Emotional perspective

My theme this year is Creative Perspective. Perspective is just about how we look at things, like our opinions, actions, what's happening in the world and what happened in the past. 

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self and make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view the people in my life.

Agenda today:

1. Read the Sweet Spot

2. Ongo journal

3. Synergy and Hope plans

1. Read "The Sweet Spot":

I'm continuing this book by Christine Carter (2015), about "How to Find Your Groove". The thesis is that when we hit from our sweet spot we have optimum power and the greatest ease. Part 4 is Cultivate Relationships, and Chapter 7 is Mending Ruptures, about the day-to-day relationship rifts that cause strain: Tiny things we do that put space between us and our loved ones. "Tiny un-repaired ruptures in our relationships drive love and connection out of our lives."

She lists a bunch of "Connection Diseases" like being distracted, busy, disappointed, bored, annoyed, and having unresolved conflicts - that indicate some friction or fray in our connections. This chapter is all about how to repair these day-to-day rifts.

Today I read about disappointment and the antidote - gratitude. Disappointment is that feeling I get when my family seems to be taking me for granted, or my friends are too busy, or my hubby is critical. Disappointment stems from have expectations and feelings of entitlement, and it leads me to feel miffed and act hurt and aloof. 

The antidote is to practice feeling my gratitude. Just thinking about what I am grateful for in my relationships - sticky cuddles, passionate conversations, thoughtful sharing, walks together and gifts of time - and bringing this sense of appreciation into my heart regularly, will help to diminish the hurts and disappointments and bring me back into closeness.

2. Ongo journal:

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. I'm on week 9, and Day 3 is Practicing for All Beings, about how intertwined we are with others, and that all the self-help practices we work on are ultimately for the benefit of others. 

Practice:

• Consider whom I want my heart to reach out to each day? -My family, the birds and butterflies, children of the world...
• Gather images of these to remind myself who it is that I practice for - feel how their presence touches me, and breathe with those feelings.
• Offer them a prayer or blessing or heart intention, and allow my felt connection to radiate outward.

3. Synergy and hope plans:

Every Tuesday I make a plan for teamwork and synergy, important components for effective action. Specifically, I make a list of tiny ways to engage my family and community in my Nature-Culture work. My ideas:

1. Signs of spring walks with grandsons
2. Cleansing ceremony with family or community in the rain
3. Send out my Watershed poster and ad
4. Send out Earthcare news with "Rights of Nature" info
5. Plan how to share regenerative basics for Potting Day  
6. Make a list of plants I have to share with Meeting and neighbors, and their properties.