I loved the Start, Stop, Continue posts from yesterday. So
simple and straightforward. Today I am going to STOP worrying about how much I
can’t get done and focus on what I can, START smiling more, it just needs to
happen! And CONTINUE just showing up and trying my best, forgiving myself if I
am crankier than I wish. I am only human!!!
I am also going to continue to use some past 30 Days emails.
Ha! I loved this one because it brought me peace writing it and I still
think of this metaphor when I get stuck. There are 6 days left on this little
30 Day Project. You have done so much work already and I am in awe by the posts
and emails I am receiving. And yet I know that sometimes there have probably
been moments where you have felt stuck….even on good days. So here is an get-unstuck email for you!
*
Finally! 14” or so cleared from the driveway. What does this
have to do with yelling less you ask? A lot actually. So today I don’t share a famous quote, I
share a story instead.
TODAY’s THOUGHT:
When we woke up this morning it was so beautiful out! The
promise of snowball fights and sled runs and snowmen and snow angels filled my
boys hearts with excitement. The promise of a night by the fire, with a glass
of wine in hand and peace in quiet around us, filled my husband’s and my heart
with excitement. Oh it was gonna be a great day! (You know, kind of like how
when you found out about this challenge you thought, "Yes! At least I will
figure out how to yell less! This is so exciting! I am going to put all my
energy in and go for it!")
Then we went outside to shovel. And shovel. And shovel. It
was hard and exhausting and it seemed like for every shovel we lifted, we made
no progress as we have a long, long, winding driveway and the wind kept moving
snow pack to where we just cleaned. I kept stopping, looking around and
thinking, “Yes, it is beautiful out and we can go sledding once the driveway is
cleared BUT am I ever going to get there?” and I thought, “This is exhausting.
I am cold. I just want to go inside and eat!”
(Sound familiar if you replace this with the journey of
yelling less? You know, that the beauty of the promise to yell less surrounds
you but with every small bit of progress you still feel like there is so much
work to be done and you just want to quit?)
Obviously, quitting shoveling wasn’t an option. So we kept
going. And you know what, when we were done, our bodies ached and our cheeks
were frozen red but we were warm inside all the layers of clothing. AND we felt
w huge sense of accomplishment AND not only was the beauty was still around us
BUT now we could get to more beauty – taking our kids sledding and listening to
them laugh as they went flying down the hill.
My message this morning? Don’t Quit. Keep seeing the beauty
around you – the promise of yelling less AND your children. Keep believing that
you can learn to yell less. Keep understanding that it is a process and that
while it feels like you might not be getting anywhere, you are.
TODAY’s ACTIONs:
1. Keep shoveling! Keep digging deep and asking yourself why.
Why am I still yelling more than I like? Is there a stressor I am not totally
acknowledging? Do I have to much on my plate right now to do this (which if you
do, accepting that might help you naturally yell less). Or why am I not
yelling, what am I doing well so I can keep doing it?
2. Have fun! Seriously. I’ve been more cranky with my kids
lately and I think it’s because I have played less with them because we’ve been
so busy. So get out there and skip like I wrote on FB last night! Or it can be
as simple as coloring a picture together. Just have fun together.
3. Post in yesterday’s START. STOP. CONTINUE. I know it is
hokey, but it works! And if you don’t like the format, no worries! Write
something else. The continue part is huge because it will force you to realize
what good you ARE doing.
password: icanyellless
TODAY's TIP:
Do
a random act of kindness, seriously! When I do something nice for
another mom, even if it is as simple as saying, "You're doing a great
job" I feel better and it helps me be in a better place overall. And
then do a random act of kindness for yourself - take a break or tell
yourself you're doing a great job because seriously, you are. I bet you
are doing a lot better than you give yourself credit for!
We are in the home stretch folks…you can do this!
Have a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment