Happiness and Flow

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and prepare for Grandson fun.

Agenda:
1. Read "The Sweet Spot"

2. My exercise plan

3. Studio project

4. Plan for Nature-Culture flow

1. Read "The Sweet Spot":

I'm reading 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. "Being in our sweet spot is a felt sense; we know intuitively that everything is aligned. Our sweet spot doesn't require conscious thought; our unconscious mind tells us that we are there..."

Chapter 2 is The Stress / Success Tipping Point. She talks about the importance of happiness to how we manage stress and succeed in the world. "Happiness broadens our perception in the moment and builds our resources over time It becomes an upward spiral of productivity and positivity."

The first way to increase positive emotions is to take daily actions to induce more good feeling, things that bring pleasure, contentment, engagement, silliness, gratitude, hopefulness, awe, and inspiration. 

Her list and my ideas:

• Practice gratitude - weekly heart-connection in nature (Sunday)
• Find inspiration - weekly inspiration post (Tuesday)
• Dream about the future - monthly visualization of a healthy planet
• Do something interesting - Take time to research something I'm curious about, or work on an interesting task. 
• Dance, laugh, make a joke - daily once party with MY favorite music; make a list to request.

2.  My exercise plan:

Caring for myself with persistence will give me the energy and health I need to succeed at my Purpose. More energy means more focus, so I can approach my goals with more discipline. I'm going to schedule 30 minutes every morning at 7:45: 

1. Begin with a body scan and release tension. Make note of painful places and send them light.
2. Do a warm up stretch very slowly.
3. Do one set of strengthening the core exercises or chair yoga.

3. Studio project:

I'm at a turning point - if all goes well, we will finish the baseboards today and install the first shelving unit! Then I can bliss out on organizing bins and clearing the table. 

• M: Install one shelf, sort bins
• T-W: Make room for 2nd shelf.
• Th: Install 2nd shelf; clear table and floor.
• F: Clear out the rat shed.

4. Plan for Nature-Culture flow:

I'm at a turning point for my big passion project too: This is my last week of clerking, so I can begin to settle back into longer periods of morning writing and other connected practices and activities.

• M: Remove invasive English ivy
• T: Write about removing invasive plants / butterfly bush
• W: Write about how to create a Butterfly Garden
• Th: Write about kid projects for Fall
• F: Read Habitat Haven report, make a plant list, order new seeds for butterfly beds
• S: Write a book statement and memorize it.