How to turn “Easy Does it” into Do it

Introduction

Why easy does it works; It’s the old adage haste makes waste.

Each day nature gives us a great example of easy does it as slowly, the sun rises every single day. Learn from this to go gradually, pace yourself

Agnes Repplier:
“It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.”

“Easy does it” is a great slogan. I first learned about in Alcoholics Anonymous.

When you say, “take it easy.” It means to go about life without stress, tension or anger.

Just saying it to myself helps me to slow down and focus my attention on here and now.

It’s simply a method of operating in a “go with the flow” mode instead of swimming upstream.

It’s a centering phrase that helps you be sure of your next move before you make it.

Did you ever notice that expressing a “me, me, me” attitude evokes a “So what?” response from others?

Why would you want to mellow out?

Because when you’re tied up in knots over life, it results in:

headaches
heartaches
ulcers
constipation
stinking thinking.

In the AA recovery program they teach that this kind of thinking means you’re heading for the poor me to the pour me a drink state of mind.

Swimming upstream really doesn’t get you much. Easy does it is a better way of dealing with life.

Don’t let set backs ruin your day.
Don’t waste time being upset by other people’s inconsideration.
Don’t let someone else make your day.
Annoyances in life add up.

Easy does it does not mean to stop, it means think about what you’re doing before you proceed.

Bruce Lee:
“The less tension and effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.”

All of us could profit by taking a deep breath and slowing down.

Can you imagine our freeways if 50% of drivers tried to practice the principle of easy does it? And if we all did it, well I can only dream.

When was the last time you waived a driver, who’s trying to change lanes, in front of you?

Or when was the last time you let someone ahead of you in the super market?

Thomas Fuller:
“All things are difficult before they are easy”

Whenever you find yourself:

Tied in knots
Frantically glancing at your watch
Gritting your teeth
Hunched up
Shoulders tense
With a headache
Looking at your To Do list, knowing it won’t get done today.

Say to yourself, “So What?”

Plutarch:
“To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult”

Did you ever notice when someone adds three errands for you to do, how your mind says, “don’t they realize how important my time is and how unimportant theirs is?”

Draw a line. Stop negative thinking by mentally drawing a line and starting your day over. You can do this any time, anywhere.

I know of couples who head off fights by simply saying, “let’s draw a line and start over.”

Such simple tools.

How about your road rage? So what if the driver is a jerk? Does it cost you your peace of mind?

Remember that whatever you’re after will happen, it may take time. It may be slowly, gradually but it is happening.

Take it easy. You are unstoppable. Days, weeks, months, years of steady plodding and it will happen.

Life is not meant to be easy, just delightful.

Wherever you are, when you find yourself caught up in franticness:

Take five deep breaths
Draw a line
Find the humor
Close your eyes
Call a halt
Regroup.

You can do it in the shower, at your desk, or in the car, it doesn’t matter; what matters is the habit of stopping a negative spiral before you allow it to spin you out of control.

Where do you find strength? In examining your weaknesses.

How do you learn to do that?

You decide you’re going to change your behavior
Choose the method or methods you’ll use
Write them down
Meditate on it
Journal it for a week
Draw a line start over

Dale Carnegie:
“Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.”

To go at a slower pace may take you longer but you get there. It’s the story of the tortoise and the hare. Step by step. Easy does it; but do it.

When you find a weakness, you have really discovered an opportunity for growth.

Ralph Marston:
“A life of total ease and complete lack of challenge would be unbearably tedious.”

Summary

So there you have it, the real do’s and don’ts of easy does it. These are the secrets of how to handle yourself, your day and your emotions.

Go for it and remember, easy does it.

Ralph Marston:
“Life is not always easy. And because of that you have the opportunity to make it truly great.”

Copyright © Wee Dilts 2009