{"id":4027,"date":"2012-08-30T19:04:41","date_gmt":"2012-08-30T23:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/?p=4027"},"modified":"2012-08-30T19:33:53","modified_gmt":"2012-08-30T23:33:53","slug":"5-steps-to-happiness-think-happy-be-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2012\/08\/5-steps-to-happiness-think-happy-be-happy.html","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Cow Thoughts* by Janice Taylor, Self-Help \/ Weight Loss Artist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0 First There Was the Thought:<\/strong> When it comes to emotional baggage, we consciously experience a \u2018feeling\u2019 before we understand its trigger.<\/p>\n

When a strong feeling surfaces; a feeling that can \u2018sink you,\u2019 or \u2018squash your enthusiasm;\u2019 when a feeling that has a negative effect crashes over you, stop for a moment and see if you can \u2018look before\u2019 the feeling and identify the thought that triggered it. <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>2.\u00a0 Your Mind Is a Thought Factory:<\/strong>\u00a0 It is a function of the mind to think thoughts, to produce thoughts, one after the other; so many in fact, that you cannot count them nor remember them all.\u00a0 Some of your thoughts might be useful; some not.<\/p>\n

Therefore, it is important that you realize that just because you had a thought, it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a good one.\u00a0 True enough!\u00a0 Not every thought you have is brilliant, correct or useful.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Thoughts Are Suggestions:<\/strong>\u00a0 Once you identify the thought that set your emotional roller coaster into motion, remember that thoughts are merely suggestions.<\/p>\n

You can imagine that the Though\/ Suggestion<\/em> is floating through your mind\u2019s eye, as the clouds float through the sky above, and if you see a \u2018suggestion\u2019 that looks, sounds and feels good, a thought that is useful \u2013 then use it!\u00a0 When you see a thought that is not, let it float by and dissipate into the ether.<\/strong><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Practice Happy Thinking:<\/strong>\u00a0 Set aside 5 minutes daily to practice happy thoughts.\u00a0 Create a Happy Thinking<\/em><\/strong> book, and no matter how bad you are feeling, no matter how dark your thoughts, no matter how upsetting the actual circumstances of your life, no matter \u2026 for 5 minutes each and every day of your life, write down happy thoughts, copy happy quotes into your book, cut out happy photos, listen to happy music \u2013 and be sure to add the song to your happy play list!<\/strong><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Focus on What You Would Like to Feel:<\/strong>\u00a0 You can easily manufacture a feeling.\u00a0 All you need to do is remember a time when you felt happy.\u00a0 Remember a time when you felt grateful.\u00a0 Remember a time when you felt great about yourself.\u00a0 Remember the FEELING and let it rise, let it rise, let it rise.<\/p>\n

*Cow Thoughts quote from Karen Liebowitz, <\/em>
\nparaphrasing Dr. Lewis\u00a0Mehl-Madrona\u00a0 “Thoughts are like cows.\u00a0 You want to open the door of your mind and let them out to pasture. You can only milk them for so long and then they are dry …. “<\/em><\/p>\n

And \u2026 for more happy, fun, energized, positive support please do join \u2026
\n\u2026\u00a0 A Kick in the Tush Club<\/a> on Facebook<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Spread the word \u2026 not the icing!<\/p>\n

Janice
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Life & Wellness Coach, Author
\nSelf-Help \/ Weight Loss Artist
\nwise * fun * utterly useful
\n\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014
\nFor the best life, wellness and weight loss wisdom, visit Janice:
\nOur Lady of Weight Loss<\/a>
\nsign up for the\u00a0Kick in the Tush Club<\/em><\/a> e-letter
\njoin and chat: Facebook\/ a KICK in the TUSH CLUB<\/a><\/p>\n

Become a Tushkateer!
\n<\/em><\/strong>A Tushkateer is a person who receives Our Lady of Weight Loss\u2019s newsletter, called the KICK in the TUSH CLUB!!!\u00a0 Sign up and receive her weekly e-newsletter<\/a> with all the news that \u2018fit\u2019 to print, and you are automatically a Tushkateer!\u00a0 How cool is that? \":)\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1.\u00a0 First There Was the Thought: When it comes to emotional baggage, we consciously experience a \u2018feeling\u2019 before we understand its trigger. When a strong feeling surfaces; a feeling that can \u2018sink you,\u2019 or \u2018squash your enthusiasm;\u2019 when a feeling that has a negative effect crashes over you, stop for a moment and see if…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2793,2417,2,70,82,213,2098,3,60,2527,1207,978,1,19,2100,369,2511],"tags":[2932,3820,2447,671,3826,3827,3825,2933,209,3837,248,163],"class_list":["post-4027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-happiness","category-happiness-tips-2","category-happy-living-tip","category-inspiration","category-janice-taylor","category-kick-in-the-tush-club","category-mental-health","category-mindfulness","category-motivation","category-our-lady-of-weight-loss","category-spiritual-living","category-spiritual-weight-loss-2","category-the-happiness-diet","category-weight-loss","category-weight-loss-art","category-weight-loss-success-coach","category-weight-loss-tips-2","category-weight-loss-wisdom","tag-cow-thoughts","tag-happiness","tag-happiness-tips","tag-how-to-lose-weight","tag-janice-taylor","tag-kick-in-the-tush-club","tag-our-lady-of-weight-loss","tag-self-help-artist","tag-weight-loss-artist","tag-weight-loss-motivation","tag-weight-loss-tips","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Steps to Happiness - Our Lady of Weight Loss<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2012\/08\/5-steps-to-happiness-think-happy-be-happy.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Steps to Happiness - Our Lady of Weight Loss\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"1.\u00a0 First There Was the Thought: When it comes to emotional baggage, we consciously experience a \u2018feeling\u2019 before we understand its trigger. 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