All That is Right With You

All that is right in the world.

​Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction), said “As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than there is wrong, no matter how ill or how hopeless you may feel.”

Take a moment to reflect on this.  As humans we often focus on the things that we have done wrong. We could be better, smarter, richer, thinner... fill in your own adjective. I encourage you to begin a practice of remembering and acknowledging all that is right with you. Do it now, as you read this. 

1. Focus on your body. Write down all the things that are right about it. For example, 

• Your blood is circulating and carrying oxygen to all of your cells.
• Your skeleton is carrying you, and along with your muscles, tendons and ligament, allowing you to walk.
• Your brain is making plans.
• Your sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose,  and mouth) are helping you to connect with the outer world.

2. Focus on your actions. Write down a list of all the things that you have done to take good care of yourself and those that you love.

3. Focus on your thoughts. Write down all the thoughts that lift you up. Look to your favorite quotes for inspiration.

4. Focus on your emotions. Make a list of times when you felt complete, happy and at peace.

5. Focus on your connections. Make a list of all the positive connections that you have had with people in your life. 

• Start with those closest to you -- your partner, your children, family members, close friends. 
• Then think of people in your community -- those you work with, those in organizations that you belong to, your children's teachers. 
• Finally, those people who you come in contact with when you are running errands -- the cashier at the supermarket or drugstore, your car mechanic, wait staff at the restaurants you frequent. And those at the periphery of your life -- a neighbor you wave to, someone you greet as you when you are out walking or jogging.

6. Focus on your accomplishments. Make a list of your accomplishments over the past year. Include projects big and small.

You are an amazing being!

Revel in this. Take your list of all that is good and right with you and post it on your bulletin board or on your refrigerator. Acknowledge yourself fully and completely.

When you find yourself being critical about something that you have done, switch to being gentle. Surround yourself with love and kindness. Lift yourself up when times get hard. 

Look at your list of all that is right with you EVERY DAY. I promise that this practice will transform your life.

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