A few weeks ago, after undergoing foot surgery, I received some helpful advice from an experienced physical therapist about how I might tackle walking stairs most comfortably and safely. “Down with the bad, up with the good,” she said. Her words could well serve as an analogy for the way each of us should approach life, moving forward step by step, “down with the bad, and up with the good.”
With the Yamim Tovim recently behind us, memories of the enhanced thoughts, actions and relationships of those awesome days remain still fresh in our minds, capable of inspiring corresponding fresh ideas on how to move forward. Sharing these ideas with family and friends may, indeed, help each of us “step it up.”
Here are a few positive actions you can take:
Scroll down your contact list, or look through your phone book, and choose to call a friend or family member whom you haven’t been in touch with for a while. You can transform a person’s day by simply letting him know you were thinking about him.
Take a walk with your spouse, sibling, child or friend. Being surrounded by nature is inspiring and rejuvenating, and so is spending time with someone you love.
Compliment people more often than you already do. Acknowledging positive attributes sends a message that you appreciate something special in a person. It’s a free and easy way to make someone feel great. Besides, you never know when that person was last complimented, so with a few kind, thoughtful words, you may be doing someone a world of good.
Be grateful. We all live very hectic, full, fast-moving lives. Sometimes it is challenging to take a moment to breathe, much less assess how many gifts we have in our lives. Finding time every day to think about what you have to be grateful for can be your personal time for positive thinking. Something as mundane as your child’s carpool arriving on time, or finishing a task more expediently than you anticipated, may be times to celebrate with gratitude. We should try to appreciate the “bigger” issues as often as we can, such as good health, or fulfillment in one’s job, especially since those times may wax and wane rather than be constant.
Pay it forward. When someone does something nice for you, think about how it felt. Then think about doing something similar for a friend or family member. Paying it forward has many applications, and thinking creatively about what you may choose in and of itself can be very empowering. Carrying out a positive act enriches the lives of both doer and recipient.
Having the attitude “Today is a good day for a good day” may help change your day for the better.
Wishing you and your family a year of good health, good times and good friends with whom to enjoy it all!
Sariva Sklar, Certified Family Coach and Educator, brings her clients to successful outcomes in a relaxed setting. Her Social Skills Training Classes are forming now for the fall session. Private coaching consultations are scheduled by appointment.
You may reach her at [email protected]. For more information, please check out Sariva’s website—www.smallwonderscoaching.com
By Sariva Sklar, Certified Family Coach
