I found myself needing a moment of peace this morning.

I was feeling underappreciated, and was all set to begin playing my internal whiny violin. Lucky for me,  instead of powering-up a personal pity party, I searched my blog posts for the word “peace” and reminded myself of my own good advice!  🙂

Here’s what I did, and what you can, too. 

KEY: Do not try to “silver line” this particular pitying moment, i.e. make something positive out of something negative. Simply admit you feel bad, aggravated, frustrated, underappreciated, etc. Identify whatever you are feeling – and sit with that for a second.

Then take 30 seconds to reflect on an unrelated positive moment from your past:

1. Close your eyes, breathe deeply in and out through your nose.
2. Pause and simply say the word, “Help!” (This is a Martha Beck, tip.)
3. Then, think of a happy or positive moment in your life or someone you love or care about. (This step relaxes your brain and gets you into a more positive mood.)
4. Now, send wishes of peace and happiness to your family, friends and foes, and to folks worldwide you don’t know.
5. Pause again and let the good feelings you have created, flow throughout your body.
6. Then, smile, a long happy eye-crinkling smile.

Enjoy!

Both your body and brain now have all sorts of positive, broaden and build chemicals and hormones floating through them, and if you are the teeny, tiniest bit happier or more peaceful you have increased the odds that everyone you meet or talk to today will be, too. It’s a simple step toward creating world peace, moment-to-moment, person-by-person.

This short reflection, led me out of my melancholy moment and on to happier, more fulfilling ones and got me motivated to get moving in a new direction – and to writing this post.  And, that always makes me happy!

PS Repeat as needed throughout the day – and your life – to keep positivity and peace flowing – inside and out!