Sometimes people say: "I feel burned out,” and maybe they are stressed and exhausted, or maybe they aren’t doing enough of the things they love.
 
Sometimes we feel burned out, not because we’re doing too much, but because we’re doing too little of the things that we love. If we could figure out what we love to do and do it more, we would feel more engaged and have a greater sense of purpose in our lives.

Think of 1-2 things that you love to do (cook/bake, plant, dance, read, write, play a sport or an instrument) and make room in your schedule (as if your happiness depends on it) and DO IT! 
 
To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

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MELISSA Garson

The Happiness Guru

How many years in a row have you had the same New Year’s resolution? How many times have you promised yourself you will read one more book, take a course or learn a new activity. Routine and life get in the way of accomplishing new things. In our interview with Melissa Garson we learned she wrote the book The Recipe for Real Happiness – Four Simple Ingredients to help people start the positive change they seek in their lives through easy daily techniques.

Melissa calls herself a lifetime learner. She has a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, a certification in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from the Jefferson Myrna-Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and a Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher Certification from the McLean Meditation Institute in Arizona. Melissa created an interactive “Happiness Workshop” where she teaches the tools and techniques to calm your mind, manage anxiety and help students feel more confident and be more motivated.

See our interview to learn about the principles of Positive Psychology and her tips to start Mindfulness training. Learn about the four simple ingredients she talks about in her book and the practices that you can start applying to your daily routine. Go to her website melissagarson.com and sign up for her free motivational monday emails.

Click the link below to watch the interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVt1HHFloqI

To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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Gratitude is a real “buzzword” these days. It almost feels overused. For me, keeping a gratitude journal has not only increased my feelings of joy and appreciation daily, but it has also changed my perception of the negative incidents in my life. 

 

The most recent was a vasovagal syncope episode in which I fainted (and needed 5 staples in my head). In the moment it was very scary- however, it all turned out fine. I focused on the fact that I had a very dear friend staying over, and of course, that I didn’t damage my brain or break any bones.

 

Gratitude can also boost your mental and physical health. People who are grateful feel less pain, less stress, sleep better, have stronger immune systems, experience healthier relationships, and do better academically and professionally.  

 

This week get a journal and keep it by your bedside as a reminder. Each night before bed, write 3 things from the day that you are grateful for. It could be a delicious strawberry you ate, that hard to find parking spot you found, or you had a great conversation with someone. It’s more about making gratitude a daily habit. It will change your life!!!!!!!!!

 
To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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Memorial Day is the designated day that we commemorate the soldiers that have died fighting for our country. These brave people gave their lives so that we could have our freedom.
 
Let’s just take a moment today to feel grateful for their courage and to appreciate the freedom that we, who live in the United States, get to experience!
 
To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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Simple tasks can be very enlightening, but we often feel burdened by the laundry, the bills, the dishes, watering the plants, etc. We have so many other things to do. Things that bring us way more enjoyment. 
 
However, these simple things not only need to be done, but they also keep us grounded in reality. If we approach these “mundane” tasks in an appreciative way- knowing that they restore and maintain order around us, they can even become enjoyable. 
 
This week consider the annoying but necessary tasks as an opportunity to appreciate the value of what they do for you!!!!!!

To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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I recently read an article written by an emergency room pediatrician. He shared a few “happiness hacks” that we can learn from children between the ages of 1 and 5.

1. Positive Self Talk Young children speak positively to themselves out loud. We can too!

2. Take Any Opportunity to Move Young children are active for almost 5 hrs a day. We can add at least 10 minutes a day of brief bursts of activity (a quick walk around the block, schedule a meeting while walking, park a little farther away from the store).

3. Ask Questions Young children aren’t afraid to ask questions. Adults often hold back questions because they are worried about what other people think. Asking questions not only helps us learn, but it is also an important way to build relationships. 

4. Have a Sleep Schedule Young children thrive on having a routine. Following a schedule with consistent sleep and waking times helps adults, as well. Naps also have a lot of benefits.

5. Look For Opportunities to Laugh Young children laugh approximately 6 times as much as adults. Seek ways to bring more playfulness and humor into your day. Research shows that we laugh more when we are with friends, so make time for them! 

To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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Many of us are afraid to ask for what we want for various reasons. Maybe it’s that we are afraid of being rejected, judged, or perhaps we feel that we don’t deserve it. 
 
Whatever it is that is holding you back- you will, definitely, never know unless you try. 
 
Let go of any expectation (you will be ok either way) and just ask. You may get a ‘no’ which is ok, but you certainly won’t get a ‘yes’ if you don’t ask.


To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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We have over 50,000 thoughts per day and most of them are negative.
 
Negativity chips away at our soul and diminishes our joy in life!
 
This week become aware of the nature of your thoughts.
Every time it’s negative- just notice. Notice the repetition.
 
Once you become more aware of your negativity - you can have the ability to shift it. Don’t be angry with yourself- congratulate yourself on being more conscious!
 
 Then…. Try to change the thought to something more helpful and positive.  
 
YOU have the power over what you think about, and what you think about…. you bring about!!!

To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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We are all inundated with emails that fill up our inbox, and I want to take this time to thank those of you that read, support, and tell me how much you enjoy my Motivational Mondays. 

My mission is to share a bit of wisdom and a tool or a practice that you can use in your life to make it happier and more peaceful.

Life as we know is SOOOOO VERRRRY fragile and not a guarantee. It is so important to STOP and genuinely look at what IS working in your life vs. what may not be exactly the way you want it to be.

So right now- close your eyes (if possible) and think about what IS working...maybe that your body is functioning, you have a home, you have a plan with a friend, or you will have a yummy dinner.  Whatever it is, as you go through your day, focus your thoughts on what IS going right.  Notice how you feel!!!!!

To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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We all have triggers that can keep us from being our best selves. It may be too much food, drink, worry, or possibly a combination of things.
 
Often times these triggers are due to longtime habits.  STOP and ask yourself- “Which habit of mine is not serving me?”
 
You DO have the power to change that habit. Be honest with yourself - awareness is the first step towards change.  Once you have identified that habit, decide how you can modify it.
 
It may be to have healthier food options in your kitchen, make drinking alcohol a choice (not a habit), or create a mantra of “Is this scary thought really true?”
 
The key is to get out of auto-pilot and make more conscious decisions.
This week, identify your self-limiting habit and then practice replacing it with a healthier, more positive choice!!!!!!
 
To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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As we age, it is so important to accept and adjust our mindset to the changes that occur in our bodies and minds.
 
When we fight nature or fight anything, we are creating dis-ease in our bodies. It’s almost palpable. Our bodies are very sensitive to our thoughts.
 
Can you recall a time when you were upset about your declining eyesight, the more time you needed to get up from the chair, or perhaps your slower mile run time?
 
The next time you do that… be kind, pause, and feel the gratitude in being alive. Appreciate your body as it is!

 To learn more about the ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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