Come on, get happy

What is happiness?  Do we have it?  Do we want it?  If we get it, can we keep it?

These are questions we ask ourselves when we stop to reflect on our lives.

In this time and space, a planetary shift is occurring and it's heading toward the collective, the unselfish collective.  With our connections closer than ever, thanks to the internet and social media, we have access to some incredible thought-provoking authors and speakers.  Many of these speakers are focusing on happiness and how it's more than personal.

The Hay House Summit 2013, is the first-ever Global Online World Summit for Hay House.  Its 110 hour-long conversations with world-renowned experts from the personal-growth field.  The summit started on June 1st, ends on June 10th and each talk is FREE for the first 24 hours.

Dr. Robin L. Smith spoke on the first day of the summit.  Her topic was, Hungry for yourself: the diet you cannot afford to cheat on.  She speaks of being hungry as a calling for the nourishment of Soul.  In our everyday lives, what relationship is lacking in nourishment?  The Soul to Soul connection with others in our lives is what will satisfy this craving and lead us to relationships that sustain our Self.

On day 4, Sandra Anne Taylor talks about how we can make the first conscious shift to change by living in the emotion of happiness.  She says, "Happiness is the emotional signs of the mentality of appreciation.  One of the meanings of appreciate is to increase in value.  Live in appreciation, appreciate your life, your life will appreciate in value."

Also on day 4, Lynne McTaggart spoke on, How Understanding Our True Human Bond Can Lead to a Happier You and a Healthier Planet.  As vibrational beings we have a connection to each other.  If we change the way we look at the world, learn to relate to a larger definition of self, and realize we need to be the change, we'll see a change in ourselves allowing us to see a change in the world.

All these authors speak beyond a general happiness.  They go to straight to the heart of the matter, the collective Soul connection.  It's beyond self-help; it's a responsibility to the entire planet.  If we can visualize that we are made up of numerous cells all vibrating to create our one physical body, it's easier to see that each of our physical bodies are vibrating on this planet to make one collective whole.  We are connected to each other, sometimes in more ways than we think.  So, when we do our work individually to shift into happiness, it isn't just good for ourselves it is good for the planet.

The Surprising Science of Happiness

Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.

The Secret? Change your point of view. Change your world.

And So It Is. 

"Spiritual Technology" to Practicing Presence Everyday

I was watching Thich Nhat Hanh on Oprah's "Super Soul Sunday.  He is a Buddhist Monk who has spent his life dedicated to bringing peace to the world through compassion, mindfulness and love.

It was certainly a compelling interview, but he shared one thing that truly caught my attention.

With books like, Eckhart Tolle's, "The Power of Now, " or the initial teaching of any Spiritual philosophy, that there is nothing more important than the present moment.

Even a moment that may be challenging; the present moment is the only place for our mind to be.

How are we, then, to create peace in the present moment when the grocery lists, kids' schedules, the hair appointment we made to cover our roots constantly run through our minds?

It almost seems impossible, yet, with spiritual "technology," we are able to do just that.

Here is a tangible piece of "spiritual technology" to keep us present....even if we've got a meter clipped to our hip that counts our daily steps:

Mindful Walking

We walk a lot in our day.

Back and forth down the hallway to get the kids ready for school.

What seems like MILES in Costco going from one end to the other.

Taking the dog for a walk....you catch my drift....there's A LOT of steps in our day.

What if we were to change these daily activities into a walking meditation?

For those who read this and say, "I don't have time to meditate!"  Here's a solution.

For those who read this and have a daily meditation practice, you'll love this walking meditation and it's very easy.  Here's how to do it:

1.  Take two steps and repeat the mantra, "I have arrived."

2.  Take two steps and repeat the mantra, "I am home."

That's it!

Repeat each mantra every two steps, and my friend, think of the transformation your life will quickly take by gaining the awareness, peace, and struggle-free living brought on, simply, by being present in your daily activities!

There have been over 600 medical studies done on meditation...all of which have scientific data supporting the physical, mental and emotional benefits of meditation.  There is no reason why everyone should not be meditating....this tool gives you all the benefits in something you are already doing everyday.

Give it a try for a day and be sure to leave your comments below!  Share your wins and even your challenges!

Transformation can be challenging, however, challenges bring on new lessons....we want to hear them!

Happiness While Seeing Goodness in Strangers

Happiness While Seeing Goodness in Strangers

I rarely watch the news. I especially do not watch the news late at night or watch CNN(Constantly Negative News) twenty-four hours a day. It is good to keep informed, I just don't want to immerse myself in the "muck and mire of things."

While browsing facebook the other day I came across a video that makes my heart happy. It shows ordinary people making a difference in life by doing things in extraordinary ways. Until I found it on Youtube, I didn't know it was Russian. I trust that you can see the beauty of these acts of kindness through the filter of Love.

In our Declaration of Principles, Ernest Holmes wrote:

"We believe in the eternal goodness, the eternal loving-kindness, and the eternal givingness of life to all."

What we put our attention on multiplies. This month I will be exploring the theme of happiness. Let us multiply happiness together!

I invite you to look for good events and activities. Notice other people being kind and considerate. remind yourself that we believe in eternal goodness.

I have seen bits of Russian dashcam footage in the news to show stormy weather, police shootings, or other violent activities. I also remember footage from the meteor that landed and caused such chaos.

The video I invite you to watch is spliced together short shots from various dashcams. Some of the quality is poor but I invite you to watch. I needed several tissues because goodness makes me leak a little!

Maybe this will inspire you to go the extra mile and make someone's day happier.