Don’t Wait – Relate

Posted on March 6, 2021 by dailyplanit

People (one of the four Ps of Positive Psychology) are an important part of our happiness. Studies like the Grant Study in “The Good Life” by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz confirm that relationships are key. [Listen to the TED talk.]

To cultivate relationships, combine sharing with emotional intelligence, and add excellent communication skills, especially listening. Understand the importance of love languages, loving actions, and being authentic. For close relationships, know what you want, know what you control, identify needs and meet needs with love, and learn effective conflict resolution skills. Learn more with love books, including “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman.

This week, take one action to meet someone new, make a friend or a connection, develop a support system and stay connected with friends, family, or a partner. Remembet to relate with CARE:

• Communicate and converse. Communication is key, especially listening.
• Act lovingly and authentically. Use the love language that speaks to your partner and be you.
• Reach out to others and remember to SHARE. Reserve a date night or kids day out.
• Explore connections and develop emotional intelligence.

Conversation starters

  • The nicest thing that happened this week?
  • Something you are grateful for?
  • Most surprising thing that happened this week?
  • Something you learned?
  • Best thing you’ve read?
  • Best thing you’ve watched?
  • Something that made you laugh?
  • Best thing you’ve listened to?
  • Best thing you’ve eaten?
  • Something you love about them?
  • Something that made you feel loved?
  • One thing that could improve the relationship?
  • What do you wish would happen next week?

See more ideas at Conversation Starters, the Conversation Starters Pinterest board, and Conversation Bingo at A Networking Game Card.

Add activities and games

Fun games are a great way to connect: Board games like Scrabble or Wahoo, Card games like Golf, Hearts, or Uno, Dice Games like Skunk, Farkle (scoresheets), or Qwixx (scoresheets), Apps like Heads Up or Things. Crossyroad, with multi-player over local wi-fi for Android. Learn how to play some of these games with videos at this Youtube playlist.

Socially Distanced Options: Schedule a time that works for everyone with Rallly.co. Set up a game room to play Uno and Farkle (plus more) at buddyboardgames.com with no registration required. Practice against the computer: Uno at crazygames.com, Farkle at cardgames.io. At trickster cards, you can practice against the computer, join a game, or create or join a game with friends. Play Qwixx dice online at https://qwixx-online.nl/. Try Bowl Full of Nouns for something different. Read books with grandkids with the Caribu app.

When you can’t relate…There are times when playing a game with friends or family isn’t possible. For those times, try Solitaire Social at crazygames.com, pacman at Lumpty, or Word Games.

Reserve a Date Night

A date night could include: dancing, dinner out, game night, a movie, or pizza night. You can explore seasonal bucket lists or add some randomness with a Penny Date. For a penny date, your partner chooses a number between 10-20 (that’s the # of times you’ll flip the penny) Heads is right, and Tails left. Flip the penny at every junction until the number is reached. Look around for something to do! Here are some date night ideas for each month of the year:

1. Video game arcade
2. Fancy Restaurant
3. Board or card game
4. Brunch
5. Miniature golf
6. Restaurant with music
7. Swimming pool
8. Outdoor concert
9. Lakeside picnic
10. Bingo
11. Coffee House music
12. Christmas lights and hot chocolate

Try the Day Out Ideas Spinner

Explore seasonal bucket lists (and more activities to share.)

The Relate File includes 3 x 5 cards for:

  • The Five Love Languages
  • Conversation Starters
  • Date Night Ideas
  • Seasonal Bucket Lists
  • A- Z activities
  • Game Ideas

Download a free printable Relate File pdf

READ

• “You’re Not Listening” by Kate Murphy
• “Connect” by David Bradford and Carole Robin
• “We Should Get Together” by Kat Vellos
• “Getting to Yes” by William Ury

Also: “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World” by Vivek H Murthy M.D. See more books for personal development. This book talks about the experience of loneliness and ways to combat it. A powerful way to add both connection with others and meaning is to volunteer.

See also: Stay Connected at Develop a Support System | Seasonal Bucket Lists at Choose the Best Recreational Activities | Recreational activities at Quality Leisure | Anti-loneliness Actions for 12 Connections

Sharing is Caring includes a Share File with recipes, menus for easy entertaining, ideas for seasonal treats and other treats to share.

Posted in positive shift

The Four Ps of Positive Psychology Practices

Posted on February 11, 2021 by dailyplanit

Positive shift happens when we practice the building blocks of positive psychology. The first letters of the practices that have been shown by research to increase happiness and well-being, happen to spell BE MEASURING. (although it is not usually important to measure them.)

The building blocks divide into four Ps: Power Up, Pause, People, and Purpose.

  1. Power Up with Gratitude, Uplift, and Exercise.
  • Gratitude – we are happier when we are grateful and express our appreciation. We can keep a gratitude journal, and express gratitude with thank you notes or small Appreciation Gifts that combine a treat with a punny tag.
  • Uplift – yourself with positive thoughts, music, books, and videos. Uplift others with kind words and Random Acts of Kindness. A favorite RAK is to leave a bookmark, quote, or poem in a library book when I return it. I often practice uplift by watching a short video at Goalcast.com.
  • Exercise – has many proven benefits, including increasing happiness! When the weather is nice, I walk around the lake at Bass Pro and enjoy the beauty of nature at the same time. I often include a short yoga routine in my day as well.

     2. Pause to Breathe, Notice, and Meditate.

  • Breathe – deep breathing can lower blood pressure, and improve heart rate and sleep. It lowers stress so we feel calmer, and our ability to handle emotions is improved. It is a tool that can be practiced anytime, anywhere.
  • Notice – happiness is increased when we are mindful of the present moment, using all the senses. Slow down to savor the taste of food, observe a beautiful sunset, listen to the sound of a song you love, inhale the scent of a flower, and feel a cool breeze on your skin.
  • Meditate – I often use Tara Brach’s 10 minute guided meditation during a mid-day break, or the One Moment Meditation app if I’m pressed for time.

3. Connect with People: Relate, develop Emotional Intelligence, and Share.

 4. Connect with Purpose: Aspire to goals, Inspire Flow, and nourish the Spirit.

  • Aspire – reaching for goals increases meaning in life. Check out the How to Set Goals free tutorial and the Goal Toolkit to learn more about setting goals. Use time well – learn how at Time Management 101, and more at the Productivity Toolkit. A regular review of my progress and value statement helps to maintain focus on tasks, goals and projects. The Brand and Purpose Toolkit has resources for discovering purpose.
  • Inspire Flow – seek activities that balance challenge with skills. Use strengths for an experience that is so engaging that we lose all track of time.
  • Spirituality – Studies show that those with a spiritual practice or religious beliefs tend to be happier than those who don’t. There are many paths, but you can examine your beliefs, practice your values, and pursue spiritual growth.

Use the power of the pause to make positive shift happen.

Posted in Ideas That Work, personal development, positive shift

Keep a Candle Burning

Posted on January 24, 2021 by dailyplanit

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Dedicated to the positive people in my life, and to those who have touched my life and departed from this earth.

Keep a Candle Burning

Keep a candle burning to guide us through the night.
Keep a candle burning to show us there is light.
For sometimes there is darkness and sometimes skies are grey.
And sometimes we need brightness til sunshine fills the day.

If the flame begins to flicker let hope become a ray,
that makes the flame grow stronger to always light the way.
When flames are joined together, a larger fire ignites,
warming hearts to always soar to ever greater heights.

Keep a candle burning, with a flame that glows so bright,
that it lights the path before us, and hope dawns in our sight.
And should the flame diminish, transform it to a spark,
that twinkles in the heavens and guides us in the dark.

-Rosemary Rice

Posted in personal development

Uplift with Kindness and Compassion

Posted on January 11, 2021 by dailyplanit

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Uplift is one of the Building Blocks of Positive Shift. We can uplift ourselves with positive music, videos, quotes and thoughts. And we can uplift others with positive words, genuine compliments, acts of kindness, and simple gifts of appreciation. We achieve uplift with compassion and kindness for both ourselves and other people.

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. -Henry James

To inspire ourselves and others with thoughts, words, and action, remember KARMA.

  • Kind words and compliments
  • Affirmations – positive self-talk and thoughts
  • Random Acts of Kindness and expressions of gratitude
  • Music and Media (books, articles, quotes, news, movies, and videos) that are positive
  • Acts of self-care – practices that support our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls.

Kind words and compliments. A sincere compliment is a great way to uplift others. Learn about emotional intelligence and how to communicate well.

Affirmations. Use Positive Self-talk and Positive Affirmations. How often do we think negative thoughts that are not based in truth? To be impeccable with your word is one of the Four Agreements, and it means to be honest with yourself as well as others. Learn more about thinking rationally at Understand Emotions.

Affirmations are phrases that describe the results of adopting a positive belief. They can help change negative self-talk to positive when repeated frequently. They often begin with “I am…, I can…, I wil…” Examples: I am loved. I can breathe deeply and fully. I will practice compassion. They are: simple, clear, specific, positive, first person, and present tense. Try a pep talk generator.

Random Acts of Kindness and expressions of gratitude. Give a simple gift of appreciation or send a thank-you note or an email from gratefulness.org.

Music and Media. Watch an inspiring video at Goalcast or Simple Truths. Or a TED talk. Or a dance mashup.

Acts of self-care. Develop resilience with 32 activities to care for our Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul.

Many of the ideas for uplift cost little or nothing, but result in positive feelings for everyone that are priceless.

Remember to:

Uplift Yourself with affirmations, acts of self-care, and uplifting music and media.

Uplift Others with sincere compliments, acts of kindness and expressions of gratitude.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

Share positive thoughts – download the Positive Thoughts Flyer (pdf)

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle – Ian Maclaren

Learn more about how to stay connected and make positive shift happen!

Posted in Ideas That Work, positive shift

Show Your Promise

Posted on January 7, 2021 by dailyplanit

Promise is potential. Do you know how to reach for your potential? To KEEP your promise:

Know yourself. Find a self assessment form at the Brand and Purpose Toolkit. Then explore links to Discover U. Many online tools can be found with the free ebook “How to Start a Fire.” Uncover Hidden Talents.

Explore purpose. Plan purpose: Clues to Purpose. Map your values. AIM for a vision that is Active, Inspiring, and Meaningful. A value statement is the power tool for focus. Create impact. Find careers that are a good match. Develop skills.

Explore priorities. Know how to find impact and engagement to be more effective. Choose to do the most important things.

Pursue potential. Be authentic. Conquer fear. Develop personal growth. Set goals. Be productive. Take action.

A promise is a pledge; a vow that you will do something. Make a resolution today to identify your promise and show it with actions every day. My promise is to create and inspire positive shift. How will you show your promise?

Posted in goals, personal development

The ABCs of Impact

Posted on January 5, 2021 by dailyplanit

Impact means making a difference, and many of us want to have a positive impact in the world through our work and lives. Purpose is one of the four Ps of positive shift, and an important part of our happiness. To have an impact, we must focus our soul attention.

ABCsofImpact

The ABCs of Positive Impact

Always Be Caring. Choose compassion for yourself and others.

Always Be Considering. Consistently press pause with SOS to be aware and live thoughtfully. Also be connecting your actions with your values. Follow through with a daily commitment, choosing to act on your top priorities.

Always Be Communicating. Communicate your purpose: advocate for the causes you believe in and convince others to join you. Concentrate on the value that you provide. Communicating is a two-way process: listen and learn from others.

Always Be Clear. Be clear about how you will focus your soul attention. Know your purpose, clarify your vision, and create a value statement or personal mission statement for a tool to stay on course and make an impact.

Learn more about the building blocks of positive shift.

Posted in goals, Ideas That Work, personal development

Daily Inspiration

Posted on January 4, 2021 by dailyplanit

Sometimes mistakes can provide inspiration. Recently I made a typo and inadvertantly omitted the i in daily planit, resulting in The Daily Plant. An idea was born. Why not post a quote every day that plants a seed of thought that will inspire positive shift?

One of my favorite quotes is from Brian Tracy: “The only true measure of what you believe is what you do, not what you say.”

The Daily Plant is a good idea, but it has become a project that I hope to finish someday. For now, see the Quotes page for more information.

Tagged with:
Posted in quotes

Paused or On Hold?

Posted on January 1, 2021 by dailyplanit

As I take time to review the past year, and set goals for the coming year, I am struck by the thought:

have I paused, or am I just on hold?

The symbol for both looks the same, but they are very different things.

To pause and notice is a key part of making positive shift happen. But being on hold just means being stuck nowhere for awhile, unable to move forward with potential projects. To be on hold is not a good feeling.

The pandemic has been a big part of putting things on hold this year. With so many facing loss, unemployment, and stress like has never been experienced before, it didn’t seem to be the right time for talking about happiness. For that reason (and for one other to be discussed below) I have not been present here at the daily planit. But as I review the building blocks of positive shift, I’ve come to realize something. When we are going through hard times, these practices of positive psychology are coping strategies that help. We need more than ever to exercise, meditate, relate (although it may look a little different), and have a purpose. So in 2021, I intend to spend more time here.

What will you give your soul attention to in 2021?

The second reason I have been absent during 2020 is that I turned my sole attention to my passion of literacy. When I recently saw the phrase “soul attention,” it struck me: Flow often requires your sole attention; Focus requires your soul attention on what you value. This has been so for me in 2020 as I built the Phonics Pow website and populated it with fun tools to unlock the power of reading. It has completely consumed my thoughts and my time. I will continue my work there in 2021, but hope now to also attend to things here at the daily planit.

The Keep It Super Simple Annual Review

I always like to take stock of my life in an annual review. To keep it super simple, see Plans for an Annual Review. During the year I add notes on a monthly calendar printed from Google during my weekly review, I make notes about progress on projects, trips taken, books I’ve read, and movies I’ve watched. These I save for the year. At the end of the year, I review the calendars and select top favorites, adding goals accomplished and choosing a few goals for the upcoming year.

I also use a simple Net Worth Worksheet to review finances.

The steps to perform an Annual Review are still good to follow, and more detailed forms are available there too. I’m hopeful that the year ahead may be a better one for everyone.

Posted in goals

Kanban with Keep

Posted on December 31, 2020 by dailyplanit

I’ve tried many ways of managing projects, but became interested in the kanban method. I wanted to experiment with it, but did not wish to download a new app to try, and I wasn’t sold on the idea of using a whiteboard and sticky notes.

So I’ve been using Google Keep (which I already use a lot) as a kanban board. While it is not really intended for kanban, by pinning some of the notes it works in a very similar way to keep projects handy and easily updated. It’s easy to set up and choose different colors for various types of projects. The notes show up alongside Google Calendar with a click of a button. I also use Google Keep for my to-do list, and often for reminders.

KanbanPostit2x2

I also created a template to put into a plastic project file to use with 2 x 2 sticky notes. Download the 2 x 2 Kanban pdf. (I couldn’t find size 1.5 x 2 sticky notes). I like that projects flow through the effect priority matrix and mission statement in order to make choosing what to focus on an easier task. I hope these help to make positive shift happen!

Tagged with: ,
Posted in Ideas That Work, information management, work skills

Screen and Page: 2021 Oscar Contenders

Posted on December 10, 2020 by dailyplanit

For several years I’ve been reading books that have been adapted into movies, and watching the movies. I don’t always read or watch based on this criteria, but when I do, there are often pleasant surprises that I might not have tried otherwise. Of course, not all have been a good fit for me, and I haven’t enjoyed all of them. Sometimes I just get one or the other accomplished. And sometimes I choose to read books that have not been made into movies, and watch movies that are not based on a book. But on the whole, following the screen and page method has been a rewarding way to go. Three of my most enjoyable reads this year have movies in development or production, or are coming soon: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak, and The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn.

With the pandemic restricting new movie releases and movie theater showings, this year has been different to say the least. Still, the Academy Awards look like they are set to happen April 25, 2021, and I’ve been reading about some exciting contenders.

The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond

The movie based on the book is called “First Cow” (PG13) and is available now on Showtime or to rent via Amazon Prime.

The movie “News of the World” (PG13), based on the book by Pulette Jiles, is due to come out in December.

The movie “The Midnight Sky” (PG13), based on the book “Good Morning, Midnight” by Lily Brooks-Dalton, is also due to come out in December.

The movie “White Tiger” (R), based on the book by Aravind Adiga, is due to come out in January.

More possibilities based on fiction books include French Exit, Let Him Go, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Check the 2021 Screen Reads lists at IMDB.com and Goodreads. Place your vote for a Screen and Page Oscar Contender at Chacy.com, simple collaborative lists without log-in.

Nomadland has been mentioned as an Oscar Contender, and is based on a non-fiction book by Jessica Bruder. Personally, I don’t enjoy reading non-fiction and the movie trailer didn’t grab me, so this isn’t my top choice for a screen read.

Update: So, I got “the Half-Life” by Jonathan Raymond read. I liked the descriptions, but the story was not at all what I expected. There was not a single cow in it! The trailer for the movie “First Cow” looks like it completely changes the book and leaves out a major character!

Also watched “The Midnight Sky” on Netflix. I was underwhelmed. Seems like they took an idea and stretched it waaaaay out.

Join the Screen and Page Group at Goodreads, and get news about upcoming releases at the Screen and Page Facebook page.

Posted in Books
eBooks

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