Here are four ways to continue to feel the love even after Valentine’s Day.
…during traffic.
Find ways to make your commute a pleasure. Download podcasts, start a happy playlist, listen to an inspiring book on Audible. If you’re not driving, you can use that time to plan out your day, daydream for future travel, Viber your friends and catch up on their lives, write in your gratitude journal, pray.
You can also look outside your window and notice the patches of beauty in your chaotic city—the sunlight dappling through the trees, the unexpected pop of color in someone’s office uniform, the way a girl’s head leans gently on her beloved’s shoulder, how another car allows you to pass instead of blocking you.
Remember you can always choose pleasure over the pain of Manila traffic.
…during an argument with a loved one.
I’m loving the idea of a Joyful Solution as described by SARK in her book, Succulent Wild Love. In relationships, we’re always told to compromise, to sacrifice something for someone else to be happy. According to Sark, “To create a Joyful Solution, you start with the attitude that everyone can get what they want. That is the biggest factor. Starting from that approach is so powerful because when you believe that everyone can get what they want, you can help the other person get what makes them happy.”
According to Sark, there are four steps to finding a joyful solution:
- Communicate clearly what you both want. Take a deep breath and ask: What is it that you truly want?
- See where you both agree and acknowledge your support for each other. The feeling of being on the same side will help make it easier to work together to resolve the issue.
- Find the essence of what it is you both truly want. Make suggestions or ask questions. You can also think about other options separately. Just remember to find a solution would be most joyful for each of you.
- Go wide. Go beyond the obvious answer. Maybe there are other options you haven’t considered. Use your creative energy to find other solutions.
Finally, SARK says,
“Succulent Wild Love is about being both supportive of others and completely satisfied yourself. Believing you can create Joyful Solutions is a powerful incentive to make the effort to have it all.”
….in the middle of the a long and boring meeting.
Texting, checking your email, going on Facebook messenger, updating your social media accounts. Even when we all do it, it’s actually pretty rude.
Before even attending the meeting, check if you need to be there. If you do, then participate—take down notes, ask questions, give suggestions, plan out next steps.
Choose love by choosing to respect your—and your co-workers’—time by giving your 100% attention and effort to what’s being discussed.
…after your boss has made another unfair decision.
Take a deep breath and understand that it’s not personal. If the boss is someone you respect, then know that he or she is making the best possible decision for the whole department, and possibly even the organization, not just for you. You can choose love by allowing your ego to fall away, in service of the bigger picture, of the customer, of the company’s mission.
