Tired Old Tips

By Chris Matthias

The following is a short compilation of some things that I have found useful and I make no claim of originality of any of them. They are presented so that someone else (you) might find them useful too, although they come with no guarantees for nervous system compatibility.

Decision making on a coin(*)

Want to know what you really think of a decision between two choices? Easy! flip a coin! Now, this may seem 'cowardly' to some as it appears to hand the choice off to chance/fate/etc. It may also seem a trivial way to make a decision. Next time you have a choice (especially if it's awkward) assign one choice to each side of the coin and flip! Now, you may find that you a comfortable with the choice that came 'up', but you also may feel uncomfortable. Watch yourself with the result, you'll often know which side you'd be happier with.

Aromatherapy et al

I can imagine as I write this that sombunall of the people reading this may have either groaned or are perched on their seat waiting for me to pronounce some 'heresy'. Well, if you have or are, you're in for a disappointment. Hopefully, what I'll say here will be of no offence to anyone, although I'd settle for 99.9999% of you not being offended. Anyway, I will start with the assumption that sombunall people are happier in an environment that they find pleasing. Obviously, things that smell nice might potentially be part of that environment. So whether you wear a certain scent or burn an oil around you, this will probably make you joyous. Well, maybe, or maybe not, but I've found through my own use that I've been surprised what a subtle effect it has on my mood and I'd guess for no reason other than the assumption I started with.

Traditions

Although the following might work for anyone in a time-binding system, I'm writing this mainly for that western holiday of Xmas. I imagine it might apply to any other holiday in the world that involves an perceived obligation of the participants. For the people I've met, their Xmas traditions involve stressed shopping, spending time they don't want to with relatives and a pressure to be 'joyous'. Would it be any surprise for a person with these 'traditions' to find Xmas a miserable time?
The suggestion offered here wont turn your life around, but it might help. Create your own traditions! Easy huh? Well, in my experience, no. Like some of the other subjects in the Maybe Logic Academy, 'traditions' appear to make use of imprints and other forms of subtle 'programming' and this requires a knowledge of applying a new 'imprint'. To use a ritual of your own making could prove the easiest way – a advent calendar (or one of your own devising), burning a candle, meeting up with friends, etc. Observing your own traditions, although it might not change how you feel about the season, will hopefully give you something to look forward to. As I find in life, choose that which makes you happy.

Tea

Tea solves everything! No, really! It does!

* - Acknowledgement to Toby/BogusMagus for sharing the head space on this, although technically, he's older than me and had possession of the idea longer!