Hypno's reminder that she is doing ok, actually!

hypno06

OK, so for those of you who are not following MGs challenges, this is something that is worth doing anyway - sort of follows on from the decluttering we are all doing, and for me at least it fits in very well with trying to work out what I want.

For a few weeks, I have been thinking about how to eliminate the toxic things from my life. This was something that I read about in a food-related book "Positive Shrinking" that was lent to me recently, but it doesn't just relate to food, it relates to every area of your life.

So, basically, anything or anyone that winds you up, drags you down, p!s$es you off, etc, is toxic. And once you recognise it, and acknowledge it, you can start taking steps to eliminate these things from your life by various means.

By coincidence, Mr Big's "homework" for this weekend is to list those things that we want to eliminate.....eg:

• clutter,
• bad habits
• !!!!!ing workmates
• that overcrowded bookcase that can't hold any more
• toxic relationships

And I am sure we can all make a list with a few of those

For me, I have spent these last few weeks identifying some of these things, and have made definite moves in the right direction - dealing with Dad's stuff in my garage, for example, and although I have a long way to go, I now start to feel positive about having a life less toxic.

The challenge asks us to write down these things and put them in a sealed envelope dated Christmas 2011.....I for one, hope that when I open it up at the end of next year, it will consist of a list that I can no longer identify with.

This really hits home for me right now, with the major changes that are going on in my life, and with the rediscovery of "me", a process that you all know has been very emotional for me this year, but also very important to me.

macgirl

Oh - good one.

For me it is to eliminate stress for good. I think sh*t happens to everyone but how you deal with it can have negative repercussions on your health.
Since hitting 40, I have made a decision not to "sweat the small stuff" - yes I am a self-help junkie (or independent resourceful woman as I prefer to think )

A friend who is the model of serenity and calm, said she used to be a stress head and just decided one day - not to be. Can it be that simple when you are of Irish Hot tempered fiery stock??? I'm gonna give it a damn good bash!

hypno06

It shouldn't be about eliminating stress, mac - but about eliminating "bad" stress

Some stress is good, and you and I both work well to deadlines and under pressure - if we didn't have that stress we wouldn't achieve half as much as we actually do!!

macgirl

True, but I mean the body-tensing bad energy type stress and I have had too much of that during that last decade.

I do need to take the odd chill pill and let some things slide more.....It will be a life's work I think

boredofbeingathome

Macgirl i am so with you on needing a chill pill at times..I too am of Irish stock and when it goes, boy does my temper go. Although i have to say that i am a slow burner then the littlest thing will set me off.
I tend to over think things at times, so would really like to declutter my brain- if that makes sense.

hypno06

You and me both - but remember the "life begins" thing - it is so so true.....an ideal time to take stock and make changes, big or small!

hypno06

decluttering the brain is part of my current process too....I have been working a lot on it over the last few months, and it is THAT which prompted me to get MGs book in the first place, to see if her techniques could help with the braindump process!

Seems it might help rather more than first hoped!!

macgirl

Yes BoB, when I blow everyone runs for cover, but nowadays instead of just releasing it and returning to normal (while everyone recovers from my hurricane ) I seem to retain some of it and feel a constant low level stress.

Maybe that goes with working and having kids and not having enough hours in the day or days in the week. But everyone has these pressures, it's life so I must find other ways of dealing with it....

Remember that book Hypno - The Joy of Laziness? There are some good ideas in there that I would do well to adopt - fasting being one

REDMADCURLS

I wonder if debt is toxic or just the reprecussions of it. I definately find managing my debt very very stressful but I am not sure if I can call it 'toxic' since it was all our own doing - greed/waste/ignorance/panic!

I feel totally stressed most of the time and the debt along with managing a business and being a social worker make it hard to switch off from it.

But I would love love love to eliminate 'procrastination'

macgirl

Are you signed up to Flylady Red? I wish I could post this on here, but the other day I was reading one of the emails and it was all about procrastination.

She is one amazing lady and set a very clear path about it and how to avoid it and all the damage it can do. It seemed so simple and really struck a chord with me.

I'd be happy to copy and send it to you if you like - just let me know.