Originally Published: June 7th, 2020

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5 Principles of Reiki

Just for today, I will not worry

Just for today, I will not be angry

Just for today, I will do my work honestly

Just for today, I will be kind to all living things

Just for today, I will be grateful for my many blessings

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How We Perceive Our Reality

I’m listening to the audio book before happiness – the 5 hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change by Shawn Achor.

It explains happiness is how we perceive our reality.

The author postulates we can have high IQ intelligence, emotional intelligence, and social intelligence. Yet, we can be the most pessimistic, miserable person in the room.

What makes this intelligent person seem pessimistic and unhappy?

They have all the key elements for success yet are not uplifting or optimistic.

They lack optimism.

But, not a delusional, Pollyanna type of optimism, ignoring realities of a situation.

An optimism that clearly sees all sides of a situation.

An optimism that looks for a solution leading to success.

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Positive Genius

Shawn Achor calls this optimism a Positive Genius.

A Positive Genius is someone who consistently searches for the most actionable route.

They choose to pursue a positive path when faced with adversity.

I won’t get into the 5 hidden keys he teaches that can make everyone a Positive Genius.

My focus of this blog is how the author speaks to how we perceive our reality.

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Landscaping

Selling a house takes work.

This house we are preparing to sell was rented out for 6 years.

The tenants took good care of the interior. The exterior has 6 years of neglect.

My role has been landscaping.

I recently finished a challenging landscaping task of laying rugged, well-used landscaping fabric to fit specific dimensions.

Not a fun job.

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Painting the Fence

This next task is one of three major tasks:

1. Paint a fence that surrounds a back yard
2. Paint a relatively large deck
3. Rake weeds out of a large gravel driveway

Perceiving the reality of these tasks with optimism feels challenging.

I’d rather be spending my COVID days off work kayaking or hiking.

But, I have a responsibility to finish these tasks quickly. This will result in putting the house up for sale sooner, rather than later.

I have enough awareness to know I have two choices.

I can grit my teeth and force myself through this.

Alternatively, I can somehow make them a pleasurable reality.

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Wax On Wax Off

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If you are a kid of the 90’s, you will know the meaning of “Wax on. Wax off”.

This iconic movie taught there is a lesson to be learned in the mundane.

For Daniel, it was patience to build muscle memory.

For me?

I had to pause and think about this as I stare out the kitchen window at that fence!

The lesson is making the most out of the time I have here.

Yes, I will make time for kayaking and hiking.

Still, my time painting the fence has to have meaning too.

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Listening to Audio Books

Sitting and reading a book is typically a painful process. I become bored with the book. Then, I skip to the end.

What positive path will I pursue when faced with this fence painting adversity?

How can I perceive this reality as a Positive Genius?

I’ve decided that painting the fence allows me the wonderful opportunity to listen to audio books.

So far, I’ve listened to The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

I’m now listening to before happiness – the 5 hidden keys to achieving success, spreading happiness, and sustaining positive change by Shawn Achor.

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Just For Today

I will do my work honestly.

I will do my best (Rule # 4 of The Four Agreements).

I will practice being a Positive Genius

S, 🌻