Think Happy!

Over at the Aikiweb forums, there was a discussion in October, prompted by the question: ‘What does your Aikido practice teach you that your religious/spiritual/philosophical practice teaches you that makes you a better person?’

Some of the answers were so enlightening that I thought they merited discussion on this blog. The question that they provoke for me is, would the answers be the same if we swapped ‘Aikido’ for any other work at self-improvement that involved healthy exercise, co-operation with others and a heavy does of fun?

Anyway, here are some of the answers to the question…

What does your Aikido practice teach you that your religious/spiritual/philosophical practice teaches you that makes you a better person?

“That I am not alone.”

“It teaches me to treat complete strangers who inflict pain on me as friends.”

“Working with others with their limitations and abilities knowing that their limitations and abilities were/are/could be mine.”

“Compassion”

“That hard work is its own reward.”

“Humbling oneself can be very difficult but ultimately more rewarding”

“To connect with others on deeper and deeper levels.”

“That there is no victory/defeat or win/lose. If anybody loses, we all lose. If anybody has been defeated, then no one is victorious.”

“Aikido practice has mostly reminded me of humanity, being a person, being respectful of life, and joy in its unfolding.”

“It’s not the destination that matters, but the journey along the way.”

“Love”

At some point, I will write a post on the value of laughter. However, I’m suspect that such a view is intuitive enough to need little defence. So, for now, I will simply leave you with these wonderful sayings from the unmatched Jack Handey:

“I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they’d never expect it.”

“If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is, “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is, “Probably because of something you did.”"

“Broken promises don’t upset me. I just think, why did they believe me?”

“The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.”

“To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there’s no music, no choreography and the dancers hit each other.”

“I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is, while you’re in midair, you still hit those brakes! Hey, better try the emergency brake!”

“If you want to be the popular one at a party, here’s a good thing to do: Go up to some people who are talking and laughing and say, “Well, technically that’s illegal.” It might fit in with what somebody just said. And even if it doesn’t, so what, I hate this stupid party.”

“Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you’ve never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It’s not love I’m describing. I’m thinking of a monorail.”

“Why do the caterpillar and the ant have to be enemies? One eats leaves, and the other eats caterpillars. Oh, I see now.”

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November 7th is National Stress Awareness Day, so it seems like a good day to get back into the habit of posting here. I loved the slogan of NSAD this year, that fits well with the purpose of this blog: “Smile Away Stress“.

I take this opportunity to post the top 10 stress-busters recommended by the International Stress Management Association:

1. Smile
	Smiling is the first line of defence against stress. It’s quick, easy, and free! When you smile your body releases feel-good hormones, while the stress hormone, cortisol, is reduced. Smiling helps you feel calm and in control. It lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel good about yourself.
2. Exercise
	As well as its undoubted benefits for your general health, exercise is highly effective in reducing stress. It improves blood-flow to the brain, helping you think more clearly. Exercise is also another great way to release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers and feel-good hormones. There is also evidence that fit people are better able to handle the long-term effects of stress.
3. Get enough rest and sleep
	Taking a rest isn’t only about not doing anything. A rest from work can mean putting the emphasis on what you do in your leisure time – hobbies, holidays, sport – to counterbalance work or everyday stress. And we all need sleep for energy, good concentration and general health. Chronic sleep-deprivation can affect your performance at work, which can be a key factor in raising stress levels.
4. Positive thinking
	Changing your thoughts is not as difficult as you think. Try to adopt an outlook on life that stops you seeing external events as determining your happiness. Instead, see your thoughts as the determiner of your happiness. It takes practice, but if you can do this you’ll reduce the negative tension that leads to much of the stress in your life.
5. Reach out to others
	When you need to reduce the pressure in your life, you can’t always do it on your own. Everyone should have a support network of friends, family, co-workers and other people they can call on to help take the strain - whether it’s practical help or a sympathetic ear when you feel down.
6. Achieve a good work-life balance
	Don’t let work dominate your life. No matter how ambitious you are, it’s important to make time for relaxation and fun. That might mean reducing the number of hours you work, or changing to a job that’s closer to home so your commuting time is reduced. Use time management techniques to ensure you’re more productive during your normal working hours, rather than continually staying late at the office.
7. Relaxation
	A good relaxation technique is an anti-stress weapon that you always carry with you, to help you deal with any stressful situation as it arises. Make relaxation a regular part of your daily routine. There are so many relaxation techniques, from deep-breathing and visualization to meditation and self-hypnosis. Find one that works for you – check out the many books, CDs and DVDs that can help.
8. Eat a healthy diet
	A balanced diet that delivers all the nutrients your body needs to function at its optimum level is essential for dealing with stressful situations. And cutting back on stimulants like caffeine and sugar and depressants like alcohol and nicotine will keep your blood sugar levels constant and help you to avoid mood swings.
9. Hugging
	Make sure you get and give your fair share of hugs. Not only does hugging feel good, it has been proven to help reduce the stress level, cortisone.
10. Seek professional help if you need it
	If you feel that despite all your efforts stress is getting the better of you, there are lots of people who can help. The International Stress Management Association provides referrals to stress management professionals, as well as guidance on dealing with stress.

Source: http://www.nationalstressawarenessday.co.uk/top10.aspx

There’s a question that I’m sure many of us have pondered a number of times. Sometimes it comes out of a sense of frustration. Sometimes it’s a wonderful means of brain-storming. This afternoon, it opened up a whole series of new questions for me:

If you could go back in time 10 years and give yourself 1 piece of advice, what would it be?

There’s a whole host of things I’d want to say to myself, mostly about being more flexible - and less anxious - about the future. However, as I thought about it more, I realised that this nostalgic question could be a wonderful means of self-improvement, if we change direction and ask: If you could go forward in time 10 years and give your current self some advice, what would it be? Read the rest of this entry »

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