Keep Your Pecker Up

I have taken on a new job! I am a self appointed Uplifter. Maybe you would like to join the ranks of uplifters too. Most probably, you are already an uplifter. Would you believe as I type this, the ping of an incoming email is from a beautiful POM uplifter, Michelle. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and inspiration. 

There are plenty of uplifting job opportunities, especially as we all face many tough conditions due to the covid virus. Sadly, here are so many suffering from insecure finacial situations, mental health issues and associated problems.  I see so much fear around as we face longer restrictions and I have been thinking of ways to 'keep my pecker up' and do my best to help others peck up too! 

Here are some tips on uplifting you may find helpful to keep your pecker up. And to help others keep their peckers up too.  

1.  Spread JOY
- Sharing a smile (an uplifting of the mouth) is simple and uplifting! However our current mask wearing has made this somewhat tricky! Although we always have our smiling eyes. So remember to smile anyway and look out for the smiling eyes of others too. 
Saying hello to passers by. I have been doing this for some time now. Sadly, I have noticed the strike rate of replies has decreased of late, which has increased my determination to continue to get that positive energy out there. It is never lost!
- Doing what brings you joy - singing, dancing, reading, exercising, cooking, footy, domestic chores. Tina Turner belting out of the stereo has helped me plough through the vacuuming in domestic bliss.  
And remembering Gandhi's words about joyful effort .........

- A friend told me the other day she decided not to do the evening dishes because she felt she could not do them with joy (and did not want to build up resentment). She decided to leave them for later when she had had a rest. Without being asked her partner went and did them, joyfully. Both giver and receiver joyfully served.

- When others are joyful and have great things going on, be happy for them! Sometimes this is tricky, but remembering Lama Marut's wise words that when we pile onto the happiness of others we increase our own happiness! So, I am choosing to feel happy for those who are enjoying the freedom of less restrictions. And reminding them not to feel guilty or to put a ceiling on their happiness. 

- Don't put a ceiling on your joy!
Often we think we cannot be happy if others are suffering. While it is important to have understanding compassion and empathy for those having misfortune(including ourselves) and to do what we can to help and be of benefit, it is not helpful to have pity or hop in the hole with them. Recently I was speaking with a friend in New Zealand. He told me he felt bad that he was enjoying freedom while we were still restricted. I told him it was not helpful to feel guilty, and instead told him enjoy his situation and share it so I could pile on and enjoy his joy. 

2.  Practice gratitude and appreciation.
-  As we know appreciation is the simplest and uplifting thing we can do.
- Remembering our morning gratitude practice and to pause and appreciate all the wonderful things going on, especially in nature in spring. Pause 'to smell the roses'!

3.  Look after yourself so you can be available to look after others  
-  We can uplift ourselves by looking after ourselves and by being that kind, encouraging friend to ourselves, instead of that harsh, critical task-master. So making sure we have enough rest, relaxation, reduce stress and worry, be kind and encouraging to ourselves and do what brings us joy,  fills up our tank and uplifts us so we have plenty to share to be uplifting and of benefit to others!
In the words of Ali Washington 'By taking of myself, I have so much more to offer the world than I do when I am running on empty'!
This is like a positive upward spiral - we uplift ourselves, we uplift others, and we rise by uplifting others - up and up we and others go. 
- Remember our ABC practice, A - Accept and Acknowledge (with curiosity :)), B - Breathe to C -Connect to our wise self to give ourselves what we need so we can Connect to others to be of benefit. 

4.  Be motivated by love instead of fear. Be an uplifting warrior, not a fearful worrier!
- A lovely quote by Meggan Watterson says this beautifully. She says 'only take action when what is moving us is the force of love at the heart of everything.(connecting to and acting from the wise self). (Our 'ABC' practice!)
And the Dalai Lama 'The more you are motivated by love the more fearless and free your actions will be. 

5.  Work for the benefit of others 
The Dalai Lama says 'the intelligent way to be selfish is to work for the benefit of others'. This reminds me that it is not selfish to look after myself in order to be available to be of benefit to others. As Lama Marut says 'be better for others' and not 'better than others'.  So, having a full tank means we have lots to share to be of benefit to others. 
Some uplifting sharing ideas include.......
- Ask RUOK. We recently had RUOK day. This wonderful campaign reminds us to connect with others to make sure they are ok. This has never been more relevant. So we can reach out to connect to others any day!
Is there someone in your life that needs contact or an uplift? We can connect through a smile, 'hello', letter, text message, phone call, an outside, socially distanced visit, a local doorstep drop off or pressie in the mail or an email. We all know how wonderful it feels to know someone has taken the time to think of us and to connect. 

6.  Practice Random acts of Kindness
Who can you uplift with a random act of kindness?. The uplifting connection suggestions above all work wonders and I am sure  you have some other great ones too. It's fun to think of ways to connect and uplift all with kindness. So, be creative and have fun with frequent random and uplifting acts to 'make someone's day'! As I have often shared it does not need to be on a grand scale, a smile works wonders! Anonymous acts of kindness, are especially powerful and fun!

7. Get some support if you feel you need it!
- Remember we all feel down at times, especially with all that is going on at this time
- Asking for help is a strength and not an weakness!  Seeking support also gives others the opportunity to be uplifters and help get those peckers up! 
- This is a difficult time so reaching out to friends, family or professionals for support and an uplift and to provide support is important. 
- Remember that you won't always feel that way. That is the upside of change. 
- And don't forget to continue to support yourself as well. Power up that kind, encouraging friend voice on your left shoulder and turn down the negative, critical, fearful one on the right! 

8.  Give thanks and compliments and encouragement !
Don't be stingy with compliments. They are great to give and receive and are certainly uplifting.
And don't skimp on the thanks either. 'Thank you' are two powerful uplifting words. So give them often - both to yourself and to everyone else! 
We all need encouragement - it gives us the courage to go on! So lots of that too! Encourage yourself and others often! What a great job we are all doing to get through this tough time together!

So remember to do your best to get your and others peckers up and appreciate your efforts to be an uplifter, no matter how small.