Accepting the Ups and Downs of Life

Life is full of twists and turns. It can become difficult to stay positive when bad things happen. It is easy to say that one should pick oneself up, wipe oneself off and keep going. But it can in practice be a very difficult thing to do, to keep going and to stay positive through the negative occurrence. This is one of the biggest challenges of life, I believe. 

There are times bad things transpire that we have no control over. It can make one feel powerless and even at times hopeless. There are also times when a bad thing happens and one blames oneself for it happening. Perhaps a mistake was made by the person and now they are faced with feeling guilty and even angry at themselves for making the mistake or perceived mistake. These are the times when it is especially difficult to carry on with positivity in life.

I have made mistakes in life that left me feeling like I am a fool. I felt embarrassed and angry at myself. I asked myself over and over again how could I have been so stupid? It is not a happy place to be. But a crucial part of leading a happy life is learning to forgive. That encompasses forgiveness of others, but also importantly, forgiveness of oneself. When we make a mistake we are forced into a situation where we learn something. The very act of recognizing our mistake means we have learned something we did not know before. Mistakes happen to everyone. Mistakes are part of life.

The way to inner peace after making a mistake is through forgiveness of oneself. We must recognize that we are human, and thus imperfect beings. Mistakes can and will happen, to everyone at some time or another. Through making mistakes, we learn and grow. But that learning and growth can be very painful. Unfortunately pain is a part of life. And pain comes about when we love others too. If our mistake ended up hurting one we love in some way, this may cause us much pain. 

Pain and love are deeply entwined. They cannot be separated from each other. So the next time you are feeling inner pain at having inadvertently hurt a loved one, perhaps through a mistake you made, remind yourself that pain is a part of love. That deep pain you feel is proof that you love that person. It is part of the process of love.

Sometimes we make mistakes we later deem foolish due to the pressure we were under at the time. When you are under great pressure, it is difficult to think at your best. You may slip up and make a mistake you cannot understand when you look back on it. This can be due to the pressure having interfered with your thinking clearly. So do not be hard on yourself. It may be difficult to understand your mistaken thinking, but it is a part of the pressure you found yourself under that caused you to not perform at your best.

Mistakes can be very painful. So too can occurrences that were beyond any of our control. That can leave one feeling very frustrated, feeling like effort to try to change something is merely wasted. This is when we must recognize that we are not in control of events in this universe. The universe is vast, and myriad factors affect happenings that relate to us. The sooner we stop trying to assert our control over things we cannot control, the sooner we can let go the feeling of frustration that brings us down mentally.

Life is full of ups and downs. That is the reality of life. At times, bad things happen. It is at those times when we have to dig deep down to find our inner strength in order to carry us through those harsh times. To wish for a perfect world where bad things do not happen is to be in effect delusional. I believe it is better to accept reality and face it every day, rather than wishing and dreaming for different circumstances. Life offers us what it has to offer, no more and no less. 

It is with the acceptance of the reality of life, mistakes, bad occurrences, and all, that we can ultimately find a sense of inner peace. If we continually wish for a different life, we are battling with life as it is. This creates tension and stress and can lead to depression. It is once we accept life as it is, full of ups and downs, that we can start to relax and be comfortable in our own skin. We can stop being angry at ourselves and at the world. We can lean into acceptance and forgiveness. We will find that we have more energy and positivity then. Acceptance of reality is the key to finding inner happiness and peace of mind.

Reminding yourself that life is full of ups and downs can help you to have faith when times are tough that things will in fact get better. One thing certain in this crazy life is change. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, and this fact can be reassuring if we are going through a difficult time. Holding on until tomorrow is what is most important, and then tomorrow could bring better times for us. We must keep that hope alive, that the downturn will move back up in the upward direction and we will find contentment once more. 

Tomorrow is unknown. That is both exciting and hopeful. Reminding ourselves that life is full of ups and downs can help in times of distress. You are not alone in experiencing hardship. And there is always hope that tomorrow will bring change and better times. Holding on is key, holding on to hope and to life in general. Giving up will not help to create the change you may be longing for. But instead, being patient and understanding that life, like our moods, has ebbs and flows. Time can be healing and can bring about change that will usher in a new, more positive day.

Happiness: Let It Take You By Surprise

 One's standards for what happiness is have a direct bearing on one's level of happiness. If we define happiness to be having our wants met, for example, then we may be setting ourselves up for a big disappointment. But if we define happiness to be having our needs met, then we may be setting ourselves up for the wonderful feeling of happiness.

In order to find happiness, it is important that we do not scale up our desires so high that there is little likelihood of achieving them. Realistic desires are healthier for us, and will lay a foundation for our attaining happiness. Our expectations for our lives can become unrealistic. Then when what we expect does not transpire, we have set ourselves up for disappointment and unhappiness. It is best to scale back our expectations so they are in line with reality, in order for us to find happiness. There is a saying, "Happiness is the absence of misery." If our needs are met, we should not feel misery, and should then be open to feeling happiness, rather than predicating our happiness on wants which may never transpire.

Counsciously seeking happiness can actually have a countereffect, reducing our sense of happiness. Actively seeking happiness puts a pressure on us, to be happy and to be happy all the time. We begin to question how we are feeling at any given time, instead of just going with the flow. The more we are able to relax and not worry about being happy, the more likely it is that happiness will creep up on us.

When we seek happiness, we create a definition of happiness in our minds. But happiness is an intangible thing, difficult to define. So how can we seek something that is difficult to define in the first place? Happiness can come our way in a manner we would have never imagined. Happiness can find us in unexpected ways.

Being open to receiving happiness is a good thing. Looking for the happiness lurking in our day-to-day existence is also a good thing. These help happiness to find us. But seeking happiness by a particular method that we plot can backfire, creating stress and pressure. So forget about trying to be happy. Let happiness creep up on you, in ways you might not expect. Let it take you by surprise.

Expecting to be happy all the time is unrealistic. Life is like a roller coaster, with highs and lows. We all feel down sometimes. By having the expectation to always feel happy, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. We thereby make it more likely that we will not be happy, ironically. Feeling happy all the time is simply an unrealistic standard that we cannot live up to. Life is full of challenges, hurdles and disappointments. We will no doubt at times feel unhappy. This is normal. It is a part of being human.

So do not put undue pressure on yourself with the goal of always being happy. An unrealistic goal like that is a breeding ground for disappointment and unhappiness. Instead, think of happiness as something that will come to you when it is ready. And just be on the lookout for it.

Thinking about the different things that make us feel happy is a good reminder for us and helps us to recognize happiness when it is upon us. Happiness comes in different forms. It could be having a relaxed afternoon, or feeling a sense of peace of mind that comprises happiness for us. Happiness is a complex feeling. It does not mean that we are necessarily smiling and laughing when we are happy. Sometimes our happiness can fly under the radar, and we are not even consciously aware that we are happy. That is why tallying up happy times can be misleading. The more obvious happy moments will jump out at us, but the times of more subtle happiness will not. It is important when we consider our state of happiness to recognize those happy moments that are not as obvious to us.

It is important that we practice gratitude in order to feel happiness. Happiness can be fleeting, so we should appreciate it when it is there. We also should appreciate the little things in our lives that are good. Being appreciative opens ourselves up to feeling more happiness. Expanding our sense of gratitude can come from simply taking time in our day to think about those things we are grateful for. Keeping a journal and writing down what we are grateful for is also helpful for inspiring our gratitude to grow.

Happiness is unique to each individual. Just as when purchasing a car, you would not necessarily pick the same one as someone else would, so it is with happiness. You would not be expected to pick the same set of circumstances to make you happy as someone else would. There is a wide spectrum of what can make an individual feel good, and so there are many avenues to happiness. That is why being open to new channels to happiness is beneficial. You can do this by being open to new activities and experiences. You never know which ones will bring you greater happiness. Being open to experiencing nature to the fullest, for example, can bring feelings of happiness. Enjoying the sunrise, a bird chirping, or a beautiful flower can bring us moments of happiness.

Happiness is a complex thing. Chasing it can cause it to run away, like a puppy. But relaxing and letting happiness evolve in our daily lives creates a welcoming atmosphere for finding happiness. We are not stressing over it, but are making sure to be open and welcoming of it. This is how we can spur our happiness to grow.

Understanding and Dealing with Envy

Being consumed with envy is not a pleasant way to be. The feeling of envy can come out and grab one, and at the most inopportune time, like when you are struggling with something in your life or dealing with a failure. But what can one do about envy? Can envy be eradicated from your life? Well, maybe not eradicated, but it can be minimally present.

Learning to deal with feelings of envy and to minimize them is important. Envy is not a feeling that buoys up one's inner happiness. In fact, feeling envious can lead to one feeling downright unhappy.

But what can one do about that uncomfortable feeling, that affects all of us at some time or another--envy? Read on to find some healthy ways to deal with the "green-eyed monster."

The first step in dealing with envy is to recognize and admit to oneself that one is feeling envy. Envy can be insidious. We can be full of envy but if we never confront our feelings of envy, they can fester under the radar. It is better to confront the feeling, to pull the envy into the light and dissect it.

One cannot reduce or eliminate one's envy if one does not understand it fully. And that includes trying to understand the root causes of it. For example, I may be envious of a friend who goes on a tropical vacation when I cannot afford to. Part of the root of that envy is my belief that a tropical vacation would be something important for me and beneficial. But is it really important that I go on a tropical vacation? Advertisements are there to entice buyers, and the theme they show regarding tropical vacations is that they are fun and relaxing. But isn't there another way I can have fun and relax, perhaps even one that I do not regularly see advertisements about? For example, taking extra time to visit with a relative could be an alternate source of fun and relaxation for me.

It is important to recognize that feeling envious at times is normal. It is an emotion that at times creeps into everybody's mind. Feeling envious is nothing to be ashamed of. It happens. But envy is not a pleasant emotion. And if one allows themselves to be consumed by envy, it becomes an unhealthy situation.

One way to move away from feeling envious is to focus on not comparing yourself to others. We each have our own lives with our own set of unique circumstances. Comparing oneself to others is like comparing apples to oranges. You are unique. The set of life circumstances and particular challenges you face are unique to you. So comparing yourself to others is just not a fair comparison. If you wish to compare, then compare yourself to yourself in the past. This is a comparison that can help to motivate and create better understanding of one's present. It is not an inherently unfair comparison, as comparing yourself to others is.

It is a good idea in your quest to free yourself from envy to try to replace envious feelings with feelings of gratitude. Whenever the "green-eyed monster" starts to rear its ugly head, think instead about something that you are grateful for. First you will need to catch yourself feeling feelings of envy. You need to recognize that too much envy is not a good thing for your psyche. Then you need to take action to fight these feelings of envy. The action is to immediately think about something that you are grateful for. Over time, this replacement technique should help you to move past your feelings of envy and get to a healthier psychological place.

Ironically, some feelings of envy can be beneficial. Envy can tap into one's competitive nature and spur one on with increased motivation. When we compare ourselves to others, their situation can serve as a goal for us to try to attain. That competitive fire that is unleashed can be a good thing. Motivation is crucial to being able to attain a goal. The problem becomes if the envy becomes too much and causes us to feel bad about ourselves.

Practicing acceptance helps one to minimize their feelings of envy. Life throws challenges our way. That is how life is. It is better to accept that challenges are a part of life, rather than expending one's energy bemoaning that fact. Acceptance of life as it is helps us to find a sense of inner peace. That inner peace acts as a buffer from feelings of envy. If we are at peace with ourselves and our lives, why would we get caught up in envious feelings? Acceptance of reality confers a healthy state of mind on us. So try your best to practice acceptance, and see your envy melt away.

Conclusion:

Envy is a powerful emotion. We all feel envy from time to time. And that is okay. It is a normal part of our existence. Envy can even spur us on to improving our own situation by lighting a competitive fire within us that can motivate us to go after our goals. It is when envy becomes uncomfortable for us and/or consuming that it becomes a problem. It can lead us to feeling bad about ourselves and even sad.

It is important to know how to deal with our feelings of envy, and also how to avoid feeling envious in the first place. Having this skill will prevent an envious feeling from ruining your day. Recognizing feelings of envy and understanding where the envy is coming from is a good first step to dealing with your envy.

Knowing that feeling envious is a normal condition helps to reduce the stress of it. Learning to stop comparing oneself to others is an important way to curb feelings of envy. Practicing replacing feelings of envy with gratitude can make us immune to envy when the "green-eyed monster" strikes.

Channeling our envy to action that betters ourselves is a positive way to deal with envy. Nurturing a feeling of acceptance of life helps us to steer away from envious feelings as well.

Envy does not have to make you feel down. When understood and dealt with, envy is a feeling that does not have to ruin your day and in fact can be a motivator. So follow these tips to dealing with envy and you will develop a healthier relationship with those envious feelings that we all get from time to time.

The Importance of Self-Care: Why and How to Prioritize It

Hello everyone. Today I want to discuss something very important and it is self-care. So many times we are so busy that we don't really take the time to do a lot for ourselves and to really focus on ourselves, and this is not a good thing because self-care is just so important. We need to all take that time to pamper ourselves a little bit, to get in tune with ourselves, our bodies, our minds–see what sort of thing we need, what could help us, and try to fulfill those needs. And so self-care is something that often gets thrown to the wayside because we're so busy. We have so many things to do in our lives, whether it is work or taking care of people in our lives: relatives, even reaching out to our friends and helping them. All kinds of things get in the way of us focusing on ourselves. And so it is important to make an effort to really focus on self-care: to recognize that it is important and to focus on it. Because otherwise if we neglect ourselves, we won't be in top form, and then we won't be able to help others like we want to because we won't ourselves be in top shape. 

So things like self-care, it really depends on your own personal preference and needs what kind of self-care that we're talking about. It could be something to de-stress, something as simple as taking a long warm bath, where you just retreat and just focus on relaxing. It could be taking some time for meditation, to have a mantra, to think quietly and clear one's mind and meditate. It could be doing something that you really enjoy like listening to music, watching the TV show that you really enjoy, renting that movie. And just relaxing and doing things like that help us to get outside of ourselves. So it can be very relaxing. It can be a nice thing to watch a movie, to watch a TV show. It is not just about the entertainment value but it is also a way to de-stress.

And so there's all different kinds of self-care. There's also just making sure that we're getting proper nutrition, so eating well–if you take a multivitamin, taking your vitamins. Things like getting enough sleep, that is really important too. That is a form of self-care because if we don't get enough sleep, we get run down, and that is not good. Then we lose our energy, and we just don't have the energy to do the things that we want to do.

So all kinds of things fall under the umbrella of self-care: getting enough sleep, taking the time to socialize, to talk to our friends and to talk to our family. Sometimes that gets put on the wayside and neglected because we're so busy, you know, taking care of people, working, all of that. And so reaching out to friends and family and taking time to socialize, that is actually another form of self-care because it is something that helps our spirits to feel awesome. And so it is nurturing to ourselves.

Another thing that can be considered self-care is taking care of our appearance, you know, because when we look good we feel good. And so taking care of one's appearance can be considered self-care, whether that is makeup, clothing, going out and getting some nice clothes that you really enjoy wearing, different things like that, taking care of your hair–just putting oneself together so one looks good. And that helps a person to feel good. So that also falls under the umbrella of self-care.

Self-care is very personalized to the person, what they consider to be important to nurture themselves. It could be spending time in nature, going for a walk, getting into nature. That could be considered self-care for somebody. So it is really personal as to what exactly the self-care entails, but really the important thing is to make time for it in one's life. Put it on the calendar because it is important. So rather than it getting to be something that gets neglected because we're so busy, it is something that should be put up there with important priorities and prioritized.

Another aspect of self-care is medical care, making sure one goes to their checkups, their appointments, and takes care of their medical needs. Because sometimes even that gets postponed because people are busy, and that really shouldn't happen. It should be a priority.

So we've discussed different types of self-care. Let's focus again on how self-care ends up not being a priority or not happening. Part of it is just that so many of us are so busy. But part of it is that some people believe self-care can be considered that they're being selfish somehow, that it is not something they should really focus on. And that is a mistake because it is not selfish to make sure that your self-care is prioritized. It is something that is nurturing for yourself, and if you're the type of person that is really a giver and you always want to help other people, it is important to realize that if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be at your best to help others. So even if you're the type of person that tends to put yourself last, you still have to realize that with self-care, that is something that will help you to help other people.

So self-care is so important for so many reasons, and it is something that we really need to focus on. We need to make sure that that is on our calendar, prioritized in front of our minds. And what happens when we prioritize the self-care? Well, we feel better. We feel better physically. We feel better mentally and spiritually. And all of those things help us to blossom as a person.

So self care is really important. It is something that is important to focus on, and I'm hoping that you all will take some extra time to focus on self-care.

Give Yourself Permission to Dream

 Having a dream to pursue makes life richer. You may or may not attain the dream you have, but you are trying, and along the way, good things happen as you chase a dream.

A dream is similar to a goal. It is a goal that involves your passion and may not be as attainable as your other goals, but that is okay. It is worth pursuing a dream because in the end, whether or not we attain it, we can at least say that we tried. And there is satisfaction to knowing that you gave your dream a chance to come true. What we attain for sure is the experiences that come about as we pursue our dreams. Those experiences add to our fulfillment, and they can offer us learning opportunities as well.

Giving yourself permission to dream unlocks your imagination. As you think about what your dream would be, you can consider many possibilities that would bring you happiness. Those possibilities will never come true unless you allow yourself to dream. As you dream, your imagination flourishes. Why stop yourself as you are dreaming? Why psyche yourself out, saying this will never happen? Let your dream flourish and develop. The more your imagination is awakened, the more ideas you will have that could potentially lead to your dream coming true.

 Following your dream requires action on your part. Once you have brainstormed ideas on how to take initial steps in pursuit of your dream, you need to take action and just begin. Sometimes it is fear that holds us back from pursuing our dreams. We can have a fear of failure, or even a subconscious fear of success that holds us back. It is important to let go the fear to enable one to go after their dreams. How to do this? Well, positive thinking and meditation can help to assuage the fear. Asking yourself, what is the worst that can happen—you fail to attain your goal? Then at least you will have tried, and most likely learned something along the way.

Sometimes we end up not pursuing our dreams because we assume that we will not be successful. We psyche ourselves out from the get-go, and then just decide, consciously or sometimes subconsciously, to not attempt the dream at all. This is a shame because we cannot know for sure that we will fail in our endeavor. As well, our definition of success may change as we go through the experience of pursuing our dream. We can develop new skills along the way. And who knows, we just might find success and fulfill our dream.

Pursuing a dream can seem daunting. But one can start with baby steps. Then, step-by-step, one can move closer to attaining their dream. It is important to set realistic goals along the way, which will keep you focused and on course.

Sometimes we lose patience in pursuit of a dream. We are in a rush. We want success right away, straight out of the gate. But reaching one’s goals takes time. We will need patience in order to carry on in our quest and not give up prematurely. Telling yourself that the end goal is worth pursuing and reminding yourself of why it is your dream can help you to find the patience needed for your pursuit.

If you can see it, you can be it. Creative visualization is a helpful tool to utilize when in pursuit of a dream. Using one’s imagination to visualize the hoped for end result and the steps along the way can increase motivation. Visualization helps to remind you of why you are taking the steps that you are, what the end goal is. Visualization can also help to boost your confidence, which can increase the likelihood of your success in your endeavor. We can just close our eyes and imagine, imagine what it would be like to attain our dream, or imagine what successful steps along the way will look and feel like. We can also draw a picture that symbolizes what attaining our dream would mean to us. That can be used to help motivate us along our path to success. So don’t forget about the power of creative visualization when it comes to going after your goals.

Writing about our dream can help to keep it alive and burning within us. We can write down our goals and steps along the way to our dream. We can write down our feelings about our dream and why it holds importance to us. Talking to others about our dream can also help to keep our dream alive. Some dreams we may not want to share with others, and instead prefer to keep them private. We may feel that another person could psyche us out, or that our dream is more powerful when kept to ourselves. It is fine either way. Dreams are a personal thing, and how we dream is personal to us.

There is comfort to knowing that we tried to attain our dream, even if we fail. At least we did not give up, or never try at all. It is worth the effort to see where it leads. It could lead to an unexpected good thing as well, even if not to attaining the dream. Dreams add color and passion to our lives. For that reason alone it is worth striving to achieve one’s dream.

Following one’s dream is good for the spirit. It unleashes one’s imagination and creativity. Believing in possibilities is uplifting. Who knows what lies ahead anyway. Pursuing a dream can lead one to wonderful places.

Before one can attain one’s dream, one has to unlock that dream from within. If we don’t believe in dreaming, how will we spur our imagination onto what could possibly be? Giving oneself permission to dream is the first step to achieving one’s dreams. So dream, dream, and dream again! Dreaming is good for the soul. It can transform our thinking and allow us to see new possibilities on the horizon. So give yourself permission to dream.

A Collection of Affirmations to Help Brighten Your Day

Affirmations can be empowering. They can make us feel better about ourselves and about the world around us. Affirmations can be a base of positive thinking practices to build upon. They can lift your mood and take the edge off your day.

Affirmations can be said to oneself, read, or spoken aloud. It does not matter how you absorb the message of an affirmation, just that you focus on it, if even for a brief moment.

Affirmations are powerful. They are packed with positivity and kernels of wisdom. Having affirmations ready at your disposal is the best idea. That encourages you to review them, and they are ready for you when you are. So read on the following affirmations to help brighten your day!

1. I Am Beautiful

I am beautiful because I was created as I am. I am beautiful, whether or not I think that when I look in the mirror. My uniqueness makes me special. No other person is exactly like me. I am a beautiful addition to this world, bringing my own distinct aura—in both action and appearance. I must not compete with or compare myself to others, after all, that is like comparing an apple to an orange. I am exactly as I was meant to be. I am special, a truly distinct person who leaves my own mark on this world, with my appearance and everything I say and do. In my uniqueness I am a creation that was meant to be just as I am. I am beautiful, in my own way.

2. The Rain Will End and a Rainbow Will Emerge

The one thing that is static is change. If I am going through a rough time, I need to remember that “this too shall pass.” Nothing lasts forever. Life is like a rollercoaster, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. I need to just find strength to hold on till tomorrow. Each tomorrow is a new beginning for me. It is a chance for change, of both myself and the circumstances I find myself in. Change can be scary too, but it offers the promise of new opportunities. Sometimes we welcome change, or pray for it. These are the times I need to remember that the storm will pass. The sun will come out. Life will go on and it will become brighter. The promise of a new day gives me hope. The storm will not last forever. If I just keep holding on, a new day will come, one that is better. Life is full of twists and turns. We cannot know what is around the corner. I need to have faith that I will survive the rain and make it through. A rainbow I shall see. The rain will end and a rainbow will emerge.

3. I Am Much Stronger Than I Think

I can handle whatever comes my way. I am strong and capable. I will manage what hurdles are thrown at me. I have faith in my abilities and competency. I will always do my best, and my best is good enough. I will not fear the future, because I have the inner confidence to face it, whatever it may bring. I know I can handle what will transpire tomorrow. I know this because I have handled events and circumstances in my past. And I know this because I try my best. I will continue to make my best efforts in navigating through this life. I will not worry about the future because I know I can handle what will come. Tomorrow will bring a new perspective and renewed energy. I am much stronger than I think.

4. There Is Light

No matter how dark a place I find myself in, I know there is light. I may not see it now, but it will emerge to me. There is light representing goodness all around me. I just must look for it in order to see it. The toughest times that come my way build strength. And I must just hold on. After darkness, there will be light. I need to remember in times of trial that I shall bathe in the light once again. The light represents promise—promise of a new day. Each morning, the sun rises. It signals the start of a new day, full of promise. The more we look for the light in each day that comes, the more we will see it. Sometimes the light is faint and sometimes it is brightly shining. Sometimes we may feel that we cannot see any light at all. But then there will be a glimmer of light, faint as it may be. And soon the light will shine upon us full force.

5. There Is So Much for Me to Be Grateful For

Today I will try my best to find gratitude in my heart. I can be grateful for having another day to live and to shine my special light. I can be grateful for the people in my life who keep me company and offer their support. I can be grateful that I am me, myself. I am a unique individual with my own special talents and qualities. I can be grateful for the sunrise and the beauty of nature. I can be grateful for that cup of coffee and danish that start my morning, or another food or drink that I enjoy in my day. I can be grateful for my pets, and all their beauty and companionship. I can be grateful for the children in my life, with their laughter and innocence. I will be grateful today. There is so much for me to be grateful for.

6. I Am Happy to Have Cherished People in My Life

Like the shade of a tree protecting us from sunburn, we are protected in this world by the caring of people in our lives. A tree is strong, and the emotions that connect us to others give us strength to rise up like a tall tree ourselves. The people in my life offer so much to me. Their special qualities surround me and expand my horizons. By being there for me, the people in my life give me support in getting through my day-to-day struggles. Together, we laugh, and we cry. It is the togetherness that is the important thing. The people in my life empower me to feel I can take on what comes my way in this world. I do not feel alone because of them. Having cherished people in my life gives me strength and brings happiness to my life. Their presence is enough. They do not need to be perfect. Having them in my life helps me to build a foundation of core strength. I am happy to have cherished people in my life.

7. It’s the Power of the Spirit

I will let the power of my spirit guide me and give me strength. We all have great power within ourselves. Our spirits are full of energy, strength and wisdom. We each have our own personal insights, emotions, experiences and goals—a unique inner life. We can always know that our spirits will guide us through the maze of life, leading us to what lies ahead by way of our unique inner life that constantly evolves through our individual life experiences. We can have faith that the power of our spirit lies always within ourselves. It is that spark that motivates us to get up every morning and keep on trying. Life can throw hurdles before us, but the trials and tribulations of life make us stronger. Our spirit within is a flame that burns brightly through the storm. It’s the power of the spirit that keeps us growing stronger and stronger every day. The strength of the spirit inspires us to stand tall and let the light of our souls shine bright.

Conclusion

Affirmations can be a powerful tool in helping us to feel good inside. Whether we read them to ourselves or memorize an affirmation and repeat it in our minds, affirmations can have a positive effect on our mood. Affirmations can help to clear worry and sadness. They help us to focus on positivity instead of the negative thoughts that can bring us down. So try utilizing affirmations in your life, and see how it improves your outlook!

10 Steps to Realizing Inner Happiness

 Happiness is that sometime elusive thing that we all want. Who does not want to be happy? But what is happiness really? Happiness is when you feel good generally. It can comprise feelings of inner peace and contentment. Happiness means different things to different people. Some seek adventure and excitement to feel happy. Others seek comfort and predictability. It all depends on our unique qualities and preferences, what happiness means to us.

Happiness is not always something that just happens. Sometimes we need to make an effort to attain happiness. There are things we can do to make our sense of happiness blossom. Read up on the following guidelines to help you in your quest towards happiness.

1. Surround Yourself With Positive People

The people around you have an undeniable effect on your state of happiness, or lack thereof. If you are spending time with negative people, do not be surprised if their negativity rubs off on you. Being in a negative mindset is not the base to build happiness upon. Conversely, spending time with positive people can buoy one up in mood. The positivity rubs off on you and brightens your day. So choose who you spend time with wisely in your quest for happiness. Choose positive people to create a positive force in your life.

2. Set Goals for Yourself

It is difficult to feel a sense of motivation if we have no goals. Setting goals for yourself fosters a sense of challenge. It spurs motivation. A goal gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning and start your day. Motivation contributes to our feelings of happiness. Goals should be realistic. They should be something that with effort we can accomplish. Setting unrealistic goals will not serve to increase our sense of happiness, in fact it will likely do the opposite, causing us to feel bad about ourselves and therefore less happy. We want to feel good about ourselves to increase happiness. Accomplishing goals creates a sense of pride in oneself. That sense of pride contributes to one’s self-esteem. Having higher self-esteem increases happiness, because with healthy self-esteem you are happy with yourself. So set (realistic) goals to increase your happiness.

3. Do the Things You Enjoy

In order to increase our happiness, it is important to spend some time doing things we enjoy. This could be listening to music, watching your favorite show on Netflix, cooking, partaking in a hobby, or just relaxing. It is important to carve out time to do the things we enjoy. Leisure activities can act as a happy distraction from troubles, a time to heal from our stressors. TV shows and movies can offer an escape from our reality, an escape that gives us, at least temporarily, relief from our problems. Listening to music can soothe and calm us, energize and uplift.

Life can be hectic, and taking time for enjoyable activities can fall on the backburner. We may believe that it is not of importance for us to have that time for fun. But nurturing our happiness is important, and taking time for the activities we love is part of nurturing our inner happiness. So don’t feel guilty the next time you watch your favorite show. You deserve that leisure time, and it will serve to increase your happiness.

4. Find Your Spiritual Center

Getting in touch with one’s spiritual side can be very uplifting to one’s psyche--whether that means practicing a religion, independent prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. Finding one’s spiritual center can help one attain a sense of inner peace. Life can be very hectic, and taking the time for spiritual reflection can easily fall to the wayside. But nurturing one’s spirituality is important to increase one’s happiness. Simply spending time in nature can help to guide our spiritual growth. The beauty of nature is awe-inspiring and can lift our spirits and serve as a backdrop that welcomes our quiet reflection. It is in those quiet times that we can get in tune with our inner spirit and find our way to inner peace and increased happiness.

5. Take Time for Physical Activity

Taking time for physical activity is another way to boost one’s feelings of happiness. Physical activity gets our metabolism going and stimulates hormones that make us feel good. Physical activity can mean structured exercise, like working out in a gym or running, or it can be the walk you do for your morning commute. Dancing is a wonderful form of exercise that most anyone can do. Exercise is an individualized activity. We can all exercise in our own way, and in so doing, pump up our energy level and increase feelings of happiness.

6. Practice Positive Self-Talk

What we say to ourselves in our own minds has a direct bearing on our happiness. Negative statements about oneself or one’s life psyche one out. They make you feel low and even without hope. The negative statements could not be more personal than coming from you yourself. Ironically, ideally you should act as your own best friend. But when you make negative statements to yourself, you are acting like an enemy.

Negative self-talk can become a bad habit that can take effort to break free from. But with diligence, you can break free. The first thing you need to do is to catch yourself when you are engaging in negative self-talk. It can be helpful to take an action once you have caught yourself, like clapping or pinching yourself. This reinforces the fact to you that what you are doing is wrong. Next, replace the negative statement with a positive one. Dig deep if you must and find some positive statement, however small, to say to yourself.

Positive self-talk buoys you up. Over time, it helps you to gain confidence and to feel good about yourself and your life. The positive statements can run the gamut. They can be most anything, as long as they are positive. They can be about yourself, an aspect of your life, a person in your life, or your pet, for example. The task is to come up with some statement that is positive, and that is all. Practice positive self-talk and feel your happiness rise.

7. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

In this modern age, we are offered a peek into other people’s lives, including the rich and famous, through social media. It is easy to get caught up in a game of comparison. Seeing the highlight reel of another person’s life can easily make us feel that our own life is lacking. But we have to remember that what is displayed on social media is just that, a highlight reel. Everybody has their own set of problems. These are just usually not displayed on their social media feed. It is important to remember that, and to not get caught up in comparing oneself to the highlights inundating us on social media. The focus should be on one’s own life. And if you are going to compare, compare your own life to your life in the past. This can bring insights and motivation. Self-improvement should be your focus. So stop comparing yourself to others, and feel your happiness grow.

8. Focus On Self-Care

Our lives can be busy and hectic, and sometimes self-care can fall to the wayside with all that we have to do. But it is important to put self-care on your to-do list too. Taking time to care for yourself lays a foundation for your personal happiness. It signals to you that you are important. It exhibits self-love. We all need time to destress and relax. Those times of self-care can rejuvenate us. Self-care can include anything from taking a relaxing bath to eating nutritional food, caring for one’s appearance, or spending time doing destressing activities that we enjoy. Taking that time for self-care is crucial to one’s happiness. Life shouldn’t be made up of constant stress and constantly focusing on others. That is not an optimal situation for our happiness to thrive. Focus on self-care too in order to allow your happiness to thrive.

9. Practice Gratitude

The feeling of gratitude leads to a sense of happiness. Gratitude can be cultivated. Taking time in your daily life to think about the things you are grateful for is a habit worth developing. One can write down those things in a list or journal, or just contemplate them in one’s thoughts. We all have something to be grateful for. In the rush and stress of daily living, we may not take the time to think about what we are grateful for. That is why it is good to develop a habit of remembering what you have to be grateful for. Practice gratitude and feel your happiness expand.

10. Live in the Present Moment

Focusing on the present moment helps one to destress. Focusing on the past can lead to feeling regret. Focusing on the future can lead to worry. The past is over and the future is not yet here. But what we do have is the present. It is the here and now. Living in the present moment helps one to live more fully. It is the present where new memories are being made. You do not want to lose that time by thinking too much about the past or future, when the present is right here. Focusing on the present will help you to seize the moment, instead of letting it slip by without fully experiencing it. Live in the present moment to increase your happiness.

Conclusion

Happiness is that thing that we all want. Some of us chase it; some of us hope it comes our way. Happiness is about finding our place in this world. It is about finding a balance in one’s life. Our outside circumstances contribute to our level of happiness, as do our inner thoughts and mental state. So looking for happiness involves looking outward, as well as looking inward. There are things we can do to increase our happiness. Follow these guidelines and you will be on your way to happier times!