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11 Signs You May Be Experiencing a Spiritual Awakening

On the physical plane, Earth has begun its spiritual awakening – the process of moving from a fear-based environment to a love-based environment. Although everything can appear rather chaotic right now, that’s the process – and it gets worse before it gets better. I believe the worst is behind us.  A spiritual awakening is happening all around us and within us right now!

ARE YOU ALLOWING IT? OR HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO REMAIN ASLEEP?

An ever-increasing number of people have chosen to awaken spiritually! This awakening of our connection to divine energy happens differently for everyone. For some people, it can be a slow and steady process, while for or others it is a spontaneous spiritual awakening.

“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” ~ Cynthia Occelli

spiritual awakening

As I mentioned, real spiritual awakening is not all sunshine and rainbows. It can involve removing some very ugly and painful trapped negative emotions and energies from our past. With your newfound awareness, allow these old karmic energies to be released and replaced with light. Resistance to moving forward causes depression or pain – a physical manifestation of the energetic resistance.

By going with the flow, we allow a beautiful spiritual awakening within us and ultimately add to the positive collective vibration of the Universe. This process allows us to live our best life and embrace the power of positivity available to us through divine energy.

“Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back. From then on, you are inflamed with a special longing that will never again let you linger in the lowlands of complacency and partial fulfillment. The eternal makes you urgent. You are loath to let compromise or the threat of danger hold you back from striving toward the summit of fulfillment.” ~ John O’Donohue

THE PATH

Over the years, I have been experiencing a steady, very intense spiritual awakening. My life has completely transformed in every area!  Life is truly AMAZING! I have connected with the essence of my true self. As I research and talk to others about their spiritual awakening, I find that we all share very similar characteristics and events.

However, some people are experiencing an awakening and don’t even know it. I decided to intentionally create this outline of the most common signs you may be experiencing a spiritual awakening so that you can more purposefully direct your energy to the growth and expansion of it.

Please do add to the conversation in the comments below if you have anything you want to contribute. 

Spiritual Awakening Checklist:

spiritual awakening

1. YOU’RE CREATING NEW BELIEF SYSTEMS.

Do you hold the same beliefs today that you had 5 or 10 years ago?

Everyone who experiences a spiritual awakening releases old belief systems and ways of living. We begin to think outside the box and question our physical reality that we once thought was “normal”.

We feel more comfortable breaking social norms and embracing freedom. Because we all have free will, and as we begin to spiritually awaken, we realize that we may have not been exercising that right as freely as we could have in the past.

For some of us, we escaped a mental prison. But as we evolve in our spiritual journey we realize the mental prison was wide open the whole time.

When we awaken to our truth, we realize we are free. ~ Kristi Bowman

2. YOU WANT MORE FREEDOM AND LESS “STUFF”

You’ve been finding peace in living more simply. Instead of buying more and filling every corner of your house with material possessions, you find yourself cleaning out old things and selling or donating them.

You have decided that less is more.  This allows the heavy burden of “stuff” to be released from your physical life, but in doing so, it also creates an energetic release of old “stuff”. Afterward, the feeling of lightness is profound that we (consciously or subconsciously) do it more often until we find we own less and have less desire to buy more.

True love and happiness cannot be found in things or from having more. Everlasting happiness comes from within.

Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.  ~ Osho

3. A SUDDEN DESIRE OR CHANGE IN A JOB OR CAREER.

You’re being called to fulfill your life purpose right now. Are you listening?

Most people experiencing spiritual awakening have experienced a change in job or career. If you haven’t, you probably have a deep burning desire to do so.  Are you allowing fear to hold you back?

Let go of any resistance, step out in faith and do it. You don’t have to know all the details right now. That’s the secret in life! We aren’t always supposed to know all the little details – the Universe and divine energy takes care of that for us.

If you’ve already done this, you are probably loving life now! Your new transition was probably not easy, but well worth it. Keep going, you’ll continue to be called to step up and be more. The Universe LOVES healthy expansion!

4. YOU FIND YOURSELF DRAWN TO INSPIRATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

During your spiritual awakening, you are guided towards your best self. We are and who we will be can be seen in our daily habits. As we are drawn to the light, we look to surround ourselves with inspiration, positivity, and personal development activities. This could be in a physical or spiritual form. For example, you may be drawn to reading self-help books, practicing yoga, meditation, praying, attending personal development seminars, running, walking, going to church, listening to podcasts, and more. Embrace these opportunities as they will help you to learn, to grow, and to see new perspectives.

“Live to learn to love.

Learn to love to live.

Love to live to learn

so that you may live the life that you yearn.”

~ Rico Dasheem

spiritual awakening

5. DEEP DESIRE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE MORE

We are drawn to nature because it is part of us. It allows us to step away from the material world we have built up and truly connect with divine energy, our higher power, God, Source, the Universe (insert your divine power of choice).

Nature also speaks and communicates to us if we listen closely. This is a relationship anyone can build and people who have a spiritual awakening do just that. We are only really beginning to understand our deep connection with nature.

6. YOU EXPERIENCE UNUSUAL SLEEP PATTERNS.

Some people who are experiencing a spiritual awakening have trouble falling asleep. What is going on inside keeps you awake. It’s a burning desire and some people know how to direct that energy while others aren’t sure and this is what is primarily keep you awake at night.  Most report that they either have trouble falling asleep or they awaken at early hours, such as 2:00 and 4:00 AM.

If you’re experiencing unusual sleep patterns, it’s okay. Just don’t lay there and worry. There’s a lot of work going on within you. It’s a natural process. The best thing to do is go do whatever it is that is calling you to do – for some it is writing, and for others it is painting, working out, and more.

All in all, it’s best to go back to sleep, but if you can’t go back to sleep, try playing music on your phone or stereo. I use an app on my phone that has meditations and binaural beats. It’s very healing and I fall right to sleep. Lavender, melatonin or even a quick glass of wine helps too (tips from my 82-year-old grandma).

7. YOU HAVE INCREASED SELF TALK AND/OR TALK WITH YOUR CREATOR.

Although we don’t all admit it, to some degree we all do a little “self-talk.” It helps us to make sense of what is going on. At times we can be our therapist. It’s actually very healthy because only YOU truly know what YOU need. It’s an illusion that we think we need to ask someone outside of ourselves.

If you’re going through a spiritual awakening, you’ll find yourself doing even more self-talk. When you are alone, you may chat with yourself for minutes at a time, maybe even more. It’s okay – you aren’t crazy!

A new level of communication is taking place within you.

You are allowing yourself access to your higher self – the part of you that truly knows all the answers to your own path. This is the extension of you that is connected to divine energy. The best thing to do is to continue to allow it. The conversations will increase, and they will become more fluid, more coherent and more insightful. If you find yourself getting philosophical, then write it down or record it and listen to it later. Free, highly insightful therapy at it’s best.

8.  EXPERIENCING SYNCHRONICITY

Have you ever been able to take a step back from your life and look at it as if it were a movie? In doing so, you can see how each special experience in life always leads to another. They are connected in a web of life. While these events called synchronicity have always been happening, more recently, your spiritual awakening has made you aware of the connectedness that is going on around you.

Synchronicity is the experience of meaningful, related events that are unlikely to be mere coincidence.  Carl Jung, a Swiss psychologist, in the 1920s first described the concept of synchronicity.

These synchronizations have meaning; they are usually guiding us to are the best path, but sometimes they are just reminding us that we are on the right path. “Hello wonderful being, you’re doing an AMAZING job!”

Synchronicity commonly reveals itself in number sequences around us, because numerology is deeply woven into creation. You may see number patterns like 11:11, 111, 333, 555, etc. They are each unique to our own path and circumstances. I personally have experienced this starting when I was 16 – the beginning of my spiritual awakening. Well-known, best selling author and spiritual teacher, Doreen Virtue also believes we are being guided by numbers.

When we truly understand the powerful meaning and importance of synchronicity in our life, we can use it to propel us forward and make better decisions. Synchronicity is always guiding us, it’s up to us to pay attention!

spiritual awakening9. A GREATER FEELING OF ONENESS

We are all connected! As we experience our own individual spiritual awakening, we realize our physical body does not define us. We are so much more, and our energy extends outside of us. Every person, place, and thing is in our lives for a reason – we have drawn it to us somehow.

This connectedness creates a deep internal knowledge that we are a part of everything and everything is a part of us. We are a part of our local community as much as we are a part of the cosmos.

Things that were once just mere coincidence become meaningful to us. We begin to truly understand the meaning and importance of synchronicity in our lives. Synchronicity is guiding us, it’s up to us to pay attention!

10. A DESIRE TO EAT HEALTHIER AND TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR BODY.

Our body is the temple of our soul. If we want to become light we must eat light. Foods filled with light energy and high nutrition are raw foods grown from the Earth. The more of these foods you put in your body the healthier you will become.

It is only natural to be drawn to healthy eating. We are born healthy eaters, the outside influence of the culture that we are born in that program us to eat unhealthily. Junk food yields a much higher profit for corporations.

Most people who are experiencing true spiritual awakening are being drawn to healthier ways of eating. We all have our opinion on what’s best, but no one can disagree that raw, untouched, uncooked fruits and vegetables from Mother Earth is always the best choice.

spiritual awakening

11. FEELINGS OF SADNESS OR DEEP EMOTION.

Along this journey, you are experiencing intermittent feelings of deep, inner sadness. Sometimes you may know exactly why you feel that way, and you can release and replace it with love. Other times, you may have no idea — that’s okay too.

This is something we all go through from time to time. While you may not always know the reason, you can rest assured that it has a purpose.  You are releasing your past harbored negative energy. As the emotions come up, let them go and allow divine light to fill every space it contained. EVERY SINGLE ONE! Don’t allow even a speck to remain, because you deserve the emotional freedom that’s on the other side.

Although this process can be difficult, embrace it, bid your permanent farewell and be grateful for the release. Afterward, your spirit will be lightened and you will be filled with even more love and positive, divine energy.

May You Embark Upon Your Own Spiritual Awakening

So there are my top 11 signs, what are yours? Thanks for reading. May your journey continue to lead you to a deeper love for everything around you, more peace in your heart, an open and receptive mind, and eagerness to continue being a student for what you think you know.

“The degree to which your Consciousness expands, is the degree to which you understand yourself and the Universe.”  ~ Gina Charles

A Profound video on Spiritual Awakening – I had to share!


Article Inspiration & Image Credit: MojVideo and Mystery Mastery

Please add to the conversation on spiritual awakening…

In the comments below add your own signs. I look forward to hearing and replying to YOU!

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road does not mean they are lost.
~ Dalai Lama

5 Simple Rules for a Happy Life

happy-life

5 Simple Rules for a Happy Life

We all want to be happier. It seems simple, but at times living a happy life is more complicated than it should be. Sometimes it’s because we are looking for external people, things or events to make us happy when true, everlasting happiness comes from within and can be seen in our daily habits. These 5 very simple rules are a great outline for making every day happier and more fulfilling.

HAPPY LIFE RULE #1: HAVE FAITH

Positive thinking starts with living your life with faith over fear. Although they are both completely different, they share something in common – they both create a future that hasn’t happened yet.  Fear is an illusion and keeps your from living your best life. Fear feeds off of your insecurities and is a poisoned extension of worry. You cannot live a happy life full of fear at the same time. When you let go of fear and upgrade to faith, life becomes more rich – filled with miracles and blessings every single ding dang day! 😉 The choice seems easy enough. The choice is yours.

HAPPY LIFE RULE #2: KEEP TRYING

Being persistent is one of the biggest keys to success. If you keep going and going and going eventually you will reach the destination you desire. For a successful, happy life you must not only incorporate positive thinking but positive action. This is where your true passion resides. Your dreams are just desires until you take action. It starts the fun, co-creative process. Most of the time when you talk to people who aren’t happy, they usually are full of regrets – regrets that they did not take action when it was necessary. Let go of the fear of failure, do it and keep going! 🙂

HAPPY LIFE RULE #3: KEEP IT SIMPLE

Happiness lies in simplicity. In fact, they are best friends so get used to the two hanging out with you. 😉 So, call off the search party, a happy life may be right in front of you. Happiness can be found in the smallest things that we are blessed with every single day. When we open our eyes to the happiness that is right in front of us, you know those “simple” things that we can sometimes take for granted, we can be happy every day. We live each day in gratitude and find joy in simplicity we can live a happy life. Living a happy life is feeling good during the journey AND when we reach the destination.

HAPPY LIFE RULE #4: LAUGH AT PROBLEMS

Laughter truly is the best medicine, it cures all ills and turns challenges into opportunities. Laughter brings a lightness to life and is a key component in living a happy life. Laugh so hard that your belly hurts. Do it every single day. A recent study suggests that children laugh 300-400 times per day while the average adult laughs only 1happy7 times. I think children are wiser than we think. Let’s all take a lesson from then and make laughter a priority every day.

HAPPY LIFE RULE #5: STAY AS YOUTHFUL AS A KID

Speaking of children, they really hold the wisdom of youth in their daily habits. Spend a day with a child and you will learn the secrets of a happy life. They teach us that we should stress less and play, dance, run, sing, laugh, and love more. They have big hearts and know how to have a good time.

 

So, that’s our list. We want to hear from you… ADD 1 more to the list in the comments. Note: Did you notice that every rule is in a positive tense. That’s because true positive thinking focuses on what we desire to be versus what we do not want to be. When our thoughts and words are in a positive tense consistently, so will be our life. 😉

happy-people

5 Things Everyone Should Know About Introverts

Living a quiet life in a busy, noisy world can be a challenge, especially for an Introvert. Our society praises Extroverts, but Introverts have their place too. Life is about balance – there is a purpose for everyone. And… while life is not just black or white neither are there only two types of people.

In fact, people can possess qualities of both Introvert and Extrovert. Generally speaking, there are two types that are labeled by our society. Since opposites attract, it’s important that we truly learn the meaning behind these personality traits. Understanding each other allows us to thrive and have lifelong, meaningful relationships.

It’s important to learn more about yourself and design a life around that. It can truly bring a renewed sense of inner love and confidence. Our wish is for other Introverts to find that peace, and for their Extrovert counterparts to understand them on a level that they never have before.

5 Important Things About Introverts

personal strengths

1. Introverts are not always shy, just reserved.

Being “shy” can be a very misconstrued personality trait given to those who are often quiet in large crowds or who don’t open up easily. In truth, those who are “shy” just take more time to blossom and open up to others. It is definitely NOT a character flaw by any means, and it is not always necessarily due to hurt from past experiences.

Introverts are not fearful when they are quiet. There is actually an inner energy shift that occurs when they are around a group of people outside their daily comfort zone. If you watch, most of the time after a few minutes or hours they open right up and join in. It’s not wrong, it’s just their nature of being.

2. Introverts enjoy being alone (sometimes).

Introverts need time to themselves. We aren’t sad. We aren’t depressed. It’s not that we don’t like you. In fact, it has nothing to do with you! We need time alone because we need time alone. It’s really that simple. 🙂

Each of us uses that alone time for different things – to relax, read, meditate, pray or talk to our Creator, practice yoga, write, watch a movie, walk or whatever. This is our time to center, re-balance, and gain energy to move forward.

Introverts need this time throughout the week or daily to stay centered and be true to his or her own nature. We also need this time to recollect, go within and think. Oh, do we love to THINK.

3. Introverts are careful about who they allow in their life.

Most Extroverts can make friends everywhere they go and have many, very close friendships. While that is beautiful and ideal, it’s not exactly how Introverts operate. We can tend to be a little choosy when it comes to close friendships. Contrary to belief, we love being social and making friends. But, when it comes to our inner circle we reserve that for loyal friends and family. Likewise, we are extremely loyal in return.

kristen butler solitude

4. Introverts are not self-centered snobs.

This is a big one. The person you are labeling as a snob may be just an Introvert. They like and enjoy their time with you. It can sometimes just be exhausting or nearly impossible for introverts to include themselves in a group or in a random conversation. In fact, in a group, it’s easier and it’s more natural for them to keep to themselves and observe. Heck, they enjoy watching you Extroverts talk and even get loud and crazy. YOU are the spice of life! 😉

5. Introverts don’t care for random phone calls.

There are many reasons random phone calls don’t work for Introverts. For one, Introverts don’t care for interruption. Whether they are busy working, deep in thought, reading, or accomplishing a task – their mind is focused on that and they prefer to keep it that way. They usually follow a schedule. A random, loud ring from a phone can startle and Introvert and ignite inner confusion.

Ask any Introvert, at first thought, they usually don’t want to pick up. When they do speak, they may not seem as engaged because they aren’t using visual cues like smiling or nodding.

It’s all about timing. A person who doesn’t understand an Introvert may consider an ignored call as “ being rude”. But that’s not true. We may absolutely adore you; we just don’t feel like talking at that moment. Emailing, texting, and scheduling calls can be beneficial. Or if they have missed your call, you can wait for a call back when it’s convenient for them too.

Final Thoughts

All in all, it’s so important to drop judgment from your life and understand and embrace everyone’s unique personality traits. More understanding allows us to truly embrace and fully love each other. Then, we can design a life that allows us ALL to flourish with more harmony.

So, the next time you meet an adult or child that appears “backward” or “shy”, think about what you just read and how you can release the need to judge and label. They need your calm, peace, support, and love.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert? Let us know in the comments!

This Rice Experiment Is Proof: The Power of Positivity Alters Our Physical World

What you are about to read may shock you or be something you already know. Either way, keep your mind open and receptive to this discovery by Dr. Masaru Emoto. You’ll be amazed by how you can apply the effect of the results to improve your daily life.

A researcher and alternative healer, Dr. Masaru  Emoto, has given us physical proof that our thoughts, intentions and words affect of physical world.

“HADO creates words. Words are the vibrations of nature. Therefore, beautiful words create beautiful nature. Ugly words create ugly nature. This is the root of the universe.” – Dr. Masaru  Emoto

What is HADO?

HADO (Pronounced “HA-DOE”): Expression meaning “wave” and “move”. The smallest unit of energy; the basis of energy for human consciousness.

The premise is simple, yet profound: water is a reflection of us. Some say that Dr. Masaru Emoto has introduced a revolutionary, yet natural, idea that water is a direct reflection of human words and thoughts. Critics say that Dr. Emoto’s teachings are pseudo-science and lack intellectual rigor and scientific validity. Continue on and decide for yourself…

The Power of Positivity

What are these teachings?

Dr. Emoto believes that human consciousness has a direct effect on physical reality. His philosophy can be best understood in his books, seminars, and demonstrations (one which is discussed here). His most famous teachings are the effects of human interaction with water, which was featured in the highly popular movie, “What the Bleep Do We Know?

The most famous work of Dr. Emoto was published in 1999 and is called ‘Messages from Water,’ which has sold millions of copies worldwide. In the book, Dr. Emoto explains in detail that what we say, feel, and listen to has an effect on water. The research clearly shows how the power of positivity can transform anything in our physical reality. He uses water as an example. Since humans are made up primarily of water (60-75% depending on the source), water directly affects us.

The ‘Rice Experiment’

“If you have a peaceful mind and peaceful thoughts, water becomes more peaceful.” – Dr. Emoto

To demonstrate the power of human words the power of human words and thought, Dr. Emoto used an uncommon technique: a rice experiment.

In the video, Dr. Emoto places rice into three glass beakers and then fills the beakers with enough water to submerge the rice. To the first beaker, he states the phrase (in Japanese): “Thank you,” “You’re an idiot” to the second, and ignores the third.

A month later, the thanked rice fermented and gave a pleasant smell. The rice that was affronted turned black. Finally, the rice that was ignored began to rot. These depictions of the rice are clear in the video of the experiment.

In the end, Dr. Emoto is pictured explaining how we treat children is especially important. Emoto says we should take special care in how we interact with them and ensure that attention is given. The video ends explaining that indifference does the most significant amount of harm, as demonstrated by the third beaker of rice in the video. It’s amazing how the jar with positive words was still white and fresh, when in our reality we would at least believe that it would definitely start to go bad. Amazing! That’s the power of positivity at work.

This experiment has become a global sensation. Just type it into youtube or google and you will see countless people who got the same results. But, don’t just take our word for it. Check it out the video below that documents the last day of the rice experiment.

147 Days of The Rice Experiment Documented – Last Day

Watching the videos and researching about Dr. Emoto and his teachings is undeniably fascinating. We hope this research has brought you more insight about the true power of positivity and why it is so important to apply it to your everyday life.

Psychologists have repeatedly shown that our mindset and words profoundly affect our body and those around us. Is it possible that our powerful mind and speech also has an effect on the elements of our Universe, too? Dr. Emoto certainly seems to think that they do. What do you think?

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16979104

Science Proves How Positive People Live Longer

Do positive people really live longer?

According to a study by professors at The International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), people who experience high subjective well-being (SWB) live longer lives. Additionally, they enjoy better health than those who do not.

Simply put, people’s emotions and judgments ultimately impact how long they stay around and their quality of life. In fact, people with positive SWB lived nearly eight years longer than those with negative SWB. Additionally, they experienced reduced physical ailments, including cardiovascular disease and depression!

What is SWB? Simple: It’s positivity.

SWB is a combination of various emotions, mainly: life satisfaction, having positive emotions, optimism, and avoiding negative emotions. The research cites numerous studies, including cases in which they followed people around over an extended period. In some cases, they studied subjects for thirty years. In each of these studies, participants were evaluated according to their initial SWB assessment. Ultimately, those people with positivity had better health and outlived longer than their counterparts.

What is the evidence?

The report cites a couple of very interesting studies:

Photographs of professional baseball players taken in 1952 were evaluated, judged, and given a rating.  They found that players who had authentic smiles lived longer than those who were only partially smiling, or not grinning at all. Furthermore, these ratings predicted the mortality that had occurred by 2009.

In addition, we found another example. Over an average period of 12 years, researchers followed nearly 88,200 Japanese adults aged 50 to 69 after an initial study. The enjoyment of their lives directly related to a decreased risk in cardiovascular disease, stroke, and mortality rate.

Upon admission at a nurse’s health cohort, researchers followed 63,469 nurses aged 30 to 55 every 2 years for 30 years. Consequently, they noted that the presence of depression directly correlated with increased cardiovascular death.

Total, there are a total of 26 scientific case studies within the research that directly link longevity and positivity. Further, there are seventeen case studies that directly link low positivity and the increased rates of illness, including cancer. The links between cancer and positive thinking prove inconclusive at this time. But researchers continue to study the connection.

positive peopleHow does this happen?

Scientists and doctors attribute these amazing results to two main factors: improved resilience and insightful living. Researchers believe that positive people with an optimistic outlook towards life have an increased will to live. And that results in a proactive mindset about health and prevention. Therefore, living a positive lifestyle results in a large decrease in illness and death.

In addition, positivity results in maturity and insight. That wisdom allows people to connect with their spiritual nature and live healthy, long, meaningful lives of simplicity and happiness. People who remember what is important live happier and longer lives.

So what’s next?

Research scientists and physicians continue to examine this incredible relationship between positivity and longevity. This evidence clearly points to a direct link between having a positive mindset and a rosy outlook on life with health and longevity.

The biggest takeaway from this incredible evidence is simply this: 

Remember to live with a positive mindset.  Also, be mindful of what is truly important. In fact, we all have negative experiences at times. However, let’s win the battle armed with positive action. After reading this article, does someone you know come to mind?  Tag them and other positive people in your life!positive-people

Source:
Diener, E., Chan, M.Y. (2011). Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3(1), pp. 1-43.

11 Habits of Happy People

Have you ever noticed that happy people tend to have higher expectations, and also getter better results?  There’s a reason why life flows more smoothly when your happy switch is turned on. Moreover, cultivating these habits of happy people will surely put your life on the right track toward becoming a habitually happier, healthier, and whole.

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

11 Habits of Happy People

happy-people

 1. Unconditional love

The only way love can last a lifetime is if it’s unconditional. The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved, but rather by the one choosing to love. – Stephen Kendrick, The Love Dare

Loving and loving unconditionally have a few fundamental differences.  You can choose love, but to choose unconditional love means that you see past the imperfections.  You release judgment and accept others as they are and choosing to act in a loving manner always.  Choosing to love unconditionally means that you’re choosing to love in a BIG way.  Bigger than the social and emotional restrictions that hold our love in bondage.

Your unconditional love doesn’t have to be outwardly in all situations either; unconditional love can also be inward. Accepting yourself fully as you are and showing yourself this same unconditional love can provide protection, healing, and the confidence you need to take your next step toward victory.

2. Gratitude

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” – Epictetus

We cannot express the importance of gratitude as a habit of happy people.  When you make a habit to think of, and express, everything you’re grateful for, you’ll see that these joyous experiences continue to expand in your life.  Just like the law of gravity, the law of attraction will expand what you focus on – and if you’re focusing on what you’re thankful for, you can certainly expect to be more thankful in the future.

3. Service to others

Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one’s self.  We must be purposely kind and generous, or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself, gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others. – Horace Mann

Taking time to be of service shows a great deal of character, especially when you aim to serve without expectation of return.  Giving your time without the need for gain returns something much greater – it gives you the satisfaction of adding value to the world.  Working to help improve a physical, mental, environmental, or spiritual state will not only help improve the world, but will also help build positive karma in your life.

4. Self Care

You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and fully being what you are, your simple presence can make others happy.  You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love & affection. ~Buddha

If your own needs aren’t taken care of, how can you take care of the needs of others?  There’s nothing selfish about setting aside a certain time for yourself each day or week to make sure that your own mind, body, and soul are well and rested.  Here are just a few things we do ourselves to meet our self care needs.  Try a few and/or add your own self care habits in the comments below:

  • 15 minute morning meditation- This is very grounding.  Try it each morning before you get out of bed, or each night before sleep.
  • Affirmations – Affirmations are key in our lives.  Select affirmations that resonate with you and repeat them in the mirror DAILY.
  • Reading a chapter of a book – Just 6 minutes of reading can reduce stress by 68%. 
  • A warm soak in the tub which may have some spa covers – Try adding 2 cups of iodized sea salt with 2 cups of pure baking soda to a hot tub of water – you’ll LOVE it!
  • Exercise – Staying active not only helps you look and feel better, it also clears your mind of negative, doubting thoughts.
  • Eat raw, organic fruits and vegetables (you can put them in juices or smoothies, or eat them right out of the garden!)
  • Buy a new outfit – Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little retail therapy every now and then!  Treat yourself, you deserve it!

5. Forgivenessforgive-people

Forgiveness can bring you a renewed peaceful spirit. You’ll find yourself feeling more positive overall and less stressed. You may even experience health benefits like lower blood pressure.  When someone hurts or offends you, negative feelings of bitterness or revenge are created. Don’t let yourself pay the price over and over. Oftentimes the focus on the past and the hurt will keep you from enjoying the wonders of today and the potential of tomorrow.

Good news: Although you cannot control their actions or their decisions, you CAN control yours.

6. Compassion

Compassion is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world. — Martin Lowenthal, Opening the Heart of Compassion

Having compassion brings out an important human element.  Showing recognition and respect for all situations can not only solve many of the world’s problems, but can also bring people comfort, knowing that they are cared for, loved, and recognized as equal.  Show compassion for others and where they are in life.

Although their situation may not be desirable to you, it’s where they are – and if they’re going to get closer to where they want to be, they need caring support from people just like you.

7. Humor

As the old adage states, “Laughter is the best medicine.” It’s true and happy people know it. They laugh often and even at themselves sometimes. Laughter can create a lightness out of a heavy or negative situation. One good belly laugh is all it takes too; humor is contagious. One funny, happy person in a group can create a roomful of happy people.

Humor doesn’t just make you happy, but healthy too. Studies show humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boosts your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress.

“Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you can have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.” – Paul E. McGhee, Ph.D

8. Responsibility

Taking responsibility for your thoughts, words, actions, and reactions can ultimately bring you more happiness in life. If your intention is to create a more positive world for yourself and those around you, it’s up to you to have the thoughts, moods, and actions that will create that positive world.

If however, you analyze your current situation and see a negative consequence being created as a result of your moods/actions/reactions, taking responsibility for that will make you adjust your sails to strive toward a better outcome.  Release the fear of judgment and create responsibly, the Divine never loses count of your true intention.

9. Persistence

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Focus on what you want and build yourself to be that person through positive affirmations, intention, and action.  When we pursue something of great value with an undying spirit, the Divine knows this and will deliver.  It may not come all at once, or through the avenue you expect, but persistence will grant the achievements that create happiness.

10. Focus on the Solution

happy-people-solutions

Happy people focus on solutions.  Unhappy people focus on problems. – Chris Butler

Releasing focus on problems is relieving yourself of the negative focus. Great problem solvers, and many millionaires exist because they don’t see a need to focus on the problem as much as the solution for it.  Life is full of possibilities and solutions when you believe and focus on them.  Life is also full of problems when you focus on them.  Where will you put your focus?

11. Honesty

You may get away with dishonesty at times, but as mentioned earlier, the Divine ALWAYS keeps count. For every thought, word, or action you express, an equal energy will be returned to you.  If honesty is what you portray, you will gain respect, trust, and honesty in return.  With dishonesty, a barren and lonely environment that is devoid of happiness is sure to ensue in time.  You may not see the effect of dishonesty right away, but it will erode you from within.  The option to repair however, is always available. You can begin practicing honesty RIGHT NOW to build a better, happier tomorrow.

(BONUS) 12. Optimism, of course! 😉

Positive thinking is key to happiness. Happy people have practiced turning negative thoughts or experiences into positive ones. Seeing the glass half full, living a life full of positive habits, and learning to turn on your own “happy switch” consistently will turn your life around in ways you’ve never imagined.

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