Saturday 23 May 2015

Its so simple!

The key to happiness and well being. Yes I fink it rilly is simple!

I found dis on interweb and fort I wud copy it down here to share wif yoo. It makes sense to me and muvva cos we alreddy knew it but cudn't explain it as well as deez intelekchuwals wot ritted all dis stuff. (yoo can always skip fru to da bottom for me Bonners abridged version itz a lot shorter but sez same fing ROFB

So here it is, haz a reed and see if yoo agrees too, and more impawtuntly see if we can all live by it.

Treating other people well isn’t just good for your karma. It’s good for your health and vitality, too.

Adjust your automatic responses.

Stress triggers us to act in unkind ways — maybe cursing the driver who cut us off, or snapping at our kids when they’re slow getting dressed. Then we feel bad about it, which creates more stress.

We get stuck in anxious, negative loops. So we seek out comfort where we can find it, and end up overeating, or paying too much attention to our smartphones, or otherwise constantly trying to distract ourselves.

Fortunately, we can hack these automatic tendencies by consciously building new mental habits. The brain has the wonderful ability to make things automatic. When you have awareness that you want to be kind, and then you practice it, you’re essentially rewiring the compassionate part of your mind.

When you notice an irritated thought, redirect your mind. Don’t try to be kind right away; it will only annoy you further. Instead, take a breath and see if (counter to your automatic thoughts) you have what you really need and are basically OK.

You might still have time to get where you’re going, even if your kids are being pokey. Or you might realize that even if you are going to be late, you don’t want to waste time fuming about it. That’s all it takes to shift your mind into a kinder mode.

Put your hand on your heart.

This technique seems almost too simple to work, and yet it’s unbelievably effective for creating a sense of compassion and empathy, says Kristin Neff, PhD, University of Texas associate professor in human development, culture, and learning sciences, and author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.

Our physiology is hardwired to recognize this simple gesture as self-soothing. the hand-on-heart exercise works because the human nervous system is responsive to touch; like babies, we respond to being held by relaxing and calming down. That touch also brings us back into connection with our bodies and, in particular, our breath.

It seems weird at first, when you start practicing this. But your mammalian system kicks in immediately when you place your hand on your heart. You begin to use a warmer, gentler tone with yourself and with others.

Shift your focus to what’s working.

Cultivate a sense of satisfaction whenever you get the chance. Even when you feel like life is a chaotic mess and you’re not getting the love, respect, or paycheck you deserve, take a step back to recognize a few good things in your world, advises Nelson.

Often, kindness is just about stopping in your tracks and becoming aware of what you have.

Being grateful for amorphous blessings like health and love is fine, but a more helpful inventory might include overlooked gifts like clean water, warm clothes, even the ability to read these words.

Take nothing for granted.

When life feels abundant, it’s easier to be generous — and avoid the trap of scarcity thinking.

Know the difference between obligations and opportunities.

Most of us have schedules, calendars, and other tools to keep us on track. Unfortunately, the quest to get things done can take precedence over our interactions with others. Marketing meeting: done. Oil change and brake repair: scheduled. Lunch with friend to talk about her divorce: check. What’s next on the day’s agenda?

Many people are so wrapped up with their to-do lists that they treat people as obstacles, or as a means to some end that’s related to achievement. Why not slow down and really spend time in someone’s company? To do so is a gift to both you and the other person.

The practice of being present in the midst of other people — not checking your phone, not rushing to deliver advice as soon as someone starts describing a problem, not scheduling social engagements back to back — can have profound effects.

Become a good listener.

That’s what happens when we’re truly present with each other. You inspire other people to do the same for you.

Respect those you help.

Giving to those in need is a beautiful act, but how you think about that gesture is important. “Giving” is noble, but the notion of “charity” is inherently limiting. It doesn’t recognize how much we have in common with those we want to help, and it places us above them instead.

Humility is one of the key ingredients to kindness. When you’re being kind because you believe you’re better than someone else and they need your pity, then giving is less meaningful.

Pity sets up a hierarchy. It leads to us projecting our needs onto other people, not seeing what they truly need.

Instead, keep in mind that we all are vulnerable and need help in our own ways. The kindness of generosity flows in all directions, including toward you. It feels good to give; you get something out of the interaction, too.

Be conscious of the money effect.

Being preoccupied with acquiring material wealth can lead to unconscious unkindness. But even having money on our minds (which is hard not to do when we’re constantly encouraged to make and spend more of it) can be enough to make us less friendly.

In a fascinating set of experiments, researchers primed one set of subjects to think about money, showing them phrases related to wealth, screensavers with pictures of dollar bills, and more. They primed another group with neutral imagery.

The money-primed subjects underwent two observable changes: First, they became more self-reliant and less likely than the other group to ask for help. Second, they became markedly less inclined to offer help to others in need.

Overcoming the influence of money on our behavior involves staying conscious of our scarcity mentality. That sense of scarcity is insidious and it takes engagement and mindfulness to run counter to that.

Once again, reminding yourself that you do have enough — even if your resources are modest — is a powerful tool for inciting a mindset of kindness and consideration.

Start at home.

Studies in behavioral science have found that most of us are more likely to act cheerful toward complete strangers than the people we see and live with every day.

While any positive interaction boosts our baseline well-being, it’s good to bring our kindness practice home, not least because it can be more difficult to be warm and caring toward the people we see routinely — and who occasionally annoy us, bore us, or treat us rudely. If we can rise to that challenge, we know we’re really growing.

When we think about kindness, we often imagine these grand gestures, but we don’t need to join the Peace Corps to create more compassion in our lives. Start by looking closer to home. How do you treat the people you live with?

Remember that kindness is a practice, not a project.

In our quest for kindness, challenges are inevitable. Someone will always be driving slow in the fast lane or passing on the right. Mean-spirited gossip will forever be circulating. There will always be lines, angry online commenters, personal upheavals. And that’s OK.

It’s better to see this as a playful adventure rather than a project that needs to get accomplished. You’re trying to rewire yourself for a greater sense of well-being and purpose in the world, and that requires some lightness in your attitude. Once you become too aggressive or serious about it, then you’re going the wrong way.

One trap many people fall into is thinking of kindness as an achievement. This creates an idea of an endpoint: You did all the right things, so now you can check “being kind” off your to-do list.

A better approach is to strive to develop a growing awareness of what happens when we stray from kindness, and then gently direct ourselves back toward the compassionate path.

You can cultivate kindness by simply inviting yourself to begin again.

I fink to sum all dat up in one sentence is 'treat others as you would like to be treated yourself' and how duz we like to be treated? With kindness, empathy, understanding and love.

Dats wot me bin sayin all da time *rolls eyes*

So afta all dat waffling by da sykyatrists an siyontists I'll abbreviyate it Bonners style.

Itz now scientifickly proved dat bein kind, understanding and loving towards evfurryone keeps yoo healthy an happy. Corse it dunt stop yoo gettin nasty diseases but I fink if yoo got one of dem, being kind and loving to others makes yoo feel better so dats good innit.

Now me gonna poke me furbro Mojo to wake him up, cuz he fast asleep and me gonna tell him how much me loves him and ask him if he comforble. What???? *looks at muvva wif butter wudnt melt eyes* pfffft

4 comments:

  1. Dose are sum very wise words to live by, Bonnie....

    Treat uthers like we'd like to be treated.... so I'll guess I'll go give sum belly rubs....bol!

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  2. Good advice Bonnie, cept I are wondering - do I has to give my momma treats now? BOL!

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  3. Is everything alright there? You haven't posted in a while and know you have many things on your plate right now. Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you.

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  4. Hello my fwends, fankoo for askin bout us.We iz alrite, muvva been runnin round like headless chickin dis last couple weeks, cuz hospital sendin hoouncle back to his house as dey cant do nuffin else for him but dey haznt arranged anyfing like nurse to care for him or anyfin. So muvva been busy fightin da system to get a package of care in place for wen he goes home. She gonna scribe me blog this mornin so I will rite a proper update. Fankoo for carin for us, it means da wurld to me da fursibs and muvva. xxxx

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