Archive for June, 2011
Happiness Right Now!
Posted by: | CommentsHappiness and Big Things:
We tend to think happiness is found in the BIG things, the right job, the wonderful relationship, ect, but in my experience, this isn’t true. For the most part, happiness is a very momentary thing and can often be found in the small, almost inconsequential minutia of life. If we understand this, we can make small behaviour changes and bring lovely feelings of happiness into our lives on a far more regular basis.
Where Does Happiness Come From?
Most of our happiness and well being comes through our senses, so that’s the place to start. Usually, there are all kinds of things that are pleasing to our senses at any given time. See if that’s true for you right now. Take a moment to sniff the air, or feel it on your skin. Or look out the window and notice the colours or the beauty of some natural object. Or, think of someone you love and feel the swell of your heart.
Look for What’s Pleasing!
If you take the time to look for small things that make you happy, you’ll find the need to pursue the bigger pleasures becomes less important. This is good for the bigger pleasures can take more time to create and meanwhile, there is such a plethora of deliciousness that life offers us each and every moment, why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of that?
A Happiness Challenge!
Take a moment to look around you right now. Find one or two things that are really pleasing. Now focus on those things. Really take in whatever is wonderful about them. Imagine yourself filling up your body with the happiness these pleasures bring.
Now notice if you feel different!
Thought so!
Here’s a lovely video to watch. Lots of wisdom here!
Also, please pass this newsletter on to anyone you think would benefit! Thanks!
Fostering The Spirit
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Fostering the spirit was the last thing I was thinking about as I sat at my computer. I had been working for a few hours and thought I really should stay at it for a while and get my newsletter done. Problem was, part of me yearned to go outside. It was a beautiful morning and I hadn’t been out to enjoy it yet and I wanted to.
Nonetheless, the part that was ‘should-ing’ me was giving me it’s opinion very loudly.
I went outside anyway.Why? Because I’ve learned that fostering the spirit is vital for happiness.
Is Fostering the Spirit Selfish?
As I was walking, the loveliness of the day breezed through me and I thought how good it was that I’d left my desk. As a child, I’d often been told that doing things that made me feel good was selfish. Perhaps it was–in childhood most of us are awfully self-centered.
Unfortunately, that belief got installed as a truth, a truth I have to challenge from time to time. One of the ways I do that is by differentiating between doing things that are me-centered, as in the personality of me and doing things that are soul centered.
When I do something from ‘me’-centeredness, I’m usually focussed on some sort of outcome that I believe is important (rightly or wrongly).Even if I get what I believe I want or need, there is usually a resulting feeling of constriction and/or smallness. However, when I put my soul first, I feel large, expansive and what results are feelings of wanting to give more.
For example, if I’d stayed at my desk, I would have attended to my worldly ‘me’ goal and gotten my newsletter done, but I would have felt tense. As it was, I honoured my beingness and went outside. I noticed right away how my energy went up and I felt really good and then wanted to write a really great newsletter rather than just get it done)
What Happens When We Aren’t Fostering The Spirit!
When we fail in fostering the spirit, we often resort to other behaviours that we think will make us happy: we buy stuff, work at getting acclaim, etc, but often happiness still does not come. How can it? Happiness IS the result of attunement to who we really are. That means listening to ourselves at a really deep level and then doing everything we can to live a life that is aligned with that attunement. When you are fostering the spirit in that way, true happiness just flows.
Fostering the Spirit Creates Happiness!
I like to encourage you to foster YOUR spirit. You can tell that you’re doing it when you feel light, airy and expansive. You’re not needy of other things to happen. When you hit the bull’s eye like this and meet a ‘core’ need, your soul will simply smile And nothing else will need to happen!
And speaking of core needs, I want to tell you about a resource for your health and well-being. A colleague of mine, Rachel Assuncao, has developed a 14 day e-course that’s designed to help you make simple and manageable changes to improve your health. I’ve just done it myself and loved it. Although some of the material was familiar, the repetition was good and some of the material was new to me. I really liked that.
The course, called 14 Days to a Healthier New You, offers a daily practical tip or recipe to help you improve your health and wellbeing. The course is free and I highly recommend it.
To learn more, or sign up, click HERE:
