Last week I saw this posting on my facebook page “15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy” Right away my antenna went up, because I function in a land that speaks of not “what I have to give up”, but “what I have to do more of and what I have to pick up”. Some people refer to it as “Lala Land”, because it keeps me happy. I refer to it as the Isle Of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a place that it is difficult to reach in Trinidad, due to the limited travel options.
So back to this 15 Step Process. Imagine trying to implement a 15 Step process in Trinidad, a country where we function on 7 day wonders – the flavour of the week. The list of 15 Give Ups (because according to the writer, “We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them) looked like this.
1. Give up your need to always be right.
2. Give up your need for control.
3. Give up on blame.
4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.
5. Give up your limiting beliefs
6. Give up complaining.
7. Give up the luxury of criticism.
8. Give up your need to impress others.
9. Give up your resistance to change.
10. Give up labels.
11. Give up on your fears.
12. Give up your excuses.
13. Give up the past.
14. Give up attachment.
15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.
I took a Time Out and reflected on this list and as I did so, a burning truth emerged and that is, one thing that I know for sure is, that by committing to my daily Meditative Practice, I have managed and continue to manage all of those 15 items listed, through the effortless transformation that results from this discipline.
The daily Time Out that I take for 20mins at the start of the day, the momentary Time Out’s during the day, certainly allow me to be more aware of myself, the essential starting block for transformation and inner peace. So if you like me also consider these 15 Things daunting, try the One Step – Meditative Discipline. I would love to have your feedback.
Judy Joseph Mc Sween is the Business Intuitive/CEO of Meredith Mc Sween International – using Untapped Knowledge to facilitate internal transformation in individuals, teams and organisations. Contact Judy for information on her “Time Out Corporate Interventions” Email judy@meredithmcsween.com or call 684 9827
are you ready for a time out? 
Good stuff. Thank you for sharing. Meditating and spending some quiet time to prepare should certainly help.