Ya'll may have noticed that I'm blogging a lot today; it's also been one of the most productive days for me. I think the reason is these short little breaks and then getting back to work and hammering things out. I'm feeling very productive today and not focusing at all on a few little problems I need to work on. I'm finding they are working out on their own. Funny that this little tidbit came through my email box as my Daily OM Advice. I find acts of service to be wonderfully therapeutic; it's as if in giving to others I'm also giving to myself. A lot of times I find that what was bothering me was actually trivial or that it resolves on its own. Since taking this new(er) approach, I don't stress as much or have as many meltdowns or times where I'm feeling terribly anxious. I've been a much more calm force to those around me due to these practices:

April 14, 2008
Solace In Service
Doing For Others

When we feel bad, often our first instinct is to isolate ourselves and focus on what's upsetting us. Sometimes we really do need some downtime, but many times the best way to get out of the blues quickly is to turn our attention to other people. In being of service to others, paradoxically, we often find answers to our own questions and solutions to our own problems. We also end up feeling more connected to the people around us, as well as empowered by the experience of helping someone.

When we reach out to people we can help, we confirm that we are not alone in our own need for support and inspiration, and we also remind ourselves that we are powerful and capable in certain ways. Even as our own problems or moods get the better of us sometimes, there is always someone else who can use our particular gifts and energy to help them out. They, in turn, remind us that we are not the only people in the world with difficulties or issues. We all struggle with the problems of life, and we all feel overwhelmed from time to time, but we can almost always find solace in service.

In the most ideal situation, the person we are helping sheds light on our own dilemma, sometimes with a direct piece of advice, and sometimes without saying anything at all. Sometimes just the act of getting our minds out of the obsessive mode of trying to figure out what to do about our own life does the trick. Many great inventors and artists have found that the inspiration they need to get to the next level in their work comes not when they're working but when they're walking around the block or doing dishes. We do ourselves and everyone else a great service when we take a break from our sorrows and extend ourselves to someone in need.