Here's your Friday Fix.

If you enjoy it, please share with your family and friends.
If not, please tell us, and we will fix it. R&P
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"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Your three best doctors are faith, time, and patience."

~ E. A. Wolter
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Things are crook!

There is no doubt that we live in challenging times. Issues economic, cultural, and
spiritual seem insurmountable when you look into the future and wonder what it will
hold. Soon, it overwhelms you and may even leave you fearful.

Whether you are facing a minor setback or a serious problem, the approach towards
it is the same. Taking a mindful look at the situation instead of turning to worry,
recrimination, and rumination will often yield the best results.

Mindfulness is about the moment.

Sometimes, it is not the event that causes the fear but the anticipation of it. You
missed a mortgage payment and fear foreclosure. But backing off for a little while
from the worry, you realise something different. There are no threats of
foreclosure or paperwork served at your door. You are simply stuck in fear. Perhaps
the best thing to do right now is call your bank, explain your situation, and see
what can be done.

That is the power of mindfulness. You see the moment at its reality.

It is not always an imagined reality � it can be very real, like loss of a loved
one. But letting go of denial and facing the reality, no matter how much it hurts,
is the first step to healing.

From there, you can start to see the possibilities.

In cases of grief and loss, this may take some time. That is more than acceptable
as everyone has a different way to process it. Eventually, you will see new
possibilities and likely gain an appreciation of things you never quite mastered
before. Tragic loss often leads people to take less for granted and pursue dreams
once put off.

In less tragic circumstances, you simply realise the disaster is not at all as bad
as you imagined.

The fear is replaced with finding a new way to approach the situation.

Finally, you can now enter problem-solving mode.

Nobody finds an effective solution through panic. Entering problem-solving mode

means you realise you need to call a lawyer if facing foreclosure or divorce. For
the imagined scenario, you find a way to prevent it or at least lessen its impact.
It is basically logic taking over the fear and primal emotion.

Sometimes, it is not a matter of a problem needing a solution. It is seeing the

situation clearer. It means a better decision, e.g. rethinking an extravagance so
you can make a car payment instead and quit worrying about repossession. With
trauma or tragedy, there is not a solution but a new normal arising from a place of
acceptance.

It seems conflicted that being in the moment means a better feature. But that is
how it works. Mindfulness is not only useful in mediation but also day-to-day life
from enjoying a walk on a sunny day to facing uncertainty with bravery. Keeping in
tune with the good and the challenging helps you appreciate both and know better
how to proceed. So the next time you are in a fix, go through these steps in your
head:

1. Be mindful: differentiate between what is and what could be

2. Think positive: imagine the possibilities and trust yourself
3. Address the problem: with less worry, make a list of possible solutions

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Hugs, Health, Happiness and Harmony :-)

Rod & Pauline Hyatt