The Journey is the Destination

"When it comes to being happy, the journey is the destination."

"Chicken Soup for the Soul - 101 Inspirational Stories about Finding Your Purpose, Passion, and Joy." by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Amy Newmark

Life is meant to be simple. We are the ones who make it so complicated. Our purpose in life is simply to love and experience joy in all its perspectives.We should always strive to do what makes us feel happy. There is no set purpose for each of us. As we grow we make choices and decisions, and hopefully we choose what is best for us.

Some people spend their lives trying to figure out why we are here, and what our purpose is. Hopefully each of us will find what truly makes us happy, for that is the real goal in life. Each one of us is a unique individual who has different interests, preferences, and goals. There is no right or wrong answer. There isn't a career or goal that is better than another. We all need each other for the world to go round. And that is why diversity is so important. The central idea is to accept others for who they choose to be, and in turn love ourselves for who we are. Variety in life is what makes things exciting. 

There are so many different people who all have different dreams. But everything comes down to one central idea, which simply is the idea that 'the journey is the destination.' This reminds us to enjoy all the simple things in our lives, day in and day out. We shouldn't rush through life focusing so hard to be at a certain point. Each goal, and each step of the way is part of our experience. Some people are so focused on being somewhere else in life, that they miss out on many things right in front of them. I want a better car, a better career, a bigger house...etc. There is always something more, always another want. We will never stop wanting something new. We will always have a new goal. Once we grasp this, I think that we can slow down a bit and realize that we are just fine as we are. Yes, some of those other things would be nice, but when we realize we don't need it to be happy then we are in better place. Everything we want is possible if we believe, but patience is the key. It will come to us, one step at a time.

The journey is the destination. Appreciate where you are in life. There are so many reasons to be thankful. Enjoy each and every step in life. We will get there. Just be patient, and trust that life has its way of working things out. Enjoy your life journey.

Make it Count

"It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years."

-Abraham Lincoln

This saying is kind of like saying, make the most out of each and every day. It doesn't matter how young or old you are. Just make a point to enjoy each day as it comes. Live your life to its fullest and do what you enjoy.

What do you want to achieve in life? What are some of your life goals? What are some things you want to see or experience? These are all things we should consider. How important are these goals to us? And what can we do to help achieve them? We all have different dreams and motivations. But most importantly, what are our priorities? Are you incorporating your dreams into your daily thoughts? Anything is possible if we only believe. Just don't ever give up. Keep striving. Keep reaching. And believe that it is on its way. One step at a time.

It's the life in your years that matter. So what are you doing today to make the most out of your life? Start by examining your goals, and then make necessary changes. This life is meant to be fun and exciting, and it can be if we surround ourselves with the things we love. Let's all choose to make the most out of each and every day.

Today I am Living

"Today I am living, and my heart sings with joy for the days that follow."

-Angela Sayers

Today I am living. And that is all I can ask for. Each day is new. Each day is a gift to us. There is so much we can do and accomplish in just one day. Every morning when we wake we should give thanks for having just one more day. Each and every day we are blessed to be alive. Being alive is truly the most amazing gift.

As each morning comes along do we regret getting up? Are we angry that the alarm clock is going off and that we have to get up and go to work? Remember we choose our attitude. Instead being annoyed or frustrated, we should stop and think how lucky we are to have another day of life. Give thanks for the day. Give thanks for your health. And instead of complaining about work, we should be thankful that we even have a job. According to Google statistics our American unemployment rate is at 8.3 percent. Now that may not seem too high, but when we look at the American population of 311,591,917 people then that means there are roughly 2,586,129 people without work! That is a lot of people! So quit complaining already and be thankful! And that is only one reason to be thankful. There are so many other reasons. But just being alive should be enough. We are alive and can choose to do whatever we please in the day that we have. So today my heart sings with joy. Thank you for one more day!

Each and every day is a gift we should cherish. Who knows when it will be our last? Who knows when our time is up? Will we will wake up tomorrow? Give thanks every day. Make a habit out of it. First thing in the morning before you even get out of bed. Be truly thankful for the opportunity of a new day. And always make the most of it. Appreciate every little thing. Give thanks for each new day, for today I am living.

Connections

Stress release can be very simple if we allow it. We release stress by having fun and doing things we enjoy, all the things that make you feel good. What makes you happy? The things that make you happy are the things that will keep you alive! We must always make time for the things we love and enjoy.

There are many ways we can release stress by doing the things we love. What are some of the things you enjoy doing? What are some of your hobbies? I love to play board games, make candles, and do scrap booking. Some people enjoy playing sports or video games. Many women like to go shopping. Watching movies, playing an instrument, or even just listening to music are other great ways of relaxing and dissolving stress from life. Any sort of creative process where you are actually making something with your own two hands is great for the mind and a perfect way to ease stress from your life. Pottery, drawing, painting, and carpentry are all wonderful ways of expressing creativity. Horseback riding, bicycling, or hiking are great ways to get outside and appreciate nature. There are so many options.We need to find things and activities that we really enjoy, and make time for them regularly in our lives.

Another very important area we should focus on is making time for our friends. This may seem like a simple idea ,but how many of us make time for our friends on a regular basis? So many times we get caught up in our daily lives with work and children and new relationships we tend to put our friends on the back burner. They are there for us when we need them, but how about all that time in between? Do we talk to them only when we need something or have a problem? Or do we show them that we appreciate them in our lives?

As humans we are naturally social animals. Just like animals in the wild, we have our own packs, our own herd that we belong to. The people in our lives are not here by mistake. Everyone in our lives make an impact on us; they influence us. We need to appreciate our friends and realize what a true blessing they are in our lives. It's not always easy to come across a true friend; a real friend who is there because they want to be. Because they see what's inside of you, the real you. The friends who are there through thick and thin, no matter what happens. Those are the friends we need to make time for. We need to show these friends that we appreciate them by keeping in contact with them on a regular basis. When is the last time you had lunch with your good friend? Did you remember their birthday?

When we love and appreciate our friends then we are creating more joy, in both our own life and theirs. It feels good. And when we feel good then we are releasing the built up stress in our lives. Keep in touch with old friends. It's good for your health.

 "Foster connections - There is no question it is the connections with others that bring richness to our lives. Strong social connections and shared experiences create the foundation on which happiness can thrive. Pick up the phone; email an old friend."

"Chicken Soup for the Soul - Find Your Happiness. 101 Inspirational Stories about Finding your Purpose, Passion, and Joy." by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Amy Newmark

The Best

"You won't find happiness by always striving to be the best."

"Chicken Soup for the Soul - Find Your Happiness. 101 Inspirational Stories about Finding your Purpose, Passion, and Joy." by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Amy Newmark

Think about it. When someone is striving to be the best and that is what they are focused on, then they are unsatisfied with their current state of being. We must turn our thinking around. We must first be loving and accepting of where we are at now and then we will find true inspiration to change for the better. But we should not insist only on the best, because if we do then we are judging and not accepting of ourselves at the current time.

Striving to be the best all the time can be very tiresome. It is no way to live. Many can become obsessed with the idea of becoming the best. It consumes them. It becomes what they live and breathe. It is what they are thinking about and what they are doing. This will set you up for unhappiness. How can one be happy when all they can think about is what they want to become? If that is what you are thinking about, then all you will notice is your short comings, which will also lead to more unhappiness based on the Law of Attraction. There are many things a person can become obsessed with. Some people have to be the best when it comes to work and money. Others choose to strive to be the best looking. Sadly, many people develop eating disorders and do crazy things to try to compare to what our society shows as attractive. I have a friend that works out for four hours a day! FOUR hours! God, that is crazy! Granted she lost 50lbs. Other people want to be the best with their grades in school. Others may  want to become the best at sports. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and trying to achieve them as long as you are honest and fair with yourself. Only you can judge whether you are truly happy. If it makes you happy, then more power to you, but sometimes our minds can become clouded with the idea of becoming the best. So be real with yourself and be sure that you have safe and healthy goals.

We will never be happy with ourselves if we are always striving to be the best. If we are only focused on one thing and that is all we ever do or think about, then how can we truly be happy? We must be able to do the things we enjoy too. We must have balance in our lives. Balance is the key.

To Pursue or Create?

"Some people pursue happiness, others create it."

-Margaret Bowen

How do you live your life? Are you someone who is constantly looking for happiness and chasing the idea? Or are you someone who appreciates everything that crosses your path? Are you looking for things to make you happy? Or do you already have reasons to enjoy life? We can choose to be happy with what we already have and where we are currently. Or we can always be looking for something else to give us a reason. Which are you?

Some people are always looking for that next thing, that next next person, that next paycheck, whatever it may be to make them happy. Why not be happy now? Why should we need something else, something new? Until we learn to be happy as we are then we will never be happy because we will never be satisfied. When we learn to be grateful for the blessings in our lives then we have found the key to happiness. Some people will always be looking for happiness. Others have learned to create it. There are so many things we can do in our own lives and the lives of others that can inspire happiness. When you have learned how to enjoy life then you will discover the ways of creating happiness and joy. We will learn that when we can create joy in other people's lives then we are creating happiness in our own lives as well. It feels wonderful to make others feel joy and happiness. When we can do nice things for others then we are growing spiritually. Soon it will become fulfilling to do nice things to others. It feels good to give to others, and the more we do it the more we will enjoy it and want to give more and more. Share with your loved ones. Share with strangers. Brighten the day of others. Make it your goal to create happiness in the lives of whoever you come in contact with. Choose to be happy.

When we can make others happy then we feel fulfilled deep down. To share our love with others is the best gift we can give. Instead of chasing happiness, let's choose to create it. What can we do to share our love? What can you do today to create happiness in your life and the lives of others? Don't hold back. Create and share happiness.

Limitations

Limitations come up in our lives all the time. Everyone has their fair share of obstacles. It is what we choose to do with them. How do you handle obstacles? What are some great ideas to diminish any doubt or setbacks? How can we move easily past limitations?

We are all living and growing. We are learning and advancing each and everyday. But every now and again we come across a wall. Something in our path that slows us down or even puts us at a complete halt. What should we do when this happens? Sometimes this can be so frustrating and belittling. The best, and sometimes the only thing we can do is to stay positive. There is no good using energy on negative feelings. If we trust in the Law of Attraction then the best strategy is to stay positive and to have pleasant thoughts. Whatever we choose to think about will attract more of what we are thinking. So the best advice to is to stay focused on our goal and to never give up. We can start attracting good things by imagining the best possible scenarios. Things will always turn around. If we have an attitude of gratitude then we can find things to be thankful for. When we are being thankful then we are attracting more things into our lives to be thankful about. Whatever we are thinking, we are attracting so lets be thankful for whatever we can think of. Think of anything positive that gets your mind off the current situation. The more you focus and think about the bad, then the longer it is going to stick around. In fact you are attracting more mishaps and obstacles when your center of attention is on the bad. When we notice what is not right and what isn't going our way then unfortunately we are asking for more of that. We must turn our thinking around and choose to notice the good, and what is going right for us. Every problem, every circumstance is only temporary. Once we realize this then we can choose to make the change if we want to. Get your mind off the problem and focus on the good.

Do not be limited by your current state of where you are. There are ways around obstacles. And sometimes all we can change is our thinking. Once we learn to change our thoughts then we will soon see the direct results in our daily lives. The power of the mind is amazing.We can make a difference just based on our thinking.

Sense of Smell

One great way to reduce some of the stress in your life is by your sense of smell. Research has shown that when we enjoy a pleasant smell then our body is in a more relaxed state. Good smells trigger brain activity and releases good feelings. Certain smells can bring back good memories which also leads to satisfying nostalgic feelings.

It's interesting how the brain works! Smells are a good way to trigger fun, happy, relaxing, and stress relieving times. I'm sure the term aroma therapy rings a bell? It's an authentic way of treating the mind and body. Our sense of smell is given to us for a reason. Let's take full advantage of it and enjoy what we are blessed with. There are powerful scents that can do different things for the body and trigger different responses. I recommend looking into it. Here is a great website for the uses of the different scents:

http://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/aclearn/ar_directory.html

This is probably one of the easiest things we can control in our environment. We can choose what it is we want to smell. We can choose what we smell like, what our house smells like, what our car smells like, or even our office at work. Start by making a few changes in the places we can control. I love burning candles and incense. They smell great and they really set the atmosphere, which is what relaxes our minds and bodies. I also love perfume. I just bought a new perfume recently, and it smells so good! I've been wearing it for three days straight now. It just smells so lovely and it puts me in a good mood because I feel lovely wearing it. I smell it and I feel fresh, pretty and luxurious. It just puts me in a great positive mood. And anything that can bring your spirits up is a good thing! When we are in a good positive mood then we are attracting more positive things into our lives due to the Law of Attraction. Stress release is the key.

So take some time out and think about what kind of scents you really enjoy. Which ones put you in a good mood? And which ones calm and relax you? These are the smells you should be enjoying regularly to boost your energies. Enjoy your senses and relieve the stress from your life. It's fun, enjoyable, and good for your mental health. The sense of smell, what a wonderful thing.

Live to Give

One of the best things we can do for others is give to them. Give of yourself and feel the joy behind it. When we give to others then we are sharing a part of ourselves. We are opening our hearts. We can share our love in many different ways. There are so many options and different ways we can be a blessing to others. The more we give the more we will receive in return. When we give honestly, and truly from the heart then we are in return blessed. It is just the way it works. When we give love, then we receive love.

What can you give of yourself today? When was the last time you did something special for your loved ones? This is the best way to show others how much you care. There is nothing better than receiving a gift for no reason other than to show you care. It shows that you are thinking of that person, and how much you care for them. You don't need a special event or holiday to come around to show your love. We can share our love at any time. There is no wrong opportunity.

One of the perks to giving and expressing our love is actually a health benefit. It is actually a stress reliever to give to someone else. When we feel love, and when we feel gratitude and appreciation of another then we are focusing on the good things in life, and therefore we are releasing stress by sharing with others. It should always feel great giving to others. When we are so blessed to where we can give to others, then there is no reason why we should hold back. Doesn't it make you feel wonderful inside when you give someone a gift that you know they will truly love? Doesn't it make you feel like a good person? Well it should! It feels good because it is a natural stress reliever to share our love with others. So share all the love that you possibly can.

And to clarify, giving a gift does not have to consist of money. There are plenty gifts that a person could give that doesn't cost a thing. Some of the best gifts could be as simple as lending a helping hand. There are so many opportunities to where we could help make a person's life easier by helping them with some basic tasks. You could help a person by doing a chore they usually have to complete, like the dishes or taking out the trash. You could surprise your neighbor by shoveling their driveway or pulling their weeds. You could volunteer to watch your friends children so they can have some alone time or a date night. Wash someone's car. Or my personal favorite, is to do something creative and make them something with your own two hands. There is nothing more personal than something hand made. You are taking your time and energy and putting it to work to make something special. I love to make greeting cards, scrapbooks, candles, anything. There are so many creative ways to show someone you care for them. What can you do to show the people in your life that you care?

Next time you are feeling stressed out slow down and take some time to do something nice for someone else. It feels great. It gets your mind off of the current situation and there is no better way to show someone you care then by doing something nice for them. How long has it been since you've told your friends and loved ones how much you love them? How many people can you show your love to this week? Now is a perfect opportunity. Give. Live to give. Choose to be happy.

Dreams Give Birth to Change

"Only Dreams give birth to change."

-Unknown

It is when we dream, when we imagine and when we have desire that we put a plan in action. Knowing what we want, and imagining it is the first step to getting started to where we want to be. If we can dream it up and imagine it then we are one step closer to achieving the very thing we have been wanting.

What are your dreams? Have you ever taken the time to really stop and think about it? What do you want to do and achieve in your lifetime? I recommend making a list of all of your goals and dreams. This is a great idea because then you are not only focusing on your ideas, but you can also keep track of them and look back at them whenever possible. Having goals is a great way to move through life. I love keeping a list because it feels wonderful to cross off or put a check mark next to each dream as it happens. It feels great to know that you have achieved something you really wanted. And every time you look back at your list you will see just how much you have accomplished. It also shows you how well you are working with the Law of Attraction. It is our thoughts and attitudes that bring about change in our life. Our thoughts are made of energy and it has been scientifically proven that our thoughts emit and give off frequencies, just like a radio. We attract energies into our lives just like we send them out. Positive attracts positive and negative brings negative.Choose your thoughts and you will choose your reality. Choose to focus on your dreams. Only dreams give birth to change.

Take the time out of your busy life to think about what it is you really want. Think about this lifetime and what you want to achieve. Set the plan in motion. You can have, be, or do anything. If you believe it, you can achieve it. Stay positive and have faith. Believe that it is coming to you. It's just a matter of time.

The Best New Year's Resolution

The New Year is upon us. Many people make it tradition to make some sort of New Year's Resolution. Many people make them, but how many can really keep them? Last year my new year's resolution was to be able to do the splits. I was never able to do them and I just wanted to. Well needless to say another year has come and gone, and I still cannot do the splits. Although. I have really increased my stretching abilities and flexibility. So my purpose was not in vain. I have accomplished something out of my goal. Do you remember what your goal was last year? More importantly, did you succeed?

This year I have made a new goal. I want to start over; a clean slate. I want to let go of all resentments. I want to let go of the past. And I want to love myself more. I recently read a quote from a book which was actually what inspired my New Year's resolution for this year. The book was called "Another Door Opens" by Jeffrey A. Wands (a well known psychic). He simply said "Always looking out for number one is a sure way to prevent your soul from growing and evolving." I don't know, that quote just really hit me. And I had to stop and think to myself about it. I looked at myself deep down and I realized that ever since my ex husband left me years ago, I have been living somewhat guarded. Almost like the quote said, I've always been looking out for number one. I have found myself holding back in many circumstances. And  reading that quote I realized, I don't want to live like that. That's not me. I don't want to be scared to take a risk anymore. It's amazing how a person could live like this and not even really be aware of what is truly going on inside. It's easy to make a shell and hide behind it sometimes. I just really found myself relating to this quote in different scenarios, and it was an awakening moment for me. And I realized I wanted to change. And that is the beauty of life. We are always learning, growing, and changing. We can change at any given moment. The choice is up to us.

So this year I want to love and be loved. I want to be the best person I can possibly be. I want to inspire others. I want to care for myself like I would another. But I will let my guard down. I will take risks and not be afraid. I will trust that everything has its reason and purpose in life, and that the Universe has its ways of taking care of us. I choose to make this year, and every year, my best year. Happy New Year!


 

"Always looking out for number one is a sure way to prevent your soul 
from growing and evolving."

                                                                  -Jeffrey A. Wands