“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.”
—David Steindl-Rast

Today, I have a wonderful video to share with you. It is an experiment in Happiness and Gratitude, produced by SoulPancake.com. You may find yourself smiling and/or crying as you watch this powerful experiment, but be prepared for some impressive test results at the end. A truly outstanding experiment in the study of the science of happiness!

I wish you and yours a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! Be sure to watch for our next Daily Soul Retreat on Tuesday, Sept 3rd. I promise it will bring you inner peace!

Enjoy ♥

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to have you leave a comment below!

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a very happy Labor Day weekend!!

Soulfully,
Valerie Rickel, Founder
SoulfulLiving.com

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“Joy is our goal, our destiny. We cannot know who we are except in Joy.
Not knowing Joy, we do not know ourselves.”
—Marianne Williamson

Today, I’m very excited to share one of my favorite articles published at SoulfulLiving.com, by psychologist and happiness expert, Molly Stranahan.

In this article, Molly offers us 25 goals for happiness based on her personal life lessons and experience, as well as the life experiences of others who have shared their wisdom, lessons, and stories of personal transformation with her over the years.

Enjoy ♥

“25 Lessons in Happiness”
by Molly Stranahan

At some stress-filled moment, have you had the experience of realizing you had forgotten what you learned in the past, the self-knowledge that healed and brought joy or just got you through a tough time? The theme of “Life Lessons” created an excuse for me to write down the lessons I have learned, but sometimes forget to use. I’m pledging to renew my commitment to living them, and offer them in the hopes they might help you, or they might inspire you to remember your greatest life lessons.

Even though I’m a psychologist, I’ve learned more of life’s lessons through personal experience than through my formal education. Many of my lessons have come from hearing (or reading) the transformational moments of others — their own life lessons — which they were generous enough to share. And the most important lessons I’ve learned are those that have led me out of pain and into happiness.

And so, dear reader, may you find some message below which leads you to a new belief or understanding, releases you from some burden, or takes you to an even higher level of happiness. I’ve put the life lessons I’ve learned…so far…in the form of 25 goals to remind myself daily that I know how to be happy, despite the challenges life puts in my path. I will be even happier if some of them increase your happiness.

I will make happiness a worthy goal, for achieving it is entirely within my power. Our nation’s founding fathers declared the pursuit of happiness to be an important and inalienable right. I choose to use it as a primary measure of my success in life. I believe I will die peacefully if I can say I have lived a happy life and helped others to do the same. Achieving both goals is well within my grasp because, as Abraham Lincoln noted, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” So all I have to do is help people change their minds. It isn’t what happens to us that determines how happy we are, it’s what and how we think about what happens to us. Some people call it attitude. Whatever name you give it, it’s the key to happiness.

I will use my feelings to tell me when things aren’t working for me. When I‘m angry, sad, upset, afraid, frustrated, or irritated, when any of those “unpleasant” feelings come over me, I will recognize them as signals that something needs to be changed, so I can regain my happy state. I will use them as cues to examine the situation at hand, particularly my thoughts and beliefs about what is happening to me. I will look at how I am interpreting what is happening, what thoughts are leading to my hurt or anxious or angry feelings. Some have described the process as watching themselves experience the feeling, and then looking for the thoughts behind the emotion. I find that doing this lets me be a grownup, empowered to take responsibility for my feelings, rather than a child victimized by them.

I will let go of what I cannot change: other people, the past, the future. This resolution takes the constant reminder to stop being upset over what isn’t in my control. Reinhold Niebuhr’s serenity prayer helps me do that. “Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I have to remember that I don’t get to decide other people’s feelings or behavior. I can’t make them act the way I want them to act. I can’t make them love me. I can’t make them happy. What I can do is ask them what they’re thinking or how they’re feeling. I can ask them for what I’d like them to give me. I can control my response to their behavior, creating a reward or punishment for their choice. I can warn them what consequence I will provide for each of their choices.

When I find myself regretting something from the past, I will ask myself if it will help to talk to someone, to get a new perspective on the situation or to share mine, or decide whether I need to apologize for what I did to cause my regret. I will let go of my worries of the future by thinking about what I can do to prepare for the situation that is making me anxious. Then I will let go of pointless worrying about what I can’t control. I can choose to stop investing my physical and emotional energy in the things I cannot change.

I will focus on what I can change–my thoughts, beliefs, expectations, and behavior, which will change how I feel. When I examine, for example, why I’m upset over other people’s behavior in traffic, it’s often because I’m afraid I’m going to be late for an appointment, which usually happens because I didn’t leave enough time for lost or leisurely motorists and red lights. Rather than yell my frustration (with the windows rolled up, of course) at the “slow” driver in front of me, I can take responsibility for having brought my tardiness on myself and accept the fact that I will be late rather than shift the blame by focusing on other people and circumstances. I will then use my time constructively by phoning the person who’s expecting me or thinking about how to apologize when I finally arrive, while resolving to allow myself more transit-time in the future. Caught in similar frustrating, unavoidable circumstances, rather than fume at other people’s “selfishness” and inconsiderate behavior, I can remind myself I have no control over what others choose to think or do. Instead, I can refuse to turn into a whining child because of situations and events beyond my power to alter or fix. By keeping my attention on the things I can control — my thoughts, beliefs, expectations, feelings and behavior — I will remain an empowered, responsible adult. And I will have transformed my anger into calm.

I will appreciate the moment. I will notice the good things that are happening to me right now, whether it’s a beautiful sky, a happy child, an efficient grocery store clerk, or hitting all the green lights for a change. I don’t know how many years or days I’ll live, so I want to live this moment fully.  I will ask myself often, “If this turns out to be the last day of my life, have I enjoyed it to the fullest extent possible?” It’s easy to lapse into worrying about the future, or dreaming of better things to come, or stewing in our regrets over the past while we miss the golden sunlight streaming in our window, or don’t hear the lovely song playing on the radio. I will try not to miss this moment because I’m so focused on what I should be doing next. Even when I am working toward a future goal, I will try to enjoy the process of getting there. I will ask myself constantly, “What can I do to wring the most joy from this moment, from this experience?” I will remind myself that taking out the garbage in the rain is a chance to smell the wet earth, to feel nature’s fresh raindrops on my skin, maybe even to stomp in a puddle. I will seize every opportunity to laugh and have fun and learn from every task, no matter how routine or boring. Housework becomes fun when I blast Motown and dance while drying the dishes or sing along with the Supremes while making the bed, so this is what I will do to make my life joyful…

Click to Continue Reading “25 Lessons in Happiness”

Copyright Molly Stranahan. All Rights Reserved. (Excerpted from her article, “25 Resolutions for Happiness: What I’ve Learned… So Far.”)

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a joyful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

Today, I’m pleased to share a wonderful article by SoulfulLiving.com Columnist, Laura V. Grace: “The Courage to Be Happy.”

Laura is a spiritual counselor and author of “Gifts of the Soul” and “The Intimate Soul.” Her article will fill your heart with courage, contentment and genuine joy.

Enjoy ♥

“The Courage to Be Happy”
by Laura Grace

Happiness is our birthright. It’s the goal of our life. Yes, there will be times when we will suffer, but some of the most influential and healing people on our planet are those who choose and allow themselves to be happy, no matter the circumstance.

In order to experience genuine happiness, we must understand what happiness is and where it comes from. And sometimes, it’s easier to start with what it is not. Heartfelt happiness has nothing to do with external circumstances; it’s not based upon what we have or what we do. The most ambitious accomplishments cannot provide us with lasting happiness, nor can beauty, money or fame. None of the idols we subscribe to can ever fulfill us for happiness comes from within and cannot be discovered outside ourselves.

Rick Foster & Greg Hicks, authors of How We Choose to Be Happy affirm, “True happiness is a profound, enduring feeling of contentment, capability and centeredness. It’s a rich sense of well-being that comes from knowing you can deal productively and creatively with all that life offers — both the good and the bad. It’s knowing your eternal self and responding to your real needs, rather than the demands of others.”

Further, happiness is a choice; it’s less about our circumstances and more about our attitude. Recently, after facilitating  A Course in Miracles lesson titled “My happiness and function are one,” a group of us committed to choosing happiness for fourteen days. When we reconvened two weeks later, everyone agreed that the mornings we meditated and consciously chose happiness, our days were filled with contentment, even some bliss. But on the days we didn’t, fear, anxiety and stress influenced our daily lives. We also discovered that the first week of choosing happiness was easier than the second week. Resistance — the ego’s crafty ploy — crept in, preventing the same amount of satisfaction and peace from occurring. A Course in Miracles reminds us that the “happy learner” is someone who recognizes we can just as easily learn through joy as pain, for the choice is ours: “There is no need to learn through pain. And gentle lessons are acquired joyously, and are remembered gladly.”

Finally, courage is an essential ingredient to living a happy life. It requires courage to allow yourself to be genuinely happy. We do not yet reside in a society that supports happy people. There are countless support groups for those suffering, but not for those who take risks, go beyond self-imposed limitations and live life with gusto. Robert Anthony once penned, “Most people would rather be certain they’re miserable, than risk being happy.”

Since we can’t give what we don’t have, it will be difficult to embrace another’s joy if we are not feeling good about our own life. So if you are truly ready to be happy, then you must accept that not everyone will necessarily be happy for you. It all depends on their perception of their own life. A wonderful affirmation a friend passed on to me for living a courageously happy life is: “I have the courage to be happy.”

In my own life, I have discovered there are certain qualities that a “happy learner” possesses…

Continue Reading “The Courage to Be Happy”

Copyright Laura V. Grace. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about Laura’s article! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a courageouly happy day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“Relaxation is the prerequisite for that inner expansion that allows a person to express the source of inspiration and joy within.”
—Deepak Chopra

Today, I’m excited to have the opportunity to share a brief video by Deepak Chopra with you – his “Happiness Prescription.” In this video, Deepak discusses the ten keys to a happy life using modern insights from Buddhist wisdom. We learn how to live life mindfully, joyfully and with effortless spontaneity.

“The Happiness Prescription” with Deepak Chopra

(Note that this is a “preview” video available at YouTube. The full video can be viewed at GaiamTV.) I’ve just signed up for their 10-day free trial and am excited by all their offerings!

I’ve created a Visual Inspiration for you today, too. Enjoy!

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to have you leave a comment below…

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a joyful and mindful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie Rickel, Founder
SoulfulLiving.com

© 2013 Valerie Rickel. All Rights Reserved.

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature.”
—Steve Maraboli

I’m very pleased to feature a guest article today by Bruce D. Schneider, Master Certified Coach, licensed psychotherapist, and author of “Relax, You’re Already Perfect: 10 Spiritual Lessons… to Remember.” He is also the founder and director of the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching.

You may remember that I shared Bruce’s article, “Are You Living Your Life Purpose?” last month.  Today’s article, “Manifesting Happiness” offers us a terrific and simple three-step process for co-creating a life of happiness and abundance.

I’ve created a Visual Inspiration today for you, too, with a wonderful quote by author Steve Maraboli. Enjoy!

“Manifesting Happiness”
By Bruce D. Schneider, PhD

MYTH: “I will be happy when…”

What do you think would truly make you happy? Let’s suppose one of your answers would be to make more money. If you were given a million dollars but told that you couldn’t spend it, money would do you no good. If you were allowed to buy a house that no one could live in, you would find the house worthless, too. So what do you really want? If you don’t know, you’ll greedily pursue material things, thinking they will satisfy your needs.

What you truly desire is abundantly available and not limited to the resources of the physical world. Experiencing Love is all you really want. Money, treasures, even good health and better relationships are all things you think you need. But they are only strategies – means, not ends, and only a temporary part of a temporary physical world. They may be important in this dimension, but when you are completely awakened with Love, you realize you need nothing else.

Where are you looking for Love? Probably in all the wrong places. True Love, like true happiness, is abundantly available and comes from within.

This doesn’t mean you can’t work at a great job, have better health, or enjoy life’s material rewards. These things are for you to enjoy and experience only while you are here. Once you’re an awakened spiritual being, you’re free to consciously experience all of life’s physical rewards as an addition to your life, instead of believing you need anything for wholeness and happiness. You may say, “Yes, but love doesn’t pay the bills.” Survival is important of course, but merely surviving is not our purpose here. We’re here to enjoy this experience and remember who we are.

Three steps to abundance

“Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” –Mark 11:24

Step 1: Know what you want.

This means the feeling behind what an object or person will help you to experience, not the object or person. The Universe responds literally to your thoughts, so be as specific as possible. For example, don’t wish for a better marriage when you really want to share peace and Love with another soul. Don’t think you want better health when you really want more energy and the ability to experience life. Think carefully about what you really want, so when you program for it, you’ll create a clearer picture in your mind (and Universe) so it can more easily be manifested.

Step 2: Believe you can have what you want.

You can’t have something if you don’t believe you are capable of having it or deserving of it. It’s not enough to merely desire something; you must believe you are capable of owning it. If you’re 5’9″ and believe no one your height could dunk a basketball, you never will. (But no one told that to 5’7″ professional-basketball-player Spud Webb.)

Application: You deserve abundance

If you think you don’t deserve something, challenge this belief. Where did this idea come from? Is it a reality? Realize that you were created to experience prosperity and abundance in all things. There is nothing you don’t deserve.

It is said that anything you can conceive and believe, you can have. This is almost the case, but if you want help from the Universal Energy, there’s one more step.

Step 3: Accept that you already have what you desire.

Once you accept that you’ve already received what you created in your mind, the process is complete. If you sprain your wrist playing tennis, see it healed using a visualization technique. By creating in your mind that your injury is already healed, that image will be manifested in the physical world, and you will be back on the tennis courts much sooner. If you want to find a loving partner, center yourself and create an image of already enjoying your life with the person you desire. (It is not necessary to know who it is or to imagine a face.) If and when you are ready, the Universe will unite you!

Don’t ask!

Thought is energy. This form of energy is processed by your creative mind and printed out as your reality. If you’re centered, you co-create your printout with the power of the Universal Energy. Your thought will be much stronger, resulting in the creation of what you desire sooner…

Click Here to Continue Reading “Manifesting Happiness”

Copyright Bruce D. Schneider, PhD. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on today’s Daily Soul Retreat! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a happy and abundant day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“I believe time can expand to an extraordinary degree in extraordinary circumstances… And if we can cram enough living and loving and joy and excitement into a few days, they will expand into a month of ordinary time.”
–Nancy Cato

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed a glorious summer weekend! It is hard to believe that summer is already winding down. It seems like it just began!

I managed to catch some sort of cold bug and have been sick in bed for the last four days. I’m feeling a little better today, but between this cold and last week’s food allergy, my summer is, indeed, passing by quickly. Hopefully, I’ll be feeling well soon and able to enjoy the final days of summer. It is my hope that you are feeling well and enjoying family and friends and very lovely summer!

I’m pleased to share a guest article with you today by author Susan L. Colantuono. She is the author of several books, including Make Room for Joy and No Ceiling, No Walls. In her article, “Make Room for Joy,” she shows us how to craft joyful days that last a whole month long! Enjoy!

“Make Room for Joy“
by Susan L. Colantuono

Have you ever felt that the busyness of your life gets in the way of really living?

Have you ever felt that even as you are “hooked up” online and “tuned in” with cell phones, tablets, laptops, e-mail, voicemail, you are less connected with others?

Have you ever felt that you live each day on auto pilot plowing through your to-do lists, passing the same routes, seeing the same people?

Today, all too many of us feel these things and make it through days that fly by, but seem to drag on forever. Why? Because we have subscribed to definitions of success and happiness that have nothing to do with the nourishment that our souls truly need in order to joyfully thrive.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Within our everyday lives we CAN experience joy on a daily basis. But not if we strive for joy through the acquisition of material things or fancy titles. Striving in these ways drives joy away as surely as squeezing a handful of water leaves us empty-handed.

If we want to find magical moments in our everyday lives, we have to make room for JOY! Joy requires emptiness — space and inattention. There is no room for joy when we are striving, collecting and hoarding things. There is no room for joy when we are full of anger, cynicism, or despair. There is no room for joy when we are worrying about the future or complaining about past events. As Susanna Tamaro writes in her gem of a book, Follow Your Heart, “Joy… has no object. It seizes you for no apparent reason, it’s like the sun, its burning is fueled by its own heat.”

To be seized with joy we have to be open to it. This is why I hold a beautifully hand-painted broom when I speak to groups. The broom is important because it symbolizes three things.

Joy as a Daily Companion

First the broom symbolizes that joy can be with us on a daily basis, just like the chores around the home or office. Why? The answer lies in defining what joy is. Oxford’s defines joy as, ” A vivid emotion of pleasure arising from a sense of well-being.”

I LOVE this definition because it roots joy in a sense of well-being. We can have a sense of well-being every day of our lives. This means that there is no reason why each and every one of us can’t experience joy on a daily basis. This means that we can find joy not only in the quiet of a life going well, but also in a life full of turmoil and even pain. This means that we can live more joy-full lives without making major changes in the external aspects of our lives, but by making minor changes in the centers of our beings.

This means that by letting go of the importance of external validation of our worth we can begin to nurture the internal sense of wellbeing that is the wellspring of joy.

We are born for joy and magical moments. When we are expecting them, we discover that magical moments already sparkle in our everyday lives.

Making Room for JOY!

This leads to the second symbolism in the broom. It’s not enough to expect magical moments, we must learn to actively make room for them. We must sweep away the clutter that clogs our homes, our hearts and our minds.

• Sweep away material things. Remove from our living spaces the things that bind us to them, that conjure up negative experiences, or that remind us of the ways we aren’t. We are left with simpler living spaces graced with a few things that have significance and meaning to us. Then we are free to experience the joyous freedom of nourishing memories and pleasing surroundings.
• Sweep away anger, resentment, and bitterness. Apply the greatest gift of all – forgiveness. By living lives of conscious self-acceptance and learning to forgive ourselves we become more able to forgive others. This loosens the debilitating constraints of anger, resentment, cynicism and despair and frees our hearts to swell with joy.
• Sweep away the busyness and mental chatter of lives lived in the possible future or buried past. When we second-guess what we “should have done” or anticipate what we are going to do, we become oblivious to the magic in the moment we are living. By learning to be present in the current moment we open to the treasures that it offers.
• Sweep away taking for granted – and walk with an appreciative heart. We dance with joy when counting our blessings – those that float unnoticed in our existing lives and those that cascade in unexpectedly. It’s nearly impossible to be gloomy when acknowledging the gifts that are present in our lives.
• Sweep away self-limitations – face each day with a CAN DO attitude. When we start each day with an indomitable CAN DO attitude, we invite ourselves to learn new things, tackle seemingly difficult challenges. We then experience the joyfulness of self-discovery and accomplishment.
• Sweep away worry – explore the paradoxical power of surrender. Worry serves as a signal that we must tend to something, but when we have done all that can be done for the moment, it’s time to let go of worry and surrender to the joyous support of people and possibilities…

Click here to continue reading “Make Room for Joy”

Copyright Susan L. Colantuono. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on today’s Daily Soul Retreat! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a joyful day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.
—Thich Nhat Hanh

Happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed a glorious weekend! It was beautiful here in the Northeast.  We are enjoying clear blue sunny skies and a light breeze that feels a little bit like autumn.

Today, I’m pleased to share an article with you, called “Joyful Living,” by one of my favorite contributors to SoulfulLiving.com, Salle Merrill Redfield.

Salle is the author of two best-selling books, Creating a Life of Joy and The Joy of Meditating.  She is also the wife of James Redfield of The Celestine Prophecy books and movie.

I hope you enjoy Salle’s article! Enjoy ♥

“Joyful Living”
by Salle Merrill Redfield

Have you ever had an experience where you felt joyful and wise? Maybe you went through a divorce or you lost a loved one and you grew from the pain and developed a new outlook on life. Or maybe you accomplished something like loosing those extra ten pounds or improving your golf swing. For awhile you felt in the flow of life. Connected. As if everything was going to be all right forever. Then something came along that left you feeling out of balance.

Why does this happen? How can we feel so connected to everyone and everything one moment and equally disconnected the next? And what can we do when this occurs? How can we get back into the flow, and how can we be OK when regaining our happiness takes longer than we want?

Perhaps the answer is following the strategies of people who stay joyful most of the time. After observing and interviewing joyful people over the past ten years I have noticed they share strategies that enable them to navigate life with a positive attitude. Through experience, they have come to the realization that opportunities as well as emotions cycle through ups and downs. During hard times this awareness gives them the faith that “this too shall pass.” Because they recognize the preciousness of the good times, rarely do they worry obsessively or lament the past. Instead, they keep their focus on moving through life with a sense of joy and wonder.

One of the most valuable techniques they adopt is not buying into the belief that their problems are special or unchangeable. While many people allow the thoughts “This will never get better” or “I can not survive” or “Nobody understands what I am going through” to continuously run though their minds, joyful people stop the chatter before it becomes consuming. They prefer to step back and evaluate the problem. Experience has taught them that they can survive difficulties. They also know that everyone has challenges, therefore they seek support and advice from friends, family members, counselors, spiritual leaders and books. Learning from the mistakes and successes of others gives them new options. Sometimes this means working hard to change a situation. At other times it means accepting the facts and moving on.

Another of their strategies is actively pursuing healthy distractions. Joyful people might call a friend and tell jokes, hit golf balls at a driving range, or window shop when life begins to feel heavy. They may also take a walk, go to a movie, or play with their children and pets. Activities like these shift their focus onto something they enjoy. This time out helps them lighten their mental load and return to challenges with a fresh outlook.

Focusing on a compelling future is also a strategy. Joyful people like having dreams that pull them into the future. They may aspire to buy a new car, increase personal growth, or take a nice long vacation. They may seek more quality time with their friends and family members. Or they might pursue a career change. Whatever the desire, joyful people like having something to look forward to.

They also know the value of living in the now. They take time to appreciate a beautiful sunset, a good conversation, or a well prepared meal. They make their relationship with themselves and others a priority. And they slow down to enjoy the simple pleasures.

Joyful people also take time for spiritual growth. They pray, meditate, and study spiritual teachings. They love to dialogue about the mystical side of life. And many of them find a spiritual connection when in nature. At some point they begin to think about fulfilling a spiritual mission. Many have achieved impressive financial goals, others have found their greatest satisfaction in raising children or traveling the world. An intuition or the thought “Is this all there is?” or a crisis can signal that it is time to reevaluate their contribution to society. Examining the past, recognizing natural talents, and listening to their heart’s true desire, helps them discover what is next…

Click Here to Continue Reading “Joyful Living”

Copyright Salle Merrill Redfield. All Rights Reserved.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments about Salle’s article! Please scroll down and leave your comments below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a joyous day!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh

Happy Friday everyone! I’m still on the mend from my food allergy attack, but I’m feeling a little better today. Thank you all for your well wishes!

Today, I want to share a fascinating video with you about the science of happiness.  I really enjoyed this video and learned a lot from it, and I hope you will, too. It’s a TEDTalk called, “The Surprising Science of Happiness” by Dan Gilbert, author of the book, Stumbling on Happiness. In this video, Dan challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want in life and suggests that we can feel truly happy with “synthetic happiness” even when things don’t go as planned.

Enjoy!

If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love to have you leave a comment below.

And, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to pick up your special package of inspirational goodness exclusively for our Daily Soul Retreat Newsletter Subscribers — a “Soul Retreat Gift Pack” filled with over $300 worth of Ecourses, Ebooks, Audio Workshops and Meditations, donated by our awesome SoulfulLiving.com authors. If you aren’t already subscribed, click here for all the details. If you are already subscribed, watch your Daily Soul Retreats for all the details.

Wishing you a happy weekend!!

Soulfully,
Valerie

Share the Inspiration with Your Friends…