Three Simple Secrets for a Happy Life

From time to time I come across words of inspiration which really strike a chord with me.   The sort of thing that really makes me analyse the way I live my life or respond to those around me.   Mostly,  I keep these thoughts to myself.   I choose to do this because often they involve very personal feelings and moments of critical self analysis.  Even though I like to think of my blog as a place where I can journal my life (warts and all!) - somehow the idea of completely bearing my vulnerability to the entire world is well....... a little awkward to be perfectly honest. In the back of my mind I can also hear Matthew (jokingly) saying to me : "Gee Mum - sounds like you're trying to be Oprah or something!" However,  something I read recently was just so simple and so true that I just had to journal it here.  Not just to share with anyone who might happen to stumble across my ramblings but also so that I can have it for ever more.     My Mantra for Life. It was written by Serge King.  Now I have never heard of Serge King?  However Mr Google tells me that  "Serge King PhD is an author, humanitarian, speaker, scholar and speaker and has published the world's largest selection of books and tapes on Huna, the Polynesian philosophy and practice of effective living, and on the spirit of Aloha, the attitude of love and peace for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous."   From what I have read,  his philosophy on life seems to be very uncomplicated with a good dose of common sense thrown in for good measure.  In fact, it's a wonder he hasn't got his own television show somewhere in the world!    I just love his Three Simple Simple Secrets for a Happy Life : Bless the present Trust yourself Expect the best   How powerful are those three little statements? Imagine if your lived your life according to them! - Bless the Present In a previous "Oprah" moment (sorry Matthew!) -  I did a posting on "Being Present".   BEING present means that we are aware of the present - not bringing the past in to taint the moment. Not worrying about things that haven't happened yet. Not focusing on how bad things are, because you are too busy blessing this moment as perfect - for whatever reason.  Just because IT IS! ‘Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.’ ~Thich Nhat Hanh Anger, resentment, fear, jealousy, disappointment, frustration and other negative emotions are what we bring from the past.   They are not relevant to this moment. The first time I read this little quote - it was like a real lightbulb moment :- "after 3 minutes, whatever happened is in the past and should be let go!"    Yes!  Time to embrace where we are now and put an end to all the negative thoughts of the past and future. BE present and  in being present - be thankful! - Trust Yourself I have always been a big believer in "listening to that little voice" deep inside me.   It was something I also taught my children from when they were very young and over the years they have (individually) related stories to me of how that "little voice" has got them out of some tricky situations.   It's a bit like the stories I used to tell Kendall (when she first got her licence) about the dangers of picking up hitchhikers!   My stories traumatised her so much that I doubt she would even pick ME up if I was stuck by the side of the road with a flat tyre!    Have you ever had a sense of KNOWING something is true or the right thing to do?  It is almost like an intuitive wisdom.  I guess that is what "Trusting Yourself" is all about.   It really is your truth.  It truly is something to treasure. - Expect the Best My dear Mum's favourite saying used to be  "with my luck....," "I'll never win anything".  OR "I'm such a Jonah....nothing works out for me".    Yet, in so many ways she was one of the most positive people I have ever known. There are so many people who succumb to negative thinking.  Goodness knows how it has come about or whether they have been so used to using negative language that they can't break the habit.  Maybe we also only see what we expect to see. How much more uplifting would it be if in every situation, in every person, in every relationship - we expected the best! I'm definitely going to give it a try.  What about you?

So thank you Serge King.  You have given me such a lot to think about and to have it condensed into just 3 simple secrets - quite inspirational.

and yes, dear family (particularly Matthew!).........

I will be back to my regular postings about cushions, and flowers, and gardens and Mickey and Buffy  and other pretty stuff -

but maybe tomorrow......

2011 - The Year of POSITIVITY!

Here's the thing.  I have decided  2011 is going to be The Year of POSITIVITY!


Not only is this going to apply to me and the way I go about my life and work but also to the people around me.  I intend to surround myself with positive people and positive energy! 

Over the years, I have found  the one thing that has totally sapped me is negativity and people who are constantly complaining and whingeing about the cards they have been dealt.   They are not happy unless everyone else is wallowing in their misery.  They are the people who give you every possible reason why something can't be done  rather than encouragement to give it a go!   They are the people who when the going gets tough - they get running.......

I absolutely love Randy Pausch's book "The Last Lecture" and have gained so much inspiration from his words.  It truly has become my mantra on how to live my best life.   This quote in particular really struck a chord with me :

"As I see it, there's a decision we all have to make, and it seems perfectly captured in the Winnie-the-Pooh characters created by A.A. Milne.  Each of us must decide :  Am I a fun-loving Tigger or am I a sad-sack Eeyore?  Pick a camp.....   I won't let go of the Tigger inside me.  I just can't see the upside of becoming Eeyore."

So, to all my fellow Tiggers out there - I look forward to a year filled to the brim with inspiration, creativity and positivity.   If there is one thing I have found since beginning my blogging journey - should ever I start to feel the weight of negativity weighing heavily on my shoulders,  I only have to click onto one of my favourite blogs and voila - I'm a Tigger once again!

Have a wonderful 2011 everyone.

Connecting

I found this message recently and it really struck a chord with me.  It got me thinking about about the capacity we all have to overcome the various problems and obstacles life throws at us on a daily basis.   I think somedays we become so overwhelmed by everything that is happening around us that we lose confidence in our ability to problem solve and navigate a pathway around obstacles.  We lose trust in ourselves.     Perhaps we need to pause for a moment, put things into perspective, listen to our intuition and regather the confidence to  move forward.   I know sometimes I tend to dwell on things and the more I dwell the greater the obstacle seems to become.   So it is good sometimes to be reminded of this.

It also got me thinking about the Workshop I attended in Brisbane over the past couple of days with a fabulous group of colleagues from various schools across the State.  We came together last October to work on a pilot program our Department was developing and although  many of us were strangers, over the course of the workshop we developed a very strong friendship.    It was amazing just how well we connected and  just how empowering it was to work with a group of like minded people.   The opportunity to link up again was fantastic.   In practising my "Five Skills of Happiness" - I am so grateful for the friendship and collegiality these people have been prepared to share and look forward to the chance to work with them again in the future.

Words of Inspiration

Love these words from the inspiring Maya Angelou :

I've learned that no matter what hapens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow;

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things : a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights;

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life;

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life";

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance;

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.......

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision;

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one;

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back;

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.......

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Thank you for passing this on Anne........

Happiness

Today I received a card in the mail - however it was a card with a difference.
Last October I was lucky enough to be selected to become a BSM Connector and went to Brisbane for a couple of days training.
The trainer, Eileen Heywood, was really inspirational and amongst other things, gave me her insight into the 5 Skills of Happiness. These are :

(1) Zest
(2) Curiousity
(3) Optimism
(4) Gratitude
(5) Giving and receiving appreciation, caring and love

After the training we were each given a card which we were to address to ourselves with a special message inside and were told that this would be forwarded to us in 4 months time.
I had completely forgotten about the card until I picked it up in the mail today. It was lovely to receive it and read the message that I had written 4 months earlier. My message (to myself!) - "Hopefully the past 4 months have ben kind to you and you are still practising the 5 Skills of Happiness".
It was good to remind myself of these skills and I continue to revisit them. I try to make them my mantra for daily living. Somedays it is harder than others. I don't have much problem with the first four however I do struggle with number five - not in the "giving" but in the "receiving". I guess this is something I will need to work on.