Go With The Flow and Live a Happier Life!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:22 pm

Here is an article that I found on the internet and it is soooo true, since, I have tried it and it has worked well for me in the past!!! I think we all should try living our lives like this!!!

Monday, May 18, 2009
Go With the Flow - Six Ways to Live a Happier Life
RT @jonhuie: Go With the Flow - Six Ways to Live a Happier LifeTweet This

Most unhappiness comes from resisting life. Occasionally, we have such a strong commitment to changing the world order that it is worth struggling against the flow of life.

Perhaps you have a cause such as universal veganism - your life is committed to preventing even one more animal from being eaten by anyone.

But most people don't have that kind of dedication to a cause, and even for those who do, there is much of daily life that is not related to any particular issue of principle.

Nonetheless, we live our lives as if each minor happening were a matter of life and death.

Our favorite restaurant has run out of today's blackboard special. The bananas in the grocery store are all green. The drawbridge is stuck in the "up" position. We have demands of the world, these demands aren't met, and we become disappointed and angry.

Is that just human nature? Yes and no. It is human nature to prefer the predictable, but this preference becomes highly exaggerated in some societies.

Twenty First Century America, especially in dense urban areas, has become the epitome of expectations and demands, which inevitably result in disappointment and anger as the world fails to meet these expectations.

Demanding that the world meet our expectations has become a bad habit that causes great unhappiness. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can break the bad habit of being unhappy.

Think of life being like a mighty river, such as the Mississippi or the Amazon. Sometimes the river floods, sometimes it quiets. Sometimes it cuts a new course, drowning some farmland and leaving some old river bottom high and dry.

One could fight the river and curse its vicissitudes, or one could sail on the river, fish in the river, drink from the river, irrigate crops from the river, and live happily on the river.

Fighting against life, like fighting against a mighty river is a pointless waste of energy and upset. Within the constraints life sets and within its vagaries, we still have immense freedom of action. We can fully express our commitments and live life to the fullest without fighting against it.

To go with the flow of life, without compromising your values:

1. Visualize life as a river, and the challenge of living as being a river pilot. Keep your eye far enough downstream that you can gently maneuver toward your goal using the force of the river to power your journey. Think of setting your course as the game that it is. Outthink life, but don't try to overpower it.

2. Remember that life is not serious. You already know the final score: Life-1, You-0. So just have fun on your run down the river.

3. Take time for yourself. Breathe deeply. Take a quiet walk. Spend time alone in a natural setting and soak up the stillness.

4. Clear your mind of everything you thought you knew. Be like a child in having no preconceptions of how life should turn out.

Visualize pouring water into a cup. That's like life flowing into a young child. Now visualize trying to pour clear water into a cup filled with mud. That is like the flow of creation being resisted by expectations and demands one attempts to place upon life.

5. Be grateful for all of life. Be thankful you are alive. Not to be thankful for life is to be like a starving person who is gifted a steak and complains that it is tough.

6. Dance lightly with life. Dancing with life is like dancing with an elephant. She makes a jolly partner so long as you watch her moves, react quickly, and don't get stepped on.

I think all of us need to practice these tools daily!!!

Have a great night's rest!!! God Bless Each of You!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:14 pm

Dear Ms. T Bones,
Thanks for the article on life being like a river
and to not fight against it but flow with it. God
bless! It's just what I needed to hear!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:27 pm

Have Faith, You are soooo welcome

I am thankful it was of help to you!!!

Honestly, we all need to just roll with the flow!!!

So "what if" we have some little waves which roll in from time to time!!! We just need to ride them out!!!

We are the ones who make "big deals" out of these tidal waves, which we all have in our lives!!!

No-one said "life was gonna be perfect" but, we just need to realize that nothing in this life is "that big of a deal" right???

I pray others read this and that it helps them, as well!!!

God Bless You Faith!!! I pray you rest well tonight all cuddled up in the arms of our Savior!!! Love in Christ Jesus!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:55 am

I printed that one out and stuck it to my fridge. Thank you !

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:23 am

Hi manofmusic,
That is a great idea

I need to hurriedly get my computer moved back into the den, so, I can get my printer hooked back up!!!

I would love to have this on my refrigerator, as well!!!

I pray you have a wonderful day!!! God Bless!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:51 pm

Reposting for those new to the forum!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:17 am

Reposting

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:59 pm

Reposting for those new to the forum!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:11 am

Reposting!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:45 pm

Hey Ms. T Bones,

I am going through the program for the second time and think this post really applies a lot to lesson 4. It is very good--thanks for posting it!! You are absolutely right in that our current society is one of entitlement and people want everything right NOW!!! This is one I will be re-reading a lot--I have printed it out for myself.