Cheers and Ideas for a Happy New Year!

I love things that work. Here are some reminders from The Centre Within course – practical techniques to slot into your daily life. Some of these you may already have on board, but there may be some others that you could add to your daily list of “do”s.

The greeting we all share is “Happy New Year!” Let’s make sure it is just that. Happy people don’t find themselves that way because of their circumstances – they’re happy because of their Attitude.

  1. Be Grateful – In The Centre Within course, being grateful is the first thing we suggest to turn our lives onto a more positive path. Studies show that gratitude can increase levels of well-being and happiness. If we teach our kids to be grateful, it will help them weather the inevitable life lessons ahead.
  2. Choose Optimism – We have the choice to see the glass half-full or half-empty. Whatever happens in life, even those really big challenges, there is an upside. People who are optimistic see opportunities – in everything. Kids who are raised with an optimistic outlook tend to see the world as a safe place to explore.
  3. Appreciate Everyone’s Uniqueness – This can be tough because our society teaches us to compare, judge and label. We know that comparing ourselves to any other human being is as ridiculous as comparing our knee to our nose! It’s one to keep working at – given time and diligence, little by little we improve. It’s worth the effort.
  4. Keep Adjusting Those Sails – Remember the old saying “You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails”? Making small changes, adjusting as we need to, keeping with the flow, or indeed, working against the tide when it’s appropriate, are all things that stand us in good stead when we are faced with a major change in our life path.
  5. Take Opportunities to Help Others – One of the greatest things for our well-being is to give someone a helping hand. When we are feeling low, or sitting at the bottom of our “victim bucket”, doing something for someone else can raise our spirits and increase our sense of worth. It is also an excellent daily practice whatever our mood. 6. Focus on the ‘Now’ – Indeed, all we really have is a series of “nows”. When we live in the moment we are making the most of what we have right this minute, this second. Our minds look to the past then to the future, but we don’t want to live in either place. If we focus on what we are doing right now, we become one with the task at hand, as though time stands still.
  6. Do What Brings you Joy – Every day there are things we need to do to keep the wheels turning on our respective wagons. Ensure that in each day you spend some time on whatever it is that brings you joy. Factor into your busy day, five minutes, half an hour, two hours (whatever is right for you) to spend time doing that thing (or things) that you really enjoy. It’s uplifting!
  7. Practise Forgiveness – As Jerry Jampolsky says “Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness”. Practise it every day – forgive others, forgive yourself – forgive everyone, everything. Internalising feelings of resentment is a sure-fire way to put our bodies into disease (dis-at-ease) and destroy our sense of well-being.
  8. Nurture Your Relationships – Friends, family, workmates, neighbours – every relationship we have is important to our happiness, health and well-being. Take note that the happiest people we meet have great, meaningful relationships. It shows in the way they live their lives.
  9. Take Care of You – Taking care of ourselves is one of the best ways to help the greater community. After all, if we don’t look after ourselves, we may be of little use in looking after others. Look after yourself, take care of ‘you’ – you’re worth it.

 

Here’s to a wonderful 2014, full of fun and new adventures. Above all, have a Happy New Year!