First things first:  go find a window and look out of it.

See if you can locate a tree.

If not, find another window.

Keep going until you find a tree.

Take a long look.

It may be different where you live, but right now the trees in Austin are donning their minty green mantles for spring.

Everywhere you look, there are beautiful, flowering branches.

After such a long, cold winter, it is a welcome sight!

And thinking of last week’s talk about priorities and values: one of my values that I’m trying to lean into these days is being mindful and slowing down.

So these days, when my mind wants to wander down some fretful, blind alley in my brain, I catch and I send it elsewhere.

I tell it to look for the green on the tree.

It’s a very relaxing practice.  And the trees in Austin are being very accommodating.

Catching up

But speaking of values and priorities–last week, we did some pretty important stuff.

We decided what we want to make our lives into, based on our priorities and values at the present time.

And after taking this honest inventory of our priorities, we got a fresh look at what truly matters.

In other words, we discovered what blend of happiness suits us at the present moment.

My happiness and yours probably look different, so we don’t want to be cooking from the same recipe.

So!  Now we have a basic idea of what we want.

Maybe you’re angling for more time and focus for your creative projects.

Maybe I’m hungry for a batch of solitude and time for introspection.

And that gal over there is ready for some zing!! and spontaneity and novelty in her life.

All fine.  You want fruit salad, I want brownies, and she wants a steak.

Now we go to the store.

Gathering ingredients

If you took the time to take an honest look at your priorities last week, you’re ready for the next step.

You’ve thumbed to the proper page in the cookbook, and now you realize you need ingredients.

So we check the cupboard.

What do we have available?

For this practice, ingredients can come in all sorts of shapes and manifestations.

They can be likeminded people who support your vision, loved ones, and skilled professionals who can instruct you in your new way of life.

They can be activities, outings, retreats, and events that support your overall vision.

They can be small habits and routines, the daily building blocks that help you stay on track.

They can be affirmations or other mental habits that help keep your mind encouraged and healthy.

They can be chores or tasks that are outsourced to others, to make open space for what you do want.

They can be overall adjustments to your schedule—designated space for meal times, idle time, creative time, sleep.

Ingredients can be any little thing you think, do, or practice that helps you live a life that’s aligned with your values.

So take some time and think it over.  What are the sorts of activities and practices that support your values?

My ingredients

Something I’ve been experimenting with a lot lately, other than the green-on-trees-thing, is regular yoga practice.

I’ve been playing with this ever since The happiness right under your nose post, which I wrote back in December.

I’m happy to report that I’m still doing yoga.

Not daily, but pretty regularly.

That’s one key ingredient in my homemade happy recipe.

Also, mindful eating.

Boycotting Netflix for an undetermined amount of time.

Regular time outside, if not actually forest-bathing.

Those are just a couple of the ingredients I’m using.

Your turn!

Take a look at the list of priorities you developed last week.

Now, come up with 5-10 things you can do that support those values.

They don’t have to be huge, grand gestures.

Small, simple, daily practices can add up over time.

Look back to things you used to do, but let fall by the wayside.

Think about things you’ve said you always wanted to try, but never made time for.

If any of these things can support your life and current priorities, scoop them up.

Add them to the list.  And then try incorporating them into your life.

Next week, we will have the third and probably final part of this series—some troubleshooting common issues and problems, pulling it all together, and moving forward with your plan.

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Last year:  Are you watering your weeds?

Two years ago:  Invisible work

Three years ago:  Clearing the cobwebs