Think HAPPY, BE Happy
It sounds simplistic but new research is backing it up. We may be what we eat, but we are also what we think! Do you want to be successful? IMAGINE yourself that way. Do you want to be happy? VISUALIZE yourself joyous. Say positive things to encourage this self-image.
- “I am a grateful, balanced person”
- “I exude grace and confidence”
- “People are drawn to my friendliness”
- “I am able to cope with life and find the good in it”
- “I have faith in my future”
- “I will succeed”
Live your life as if your words are your truth and you will take yourself in the direction you want to go. Most phenomenally wealthy people, when asked how they achieved their position, said they lived rich rather than poor. They lived successful rather than seeing themselves as failures. Most of us get bogged down in an overly realistic analysis of ourselves and our lives. But if you think “I can’t” you won’t even try. If you have no hope for a dream, you will stop dreaming it. Why not THINK HAPPY. Life will still throw stress your way, but you will COPE with it and stride through it rather than letting it get the best of you!
Give a little LOVE today
Every being needs touch. From a child held in mom’s arms to a mother’s embrace, affection conveys love, acceptance and a sense of being connected. Reach out and touch today.
- hold someone’s hand really focusing on how the connection feels
- give a hug and think a happy thought while you do
- touch a butterfly kiss to the cheek or forehead of a child or loved one
- take the baby out of the car seat carrier and carry them for a change
- dance a slow dance with your partner just because; reconnect with their scent and feel
- give a back rub to ease someone’s stress and let them know you care
- cuddle with someone
Imagine
Did you ever have a time, perhaps as a child, when you believed if you thought it, it could be true? Return to that time of belief and innocence. If today could be anything you wanted it to be, what would you ask for? What do you need to do to get there? Is there someone you need to reach out to? Is there a plan you need to start into motion? Do you need to strengthen your belief in yourself? If today could be anything, what would it be? If you began the process of change, belief, and imagination, how different would your life be?
Less is More
My son’s substitute teacher shared a joke with the class that impressed all of the kids. It is a valuable story for us all.
X had one five dollar bill but John had two quarters. X traded because 2 is more than 1. Mary had 3 dimes. X traded because 3 is more than 2. Suzy had 4 nickels. X traded because 4 is more than 3. Max had 5 pennies. X traded because 5 is more than 4. How smart is X?
Haven’t we all sometimes thought we needed more? Have you ever given up something old and sentimental for something brand new and impressive only to find it never held the same place in your heart? Have you ever thought you could fill the emptiness with more? More shoes, more TVs, more cars or clothes. Did it ever work?
How much do you need to be happy? How little would actually leave you truly satisfied?
Enjoy the life you have today! It just might be more valuable than any trade you could make. Think not of what you don’t have, but of the beauty your life does have. There must be something or someone you would never trade.
Celebrate!
Good Things about Today:
- You’re breathing
- It’s somebody’s birthday (somewhere)
- Hey, mom was right, it could be worse
- Someone loves you! (and you are amazing)
- The ground is still steady beneath your feet, no matter how off kilter you may feel
- Somewhere out there, an artist is creating something beautiful, a musician is playing to someone’s heart, a child is laughing
- You have the chance to do something huge! REALLY HUGE! Break a bad habit, pursue a dream, make a world altering discovery, volunteer for a charity, give the gift of acceptance and/or forgiveness
- Today could be the day you start taking care of you
- Today could be the best day of your life!
Don’t Bother!
5 things not to do today:
- Do not put yourself down
- Do not begin or enter into an argument that is not worth having; don’t sweat the small stuff
- Do not eat a gallon of ice cream when you really want a hug
- Do not torment yourself with should have and could have
- Do not forget to take care of yourself and your family
What can I do??
- Read at least one chapter of a really good book
- tell jokes with your kids/friends/family
- forgive
- watch a funny movie
- tell someone you love them; use their name not just the words (“I love you” is nice, “John, I love you” can really connect to the heart and make it all the more meaningful)
“If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.” Zimbabwe proverb
“Joy is but the sign that creative emotion is fulfilling its purpose.” Charles Du Bos
10 Things to Bring Joy Today
- Amid the chaos and hurry, give yourself 5 minutes of absolute quiet. Breathe. Exhale. Imagine your stress as a balloon. Give it a color. Visualize writing a word on it if you wish. Stress. Anger. Fear. Now let it go. Watch the balloon drift into the sky until you cannot see it anymore. Just let it go. Breathe.
- Pick a flower out of a garden or buy a bouquet. Place it on your desk. Smile.
- Look for signs of spring. A butterfly. Birds singing.
- Smile!
- Do something kind for someone else. It may be small or big. Just give.
- Play a song that you loved in a happy time of your life. Play it loud!
- Hug someone.
- Take a couple of minutes to look for shapes in the clouds.
- Dance a silly dance.
- Look in the mirror and compliment yourself! No criticism allowed! Find something good about yourself. Find something beautiful.
What made you smile?
Please write in. Share a funny story, a touching story, a time when you laughed, a gift you received, a kind gesture from a stranger, something funny a child or loved one said. . .
Leave a comment here. Visit the other pages and let me know what you think! Your thoughts matter!
No comments yet
Comments feed for this article