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Daily Question, January 5

What do I desire for my life? For the world?

  • Anonymous

    day at a time

  • JayJacks

    I desire peace in my life. serenity for all.

  • Linda

    As a young senior myself (!) I understand this all too well. Staying healthy in mind and body is my number 1 goal now.

  • Nina

    I desire appreciation from my work and family. For the world, I desire true peace!!

  • Malag

    Be. Connect. Do some good. Enjoy what can be enjoyed.

    The world needs some peace, social justice and a less damaged climate.

  • Brown Rose

    “Peace on earth,
    Goodwill to men”

  • Sherri

    I desire for my life to be meaningful. I want to love and receive love. I want to make a lasting difference and be remembered that way.
    I desire that the world will realize the importance of acknowledging and growing in the fact that we are interdependent in every way.

  • mam_gigi

    For myself, I desire acceptance and grace. I want people to try to understand and forgive my shortcomings.

    For the world, I want people to see what they have in common rather than what makes them different–to tolerate and cooperate to make the world a better place.

  • MEG

    For everything to work out right for the happiness of all. Peace. ❤️

  • William

    To be present, grateful and aware for myself and the world.

  • Charlie T

    For my life I desire more contentment, more deep connections, less fear, and less worrying. For the world I desire, that at a minimum, all peoples basic needs are met and we all can use our consciousness to not let others exploit us with fear.

  • Don Jones

    A passionate love affair with the Truth. See things as they truly are and take appropriate action for whatever shows up. If I take complete responsibility, you never know, it could be the next global pandemic?

  • KC

    Inner and outer peace …

  • Hot Sauce

    For my own life, I desire wisdom and the ability to be compassionate and kind. For the world, I desire universal peace, justice, equity, and compassion; an end to this seemingly never-ending pandemic; and a solution to the impending environmental crisis we’re going through.

  • Elaine

    Tenderness.

    • Mica

      Sweet! Thank you, Elaine – I’m grateful for your answer

  • Journey
    1. I am always unhappy with myself and always falling short of my own expectations. 2. I always have to-do lists in my head and don’t look forward to any of the to-do’s even the fun to-dos like facials, mani pedi etc. 3. I’m always worried about my 21 year old son and my aged parents. I am very very very very very grateful for my life and everything and everyone I have. But I still feel stressed about things and I feel unhappy with myself, just myelf. I dont know how gratitude and fear and...

    1. I am always unhappy with myself and always falling short of my own expectations.
    2. I always have to-do lists in my head and don’t look forward to any of the to-do’s even the fun to-dos like facials, mani pedi etc.
    3. I’m always worried about my 21 year old son and my aged parents.
    I am very very very very very grateful for my life and everything and everyone I have. But I still feel stressed about things and I feel unhappy with myself, just myelf. I dont know how gratitude and fear and stress and being unhappy (with myself only) can all live in me at the same time.
    What I desire for myself? – to be at peace with myself and to be happy.
    What do I desire for the world – to be accepting of each other. I truly believe if every human accepted every other human there would be less pain, less conflict and more love and peace.
    Sorry for the long post and all advice is welcome 🙂

    Read More
    • Elaine

      Journey,
      Do you resonate with this month’s poem?
      https://gratefulness.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ebb9f9f588051c1f7a7fc8f09&id=7273f69eab&e=439801ad5f

      • Barb C

        Wonderful–thank you for sharing the link.

      • William

        Thank you so much for sharing! Stop, look and go!

      • Journey

        Hi Elaine,

        I did not see this month’s poem but I will read it right away. Thank you so much for sharing with me.
        Best regards
        Journey

    • Barb C
      Journey, that sounds like a lot. I've felt this way sometimes too. My most basic advice is that when you feel this way if you can remember to take 3 deep, full breaths--deeper than ordinary breathing--you'll give your body and mind a reset. I wouldn't try to "feel grateful" or anything else in those moments, just breathe. If you remember occasionally to think, "Would I treat a friend this way?" and treat yourself as you would a friend, you might be gentler with yourself. I'll share one thing ...

      Journey, that sounds like a lot. I’ve felt this way sometimes too. My most basic advice is that when you feel this way if you can remember to take 3 deep, full breaths–deeper than ordinary breathing–you’ll give your body and mind a reset. I wouldn’t try to “feel grateful” or anything else in those moments, just breathe. If you remember occasionally to think, “Would I treat a friend this way?” and treat yourself as you would a friend, you might be gentler with yourself.

      I’ll share one thing I did when I felt especially overwhelmed, and a thing I do now.

      One night I lay awake thinking about everything I had to do and how far behind I felt, which I did a lot at that point in my life. I was looking in my mind at the *entire* list, not just what I might need to do the next day.

      I remembered my mom telling me that when she felt that way in the night she’d get up and iron some clothes. That wasn’t a task she needed to “finish” but she could feel good about making progress on the pile. I don’t buy much that needs ironing so instead I got up and wrote in my journal.

      I didn’t write the to-do list down, though. I wrote everything I had done that day. I mean *everything* including things like packing my daughters’ lunches and putting a note in them as I did every day. By the end of several pages I realized two things: 1) I do a *lot* in any ordinary day. 2) There’s no way I’d ever do everything on the list even if I worked around the clock. No one could. So why beat myself up in my mind for being human? Again, would I do that to a friend?

      The thing I do now heading into weekends is that I don’t make a to-do list. I make a “possibilities” list that includes both chores and things I want to do in hobbies or time with my husband. It’s possible I’ll do several of the things on the list. It’s also possible that I won’t do all of them. That word shift seems to reduce the pressure to try to do everything on the list. Possibilities are open-ended.

      I hope you can breathe and be kind to yourself.

      Read More
      • Mica

        Thank you, Barb and Journey – I love the story about your mother, Barb. An Asian friend told me the monks do lots of cleaning when they’re stressed. I’ve taken a couple meditation classes by an assistant professor at a famous university,, and I’m starting to become more interested in what happy/grateful/peaceful people do when they’re NOT meditating, which is how we usually spend almost all our days.

      • Journey

        Thank you so much for this lovely lovely message Barb. Truly appreciate you taking the time out to help me. There is so much good stuff and advice in what you wrote and I know I will re-read your message many times over the next months and incorporate your wonderful advice. Thank you again for your kindness.

        • Holly in Ohio
          Thank you so very much for your post, Journey! And thank you, Barb, for your thoughtful and kind reply. Journey, I did similarly to Barb to find my own way out of anxiety and unhappiness. I agree with her. I hope you will try at the end of the day to review not only what you do accomplish, but also the best parts of the day, or what went right... a pet, the sunshine, time for yourself, a bit of luck... anything. Our value is not measured in how much we get done or how well we do our tasks, thou...

          Thank you so very much for your post, Journey! And thank you, Barb, for your thoughtful and kind reply. Journey, I did similarly to Barb to find my own way out of anxiety and unhappiness. I agree with her. I hope you will try at the end of the day to review not only what you do accomplish, but also the best parts of the day, or what went right… a pet, the sunshine, time for yourself, a bit of luck… anything. Our value is not measured in how much we get done or how well we do our tasks, though these are accomplishments, but we are so much more than what we do. We have feelings. We’re loved. We love others. You deserve, as everyone does, a chance to enjoy life.

          Many times I have been glad for your presence here, Journey, and thankful for what you have shared. I hope your coming days are easier and you have a chance to breathe and enjoy some things – just for you! 🌺

          Read More
          • Journey

            Such an uplifting message Holly. Thank you so very much. This website and your message definitely calms me. I feel my heart rate slowing down. Thank you so much.

          • Michele

            I love how incredibly uplifting you are Holly to everyone on this site. It makes me happy.

  • Katrina

    What I desire for my life is good health, family and friends that love me and whom I love, meaningful service/compassion/patience and joy with others and fulfilling work that makes the world a better place, even in small ways. For the world I desire unity of love, joy, peace and hope for all others and the earth.

  • Holly in Ohio

    I desire to enjoy life more by enjoying the moments and taking advantage of the little opportunities each day: to appreciate people, nature, and tasks. For the world I wish harmony with the planet and with each other, more compassion, and more wisdom.

  • Carol

    The willingness and courage to evolve.

  • Aaron

    More introspection and awareness of others. I believe that would increase love, kindness, understanding and compassion for all sentient beings.

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