** Article: Floating in Mindfulness: Dealing with Disappointment – By Maya Talisman Frost **
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Feeling disappointed? It's time to float.

The time-honored approach to disappointment generally involves a fair amount of wallowing followed by a concerted effort to move on. Okay, this can work. But a more mindful approach includes an interim phase between these two. It's a unique opportunity to "float."

When things don't go our way--whether we're talking about election results, a job interview, a proposal at work, or a relationship--we naturally feel disappointed. We had hoped for the best, even expected the best (hey, we know about human motivation techniques, after all) and this apparent failure hits us pretty hard.

So, the first step is to feel the emotion. Go ahead. Mad? Frustrated? Depressed? It's okay to allow yourself to feel it. You can commiserate with others or wallow alone--it's your choice.

Now, here comes the mindfulness part:

Take one giant step back. Step away from the swirl of thoughts and emotions and simply look at it in a sort of interested bystander way. It's as though you have a clipboard and you're taking note of your response.

1) Scan your body. How does disappointment feel physically? Is it affecting your digestion, your sleep, your movement?

Scan your body for pain and tightness. Notice how your forehead feels, your cheeks, your jaw, your neck, your shoulders. Take a look at your face in a mirror. What does disappointment look like?

Continue to pass over your body mentally, noticing any pain, discomfort, tingling, or tightness. Be sure to check your own personal trouble spots, whether that's your lower back, your knees, or your belly.

We tend to develop habitual physical responses to strong emotions. Make sure you are familiar with yours. Paying attention during mindful moments like this is your best defense against disease. Our hot spots can teach us a great deal, but during times of stress, we tend to focus on our thoughts instead of our bodies. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about yours.

2) Scan your mind. Watch your thoughts go by as though you are watching a parade. No need to jump on any float as it passes. You're not the rodeo queen on a prancing horse, or the festival princess waving to the crowd. You're a spectator. Watch.

3) Separate. Whenever we are disappointed, our past disappointments bubble to the surface. Things get stirred up, and our accompanying emotion often has more to do with the cumulative effect of our lifelong disappointments than this particular one. We tend to catastrophize and lump it all together into one big fat Disappointment Package.

Don't let that happen. Look at this one incident as totally separate from the others. Each float stands alone.

4) Float. I call this the "Float between Floats" approach. Now that you are watching this parade of floats without climbing aboard any of them, turn your attention to that brief moment between them. Sure, you know another one is coming. It's not quite in front of you yet. There is nothing you can do but wait. No sense spending your time or energy setting expectations that it will be spectacular. No point in worrying that it will be disastrous. Hold that space and float in it.

Settle into mindful watching--of your body, your mind, and the world around you. It is an opportunity to go beyond wound licking. Watch as your thoughts change from "Why?" to "What can I do next?" We often jump into action--retaliatory, self-protective or simply distracting--without gleaning our most important lessons from disappointment.

The ability to "Float between Floats" will provide clarity and comfort. Use this time to develop your awareness. It will help you recognize the power of mindfulness and the endless stream of floats that pass by.

All things considered, it's one heckuva parade.

About the Author:
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 100 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.mindmasseuse.com

8 Ways Doing Less Can Transform Your Work & Life

 For anyone who has read my blog on a regular basis - and that doesn't even include me, you'll note that I abandoned it for about 5 years.  I don't remember why I just remember remembering that it even existed in the shower the other day (I have incredibly "brilliant" moments in the shower) and then having to take a moment the next day to try and remember what I had called it.  THAT in and of itself was fun but it has been even more entertaining seeing all the drafts and links in drafts I had saved being things I wanted to write about.  Many of the blogs I wanted to link to no longer exist and many of the ideas that must have excited me 5 years ago now just make me frown in bemusement - :)

This link not only still works but also still resonates which means that it has been 5 years and counting and I am still working on simplifying my life and un-brainwashing myself - the force of social conditioning is clearly strong in this one :)

For all our edification then:

8 Ways Doing Less Can Transform Your Work & Life

THE REASONS FOR FINANCIAL FAILURE

** Article: The Reasons for Financial Failure – By Craig Lock **
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"Money can't buy you happiness. But it helps you to be miserable
in comfort."
- Woody Allen

Why do people not achieve financial success?

Reason One: Lack of knowledge: or more specifically, a lack of desire to gain knowledge. Make the effort to read about financial matters and you will learn. Many people don't know where to go for unbiased advice so they do nothing.

Reason Two: Failure to set plans. Did you know that only 5 percent of the population sets goals and only 2 percent has any form of written goals? Their actions have a sense of purpose: they are results oriented, they are motivated, they are positive. They are life's winners. Without a plan, it is easy to drift aimlessly, and live from day to day. If you set goals, you will know what you want to achieve.

Reason Three: Inefficient use of time and poor work habits. Time is like money - you can spend it or invest it in building a better you by self-development. When you waste time, you are wasting yourself. Plan your day - what do you really want to achieve today?

Reason Four: Lack of foresight. Achievers can look beyond the immediate and into the future. Although some may see your visions as dreams, do not forget that you have to have a dream to make a dream come true. Unless you are fortunate enough to be left a legacy, the only money you will ever have working for you is what you save and invest. People with vision can multiply their income by investing in growth investments. Work for your money, then make your money work for you.

Reason Five: The need to conform. Dare to be different! Don't be afraid to take calculated risks. The people who make big money are the ones who do the opposite of what everyone else does - sell when everyone else buys, and vice versa.

Reason Six: Poor debt management through excessive borrowing. Many people have poor spending habits and having no budget. If you borrow to buy things that lose value, with interest payments you pay much more for the article than it cost initially. (Especially new cars, furniture etc.)

Reason Seven: Lack of desire as a result of a poor attitude about acquiring wealth. A bad attitude has caused more personal problems than anything else. What we expect to happen usually does. Successful people are optimists, while unsuccessful people have a pessimistic attitude . Block out negative thoughts and stereotypes and mix with successful, positive people.

Reason Eight: Inadequate protection against unforeseen events, such as the loss of a home due to natural disaster or the death or disablement of the bread winner. Adequate protection (insurance) against these events is vital to financial success. Not being properly covered has wiped out many potentially financially successful people.

Reason Nine: Lack of discipline. Most people find it difficult to save: it is easier to say yes than no. Those who lack discipline to say "no" will find financial success an impossible achievement. Many people are easily led by advertising and the easy availability of credit.

Reason Ten: Procrastination. Many people put off a savings program until it is too late. Young people have a wonderful opportunity and advantage because they have time on their side. The reasons people give for not starting a savings program are varied, and many are genuine. People in their 20s are just getting started in life and want to enjoy themselves by spending on cars, stereos etc. People in their 30s have young families and mortgages. People in their 40s say things are tough with kids to put through college and unexpected medical expenses. By the time people reach their 50s, it is too late: there's no time left to accumulate capital through the magic of compound interest. A convenient time never comes.

So what better time to start on your road to financial success than TODAY?

About the author:
Craig Lock has been involved in the personal finance field for many years before becoming a writer. This extract is from Craig's "The Mad Money Book" - a simple guide for everyperson in understanding and making the best use of your money. Written in a light and humorous style. http://www.craiglockbooks.com and http://www2.webng.com/writernz

The Bailouts Revisited | Dollars and Sense

 

 I take a rather keen armchair sort interest in economics and, having worked for a couple of banking institutions for some 18 odd years, also feel that I have a bit of insight into these matters.  Despite all that, events of the last decade have literally had me frothing at the mouth - needing to wander around with a little spitoon (LOL) not to mention with some good friends in tow to protect me from the foot in mouth disease repercussions I keep incurring.

With all of that in mind, I find articles such as these, even if I read them years after the fact, both to be grist for my particular little mill and rant inducing:  The Bailouts Revisited | Dollars & Sense

CREATIVITY

is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun.

Mary Lou Cook

WHY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FAIL AT LOVE

 I read this recently and found it rather profound if not edifying :) Learn Why It's Impossible To Fail At Love

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

You can't use up creativity.  The more you use, the more you have.

Maya Angelou