Enjoy The Now!

It is wonderful to have goals, aspirations, wishes and dreams but not in the absence of acceptance and gratitude for what currently is!

Sometimes we can get so focused on furthering ourselves (in relationship, with our weight, in our career etc) that we can forget to enjoy today, the present.

For instance, you can want a raise and do the actions that it will take to attain that while at the same time having deep gratitude for your job.  It would be a mistake to treat people at work badly until you got paid more as in the end you will end up feeling terrible at work!

In many of the personal development courses that I have studied, they do tend to focus on what needs "fixing". Looking at what's missing all the time can be very depressing indeed.

Another more positive way to approach life is celebrating what's working!!! What's awesome?  What is exciting?  And the things that aren't working can also have a "gift" inside. How about looking at it from another angle?  Is there a context or perspective that could shift your view on this situation?

You can be happy right now.

Happiness is available right now!

In the past I believed that happiness was a pursuit.  Something to be achieved by trying.  A feeling that I could get if I took action towards it.  It was a goal to be push to and it was always in the future.

I could get it for a bit, an hour or day, but it wasn't a deep sustained blissfulness that I was looking for.

Now I know that happiness is a choice.  It is here.  It is now.  And I can pick it no matter what is going on.  That's right, I am 100% responsible for my happiness!  Isn't that great?

So, now I have this information, how can I implement it?

Example 1:

My Grandmother is suffering from Dementia.  It is a terrible thing to experience someone that you love going through that.  She gets so frustrated because she can't do simple things anymore because she simply forgot how.  How can I access happiness during these times with her?  I think of the great memories and then remind her.  Of her tennis days.  Of her beautiful garden.  Of the current blessings in her life and then her focus (and mine) shifts to the beautiful things still left instead of the annoying things.

Example 2:

When I am having to do a chore that I don't enjoy (like cleaning my house), I put some great music on, a splash of yummy perfume and dance around doing the work to make it FUN.  I don't have to walk around and be grumpy about it.  

Example 3:

My Range Rover broke down and had a need for a very costly repair.  I could have been all angry, disappointed and walked into the tow truck and the garage with that attitude, or instead, just be light and happy.  I was joking around with the driver and then the owner of the garage, and now I am best friends with her!  I cooked her this lovely dinner the other night.

Don't wait for happiness.  CHOOSE IT RIGHT NOW!!

How much money do you have?

I don't measure my success anymore by how many dollars I have in the bank.

In my 20's, my happiness which was temporary was mostly derived from what kind of car I drove, what label clothes I was wearing, and how much money I got to splash around.  

In my 30's, it was still time of looking good I wanted my husband to be dressed uber nicely. I wanted to have a big fancy house with expensive furniture. 

Now I am in my 40's things have changed.

Last week I was having a conversation with a man and we were talking about how I've made millions of dollars in my life!  This person said, "oh but you have nothing to show for it!" (He was referring to the fact that I don't have millions of dollars in the bank).  I was perplexed by his comments because on the contrary I have so much to show for it!!! The fabric of my life has been incredibly rich. And now I know that it is the memories of sacred times with my friends my family and being a contribution that are the real dollars in the bank. 

When I am old those are the moments I will think about not the Gucci bag that I owned. There is nothing wrong with desiring beautiful things, I still drive a nice car. I still have nice clothes. However, my true bliss comes from intimate or fun moments that I spend with my loved ones.

Remember to cherish your time above your money!