5 Things Happy Families Do Differently

We all desire to live spirited lives that we’ll energetically recall for years to come.  These 3 tips for living a life full of high spirits will surely help you lay a foundation for lasting happiness.

3 Tips for Living a Spirited Life

Do what makes you happy

Happiness results from following your intuition to ultimately fulfill a need for love.  When you make a conscious choice to do what makes you happy, you begin to see that more positive and “happifying” experiences will come into your life.

Learn to read your own feel-good meter and do what makes you happy. You can find happiness in all corners of life, whether it’s through meditation to be happier, eating healthy foods for happiness, or even just finding your favorite happiness quotes!

Be with who makes you smile

Love as long as you live

Love is the foundation.  And, after all, love is what we all seek.  Any act, no matter how extreme, is really just a cry for love – although sometimes people feel the need to do something hurtful to acquire that love.

Show your friends that you have love to share with them.  Also show your children that you have a positive, selfless love to surround them with.  Show your family that love is unconditional.  And most of all, show yourself the love you need to be able to give it to others.

Actionable Affirmation to live a spirited life:

Happiness encompasses my spirit and projects outward. I love and am loved in return!

“You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ See the positive in negative events.”

– Joel Osteen

A young man at a convenience store is working the manager’s night shift; everything is going as usual when a masked man comes in and demands money. Without provocation, the young man receives a severe beating. After the robber gets his money and leaves, EMTs rush the young man to the hospital. After routine checks including a CAT scan, the young man lies awake in his hospital bed.

With a disposition of pity and anger toward a man who beat him so severely for no good reason, the young man wonders why. Shortly thereafter, a doctor comes into the room and tells the man that the CT scan discovered a brain tumor. Luckily, it was caught just in time and is non-fatal. It can be removed safely.

This is the true story of a young man named Jeremy Willey, a married father of three from Phoenix, Arizona.

They said that had this not been found and soon around the time that it was found, that he probably just would have gone to sleep one night and not been able to wake up.” Jeremy’s wife said.

In our limited capacity, we human beings really don’t know why things happen to us the way they do. When something bad happens, we feel victimized – at times rightfully so.

It’s important to remember that things are not always as they seem.

Truthfully, there are blessings in some negative events. Indeed, what we interpret as negative could indeed provide us with a message or a blessing that turns out to be very positive and lifechanging. Psychotherapists, psychologists and other professionals agree: there are actions we can take to equip us to turn more negatives into positives. Among them are psychotherapy, meditation and prayer.

Within an interesting study at Washington University in St. Louis, researchers show that when negative emotions arise but can turn into positives. This suggests we can transform anger into creativity, adversity into growth and development, shame into compassion, pessimism into productivity, envy into ambition, and loss into gratitude.

Additionally, the study shows how negative thoughts and emotions present an opportunity to practice mindfulness. Essentially, we can change our relationship with negative emotions and experiences by feeling these things without judgment.

The Takeaway: whenever you experience something negative in your life, how you react is the most important thing.

If you are grateful and thankful for the good things in your life, you equip yourself to turn negatives into positives. The secret is in being present, breathing, and loving yourself.

Meditation is an excellent way to decompress from a hectic daily life. Let’s paint a picture of what your typical morning looks like.

You open your eyes and slowly begin to wake your body out of a nice, warm bed. Already, your brain is firing thoughts about where you need to be. Then, you worry about when you need to be there. And, you even begin to consider much “stuff” you need to get done today.

As your day progresses, you experience several distractions. And, each interruption requires you to discipline yourself to stay on task. This is not always easy to do. Tha’s especially if you work for with others and you hear ringing phones, loud co-workers, meetings, email, conference calls…whew!

This constant barrage of information overload and distractions takes its toll on our brains and overall mental and physical health.

People who practice meditation often say that it’s the answer to these and other problems. They swear that meditation keeps them healthy both mentally and physically.

Does it? What do scientists and doctors have to say?

Let’s first delve into some basics on meditation.

What is meditation?

First, it’s important to discuss what meditation is and is not.

Meditation is simply mindfulness and being present. It is the observance of your thoughts. In addition, it is being attuned to your breath, mind, and body. It is an ongoing process and practice that can be learned by nearly everyone.

Meditation is not the elimination of your thoughts. It is not a religious practice (although you can certainly meditate on your God, religious texts, etc.). It is not something that is going to feel comfortable and natural the first time – in other words, there are no naturally-talented meditators.

What Science is Saying

Scientists train to remain objective and base their findings on evidence. Thus, they monitor experiments and studies are closely and record data precisely. It has to be this way for a scientist’s findings and work to be taken seriously by his or her peers.

So, when numerous scientific studies (over 200 in 2013) are concluding that there are many positive benefits to meditation, it’s a big deal.

And, when the American Medical Association – the largest association of physicians in the United States – says that meditation is a beneficial practice, it’s a big deal.

Harvard scientists – meditation can shape your brain

Neuroscientists at Harvard University conducted a study that shows the brain can be physically changed with meditative practice.

In the study, Anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI) were taken of 16 healthy participants before and after they underwent an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. This program is one of the most widely-practiced by those seeking better mental functioning and emotional control.

After the program was complete, a second set of MRI scans were taken. The images showed increased gray matter concentration in 4 regions of the brain, including the hippocampus and cerebellum, responsible for learning and memory processes and emotional regulation!

The participants reported improved mental processing, emotional balance, and other benefits.

Brita Holzel, the lead author of the student notes:

“It is fascinating to see the brain’s plasticity and that, by practicing meditation; we can play an active role in changing the brain and can increase our well-being and quality of life.”

According to Sara Lazar, Ph.D, author and scientist involved in the study:

“This study demonstrates that changes in the brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing.”

Can meditation help change the brain? Yes!

American Heart Association – Meditation can reduce heart attack, stroke, and death

According to the research contained within an American Heart Association (AMA) journal, African Americans with heart disease that practiced Transcendental Meditation (TM) were 48% less likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or die than a group that just exercised and dieted.

201 people were split into two groups – one practiced the technique of TM and one attended a physical education class.

The TM group sat, eyes closed for 20 minutes twice daily practicing the technique, allowing deep rest of their minds and bodies while remaining alert.

Researchers advised the exercise group to spend at least 20 minutes a day at home exercising, eating well, and relaxing.

Researchers found that those in the TM group had reduced blood pressure and reduced smoking and other adverse habits, as well.

Can meditation help the heart? Yes!

MIT and Harvard neuroscientists: Meditation practice can reduce distractions and relieve pain

Neuroscientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University split a group of 12 subjects into two groups – a group of 6 that practiced Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and 6 that did not meditate.

Once a day, the MBSR group listened to a 45-minute program that guided them through the lessons. These lessons consisted of mindfulness meditations, body awareness, and simple yoga.

Researchers conducted two brain scans of the subjects during the study. They performed these three weeks in and at the end of eight weeks.

There were two amazing findings:

First, the meditation group had greater changes in the amplitude (size) of the Alpha brainwaves than the group that did not meditate. Essentially, the meditators had a greater improvement in focus and bodily awareness. The meditation group also expressed that they experienced less stress and reactive behavior.

Second, individuals that experience chronic pain may benefit from meditative practice. Findings from this study indicate that chronic pain sufferers may be able to lower their pain signals. According to Catherine Kerr, a professor at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the study:

“They learn to be aware of where their attention is focused and not get stuck on the painful area.”

Can meditation reduce distractions and ease pain? Yes!

Conclusion

The fact that neuroscientists, doctors, and others within the scientific and medical community and now validating meditation through rigorous studies is a phenomenal development.

The fact that we can literally reshape our brain through meditation is incredible.

Meditation can reduce or eliminate our chances for heart disease, stroke, and other heart and brain-related ailments.

Moreover, meditation can result in better mental functioning and emotional stability.

Most importantly, meditation can help us find peace within ourselves.

“Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.”
– Buddha

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
– Buddha

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
– Buddha

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
– Buddha

“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”
– Buddha

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”– Buddha

“He is able who thinks he is able.”
– Buddha

2. There is an abundance for all. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
– Buddha

3. Let go of fear.

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
– Buddha

4. The truth will always be revealed. Always believe your own truth.

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
– Buddha

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
– Buddha

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

5. You, yourself, deserves your love and affection. Self love is the most deserving love.

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
– Buddha

6. We are all spiritual beings in need of a spiritual life that nourishes the soul.

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.”
– Buddha

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”
– Buddha

“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”
– Buddha

7. True peace comes from within. Peace is the answer.

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.”
– Buddha

“Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace.”
– Buddha

8. Choose friends wisely.

“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.”

“A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.”

9. Remove separation and give up labels. We are all ONE.

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”

10. Happiness is the journey, not the destination. Enjoy the journey.

“There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path.”
– Buddha

“A jug fills drop by drop.”
– Buddha

“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
– Buddha

11. Health is Wealth!

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.”

“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.“