6 Steps to Happy!

I saw this via FaceBook Post last week and it made me Pause & Think....
What is Happy?
What does Happy mean to ME?

This Quote makes me think that it's our inner teacher who is responsible for helping
us to create joy in our lives, not the voices around us. Perhaps, we should take a step back and listen....

1. So, I dare you... Take a moment and journal Happiness Or OK, I know you're busy... Take 15 seconds to think about that word and what it means to YOU... the definition is different for everyone...
This is sort of a trick question, because a big piece of being genuinely happy? Is to discover YOUR key. Often in life we are swayed by the values, expectations of others. Then? what begins to make us UNhappy is that we are not listening to the truth in OUR heart. Get real, What does Happiness mean to YOU?

2. Ok, you ve settled on some sense of Happy Ask what you are doing (or not doing?) to Cultivate joy? Success? Well-being?
What are 3 things you can Do over the next week to add a little sparkle to your Spirit? Health? Home? Career?
Or conversely 3 things you can let go of or stop doing, in order to make room for more joy?

3. Know that Happiness is YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.
(that's a foundation of our beliefs in Kundalini Yoga)
Sometimes we forget that we DESERVE to be happy. The news is blowing up with tragedies & we have friends and family who are in challenging times. Then we think, well it doesn't feel right to be joyous when the world is sad around me. Actually it works just the opposite. If you can take a moment and find the strength to create light (even a tiny bit) this flame reflects and brings light to others. Allow yourself to be the candle in the dark room.

4. Honor Thy Body
Oftentimes, it can be physical as well as emotional. Recently I had a moment of feeling down and eventually realized it was just plain old exhaustion- Part of the reason I was feeling so glum because my body was too tired. The opposite can also be true, sometimes getting the body moving can be the solution to battling the blues. Listen to your body!

We forget how Taking care of ourselves is linked with our moods and our sense of well-being. When our health, exercise, diet, sleep, etc are in better shape, this enables us to deal with stress and daily responsibilities from a much stronger place.

5. Count Your Blessings, Not Your Problems.
Take a moment to notice when you are accentuating the negative instead of the positive When this mindset slowly creeps in and takes hold, Usually that's a tipping point for emotions to plummet
You catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar... Nuf' said on that!

6. It's OK to feel Blue!
I've learned that when I feel down, it can be helpful to take a step back from it all. Usually it's actually a sign that I need to Slow Down! When I take a moment to stop & quietly listen to my heart, usually the reason for my blues becomes clear. Reading through the ideas of this letter can be helpful for pinpointing reasons and creating solutions. Allow yourself the luxury to relax!

In My Yoga Classes and in both my Performance & Voice Lessons I focus a lot on the breath.
Working with our breath can be a powerful way to move through emotions.

When we are tense or sad, the first thing to react is our breath - it tightens & becomes more shallow & unfortunately this also creates additional tension which feeds the cycle. When the breath is locked or held, we aren't taking things in, our spirit is closed off to the experience of life. That s the moment when we can return to breathing 101. Notice the breath and just flow with it, the breath does not have to be anything specific- there are no rules... just allow it to Release and Flow Naturally. Connect with where you are, allow yourself to be in that place and Just Breathe.

In closing, I do believe that very often Happiness is a choice that we make & it's not always easy. Sometimes, it is the most important choices that require the most discipline and often a little bit of work. Know that you deserve to be happy and allow yourself to take little steps to cultivate it...

When we embrace life from a place of delight, wonder and joy it creates a positive energy which brings us Fortune and Luck...
So, C'Mon get happy! (or at least do your best to try...)

Love Light and Big Happy Hug to You
Meredith