Simple Reminders on Happiness

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."
— Marianne Williamson

I've been thinking a lot lately about simplicity. Doesn’t it sometimes feel like all the crazy stuff happens in waves? I'm surfing one of those waves right now (selling my little city farm house, moving back to my home town, downsizing, getting ready for the release of my new book). When life gets super busy, keeping things simple is key for our wellbeing and inner-peace. It also helps to ensure that we have the focus to handle all that’s currently in our zone.

So, I thought I'd share 3 simple but powerful things that help me to stay grounded, happy, and more productive. Not just during extra-busy times, but all the time.  

1. Remove one thing a day.

What kind of thing? Anything that will create space for creativity, clarity, and time to breathe. It could be as simple as throwing out an old shirt with stains on it, or as big as emailing to cancel travel plans you're really not feeling up for. Think about this: if you do this every day for an entire year, that’s 365 unwanted, energy-draining things you will have removed from your life with little effort! Talk about a valuable habit!  Create a practice of picking at least one thing a day to remove from your life and watch magic happen.

2. Each morning, write down 5 things you're grateful for that day.

Gratitude is incredibly powerful, so starting your day off with this kind of positive energy will set you on the right track and create much-needed momentum for a great day.  This little practice is like taking your brain to the gym.

3. Hydrate even more.

Most people are walking around slightly dehydrated without knowing it.  Even a 1% drop in hydration in the body can affect mental clarity, energy levels, and mood by as much as 10%! A big glass of water when you wake up, an extra with lunch, and one in the evening, on top of your regular intake, can make a massive difference. Step up your H20 consumption and you’re guaranteed to notice a difference.  

And, here's a bonus tip:

When you begin practicing #1 regularly, you’ll also create more time and space to bring things into your life that will inspire you, empower your success, and raise your happiness levels!

When you combine these and other simple (but proven) happiness habits with clean eating, quality sleep, and regular physical movement, you’ll not only be ready for the busy times in life, you’ll create sustainable peace, joy, and elevated energy levels that will support you in living your very best life.  Cheers to that!

Kristi Ling, Happiness Strategist, Transformational Life and Business Coach, Podcaster and Author

 

 

Things You Can Control

1                     Your beliefs

2                     Your attitude

3                     Your thoughts

4                     Your perspective

5                     How honest you are

6                     Who your friends are

7                     What books you read

8                     How often you exercise

9                     The type of food you eat

10                 How many risks you take

11                 How you interpret situations

12                 How kind you are to others

13                 How kind you are to yourself

14                 How often you say “I love you”

15                 How often you say “thank you”

16                 How you express your feelings

17                 Whether or not you ask for help

18                 How often you practice gratitude

19                 How many times you smile today

20                 The amount of effort you put forth

21                 How you spend/invest your money

22                 How much time you spend worrying

23                 How often you think about your past

24                 Whether or not you judge other people

25                 Whether or not you try again after a setback

26                 How much you appreciate the things you have

 

-          Ruben Chavez

Once In A Lifetime Kind Of People

This Is Why I Like You

Others judge you by the outcomes you achieve, but you judge yourself by your intentions. You judge yourself as God does. This is why I like you.

You have no power over the vagaries of your circumstances; to be in the right place at the right time is not a matter of skill, but of chance. But you try to do the right thing in the right way for the right reason. This is why I like you.

You have failed, but you are not a failure. You have succeeded, but you are not a success. You have tried and cried and laughed and struggled like a chick breaking out of its shell. This is why I like you.

You are wounded and broken and have ugly scars because you run to help those you love. When you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you do not quickly give up. This is why I like you.

You allow yourself to like people for the most ridiculous of reasons. You take your inspiration from wherever you find it. You have a strange sense of humor and you can laugh at yourself. This is why I like you.

You fall but you get up again. You are at your best when no one is watching. And you know how to keep a secret. This is why I like you.

One can love a person one does not like.

But what I hold for you is something else.

I see you as you are.

I see you real.

And I like you.

– Roy H. Williams

 

“I’m telling you, she doesn’t belong. Not to one person, not to one place, not to one set of ideals. Her mind changed her heart, which changed her mind, and she was nothing, if not completely free. Maybe we’re just afraid of anyone who is constantly searching. And anything that didn’t clip her wings, or make her feel caged, was exactly where she was meant to be.

You’ve got to respect things that aren’t afraid of going off path. She would always be the type to lose herself, trying to find her own ways. I suppose the river doesn’t compete with the earth. It carves its own path anyway. It doesn’t brag, or boast, or beat its chest. It just flows. And the moon doesn’t try to outshine the stars. It just glows. The flowers amidst the trees, that radiate and create life – even all that, only grows.

She wasn’t free because she knew where she was going, she was free because she didn’t need to know.

 J. Raymond

You are not your age,

Nor the size of clothes you wear,

You are not a weight,

Or the colour of your hair.

You are not your name,

Or the dimples in your cheeks,

You are all the books you read,

And all the words you speak.

You are your croaky morning voice,

And the smiles you try to hide,

You’re the sweetness in your laughter,

And every tear you’ve cried,

You’re the songs you sing so loudly,

When you know you’re all alone,

You’re the places that you’ve been to,

And the one that you call home.

You’re the things that you believe in,

And the people that you love,

You’re the photo’s in your bedroom,

And the future you dream of.

You’re made of so much beauty,

But it seems that you forgot,

When you decided that you were defined,

By all the things you’re not.

 

- e.h

Tuesday Greetings

 

Let your heart break daily.

In conversation.

Over song lyrics.

During the pause right before the sun rises.

While you’re sipping coffee and looking

Into the eyes of someone

Talking about something they love.

For it’s when we break a little – we come alive.

It’s in this space of feeling,

We get to expand.

And it’s here,

In our vulnerability and openness,

We step into our greatest selves.

 

Iam Her Tribe

7 Things That Are Worth Fighting For If You Want To Live A Fulfilling Life

People are strange: They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.”— Charles Bukowski

I'm not a very confrontational person. To be honest, I avoid confrontation like I avoid the gym. I give up very easily, not because I'm lazy, but many times I just don't see the point in fighting or putting massive amounts of energy into something when I could easily sit back and let life happen as it should. I liked to think that “going with the flow” is a much better attitude to have about life, and will bring me more peace than trying to fight for all these things I think I want and need. However, as I've gotten older, I've realized that fighting for things is the whole point of living. In a world in which nothing is handed to you (unless you're Paris Hilton), the only way to get what you want is to fight for it and the only way to figure out what's important to you is to see what you're willing to fight for. There are universal things that no one should give up easily. Things that all people should stand their ground against and fight for until they either die trying or get what they want. But I know fighting for things can be hard.

Fighting for things means putting your ego aside and admitting that this is important to you. It means embarrassing yourself or maybe hurting yourself in the process. But isn't that the point of life? To live so dangerously and passionately that you forget you’re going to die at the end of it all?

Your Dream Job

“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”— Thomas Edison

If you want to be one of the few people in life who actually enjoys going to work every day, you need to fight for that job. No dream job is ever handed to anyone, otherwise everyone would be going to work as actresses, astronauts, artists and late night talk show hosts. There are millions of people with the same aspirations as you and the only way to beat them is to consistently fight for it. Because in the end, the winners are the ones who didn't stop fighting, who never gave up and who outlasted the rest.

Your Reputation

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” -Warren Buffett.

At the end of the day, your reputation is all you have. Whether it's the way people remember you or what you're known for, keep your reputation guarded and close to your heart. Make people talk about you the way you want to be talked about and remember you the way you deserve to be remembered. Fight for your reputation, fight for the person you've worked so hard to become. Don't let anyone tear you down without your approval. This is your life and you deserve to be remembered the right way for it.

People Who Make You Laugh

“Laughter is the evidence that we're still here, the proof that our tragedies will not define us forever. Laughter is the language of the survivor.” — Josh Riebock

Friendships become hard to maintain as you get older and it becomes important to learn which friends are worth fighting for and which you need to let go.Just know that the ones who make you laugh, who help you forget your pain and remember that life is good are always worth fighting for. Because laughter, in a world of stress and sorrow, is the only thing that will keep you going. When everything else is horribly wrong, that one friend who can make you laugh when you're about to cry might just save your life.

The Truth

“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” — André Gide

Never settle for the truth told to you by someone else. The people who live their lives as beautifully and determined as possible always search for the truth and fight for it themselves. The truth is not only what will set you free, but what will show you the world. Fight for your right to the truth. Fight for your right to see everything as it deserves to be seen. Don't let anyone put blinders over your eyes or tell you lies. You deserve to see everything as it is: the good, bad and the very, very beautiful.

Change

“Don't accept the limitations of other people who claim things are 'unchangeable.' If it's written in stone, bring your hammer and chisel.” — Peter McWilliams

Never let your life stagnate. Keep it interesting, moving and, most importantly, constantly changing. Monotony is like quicksand; the ease of daily routine and a predictable future can pull you in and be hard to escape from. You must fight to keep your life different. You must force yourself out of the monotony of life and work to keep it unique and surprising. Never let the daily grind stop you from progressing. Fight to be inspired, unique and unpredictable.

The Person You Love

 “You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.” – Barbara De Angelis

Whether they love you back or not, fight for them. This may be the hardest fight of all, especially when you are fighting for people who don’t know they love you yet. But love is one of the only things worth living for. So if you don't fight for love, what's the point of living at all? It's better to die in the pursuit of real, passionate love than to live an empty, hollow existence, never giving yourself the real chance to have experienced the joys of love. Fight for your right to love and be loved, for that, there is no better reason to fight.

Your Freedom

 “Do yourself a favor: Become your own savior.” — Daniel Johnston

Only you can fight for the life you imagined for yourself. Do not let anyone hold you back, put you in a corner or tell you that you can't have that type of life. Your life is yours and if you want to be rich, famous or live in Africa, then do it.Your freedom is the most basic right you have and refusing to fight for it is like dying before your heart stops beating. Never give up your right to freedom, which is your right to be, do and see anything you want. You are as free as you fight to be.

Lauren Martin

A. A. Milne on Love

“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh!" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you.”
― A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

 

“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

 

“Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would, I'd never leave.”
― A.A. Milne

 

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.”
― A.A. Milne

End of Week Inspiration

A leader is a dealer in hope. – Napoleon Bonaparte

I am seeking, I am striving, I am in with all my heart. – Vincent Van Gogh

“Don't ever give up.  Don't ever give in. Don't ever stop trying. Don't ever sell out. And if you find yourself succumbing to one of the above for a brief moment, pick yourself up, brush yourself off, whisper a prayer, and start where you left off. But never, ever, ever give up.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich

More From The Words of My Life...

Facing The Hurricanes Of Life - By Drago

There has been a lot of talk about hurricanes and storms lately and we thought the following message from Jon Gordon was very tinely. One thing is absolutely certain in this life and that is at some point we will all face adversity. The big question is will that adversity make you better or bitter? We hope today's message encourages you to Be Better!

What do you do when you look at the television and see a category 4 hurricane headed your way?

Unfortunately, we are utterly and completely powerless in the face of a 120 mph hurricane that is headed straight for our house, our family, and our life. As human beings who strive for control we come face to face with the ultimate reality - there is so much in life that is beyond our control.

You see, hurricanes don't just come in the form of weather patterns, wind and rain. Every day we face hurricanes at work and in life.

A sudden illness. A sick child. A car accident. Divorce. Job loss. Company reorganization. Financial crisis. The death of a loved one. Loss of business, etc.

The winds of life blow. The conditions get worse. Hurricanes come at us from all directions.

So what do we do? Do we give up? Do we live in fear? Do we hide under the covers or do we face the reality of the storm, adapt and deal with the damages it brings?

The answer comes from a boy named Joshua. As a hurricane was approaching our town years ago Joshua’s mom was in his room telling him that that she and his dad were getting a divorce. With tears streaming down his face he said, "You know Mom, this is really hard but I’m going to try to be strong and positive and trust it will all work out."

As she told me this story my heart just melted. This boy, whose pain was unbearable, was choosing to stay positive as his world was being torn apart. While his levies of strength were breaking and the pain was flooding in, he was mustering up the courage and faith to reinforce his walls and stay strong in the face of adversity. He didn't act in denial. He accepted the situation. And he knew he had to deal with it; with courage, positivity, hope and faith.

I've come to realize that, like Joshua, every one of us will come face to face with hurricanes in our life. We will come to the realization that our situation is beyond our control. During these moments we are meant to realize that we can’t do it alone. In our powerlessness we are meant to discover the ultimate power. In our fear we are meant to find our faith. And in our need for control we are meant to find a peace that comes when we surrender. We are meant to stay positive and overcome whatever challenges come our way.

I don't know why we have to face hurricanes but people like Joshua and my own heart show me the way to overcome them.

The day after hurricane Matthew hit my town I saw a picture of a beautiful sunrise that was taken at the beach where Matthew had just wreaked havoc. I realized storms are going to happen. But the sun always rises and shines again.

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago

 

A Leap Of Faith - Drago

This week we share another timely message from Author & Speaker, Jon Gordon. Jon's message really resonates with us because after working with so many businesses and coaching many athletes we have seen first-hand how big an enemy FEAR is in our lives.

Our hope is that Jon's message will help you look at FEAR in a different way and make this the year that you get mastery over the enemy from within!

Sixteen years ago I looked out into the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Day with fear in my heart and uncertainty in my life. I had been fired from a dot com company two weeks earlier with only two weeks of severance, no insurance for my two young children and only two months of savings in the bank. My wife and I had just invested every dollar we had and even took out a second mortgage on our home and $20,000 on a credit card to open what would be the first Moe’s Southwest Grill in Florida.

The restaurant was set to open January 13th and we had no earthly idea how we would pay our home mortgage and other bills since I planned on keeping my salary and job while my managers built the restaurant business. Now, it was New Year's Day and I had no job, no salary and a restaurant opening that at worst would fail miserably or at best take a year to be profitable.

I thought of all this as I prepared to jump into the icy cold water-to take a symbolic plunge that this would be the year of NO FEAR. Regardless of the circumstances I was facing, this would be the year where I would trust and go for it. This would be the year I would be bold in actions and faith. No longer could I do it alone. Now I needed a miracle and I decided to act as if my future depended on me and pray like it depended on God.

By jumping into the ocean I was declaring that no longer will I allow fear to cut off the flow of abundant and positive energy in my life. No longer will I allow fear to paralyze me. Instead of fear I would trust.

Now, sixteen years later, I jumped into the ocean once again on New Year’s Day. It has become my yearly ritual – to remind myself to follow my passion, live life to the fullest, surrender and to stay one step ahead of the fear that hovers around me. And as I take my leap into the ocean I want to invite you to jump in with me. Perhaps not in the ocean but in the depths of your mind. This jump doesn't necessarily require water but rather a leap of faith in your belief system and a shift in your mindset. The antidote to fear is trust and it is only a thought away.

No one is going to push you over the chasm of struggle to the life that you want. God will nudge you but you must take the leap. You must make this jump in your mind and then with your actions. You must make this jump with trust, determination and faith. After all, they don’t call it a leap of fear. They call it a “leap of faith” for a reason.

You will always feel fear. Everyone will. But your trust must be bigger than your fear. The bigger your trust the smaller your fear becomes. And the more you trust the more you become a conduit for miracles. I know. A consulting project presented itself out the blue and we were able to pay our mortgage. A check came in the mail, the right opportunities came our way and somehow, some way my family and I were carried. A year after the restaurant opened I started writing which eventually lead to me writing books, speaking and doing the work I do now.

Maybe 2016 wasn't a great year for you but I believe the New Year represents a fresh start and presents a new opportunity to create the life and career you want. All you have to do is jump in with all that you are and all that you wish to become. We wish you an amazing 2017 and we're sending positive energy your way.

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago