Try a Little Happiness

If you know me and/or have read much of anything I've written lately, you know that I have been studying JOY and all things to do with joy and happiness, so (and as a Christian) choosing to read Jennifer O'Neill's THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: 21 SPIRITUAL RULES TO SUCCESS was a no-brainer (especially I got it for my Kindle for next to nothing).  I would give the book more than 3 stars if the author wasn't a psychic.  The title includes the word "spiritual," so as a Christian, I was thinking of "spiritual" in terms of the Christian faith.  Thus I was disappointed when I realized, about halfway through the book, that Jennifer is a well-known psychic.  Normally I do a little research on authors before I read a book by a new, unknown (for me) author, but this time, I was so drawn to the title (and the sunflower on the cover) that I didn't bother learning anything at all about the author.  As a woman of faith, I am not happy to learn that Jennifer is a psychic.  With that being said, though, Jennifer doesn't write this book with psychic overtones--such that would (or could) offend a person of the Christian faith.  She writes it simply about real life and the real way to spiritual happiness.  I find no fault with the way she wrote the book or with what she says in the book.  In fact, I'm sure I will not only refer to Jennifer's book often, but that I will definitely re-read it every couple of months, at least.  Her "spiritual rules to success" ring true and I know that everything she says makes absolute perfect sense.  If we all pursued happiness as Jennifer suggests, the world certainly would be a brighter, happier, sun-shiney place full of shining, happy people!!!!

Finding Happiness

Gretchen Rubin's THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is her wonderful story of taking one whole year to find more fun and happiness in life.  She is beautifully honest in her successes as well as her failures.  I especially love that she clearly states that everyone's "Happiness Project" is/will be different.  She is simply sharing hers as an example and we can use her examples or not as we so choose....which is the way it should always be with projects/books such as hers.  Gretchen's ideas are certainly worthy of copying, but like her, what if I do really LOVE to watch tv while someone around me thinks that's it's "of the devil!"  Should I be ashamed that I LOVE watching tv (movies, in particular)?  Absolutely not.  If it's something I enjoy, something that makes me HAPPY, then I should enjoy it when I have an opportunity to--and receive the happiness from it!!!!  Anyone searching for my happiness in his/her life will more than likely enjoy reading Gretchen's story!

You ARE Beautiful....What songs can you add to this list?

Lizzie Velasquez's little book CHOOSING HAPPINESS is exactly what you expect when you pick it up.  It is WELL worth the read.  My heart aches over the ugliness of the ignorant people who called her "the ugliest woman in the world" and then the rest who posted cruel comments in response to such a video.  But Lizzie demonstrates a strength beyond anything expected of someone so tiny as she is able to love and forgive the haters and prove that while she may not be the most attractive of women on the outside (although, she's gorgeous to me), she's incredibly wonderful and beautiful on the inside--where it REALLY COUNTS.  Thank you, Lizzie, for sharing your story and for making a difference in a world where ignorance sometimes
equals cruelty.

A few music videos that I think go along with Lizzie's theme:

"All About the Bass" by Meghan Trainor, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk

"Try" by Colbie Caillat, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXoZLPSw8U8

"Beautiful" as performed on GLEE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaCUyUuy1Lc

"You Can't Stop the Beat" from HAIRSPRAY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K54VMAmjNSk&list=FLtVvRBaP6K-Li42iqDtFZ-g&index=14

*What other songs/poems/etc. can  you add to this list????

I love journaling!

Mari McCarthy's PEACE OF MIND AND BODY:  27 DAYS OF JOURNALING TO HEALTH AND HAPPINESS has been very good for me as was the grief journal I completed prior to doing this one.  I have discovered some things about myself that I wasn't aware of--or at least not fully conscious of.  I still have some work to do , of course.  I've also been able to put some things into words that I must have thought, but hadn't taken them any further.

I plan on sharing some of my journal entries with my counselors.

I don't do a lot of journaling with guided prompts--I typically already have my own thoughts to write about.  But when I do use guided topics, I've usually found to be great at helping me discover things about myself that I'm not aware of until it comes out in my journal.

From here, I'm going to begin--probably--the journaling Manifesto (also by Mari).  I also have the 53-week one by Mari to work on, but I think I'll wait to begin that one after our trip to Disney next week.

Of course, I'll also continue doing my Night Notes!