Response: Happier Podcast, Lucky Charms
My strange good luck charm is my PHONE WALLPAPER.
When I'm im in need of an emotional shift or support - I'll change my phone background around to suit where my head is at.
If I choose one that lasts a long time or through something significant -- the galaxy print that traveled with me through Europe; the Danielle LaPorte mantra "Vitality is your natural state" that pulled me through a difficult fall/winter; and currently a pop-art pic of Baddie Winkle helping gain personal momentum -- I notice it takes on stronger meaning.
My strange good luck charm is my PHONE WALLPAPER.
When I'm im in need of an emotional shift or support - I'll change my phone background around to suit where my head is at.
If I choose one that lasts a long time or through something significant -- the galaxy print that traveled with me through Europe; the Danielle LaPorte mantra "Vitality is your natural state" that pulled me through a difficult fall/winter; and currently a pop-art pic of Baddie Winkle helping gain personal momentum -- I notice it takes on stronger meaning.
I begin to associate these wallpapers with whatever energy I'm moving through or toward. Currently pop-art Baddie Winkle is reminding me to stay true to myself and be bold in my creative energies - she is proof that that works - and that's definitely good luck.
I don't know if you can imbue something to be lucky or not - but noticing the association is key. For instance, in trying to be intentional - I thought a retro bin to collect change in my room stating "the art of making money plenty" was the perfect lucky charm for my wealth corner but it didn't work. I wanted it to cultivate something but it didn't. I am still many pence none-the-richer. So try, try again.
Noticing things that are already working seems to help more than forcing luck or energy shifts to happen.
I love the 'lucky charm' concept and I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled for more. All the best to my fellow Happier listeners. x/Amy
SUFFERING
All suffering is the same.
- This is a loaded concept, but one I was advised to accept for my own sanity. Everyone suffers at one time or another - it's not a matter of why or how - it's a matter of regard that its happening and practicing compassion.
THE GOAL IS TO PERCEIVE SUFFERING AS 'ON/OFF' RATHER THAN A SCALABLE CONDITION.
Outrageous, I know. People in third-world countries unquestionably suffer more than I do, right? While I believe that to be true, that has little IRL, real-world application. I practice gratitude to account for the privilege I was born into. I practice this common-suffering concept to account for all my judgement-of-others I also was born into.
Facebook is a breeding ground for arguments about right and wrong but a base level of understanding and empathy would really do everyone a ton of good.
All suffering is the same.
- This is a loaded concept, but one I was advised to accept for my own sanity. Everyone suffers at one time or another - it's not a matter of why or how - it's a matter of regard that its happening and practicing compassion.
The goal is to perceive suffering as 'on/off' rather than a scalable condition.
Outrageous, I know. People in third-world countries unquestionably suffer more than I do, right? While I believe that to be true, that has little IRL, real-world application. I practice gratitude to account for the privilege I was born into. I practice this common-suffering concept to account for all my judgement-of-others I also was born into.
Facebook is a breeding ground for arguments about right and wrong but a base level of understanding and empathy would really do everyone a ton of good. Everything at it's core is either fear or love and if we left it at that we could all go about our business without all the hatemongering that the internet and IRL culture fosters.
Humans are tribal by nature and many can only typically have empathy within the limit of what they've experience within that tribe.
This is why Republicans needed to have family members come out as gay for them to open their mind to any sort of 'love is love' point of view. Many humans can not have empathy for concepts that don't actually touch their lives. "People are suffering because their love is prohibited," should be enough. It doesn't matter where or how their suffering falls on your personal spectrum.
An individualized spectrum of suffering doesn't count for shit. Turning off my quantifying and qualifying of others' suffering has given me unimaginable amounts of peace and a much larger capability for kindness. Turn on your IFTT recipe for 'If Suffering Then Compassion'.
Make striving for peace bigger than your judgment.All the love. x/Amy