It’s so easy to fall into our familiar patterns. On some level they serve us. We’re afraid to let go of our pain out of fear of the unknown.
So we live in a place called victimhood, blaming our parents, our job or whatever else that takes the focus away from the only person that is responsible for our happiness—YOU!
What a concept?
It took me a lifetime to grasp that happiness did not come in a pill, food, a relationship or even a job and that happiness came from within.
When I realized trying to control a certain outcome was ineffective, I stopped chasing people-places-things and surrendered to the unknown.
Simple, right?
Admittedly, it was not!
Though the journey has been a gradual process, the rewards are worth it. Instead of feeling stressed or anxious by living in the past or the future, I’m mostly in the present moment and in a state of peace.
Here are some tools that have helped me along the way:
MIND
Saying positive affirmations such as “I am at peace in my life,” “I deserve to be happy,” in the morning, mid-day and at night is an effective way to alleviate the negative chatter.
BODY
Practicing yoga or any form of exercise increases your energy.
Eliminating refined sugars, processed foods and caffeine is not only healthier for your body but also nourishes the mind. In the book The Ultra Mind Solution by Mark Hyman, he correlates how “junk” food can affect our moods and diseases such as depression.
Sleep eight hours because you’ll feel refreshed and a lot less prone to making poor choices.
SPIRIT
Listening to your intuition can save you from needless suffering.
Get out of your head and connect with your soul by cooking, drawing, walking in nature and listening to music.
Pray, journal, and meditate because it increases inner calm.
By encompassing the mind-body-spiriton a daily basis, you take 100% responsibility for your own happiness. As you become a Zen-Master, life will flow through you and not against you.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”~ Bobby McFerrin
Biography
Andrea Lewis lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is the author of Dramaville is a not a place; it’s a state of mind. Her memoir promises to be filled with drama, emotional turmoil and an inspiration to never give up! Connect with Andrea at http://www.andreamlewis.com
