Happiness
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What are we really missing?
“The fear of missing out (FOMO) is the enemy of valuing your own time.” ~Andrew Yang Do you often have a nagging sense that there’s something better or more fun happening somewhere else? Do you feel a little anxious when you can’t check your social media feed? If so, read on because Dr. Andrew Weil has a cure for your FOMO. In his latest newsletter, Weil discusses the epidemic of loneliness in our country, and how, ironically, our social media obsession is making it worse, not better. Citing a brand-new study conducted by Iowa State University, Weil suggests that limiting social media time may have significant psychological benefits. “During a…
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Here and now
“I have lived large parts of my life in wonderful circumstances that I utterly failed to appreciate. Reasons to be happy were everywhere, but somehow I didn’t connect with them. It was as though I was eating but couldn’t taste the food. Finally, I’ve learned to celebrate the good while it’s happening.” ~Marianne Williamson How often do we “utterly fail to appreciate” our advantages — food and shelter, for starters — not to mention having access to simple pleasures and a few luxuries? Speaking for myself, I forget to appreciate what I have when I’m rushing on my way to something else. Or sometimes I get so focused on things…
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You are legendary
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, or how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” ~Rumi In our celebrity driven culture, it’s easy to dismiss our own lives as unglamorous or uninteresting. But as the Sufi poet Rumi reminds us in today’s quote, comparing ourselves to others is a waste of precious time. And besides, do all those curated Instagram photos and People feature stories reveal the whole truth of “how things have gone” with others? So do yourself a favor today: Appreciate how far you’ve come. Think of all your gifts and advantages, no matter how small or large. After that, consider everything you’ve done to touch…
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Small treats and rituals
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.” ~Iris Murdoch Every night after we finish dinner, Doug and I fill our mugs with tea and head for our favorite chairs to watch the evening news on TV. It’s a ritual that our dog, Coco, happily anticipates — because we always reward her with a handful of dog biscuits if she finished her dinner, too. Watching her savor each and every crunchy bite never fails to bring me joy. Sometimes we set our goals too high, deluding ourselves into thinking that happiness depends on attaining a huge win or reward. But as today’s quote reminds us, it’s…
