What is Good for Us

I had to laugh the other day when Sheri McConnell

posted this as her Twitter update:

Before you diagnose yourself w/depression or low self-esteem, 

first make sure that you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.

Clearly this post resonated with many others too,

because I saw it re-tweeted several times through the day.

And I think that we all laugh because we see

how we have done this to ourselves.

I know I have driven myself into therapy

because I wasn't careful enough about choosing

who I had around me.

I am a highly sensitive person,

as I think most artists are.

I am also very empathic,

and have a great desire to prove my own worth

by taking care of others.

This is not a healthy combination.

I have learned to recognize this pattern in myself.

After reading the Happiness Project,

one of my personal 12 Commandments became

"When you feel the urge to do more, STOP."

Because I know that I often over-extend myself.

I am trying to 

"pick out what is good"

for me.

Some of the things I have learned in this process:

*if you want to have a good marriage,

spend time with couples who treat each

other with love and respect

*if you want to make more art,

surround yourself with artists

*if you want to have more fun,

surround yourself with people 

who make you laugh

I could go on, but you get the idea.

What about you?

What do you want more of? Less of?

What can you pick out that is good for you?