, the real or imagined [...]
How to build relationships that work
Other people are not broken . . . and nor are you
It’s tempting to think that your life would be better if only the people to deal with weren’t such a bunch of dysfunctional jerks. Tempting, but wrong. Other people aren’t broken and most aren’t dysfunctional either.
The reality is that it’s the way [...]
Is it worth seeking out a formula for happiness?
Beware of one-size-fits-all prescriptions for happiness
“Different strokes for different folks” is a good thought to keep in your mind. What makes one person happy might do virtually noting for many others. Much of the current writing on finding happiness seems to me to get dangerously close — maybe even fall into — the trap of [...]
How to slow down in everyday activities
Simple ways to live a slower life
Slowing down is one of the best ways to improve both your health and your outlook, especially when all the rush and pressure of this holiday time of year begin to increase feelings of stress.
Here are some simple ways to help yourself stay calm. None take extra effort and [...]
How to feel happier whenever you want
The first step is getting your thoughts under control
Let’s be plain: there is no way that you can control the thoughts that come into your mind, anymore than you can control what emotions arise. Anyone who says you can has never tried it.
Sure, you can try to think positive thoughts and avoid negative ones, [...]
Knowing when to quit
One of the greatest skills is to recognize when you‚€™re in the wrong place, or doing the wrong things, then find the courage to stop.
‚€œBut you pretend and I pretend
That everything is fine,
And though we should be at an end
It‚€™s so hard admitting when it‚€™s quitting time.‚€ù
~ Song lyric by Mary Chapin Carpenter
People don‚€™t [...]
Do you have enough living space?
Why leaving gaps in your schedule makes for a better life
Sometimes, what your lfe needs more than anything else is more space: more room to be and to grow, without being cramped or squeezed by so many activities — complete with all those demands and anxieties they bring to your time and energy.
You need big [...]
