Living for the moment – with love

In this newsletter:

1. Making the most of time
2. What I've been doing
3. In the News: The World Happiness Report 2022
4. Using Nature to Protect your Wellbeing During a Pandemic
5. Head in the Clouds? You could be Languishing?

“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” - ?Anthony G. Oettinger

Cripes! Is that the time?

If you’ve been happily noshing on hot-cross buns since Boxing Day and eyeing up all the chocolate treats in the supermarket, yes, Easter is almost here. Already!

Has time been scooting past too fast for you? Does it feel as if,

• Time is passing too quickly.
• You’ve always got too much to do and too little time to complete it in.
• You’re exhausted from the constant juggle of allocating equal time to your work and loved ones.

If these are a few of your current non-favourite things, I hear you.

Perhaps it’s time (sic) to put time on your side and consider the beauty that each moment brings.

Have you ever stood under the dark mantle of a clear night and stared up in awe at the myriad of twinkling stars and far-flung galaxies? Me too.

Those magical moments help connect you to what really matters in this world.

Love, truth, and relationships.

In that moment, as you note your own insignificance in the grander scheme of things, it feels grounding. It helps to alleviate some of the angst, fear and worry you hold for yourself, others, and the planet. It allows you to find that mindful space to just be, alone with your thoughts and with all the time in the world.

Because moment by moment is how you navigate your world, construct your ideas, and make sense of what is happening. Even when it feels the world has withdrawn into a dark space that is cruel and vindictive, you can still take a moment to conjure up the memory of good times, happier times, and a shared laugh.

One thought that was recently shared with me, that I absolutely adored, was,

“How does a child spell love?”

“T-I-M-E.”

Time to spend with Mum and Dad.

Time to play with friends.

Time to play with the dog.

Love is time.

Time is love.

Let’s make the most of the time and love we have to share.

Having gotten all deep and meaningful, here are some other things I wanted to share with you.

What I've been doing

A lot can change in just a few weeks.

I’ve been busy, busy, busy, speaking, delivering workshops, seminars and for the first time in two years found myself in a plane!

Clearly, there is a growing demand for help with mental wellbeing, psychological safety, and sustainable resilience (thriving).

We didn’t travel beyond the WA border (even though that would now be possible – yay!)

The seating choice was somewhat limited though I did get seat 1B and there was no room for hand luggage beyond my Kindle, smartphone, and a small flask of coffee. Seeing as there was no bathroom on board, I didn’t want to drink too much anyway!

While I’m not good with heights, I did enjoy watching the ever-changing landscapes as we flew overhead. It was an absolute delight.

With grateful thanks to the extraordinary piloting skill of Captain John and his beloved Legacy flying machine XTZ for making this trip possible.

In the News

The World Happiness Report 2022

Image: visualcapitalist.org

The 10th?annual?global subjective wellbeing report ?has found that over the last 12 months we’ve felt sadder and kinder.

Is this true for you?

Continuing sadness about what has been happening around the globe because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Yet, also a growing desire to show greater social support and benevolence to those we see as suffering.

Now as war continues to rage in Ukraine, where there have been unspeakable atrocities and hardships, there has been a surge in offers of help. Refugees are being taken in by families from other countries, being given food and shelter, their children enrolled in schools and adults given temporary work permits

All this demonstrates our humanity in wishing to help and offer our support in dark times.

And if the rankings are of interest, Finland came in at the number one spot again. Australia came in at no.12 just below New Zealand that placed at no.10.

Happiness is always around us, even when hidden behind the storm clouds of illness and war.

And you can create more happiness in your own life and that of others by intentionally creating more positivity, through meaning, connection, and staying curious to what’s possible.

Using Nature to Protect your Wellbeing During a Pandemic

As you know I’m passionate about using Nature to help us heal and to maintain our wellbeing. The research into this fascinating area continues to grow and I loved this?piece ?from the?Greater Good Science Centre ?by Jill Suttie.

I’ve not been to Ireland yet, but the Emerald Isle remains a place I hope to visit. The intensity of the green is almost luminescent.

Image: K. Mitch Hodge

Spending time in nature serves to lower your stress, boost wellbeing and helps you feel re-energised and restored as well as alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Chatting about morning rituals with a CEO last week, he shared that he’s up at 5 am every morning (that’s much too early for me and our dog, folks!) to go for a 45-minute walk with his dog before having breakfast with his family and getting ready for his day.

He has found this works perfectly to set him up to be in a more positive mood, calm, grounded and ready for whatever the day may bring.?

The?University of Exeter ?showed that 120 minutes per week is the minimum threshold required to keep us well.

Could going for a walk each day, serve to clear your mind and make you feel good too?

Head in the Clouds? You could be Languishing?

I’m a big fan of?Adam Grant ?Professor of Management at the Wharton School of Management, University of Pennsylvania and author of two great books?“Give and Take” ?and “Think Again.”

Grant shares how brain fog accompanied by a feeling that moving forward is fruitless could be an indication you’re?languishing ?and feeling disillusioned.

Luckily the American Psychological Association has outlined how we cope emotionally when dealing with disasters, which can help you understand why you’re feeling the way you are and what to do about it to flourish.

It also appears that some of the current buzzwords may be hindering your recovery. For example, words, like burnout can make you feel, more burnt out!

This is where self-care, looking for ways to stay involved with activities, helping out, and being an active member of your community can all make the biggest difference.

Grant shares how the antidote of languishing doesn’t have to be something productive, it can be about?finding greater joy?and finding greater love is not the frequency of communication but?the depth of connection.

What have you found helpful to keep yourself out of the languishing trap, endlessly doom scrolling and feeling bleh?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment and let me know!