”Chi Wen Tzu always thought three times before taking action. Twice would have been quite enough.” Confucius
One of my biggest problems used to be that I thought too much.
I overthought any little problem until it became a bigger and scarier thing in my mind. I overthought positive things until they didn’t seem to be that positive anymore. I overanalyzed and deconstructed things until the happiness that comes from just being in a moment and enjoying it fell apart.
This locked me into analysis paralysis. Little action was taken. Opportunities were rarely used. Life stood still and felt confining. And my self-esteem plummeted.
Based on the emails I get I’m not alone in this. One of the most common questions I get is about how to not overthink things.
”Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best — ” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”
Winnie the Pooh is a kind bear. He cares greatly about his friends.
And he has always seemed like a pretty happy bear to me.
He’s also a favorite of mine so today I’d like to simply share 5 of my favorite happiness tips from that honey loving bear.
“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.” Charles C. Noble
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” Jim Rohn
Changing just one habit in life can have a huge positive impact.
But it’s often not an easy thing to do. And it becomes even harder to make a change that truly sticks when you make the most common mistakes. Mistakes I know many do and I have made quite a few times myself.
So today I’d like to share 7 things you need to stop doing to change a habit more easily and to make it stick for a long time.
One very helpful life skill is to be able to chill out.
To be calm in negative situations and not overreact about all kinds of things. Or invent big, big problems in your mind – or create them in your world as you drag other people in through arguments – by making mountains out of molehills.
By being able to chill out when needed to you will:
Have a lot less stress, worry and pointless conflicts with other people.
Waste less of your time, energy and thoughts on things that aren’t really that useful.
Attract what you are. To be able to draw people who are more relaxed and positive about life into your life then you have to be that person yourself. People like to hang out with people who are similar to them (because it’s comfortable, because it brings more fun and success, because people have 24 hours in a day and so choices need to be made).
Being someone that can be cool and relaxed about things is a positive and attractive social quality for any kind of relationship.
”Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”
“First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”