Comments on: Savoring the Positive

By: Committing To Your Goals « Bret L. Simmons

Committing To Your Goals « Bret L. Simmons — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:28:06 +0000

[...] The next intentional activity from The How of Happiness is committing to your goals. Recall from my earlier blog that it’s these intentional activities and habits that can account for as much as 40% of our happiness. The first intentional activity was expressing gratitude, the second was deliberate optimism, the third was to stop overthinking and comparing ourselves to others, the fourth was practicing acts of kindness, the fifth was social support, the sixth was coping with stress, the seventh was learning to forgive, the eight was increasing flow, and the ninth was savoring the positive. [...]

By: Tanveer Naseer

Tanveer Naseer — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:34:23 +0000

Thanks Bret, I appreciate that. I’m enjoying your website as well. Following you on Twitter so I can keep up with your latest pieces.

Thanks again for sharing this piece.

Tanveer.

By: Bret L. Simmons

Bret L. Simmons — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:31:35 +0000

Tanveer: I think you are correct, we can retrain our outlook and learn to savor the positive just like we learn to cope with the negative.

I’m glad you stopped by to share your thoughts! BTW, I love your website. Thanks!

Bret

By: Tanveer Naseer

Tanveer Naseer — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:21:06 +0000

I think you bring up some valuable points here, Bret and shed light on our tendency to focus more on the negative moments in our lives instead of the positive. Granted, we shouldn’t go around looking at life through rose-coloured glasses. However, if people actually timed how long they muse over some negative event and compare that to how long they appreciate those little moments that serve as pick-me-ups, I think we’d realize just how half-empty glass lookers we can get.

Imagine if we could all retrain our outlook to let go quicker of those downturns and build on the momentum of those high points how much more fruitful our lives would not only feel, but be.

Hopefully with astute posts like yours, Bret, more people will learn to savour those moments more.

By: Bret L. Simmons

Bret L. Simmons — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:40:16 +0000

Alain: So true, and perspective I believe is a matter of choice. Choices about what we pay attention to, choices about the processes we use to interpt our situations and experiences, and choices about how we chose to think and behave based on our interpretations.

Thanks once again for taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts. You know I value them. Bret

By: Alain Jourdier

Alain Jourdier — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:43:30 +0000

Love the analogy of water in the bathtub…also great advice for everyday living and success. It reminds me of Be Here Now. Whenever I want to have a pity party, I go back to the positives in my life and I move forward. I keep a photo of the one room stone house we lived in in France, without running water or toilet and remind myself how lucky I am to have the comforts I have now. Life is truly a matter of perspective. Thanks again Bret.

By: Bret L. Simmons

Bret L. Simmons — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:59:42 +0000

Yikes! Sorry to hear about your car problems, Mary Jo. I know you lift a LOT of spirits with the generousity and grace you show others. Thanks once again for taking the time to comment – so appreciated. Bret

By: Mary Jo Asmus

Mary Jo Asmus — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:19:11 +0000

Bret,

After a frustrating afternoon of car troubles, your posting is like a breath of fresh air. And I love the idea of “savoring” – conjures up a slowing, a noticing, that we seldom do without a reminder. I tend to use the word “intentional” – but savoring has a different meaning, and positive intent that is just wonderful. Thanks for lifting my spirits.