A timely reminder

I came across this list (below) today on Facebook, posted there by one of my Facebook friends Vanessa Smith. It comes from Nithya Shanti. It made me stop and think about how I live my life. It was just what I needed to hear after yesterday's post. I really do believe that we create our own reality (as hocus pocus as I know some people find that) I think that our life reflects what is going on in our heads and hearts. To remedy unhappiness I am sure it is important to do more of the simple things and live a life of gratitude, doing this can only lead to happiness. Can't it?

So instead of being miserable about what I don't want, maybe I can follow these simple steps and trust that doing so will lead me to the answers I need and ultimately, to whatever it is I do want.

This is what I often tell my own clients in meditation and personal development workshops. Maybe it's time I took my own advice?

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did the previous year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31. The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.
37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
38. Share this with someone you care about*

*Which is why I'm sharing it with you....

24 and 31 and particularly resonate with me.

I think it's very telling that it has taken two years of blogging for me to create a label called 'Happiness'. Tut tut.