Description
You work hard for a good portion of your daily life,
either for someone else or yourself; at an office, a
factory, a school, or your own kitchen. No matter. If
you are not taking good emotional, physical, and
spiritual care of yourself, you will soon be incapable
of taking care of anything--or anyone--else. You owe
it to all of us to slow down, regroup, and enjoy your
life. We need you--intact!

Article
"I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find I
have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived
the width of it as well."
Diane Ackerman

New Thought is as practical as it is spiritual. We
hear all kinds of scientific, theological, New Age,
and other metaphysical theories about our existence:
is it real, an illusion, a blip on the universal
screen? Who knows, really? And I, for one, don’t care.
As H.L. Mencken once quipped, "We are here, and it is
now. Everything else is moonshine."

As a New Thought minister, my job is to comfort the
afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. I borrowed
that from someone, I don’t remember who, but I like
it. So, believe whatever you choose about our Ultimate
Fate, or where we go when we die. In the meantime,
here’s a short but powerful little list that will help
you be your best at work--and therefore, everywhere
and all the time--no matter what:

The Ten Steps

1. Thump your thymus. It stimulates the immune system,
helps create a sense of well being. Be sure to smile
while thumping! (The thymus gland is located just
below the bottom edge of the breast bone.) Thump it in
10-thump segments with tips of your fingers, not
knuckles, three or four times each day.

2. Drink more water. Water is the most powerful
solvent on the planet. It carved the Grand Canyon and
the Columbia River Gorge. It dissolves all kinds of
build-up in the body. Spritz cool water on your upper
regions while sitting at your desk. It refreshes and
wakes you up.

3. Change your physical position. Slumping leads to
emotional lows. Stand up, lift your arms to the sky
and smile. You’ll change your mood, almost instantly.

4. Talk well to yourself. Create a positive mantra.
Release ‘makes me’ language: he makes me so mad; she
made me do it; rainy weather makes me sad. Drop that
ridiculous victim consciousness. Drop it now.

5. Use 30-second visualizations. Get a picture, hold
it, release it. No need to spend 30, 40, 60 minutes or
more on visualizing.

6. Learn--and use--deep breathing techniques. Breathe
from the belly. The Spirit is in the breath!

7. Laugh at least 10 times a day. It’s healing. For
yourself, and for those around you.

8. Add some aerobic exercise to your day, if you
haven’t already.

9. Increase the amount of greens in your diet.
Decrease animal products. Stop smoking. (You may not
be aware of it, but if you smoke, you stink. No
getting around it.)

10. Create a sacred space in your office, desk,
closet, and meditate or pray, even if just for a
moment. Conscious reconnection with your Source,
however you view that, is essential in lifting you out
of any kind of doldrum. Even atheists have an inner
source, for God’s sake!

And a bonus 11th step: take more mini-breaks (you
don’t have to tell anyone). More breaks, more
break-throughs. Good breaks can yield greater
concentration, enhanced creativity, replenished
motivation, sharper memory, higher energy, easier
skill development, elevation in consciousness,
improved overall health.

When it comes to work, I have a simple philosophy: I
love what I do, and I don’t do too much of it. It’s an
affirmation that helps keep me in balance. I spent
‘way too many years believing I had to do it all. No
longer.

"For fast acting relief, try slowing down!" - Lily
Tomlin

Myth: The Great Pyramids of Egypt were built by slaves
who were beaten if they slacked off even for a second.
Truth: The people of Egypt willingly helped build
those structures (which were the tallest buildings in
the world for more than 4000 years) and felt honored
and privileged to do so. They were treated with
respect by the Pharaoh’s household and Guard. If they
had been mistreated, the pyramids would never have
been built.

Your work is not your life. As important as it is to
take your tasks seriously, it is equally important to
take yourself lightly. You owe it to your family, to
the world, and to yourself to be the most joy-filled
person you can be.

Now, have I comforted the afflicted?

"Seize the moment! Remember all those women on the
Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." Erma Bombeck

Suggested Reading: How to Feel Fabulous Today -
Stephanie Tourles