The key to happiness

Recognize that nothing comes into your life without your attention.  Nothing stays in your life without your attention either. Pay attention to passing thoughts.  Listen to your words. Observe your behaviour. Notice your experience unfolds based on you.

When you choose to feel joy, this is evidence of success.   When you choose to talk about why you feel unhappy or why life is not going well, is it any wonder your experience reflects your words? You always get what you ask for. This also goes beyond words.

Take for example a woman who used to complain and self-criticize. She came to me and said one of her goals was to engage in a healthy, loving relationship. Unaware of the impact of her behaviours, she told me she slept in the middle of a big bed, filled her two sided closet with stuff, used one of her garages for storage and the other for a car. She also worked crazy hours with no social life. As she raised awareness, she began to see she was not being kind to herself or others and not making space for anyone to enter her life. Amazing things happen as you make space in the home and the heart. She cleaned out half her closet and started sleeping on one side of the bed. She chose to work less, was kinder to people because she could be not because she had to be. She began to see all life experience invites her to love herself more.  As she did, in thought, word and deed, the perfect partner entered her life. She discovered the key to happiness is loving yourself.

Another example is a man who sees his family moving from a rental to owning a home. He takes great pleasure from the vision.  He knows that nurturing joyful feelings is bringing a good feeling space closer in his reality.  It has to feel like the next logical step.  Grateful for the location and convenience of the rental, the whole family is also eager for what is coming. They appreciate the natural surroundings of their new suburb, visit houses, post an image of the house to buy like a vision board on the wall and look at it often. They explore furniture showrooms, discuss how to remodel parts of the new house and add solar panels. They develop a related business plan. Although a banker said they do not currently qualify for the mortgage they want, they remain optimistic. They thank the banker for his advice while sensing money comes from varied sources. They know the 'what' always comes before the 'how.' They behave as though details are in motion, give away belongings they no longer use, and do things you do as you prepare to move. They trust the universe has a plan. Life shows them the key to happiness is to be joyful where you are and focus beyond the limits of the mind.

Another example is a woman who asks me guidance in identifying her life purpose.  I remind her that she has nothing to figure out and nobody to live up to.  We are each eternal beings who create our paths and everything about our experience.  Its easy to forget that well-intentioned people train you away from your own inner guidance system.  I say to the woman as I say here you cannot make decisions that are the best for you while pleasing others.  There is no finished portrait of your mission that you can ever reach.  You move incrementally through experiences that are simply meant to make you feel good. So, you cannot get off your path. You can only live a purposeful life.  You can be deliberate about creating or not.  You are consciously in love with life and express this, receive and feel this fully or not.  For this woman, the key to happiness is to recognize events unfold based on how she feels and what she chooses to experience.

Ultimately, the key to happiness is the feeling of worthiness in all you do, knowing your value, that whatever you do you are winning, getting ahead, living the dream, that whatever anyone else is thinking or doing is irrelevant.  As you get a handle on how you feel, its like allowing yourself to be who you are.  In this state, everything comes to you.  Even to feel negative emotion is pointing to who you really are. Take this away:

1) Dwelling on 'what is', on what the mind judges is wrong or not possible prevents what could be from coming.  Ignoring 'what is' is as simple as focusing on something else.

2) Love yourself as the larger part of you does.  You only suffer if you cut yourself off from love and acceptance. You are the creator from the beginning to the end.  Know what you do and do not want. Know what feels not good and what feels better.

3) Revel in contrast.  Come into alignment with the best feeling thought you can find. Rather than saying, "It could be worse if...", say instead, "It is so great that..." or "It is fantastic that..." or "Its truly a blessing that..." or "It is so fortunate that..."

4) Be eager and solutions-oriented when apparent obstacles arise.  Remind yourself that more than one way to do things and to get places exists.  Be resourceful.

5) Be someone who chronically appreciates everything. reach out and help others because it is the right thing to do.  Be generous with no expectations.  Know you are living a good life.  Achieve the vibration consistently and watch what happens. 

6) Feel fulfilled as you are, wherever you are, and then like magic, "it" comes.

Let go of your own resistance

Feelings that keep you from realizing a vision only hold your attention if you focus there.  Notice why you doubt, sense you are doing something wrong or feel impatient at a lack of results.  Notice what happens as you shift the focus of your thoughts.  Notice your thoughts are themselves energy vibrations shaping the evolution of your life.  Speak as if the life you dream about it already here.  All the power in the universe conspires to make it happen.  And so it is.

Talk yourself through a breakthrough or change in some area of your life.  For instance:

It is so exciting to be tuned into the flow of what is working.  I know I create my own reality.  I love knowing I create my thoughts and shape the direction of my unfolding experience.  I know that to speak in generalities and to feel good now where I am is a bridge to feeling good about specific changes I would like to see in my life and inviting those to manifest.  I trust the universe is creating a path for me and people enter into my life to help me move ahead. 

Go more specific: I expect synchronicities and continue to notice them.  I have good vibes about branching out to help people help themselves in a new and harmonious setting.   I can feel inside that vibrationally-speaking, researching property for sale  at this point in time is no accident.  I feel I am outgrowing my current conditions and I am also aware that its now a buyer's market.  I know visiting places of interest is a step toward living that dream.   

My vision of a move invites details to fall into place that enable this to happen smoothly. I feel energized as I explore the surrounding community and welcomed by friendly locals. Direct experience further convinces me of the power of intention.  I sense focusing on and speaking openly about a healthy change of scenery is making it unfold in this reality. I love picturing myself in that new house or set of conditions.  I feel the momentum building.  

Sunshine is here to stay

Many people feel positive and upifted by the light and warmth of longer days.  Allow yourself to tap into the sun shining from the heart. What happens as you begin to feel as though sunshine is here to stay? How does this shape your outlook and evolving life?

Look around you. Be aware of the living creatures, plants and everything else around you.  Maybe you are familiar with mountains or valleys, beaches or desserts.  Maybe you gaze into the sky at the stars.  Notice what feels natural, what brings a twinkle to the eye.  Notice what you have to feel happy about.  Allow the silly jokes and laughter to erupt from within you.  Take life less seriously.  Allow all that you have been missing to capture your attention.

Appreciate the little things

Whatever situations are unfolding in your life, you choose where to focus your attention.  You decide how to interpret your unique  experiences, whether you get something meaningful out of each stage of your life journey.  Notice the true nature of any restlessness you feel.  Why find anything wrong where you are, doing what you do? Be creative.  Love something about where you are now. 

Notice your conditioned ways of thinking.  Notice whether you focus on thoughts that trigger sadness, joy or evoke other emotions like anger and fear.  Notice when you focus on gratitude or allow discomfort or dissatisfaction to cloud your focus.

This said, you can always renew appreciation for 'the little things.'   This brings clarity. They may be people, aspects of nature or the environment, conditions or anything that uplifts your spirit. Notice whether you view the glass of life as half full, half empty, or as something else. What happens as you are kind to yourself and show kindness to others? The sun always shines.  You see, you take it with you wherever you go.

Take a few moments to reflect on little things that  bring joy.  What stands out? Share your perspective of 'the little things' that truly make life feel worthwhile.

"It is good to appreciate that life is now. Whatever it offers, little or much, life is now - this day - this hour."  - Charles Macomb Flandrau

"None of us has gotten where we are solely by pulling ourselves up from our own bootstraps. We got here because somebody bent down and helped us." - Thurgood Marshall

Love is in the air

Ever notice that love is in the air? In other words, if it is your intention to feel good about yourself, then regardless of the conditions that arise, you find the silver lining and love yourself anyway. Deep down, you know you always do your best.  What occurs if you forget?

Well, if the outcome you expect doesn't always arise, you can remind yourself to accept that, be okay with it,  and move on.  Still stumble along the way? What if the state of your house, your relationships or life does not meet your expectations? What if you sometimes feel down?

Come what may, you can remind yourself that if you change the way you look at things, then what stares back at you seems to change. If you regard your situation through the eyes of fear, what you see reinforces that.  If you view through the lens of humour, love and acceptance,  you see everything is an means to uncover something new about yourself.  You also discover a sense of abundance and prosperity reflects back how you feel about yourself.

This said, you begin to see how you view things is itself a powerful tool. Everything arises from intention. Is yours loving or not? To make a positive difference in the lives of others and yourself, know a focus on love allows you to see abundance, and bright sides to everything.

"A gift consists not in what is done or given but in the intention of the giver or doer." - Seneca