Daily Meditations for Tough Times

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Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

If you find yourself in the middle of a battle and realize it's not going so well - don't be so hard on yourself.

If circumstances have settled and things did not turn out the way you wanted them to - don't be so hard on yourself.

Life is life and we simply don't have that much control over what happens to, in and around us in it. As mentioned previously, the best we can do is try to 'control' ourselves, but even that has its ups and downs. Some days self-discipline comes with ease and some days it's like reaching for the stars (pretty much impossible).

But don't be so hard on yourself.

Remember: You did the best you could. You used all your best resources. You maintained as best you could your integrity. You gave it all that you had to give. And if you didn't - remind yourself you'll try better next time.

Sometimes a battle is more of a growth opportunity than anything else. For you or for that person in your life that sees you as a role model. Learn what you need to, teach what you need to and move forward.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Just move forward.

You Set Your Mood, Not Your Circumstances

No matter what you're currently experiencing, remember: you set your mood, not your circumstances.

It's a well-known cliche that what happens to you is 10% events and 90% how you react to it. A cliche because there is a nugget of truth there.

Of course, if something awful happens, you can reasonably be expected to be sad, angry or disgusted. No one wants to lose a pet that has become a member of the family, lose their job or experience family acrimony.  But life really is determined by how you choose to respond to these negative (and positive) events.

You want to decide within yourself that no matter what happens, you're going to be happy anyway. You want to reassure yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way. You want to acknowledge that worry is fairly useless because you have absolutely no control over most things that are going to happen to you.  But you can control yourself.

You can control your mood, your temperament and the quality of your day-to-day experiences. How? By deciding it's not worth staying angry, distraught, sad or stressed out every single day. By deciding to allow the good experiences to stay with you longer than the bad. By deciding to meet life's challenges with a good deal of determination and the best attitude you can summon. And if you need more inspiration, remember that you are not only hurting yourself, but affecting the ones closest to you as well. So calibrate your attitude and set it at its highest level.

You can do it!

Remember - it's not your circumstances that set your mood.

You alone have that power.

Do You

Only you can 'do' you well.  Be yourself.  Be yourself with joy, with freedom and with liveliness.  No one else can be you.  You can never be someone else.  Be yourself wholeheartedly and reap the benefit of being completely free!

Trust Your Inner Voice

Trust your inner voice.  Trust that you know the right course of action to take.  Trust that you are able to make the right decision.  Trust that you know what's best for you, your family or your job situation.  Trust your inner voice.  Tune into its quiet conversation and follow where it may lead.

Pay Attention to What's Going on Around You

Life has a way of throwing a lot at you at once. If it's not one thing, it's three or four all at the same time. The kids are sick, the boss has you working extra hours and the car is giving you problems.  It's hard enough to focus on one thing at a time, but much harder when multiple challenges occur at once.

But you need to remember - even in the event of multiple challenges, you need to pay attention to what's going on around you.  Small problems have a nasty way of becoming big problems. Things you didn't say before (when you should have) have a way of growing until it's all you can do to avoid yelling or screaming at the person who wronged you.

Pay attention to what's going on around you.  Note the things that you might need to address and address those small issues when and where they present themselves. Don't allow a small situation to become large and don't hold back when you sincerely need to speak up.

Be alert. Be aware. And act when called for.

Take Time For You: Meditate Today

Take time to meditate today. And by meditate I mean, spend at least 30 quiet minutes by yourself, clearing your mind of all your problems and thinking positive thoughts.

Here's what you should do:

1. Find a quiet place.

2. Get comfortable.

3. Allow your mind to drift. As it tries to latch on a particular thought (i.e., worry), let it go. Allow your thoughts to drift away until you are at a place of peace. Practice this until you get it right.

4. Fill your mind with positive thoughts. Think about how you will overcome the challenges that will present themselves to you. Think of all the good things that have happened in your life. Think of how well you are doing, how far you've come and how you're sure you will continue to succeed. Dream big or dream small, but make sure you're only thinking positive thoughts.

5. Breathe deeply. Relax all the muscles in your body. Stay in a meditative state for at least 30 minutes.

6. Repeat as needed.

Take Time For You Today. Spend at least 30 minutes in meditation to put your mind and body at ease. Now you try it.

Avoid Stagnation At All Costs

Avoid stagnation at all costs.

Routine is unavoidable. Stagnation is not.

Always try to keep moving forward. Always align your goals with your actions. Don't ever think you are stuck where you are - you always have options. Even if your only option is to chuck it all and start over.

Avoid stagnation at all costs.

Know what you need to do, do it, and keep moving forward.

Assignment: Smile at Everyone You Meet Today

 Okay, we'll start you off with an easy first Assignment: I want you to smile at everyone you meet today. 

That's it: just smile.

As cliched as smiling can sometimes be portrayed, it actually makes a big difference.

I was reminded of it this weekend as I was traveling through various states, dealing with a somewhat stressful family situation. To add to my anxiety, I had to stop at various tolls and produce the correct amount of cash to pay for each one.

And know what I noticed? A few memorable times, the person working at the toll paused, looked me full in the face and smiled.  They smiled as they said things like, "Have a good day" and "Thank you."

And you know what? It made me feel so much better. Automatically, I found myself smiling back at them.  Know why? Smiling is so much more than a shifting of muscles or a social nicety. It's really a direct transference of your positivity to someone else. Your mood elevates their mood and - there you have it - you'll see that person smiling back at you.

So try it.  Smile at everyone you meet today.

You're guaranteed to make someone feel better

The Stronger You Become, The Stronger Your Obstacles Become

Bill Gates deals with an entirely different set of problems than you do. He is a billionaire who formerly ran the day-to-day operations of Microsoft Corporation and now heads a philanthropic organization that gives out millions of dollars to those in need.

He has to make difficult decisions about who needs what. He has massive headaches to deal with as he judges and deals with the effectiveness of those programs his organization funds. He has to make hiring and firing decisions. He has to decide, out of every type of problem in the world, where to direct the resources of his organization.

Bill Gates is an internationally known billionaire with a lot of responsibility.  His obstacles are much different than the challenges you or I would face.

However, the obstacles you face are much more difficult than those of someone who doesn't have the responsibilities that you do. The stronger you become, the more you have, the more you grow and develop, the stronger your obstacles will become.

It makes sense. You won't deal with who to hire or fire until you own your own company or move into management. You won't deal with the declining housing market or interest rates or property taxes until you buy your first house. And you certainly won't deal with things like long-term fidelity, combined finances and in-law issues unless you're in a committed relationship.

Accept that your obstacles will increase as you develop.

That's simply the price you pay for being where you are...