Friday, June 29, 2012

Happy is as happy does

It is very easy to feel happy wheneverything is good in yourlife, when you mood is up, when th sun is shining. But sometimes you just feel down, sometimes evn for seemingly no rason. I have those moments when I feel all alone, that nobody loes me, nobody cares for me. And usually I used to buy myself a cake (not just a piece of cake), turn on a sad movie and cry my eyes out, but before that I would write in my journal how miserable I felt. Now I've decided to change this habbit. Yes , I do feel super sad sometimes and I allw myself to cry. Now I usually si in front of a mirrorand talk to myself, as if in a therapist office. I do let the feelings out, and I just let them go. I prfer not to write any negative feelings on the paper. I leave my journal only for the happy experiences. And it has become much easier for me to maintain the state of happiness. Even when I cry I still feel happy.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Love happily ever after

To tell the truth - and I am revieling this for the first time in my life - I have never been in love, in a real head-over-heels, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of love. And that is why I have never been in a real relationship. I do want to experience this feeling, I am craving for it, I want to build a loving and trustworthy and affectionate relationship with a man. Altough I do believe that you don't need to be in a relationship in order to experience love. I do feel love everywhere, love is the most important thing in my life. I love love. I love the word love, I love the actions of love and I try to fill each of my days with love. And that what makes me truly happy each and every day. So the advice for today is:


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Happy truth

Have you ever noticed how many little lies people say to each other on a daily basis? A lot of the times these are quite small lies. For example, you say to your co-worker: "Oh, I love your new dress/shoes/perfume/etc.", but do you really mean it? I judge from myself - I used to say this just to make a conversation, or to be liked, but that's not always how I truely felt. One day about half a year ago something changed. I became sick of all these lies that surround us. And as I firmly believe that you should treat other people the way you want to be treated, I decided to begin with myself. Now I never say a compliment if I don't really believe in what I am saying.
And actually this concerns not only your relationship with other people, but also - and I would even say  primarily - your relationship with yourself. Sometimes the truth may be scary. Telling yourself the truth may require you making some changes. And a change most of the time menas stepping from something known and comfortable into the unknown. And that might be very scary. But I do believe that unless you are completely honest with yourself and with others you cannot be completely happy. So here is my advice of the day:

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Listen to your heart

You know what I discovered not a long time ago? I have learned that you always know what to do. You yourself always know what exactly it is that you want. The thing is that most of the time (I am talking about myself here, but I think that a lot of people can relate to that) you just get scared. Scared that it might all go wrong. Scared that you might get a lot of resistance from your people. Sometimes even scared that what you want might actually come true and then you will have nothing to dream about. But you know what? The truth is to be really happy you need to learn to listen to yourself. To listen to your heart, what is it calling for. Only when you know that and know what to do to achieve that can you get the most happiness out of each day.

Be you

Recently I have heard a wonderful expression which really appeals to me. The expression is: "The potential you see in other prople is actually your own". I think it's so nicely said and so true. Sometimes I imagine different situations in my mind and try to replay how I would react. And in my imagination I'm very witty and flirty and everything. But when these situations happen in real life I become too shy to show my wittiness. So I think the person I imagine in my mind is my true self. And I just need to learn to get her out. So today's advice (which I myself should really listen to) is:

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Happy with friends

I find it so important to appreciate all the people who are around you. It such a luck to have people who care about you, who support you in everything you do, even though they might not understand it sometimes.  People who you can share your thoughts and ideas with and who will be genuinely happy for you. I have such people in my life and I am super grateful for them. Although I have discovered lately, and that has been quite disappointing for me, that sometimes people who you think of as your friends envy you when everything goes right in your life. You think that they will be happy for you, but instead they don't even want to hear your story of success because they will feel envious. And I was very surprised to discover that, because in the times of dispair they were there for me. I am learning though to take it easy, maybe I will feel the same way some day and I wouldn't like to be judge about that. But at the same time I am now very open to new friendships, even to new friendships with old acquaintances. I think we learn something from every person we encounter with. So here is my advice of the day:


Saturday, June 23, 2012

Every day is an adventure

Today I thought of my little godson, he is 4,5 years old now and he is so excited about every single day! I remember a couple of weeks ago we all went to my Granny's farm. And this little boy was excited about any new job, he would go watering with me, picking up hay, going to the forrest for some berries and even helping us pull weeds at the potato rows. We thought that he would sleep in late the next morning, but no. It was even before 7 a.m. that he was standing in the middle of the room and telling everyone to get up. He came up to me and said: "Angela, look out of the window!". I said: "What is it? Is there something going on?" And he replied: "Yes, it's light outside! It is finally morning!!"
Now every day I try to follow the example of this 4-year-old boy. I try to get up with the biggest excitement about the new day, to see it as another possibility to do something fun, to learn something new, and to enjoy every moment of it.



Friday, June 22, 2012

You can do it

Today I wanted to right a completely different post, but as I was surfing the Internet for some Dr. Seuss quotes I ran across this very-very inspiring video which has really touched me. It shows how we have so much power within ourselves that sometimes (well, most of the times) we are not even aware of or that we forget about. But we can do anything. We can acomplish anything. We can achieve anything. I'm completely sure about that. Our possibilities are limitless. The only thing we need is belief. Belief in our powers. We do have the superpowers to become whoever we want to be. So go ahead and be the superman / superwoman you were born to be.

And here is that video. I hope it will inspire you, too:


PS: remember how a few days ago I wrote that now I don't cry as often as I used to? Well, the tears are back! I have had little cries every day since. But all of those are very happy and inspirational tears. They are of the kind that I had today while watching this video. The tears of happiness for the other person, tears of gratitude for their achievement; these are 'mail'-tears which I use to send people like Arthur love and appreciation from the bottom of my heart. And honestly I am very happy that I can cry again. I thought that I was becoming less sensitive than I used to be, and I didn't want that to happen.

And today's lesson is:


Thursday, June 21, 2012

Are you proud of yourself?

Only yesterday I watched for the first time London's video promotion for the 2012 Olympics. And I instantly fell in love with the song "Proud" by Heather Small. Her words "What have you done today to make you feel proud?" stuck in my head. I was thinking about it today, and I realised that it is a very good idea to ask yourself this question at the end of each day. What do you feel about today? Did you do the best you could in every situation? Were you kind with other people? Did you smile and laugh today? Did you make another step to get you closer to your dream / goal / desire? In other words, do you feel proud of yourself for today? I think that if your answer is yes, than it has definitely been a happy day.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Happy to be creative

When you are happy you want to do things. It becomes so much easier to get things done. You feel inspired to make all your desires come true. Make your dreams happen. Bring your ideas to life. And having things done, seeing them come to life makes you even happier. And then you can create even more. This is like a never-ending circle. 
So today I was just doing some drawing routine - this is part of my daily-happy-program now. I wanted to learn how to draw for the past several months. In the beginning I was thinking that I needed to save up some money in order to take drawing courses. But a few days ago I realised - why wait? Just start drawing! Every day. And there are now so many sources out there, that in some cases you don't even need to take any courses. And while drawing different lines and shapes, I somehow ended up with this little picture: 


It is nothing special, but I am so happy that it came out of my own hands. I am happy to create things like this. I am happy to be happy.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Happy tears

To be honest, I used to be a big cryer. I used to cry at every sad movies I watched, that's why I stopped watching them. Now I only watch comedies, romantic comedies and cartoons. It is easier for me that way. But every once in a while I need a cry. Usually I buy a cake, get a sad movie, which I know will have a happy ending, - and cry my eyes out. And most of the times while crying I start pitying myself ("Oh, how I wish I had that and that", or "Why am I not so good at this and that" and other BS). But  today was different. Today I was feeling good the whole day, but at the end of the working day I came across one of my biggest fears - andI just got very upset that I still cannot overcome it, even though I know my life would be so much better without it. As I was driving home, I began to feel tears coming up to my eyes, I knew I needed to cry, and I was going to do that as soon as I got home. I didn't feel sorry for myself. I came home, I looked at the mirror and began talking to myself about this fear. I did start to cry, I cried out all the tears that were in there - and after that I just continued with my new daily routine: work out, shower, drawing, writing a post, etc. And please notice - there was no cake:) 
So what did I learn from today: it is OK to cry, for some people (like myself) it is necessary to cry to let the negative feelings out of your system. And it is up to me how I want to feel myself in this moments - I can either feel sorry for myself, or feel happy that I can express emotions, accept thise emotions, experience them and let them go. From now on I decide to choose the second.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Ai

Ai is the Chinese word for love. The character consits of different symbols which together mean "to love people through your actions and with all your heart". I got this tattooed on my shoulder a week ago. I have been longing for it since 2008, but didn't have the guts to actually have it done. But this year is very different. There have been some big changes in my life, and for the last month I have been literally craving for this tattoo. And now I am happy. Every time I look at it I get even happier. It is in some way a symbol of happiness for me. It marks this period in my life when I learn to be happy. Happy no matter what. Happy to live and to experience life. So here is my advice to you: ai! 


Saturday, June 16, 2012

Happy in the moment


This post might actually repeat a litle bit the one of yesterday, but I ran across these wonderful words of Mother Teresa and just could not but share:

Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.
― Mother Teresa

To be honest, I don't know much about Mother Teresa, I know that she was a wonderful woman who has helped a great many people. For that I respect her. I know that she loved all people. For that I love her. She taught people how to be kind to each other. For that I am thankful to her. She has shared a lot of knowledge and wisdom with people. For that I admire her.



Friday, June 15, 2012

What makes you happy today

Today I decided to skip my diet and workout and just do what I feel would make me happy today. Yes, I do understand that foods and excercise are super good both for your physical and mental health. And I will go back to that tomorrow, I already have made plans for a huge walk around the city with a friend of mine. But today I felt like I needed a piece of cake, chocolate cake to be more specifie. And I got it. Out of nowhere. Just one of the departments decided to arrange Friday tea party. And there it was - a piece of super-chocolatey-chocolate (I did made this word up) cake! So again - this is the proof of my theory: you need to know what makes you happy and you will get it.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Life Happens

This is another song-related happiness post. I've discovered that when you are aware of something, when you want something - I will see it everywhere. For example, my favourite car is Audi - I see them everywhere, I come across an Audi at least 10-15 times a day. Once I said to my sister "Wow, there are so many Audis in this city!" And her reply was "Really? I hardly ever see them". You see what hapened there? I was (and still am) very aware of Audi cars, I pay my attention, I am focused - and I keep bumping into them.  The same now is happening with happiness and with all the things related to happiness. I come across different books, interview series, wonderful new people and there web-sites, different webinars, quotations - everything remindes me that I can just be happy, I don't actually need a reason, I don't need to wait for something to happen before I can be happy. And yesterday by sheer luck I saw this video with the wonderful lyrics:


By the way, have you ever noticed that happen and happy have the same root? I just noticed it yesterday...)))

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Happythankyoumoreplease

Another idea on how to keep being happy no matter what is to count your blessings and be grateful for them. Thank yourself, thank the Universe, thank the people around you, thank the things around you - there is sooo much we can be grateful for. I once watched a video with Joe Vitale, and it stroke me how positive this man is. When he was homeless, when everything seemed to go wrong in his life, hу heard that simple truth - "Be thankful for what you already have". And instead of thinking that this idea was insane for him, how could he be thakful for the situation he was in, he decided to give it a try. He looked around and saw a pencil. A simple pencil with a little eraser on top. And he started to express gratitude for that pencil. He was thankful for a PENCIL! - just think of it!

So look around - and see how man things you can find that you are thankful for. You do already have everything you need to be happy. Realize that and just be.



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Living in the moment

Today's post is inspired by Jason Mraz. Well, not only inspired, it consists mostly of Jason, to be more exact his new song "Living in the Moment". I have been a fan of Jason Mraz's music since 2008. That was the year when I first heard his song 'Lif is Wonderful". It tought me how to be grateful for the things you have and not think "oh, if I only had this or that, I would be so much happier'. I realized that I already have everything to be happy, and that maybe I need to learn to appreciate every single minute and every single person in my life and just be happy now. Stop waiting for something or someone to change before I can be happy. And this new song is a reminder of that simple truth. "I'm letting myself off the hook for things I've done / I let my past go past / And now I'm having more fun / I'm letting go of the thoughts / That do not make me strong / And I believe this way can be the same for everyone".I am very grateful for Jason Mraz and his wonderful songs, I am thankful for this wonderful thing called the Internet that gives us the opportunity to see and learn so much more than we could ever do without it.

So, here comes the lyrics:

Jason Mraz

"Living In The Moment"

If this life is one act
Why do we lay all these traps?
We put them right in our path
When we just wanna be free

I will not waste my days
Making up all kinds of ways
To worry about all the things
That will not happen to me

So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
Living our life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home
Living in the moment

I'm letting myself off the hook for things I've done
I let my past go past
And now I'm having more fun
I'm letting go of the thoughts
That do not make me strong
And I believe this way can be the same for everyone

And if I fall asleep
I know you'll be the one who'll always remind me
To live in the moment
To live my life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home

I can't walk through life facing backwards
I have tried
I tried more than once to just make sure
And I was denied the future I'd been searching for
But I spun around and hurt no more
By living in the moment
Living my life
Easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
With peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home

I'm living in the moment
I'm living my life
Just taking it easy
With peace in my mind
Got peace in my heart
Got peace in my soul
Oh, wherever I'm going, I'm already home

I'm living in the moment
I'm living my life
Oh, easy and breezy
With peace in my mind
Peace in my heart
Peace in my soul
Wherever I'm going, I'm already home
I'm living in the moment


Monday, June 4, 2012

Engineering Happiness

"Engineering Happiness: How to think yourself happy." - this is the title of a post I just read by Maria from fitnessreloaded.com. I am a great believer that everything happens for a reason, that whatever you want and need is given to you. So I came across this post for a reason, to reconfirm my ideas about happiness and just to  keep track of what I have been doing (because I am taking prett much the same actions as Maria). So go ahead, read this article and make your happiness with your hands every single day.