IDEAS FOR CREATING A HAPPY, HEALTHY, JOYFUL LIFE
These little inspirations are mostly very simple and fundamental ideas. Many are kernels or nuggets that you can expand upon and apply in your own way. I hope that you will find them to be useful and inspiring.
- Wake up to the sound of beautiful, happy music. Get a CD alarm or MP3 docking station with an alarm, and make sure that when you awake each morning you hear soothing or upbeat sounds, rather than a loud buzzer or a radio station that is chattering about things that might not be very uplifting.
- Take pleasure in the little things, life’s little joys. Many little treasures will add up to a large amount of satisfaction if we are paying attention to them.
- Be gentle with yourself. Don’t dwell on self-critical thoughts. Treat yourself in the way that you would like others to treat you.
- Focus on the good things that you desire to bring into your life; don’t focus so much on things that you don’t want to happen.
- Go for a nice long stroll or ride in a quiet natural setting that you enjoy at least once a week if possible. Even for those who are “adrenaline junkies” taking the time to slow down and relax for a while is one of the necessities of life and helps to clear the mind.
- Practice the “golden rule” principle of mutuality which has been included in nearly every belief system, and love others as you also love yourself. It is good to have a healthy love of self. (Note: a web search on “the golden rule” can yield some very fascinating results.)
- Look for humor and enjoy laughter. According to some reports, we need at least 12 laughs per day to stay healthy. (How they actually got that figure I don’t know.) Also, if you don’t think the Universe has a sense of humor, just look at yourself naked in the mirror! You can probably find at least one dumb thing that you do each day to give yourself and others a chuckle, maybe even 12!
- Believe in the power of goodness. Positive energy is contagious.
- Practice kindness, not just randomly, but passionately and intentionally.
- Look at life as a process and a classroom; look forward to learning and growing into greater and greater ideas.
- Know that you are a unique person with unique gifts, and don’t compare your life with someone else’s. We are all at different stages in our development. We all have ways that we can shine.
- Be open to spontaneity and change, and welcome thoughts that will allow you to expand your horizons.
- To live fully is to learn to continually recreate oneself.
See the beauty around you!
Live! Love! Create Joy!
Mark Houlahan: If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page.
For some ideas on maintaining a healthy balance both physically and emotionally, see
Joyful Health page.
For ideas on creating nutritious and delicious meals and snacks, see
Joyful Cooking page.
For ideas on planning your next vacation or getaway and possible destinations, see Joyful Travel page.
For some environmentally friendly product ideas, see Joyful Green Living page.
Recommended Reading:
Live! Love! Create Joy!
Mark Houlahan: If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and every day you have the opportunity to write a new page.
For some ideas on maintaining a healthy balance both physically and emotionally, see
Joyful Health page.
For ideas on creating nutritious and delicious meals and snacks, see
Joyful Cooking page.
For ideas on planning your next vacation or getaway and possible destinations, see Joyful Travel page.
For some environmentally friendly product ideas, see Joyful Green Living page.
Recommended Reading:
