Joyful Living - A Step Closer to a Healthier You
Even if you get enough rest, exercise regularly, enjoy fresh air and sunshine whenever you can, eat the right foods in the right amounts, and spend some time each day letting go of stress and to learning to relax; you still won't be really healthy unless you're happy.
Happiness is so much a part of our over-all health and well-being.
One of the most important elements of happiness is gratitude.
Each of our life situations is so different.
Some have challenges of health even as we talk about improving health.
Some have financial challenges, difficult relationships, financial hardships, destructive addictions.
The world is full of situations and circumstances that pull us down, keep us down, give us cause for alarm, and destroy our peace of mind.
I definitely do not purport to have all the answers.
But there are a few things that have been taught to me by others, whether by personal relationships, reading and studying, listening, and other means that given me some insight.
I know that you, too, because of your unique experiences, have learned things that are valuable to others.
I welcome your comments and suggestions and ideas.
To begin I would like to talk about three elements of joyful living, whatever your circumstance might be.
The first is one I have already mentioned, and that is gratitude.
There is something magical about the attribute of gratitude.
Once you can find even some small thing to be grateful about, your eyes of gratitude are somehow opened and something else comes to your mind for which you are grateful.
I believe that the thoughts we think bring about the feelings we feel.
If we have an angry thought or a sad thought or a confused thought, we can change that thought.
We can choose to think something different.
Now, that was very easy for me to say.
But I am well-aware it is not that easy to do.
Like any other new skill be are striving to obtain, the feeling and expression of gratitude can become easier as we practice.
Keep in mind that the thoughts we think produce the feelings we feel.
Even when we feel there is nothing to be grateful for, if we will ourselves to think grateful, we will begin to feel that way.
The second element of joyful living is service.
We've all been reminded that if we lose ourselves in the service of others, our own sorrows will be lessened.
This is not just a nice thought.
It is true.
Somehow when our mind is on someone else and what we can do to alleviate their suffering, our mind is opened to the good things in our own life.
Our mind is a very interesting and powerful part of our self.
Its ways are not ever fully understood.
But we can be assured of the consistent consequences of its actions.
When we think a happy thought, we feel better.
When we thing an angry or vengeful or irritated thought, we feel worse.
It happens every time.
When our mind is on someone else and our plan is to serve and comfort them, our mind is ready to discard the unhealthy thoughts and replace them with healthy, happy thoughts.
That's just the way our minds work.
A third element of joyful living is listening to ourselves, or rather listening to certain thoughts and feelings that come from outside ourselves.
Let me explain.
I am talking about following a hunch, acting on a prompting, taking action when a thought comes into your mind.
This is a part of joyful living and therefore healthier living that is too often neglected.
It has happened to each of us.
We get a thought that we should call a friend.
We have a feeling we should take a different road to work today.
We had planned to work on a certain project, but for some unknown reason we think it wise to spend time elsewhere right now.
I believe that as we learn to listen to these feelings, these promptings, we will have a greater sense of control over our lives.
We will fit ourselves more carefully into an over-all plan of which we are an important part.
We will just feel better about ourselves and others.
I realize that there are as many aspects of joyful, healthy living as there are individuals considering it.
Think on the things that make you happy, family, pets, loved ones, a job you enjoy, and hobby that relaxes you, health, friends, choices to make.
Whatever makes you happy, think on that.
Think thoughts of gratitude for these things.
As your gratitude increases, think of others who need an injection of the gratitude and happiness you feel.
As you put your mind on gratitude and service, you will find thoughts coming to you that will keep you in a good place.
Act on these thoughts.
And when you do, you will find that the other habits you are implementing into your life, habits such as getting adequate rest and exercise, enjoying regular times of fresh air and sunshine, eating healthful foods, and learning to relax; all come together and build on one another as you think joyful, happy thoughts and travel forward on the road the better health.
I wish you health, harmony, and happiness in your journey.
Happiness is so much a part of our over-all health and well-being.
One of the most important elements of happiness is gratitude.
Each of our life situations is so different.
Some have challenges of health even as we talk about improving health.
Some have financial challenges, difficult relationships, financial hardships, destructive addictions.
The world is full of situations and circumstances that pull us down, keep us down, give us cause for alarm, and destroy our peace of mind.
I definitely do not purport to have all the answers.
But there are a few things that have been taught to me by others, whether by personal relationships, reading and studying, listening, and other means that given me some insight.
I know that you, too, because of your unique experiences, have learned things that are valuable to others.
I welcome your comments and suggestions and ideas.
To begin I would like to talk about three elements of joyful living, whatever your circumstance might be.
The first is one I have already mentioned, and that is gratitude.
There is something magical about the attribute of gratitude.
Once you can find even some small thing to be grateful about, your eyes of gratitude are somehow opened and something else comes to your mind for which you are grateful.
I believe that the thoughts we think bring about the feelings we feel.
If we have an angry thought or a sad thought or a confused thought, we can change that thought.
We can choose to think something different.
Now, that was very easy for me to say.
But I am well-aware it is not that easy to do.
Like any other new skill be are striving to obtain, the feeling and expression of gratitude can become easier as we practice.
Keep in mind that the thoughts we think produce the feelings we feel.
Even when we feel there is nothing to be grateful for, if we will ourselves to think grateful, we will begin to feel that way.
The second element of joyful living is service.
We've all been reminded that if we lose ourselves in the service of others, our own sorrows will be lessened.
This is not just a nice thought.
It is true.
Somehow when our mind is on someone else and what we can do to alleviate their suffering, our mind is opened to the good things in our own life.
Our mind is a very interesting and powerful part of our self.
Its ways are not ever fully understood.
But we can be assured of the consistent consequences of its actions.
When we think a happy thought, we feel better.
When we thing an angry or vengeful or irritated thought, we feel worse.
It happens every time.
When our mind is on someone else and our plan is to serve and comfort them, our mind is ready to discard the unhealthy thoughts and replace them with healthy, happy thoughts.
That's just the way our minds work.
A third element of joyful living is listening to ourselves, or rather listening to certain thoughts and feelings that come from outside ourselves.
Let me explain.
I am talking about following a hunch, acting on a prompting, taking action when a thought comes into your mind.
This is a part of joyful living and therefore healthier living that is too often neglected.
It has happened to each of us.
We get a thought that we should call a friend.
We have a feeling we should take a different road to work today.
We had planned to work on a certain project, but for some unknown reason we think it wise to spend time elsewhere right now.
I believe that as we learn to listen to these feelings, these promptings, we will have a greater sense of control over our lives.
We will fit ourselves more carefully into an over-all plan of which we are an important part.
We will just feel better about ourselves and others.
I realize that there are as many aspects of joyful, healthy living as there are individuals considering it.
Think on the things that make you happy, family, pets, loved ones, a job you enjoy, and hobby that relaxes you, health, friends, choices to make.
Whatever makes you happy, think on that.
Think thoughts of gratitude for these things.
As your gratitude increases, think of others who need an injection of the gratitude and happiness you feel.
As you put your mind on gratitude and service, you will find thoughts coming to you that will keep you in a good place.
Act on these thoughts.
And when you do, you will find that the other habits you are implementing into your life, habits such as getting adequate rest and exercise, enjoying regular times of fresh air and sunshine, eating healthful foods, and learning to relax; all come together and build on one another as you think joyful, happy thoughts and travel forward on the road the better health.
I wish you health, harmony, and happiness in your journey.
