1.不用“只是”
1. Stop using the word "just" to describe yourself.
Oprah says: "Stop saying that." I can’t tell you how often I tell people that I’m "just" a yoga teacher, "just" a blogger, "just" an artist. I’ve been delving into my motivation for doing this — maybe I want to make certain that everyone else knows that I know I’m nothing special before they can size me up and judge me. And sometimes I think I use this phrase to lessen my accountability in certain situations. If I’m "just" an artist, how can I be expected to be smart with money, for instance? I also think I use it, subconsciously, to decrease my importance in the eyes of others. Whatever my excuses, I need to suck it up and cut the word from my identity once and for all.
不要用“只是”来修饰自己。奥普拉这样说到:“我经常听到别人这样介绍自己,我只是一个瑜伽教练,只是一个撰写博客的人,只是一名搞艺术的人。我一直在自己的领域专心研究——也许我们这样说只是希望别人在评价我们的时候可以把我们当成一个平凡的不能再平凡的人,这样我们就不必去承担一定要去做更好的压力,因为我们只是一个平凡的人。不管你的借口是什么,不要使用'just'这个词”。
2.赞扬别人
2. Build up men.
In the words of Oprah: "The truth of the matter is, men do need to be made to feel like they’re winners. They do need to have themselves built up." Yeah, I know. It’s painful to read the first time, isn’t it? I was so disgusted by this assignment when I first read it, I had a hard time implementing it in my life. But instead of being insulted by my stream of compliments, gratitude and ego-boosting, the men in my life seemed happier, more amenable to change and more relaxed. I hesitate to use the words "putty in my hands," but boy, are they far more susceptible to flattery than any woman I’ve ever met.
赞扬别人。引用奥普拉的话说“每个人都希望别人认为自己是个大赢家,他们需要别人的肯定。”
3.减少浪费
3. Be conscious of waste.
"Ask yourself, ‘What can I live without?’" This has always been important to me, but is now my constant subtext every time I step into a grocery store, browse an online retail site or watch a television commercial. It’s been good for my wallet. On the flip side, my husband worries that I’m not allowing myself anything special in my quest to live "without." He is probably right, and I’ll need to learn where the middle ground is here.
减少浪费。“问问自己,有哪些东西我可以不用买,但是还是可以好好地活下去。”
4.勤俭节约
4. Stay clear about finances and don’t spend money you don’t have.
Need I say more? The easiest part of this assignment is avoiding using credit; the tough part is the clarity. I cringe when it comes to my personal finances, and would much rather stick my head in the sand and hope that by the time I come up for air, we all go back to the barter system.
好好理财,勤俭节约。这个还需要我再去说么?最简单的方法就是不要使用信用卡,接着就是明细账单。
5.真诚友好
5. "Be nice."
No-brainer. But I’m going to include an addendum: "Be genuinely nice."
“真诚友好”
6.享用每一顿美食
6. "Savor every meal."
I can barely sit still or be offline for more than five minutes. While this advice might seem simple, I dare you to try to eat slowly, chew carefully, put your fork down between every bite, breathe and turn off all outside distractions when you sit down to each and every meal. At first, I felt like I was going to lose my mind; then I began to appreciate each opportunity I had to eat. I became grateful for every morsel. And most surprisingly for me, my days stopped zipping by so quickly.
“好好吃每顿饭”。我们只需要安静地坐在那儿5分钟或者只是5分钟不上网,就可以好好地享用一顿健康的美食。
7.肯定他人
7. "Support other women instead of criticizing them."
Oprah thinks we gals are too judgmental of each other. My gut response was defensiveness and finger pointing; I even judged Oprah for judging me for being too judgmental. But then I took a good hard look at my habit of criticizing the other women’s choices and priorities, and realized she was right. I think my reward in achieving this goal will to also become less judgmental of myself. Frankly, the woman I’m the hardest on — who I beat up emotionally and spiritually — is me.
“肯定别人,而不是否定他们。”奥普拉认为人们太喜欢用自己的标准去评定他人。
8.肯定自己
8. "Stop defining yourself by what you see — or what you think you see — when you look in the mirror."
This would be easier if I didn’t have such a crooked nose, flabby belly and giant man-sized feet. That was supposed to be a joke. But sadly, it’s what I see in my reflection, and where I focus my dissatisfaction.
“眼见不一定为实——对自己看到的,认为自己看到的东西发出疑问”。我们经常为自己塌下来的鼻子,松垮的肚皮而困扰,不要将自己锁在消极的一面,而忽略了自己的优点。
9.抛开烦恼
9. "Get a lift when you come in the front door."
Oprah said this in response to a show about decorating, and last year, I hung photos and added fun tchotchkes to my entryway. These items never failed to make me happy. But this year, I’m also taking a moment to think of something I am grateful for, right before I enter. So, my "lift" doesn’t have to come from physical stuff, but rather from within. It sounds a little sappy, I know, but I’m being sincere.
在去年一场装饰秀的节目中,奥普拉这样说到“把烦恼抛在门外”。门前的照片和小饰物已经不能让你感到快乐,那么在进门前,试着想想让你开心的事,而那些烦恼统统关在门外。
10.亲近大自然
10. "Reconnect with nature."
Oprah originally intended this statement to be a call for us to take in the beauty of a specific season: Spring. And it was a lovely thought. But right now, in the height of a nasty winter in Chicago, it’s more of a challenge to stay connected to the world around me. It’s a time I want to bundle up, keep my head down, and just pray for the days to go by quickly until I can see the sun again. But this disconnection keeps me from living entirely in the moment. I think accepting and relating to the natural world around me will (like savoring every meal) keep me present and stop the clock’s hands from circling its face at breakneck speed.
“与大自然亲密接触”。奥普拉的这个说法主要指的是春天,万物复苏的时候,但是现在是冬天,我们总是窝在房子里祈祷寒冷的天气赶紧过去,实际上我们也可以与大自然接触,譬如我们可以享受每一顿美食。
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