Open Challenge, The Happiness Advantage Starting April 1st

[ms spock]

Ms. Spock, how right you are. I bought the book yesterday and started reading, though there is not a comprehensive section on neuroplasticity, it was indeed tied together. What is the name of the book you read?

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doige. It is quite fascinating Alba. It gave me a lot of hope.

 

[ms spock]

1. Write down three new things you are grateful for each day.
2. Journal about a positive experience experience in the last 24 hours.
3. Exercise
4. Meditation
5. A random act of kindness.

1. I am grateful that I am slowly getting to the end of grieving around my family.
I am grateful that I am getting on top of my hoarding and able to throw things out.
I am grateful that I let myself nap this afternoon.

2. I went to see my psychriatrist. I talked about my family and the processing of the grieving. That was really good. It is good to process the traumas so that eventually I get to move on.

3. My exercise was yoga stretches at home today. I am really struggling so that is the best I can do.

4. I did meditation/s and fell asleep.

5. I did three random acts of kindness today.

 

[anni]

I'll be in, had to miss yesterday across the board ( headache ) and won't be able to log in for chats due to time plus long computer usage hits me right in the neurological system these days. Thanks for making it possible to log the challenge here on this thread.

As part of it, I'll come back later today with mine, and Thank You. It's a pefectly splendid concept and idea.

Hee, Ms. Spock, I fall asleep trying meditate sitting also. I do it while jogging , believe it or not. One day I'm going to paste myself into a tree but so far it's at least prevented sleep. Yes, it's possible to meditate with eyes open, swear.

 

[The Albatross]

Welcome Green Frog 2 and Anni... glad to have you with us. I've added you both to the private conversation, we now have 18 members attempting the challenge. How cool is it to wake up and find you both willing to take a run at this??? Progress is the name of the game, glad to have you both with us. :)

 

[The Albatross]

How I finished Day 1:

Exercise was supposed to be a walk on the beach or park but ended up being two trips to the vets office for 3 felines and toting around 3 cat carriers. Not what I intended, but I figure hauling around about an extra 20 pounds in each hand counts sort of. Room for improvement.

Meditation: Aaaahhhh, well this is a reoccuring rub. Having apnea, I found again after two attempts that when I tried to sit still and clear my head, focusing on breathe in and out (even for only 5 minutes as the book recommended) that I fell asleep. So I think today I will take a run at it while standing. My thoughts were rapid fire the first time and I kept chasing them away. The second time was a touch easier, but this is where I really want to make some gains as I'd like to have some sense of control and get the meditation component so that I can self quiet my thoughts.

Okay so 7 am and Day 2:

1. I am grateful that the vet bill for Crystal was under $65
I am grateful that I had a chance to visit by phone with a friend.
I am grateful that my husband put up my hummingbird feeder and am hopeful to see some hummers.

2. A positive experience I had in the last 24 hours: While sitting at the vet clinic a woman who looked vaguely familiar sat next to me with Zeus (a 130 pound black lab). We began to chat and she surprised me as my visit was ending, asking me to give her my name and phone number telling me she enjoyed her time with me this morning and asking if I'd like to chat again by phone or meet up for coffee or lunch. We were able to run down why we were familiar to each other, and I left the clinic with a small smile. It was very nice to think that I might have a potential friend, even if she never calls.

3. Exercise: blank til I update

4. Meditation: blank til I update

5. Random act of kindness: I received a $5 gift card by referring my mom to a place where she could get her whooping cough re-immunization. I don't go to Starbucks so I had it in my wallet. At the clinic, an Animal Welfare Control Officer rushed in with a very ill captured cat. When he left the clinic, I spontaneously got up and rushed after him, calling "Hey, hey!" I told him I was doing 21 days of a random act of kindness and noticed he had a Starbucks cup in his hand. "Do you like Starbucks?" He said (confused), "Yes." I asked him if he would like to have the gift card and told him thank you for doing a very tough job. He smiled a wide smile and told me, "Great, and thank you so much." I returned to the clinic to wait my turn for Crystal to be seen, but it was a challenge of another sort. The man was of the same ethnicity as my adult rape. I did not trigger or stress about our interaction. Progress.

 

[The Albatross]

Bonus challenge for fun: Meditate while smiling. Just something to try and reflect on your own reactions.

 

[Eleanor]

Exercise - DONE!

I am grateful for rain.
I am grateful that the field trip doesn't leave until 9 (phew!)
I am grateful for awesome sunsets.

Did my meditation this AM.

Looking for that kindness opportunity... I'm doing a lot of grading today... don't think that counts as random tho!

 

[Eleanor]

FWIW - my meditation teacher always stresses (ha, little joke there,) that falling asleep while meditating is NOT a bad thing. If you need to sleep - you need to sleep. "When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep."

@ Ms. Spock - I thought apnea kept waking you up? If that just means you are sleep deprived - then the above definitely applies!

 

[anni]

Thanks for this, it's EXTREMELY good for me for a ton of reasons. I'll post out here instead of the PM portion since I have zero problems being public. I have so many people following me around out here anyway that if I put in a dirty stop I have to cough up someone else's underwear, give it back to them.

Grateful today for

1. Bafflingling being born and being given these parents and having bumped into my husband against all odds, given these 4 children, all so perfect it's just plain wierd.
2. Bluebirds
3. Paint

I shuffled my 3 miles today, have always carried light weights while doing this. They can't be too heavy or you'll wear out some of your bits. AS it is, this takes care of that flabby under-arm thing and also satisfies the weight-bearing excersize requirements they tell females my age they should do. 1 to 3 lbs works well.

I get into a meditation while out there, and make mine up through the years so it varies greatly. I'm probably only able to do this because of where we live, out here in the woods in the silence and peace.

My acts of kindness yesterday and today will be inclusive of putting money, even if it's only a quarter, into every, single one of those coffee-can things I can see at the various check out counters around here. You know the ones, they'll be for some child's operation, or memorials for firefighters, or widows of some accident, animal rescues, all kinds of things. It's a 'thing' with me, and also to always, always go stick money in the can when the kids are out there 'canning' for their high school team. They look cold.

All these acts read about here are just lovely. Thanks to all. SUCH a seemingly small 'thing', but what if this spread? What if.

 

[GreenFrog2]

1. Write down three new things you are grateful for each day.
2. Journal about a positive experience experience in the last 24 hours.
3. Exercise
4. Meditation
5. A random act of kindness.

I am grateful that this forum exists and the members are here.
I am grateful that I am starting to understand my emotional flooding - why it happens / why I do it.
I am grateful that I am developing the skills to cope with my emotions.

2. I wrote about yesterdays positives and used this to help me see things from a healthy perspective.

3. I did a 60 minute bike ride and some yoga stretching.

4. I listened to my meditation recording and practiced breathing to center myself and allow the thought to come and go.

5. I sent a text to a friend going through a hard time. (she likes getting text messages).

 

[Whitneys story]

Anni you always give me the best laughs. :) :tup: Whitney

 

[intothelight]

that flabby under-arm thing

Those are "angel wing sprouts". ;)