happiness – Page 2 – Personal Growth Cafe

December 7, 2018February 19, 2018

How to Meditate – Three Simple Strategies

Meditation can bring a variety of benefits to your life.

You can use it to gain more energy, focus your mind, relax your body, attain peace, rejuvenate your spirit, and many other things.

However, meditation is primarily a way to rest and relax your mind.

Meditation allows your mind to go into a deeper, more relaxed stage where you’re more aware of your body and surroundings.

There are various methods of meditation, but they all focus on the main goal to quiet your mind and achieve a state of inner calm.

Here are three simple strategies that can help you get the most from your meditation:

1. Choose the best time and place.

Because of our different schedules and harried lives, not everyone will find the same time best for them.

The time of day is not really so important as long as you pick a time that works well for you.

Choose a time to meditate when you won’t have the phone ringing or kids knocking on your door.

To quite your mind you need quiet in the home.

It’s best to avoid times right before or after eating.

Some people do well with 10 minutes of meditation time while others need at least a half hour.

It’s also important that you find a great place for your meditation.

You’ll need an environment that’s both relaxing and quiet, so that nothing takes your attention away from meditating.

Turn off loud appliances, the television, and even your phone, so you’re not distracted or interrupted.

Sometimes going outdoors can provide an inspirational place for meditation.

Setting a calm mood will help you meditate.

Closing the curtains, turning on soft light, or lighting your favorite scented candle might help you relax.

2. Clear your mind. Even when we’re still, our minds continue to think.

It’s easy to allow the problems of the day to come into your mind while you’re trying to meditate.

It’s important that you focus your attention on meditating and work to clear your mind.

Breathe deeply and concentrate on relaxing your body.

Picture each part of your body going limp as you relax.

With each breath, inhale peace and exhale your worries.

Envision a place that brings you happiness.

This place can be real or imagined as long as you’re relaxed and not thinking about your problems.

3. Find your inner peace. Find your place of inner peace when you meditate.

It’s the place inside of you that’s quiet and far away from the cares of the world.

When you’re able to totally clear your mind, you can usually bring yourself to a place where you truly feel peace and happiness.

Allow yourself to stay in this place for a while, calming and relaxing your body and mind.

It’s not hard to meditate.

While it’s more difficult when you first get started, over time it becomes easier and easier to reach your goal of finding peace and relaxation.

Remember these strategies, and you’ll find meditation to be a very pleasurable experience.

How do you feel when you meditate?

How does meditation affect your mood?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Also, as your gift for taking this to heart – and this is profoundly important… to us ALL – go to UnitingPlanetEarth.com/ignition/ and do the Uniting Planet Earth 7-Day Quick-Start Ignition Program… and Allow it to Transform Your Life.

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

November 2, 2018February 16, 2018

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

November 2, 2018February 16, 2018

I am thankful for all opportunities. My attitude reflects my happiness.

I am thankful for all opportunities that come my way.

I let go of the idea that things must be ideal for me to be happy.

I recognize that every situation has both challenges and rewards.

Basing my sense of well being on the absence of conflict in my life is futile.

There will always be challenges, and I cannot delay my happiness because of their presence.

I believe that success comes to those who take action with what they have at hand.

Opportunities for small successes often lead to greater possibilities.

For this reason, I choose to look for the opportunities inherent in every circumstance.

Even unpleasant situations can lead to better opportunities that would not have been available without facing the challenge.

I know that challenges teach me the patience and other skills I need in order to make the most of my life.

Obstacles help develop my character.

I welcome all challenges and I remain open to the good that awaits me with each new opportunity.

By letting go of the expectation of ease or perfection, I enable myself to discover the possibilities within every situation.

I create my own happiness, even in the midst of challenges.

How can you view challenges as opportunities?

What opportunity has come to you unexpectedly because you remained open to finding the good in a tough situation?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

October 28, 2018February 16, 2018

As I let go of dissatisfaction, I feel happiness in my life.

Dissatisfaction has no place in my life.

I know that challenges are often opportunities in disguise, and disappointments are merely an unexpected fork in the road that will lead me on a unique journey full of beauty and growth.

Even though I did not choose this path, I keep on walking, eager to discover what is ahead.

I know that no one has a perfect existence, that life always implies a push and pull, give and take, gain and loss.

I know that one cannot exist without the other.

I let go of the idea that I should have everything I want just the way I want it, and focus on the beauty of what I do have in this moment.

I recognize, too, that challenges and disappointments can be opportunities for learning and growth if I allow them to be.

I am certain that every situation can teach me something about my life.

Life is often like panning for gold. If I allow myself to get discouraged by all the silt I am sifting through and just give up, I miss out on the hidden nuggets of gold.

I look objectively at my circumstances, having faith that the opportunities inherent in distressing situations will eventually reveal themselves if I remain open to them.

What is one good thing a previous disappointment brought into your life?

What disappointments can you release from your mind so you can enjoy the new opportunities that are revealed to you?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

October 28, 2018February 16, 2018

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. – Dale Carnegie

October 8, 2018February 1, 2018

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 4, 2018February 1, 2018

Happiness is a state of mind, not what’s in your wallet. – Byron Pulsifer

September 24, 2018January 31, 2018

When I take time to reflect on my route. I am always happy with how much I have accomplished.

July 11, 2018January 8, 2018

Laugh Your Way to Good Health: The Many Health Benefits of Laughter

Everybody enjoys a good laugh, whether it’s from a sitcom on TV, a live comedy show, or because a friend made a fool of himself.

When was the last time you took some time to relax and find something to laugh about?

Not just any laugh, but one of those deep belly laughs that clears out your tear ducts!

If you are among the many adults who have a hard time relaxing you’ll be surprised to know that there are real health benefits to laughter.

Yes, it sounds rather crazy, but your favorite sitcom can do wonders for your health!

How Can Laughter Help?

When you laugh, your body releases endorphins into the blood system. Endorphins act like natural pain killers and are also responsible for making you feel happy.

The best part is endorphins are completely free of any side effects – it’s all natural! That’s why you feel a “natural high” after the right dose of laughter.

Laughing not only leads to a feeling of well being, but it can also do the following:

Lower blood pressure – This cycle starts with the blood pressure rising when you start to laugh but then it decreases to levels below normal.

When you take deep breaths while laughing, more oxygen-rich blood is transported quickly throughout your body.

Reduce stress and increase your attentiveness, heart rate and pulse –

When your heart rate and pulse is elevated, you’ll feel more energized.

Of course, being more attentive can lead to better learning and growth.

Make your heart grow stronger – For a long time now, heart specialists have established that mental stress is particularly harmful to the heart and is one of the leading causes behind the build up of fat and cholesterol in the coronary arteries.

By laughing and reducing that stress on a regular basis, you’re helping your body reduce that fat buildup while reducing your risk of a heart attack.

Lower blood sugar – Laughter helps with reducing stress and stress often leads to an increase in blood sugar levels.

Laughter as a Form of Exercise

When you throw back your head and laugh, you’re actually working your muscles from the hips to the shoulders.

Since laughing involves taking in and releasing of air, the expelling of carbon dioxide and the intake of oxygen, your internal organs and core muscles get a good workout every time you laugh heartily.

It may sound silly, but it’s true.

Ever heard of “laughter yoga?” It’s a form of yoga class where you perform the regular stretches while getting silly to induce laughter.

Activities range from imitating animals to speaking in gibberish. If you think this sounds odd, you’re right.

It is! But we have to stop taking life so seriously and start having fun!

Improve Your Mental Health with Laughter

Everyday you’re faced with challenges and it’s completely up to you how to confront them.

You can choose a positive attitude or a negative one.

Laughing when faced with a challenge can help lift your mood (as well as those around you) and maybe you’ll be able to view the challenge in a positive light.

This will help you reduce the stress and get things done quicker.

Laughter is generally followed by a sense of relaxation, hence it’s a good form of stress relief.

Use laughter as a way to reconnect with your family, especially during troubling times.

When you laugh you generally talk more, make direct eye contact, and even get into closer contact.

A Laugh a Day…

Laughter has many physical benefits to your overall health and well being but you obviously still need to exercise, eat well, and go for your routine checkups.

Nevertheless, there are simply many perks to laughing and it will help you enjoy the hysterical life that surrounds you!

What makes you laugh?

When was the last time you had a good laugh?

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!

June 28, 2018January 8, 2018

Tips for Using “The Secret” In Your Life

By now you must’ve heard of The Secret, a book by Rhonda Bryne that talks about the Law of Attraction and how to use The Secret in your life.

But have you read the book or seen the movie and tried to incorporate the tips into your life but failed?

If so, it’s okay! You’re not alone.

That frustration stems from the fact that The Secret really only skims the surface on what you need to do in order to change your life.

To help you have the success you’re after, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you achieve your deepest desires!

How to Use The Secret In Your Daily Life

The basic premise of The Secret is that you attract the things you constantly think about.

To help make sure you stay on track with manifesting your desires, make a list.

You may think you know what you want, but those thoughts are often vague or not put in the right perspective.

Get specific. Instead of writing that you want to be out of debt, you need to visualize that you have all the money you could ever need and desire.

Think of your credit card statements with a zero balance. Think about what you will do with the money.

Make your list of wants very precise all the way down to the smallest detail.

Use visual reminders to help keep you focused.

If you want a new car, then find a picture of the exact car you want.

You can even go to a dealership with a friend and take your dream car for a test drive and have your friend take your picture in the car.

Print the picture out and post it where you’ll see it each and everyday. You can do this with anything you want.

To attract more money, write yourself a check in the exact amount you want and post it everywhere you can see it.

The mind works well with visual reminders and clues.

Create a personal mantra or motto that you can use as a screensaver or wallpaper on your computer.

Record the message on your voicemail.

Write it out on small slips of paper and post those papers everywhere so every time you start to slip into negative thinking, you have a positive reminder to help you re-focus.

Reprogram Your Mind

To make sure you’re taking complete advantage of what The Secret teaches, you have to reprogram the way you think and this takes time.

Making sure you have gentle reminders that help reprogram your mind will be greatly beneficial.

It’s easy to slip into the old way of thinking, worrying about money, or stressing over negative things.

But you can disallow yourself to get into that negative spiral by staying focused on the positive.

Being Grateful For The Abundance Already In Your Life

You also need to be grateful for the things you have in your life right now.

No, you may not have everything you want, but you have everything you need to succeed.

Be thankful for each day you wake up, for the fact that you’re able to breathe and move on your own.

Be thankful that you have a job, a roof over your head, and clothes on your back.

Be gracious because you have someone who loves you.

The only way to get more of a good thing is to appreciate the good you have.

Create a gratitude book. Write in it whenever you have time and keep it handy so any time you feel down, you can take it out and remind yourself of all the good you have.

What do you think is the secret to happiness in your life?

How are you making the most out of every day?

Follow these tips and you’ll see the magic of The Secret at work in your life.

Talk about that in the Personal Growth Cafe Community!

Before you leave…

Please share the link to this post on your Facebook, Twitter, etc., and like it, and comment right here – THANKS!