National Pursuit of Happiness Week Day Two
Woohoo! Let’s get going on our National Pursuit of Happiness Week Day Two Challenge:
If you are feeling overwhelmed, then today’s National Pursuit of Happiness Week Challenge is particularly perfect.
Honestly, it may not seem like it, but we do have loads of time.
So…
Take a Break and Slow Down
Stop and smell the roses, or do a little yoga, or sip a cuppa tea, or look out the window.
We are human beings, not doings. When we slow down we breathe more deeply, which makes us feel better. Simple really!
I have all the time in the world. Repeat until you believe.
And the question of the day: What is your purpose in life?
Are you stumbling aimlessly through life or do you have a plan for your life? Are you taking time each day to celebrate the good and let go of the bad?
It seems we get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forget to take some time to be still. When we take time to be still we can appreciate what we have and that lifts our spirits.
As the Dalai Lama tells us in his book The Art of Happiness:
‘In the same way, a situation that you initially perceive as 100 percent negative may have some positive aspects to it. But I think that even if you have discovered a positive angle to a bad situation, that alone is often not enough. you still need to reinforce that idea. So you may need to remind yourself of that positive angle many times, until gradually your feeling changes.’
If you don’t take the time to sit and be still, the icky negative thoughts carry on. They run like a loop in your subconscious mind. By taking time out to think about the positive thoughts, you train your wonderful, powerful mind to run Happy thought loops instead.
Need some help?
Well, if you haven’t already, sign-up for my regular updates (pop over to the right hand side + sign-up now) and there’s a special bonus…not just the Top Tips to Happy Report, but there’s an MP3 for you to download! It’s my Ten Minute Break MP3 … a guided relaxation to clear your mind, and Slow Down.
I also have some super MP3s or CDs that will get you feeling Happy straight away. Click here to learn more and to listen to samples, so you can pick the perfect ones for you. (Psst…they make great gifts too!)
Yes.. slowing down always better..went back to meditation.. traded online time for beautiful morning meditation and am much happier..today the sun was streaming through the windows into my pink office , dogs sleeping on the love seat.. very peaceful.. perfect.. xox Lisa
Oh…wow…just reading this made me feel peaceful and calm. Sounds fabulous Lisa!
I have a 4 year old daughter and I try to instill this into her. We stop and look at worms in the dirt, beautiful flowers on our walk home from school, a butterfly landing on our window, or musicians playing music in the street. It’s so important not to be in a constant rush so I’m glad that S and I go with the flow together so she knows that beauty and peace can be found around us always.
That’s lovely Tracey…and you get to reap the benefits too. I hope that other mums see you and slow down too. xox
So funny Jacqueline, last night my daughters and I curled up in bed to read. It felt like the first time we’d slowed down in weeks. My hubby took a picture of us all lined up with our noses in books, because the thought it was so funny for a Friday night!
Ahhh…that’s just such a lovely image Christie. Thank you for sharing. xox
“We are human beings, not doings”, love this Jacqueline! I finally realized a couple of weeks ago than my being was as important in my biz as my doing, and decided to slow down whenever I could instead of filling my days with stuff to do, always and always. That feels great!
Woohoo!!! How does it get any better than this and what else is possible now? Love it!
I started meditating, taking 20 minutes at the beginning of each day. I think it’s the perfectionistic viewpoint that keeps us from taking time. If I don’t make an hour of quiet time a priority, (because that doesn’t work for me)…knowing I CAN make the twenty minutes a priority feels good!
So true…we feel the call of perfectionism and it stops us. Even ten minutes can be a blessing. Take 21 days of 10 to 20 minutes and a new habit is set.
I like the idea of taking time to slow down, I’ve noticed that after that I feel more energized and can do more. I find meditations very relaxing.
Love your articles they radiate happiness and joy.
Thank you for sharing. And…woohoo…love that feedback. Choose Happy and Stay Fabulous!