Words to Live By – Six Ways to
Breathe Life into Your Day
By
Joy Fisher-Sykes
We’ve heard
the instructions many times over. There is such familiarity that many people
can almost recite them verbatim. In fact, these directives are so crucial; they
are printed on placards and demonstrated visually by the staff. They are so
important that they can’t wait until you are airborne to share. I’m talking
about the life-saving instructions on what to do in case of an emergency that
airline passengers receive on every flight before they’re airborne. Given
without fail around the globe daily, millions often sit back and ignore flight
attendants by reading a magazine, speaking to a neighbor, or simply becoming
annoyed at the disruption of quiet. The highlight of the instruction says:
Should the
cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will fall from the ceiling in front of you.
If you are traveling with small children, place the mask on yourself first, then
place a mask on the child.
Who would have thought for decades the airline industry has been sharing with
millions of people a valuable life lesson.
A Life
Lesson
At first
blush, this directive seems absurd. After all, when you travel with a child,
an adult’s natural inclination says children first. Period. No matter the
circumstance. However, consider that our emotional side is not always logical.
Ponder the life lesson to be learned here. If you do not put your mask on
yourself first, if you’re not breathing, how in the world can you ever help that
child, yourself, or anyone else?
Learn to
Breathe
Many of us
choose to give our oxygen away all the time. How many times have you felt the
“pressure” and a sense of not being able to cope, not able to breathe? Did you
take a deep breath or did you just trudge along depleting your reserves to none?
A life on empty has nothing to offer to either you or others. When we fail to
see the value of taking care of self before others, we fail to see we can be of
no good to anyone unless we choose to take the first breath. Sound selfish?
Perhaps, however, it is the only way you can survive. Remember, lack of oxygen
causes death – to the mind, the body, and the spirit.
Six Ways to
Honor Yourself Daily
What holds
true for life in the air holds true for the life we lead on the ground. On a
daily basis practice these life-saving strategies to breathe life into your day.
-
Value Time
Time is your most precious commodity that can never be replaced or
replenished. Be selective about how and with whom you choose to spend your
time. Make every minute count because each is precious.
-
Cut the Umbilical Cord
Lighten your load and learn to let go. Stop
dragging around the troubles of everyone in the world. Constantly trying to
solve problems for others not only weighs you down, it denies others the
opportunity to learn that they can survive and thrive. Experience breeds
personal growth and power. Allow those you love the opportunity to grow. Know
that sometimes the best gifts you can offer are your constant love and support
and allowing others to resolve their own problems.
-
Maintain Strong Bonds
The real value in relationships is maintaining a connection.
Whether you are near or far, don’t allow the busyness of life to let time slip
away. Make a conscious effort to connect with friends and family on a regular
basis.
-
Choose Your Friends Wisely
You become the people with which you choose to surround yourself.
Be very selective with whom you choose to spend your time. Time is a precious
commodity you can never get back. Once time is gone, it’s lost forever. Refuse
to spend time with others who choose not to honor you.
-
Be Courageous
Have the courage to step up and say what needs to be said and do
what needs to be done. Possess the courage to practice what you know to be
true. Question not whether everyone likes you all of the time (because they
never will). Instead, ask, “Does it really matter if those who choose to
disrespect and dishonor me don’t like me?”
-
Celebrate
Celebrate every breath you take and every memory you create. Life
is a meant to be a daily celebration. Celebrate all of life’s victories – large
and small. Don’t let the calendar dictate special occasions. Every day use the
fine china, crystal, and silverware. Celebrate today because life
is so precious,
and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Take nothing for granted and celebrate
all life has to offer.
Follow these
simple life strategies and you’ll find you can breathe a whole lot easier. This
valuable life lesson – take a breath - is not to be taken lightly. Ignore it
and you’ll find yourself depleted of oxygen, weary and worn. Practice it and
you’ll breathe new life into your day and have an appreciation for life that all
can follow. Now those truly are words to live by.
Suggested reading:
Take Time to Create a Life Balance Sheet for Success
It’s the Most Wonderful
Gift of the Year
Five Ways to Reduce
Environmental Stress (Part Two)
Set Yourself
Stress-Free
Set Yourself Free
Five Ways to Reduce
Environmental Stress (Part One)
Adversity: Your Seed of
Greatness (Three Secrets to Using
Adversity to Become Great)
Connect the Dots! Your Roadmap for Success
Every Super Hero Needs Theme Music. What’s Yours?
Have You Appreciated Someone Today?
Five Secrets to Creating a
"Goal" Medal Life
Five Secrets to
Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part 2
Appreciate to Motivate
(The Key to Successful Team Building)
The
Greatest Gift of All - The Gift of Empowerment
