Finding Happiness in Ordinary Life

Most of us feel that the ideal emotional state is one of intense, manic euphoria, and that we should feel that way most of the time.
Well, it isn't and we shouldn't.
Excitement is a great and necessary thing; without it life wouldn't be complete. But real happiness is something different, much more calmer and rewarding.
When the Powerball winner starts shaking and screaming, we call that happiness, but it's actually that their "fight or flight" mechanism has been triggered. Mania can create maniacs, that's why sports fans seem to riot more violently after their teams win than after they lose. Our "fight or flight" system predisposes us to violence. Switching this on, switches off the process that allows us to relax, connect, and absorb joyful experiences.
These types of high excitement experiences are often followed by a mood crash. This helps explain why thrill seekers are always searching for their next high. With or without drugs. Some prize to top all other prizes. The only remedy to maintain that mania is another intensely exciting experience.
True happiness is found in the simple things of everyday life. The things we've learned to take for granted. When you watch someone you love sleep, the smell of the rain,catching something before it hits the ground, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face, being told you made someone's day, watching another netflix episode, your dog's excitement when you get home.
Be mindful of the little things that make you smile throughout your day. This is where you will find life's simple pleasures and true happiness.
Enjoy!

Train Your Brain To Stay Positive

Your brain produces about 70,000 thoughts per day. If you spend a few minutes monitoring your thoughts, you might be surprised by how negative you can be. Basically, we're habitually negative without even realizing it. So how do we stop ourselves from thinking negative thoughts if we don't even realize it's happening?

Here are five tips to make sure most of your 70,000 thoughts are positive:

1.  Observe your thoughts. You can't fix a problem you don't know about. Once you observe your thinking you will know where to start.
2.  Choose a mantra for the day.  Every morning, choose a mantra and repeat it to yourself throughout the day. It can be something as simple as "I'm a happy person." Repeating your mantra trains your brain to think positively.
3.  Use an app.  Check out apps like Louise Hay's Stress Free Life and her I Can Do It Calendar. These apps will provide you with an affirmation for the day.
4.  Transform a negative into a positive.  All of us have one thought that dominates our minds. It's that extra 10 pounds we need to lose, our out of control finances. Take that main thought and turn it into an affirmation. This will help give you confidence and motivation.
5.  Make a gratitude list.  Come up with five things you're grateful for and write them down. Making a gratitude list can alter your mood and keep you focused on the positive in life.

Put these tips to use and you'll reap the physical, mental, and performance benefits that come with a positive frame of mind!

Neurogenesis: Stuff to do to Boost Your Brain

What is neurogenesis anyway and what's all the buzz about? Neurogenesis is simply the birth of new neurons in your brain. It has been assumed that you are born with a fixed number and you can't reproduce new ones after maturity of your brain. Not true. There several things you can do to boost your brain.

Meditation.  This is no longer viewed as some sort of "New Age" or "Hippie" trend  of the 60's. Most large corporations are providing classes on meditation and mindfulness to increase productivity and happiness amongst their employees. It's a tool that is so simple, yet so powerful. Find some regular activity that trains your mind to be still, fully present, and connected with yourself. Just like any activity, you need to practice it daily to fully reap the benefits in your life. Meditation is a wonder drug that constantly needs to be refilled.

Exercise.  Cardio exercise such as running, interval training, swimming, etc. is the most effective way of boosting nuerogenesis. Exercise has a long list of health benefits for the mind and body, and is also an important stress reliever. This becomes more important as we age.

 Diet.  Too much refined sugar has a huge effect on the brain. Avoid it. Your brain is 60% fat and the right fats are important for healthy brain function.  Rich sources include oily fish, hemp, blueberries, green tea, and tumeric to name a few. 

Lifestyle.  Exposure to sunlight is important to increase serotonin levels in your brain. Ten minutes to the face can have a positive effect on your brain.
Long term sleep deprivation reduces nuerogenesis. Your brain can recover from short term deprivation but it's important not to make  it a habit.  Seven to nine hours per night is optimal.
Doing things you enjoy on a regular basis is beneficial for brain function and helps elevate levels of feel good neurons. Plan something that makes you happy on a daily basis.

Nuerogenesis is the cutting edge topic of research. We have to power  keep depression and anxiety at bay and maintain healthy brain function well into old age.

Growing yourself new brain cells will help you live a longer, happier, and healthier life. Nuerogenisis can help you live your life with more joy, compassion, gratitude, and of course, love.

Accept What Is-Don't Judge as Good or Bad

One of the greatest sources of unhappiness, is the difficulty we have in accepting things as they are. Without judgement, without wishing things were different. Human nature wishes for something better. But the root of our unhappiness isn't that we want things to be different; it's that we decided we didn't like it in the first place. We've judged it as bad. It's not bad or good, it just is.

It's not to say to expect things to go wrong, but to expect things to go differently that you had planned and to embrace that. It is negative only if you see it as negative. If you judge it as bad.

You could accept it as the way the world works-as the way things actually are and try to understand why they're that way.

Change things not because you can't accept things as they are, but because you enjoy the process of change, of learning and growing. The world is just what it is- and that's neither good nor bad. You can continue to try to do things to help others, to grow as a person, to make a difference in the world-not because youre' a bad person now, but because that's the path you choose to take, because you enjoy that path.

We can only face our own individual challenges with as much ease and grace to discover what we're meant to do: to be ourselves, follow our destiny, and realize what' truly important-love.