Just STOP

I came across this fantastic article on Facebook, and it really made me stop and think.

It was titled "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself", and I, personally found it fascinating.  Maybe it's just the pain meds, but I saw myself, and quite a few of my friends in some of the points and though. "Man, we really kick our own butts sometimes don't we"?  Which is pretty silly if you think about it.

So, I thought I would share share some of the highlights of this post that really hit home to me.

1.  Stop spending time with the wrong people.  -- This would be #1 on my list, and I was happy to see it as #1 on this list as well.  It is such a problem in our culture, and people need to stop wasting time on the people that aren't worth it.  Some people come into our lives and are meant to be there forever.  But some are just pages, chapters, paragraphs, or sentences.  You should surround yourself with people who respect you, treat you with love, and are happy to be in your presence.  Why live a life being with people who don't respect you?  Losing a friend or partner might mean nights are quieter, or that there is less to do, but you won't feel held down by something that isn't meant to be.

15.  Stop trying to compete against everyone else.  -- Everyone wants to keep up with the Jones', but you know what??  I don't think the Jones' care about use in the least.  Going into debt to have the best house, or car, or clothes is just ridiculous.   It is a hole that is hard to get out of once it has been dug.  So what if all your friends were married before you?  So what if you don't own your own home and have a baby 2 years after marriage?  So what if you spend your money carting your kids around to various touraments, productions, and events instead of a lavish vacation in some island destination?  So what if your house isn't Pinterest worthy?  It doesn't make you any less of a person.  Concentrate on yourself and your own happiness instead of what others are doing or thinking.

22.  Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments.  -- To be honest, I never fully began embracing the small moments until I became a mother.  I enjoyed life and all that it was, but never really took the time to embrace the little thing.  The most mundane moments make my heart so happy now.  I try very hard to grab a small moment of joy whenever it comes along.

28.  Stop worrying so much.  -- Worrying doesn't help the outcome.  EVER!  It just creates more stress; unnecessary stress and unhappiness.  I used to be a bit of a worried, but know I know that most things are out of my hands, and worrying won't do anything but cause me grief.  When you worry about what MIGHT happen, you stop thinking about the here and now and you stop enjoying what you have.  I think  this point is coupled with #29 -- Stop focussing on what you don't want to happen.  Make the choice to believe that what you want to have happen will.  Positive thinking is much more fun, and far healthier for you than worrying.  

30.  Stop being ungrateful.  -- I feel lucky that my mother taught me from a very early age to be grateful for what I have in life, and not to focus on what I don't have.  Even when life drives me nuts, I choose to look at all the blessings I have instead of dwelling on the problem.  Of course, sometimes I need to be reminded that people have it worse of than me, but I do try to remind myself that my "first world problems" are small in comparison to the plight some others have to bear.  I have also become more aware of how I describe my hardships too, because all too often I think we exaggerate our problems to make ourselves feel better.  Counting my blessings also makes me feel a lot better than dwelling on my problems.  Give it a try.  Trust me; it works!