Living for success
The convener of Story Circle creative writing class which meets monthly in Safety Harbor, Florida and of which I am a honored adjunct member -adjunct because I am male and because I am not able to attend in person - suggested this month the members explore the topics: “How do you celebrate the new year? Does your year begin on January 1 or some other date? Should we make resolutions? Why or why not?”
New Years is, for me, a day in a season which begins with thanksgiving. During this season I remember and celebrate loved ones, get the office ready for the new year and review the past year. My goal is not to identify failures of past resolutions, but to attempt to identify what helped or did not help me live an intentional life. Following what I understand to be a Buddhist principle I have, for a number of years. been practicing dropping the dualities; not using terms such as failure, winning, good, bad, right or wrong. If, for example, I am having frequent periods of anger or other negative actions, I want to note the fact. I can then note whether this behavior is a pattern. My may find that negative actions seem to be primarily related to:
I will make observations about my home, my personal life and my business life. I may then make some new decisions based on these observations. As the year progresses I can regularly evaluate the results of my decisions.
I do not make resolutions about nutritional intake, exercise, or my role in ensuring world peace by the end of the year. I do attempt to be honest with myself about whether or not I am willing to live with the results of my actions or inactions (which is an action). I do not want to blame other people, places or things for the results of my decisions. I also do not want to beat up on myself. That is never productive. Either I am going to continue the same behavior and expect different results, accept the results or change my behavior.
Daily my goal is to write one simple sentence regarding my spiritual intention for that day. My intention may be to simply take notice I how I use comparative or dualistic words. It may be to just enjoy my first cup of coffee of the day, greet the birds or say a genuine good morning to at least one person.
This year I will be open to miracles which surround me all day every day: nature, loving people, nutritious food, shelter and the opportunity to live an intentional life.
Jimmy F Pickett
574 words
The convener of Story Circle creative writing class which meets monthly in Safety Harbor, Florida and of which I am a honored adjunct member -adjunct because I am male and because I am not able to attend in person - suggested this month the members explore the topics: “How do you celebrate the new year? Does your year begin on January 1 or some other date? Should we make resolutions? Why or why not?”
New Years is, for me, a day in a season which begins with thanksgiving. During this season I remember and celebrate loved ones, get the office ready for the new year and review the past year. My goal is not to identify failures of past resolutions, but to attempt to identify what helped or did not help me live an intentional life. Following what I understand to be a Buddhist principle I have, for a number of years. been practicing dropping the dualities; not using terms such as failure, winning, good, bad, right or wrong. If, for example, I am having frequent periods of anger or other negative actions, I want to note the fact. I can then note whether this behavior is a pattern. My may find that negative actions seem to be primarily related to:
- HALT – hungry, angry, lonely, tired. If I have used up much of my available energy/fuel I can going to have trouble processing incoming stimuli or even internal stimuli such as thoughts. When I am having an internal traffic jam I may automatically push away stimuli with anger or silence. The goal is to just notice and accept that the brain is shutting down for the day.
- Trigger – some sad or traumatic memory may have been triggered by some stimuli in my current environment. Sometimes I can identify the triggering stimuli and sometimes I cannot. The goal is to honor what I am feeling and, if at all possible, take some time and space to experience whatever I am feeling.
- My expectations of others people or events.
I will make observations about my home, my personal life and my business life. I may then make some new decisions based on these observations. As the year progresses I can regularly evaluate the results of my decisions.
I do not make resolutions about nutritional intake, exercise, or my role in ensuring world peace by the end of the year. I do attempt to be honest with myself about whether or not I am willing to live with the results of my actions or inactions (which is an action). I do not want to blame other people, places or things for the results of my decisions. I also do not want to beat up on myself. That is never productive. Either I am going to continue the same behavior and expect different results, accept the results or change my behavior.
Daily my goal is to write one simple sentence regarding my spiritual intention for that day. My intention may be to simply take notice I how I use comparative or dualistic words. It may be to just enjoy my first cup of coffee of the day, greet the birds or say a genuine good morning to at least one person.
This year I will be open to miracles which surround me all day every day: nature, loving people, nutritious food, shelter and the opportunity to live an intentional life.
Jimmy F Pickett
574 words
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