Happiness
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Happiness is …
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love While we’re focusing on optimism and positive thinking this week, we might draw some inspiration from countries that seem to master it. Finland continues to rank first place in the World Happiness Report, with other Scandinavian countries topping the list as well. What’s going on up there? You can learn more…
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Within our reach
“Happiness, not in another place but this place. Not for another hour, but this hour.” ~Walt Whitman How are things going? If you’re working on New Year’s resolutions, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things within your reach right now. Goals inspire motivation, but they also keep us hyper-focused on the future. For instance, we might convince ourselves that we won’t be happy until we drop another 10 pounds, write a novel, find the perfect job, clean the basement, or remodel the kitchen. Today’s quote suggests that happiness is attainable in the present moment. Right here, right now. What have you enjoyed so far this year? ~CL ***…
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What are you expecting?
“There are two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations.” ~ Jodi Picoult Today’s quote really got me thinking. Over the past year, I’ve learned too many things that have deeply disappointed me. And while I’m usually an optimist, some of these things have made me doubt my faith in humanity and made me anxious about the future. You too? Part of the problem is that most of us are consuming more “news” than we can thoughtfully process and systematically fact-check. (Thanks, social media.) No wonder so many people fall under the dark spell of misinformation and conspiracy theories. So what does this have to do…
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Pausing for the present
“The present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.” ~C.S. Lewis If you’re a worrier like me, living in the present moment is easier said than done. When anxiety has you in its icy grip, your mind reels with the “what ifs” of an uncertain future. Put it on pause if you can. Once you commit to living in the present, you open yourself to the possibility of inner peace. Begin by paying close attention to your own environment. Redirect your energy to a small project you’ve been putting off, or take a walk outdoors. One breath, one moment at a time.…
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Your own story
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, or how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” ~Rumi Are you easily impressed by the rich and famous? In our celebrity driven culture, you might dismiss your own life as ordinary or uninteresting. But as the Sufi poet Rumi reminds us in today’s quote, comparing yourself to others is a waste of precious time. And besides, all those curated social media photos and magazine stories rarely reveal the whole truth about the beautiful people in the spotlight. Do yourself a favor today: Appreciate how far you’ve come. Consider your own gifts and advantages. After that, list everything you’ve done to touch…
