The Muna Effect

I've always considered my life as several puzzle pieces, aiming towards putting together this ginormous picture one day, and when that picture is complete... life itself will be over even if I'm alive, you know what I mean? Fortunately, I don’t think that will ever happen. Life is a never-ending puzzle. We’re constantly putting pieces together. And it’s not like these pieces aren't malleable (or is that only applicable to metals?); the pieces can grow. Or rather they la yer up and create a larger and larger picture. Actually, it’s the framing that changes. My perspective and my view. There's this huge image, but I can only see so much of it. And lately (for the past two years or so) it seems that every so often my fr ame enlarges to allow more of the image to be seen. And it always opens my eyes up a little more, and I always feel a little more secure and snug. Like I just plugged in another piece of the puzzle. And it’s the perfect fit. It might even be compared...

Do write about it "Writing or journaling allows you to slow down and think through how you want to respond so you’re responding rather than reacting," says Kueny. What’s the difference? "Reacting is ba sed on emotions. It's almost automatic. Our emotions feel very real but they’re not always rationale," she says. "When we respond we’re choosing how to respond. We’re cognitively thinking through what we want to have happen and what is the best way to make that happen." Don’t stomp or storm Instead of storming into a room and screaming that your partner isn’t paying enough attention to you, write about it or employ some other anger-dissipating trick. After you're feeling calmer, walk into the room and say you’ve missed him or her and suggest an activity you can do together. "A rationale response is more likely to get the desired outcome," says Kueny. Do practice compassion Doing something compassionate for someone else is ...