What really matters
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Few people at the moment could say they are not affected by the current economic downturn, myself included. Whether you are facing redundancy or know someone who is, struggling to maintain your business or trying to get an interview, it can really affect your sense of well being and cause you stress.
What also seems to be happening though – if you take some time to notice it – is that people are reaching out to help each other in a way that we don’t need to do when things are going well.
Over the years there has been such an increase in our independence and our ability to cope without much outside help. It’s a great thing, being strong is a very useful thing. The problem is that it can be quite isolating; the more you can cope on your own, the less you need to connect with other people.
There have been many times over the last few months when people have offered to help me out in one way or another and instead of my usual ‘no, really, I’ll be fine thanks for asking’ I have replied with an uncharacteristic ‘yes, please, that would be great’
It was hard at first to say yes but then I noticed how great it was to have help and even better was the very human thing that also happened; in the act of giving and receiving, our hearts are open and the connection to someone else is an unexpected joy. I have realised that the old adage “A problem shared is a problem halved” is not just about talking to each other, it’s about sharing the load – helping the people around you and also allowing them to help you.
FEEL THE LOVE!
If you’re in the habit of coping, staying strong, just getting on with it, you may appreciate a little helping hand. I can recommend it. You may think that by getting some help you’re losing something, not doing well enough…I can almost guarantee you will not lose a thing but will gain a huge amount.
So, the very complicated method by which we make this happen?
1) Notice when you need help
2) Find someone who can help
3) Say yes
Well, not really a very complicated method at all, but in order to follow it you might need to change some habits and let some new stuff in…
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
It might be interesting to apply this thinking to Christmas and all the shopping, presents, eating and everything else…
Whether you’re experiencing redundancy, less hours, a drop off in business or even if you’re financially secure but surrounded by people who aren’t, you may be feeling the pinch just now.
The experts, economists and newspapers are starting to notice that it’s not the banks, the government or big corporations that are most likely to bring us out of recession but the actions and attitudes of smaller businesses and individuals or to put it simply: It’s about people.
So, if the answer is ‘People’ then we know what to do…time spent sharing, caring and helping, far from being a smaller Christmas this year, we could make it one with a bigger heart than usual. And if we think less about money and more about time spent together then perhaps we don’t need to drive ourselves crazy doing too much, buying too much, giving too much but share moments, give and receive help, open our hearts to what really matters.
You know what really matters to you, and it may well be that the people around you feel the same way.
Enjoy every moment and remember that sometimes people who have the least possessions have the most happiness.
With much love, hope and snowflakes
Pam x
THE FEEL GOOD CLUB
Have you got your friends and family signed up to The Feel Good Club yet?
They can sign up easily at http://www.TheFeelGoodClub.com
A free boost of inspiration every month might just be the tonic they need…
And this month you can hear Pam doing the message live on BBC Radio Nottingham on Monday 6th December at about 11:30am on the Frances Finn show or listen again on the BBC Radio Nottingham website.
Posted by Pam on 1 December, 2010. Comments (0)