Our hearts

In loving Memory Maya Angelou

"Where do people go when they die?

Somewhere far off in the distant sky?

I can't be sure, but it seems to me

They simply set up home inside our hearts."

-Author unknown

Inside our hearts

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say,

and what you do are in harmony.”

―Mahatma Gandhi

Your happiness is your responsibility. That may sound a little like tough love, but it's actually just a reminder to you that your happiness is within your control. And isn't that good news?

When you tie your happiness to external factors (like other people) you aren't in the director's chair of your own life ... and who wants that? So create your own happiness and raise your joy.

We are all beautiful human beings here in this world trying to find our way.  Every day we seek to better understand the meaning of our lives and we hope to find happiness and peace along the way.  For some of us the key to these desires rings loud and clear, driving what we do and how we do it.  For others, these deep seeded needs are buried below the noise of daily life, below ego, below fear, below the pressures and norms that we face in society… and thus, they are rarely addressed.

It seems we are all here to realize these truths, in our own way, in our own time.  And once they resonate fully, not just intellectually, but emotionally and spiritually, we are then able to find the happiness and peace we seek…Life.

Our Priorities

Laugh at the funny things we do.

We all zoom around so quickly and with such big goals, that it is so easy to forget the importance of regular activities that feed our soul in ways that allow us to keep up the pace of our obligations and responsibilities.

Taking time to relax connects me with my true priorities, who I want to be on a daily basis. 

I know I am a more rounded, present, and effective person when I workout regularly, cook and eat healthy meals, read for fun, and spend quality time with my family, and yet the activities that feed my soul become aspirational goals and challenges against deadlines and amidst competing uses of my time.

How many of us are self-aware enough about our needs, and carve out the time (even if it means waking up a bit earlier) to make sure we are getting out of life what we need? And yet it seems harder and harder to carve out the time to do activities that help keep us more grounded and focused.

When all else fails, identify what works for you, and prioritize it. I encourage you to identify things that help bring you peace, and in the midst of a busy or stressful workday, to take off into the world to be playful, so you can return focused afterwards to finish your day. 

Take care of yourself first and figure out what you need to live a magical and energetic life and what you need to replenish your batteries. 

The best gift to yourself is to stop running around and become quiet. No distractions, no television or books, no computers, no other people, just quiet time. Not the time where you sit and take a break and remember that you need to get the laundry out of the machine, that you need to call someone or that you have a busy day tomorrow. I mean real quiet time.

Why is this important?

If you are quiet, your soul can talk to you. Some call it inspiration or an inner voice, or even spirit guides, but the truth is there is a lot of wisdom at your disposal. It can help you, guide you and encourage you. It can give new ideas and inspiration and suggest small changes that can make a huge difference. Your inner wisdom can present itself and help you change your life for the better.