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Happy Life The JJ Way, Issue #54 - 20 Simple Ways to Escape October 01, 2020 |
![]() 20 Simple Ways to EscapeHi, and the warmest of welcomes to "Happy Life The JJ Way". Before I tell you about this newsletter, I want to remind you of the last one, Get Your Glow On - find it here
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and filed it somewhere safe for future use. If you assumed from the title it was about exercise you might want to put your assumption aside and have another look. Try it for yourself and if it doesn't make you glow please let me know.
included Covid-specific solutions to break you out of your lockdown shackles.
F-wordLast week it was my pleasure to be a guest on radio 88.6 Plenty Valley’s"Inspiring People" series. While the host, Jim Enright and I had a lovely chat about life, happiness etc., it became very clear that young Jim had done his homework! He was quite taken with a newsletter I had written many moons ago, titled "F-Word Holding You Prisoner?" find it here:
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on us humans. Please feel free to cast your mind back using the above link if you were a Happy Lifer back then – or even if you weren’t. While you satisfy your curiosity, please forgive me for expanding on that very subject.
Our MissionYou see, we humans were built to grow – that’s why we were born itsybitsy. Our mission is expansion – of our minds, bodies and souls.
It’s pretty basic to grow a human body; just feed them, keep them sheltered and give them someone to love. But to keep the mind and soul of a human growing is a little more complex. One of the basic human needs is variety. The human mind and soul need a variety of experiences in order to keep growing. They need to keep learning to keep growing. When we do something for the first time, new neural pathways are formed in the brain, keeping the brain healthy and growing. Each time we repeat or practice that new behaviour the neural pathways are strengthened. It is therefore very important for the health of the brain that we keep learning/having new experiences. The paradox here is that we humans love the familiar! Some of us are so uncomfortable with the unfamiliar we flatly refuse to participate. We reach a certain level of growth and think, “That’s it. I’ve made it. I’m a full-grown adult with a job and a partner. That’s me done,” and so in some cases expansion stops.
Life becomes a series of familiar episodes involving familiar people, places and things. Human is content in his comfort zone…for a while. Trouble is, no growth takes place in the comfort zone and what were we humans built to do? To grow.
Scenario 1Gradually human finds he’s not as happy as he thinks he should be. Maybeit’s his relationship causing discontent. Maybe it’s his job. Maybe he ditches one or both in favour of shiny new models. Maybe after the shine starts to fade he finds himself longing for the familiar old model. Maybe he starts to feel regret. Maybe there was nothing wrong with his old relationship or job after all. Maybe he hadn’t realized that the familiarity of his comfort zone was keeping him prisoner. Maybe if he had stretched his comfort zone in lots of different, even smaller ways, he wouldn’t have had to take such big steps out of it which he now regrets. Maybe if he had kept on growing, and growing his comfort zone as well, he would be happily expanding his mind and soul with no regrets in the old relationship or job. Scenario 2Another scenario in which familiarity can keep you prisoner is in theunhealthy relationship. If you find it can’t be mended and eventually find a way out, chances are if your next relationship is healthy you will be uncomfortable because unhealthy is familiar to you! People have been known to enter a succession of unhealthy relationships simply because they are unaware that familiarity is holding them prisoner. ValueGiven the previous two scenarios, are you starting to see the value inbecoming comfortable with unfamiliarity? Growth is fun, stimulating, exciting and what we’re here for! "How can I grow in lockdown?" I hear you ask. Well, during Covid19 it can be challenging to try new things and meet new people, as I suggested in F-word Holding You Prisoner... 20 Simple Ways to Escape...so here are 20 simple ways to escape the shackles of the familiar and get used to the unfamiliar, even while living through Groundhog Day!: 1. Sleep on the other side of the bed. 2. Sleep in a different room. 3. Brush your teeth with the other hand. 4. Sit in a different spot on the sofa or a different chair. 5. Try a food you’ve never tried before. 6. Try a new cuisine. 7. Learn a new skill from someone you live with. 8. Take an online course or lesson just for fun. 9. Scrunch or fold – whichever you don’t normally. 10. Learn to use chopsticks if you don’t already. 11. Explore your inner world – meditate. 12. Join an online interest group. 13. Learn to play a musical instrument. 14. Learn a language. 15. Grow a plant. 16. Start a veggie garden. 17. Examine your style – does it express you? 18. Research a new hobby ready for lockdown ending. 19. Look up an old friend on social media or call them and renew that bond. 20. Listen to a new type of music – classical is very good for the brain.
so scary – in fact, it makes you feel great to be doing something new. You can start with something small and build up to something you once would never have tried. Remember to keep trying new things when life returns to normal – you don’t ever want to be a prisoner of the F-word again.
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Never Work A Day In Your LifeIf you are fortunate enough to love what you do for a living, it will never feel like work. What are you passionate about? Whatever it is, there are other people out there who share your passion. You can turn your passion into a business, by building a website on that subject.
Why Am I The Happiest Person I Know?When I was given an opportunity to share my message with the world, through my first publication The Path To Success I thought it may be my only opportunity, ever. So I thoughtlong and hard about the number one reason I am The Happiest Person I Know. If I could only share one message with the world, which would be the most important? The answer is my contribution to The Path To Success and it is my fervent wish that you read it, take my message on board, and become The Happiest Person You Know! If you have enjoyed this offering pass it along to your friends who may need some inspiration. If you have received this from a friend and would like to subscribe, go to Recipe for a Happy Life where you can subscribe to "Happy Life The JJ Way", AND receive AT NO COST, my valuable Recipe For A Happy Life. If you have been to our website you will have seen the footer on the bottom of every page, declaring my mission to help others be the best they can be. With this in mind, I welcome your feedback regarding this newsletter or any other way I can be of service. Until next month, Live Life Happy! Jackiexxx |
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