Happiness
-
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…
-
Elements of surprise
“Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.” ~Alice Walker Earlier this month, everyone in my part of Michigan was convinced that spring had arrived early. We were amazed at bright yellow daffodils and forsythia bushes blooming — so early in March! — and even spotted people wearing shorts and sandals outside. But the weather took another turn, and we awoke this morning to fresh snow blanketing the landscape. Today’s quote is from Alice Walker’s poem, “Expect Nothing.” In it, Walker reminds us that keeping our expectations in check is the key to staying happy or content. Life is bound to surprise us. Sometimes those surprises will delight and amaze us, and…
-
Within our reach
As we work on our resolutions in the new year, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things within our reach right now. While big goals inspire motivation, 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 15 pounds, find the perfect job, or remodel the kitchen. Walt Whitman believed that happiness is attainable in the present moment. Think of the pleasures and victories you’ve enjoyed so far this year. ~CL
-
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…
-
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…
