"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote from Emerson is one of the magnets that adorn our refrigerator. As it happens, we get accustomed to the things that surround us and we forget. So, it wasn't until last week that I stood in front of the fridge and read this quote and was struck by it. What a wonderful message of truly staying in the NOW. If we follow Emerson's advice, we'd have no choice but to live in the NOW. And how amazing to start each day anew without any feelings of regret or "shoulds" and "shouldn't haves".
I do my best to start each day this way but ever since re-reading that quote and consequently posting it on my Facebook page, I have had the words in my mind as a mantra running quietly in the background . To live my life without regrets is something I've been striving for. Regrets are truly a waste of time and energy. That energy can be directed to the NOW, to something that has the potential to lift you out of whatever your current state might be, get you moving forward in life, not looking back. So, I've got to say I've done my share of work on regrets and have arrived at a point where I understand and take full responsibility for the part I've played in my life and how each decision was made to the best of my ability at the time. "When you know better you do better."
What I'm really taken with in Emerson's quote is his advice to forget any blunders or absurdities that are committed during your day. That ability to not beat yourself up for something that you should have done or shouldn't have done. For example, there was a small part of me that felt that this blog posting should have been done earlier today instead of after Midnight. Well, obviously that is not correct. How do I know that? Because it's after Midnight and now is when I'm inspired enough to write it. It's the right time. I can't go against reality. It doesn't matter if I think I "should" have done it earlier because the truth is I didn't.
'Should' is one of those words that can get you in trouble whenever you use it. Louise Hay would like to have it removed from our vocabulary and I have to agree with her. She goes on to say that whenever you use the word 'should', you're either wrong, going to be wrong or were wrong about something. Isn't that the truth! Most of the time when the "S" word is used, it carries with it a lot of judgment and limitations. Emerson would certainly not be down with that! So that's one thing to try and start doing. Get rid of the "shoulds" that don't bring anything positive into your life. That can get you one step closer to the Emerson ideal of being done with your day and going easy on yourself.
Abraham likes to always say "Be easy about it", meaning to just take it easy. Learn to forgive yourself for anything you see as a shortcoming or for the things you think you should have done differently, or better or not at all. Let's start treating ourselves with kindness. We are constantly doing our best. At the end of the day, let's be grateful for every single breath we've taken, and for every single experience we've brought into our lives. As we close our eyes for sleep, let the promise of a bright new tomorrow light the spark of possibilities once more.
Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!
This quote from Emerson is one of the magnets that adorn our refrigerator. As it happens, we get accustomed to the things that surround us and we forget. So, it wasn't until last week that I stood in front of the fridge and read this quote and was struck by it. What a wonderful message of truly staying in the NOW. If we follow Emerson's advice, we'd have no choice but to live in the NOW. And how amazing to start each day anew without any feelings of regret or "shoulds" and "shouldn't haves".
I do my best to start each day this way but ever since re-reading that quote and consequently posting it on my Facebook page, I have had the words in my mind as a mantra running quietly in the background . To live my life without regrets is something I've been striving for. Regrets are truly a waste of time and energy. That energy can be directed to the NOW, to something that has the potential to lift you out of whatever your current state might be, get you moving forward in life, not looking back. So, I've got to say I've done my share of work on regrets and have arrived at a point where I understand and take full responsibility for the part I've played in my life and how each decision was made to the best of my ability at the time. "When you know better you do better."
What I'm really taken with in Emerson's quote is his advice to forget any blunders or absurdities that are committed during your day. That ability to not beat yourself up for something that you should have done or shouldn't have done. For example, there was a small part of me that felt that this blog posting should have been done earlier today instead of after Midnight. Well, obviously that is not correct. How do I know that? Because it's after Midnight and now is when I'm inspired enough to write it. It's the right time. I can't go against reality. It doesn't matter if I think I "should" have done it earlier because the truth is I didn't.
'Should' is one of those words that can get you in trouble whenever you use it. Louise Hay would like to have it removed from our vocabulary and I have to agree with her. She goes on to say that whenever you use the word 'should', you're either wrong, going to be wrong or were wrong about something. Isn't that the truth! Most of the time when the "S" word is used, it carries with it a lot of judgment and limitations. Emerson would certainly not be down with that! So that's one thing to try and start doing. Get rid of the "shoulds" that don't bring anything positive into your life. That can get you one step closer to the Emerson ideal of being done with your day and going easy on yourself.
Abraham likes to always say "Be easy about it", meaning to just take it easy. Learn to forgive yourself for anything you see as a shortcoming or for the things you think you should have done differently, or better or not at all. Let's start treating ourselves with kindness. We are constantly doing our best. At the end of the day, let's be grateful for every single breath we've taken, and for every single experience we've brought into our lives. As we close our eyes for sleep, let the promise of a bright new tomorrow light the spark of possibilities once more.
Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!
Gene-Manuel
Louise Hay says that the word "could" is a good replacement for the word "should". Recently I have been catching myself as I utter the word "should" and instead I say could. It helps. It kind of brings your power back. Saying should is sort of like scolding yourself. Before you even do (or don't do) something you are telling yourself you're bad or wrong for not doing it the other way. Whereas if you say could you are simply looking at your options and then you take action and decide what you want to do instead of bullying yourself into what you think should be done.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gene! :o)
I love that you're quoting Emerson, my favorite transcendental author, from a fridge magnet. And, if you haven't yet read his complete works, I encourage you to start with the collected essays. You will not regret it. His writing is ecstatic, uplifting, and optimistic!
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