Grow in the Direction of Happiness January 13, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Life Balance, Mindfulness.trackback
The best way to create the life of our dreams it to grow in the direction of happiness:
1. Live each day to the fullest. Life is precious. It’s a mystical, magical adventure filled with fabulous gifts and exciting prizes. Enjoy all it has to offer.
Live each day as if it were going to be your last ~ one day, it will be.
2. Make room for what matters. As we follow our unique likes and dislikes (i.e., clues to our essence) like breadcrumbs, we move ever closer to living the life of our dreams.
The happier we are, the closer we are to being who we were always intended to be.
3. Don’t hang on to the bad stuff. Let past hurts go. They are merely images in your mind. Free up your energy to enjoy life. Turn your back on the past and return your attention to the present ~ right here, right now.
Keep flowing through life.
4. Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do. Be spontaneous. Be childlike. Exude alertness and curiosity and wonder. Follow the pure impulses of spirit. Trust that the future will unfold in exactly the right way at exactly the right moment in time.
Revel in the uncertainty.
5. Don’t wallow in regret or self-pity. When you choose to hang on to the negatives, you continue to be a victim. Choose to be a survivor instead.
Hardship is inevitable. Misery is optional.
6. Forgive yourself and others. When we forgive someone, it doesn’t mean that we condone what they did ~ it means we are no longer going to devote our precious energy to hang on to unpleasant memories from a past that cannot be changed. When you refuse to forgive, they are no longer doing anything to you ~ you are punishing yourself.
Forgive others to free yourself.
7. Be grateful. Life is a gift filled with everyday blessings. Be thankful for what you have. Count your blessings . . . every day. It will put you in the right frame of mind to enjoy all that life has to offer.
As long as you have everything you need in this moment, you have everything you need.
8. Look for the laughter. There is always a reason to smile. When we focus on what is working, we are happier. When we focus on what isn’t working, we are less happy. It’s our choice.
We do not laugh because we are happy. We are happy because we laugh.
9. Choose your focus. Life is uncertain, and much remains outside our control. Yet we can control how we choose to view events over which we have no control. It is not what happens to us in life that determines our level of happiness, it is how we choose to view what happens.
How we relate to the issue is the issue.
10. Embrace all with joy. Things are not always as they seem. Losing a job may seem negative because the future looks uncertain. With greater perspective, we may realize that losing that job freed up our time and talents to pursue something truly meaningful.
Anything can be a gift of gold in disguise.
No rules. Just write!
Related posts: The Fastest Path to Happiness (Think Simple Now) * Embrace All With Joy * The ABC’s of Happiness * Finding Happiness (Think Simple Now)
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Interesting set of non-rules. Perhaps you ought to add that we still have to do the dishes and mow the yard (in a few months). The challenge is to maintain focus on what ultimately matters while dealing with the mundane things that have to be done.
My own answer is to accept that ecstasy is often the product of work. Arvik on Intergalactic Writers Inc. has a recent post on that idea.
Exactly. If we remain mindful and aware as we “chop wood and carry water,” we can enjoy the happiness (and even ecstasy) that arises when we remain fully present.
This is a great post with wonderful advice to live a gratifying life. Blessings to you, Nancy…
Thanks, Carol.
When we are absolutely determined to enjoy everything we do, even washing the dishes (or taking out the trash) can fill us with joy.
Thumbs up, and thanks.
Good luck with the new contract. 🙂
My key to happiness and peace of mind is painting. Unfortunately I don’t practice what I preach nearly enough so I am always left not quite satisfied. All your points seem to ring true for me, especially number 3 – don’t hang onto the bad stuff. Is practising really the key?
Yes. The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. Reclaim the remote. As many times as it takes.
For an extreme example of getting worked up about nothing:
https://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/dear-gabby/
Glad you have found your bliss. Painting is a delight. When all else fades away, peace and happiness surface.
Paint on!
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” ~ Carlos Castaneda
[…] Related post: What is Your Unique Purpose in Life? (Ordinary Vegan) * Grow in the Direction of Happiness […]
Reblogged this on Purplerays and commented:
Seek the Threads of Light surrounding you and go with the flow!
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed your golden Goldie quote too. 😎
Pleasure is mine! You are doing an amazing work here! I definitely will be back for more! Thanks!
Have fun wandering around to see what you see.
you give me advice that hits the spot so often i wish you backed horses, amen and blessings to you
It’s great when it resonates!
You might also check in on Eric’s blog, Awakening to Awareness:
http://tonningsen.wordpress.com/