Stop! Drop, and Roll!

Chances are, you relate these words to instructions on what to do when you are on fire. They can also be sound instructions which are applicable to extinguishing flames of destructive behaviors.

May we learn how to act, not react, to outside forces in the coming new year.

STOP: trying to be perfect. We are none perfect and therefore are likely to make mistakes and poor decisions from time to time. It is impossible to be both supportive and critical of yourself at the same time.

STOP: being tested on the same thing. Make a change and learn the lesson. Remember: If you keep doing the same thing the same way, expect the same result AND If nothing ever changes, nothing ever changes!

DROP: the bar of the expectation of others. Disappointment is directly related to unmet expectation. If you do not hold others to unattainable, unrealistic levels of relational achievement, happiness is more likely to flourish.

DROP: caustic relationships. I believe we inately know who, and what, is good for us, and conversely, what is NOT good for us. Whether a person, place, or thing, if it is not positive force, it is a negative one. When it comes to healthy choices, there is no gray area.

ROLL: with the punches. Don't take everyone and everything so personally. To paraphrase something Dr. Phil quotes of his father: "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you . . . if you knew how seldom they did." And that is to include what you believe someone implied, meant, insinuated, and assumptions made on your part.

ROLL: in laughter! There is a reason there is an old adage, "Laughter is the best medicine." It is. Laugh frequently, seek the wellness of your soul.


A Little Off.....