Tuesday Brainstorm

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

This is the time of the waning crescent "balsamic moon" - the final yin phase, a pause that marks the end point in this cycle. Now we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

Agenda: 

1. Read "How to Deal with Anger"

2. My anger journal

3. Renewal brainstorm

1. Read "How to Deal with Anger":

I'm reading this book by Isabel Clarke (2016) that I got at Powell's, because after my last explosion I decided I won't reach equanimity without managing my anger. Part 2 is Tackle: Get to grips with what you need to do to make a change, and Chapter 6 is Using Choice Wisely, about what happens after I have bought myself time to choose how to react.

In that moment, I ask my anger questions: What is Wrong??? Is there anything I can do about this situation? Is it really important or should I let it go? If it IS important, what can I do?

If I find that I have anger for a really good reason, then I can continue with problem solving, "All the valuable energy that your anger has mobilized by getting your body ready for action can then be put into the important work of reaching a solution."

Problem solving: 

1. Describe the problem and how I want things to be different - clearly and in detail. 
2. Switch into a reasonable and creative frame of mind and brainstorm all the possible solutions, and their pros and cons. Be thorough - no short cuts.
3. Make a plan using the best options, and specifying each step and making a timeline.

2. My anger journal:

One problem I could solve is the ongoing "hiding"of my stuff. What actually is happening is that we don't agree on, or don't know, where the home is for items (my work gloves, paint tools, caulk). Some solutions:

• I could label bins and spots with little signs - passive aggressive.
• We could make agreements about spots - requires us to talk agreeably.
• I could make more room for stuff so it isn't such chaos - challenging, maybe too subtle.
• We could have 2 of everything, one for him and one for me - not reasonable for most things.

3. Renewal brainstorm:

Every month before the New Moon, I take some time to think about self-care, renewal, and "sharpening the saw"; that is, I look at my whole Being, and how I can live with more balance and resilience.

I try to renew all four dimensions of my life (body, mind, heart, and spirit), as Stephen Covey taught: I spend about an hour each day on a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration activities, plus work to improve my social skills and relationships. Today I will review how I'm doing, and make note of new ideas for the month ahead.

My ideas for October:

Body & Discipline: 

• Stand Strong work out every morning; 
• Plan and prepare healthy lunches, snacks, dinners;
• Drink 4 glasses of water daily;
• Daily hygiene, including moisturizing;
• Mammogram and bone density appointments + my cheek?;
• Better budgeting and saving;
• "Starting Strong" timer: Give myself 5 more minutes;

Mind & Vision: 

• Research and write about Nature-Culture;
• Habit-building (for flow, health habits, equanimity skills, beingness, finishing things, and preparedness);
• Study qualities of renunciation, kindness and ease.
• Practice problem-solving for all kinds of problems;
• Teaching reading, nature, craft skills.

Spirit & Ethics: 

• Enjoy nature daily;
• Beingness routine + Flow routine;
• Weekly "New narrative" for creative shifts in awareness;
• Daily photo awareness exercise - make a list;
• Enjoy watercolor as meditation.

Heart and passion: 

• Anger and calm journal and exercises from book.
• Be in the moment with my grandsons;
• Continue to understand neurodiversity
• Synergy theme: Practice integrity with communication.
• Clearing and organizing stuff as a love practice