HaPpY Lifestyle Challenge 

In this challenge we will explore what happiness means to us and how to incorporate those things in our lives. Studies on behavioral change say that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (or break an old one). So, lets start forming new habits of happiness by incorporating a new value/principle of happiness each month. This is my first time doing this challenge, so I may be changing or adding new things as we go (life is a journey) so be patient with me during this time! I also want to hear from you: What do you think I should add/subtract? Are you enjoying the challenge? Please post your comments and feedback, in order to grow I need support from my village! So brew a cup of tea, crack open a new journal & explore!

Before you begin the monthly challenges, watch the documentary happy: http://www.thehappymovie.com/film/ on netflix, hulu or amazon prime. It is an awesome documentary that will definitely inspire you even more on your happiness journey!

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Month 1: PURPOSEFUL QUALITY ME TIME

Created my purpose vision board this month with the questions in mind: what makes me happy? What do I value? and what is my purpose?
Created my purpose vision board this month with the questions in mind: what makes me happy? What do I value? and what is my purpose?

“Happiness means living a life with purpose and meaning in a way that is making a difference in the world, using all your talents, strengths & abilities!” ~Universal Class Wellness Coaching

“The person who lives life fully, glowing with life’s energy, is the person who lives a successful life.” ~Daisaku Ikeda

This month’s goal is to focus on our life’s purpose. We will  spend some quality time with ourselves to really know and understand ourselves and our purpose in life. Researchers in the cutting-edge field of positive psychology have discovered individuals who feel a “meaningfulness” or purpose in life report less pain, reduced anxiety and an overall feeling of happiness. Other studies show purpose in life can significantly reduce stress and, in turn, discourage related substance abuse. Research also shows life purpose can decrease episodes of depression. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-life-purpose-happiness-story.html).

The Simple Answer to Lasting Happiness is Living Your Purpose! (http://tinybuddha.com/blog/discovering-happiness-through-purpose-in-3-natural-steps/).

Reflect

♥ What is happiness to you? What really makes you happy?

♥ Are you living the life you want to live? What do you enjoy doing?

♥ What’s your life purpose?

♥ What goals do you have for yourself?

♥ What are your strengths? How can you maximize them?

♥ What are your weaknesses? How can you learn to work on improving them or just simply learn to accept them?

♥ What do you value? Are those values consistently present in your life?

 

Activities

♥ Meditate, brew some tea and just relax and sit with yourself for 30 mins to an hour and reflect on the questions above (write down in your journal)

♥ Create a vision board reflecting on what makes you happy and have fun with it (like the one I created in the picture above)

♥ Develop your personal Mission Statement

“I dedicate myself to an attitude of gratitude in order to improve my health and my wealth. I will continue to work towards improving my holistic wellness in order to become a successful wellness coach. With this attitude, I will generously share my time and my talents with my family, my friends, and my community.”

♥ Do something you like to do at least once every week of this month. Make time for a self-care/pamper yourself day (give/get a facial, massage, manicure, pedicure)

♥ Make a promise to yourself to commit to during one thing nice for yourself once a month

 

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Month 2: POSITIVE MINDSET- OPTIMISM & GRATITUDE

“An attitude of gratitude yields opportunity” ~Yogi Tea

 “a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ~Winston Churchill

The goal for this month will be to  focus on the things we appreciate, are grateful for and how to incorporate more optimism and gratitude in our lives. Optimism has been proven to improve the immune system, prevent chronic disease, and help people cope with unfortunate news. Gratitude is associated with optimism and has been determined that grateful people are happier, receive more social support, are less stressed, and are less depressed. (http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/science-of-happiness/positive-thinking/)

 

Reflect

♥ What are you grateful for?

♥ Who are you grateful for?

♥ How do you express gratitude to others? in your life?

♥ Do you need to express gratitude more often?

♥ How does an attitude of gratitude yield opportunities for you?

♥Are you optimistic or pessimistic?

♥ How can you become more optimistic?

Activities

♥ Meditate, brew some tea and just relax and sit with yourself for 30 mins to an hour and reflect on the questions above (write down in your journal)

♥ Read/Peruse this article on the positive correlation of gratitude and optimism to happiness: http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/science-of-happiness/positive-thinking/

♥ Watch this video on the “Psychology and Philosophy of Happiness: Optimism and Gratitude”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-6KCijp1lw

♥ Keep a mindfulness daily journal/log this whole month (or atleast 21 days): Be mindful of your optimistic and pessimistic thoughts. This way you can get a better view of whether you are more optimistic or pessimistic

♥ Create a Gratitude list and hang it up somewhere visible (next to bathroom mirror, back of front door, and/or car dashboard). Look at it at least once a day and more if you are having a bad day.

♥ Gratitude Letter: Write a letter expressing gratitude to a person who have changed your life in a positive way

My 2015 Gratitude List! It really does help through the hard times to look at this list! I'm so thankful!!!
My 2015 Gratitude List! It really does help through the hard times to look at this list! I’m so thankful!!!

See my post expressing my gratitude of being a mom, “Beating the Odds”.

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Month 3: FORGIVENESS & COMPASSION

“If you don’t like something change it, if you cant change it–change the way you think about it”

 

This month’s focus is about forgiving yourself and others, letting go and embodying compassion throughout the entire process. Forgiveness starts with forgiving and having compassion for yourself! Forgiveness is freeing, so let your wings of forgiveness expand & fly!

Reflect

♥  What is forgiveness?

♥  What is compassion?

♥  What do you need to let go of in your life?

♥  Who do you need to forgive?

♥  Have you forgiven yourself?

♥  Do you have compassion for yourself?

 

Activities

♥  Meditate, brew some tea and just relax and sit with yourself for 30 mins to an hour and think about letting go in order to let happiness in

♥  Draw a picture of your heart now and then draw a picture of how you want your heart to look. Reflect on how you can get your heart to look like you want it to look

♥  Write down all your grievances with yourself , other people and the world

~Select 3 to focus on

~Write a letter to yourself forgiving yourself

~Then write a letter for the other hurts and explain why you are hurt and then why you need to forgive and let go and then write down steps of how you’re going to forgive and let go!

♥  If at any time you get discouraged during this process listen to “Wings of Forgiveness” by India Arie (below)

 

2 thoughts on “HaPpY Lifestyle Challenge

    1. Thank you sis! I’m so glad this speaks to your heart and soul, I hope you visit often and join the Serenity Reigns movement!!!

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