A friend of mine recently wrote,
Also, about your stress hardiness list. I wish you’d add something about the appreciation and enjoyment of beauty, natural or otherwise. I think that makes an enormous contribution to one’s quality of life.
My first answer was
I figure love of beauty, nature, etc. is included under “The quality of our lives depends on how we focus our energy and our attention.” It’s going to be different for different people. And it doesn’t have to be profound — looking at pictures of dogs lifts my spirits. To each his own.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what she wrote. I think Item 9 on the list is at least as relevant:
They are grateful for the good things in their lives.
For me being grateful includes focusing my energy and attention on the things and people I appreciate and enjoy — and for me it’s not limited to beauty. I do agree that doing so makes an enormous contribution to our lives.
Do you agree? What do you appreciate and enjoy? How much time do you spend doing that compared to focusing on the things you don’t like in life?
December 20, 2013
Since I don’t do anything that I don’t like, the question does not arise. I try and be as non judgmental as possible about everything, and that helps me in being balanced rather than elated or depressed. It would therefore mean that I do only those things that I appreciate and enjoy. I have reached that stage of life where I can avoid everything and everybody capable of disturbing my equilibrium.
Yes, we are fortunate, aren’t we!
I try only to focus on the things I appreciate and enjoy. I don’t see the point of dwelling on things I don’t like, unless there’s a serious possibility I could change them into something I DO like. I don’t understand people who just moan all day about the things they dislike. What an incredible waste of time and energy.
And yes, I’m always grateful for the good things in my life, especially those random things that by some strange chance have come to me rather than someone else.
I agree!
I dwell on things I don’t like ’til I get off my lazy ass & fix them.
I run across things that can’t be fixed. Then later –WHAM– it comes to me how to solve the problem. Very good feeling.
That’s the nice thing about having plenty of experience. If the solution isn’t immediately obvious, we can afford to be patient and wait until the answer comes to us. We learn to trust our subconscious mind.
I appreciate a number of things, but they won’t be what others think – either from their point of view or what I should be doing 🙂
Right now indirectly I appreciate my new woman doctor, who thought outside the box a couple of weeks ago and although I’m in SHOCK it will work out in the end.
I appreciate I can do whatever I like in regards to above. I have no family that needs me to do dinner, iron shirts, or such things. I can do everything in my own time and my own way.
I appreciate a lot of other things that give me the current lifestyle I have even it I would rather it was something else …
What would your ideal life look like?
Things are pretty good with me at the moment. So it is pretty easy to focus on the enjoyable and what I’m grateful for.
For me the most uplifting tends to be stuff that involves those I love. However some music, like some of Talking Heads, Pink Floyd, Bach, and good Blues; takes me to a place of transcendence.
I expected someone to mention music. I don’t listen to it much, but I know it really moves a lot of people.
I’m glad things are going so well for you.