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Diane knows what's hip. She’s an artist, remember. But “hip” now conjures memories of limping, pain, surgery, and worries about getting older.
Yikes.
So, I offered this mindfulness trigger as a healing hip tip for Diane: Replace
word “hip” in your mind with
swingin’ version of hip. Picture yourself swaggering with confidence and non-stop style. When you think about having your hip bone replaced, consider it an infusion of panache and wild creativity! You are literally having your “hipness” replaced with a sparkling new version guaranteed to help you go, go, go for many years.
Well, Diane was delighted with this assignment, and looked forward to shifting her perspective—and boosting her awareness—by switching to this hipper than hip definition.
You can do
same thing.
Pay attention to a word that makes you grimace, or one that sends a little ripple of despair through your body. It could be “weight” or “wife” or “deadline” or “money.” Choose to notice that word whenever you hear it, and watch
ways you respond to it. Recognize and replace your personal angst-inducing word with one that creates a sense of calm and offers a blast of confidence and humor. Get hip to
words that worry you, and start seeing them as welcome opportunities to swagger!

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she offers creative and powerful eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com.