One-Minute Wake-Ups

We all get frazzled. We all get overwhelmed and snappy.
And we all need to re-center before we share that feeling with
the rest of the world.

Here are a few one-minute "wake-ups" that will help you to re-focus
on what's important.

- What are you thankful for? List as many "gratitudes" as you
can in one minute. Don't think; just write.

- Recite one-liners: uplifting quotes or favorite Bible verses.

- Close your eyes and listen to your life in all its noisy glory.

- Change your mental scenery. Close your eyes and imagine that
you are somewhere else. Somewhere with sand.

- Drink a towering glass of cold water. Visualize it as an
energy elixir (because it is.)

- Light a candle and enjoy a mini-meditation staring into
its flame.

- Pray.

- Smile for an entire minute (This falls into the category of
"fake it till you make it.")

- Listen to a behavior modification tape. Mike Brescia's are wonderful:
http://www.momscape.com/thinkrightnow

- Really look at your family. Leo Buscaglia once took a poll
of college students. "What color are your mother's eyes?"
he wanted to know. Only 20 percent of them could answer the
question. Take an entire minute to look--really look--at your
spouse or your kids. Strive to be fully present with them,
one minute at a time.

- Read an uplifting children's book to your kids.

- Read a devotional or meditation.

- Be silent.

- Turn on some classical music. Close your eyes to listen.

- Jot a few things in your "Bliss Book," a personal journal that
contains only positive thoughts, positive memories, positive ideas.

- Ask yourself: How can I find more patience, calm and strength
right now?

- Write your own "wake-ups."