Each Monday, I would like to share a reminder about the importance of being mindful. These will come from literature, popular culture, music--anywhere one might get this sort of everyday life nudge.
Abraham Lincoln* once said,
“Most folks are about as happy
as they make up their minds to be.”
I agree with this statement entirely--and I wonder if you do, too. The way I see it, we make (most of) the choices that dictate our circumstances. And within every circumstance, we have the ability to make positive choices in order to promote the life and attitude we want.
In discussing mindfulness, we've spent a large amount of time contemplating positivity, gratitude, and contentment. These may not seem life-changing, but making small steps to be more positive, grateful, or content will eventually add up and change your whole life. For example, having a good attitude about your workday can bring smiles and laughs, develop interpersonal relationships, supply our bodies with endorphins; all of these, in turn, encourage a renewal of themselves, thereby promoting more positivity.
How you treat your body also affects your positivity. Being mindful of your food choices, how much you eat, at what times your body responds best to food, and what you decide not to eat all influence your attitude. How you move your body is another decision we each make on a daily basis. We all know that daily activity is essential to promoting health and longevity, but sometimes it feels overwhelming to take on the commitment of beginning a health regimen. This is the best aspect of this quote, because no matter what choice(s) you made yesterday, today is a new day. You can make choices that are right for you beginning right now. Your choices control your attitude. You can choose positivty and strength. If you make choices that support your goals, you will inevitably feel better than making choices against your goals or not reflecting on your goals at all. Refusing to make a choice, as we've examined, is a choice.
Today's MARCH MINDFULNESS objective: reflect on President Lincoln's* statement and determine whether you have begun choosing happiness for yourself or not.
Image Source: Wikipedia
* Update: It appears that this quote may not be properly attributed to Abraham Lincoln. I apologize for spreading internet lies. Please check here for more information regarding this insight.
In order to see all "March Mindfulness" posts, click on the "March Mindfulness" label at the conclusion of this post.
Labels: March Mindfulness, Mindful Mondays
