How to live well anyway, or how Kate lives.

There is something unique about constantly making affirmative statements about how things are in "my universe." For instance "in my Universe we don’t blame other people for our feelings." "In my Universe people treat each other with respect." "In my Universe everyone is doing the best they can with what they know now."

It’s just the way I talk to myself, to other people, to objects, and to circumstances with encouragement and appreciation. It’s goofy, it’s fun, and it’s lighthearted. Have you thanked a mango lately for all the antioxidants, and fiber it provides in such a flavorful fun to eat way? Have you thanked a green light, or someone who let you change lanes in traffic? Do you have a "thanks" sign above you visor for just such occasions? I do. It really surprises people.

Our brains are always on, so I figure "why not think good thoughts?" A good thought is any thought that genuinely feels good. If you are thinking about a subject that does not feel good, change subjects. You can come back to that subject when you are feeling better and in a better frame of mind for it. Oh, also, I only make decisions when I am fed and rested. My decisions, made in circumstances of hunger or tiredness are usually not so good. I do believe that thinking good thoughts keeps me healthy. It’s clear to me that thinking negative, critical, blaming, and doomsday thoughts is toxic to me. One example of using positive thoughts to avoid toxicity is in the advice my nutritionist gave me. If I choose to eat something that is not on his recommended list, I should do it for a good reason. It’s okay to eat "celebration foods." But to eat a food that is going to physically challenge my system and combine it with a thought of self-condemnation is 2 strikes against me. Eating the "wrong" food for the "right" reason cancels out the "bad" vibe associated with the food. It also allows me to pause and think, "what do I have to celebrate today?"

It’s not really all that complicated, and it has not required any memorization. I don’t practice every positive habit everyday. I do keep a constant vigilance on what I’m thinking, doing and feeling. My intention is to feel as good as I can all the time. What I think promotes how I feel. How I feel influences what I do. What I do can provoke my thinking and my feelings. Just as my thinking and feelings can provoke what I do. If this was a chart it would be a triangle of feeling, thoughts, and doing with double-pointed arrows going between all three words. We can get a handle on each of the corners. We can do something about what we experience.

I love the image of Felix the cat having a bag of tricks to get him out of any situation. I do believe that what you get is what you think you’ll get, so I try to keep my thoughts in the up mode. If you need more specific examples of tricks, contact me.

Love to you

--Kate

Kate Hannigan writes for people who want to be uplifted and make life work better for them. Her qualifications for writing a guide to upliftment include having been told by ministers, mystics, and medical people that she is the most positive person they have ever met. Shining among the brightest while balancing a few chronic illnesses that cause her to be high maintenance physically has confirmed for her that she doesn't think & act like everyone else. Kate's offers her unique perspective and self-talk to others in the hope that it helps them in some way.

Kate's conviction is that if there is any chance that what you think is what you get, why not stack the cards in your favor?

May you define your experiences so that the world is generous and joyful with you.

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