Joy

Possibilities

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Where will you go from here?

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is the first day of a new year. I am full of the sense of possibility and hope for the year ahead. And while each new day is a beginning, a chance to start anew, the start of a new year seems more momentous.

I am grateful for the experiences and lessons I’ve learned along my path, and my hope is to ease the journeys of others who may be struggling with similar challenges as those I’ve faced. As I continue to explain to friends, family, and people I meet what being a life coach means, I feel honored to be able to help my clients, teaching them tools to reduce their stress, increase their joy, and tune into their inner wisdom to find their purpose.

 

So here’s to 2012. What will it bring? I hope to face each day with wonder and appreciation, celebration and love. There are bound to be difficulties, and I hope I remember to ask for help and stay open to learning. Let the journey begin again!

3 Ways to Add More JOY

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“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

– Helen Keller

Peace, Love & Joy. That’s what I wish for everyone, of every religion or non-religion as we bring 2011 to a close. I continue to cultivate these things in my life and in my mind and heart, and I thought I’d share three ways you can add more joy into your life this holiday season.
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1. Look at the world as if through the eyes of a child. Notice the wonder and amazement in a child’s eyes as they experience things for the first time, and take a moment to notice the beautiful and wonderful things around you.

2. Use the 3 B’s. When going through your to-do list, use the 3 B’s to help you get through: Bag it, Barter it, or Better it. If you can Bag it and not do it today (or maybe ever), do it! Bartering could be trading favors with someone else or hiring someone to do it. And bettering it can take on many forms. Think of your five senses — sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste — and how you might bring in something that delights you while you do your chore.

3. Focus on gratitude. Turn your attention to those things you are appreciative of, those things you want more of, instead of the things that frustrate you or add stress to your life. This helps you not only in the moment, by shifting your attention away from negative situations, but also helps by shifting your energy, which will bring more of the good things to you.

These are just three ways to add more joy into your life, but by no means are they the only three! I think you just can’t get enough of joy and would LOVE to hear your ideas for adding more joy in the comments.