Happy 2016

Here it is another year around the sun.  We all woke up this morning.  We all get to keep sharing our gifts, talents and love with each other.
More joy, love and laughter.

My Happy Place

The primary cause of

unhappiness is

never the situation

but your thoughts

about it.

 

~ Eckhart Tolle

I recently began reading Instagram, and I love the ones with inspirational quotes and thoughts because it reminds me to be in the present. It reminds me to be peaceful even in the midst of the chaos around me.  It reminds me that I am in charge of myself and my actions.  It reminds me to be fearless and acknowledge when something feels fearful. It reminds me I am in charge of my HAPPINESS.

One Instagrammer brought up having a HAPPY PLACE, some where one can retreat to mentally when the brain is just going and won’t shut down.  It gave me pause to think about where was my HAPPY PLACE?

And I drew a blank……my happy place used to be the beach, being in the cerulean blue waves, watching the white caps crash, seeing the endless blue.  But when I thought of my HAPPY PLACE now, that wasn’t fitting the bill.   I had to dig deeper.  WHERE IS MY HAPPY PLACE?  Where can I retreat to that I feel serentity and peace and joy and so much happiness?

What came to mind is when my son’s were little, holding a baby and a boy.  Being ensconced in my home, taking care of my two little people.  Sitting on the sofa reading books, making breakfast, taking care of the two little souls put in my charge.  When I had those thoughts, I felt my heart slow down, and my body get peaceful.  There was my happy place.

I didn’t realize the value of having a HAPPY PLACE.  Now when I feel stressed or overwrought, I know what to think of.

It is not so much living in the past as finding a peaceful source of reference in turbulent, busy times.  

We all need a happy place....

Fear - LETTING GO OF THAT WHICH DOES NOT SERVE LIFE

Let go of that which does not serve one's highest self.  That is my lesson right now.  

This took my breath away.  At first I was in denial that I had any fear, I am fearless!!!

No, I am not, I don't let myself have things that I want, or desire.  I let go of me too easily.

This serves as a reminder that I am important, serve a purpose and must let go, and be who I am and speak my truth.

Morning or afternoon

I am a morning person, my eyes pop open when the sun comes up and more so than not, I spring out of bed ready to begin my day.

It doesn’t matter what is happening, what I am doing or going – I am mentally, spiritually and emotionally ready to do my day.

I have taken to getting up before the crack of dawn to do yoga.  I NEVER thought that I would be that person that would get up at five before work and do ANYTHING, let alone exercise.

I have to say it makes me really, really HAPPY.  Just knowing that I organized myself to get up and get myself and my stuff out the door to a place where I center myself before I begin my interactions with people.

I think it is making me LESS fearful.  I think it is making me feel EMPOWERED to do my life.

The flip side to this?  I can’t stay up late anymore!!!  I am in bed at EIGHT,

I have set out two sets of clothes, prepared lunch and breakfast and set an alarm.

The EUPHORIC feeling I have when I walk out of the studio and it is sunny and bright is PRICELESS.  I AM ALIVE – AND I KNOW IT!!

At work I feel connected to myself, calm and present. For me this translates to handling the stress of dealing with all of the personalities I interact with.

When I step out my door in the early, early pre-dawn light, I am moving with a purpose.  I LOVE that the traffic is moving!!! FAST, people on their way somewhere, NO traffic to sit in.

Ahhh, that something so simple makes me so happy. 

60,000 thoughts

60,000

That is how many thoughts we have a day.

That is now many random, past, present, future, negative, positive, weird, helpful, kind, not kind, meaningful, not meaningful, humorous, not humerous, fearful, not fearful, compassionate, not compassionate, loving, not loving, joyful, not joyful, peaceful, not peaceful thoughts travel the synapses and dendrites of our brain.

My favorite yoga teacher told me that.

A lot to wrap your mind around. 

Wow!! That many!!!!! Who did the study?

My resolve………to try and think at least 200 positive thoughts a day.  So that I am only thinking less negative thoughts than positive.

This is a good challenge as we navigate the terrain of living, period. 

People and situations give us pause to have to work on being positive a little bit more than not positive.

More Joy More Love 2015

HAPPY 2015

At the end of the day, all that matters is:

Is it true?

Is it kind?

Is it necessary?

We can ponder and reflect on the past, but all that counts is what are we going to do right now?

What choices are we going to make?  To be kind?  To be critical? To help?  To heal?

Love is what matters, at the end of the day.