Inner Voice

So many of the great teachers of today are reminding us that finding our passion, doing things that bring us joy is one of the best things we can do in this life--for ourselves and for the Universe.

Louise Hay teaches that we all deserve to feel good and that we have an inner wisdom that will guide us. Wayne Dyer tells us to be open to the inner voice. Doreen Virtue says to be open to the guidance of the angels. I could go on and on...Abraham teaches to reach for the better feeling thought, so he would definitely concur with this:

My dad always used to say, "If you take a step and it feels good, you must be headed in the right direction." What he wanted us to understand was that we needed to measure our progress against an inner compass, using our feelings, our comfort level, and our knowledge of ourselves as the ultimate guide.

I've spent most of my adult life trying to hear that inner voice above the noise around me...It says softly that happiness is as simple as having something to look forward to in the morning...It says, in a low murmur I sometimes have to strain to hear, that now is the time to have fun.

~Linda Weltner, No Place Like Home

Let me remember to listen to (and hear) that inner voice as it reminds me to follow my bliss. Now is the time to HAVE FUN, whatever that means for ME!

Thank You Letters

I know from my personal experience that I feel happier when I am aware of being grateful for what I already have in my life. And I feel good letting people know that I appreciate them and/or what they have done for me.

Well now a professor at Kent State has conducted a study that indicates writing letters that demonstrate our gratitude can improve our own happiness. And I thought writing thank you letters was just good manners--and for the "other guy". Now we have a selfish reason to write our thank yous!

Steven Toepfer, the prof, had students write letters thanking people for the positive influence they had provided. The students didn't write a lot of letters, just one every other week for six weeks. That's only 3 letters!

The ground rules were pretty simple, be positive, express appreciation and (no doubt the most challenging part) include some "insight and reflection, not venture into trivial waters"...in other words, they had to put some thought into it!

After writing the letters the students were surveyed to gauge their mood, feelings of happiness, gratitude and overall life satisfaction.

The study showed that happiness levels were higher after each letter. According to the professor, 75% of the students want to continue writing letters--even after the study ended.

Our "social network" is important--large or small is not the key. But having and maintaining a few significant relationships has great benefits. According to Toepfer these benefits are both psychological and physical!

This appears to agree with the information we learned earlier this month about happiness being "contagious" and the importance of social networks for our happiness!

Affirmations are About Feeling Not Just Words

When we repeat our affirmations, it is good to remember that the Universe responds to our feelings, not really the words that we are saying. So if you are saying your affirmations regularly, and find that it is more of a rote habit, it may be time to change it up a bit!

Whether you say the same exact words or change the words, place the focus on the feeling. What is it that you are expecting? What is your desire? What are you looking to manifest in your life? Slow down, place your hands on your chest, take a deep breath and imagine that you have that in your life now. Feel in your heart how grateful you are for this wonderful state of health/abundance/whatever it is that is in your heart. Then, when you have that feeling--of gratitude, or having it now-- say your affirmations.