If there has ever been a time that we all need to lighten up a bit - it may be now.
Life gets a little crazy sometimes, I know. When things aren't going swimmingly for a lot of us it's easy to get down on ourselves.
The thing is, if we aren't careful, we could lose the spark of our happiness. So it is important to “lighten up a bit” to regain that spark. And stop being so hard on ourselves. And stop wallowing in negativity. Let's take a deep breath, exhale through the nose, and try to lighten up a bit.
Start with these tips. Select your one or two ideas from the following list of 9. Try it for a week. Then come back to this list, and select one or two others. Find what works for you.
1. Embrace the Concept of "Perfect Enough"
It feels great when something we are working on comes out just perfect, but it isn't the end of the world if it is just good enough. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in making sure every detail is perfect, that we don't take the time to enjoy the journey or the result, or both. Take the time to appreciate the journey even if everything isn't picture perfect every time. Because sometimes good enough is perfect enough!
2. Avoid Toxic People
Certain people in our lives bring us down. Or influence our thinking in a negative way that’s not always immediately clear to us. While we can't always avoid these people, we can limit our exposure to them or their influences. It's going to be very hard to lighten up if you spend a lot of time with people who sap your joy or dampen your spirit. It’s worse when their negativity dims our light.
3. Find Healthy Ways to Release Tension
One of the best ways to lighten up is to release some of your built-up tension. Or guilt. Avoid toxic echo chambers on social media, like these culture wars that seem to flare up every now and again. Or take it a step further and do something physically. Maybe you could get a massage. If that isn't your style, maybe you could blow off some steam working out. Or go for a walk to blow off some steam and re-center your thoughts and feelings around whatever makes you feel great. The choice is ultimately yours. Make sure you engage in tension-relieving activities regularly in a positive and constructive way.
4. Look at the Funny Side
Sometimes even the stressful events in our lives have a funny side. Learning to find this humorous side is a great way to lighten up. When you can laugh at yourself, you will find it easier to laugh in general. Plus it is sometimes a great conversation starter when you share your thoughts and experiences in lightened up way.
5. Spend More Time Outdoors
I know I mentioned going for a walk already, but it’s worth mentioning again: a nice leisurely walk on any day is one of the best ways to lift your spirits. It doesn’t have to be a bright sunny day – ask any Canadian. No matter what's weighing on your mind, this time outdoors and in nature has a way of naturally lifting our mood and letting us lighten up a bit. Google parks near me and select a spot that you haven’t been to in a long time. It doesn’t need to be far, or big.
6. Act Like a Kid Again
Have you ever watched a kid playing and what it’s like to find so much joy in such simple activities? Unafraid to get dirty. Curious to inspect anything small. Why not join them in your own way? It’s even better if you have kids in your life that you can spend some time with safely. But even if you don’t, do the adult version and act a little silly now and then. Laugh at something stupid. You'll find taking yourself less seriously is one of the best ways to lighten up.
7. Spend Time with Fun People
We already know we shouldn't be spending a lot of time with toxic people. The inverse is true as well. We should try to spend more time with our fun people, whether they are friends or family. People that lift you and keep you smiling. It is easy to lighten up when you are having fun. It’s even easier when you can spot someone else and consider what’s different about the way they would handle your situation. Learn from them how to lighten up a bit.
8. Help Someone in Need
This might seem like a weird suggestion, but hear me out. Helping someone in need will boost your mood in general. It is also a helpful reminder that everyone has problems, and maybe yours aren't that major in the grand scheme of things. When we remind ourselves that we are not the center of the universe and that sometimes things just happen and don’t always happen to us, we can remember to stop taking everything so personal. We can start to appreciate what we have and lighten up a little.
9. Stay in the Present
A major reason people can't lighten up is that they are reliving a bad memory or stressing out prematurely about some upcoming event. Strive to stay in the moment more often. Appreciate the here and now. If you get too caught up living in the past/future, you'll never lighten up. Here’s a quick reminder of 5 steps to practice to be more present in the moment:
Breathe. Sit still for a moment. Breathe some more.
Stop thinking about the past or the future by focusing on your breath.
Think about the position of your body in space and time.
Breathe some more, and slowly, deeply.
When your thoughts return to the past or the future, refocus on your breathing, your position in the here and now. And be more present in the moment.
Here's 3 action steps that you can take. See how you can expand it on your own:
Suggested Further by Reading
Check out these gems available on Amazon. Note that Woodbridge Hypnosis earns from your qualifying purchases. And to earn from your qualifying purchase, I make a little effort to curate the list, find the image and text for your ease of browsing. I trust you find this in order. However, these books may be available at your local bookstore or library. And if not, find anything else that may be on topic!
Open the list to find out more about each. Click the link to buy it on Amazon.
1. Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need
It seems as though not a day goes by that we don’t think about money. We cut back on spending. We chase a bargain. We try to save more. We strive to use less credit. We worry about funding our retirement and our children’s education. Yet we continue to spend money on things that don’t matter.
Peter Walsh knows that money and debt can overwhelm your life even faster than clutter, and he has a plan to help you deal with that emotional and financial chaos. Peter’s previous bestselling books inspired us to successfully evict the clutter in our homes, on our bodies, and in six key areas of our lives. But for many people, clearing the clutter suddenly exposes deeper issues—financial, physical, and emotional.
Sometimes our problems are not really about the physical stuff but about the emotional fabric of our lives—from our relationships with money to our relationships with people and even how we define and find happiness.
In Lighten Up, Peter demonstrates that this reassessment of priorities is a great opportunity to examine our lives and circumstances and to make the changes necessary to focus on the things that really matter. Exploring the real source of happiness, Peter offers a clear strategy for finding the delicate balance between what we have, what we need, and what we want or feel entitled to.
With three unique audits that cover every aspect of our well-being, he takes us step by step through sizing up not just our possessions and financial statements but also our thoughts, goals, use of time and energy, and even our innermost sources of tension. He then shows us how to embrace the changes we’ve experienced, set a new path for the future, and come to accept that living on less can feel—and be—so much richer.
In Lighten Up you will learn how to:
Change the way you and your family measure happiness
Face your financial situation and set realistic priorities
Create space for what really matters
Plan realistically for financial and emotional security
Be happier with less
Peter’s plan will help you achieve a personal balance that brings you happiness and the courage to choose a richly rewarding life over the mindless pursuit of more stuff.
2. Lighten Up!
3. Slow Down and Lighten Up
4. Lighten Up: A Hilarious Memoir and Guide to Reflective Meditation
5. Lighten Up: Survival Skills for People Under Pressure
These are small action steps that you can start in your life today. I am very passionate about our innate ability to form little things into natural habits that can shape our behavior in amazing ways. Check out my Success Rituals for Personal Growth program and build Success Rituals like this and become super productive in this 4 week program while managing your personal life as well. Have an explosive start on the rest of your life with small habits and rituals that automate a lot of your success and happiness.
Also, if you haven't yet, check out my e-Book, Transformation, that you can buy here.
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