Comments on: Do You Pass The Lawnmower Test?

By: donna

donna — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:52:06 +0000

It's not about being unflappable, it's about not letting whether or not you are flappable get to you. You might get angry for a few minutes, but then become totally cool again. And that's fine. But letting your whole day be ruined by an event or noise is not cool. Perhaps part of it is learning to accept the "noise" as a part of life itself too, along with the quiet of the garden you sought. donnas last blog post..Chickens?

By: Seamus

Seamus — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:03:55 +0000

Thanks for the quality comments friends It is an interesting topic to me – how we can diffuse or release anger, frustration etc without causing more damage to our already fractured society/planet.

By: Harmony

Harmony — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:00:29 +0000

I just am not very comfortable with anger. I find unless dealt with properly, people say and do things using the excuse " I was angry" that truly hurt others and the planet. On the other hand, some angry people, learned that it is nothing more than force of emotion, and turned it into a force to be reckoned with for change and progress. What we are angry at "lawnmovers" is rarely what is really ticking us off. It's more like the lack of time we have to really live instead of produce, that we feel protective of...and a lawnmower, talkative neighbor, ringing phone only make us aware of it. Harmonys last blog post..When A Good Seed Goes BAD

By: Will @ The Rebel Mind

Will @ The Rebel Mind — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:11:08 +0000

Oh how I hate the lawnmower!!! When I study for an exam I usually hide my dads… hehe

I have two younger siblings (bro 13, sis 9). When I need time to write, think, or learn, I put on my headphones and listen to instrumental music (classical, chillout, etc). Works great for me!

cheers!

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:58:57 +0000

I like to use the Litany Against Fear from Dune as a meditation when I feel anger overwhelming me. Simply substitute the word “anger” for the word “fear”. Of course, sometimes fear can lead to anger, so you could always just use the original phrase. In any case, it makes for a good meditation mantra to repeat in your mind while becoming calm. It reads:

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

Ians last blog post..Botnets After Your Phone

By: Maria | Never the Same River Twice

Maria | Never the Same River Twice — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:21:43 +0000

I love the metaphor! I have several "lawnmowers" in my life, and I've found that doing a little loving kindness meditation for the guilty party helps me calm down a bit. You're right that resisting the anger just makes it more intense. You have to acknowledge it, then deal with it. Maria | Never the Same River Twices last blog post..Blog Action Day: Ending Poverty By Changing Mindset

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:30:49 +0000

“if we blokes just bite the bullet and discuss issues like adult Human Beings…” Crikey, steady on there mate, let’s not go too far with this now

Here’s a couple more ideas. One, visualize something nice that makes you real happy, I like a seagull floating in a blue sky, or look reeeal closely at a beautiful piece of nature, a flower or a tree will do. When you come back, often the anger is gone.

Number two, I pick up my guitar and let the feeling flow out there.