Don't sweat the small stuff ... and it's all small stuff : simple ways to keep the little things from taking over your life
/ Richard Carlson
- First edition
- 248 pages
Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-248).
Don't sweat the small stuff Make peace with imperfection Let go of the idea that gentle, relaxed people can't be superachievers Be aware of the snowball effect of your thinking Develop your compassion Remind yourself that when you die, your "in basket" won't be empty Don't interrupt others of finish their sentences Do something nice for someone else - don't tell anyone about it Let others have the glory Learn to live in the present moment Imagine that everyone is enlightened except you Let others be 'right" most of the time Become more patient Create "patience practice periods" Be the first one to act loving or reach out Ask yourself the questions, "will this matter a year from now?" Surrender to the fact that life isn't fair Allow yourself to be bored Lower your tolerance to stress Once a week, write a heartfelt letter Imagine yourself at your own funeral Repeat to yourself, "life isn't an emergency" Experiment with your back burner Spend a moment everyday thinking of someone to thank Smile at strangers, look into their eyes, and say hello Set aside quiet time, everyday Imagine the people in your life as tiny infants and as one-hundred-year-old adults Seek first to understand Become a better listener Choose your battles wisely Become aware of your moods and don't allow yourself to be fooled by the low ones Life is a test. It is only a test Praise and blame are all the same Practice random acts of kindness Look beyond behavior See the innocence Choose being kind over being right Tell three people (today) how much you love them Practice humility When in doubt about whose turn it is to take out the trash, go ahead and take it out Avoid weatherproofing Spend a moment, every day, thinking of someone to love Become an anthropologist Understand separate realities Develop your own helping rituals Every day, tell at least one person something you like, admire, or appreciate about them Argue for your limitation, and they're yours Remember that everything has God's fingerprints on it Resist the urge to criticize Write down your five most stubborn positions and see if you can soften them Just for fun, agree with criticism directed toward you (then watch it go away) Search for the grain of truth in other opinions See the as already broken (and everything else too) Understand the statement, "wherever you go, there you are" Breathe before you speak Be grateful when you're feeling good and graceful when you're feeling bad Become a less aggressive driver Relax Adopt a child through the mail Turn your melodrama into a mellow-drama Read articles and books with entirely different points of view from your own and try to learn something Do one things at a time Count to ten Practice being in the "eye of the storm" Be flexible with changes in your plans Think of what you have instead of what you want Practice ignoring your negative thoughts Be willing to learn from friends and family Be happy where you are Remember that you become what you practice most Quiet the mind Take up yoga Make service an integral part of your life Do a favor and don't ask for, or expect one in return Think of your problems as potential teachers Get comfortable not knowing Acknowledge the totality of your being Cut yourself come slack Stop blaming others Become an early riser When trying to be helpful, focus on little things Remember, one hundred years from now, all new people Lighten up Nurture a plant Transform your relationship top your problems The next time you find yourself in an argument, rather than defend your position, see if you can see the other point of view first Redefine a "meaningful accomplishment" Listen to your feelings (they are trying to tell you something) If someone throws you the ball, you don't have to catch One more passing show Fill your life with love Realize the power of your own thoughts Give up on the idea that "more is better" Keep asking yourself, "what's really important?" Trust your intuitive heart Be open to "what is" Mind your own business Look for the extraordinary in the ordinary Schedule time for your inner work Live this day as if it were your last. It might be!
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Behavior modification Self-management (Psychology) Peace of mind