{"id":4411,"date":"2012-12-11T09:46:38","date_gmt":"2012-12-11T14:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/ourladyofweightloss\/?p=4411"},"modified":"2012-12-11T09:46:38","modified_gmt":"2012-12-11T14:46:38","slug":"6-tips-holiday-happiness-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/ourladyofweightloss\/2012\/12\/6-tips-holiday-happiness-guide.html","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips: Holiday Happiness Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"I am having the most marvelous holiday season ever!\u00a0 Seriously, I am!\u00a0 It’s not that something grand or out-of-the-ordinary has happened.\u00a0 On balance, it’s not so different than last year or the year before.\u00a0 But somehow it feels different.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I suspect the reason I am so very happy has to do with my planning on being happy.\u00a0 About two plus months ago, in the beginning of October, just as summer was waving goodbye and autumn was saying hello, knowing that winter and the holidays were coming soon enough, I sat down with pen and paper in hand.\u00a0 I jotted down a few ideas on how to create a daily practice that would set the stage for the best holiday season ever.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now, you might think that this is a heck of a time to share this vital information.\u00a0 After all, we’re already knee deep, neck high, in the middle of the holiday season.\u00a0\u00a0 True, true, true!\u00a0 But I wanted to see just how great my plan was, how it worked out (or not), and really, it’s never too late to get happy. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s call them Post-Holiday Happiness Tips!\u00a0 Start now for the happiest post-holiday season ever! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6 Post-Holiday Happiness Tips: Start Now, Be Happy on New Year’s Day!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Wake Up Happy.\u00a0<\/strong> First thing, when you begin to awaken; when your eyes are fluttering, when you are in the state of half sleep, get in the habit of chanting aloud or in your mind’s eye\/ear “I choose happiness.\u00a0 I choose happiness.\u00a0 I choose happiness.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Practice Gratitude-in-Advance:\u00a0<\/strong> Each and every morning (while sipping your morning drink – coffee, tea or water), jot down three things that you are planning on being grateful for on that particular day.\u00a0 Get it!\u00a0 Not what you are grateful for.\u00a0 What you are planning to be grateful for.\u00a0 I am telling you that this is a life changer!<\/p>\n

For instance, today I am grateful-in-advance<\/strong> that the weather is good (weather person promises that it will be in the mid-40’s and not rain; perfect for layering up and walking about).\u00a0 I am grateful that any and all holiday gifts that I need to buy will present themselves to me.\u00a0 So simple, so easy!!!\u00a0 And I am grateful in advance that I am spending this day walking about, having fun, with my darling husband and favorite chosen family.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 Experience the Miracle of Fruit. <\/strong>\u00a0 You know how your kids ask you for things and you say, “What do you think, money grows on trees?” Well, guess what!\u00a0 Fruit does!\u00a0 HOLY CowGIRL!!!\u00a0 Fruit that is overflowing with vitamins, minerals and chi, a.k.a. life force, grows on trees, on bushes, pops out of the grown, on vines … it’s miraculously there for the taking! \u00a0 Let your overflowing fruit bowl be the cornerstone of healthy habits! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Learn a Happy Song.\u00a0<\/strong> Either to sing or to play on an instrument, or to dance to —\u00a0 for your own entertainment or to share with others. La la la lahhhhh! <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 Imagine Something Worthwhile.\u00a0 <\/strong>I heard the ubiquitous Deepak Chopra say on one show or another that “worry is a waste of the imagination.”\u00a0 It stuck like white on rice!\u00a0 (Thank you, Deepak!)\u00a0 Every time I worry, I remember his words,\u00a0 and when my 96.5 year young mother worries (she is the Queen of Worry), I say, “Mah!!! Worry is a waste of your imagination.\u00a0 Come up with a better imagining.”\u00a0 She loves it!\u00a0 And she has repeated it to every one of the ladies in her inner-circle at her Independent\/Assisted Living hotel.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 Be Present for Others.\u00a0 <\/strong>Sure, sure, sure.\u00a0 Be present and in the moment.\u00a0 Notice how that tree is blowing in the wind, or how the clouds are gray\/blue and white and moving across the sky.\u00a0 Okay — and then be present when another human being is speaking.\u00a0 Stop thinking, stop looking around the room, stop wishing that they’d stop talking so you can.\u00a0 Be present for them, acknowledge them.\u00a0 Being present for another is the best present (gift) you could give to them. AND it creates a happiness ripple effect.\u00a0 Happy karma.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I hope that sets the stage for a happy 2013.\u00a0 If I were to choose one from this above list to practice on a daily basis, I’d have to say choose to develop the Gratitude-in-Advance Habit.\u00a0 Seriously, you have no idea what this can and will do for you!\u00a0 Again, this is a daily practice, as in daily – every day – not just today!\u00a0 Put it on your calendar!\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Feel free to share your Gratitude-In-Advance thoughts on Kick in the Tush Club\/Facebook<\/a>!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Spread the word\u2013NOT the icing!<\/em>
\n Janice<\/em><\/p>\n

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\nsign up for the\u00a0Kick in the Tush Club<\/em><\/a> e-letter
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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am having the most marvelous holiday season ever!\u00a0 Seriously, I am!\u00a0 It’s not that something grand or out-of-the-ordinary has happened.\u00a0 On balance, it’s not so different than last year or the year before.\u00a0 But somehow it feels different.\u00a0 I suspect the reason I am so very happy has to do with my planning on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2793,2417,70,82,3,60,978,1,176,2511],"tags":[3038,2809,3820,1139,671,3826,3827,3039,3825,3837],"class_list":["post-4411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-happiness","category-happiness-tips-2","category-happy-living-tip","category-janice-taylor","category-kick-in-the-tush-club","category-motivation","category-our-lady-of-weight-loss","category-the-happiness-diet","category-weight-loss","category-weight-loss-coach-2","category-weight-loss-wisdom","tag-best-happiness-tips","tag-best-weight-loss-tips","tag-happiness","tag-happiness-diet","tag-how-to-lose-weight","tag-janice-taylor","tag-kick-in-the-tush-club","tag-new-year-happiness","tag-our-lady-of-weight-loss","tag-weight-loss-motivation"],"yoast_head":"\n6 Tips: Holiday Happiness Guide - 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