MANAGING STATE

So I am naturally a curious person. I love to read and I love to research. I have a ferocious appetite for both. Over the past few months, I have had a few my clients suggest a book that had a curious title.

The book is titled, ‘Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck’. I can be inappropriate from time to time so the title alone sold me. Basically the book is about positivity and that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—"not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault."

The author and blogger, Mark Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek. I haven’t finished the book just yet but could not stop myself from sharing some ways to stay positive in this sometimes negative world we all live in:

Use all your senses to engage with the delightful things that happen in each and every day. My dear hubby uses the notebook 'Simple Abundance' and swears by it.
Increase your flexibility. Remember that the person who’s more flexible in their behavior gets the best results. Changing your behavior means that things will change around you.
Step into someone else’s shoes. When you’re struggling to get along with someone who’s different to you, imagine what it’s like to be them. The grass is not always greener…
Find role models who convey that upbeat person you want to surround yourself with. What do these people do and how do they think? Notice what you can learn by taking on some of their attributes.
Stay fit and active. The more healthy and positive you are mentally, the healthier your body is physically.
Build rapport with those around you. You don’t have to like people to feel a connection with them. This is an art form. Creating a sense of rapport means you’ll experience more enjoyable encounters with others.
Know what’s most important to you in life and honor those values. Adhering to your values can get you through the most difficult of times.
Let go of BS negative emotions. Take what can be learned from unpleasant feelings or experiences and then move on and simply enjoy the present moment.