This Is Water

Great advice about how to create meaning in a life full of routine:  choice!

Be Careful What You Wish For

It is common for us to look at our own set of problems and feel that life is unfair as we compare our difficult circumstances to the apparent ease that others experience.  Here's a video to help us think about this issue a little deeper.  I heard once that if we all threw our problems into a pile and then had to take others out of the pile, after seeing all the problems that everyone has, we would each quietly take back our own problems and feel a little more grateful about our own circumstances.  Our difficulties are tailor-made for us to provide opportunities for growth and development.  This is a reminder to be a little more grateful for our circumstances:

MY SHOES, by Nina Raoofi

Ashton Kutcher's 2013 Teen Choice Award Speech

Okay, so you've all seen it by now - Ashton Kutcher gave an amazing speech at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards.  He didn't just give the "thanks, I owe it all to the fans" speech.  Instead, he took the opportunity to use his moment in the limelight to teach the youth who were watching some valuable lessons:  1) opportunity looks a lot like hard work, 2) being sexy comes from being smart, being thoughtful, and being generous, and 3) creating a life for yourself is better than just living a life and accepting what's already here.  Pretty good advice for an old guy.

Ashton Kutcher's 2013 Teen Choice Award Speech.

P.S.  Can you believe his name's not even Ashton!?!?!?!?

The Science of Happiness - An Experiment in Gratitude

Every person I have ever met in my line of work as, at some time or another, has expressed that they would like to feel more happiness.  Not just fleeting fun or a quick fix - they genuinely want to feel happiness that lasts and that they can learn how to maintain.  The video below just might have their answer . . .

It's interesting to notice that expressing gratitude has the most positive effects on the people who are the least happy.  So if you want to feel more happiness - today - share your feelings of gratitude with someone!!

How to Make Stress Your Friend

How many of you are stressed?  I mean, really stressed sometimes?  Life is full of stress.  But did you know it is not all negative?  Watch the video below to learn how stress can be your friend :)

Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend

Bullying

Have you ever been bullied?  How did it affect you?  I would guess that all of us have memories of being made fun of, feeling 'less than,' or being put down by others.  This video can feel intensely emotional, especially if you have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, bullying.  Find someone to talk to after watching this if you need support.

To This Day Project - Shane Koyczan

Let Go Of Your Stress

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half... empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!