#2029 Building Bigger Muscles
First off - HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I credit my Mom with giving me the foundation of the philosophy I write about today.
I refuse to slip into moroseness even when life throws bad news banana peels in my path. I’m never Pollyanna – I won’t sink to the depths even when a negative event has its teeth in me, perhaps even more so when a negative event has its teeth in me.
I’m not whistling past the graveyard. I certainly respect the need for gravitas when the situation calls for it. I can be solemn; I can be sad. I can sit in those feelings and examine them. I’ll recognize them and look at them from all sides. I’ll cry when crying is called for, and I will allow the shroud of sadness to cover me when something sad happens to me, someone I love, or even to the world.
And it is all temporary.
Tragedy can’t define me. After a time, I need to shrug the shroud off and lift my face again to the sun.
Emotional range is important. I don’t want to be Stepford wife-like, and I want to focus on happiness. And yes, it takes focus. Happiness begins with the intention to be happy. Sounds trite, but there you are.
Without intention, we are subject to “The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”
Without the intention of being happy, we’re unshielded and skewered.
When I say I refuse to slide into morosity, I mean I consciously and deliberately refuse. I have the same negativity bias as the rest of humanity, and it is only my intention that allows me to regain balance quickly when I slip.
Each morning, I write my intention for the day, followed by something simple I am grateful for. That intention, written daily, is like the newborn calf on the shoulders of Milo of Croton. According to legend, Milo built his super-human strength by lifting and carrying a newborn calf on his shoulders daily. Over the subsequent weeks and months, the animal grew into a full-sized bull, and so did the muscle needed to carry him.
My daily entries are like that. They are building my happiness muscle a little bit more each day. When that muscle was small, a snarky store clerk or an inconsiderate co-worker could be too heavy for it, and I’d exercise the stronger muscles of anger and aggression.
My intention and gratitude practice has had a two-fold effect. Not only has the happiness muscle grown stronger, but, through lack of use, the anger, aggression, sadness, and negativity muscles have atrophied.
Stimuli that used to get those muscles flexing can’t even get them to twitch anymore.
I want to encourage you to begin this practice. My entries are always simple –
“Today I intend to smile a lot and to look for and appreciate small delights in my path. I am very grateful to work from home and enjoy more time with my darling bride.”
Intentions and gratitude expressions written daily will change your life. Absolutely, positively guaranteed.
Own Your Sales Gene…