Accepting Happiness, Part I

Dive in! It can be that simple. Happiness is no great feat. It is a part of our nature. With the help of my friend and Chiropractor, Taylor Donovan, I have expanded on a few of his wonderful tips for happiness.  It’s time for you to re-claim the peace and joy that has waited for you all along.

1. 1. Stop trying to be perfect. Trying to be perfect makes us stiff. Accepting our imperfections is accepting the human condition, and allows us to accept others’. Start to delight in imperfections as a source of charm and fun!
2. Be happy and satisfied with what you have. When we are constantly in wanting, we constantly spend our energy on chasing around our desires, and thus we can’t relax. We miss the beauty of the gifts already present in our lives, exchanging it for the promise that something else will make us happy and complete. Stop deluding yourself. You have enough. You are enough. Relax and you will see this. Relax and your happiness will flow. Share what you have and your happiness will multiply.
3. Schedule some time for yourSelf. This is essential. While it is normal to exercise our minds and bodies for well-being, it is all-too-easy to postpone the activities that energize and strengthen our Spirit. Connecting to the Self within everyday enhances any efforts to improve the mind and body, as spiritual connection enhances overall well-being. Make time daily to meditate, pray, read inspiring books, or spend time in nature. This will invigorate your energy and purpose.

Think about these for a while. Please stay tuned for Part II, and tell us what you think!

Lovingly,

Francie Yogini

Read Full Post »

Dogs Catch Fleas; Birds Catch Rainbows

Happiness and misery are greatly influenced by the company you keep. Think about the last time you sat around gossiping with people. Even if you just listened in without participating, your mood was impacted. How did you feel? Were you uplifted and energized by the experience? Of course not. When the people you are around speaking harsh, negative, and damaging words, it affects you mentally, physically, emotionally. You then go on to share that negativity with others in your life, and it spreads like a nasty virus. Is this viral impact okay? It drains the life out of you and contributes to the misery in your world.

On the contrary, think about the last time you commiserated with someone about something about which you felt very happy, such as your new job, house or relationship. Perhaps you spoke of simpler things, like the sheer beauty of a mountain or a lake. How did you feel then? Did you experience more energy and enthusiasm for life? At the least, surely you can agree that when your mind is in a positive state, it is harder to be perturbed by events. But when your mind is in a negative state, trivial events are more bothersome.

The people whom you surround yourself with will impact whether you are in a negative or positive state. Even if no words are exchanged, the energy of each person’s mood can be felt, as it impacts the whole environment. While we can’t (and shouldn’t) entirely avoid grim or unpleasant company, we can make an effort to spend more time in the company of those who are wise, uplifting, and light-hearted. This is known as ‘satsang’ or keeping the ‘company of the wise’, and is regarded as one of the most important things that any person can do in life.

Please feel free to comment!

Read Full Post »