July
Something To Try:
1.
As you go through your day and you become aware
of negative thoughts take some time to become aware of what you are thinking.
You do not need to supress or deny thoughts that can be regarded as negative
but what you can do is acknowledge the thought, be aware that it is only a
thought, nothing more and nothing less and that in time it will go. There is no
need to shy away from these thoughts, simply notice them and wait for them to
shift. Once you get used to doing this, these thoughts have much less power over
you.
“Few delights can equal the mere presence
of one whom we trust utterly.”
George MacDonald
Music: This Is The Modern World~The Jam:
They wrote such good songs.
Something To Try:
2.
A very relaxing thing to do is to close your
eyes and imagine that you are on holiday in a beautiful log cabin. Imagine
yourself walking through the door and looking into the lounge. There is a
comfortable sofa and a log burner. What else can you see in the room? The floor
is wooden and there are beautiful thick rugs for you to walk on. At the back of
the cabin is a door which leads out onto smart decking with a fantastic hot tub
for you to relax in. In the cabin there is a cosy bedroom with a comfortable
bed. What else can you see in your cabin? You can imagine whatever you like.
Who is staying with you in the cabin? What will you do there?
After you have finished imagining your
cabin experience, relax for a moment and focus on your breathing before gently
opening your eyes. Enjoy the rest of your day.
“Nothing in the world is permanent, and
we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish
not to take delight in it while we have it.”
W. Somerset Maugham
Music: Senses Working Overtime~ XTC:
This song is so good.
Something To Try:
3.
Imagine that you are burying a time capsule
containing the key elements of your life so far. What have the joys and sorrows
been? What objects, diary entries etc. would you include in the capsule to sum
up your life? Imagine a person in the future discovering your capsule and
learning about you and your life.
“The true delight is in the finding out
rather than in the knowing.”
Isaac Asimov
Music: Japan~Ghosts:
So haunting…
Something To Try: On the shield there were often symbols to
represent the king. If the king was considered brave and powerful perhaps an
animal associated with power or bravery such as a dragon or a lion would appear
on that shield. Imagine there was a shield containing symbols that represent
you. What symbols would appear on your shield?
“Your conversations help create your world.
Speak of delight, not dissatisfaction. Speak of hope, not despair. Let your
words bind up wounds, not cause them.”
Tao Te Ching
Music: Clean Bandit~ Baby:
A beautiful voice.
Something To Try:
4.
Think about all the amazing inventions that have
been created over the years. Which inventions do you consider to be the most
significant in your life? It can be very beneficial to take time out to
appreciate what people have invented and how these inventions have benefitted
our own lives.
“Writing should be a pure delight like
singing in the shower.”
Marty Rubin
Music: Hey Hey Helen~ Abba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhS1JbWW9c
This song makes me think of my mum.
Something To Try:
5.
Think of three wishes that you have for a friend
or loved one. It is wonderful to spend time thinking about people we care about
and wishing good things for them.
“A poet is someone whose words can grasp
& pull the thread of a person's soul & make them unravel with delight.”
Curtis Tyrone Jones
Music: Yazoo~Nobody’s Diary:
I love the electronic sound.
Something To Try:
6.
Think about the world now. What three wishes do
you have for our world so that it becomes even better than it is now?
“To define your life is to delight in your
dreams.”
Lailah Gifty Akita
Music: Orange Juice~ Falling And laughing:
I really like this band.
Something To Try:
7.
Think of someone that you believe to be patient.
What can you learn from them? Patience is a very useful skill to have.
“Delight is all around us you know, from
the food we eat, to the night sky, to the dreams we have. It surrounds us with
every moment, you just have to stop and take it in whenever you can.”
Jonathan Maas, Horsemen
Sisters Of Mercy~ This Corrosion:
This song reminds me of my teen years.
Something To Try:
8.
Outline a perfect day. If you were to have a
perfect day where would you be? Who would you be with? What would you do? What
would you eat and drink? What conversations would you have? See if you can
vividly imagine your perfect day!
“New day, new delight.”
Lailah Gifty Akita
Music: Suzanne Vega~Tom’s Diner:
She has such a lovely voice.
Something To Try:
9.
Think of a time when you were pleasantly
surprised? What happened and why was this surprising?
“Life is an Orchestra with Success and
Failure as two very important instruments. They compliment each other and are
needed at different stages of life to achieve delight!!!”
Santosh Adbhut Kumar
Music: Joni Mitchell~ Blue
a magical voice.
Something To Try:
10.
Think of three things that are precious to you.
They may not cost a lot of money, but they are valued by you. Why do you value
them so much?
“The present moment is the only one that
matters, and what you are doing right now is as delightful as anything else.”
Victor Shamas
Music: Joan Baez~ It’s All Over Now Baby
Blue:
This gives me shivers!
Something To Try:
11.
What do you find rewarding? This can really vary
from person to person. I find coaching people very rewarding when they tell me
our work has helped them in some way. What do you find rewarding? There may
well be more than one activity.
“Love is the light of life,
Happiness is the delight of life.”
Debasish Mridha
Music: Bob Dylan~ It’s All Over Now Baby
Blue:
Just as beautiful.
Something To Try:
12.
Think of someone that you believe to be open
minded. Being open minded can be a real advantage in life as it opens you up to
all kinds of possibilities.
“Isn't that the only way to curate a life?
To live among things that make you gasp with delight?”
Maira Kalman
Music: Jake Bugg~ Lightning Bolt:
Such a talent.
Something To Try:
13.
Think of things you really love. They may be
objects, people, animals, qualities. You can interpret this question I any way
you choose. It is really good for us to remember things we love. It helps us to
connect positively with the world.
“Soul smiles through the lips of a happy
face”
Munia Khan
Music: Rod Stewart~Maggie May:
A very memorable song.
Something To Try:
14.
Think of a time when you changed your mind and
this turned out to be the right choice for you. It is fine to realise that we
have made a mistake and that we can change direction of need be.
“Being here to witness the beauty, to
learn, to be astonished, to love - is enough. Being able to create in addition
is a delightful honour.”
Jay
Woodman
Music: Adam Ant~Goody Two Shoes:
I like the rhythm!
Something To Try:
15.
Think of a time when you stood up for someone.
It can be hard to stand up for someone when others are picking on them. If you
have the courage to think for yourself and are willing to let others know when
they have been unkind, this can be excellent feedback for them, support for
their victim and a great example to anyone else who may be listening.
“Imagined happiness is still happiness.”
Richelle E. Goodrich
Music: Friday I’m In Love~The Cure:
Who doesn’t love Friday?
Something To Try:
16.
Think of three things you love about family.
Family can be your parents, your children or the concept of Family in general.
Families have a significant impact on our lives and it is great to remind
ourselves of the things we value about them.
“Someone who managed to navigate the tricky
waters between living a life you could be proud of and still delighting in the
many things there are to take pleasure in.”
Calvin Trillin
Music: Bluebells~ Sisters:
I love this song.
Something To Try:
17.
Think of three things that you love about where
you live. Your home does not have to be grand but it is lovely if we are able
to focus on the things we appreciate about where we live instead of constantly
wishing for more.
“When you enchant people, your goal is not
to make money from them or to get them to do what you want, but to fill them
with great delight.”
Guy Kawasaki
Music: The Alarm~ 68 Guns:
I loved this song when it came out.
Something To Try:
18.
If you had £10 to give away today, who would you
give it to and why?
“Love was something different. Love was
pure delight, a fountain of emotions, sensual delights, and enjoying spending
time together.”
Sergei Lukyanenko
Music: New Model Army~ No Rest:
I love the tension in this song.
Something To Try:
19.
Practise makes perfect. Think of a time when you
had to really practise to get good at something and think about how you felt
when you got better at this skill.
“Happiness isn't reserved for privileged
individuals. It is a state of mind that can neither be bought nor stolen nor
traded; it is a liberty available to anyone.”
Richelle E. Goodrich
Music: Back To The Planet~ Teenage Turtles:
I love seeing this band live.
Something To Try:
20.
Think of a time when you gave someone a lovely
surprise. Think of their reaction and how you felt too. Humans are creatures
that like to give. We can gain real pleasure from planning surprises for
others.
“Joy is a net of love by which you can
catch souls.” Mother Theresa
Music: Boomtown Rats~ Don’t Like Mondays:
This song is a classic.
Something To Try:
21.
Think of something you have enjoyed this week.
Spend a moment focusing on the pleasure you felt. Once we realise we can choose
our thoughts and this can have a positive impact on our feelings our lives
become more joyful.
“If you carry joy in your heart, you can
heal any moment.” Carlos Santana
Music: Elvis Costello and The Attractions~
Good year For The Roses:
Beautiful.
Something To Try:
22.
Think of something that you are looking forward
to next week. If you can’t think of anything then why not take time to plan
something enjoyable to do next week?
“Find joy in everything you choose to do.
Every job, relationship, home… It’s your responsibility to love it, or change
it.” Chuck Palahniuk
Music: Elvis Costello~ Ship Building:
Very Moving.
Something To Try:
23.
Think of a time when someone sent you a letter
or email or text message that you really enjoyed receiving. What was it that
you liked about that message? Remember how it made you feel. Enjoy revisiting
those pleasurable emotions.
“Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the
world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” Joseph Campbell
Music: Housemartins~ Happy Hour:
Something To Try:
24.
Think of a time when you received a beautiful
card. What did it look like? What did you love about that card?
“If you’re not having a good time, find
something else that gives you some joy in life.” Penny Marshall
Music: Rolling Stones~ Sympathy For The
Devil:
I love the whole song.
Something To Try:
26.Think back to something you found exciting. Relive those
feelings of excitement. Vividly recall what you were doing and where you were.
“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy
enough.” Emily Dickinson
Music: Rolling Stones~ Backstreet Girl:
What a lovely song.
Something To Try:
27.
Think of a time when you won something. What did
you win and how did you feel when you won?
“A flower blossoms for its own joy.”
Oscar Wilde
Music: Incommunicado~ Marillion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalBmbrWEvQ
I loved seeing this band live.
Something To Try:
28.
Look outside and think of something that you
liked about the weather today. There are pleasurable aspects to every type of
weather.
“Joy blooms where minds and hearts are
open.”
Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Music: Paul Simon~ Obvious Child:
The rhythm is great.
Something To Try:
29.
Think of three people that you trust. Why do you
trust them? Being able to trust others is important and when you find someone
trustworthy this is valuable.
“Joy is not in things; it is in us.” Richard
Wagner
Music: The Fall~ Mr Pharmacist:
Such a quirky band.
Something To Try:
30.
Think of three good choices that you have made
in your life. It is useful to be able to reflect on times when we made good
decisions.
“You have to sniff out joy. Keep your nose
to the joy trail.” Buffy Sante-Marie
Music: London Calling~ The Clash:
I love this one!
Something To Try:
31.
Think of three things you love about your life
now. It could be people you have in your life, achievements you have made or
anything that makes you feel appreciative.
“My heart forgives and releases. Inner peace is my goal.”
Louise Hay
Music: Velvet Underground~ Sunday Morning:
So wonderful.
