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Mindfulness is such a valuable tool to build your awareness and stack up opportunities for growth and transformation. Today you will nurture your practice of mindfulness.
The quote above is a little longer than most of the quotes in this book, but it is a beautiful description of the benefits of mindfulness. Read the passage several times, and then make a pact with yourself. Promise to concentrate on mindfulness for at least one week by reading this passage every morning and then sitting quietly for five minutes with your eyes closed, concentrating on nothing but the rhythm of your breath. Then launch into the day with total abandon. When you find your mind wandering, gently bring your attention back to the moment and revel in your ability to participate fully in every single instant.
Practice the art of paying attention without judging. When you are actively participating and focusing on the day, you will not have an opportunity to judge. Judging takes you away from the moment. Stay in the present and reap the benefits of your increased awareness.
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Humor is another terrific instrument that is very useful for building your success. It allows you to not take yourself too seriously, and it also softens the blow of a difficult hidden truth. It is sometimes hard to look at defects of character and work on them, but humor provides a sort of cushion that gives you room for change.
If you can laugh at yourself, then you are aware of your shortcomings. You can deal with them with a much lighter heart than you would through tools like fear, anger, or disapproval. Humor gives you the opportunity to respond with an action, rather than retreat in remorse or shame or guilt.
Woody Allen is one of the most prolific artists of our time. He is a successful writer, actor, director, playwright, musician, and comedian. One of his sharpest tools is humor. He pokes fun at his own neurosis, nervousness, and intellect, and even at his Jewish heritage and his identity as a true New Yorker. The reason Woody Allen is so funny is because his humor is based in truth. He can poke fun at himself, and that is endearing. It strikes a common chord with humanity. We’re all imperfect, and that’s funny when you think about it.
Your job today is to poke fun at yourself. Don’t worry about looking good all the time or being perfect. You’ll never attain those goals. The world loves imperfection, so show them what you’ve got. Bring out your truth through humor. Don’t beat yourself up. Laugh at yourself and be open to change.
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Laughter is the secret weapon for happiness and success. It is the magic elixir that will change your outlook and probably lengthen your life. Why is it so healing and helpful? Who knows? If you are skeptical, give it a try and find out for yourself how it can transform your life.
You have a great assignment today. Your job is to laugh. That’s right, laugh. No excuses. It doesn’t matter if you just got fired, your dog died, and your wife kicked you out of the house. Find a reason to laugh. It will heal you.
It’s not that easy to just spontaneously break into laughter, so what can you do to get the ball rolling? Here are a few suggestions:
Rent a funny movie.
Call an old friend and talk about the stupid things you did when you were kids.
Spend about an hour with someone under the age of five.
Go to a comedy show.
Get underwear with smiley faces on it, and wear it to an important meeting. Your colleagues won’t know what you’re hiding.
Practice a random act of kindness on your grumpy neighbor.
