Often, it¹s the usual sources. Professional advisers. Extraordinary books. Well written articles. Spiritual leaders. "Go-to" people in your life.
But don¹t neglect other sources that may seem, at first glance, to be frivolous. If your mind is open to hearing what is being offered (and I hope it is), then anything in life can be your guide.
Here are a few examples that fit the bill:
Song Lyrics:
My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music):
"When the dog bites, When the bee stings, When I'm feeling sad - I simply remember my favorite things, And then I don't feel so bad."
I Whistle a Happy Tune (from The King and I):
"Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect. And whistle a happy tune, So no one will suspect, I'm afraid. The result of this deception, Is very strange to tell, for when I fool the people I fear I fool myself as well!"
Bob Marley songs:
"Everything¹s going to be all right", "Don¹t worry" "Be happy", are repeated so frequently in his lyrics that it¹s easy for his message to become your mantra.
Comedian¹s Quips: George Carlin
"Have you ever noticed anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that."
"The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going."
Stephen Wright:
"Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now."
"Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it."
"I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately, extremely abstract. No brush, no paint, no canvas, I just think about it."
Your Own Dreams:
Dreams, written, directed and choreographed by your unconscious, can be a source of impressive advice. To understand the amazing insights of your dreams, develop an inquisitive and non-judgmental mindset. Fluency in the language of metaphor. Belief in the intelligence of the unconscious process.
Good advice is like snow. The softer it falls, the more peaceful it appears, the more we are drawn to it.
© Copyright 2005. Linda Sapadin, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice who specializes in helping individuals, families and couples overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior. She can be reached by e-mail at DrSapadin@aol.com. To read additional columns, visit www.PsychWisdom.com
