☺ Dear Life: Am I Making the Right Choice? ☺

Dear Life, oh wonderful sweet life; you are fantabulous, fun, thrilling, and so full of surprises, but… am I making the right decision?

Have you ever wished that life had a magical "Am I Making the Right Choice?" button? 

I'm sure we all do. And I'm sure we find ourselves asking this question all too often. Why, this question would not become today's topic if it had not been for myself and best friend discussing this very matter over tea yesterday afternoon. The truth is, we all, at some point or another, wonder if what we are doing is the best thing for us. Life can be so tricky, we can feel so comfortable and secure in our current situation, and yet crave an adventure, a change, a something. Our hearts can be torn with distress over making big decisions. And in that moment of uncertainty, as your heart feels torn, wishing you could live two lives, or three lives, or four lives, or… you get the point… you wonder if what you are doing is the right choice. Is that thing, that change, you're longing for a better option? Will it lead you to personal fulfillment and happiness? Or will it unravel and not be as great as you thought? 

So, where is the "Am I making the right choice?" button?  

To answer this, I think we have to take a step back and really look into a few of the mentalities and reasons we feel pressured by this question and Why we ask this question in the first place. 

What is Happiness? 

The biggest wonder with making a decision is whether or not you will be happier after making that decision. So, what is happiness? Happiness is a state of mind, a state of being. Happiness is, ultimately, a choice. In which case, no matter what decision you make, you can Choose to be Happy. Sure, that decision to make a change may bring immediate bliss and prosperity into your life, or it may feel like a tempest storm wrecking havoc over your world. But, you know how it goes, you can choose to sulk and get wet, or you can choose to dance in the rain and enjoy the storm. Life always has a choice, and happiness is the most ultimate choice you will always get to make. Life is what you make it. So, in this case, is there such thing as a right or wrong decision?

Is there such thing as right or wrong? 

Everyone's perception is different, but, ultimately, there is absolutely no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" decision. Just like Happiness, your perspective with action and decision depend on your own attitude. People may call certain choices "mistakes", but, really, these are mere pitfalls or bumps in which we can learn valuable lessons. In that supposed "mistake", we can decide whether to not a certain decision felt beneficial and is something we want to repeat, or if it's something we never want to do again. Either way, you have learned something, discovered a new part of yourself, and walked away stronger and with deeper insight; either way, the choice was valuable. In which case: there are no mistakes. Because you get to choose what you take away from said-mistake and learn a valuable lesson, there are only lessons and experiences. 

It's better to take risks, to try new things, and to live a little than to be afraid of making the "wrong" choice. Sure, life has no "erase" button either, but at the end of each and every day you have only your mind, your happiness, and your decision to live an awesome life. Living in constant wonder is no better than playing it safe and not taking a chance. Would you rather live your life full of regrets for the things you did, or didn't do? Wouldn't you rather know? Wouldn't you rather take a chance? You only live once. And people do regret the things they don't do, over the things they did. Because, to reiterate, there can be no regrets when you decide there was no "mistake"; you will always have the choice to be happy, to smile, and to keep a fascinating and fun adventure. That choice is always yours. Life is an adventure! Choose to enjoy it!

But, is this Decision Better than my Last Situation?

The final reason we can feel so torn about decisions is because, at the end of it all, we wonder which choice is Best. Not to sound redundant now, but, going by the fact that "Attitude is Everything", and "Life is What you Make It", then the "best" situation is like asking the same question of whether or not something is right or wrong, is it not? Life truly truly is what you make it. So, whatever choice you make is the Right and the Best choice, if You choose it to be so. If you are going to make a new choice in your life, no matter how small or greatly drastic, if you want it to be the Better choice, then all you have to do is decide for yourself that it Is the better choice. Commit to that choice with all your heart, with all your love, with all your passion, and have faith that, whatever you choose, it Is the Best choice. 

So… what about that Button?

Deciding that life is whatever we make it, we can safely conclude that there is no such thing as a right or wrong decision. And if there is no right or wrong decision, no matter what you choose to do in life, You can choose it to be the right one. 

Therefore, the "am I making the right choice" button all lies with your own attitude. 

At the end of the day, You get to choose how awesome and fulfilling your life is. Things, experiences, decisions, they are all trivial parts of your life, the thing that matters the most is your Attitude: how you choose to see the world; if you choose to smile and make the most of each and every experience. This is the Only way to live life to its fullest, and this is where you will find Happiness and Bliss, and Power and Confidence over every choice you make. All the rest, all those decisions, are all up to you. You can't blame anything else around you, you can only blame yourself, so instead of blaming, choose to Thank your self; because, you are Choosing to Live a Damn Awesome Life! 

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☺ Applying a Positive Mental Attitude to Your Life ☺

No one gets out of this life without having to deal with stuff...great stuff, wonderful stuff, happy stuff, crappy stuff, sad stuff, tragic stuff....and sometimes you look at other people and think..Wow, they are soooo lucky, their life is sooooo good. That is perception, what you are witnessing is how each individual deals with the circumstances of their life...that is the MAGIC of LIFE...you always get to CHOOSE how you react to the circumstances...because everyone deals differently. You get to choose your reactions. If someone reacts positively ...then they are seen as LUCKY...well their attitude is lucky..but life is life is life for everyone.

Life is life is life. For everyone. 

The truth is that everyone has to deal with ups and downs with life. No one person is more gifted than the other--unless they happen to be using the power of the Law of Attraction to their advantage (which is still Them putting life into action), but even then, sh!t happens. Such is life. But how are some people always so happy and positive and seem to be unfazed by the dark messes of the world? 

Firstly: they're not. 

Everyone has downs, everyone has a hard time with things from time to time, because no one is perfect and no one has perfect control over their emotions all the time. No one. Probably not even those wise old monks we hear so much about. Just because you don't see someone fall apart, doesn't mean they don't on the inside, or doesn't mean they don't go home with the need to unwind there instead. Everyone goes through things, everyone cries (in fact, crying is very helpful and healing and releasing), and everyone experiences the drops of their perfect moods. 

Everyone is human. Got it? Okay, let's move on. 

Secondly: Some people just know how to change Perspective.

Perspective is everything, and one of the most valuable and helpful lessons I ever learned was to change my attitude. As already mentioned, things happen to everyone, but the people who seem the happiest are the ones who know how to deal with their conflicts accordingly. This is when having a Positive Mental Attitude comes in. When shit hits the fan, you have two choices. One, you fall apart, get mad, get frustrated, and let it destroy your mood. Or two, (even if you have to first go through One) you pick up a smile and try looking at things from a different perspective. Perspective is Everything! No matter how bad a situation can be, there is always a bright side. Even if the bright side is that you get to learn a hard lesson that will make you a stronger person. 

It's not what happens to you in life, it's how you Deal With It that matters. Trust me. 

I have had happy times in my life where things were effortless and going right, and I've had times when I thought things couldn't get any worse. The irony is that during one of those periods of my life when things were falling apart, I was actually at my happiest--and it was all thanks to picking up an optimistic, Positive Attitude and putting things into perspective. That attitude saved me, absolutely and surely, because things at that point in my life were one of the worst points of my parent's messy divorce and custody battles of my younger siblings, and emotional traumas. That Positive Attitude allowed me to be resilient, allowed me to keep smiling, and made me more helpful to those around me as well. I took time to focus on the good things: the other great things I currently had in my life, as well as why the "bad" situation was a good thing--again, perception is everything. 

Put Things Into Perspective

Focussing on the outcome you desire is a good alternative to dwelling on the problem. If you can focus on the outcome, then your mind (or the universe) can help you get there much quicker and with much less heart-ache.  

Instead of allowing yourself to get overwhelmed and negative, take a step back. Try looking at things logically--which I understand isn't always easy when you're emotional, but take a few breaths, get out some paper (even if you're still crying when you start) and start scribbling down things that might be good about what's going on around you. There are always different angles that you can look at things from; if you don't believe me, just think about how one Same Situation can be perceived Completely differently by each individual involved. There are always different points of view. Your goal is to find the point of view that will help you. The Positive Side. The side that will get you through the mess and put a smile back on your face. 

Plus, if all else fails, remember: nothing is ever permanent, including emotions and feelings, and, after time, you Will feel better. 

Change Your Mind and you'll Change Your Life

If you can pick up this way of thinking then life will become much easier. Life is based on perception, therefore, if you can change your perception you will change your life. You have in your mind the power to do extraordinary things, and one of those extraordinary things is the capacity to change your life through simply Thinking. Think Happy, Think Positive. See what happens. It can really be quite magical and, well, life-changing. 

Practice makes perfect, and while this practice may feel hard at the start, the more you apply it, the easier it becomes. And it's always worth it. Simply taking a few minutes to sit down, jot down your thoughts, and find the positive means much less time wasted stressing yourself into sickness. 

Remember: your Attitude counts for everything. So work on that Positive Attitude at all times!  

A Personal Example:

Using one of my more recent experiences, I'd like to show you how changing your attitude can work… 

Just over a year ago, a flood rushed through our rental home. The entire basement was flooded in several feet of water, and the upstairs was washed over with grimy dirty pools and caked in stinky mud. It happened when I was up town (we live on a mountain and downtown is higher, while our apartment was at the bottom, very close to the lake). I came home to the mess and the mud washed right up to our front door--which was when the "no, no, no" panic began to set in. The entryway was a pool of murky muddy water, and, upon entering, most of our living room was in the same state, drifting down the hall and partly into our bedroom. 

Well, our landlord did nothing and was rather useless during this whole ordeal--we couldn't even get a hold of him for a day or two. So we began cleaning the mess ourselves--we didn't have a lot of options after all. Even after cleaning, the place Stank. The fire department was pumping the water out of the basement and the river that had taken over our backyard (not exaggerating here, it was a River!). After all of this was said and done, the basement was still so thick in mud that there was nothing that we could really do but to start salvaging the mess. All of my silkscreening gear (for my Job) was down in that basement, as well as our expensive camping gear, bikes, and the washer and dryer that we owned. 

Now, while our first reaction was indeed the panic and frustration of the whole mess and the ordeal to follow, we let it pass. We knew that stressing about it wasn't going to help or get us anywhere. 

So we started putting things into Perspective: 

First: it was the perfect incentive to Move the hell out of this place that we had been wanting to do for a while. 

Second: we started to list the things we were Grateful for: 

We had insurance coverage (which after some back and forth bickering and arguments, we were able to receive--bastard insurance companies trying to wiggle their way out of covering us--pfft), so anything that was damaged could be replaced. Our landlord couldn't say no to an early leave out of our lease because, well, our place was literally uninhabitable with the stench coming up from the basement of possible sewer water at that! My screens (for silkscreening) had at least been up somewhere where they remained undamaged by the water and my expensive inks were also still in tact--it was also summer still so I could silk screen outside (how delightful!). Our kitties were safe through everything, thank goodness! And so forth! 

So, with our gratitude and perspective in check, it was on to a Positive Solution: Moving! 

This was the biggest Positive Outlook out of the whole thing. We had a month to find a new place, no excuses allowed. And if it weren't for being armed with our Positive Attitudes and the Law of Attraction, we might have been screwed. My partner and I decided to write lists (things are twice as likely to come true when you write them down!) of what we wanted in our new home--after all, we were aiming for an upgrade and wouldn't settle for anything less. So we made our lists, and made sure they were in line with one another so that we were both manifesting the same thing. And we started looking. We looked at several places throughout the month, and even though it was a little discouraging at times, we didn't settle. And, guess what? We found our dream home. No joke. Pretty much everything that we'd written down on our lists we found--and if we didn't then we received variations! Our landlords are the nicest people we could ever ask for--for real, we adore them, they're the best! We even have a House to ourselves, in stead of some dingy duplex. We'd also made sure we wrote down how much we wanted to be paying for rent, and we even came within that range (which to the unbelieving, was an impossible find). 

So, moral of the story? 

Thanks to Perception, Positive Thinking, and Focussing on a Positive Outcome, our "Disaster" became a blessing in disguise. And this lesson applies to anything and everything in life. There is no point in stressing, there is only a point in turning your attitude around and Thinking Positive!

Give it a try, practice, practice, practice. Remember there is always a Positive Solution. Always.   

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☺ Valentines Edition; Part 1: Outlooks & Relationships ☺

I say screw it to the typical lovey dovey Valentine's Day; the let's spend money on silly red hearts, candy, and feel sorry for ourselves if we don't have someone to spend the supposedly romantic day with. I'm not much one for traditions and holidays that tell us how to feel and when to feel it. If you want a romantic evening with someone then go have a spectacularly romantic evening with someone, don't wait for Valentine's Day to pull out all the stops. If you want to be extra caring and buy a special someone a gift, then do it! Don't wait until Valentine's Day to do so. Be romantic whenever the hell you want. Yeah, you get to choose when to be super romantic, what a concept! ;) 

This is actually a long subject that I want to talk about so I've split my Valentine's Day Edition into two Parts. I will get to the self-love importance (and not crying the night away in a box of chocolates if you don't have a date), but first I want to talk about the Relationship aspects--and the way in which we set ourselves up for disappointment and create defeating expectations on Valentine's Day. I want to ask the questions; why do we set ourselves up for disappointment? Why do we get our hopes all high, and/or make these ridiculous expectations of a romantic day or evening? Here are a few reality checks I'd like to share that may help you survive Valentine's Day--and gain a new perspective.

Part One: Relationships!

First, let's be real about our partners--should you have someone to spend Valentine's Day with. I'd like to point out that guy's don't tend to be all that romantic. It's not like the chick flicks and movies where the guy is standing outside your window playing your song with a beatbox on his shoulders and a horse-drawn carriage waiting to whisk you off into some perfect sunset. I'm not saying that there aren't guys out there who do ridiculously romantic things, but there's a hell of a lot more guys who just aren't so romantically inclined. There is nothing wrong with that, they just have different parts of their brains working than women. Our expectations that men are just like in the movies is not a healthy expectation to have and usually sets us up for disappointment. Instead we should try focussing on the positive qualities of our partners, and focus on the things they Do do for us, instead of focussing on all the things we feel they do wrong.  

I'm always intrigued as to where this fairytale idea came from to begin with. That a girl must get all gushy, want presents and gifts from their partner, that their partner must do immensely romantic things all the time? Personally, I'd like to blame the movies and media, but it's hard to say at this point. There may be an innate nature within us females already that places importance on attention and caring from their partners--which in itself, is not unreasonable. Perhaps it is even some primal inner nature, like when male animals need to win over the female before courting. The male must impress the female. Truly, I'm not quite sure where it all started, but it certainly exists in many of us. Really, I don't think it matters where it came from, what does matter is doing something about it. 

Balance! The answer to all. 

In many cases guys do super sweet things for their ladies, bringing home flowers, making them breakfast, washing the dishes (??). But often these things get overlooked, comes with that negative attitude that makes you think he is not trying hard enough or cares because you have some other expectation in your mind of something he should be doing to wow you but hasn't. So you miss the things he actually Is doing. Tisk tisk. Perhaps like your expectations that he will put together some elaborately romantic date on Valentine's Day but instead he brings you home some flowers and tries to be romantic in his own way. But it wasn't what You had wanted or expected so you miss the sweetness altogether. If you want your partner to do more for you then appreciate what they do for you already, because you are probably missing it. Appreciation will make them feel good about what they're doing and encourage more nice behaviours. It's also simple Law of Attraction stuff--appreciation for what you do have so that you receive more good things. 

The other piece of advice is to let go of materialism. You don't really want to be won over by Things now do you? I understand that once upon a time the "thought" behind a gift is the important part, but let's face it, today there are plenty of girls who just want lavish gifts that they pick out themselves instead of even giving the guy a chance to pick out something thoughtful. Tell me how is this romantic again? You don't want to force your partner into buying you things, it takes away any notion of romance and caring. Let them appreciate you in their own way. If they surprise you with a gift, fantastic! If they don't, still fantastic! Remember that your love is not something that needs to be bought. Love should be showed, not bought.

On the other end of things, you don't want your partner to not put in any effort at all either. Balance, remember? And this goes both ways! Too often women have this expectation that their partner should be pulling out all the stops and dazzling her with splendid gifts and surprises. Well, what have you done lately? It may be wise to take a look at your own actions before you go judging theirs. Regardless, both people should be putting effort into the relationship, otherwise there isn't a relationship to be had. Love needs to come pouring in from both people. Otherwise it's not a relationship, it's a mildly dying friendship. Know when enough is enough or whether there is something worth saving. You are never stuck in a relationship, remember that. You get to choose. Always. 

But, again, both people should be putting in some effort. You should be doing nice, thoughtful, loving things for each other, as people often do at the beginning of the relationship because you're trying to win them over, but the longer you are together the less you feel like you need to do these things. I mean, you've won them already, so why keep trying? Do! Because it shows that you are actually still in love and care about the other person, that they are still worth the effort. Just because you are together, even "tied the knot" "til death do you part," doesn't mean you should just conclude that you don't need to try in the relationship anymore. Effort will keep a relationship strong. You Do still need to win each other over, or else the relationship becomes boring and stale and eventually the spark goes out. Keep the spark going. Do nice things for your partner! Period. Not just on Valentine's Day!

Of course, not everything that I have to say applies to everyone, different parts will apply to different people. Or perhaps not at all. But I have a feeling that chances are at least part of this applies to most people. 

Balance. It is always the key to happy equality in all aspects of life. And a smile and positive attitude of course, that good attitude will allow you to enjoy all of your relationships and see which ones are worth having. So, to summarize a bit:

Express Gratitude for the other person and seeing their good side instead of focussing attention on their negativities. 

Let go of Expectations and welcome what actually comes.  

Always put effort into the relationship, it should be coming in from both partners. 

Spend quality time with your partner. Be attentive, loving, caring, and thoughtful always. Be respectful. Communicate. 

Oh yeah, and say "Screw it!" to traditions! ;) 

Join me for Part Two--being loving towards yourself and having a positive attitude when you're single. Basically, how to survive Valentine's Day with a beaming smile on your face! ;) 

Have a beautiful day! 

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☺ Holiday Season; Stress, Family, & Bringing Back the Magic! ☺

We're one and a half weeks away from Christmas! If that isn't exciting I don't know what is! It's a special time of year when things are a little more magical, people are extra happy, and everyone is a little kinder to one another… or at least that's how it should be. I know that, sadly, the reality is often the opposite. The holiday season has its own load of stress to unleash. Money is tight and yet we run around spending it all on material presents. Parents fight with each other in toy stores over getting the latest must-have gifts for their children. Families stress over making a big huge family dinner. There are presents to think of, find, and buy. There are christmas parties to attend, errands to run, shopping to do. And if your family is like most then it is dysfunctional and untamed and can draw out unresolved issues, emotions, and stresses. Not to mention it's the beginning of the winter so many of us feel the effects of the lack of sun and therefor Vitamin D.

But worry not! I'm not trying to paint an unhappy picture for you only to say, "now have fun with all that hectic stress! See ya!" No, no, no. I am here to bring attention to what you may already be aware of (and if you're not, draw your awareness to it so that it can be remedied--should it need remedying) and remind us all that the holiday season doesn't have to be stressful. Remember that you get to choose after all what you want in your life, how you are going to react, and what you are choosing to do. 

I want to place emphasis once more on the family issues, because I feel like this is the time of year when things can get especially dramatic and draw out those family issues and problems we have within ourselves. I know, personally, and from hearing the stories of many others, family is a tricky topic. Many families have divorced parents, abusive characters, are dysfunctional, or in other cases are just plain bonkers. But I want to say very firmly, you are not alone! Families are not perfect, because people are not perfect. We are all on a journey trying to learn more about ourselves and life, how to behave, how to grow, and how to be human. Everyone stumbles, has issues, and has trouble in their various relationships. And that's okay. So if it distresses you to feel like your family is not "normal" and happy and enjoying the "perfect" holiday season, then know that this is not ideal, normal, or probably common. And, again, that's okay. Think about it, even in all those magical sappy movies there is always a problem that needs resolving before everyone can be happy and enjoy each others company and life. In that sense, the movies actually aren't too far off, because, such is life. There are problems and issues that need resolving in order for peace and love to shine brighter. And if you want a happy ending then it's up to You to choose it. You write your own story! You get to choose the ending.

All the people and events in our lives shape us, make us who we are, provide us with lessons, and make us richer people. Your family may not be perfect, but if you are fortunate enough to enjoy the holiday season with even one special person in your life then be grateful and happy and enjoy every second if it. Don't focus attention on the things you don't have, instead enjoy the things that you do have. Be grateful and mindful of all the things you have in your life. Don't spend so much attention on the negativities within your family or your life, it does you nor them any good. People don't change overnight. Some people don't change much at all. But You can choose to be the person you want to be. You can choose to be happy, joyous, caring, giving, and jolly. You can choose to surround yourself with the people that genuinely care about you and love you and with whom you receive an equally beneficial relationship with. Your family is not just your parents and siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Your family is made up of the people who enrich your life; your friends, significant others, acquaintances, pets, and so on. So spend your holiday season with the people you love and enjoy, and embrace and be grateful for their company and that sense of community. Cherish what you have. And that is how you can bring that magic back to the holiday season. Be extra kind to your direct family as well, forgive and be easy on them, even if sometimes it feels like they don't deserve it. But you don't have to spend the entire day with them, be respectful of your own needs and happiness. Enjoy their company when you are with them, and then move on without carrying that extra baggage with you when you depart. Resolve conflicts that need to be resolved. Self-reflect if you need to self-reflect and realize what within your family still upsets you. I've said it before, but you must help yourself first in order to be of good to others. In truth, the holiday season may draw out family drama, but if it does then it should be a sign to you that there are still some things that need to be worked on. And this shouldn't stress you out. Take it with a deep calming breath, accept it, remember it is there to make you a stronger person, and figure out what you need to do to deal with it. If that isn't immediately clear to you, that's okay too. The path will become clear, just don't carry the negative baggage around with you to dampen your mood. 

Enjoy the holiday season because you can choose to. Choose to be kind and happy. Choose to be giving and caring. Choose to carry around that extra bit of magic and holiday spirit with you and pass it on to others. Make your life and the holiday season as brilliant and vibrant as you are. Remember, you choose. So choose to enjoy the magic and childlike wonder of this time of year. Make it magical and wonderful. After all, how ever you choose to celebrate it, it is a pretty fantastic time of year when we let it be.

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☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺ It's Time to Be Happy Again! And time for me to be repetitive. ;) Happiness is something you Choose to Be. I am going to repeat it over and over until it sinks in, because it is absolutely vital that you learn this. You cannot chase happiness, you have to choose to Be Happy. There is such beauty and freedom in this, and there should be a hell of a lot of hope, because anyone and everyone can be happy with the right attitude and the right steps and changes in their lives. So, take charge. No matter what point you're at in your life, right this second tell yourself; It's Time to Be Happy Again! 

☺ Have Courage! Many of us struggle with life, especially when we really wake up and feel that something is missing or that our lives aren't what we had imagined them to be. Things get better, I promise. But if you want an amazing life then you have to have the courage and passion to make changes, to work on yourself and to make that climb to the top. It may feel pretty rocky at first but every day gets better. And no matter how hard it may feel, you're still ahead of those that aren't trying. So have courage and keep climbing no matter how many times you fall. ♥

☺ Get in your 8 Hugs! I remember hearing and reading about this several times; you need eight hugs a day to maintain your level of happiness. Hugs are so fantastic, healing, nurturing, loving, caring. They are the BEST! So get in your eight hugs a day! And not those half-assed hugs, those really close, warm, heart-to-heart hugs that you don't want to let go. A Reaaaal Hug! Watch your happiness shine and your heart grow! :)  

☺ Learn from Winnie the Pooh! Whaaaaat???? Pooh Bear should be an inspiration to all, he knows how to go with the flow and how to enjoy all the little things. He knows how to solve problems effortlessly by just Doing instead of over thinking. He knows how to be there for others, to love, and to care. He is simple-minded but full of heart, not looking to overanalyze everything or to complicate things with our obsessive minds. He appreciates things as they are. He's not trying to be smarter than he is or anything that he is not. Pooh Bear just Is. And he is Happy. So take a lesson from Winnie the Pooh. ;) 

☺ Channel that Energy! Take all that negative energy and channel it instead towards achieving something positive. You'd be amazed at what you can do with all that energy that is wasted on negative thinking! Positive thinking will transform your life! 

☺ Be Free as a Child! Run around and have fun! Make a point to take a day, or time out of each and every day, to play, be free, be silly and have fun! Do the things that make you smile and laugh! Dance, skip, jump for joy, play on a swing, run around, sing, play play play! Find your bliss and enjoy it! Life is a game meant to be enjoyed and laughed through! 

☺ "Like a bird with broken wings, it's not how high he flies, but the song he sings" ~ Orianthi. It doesn't matter what life brings to you, you can still be completely in love with life and live it to the fullest so long as you have the right attitude. So keep loving, keep being all that you can be, and keep making the most of everything! Keep that Positive Mental Attitude going at all times, through the highs and lows.    

Now go ahead and have the best damn week ever! And remember that just because it's Monday doesn't mean you have to by mopey, make the most of every single day and moment! 

Much Love from me to you! And *HUUUUUGGGGG!!!* 

Create a Nice Day! xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺ Get as Clear as Possible! You know how you've always been told you can't have exactly what you want? That you can't ask for your perfect partner, job, or life? Well, it's not true!! In fact, the Universe will bring to you what you want, all you have to do is ask! Even better, the more specific and clear you can be about what it is you want, the easier the Universe will be able to bring it to you! Because the Universe will know what to bring to you. Don't waiver, choose and stick to it instead of second guessing yourself, that will only confuse the Universe into what it should be bringing you and therefor you'll get mixed results. This is the part in your life where you get to be super specific and have to be honest with yourself. So get clear! ;)

☺ Doodle away! Apparently it's been proven that drawing during a presentation, while talking on the phone or doing almost any cognitive task can stimulate creativity, help the brain focus better and aid in solving problems. So, hurrah! Doodle away! 

☺ See the Humour! Humour gets you so much further in life than a bad uptight attitude. Learn to ease up, have a good laugh and stop taking yourself and life so seriously.

☺ Walk away from Anything that doesn't Serve You! Yes, you Are allowed! If something is causing you pain, whether it's a person or situation, then learn when to walk away. If something doesn't give you happiness, growth, or serves you in any way, then walk away. It's about respecting yourself, because you are deserving of all good things. There is no point in placing yourself in negative situations, it doesn't help you and it doesn't help others. Remember to place your happiness above, because when you truly do this then it will serve others as well as yourself. Respect and love yourself and give yourself what you truly deserve! 

☺ Get Outside!  Summers not over and we're in for a beautiful fall, so get outside as much as possible and embrace the day! Seize the day! Go for a walk, play in the grass, go to the beach, swim in the waters, go for a hike! Go Outsideeeee! 

☺ Send Love to Others! To everyone you see or even pass in a day, pass on some good energy. Whether it's a quick little conscious sprinkle of love, or if you have a longer moment then really focus on sending some positive loving energy to another person. You don't even have to see the person to send them positive vibes, just hold an image of them in your mind. But try to do this with everyone you encounter this week. Spread love, be love! ♥

☺ "I think perfect thoughts. I see only perfection. I am only perfection." Repeat this to yourself and stay on that positive frequency. Illness, disease, unhappiness all come from imperfect thoughts. Know that you are in harmony with everything around you and that perfection is yours.

Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 

Create a Nice Day! xo

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☺ Regain Your Energy! ☺

So many of us feel burntout, lethargic, tired, as if someone burst our energy balloon and ran away giggling while we are left without the energy to even chase back after the little energy-stealing monster. Okay, so there isn't really an energy zapping monster, but if you'd prefer to think of the sources of your lack of energy as such I won't stop you--in fact, it kind of sounds fun, I may be picking up that new mental image… where was I? Right, energy zapping. 

While we may sometimes feel as if the solution is out of our hands it truly isn't; the power is in your hands as usual. Yay! Okay, I realize you may not have the energy to "yay" yet, but you will, I promise. ;) Most of the time all we really need is to make a few lifestyle changes. Think about it, how many of you eat well? Exercise? Actually take care of yourselves? How many of you focus your thoughts on the fact you're tired instead of telling yourself that you're full of energy? The truth is that regaining your energy isn't as hard at it may sound. So hopefully you'll have the energy to read on and make those important lifestyle changes that could have you buzzing and bursting with energy. ;)

Balance! Remember that balance thing I'm always talking about? Apply it now! Meaning, don't overburden yourself. Unfortunately, when we exert more energy than actually exists, we are usually going to burnout. When we spread ourselves too thin then we simply don't have enough energy to do the things we're supposed to do properly. And no one likes sloppy work. Balance is key. Say no to things if your energy is low. Clear up your schedule and remake it so that it is properly balanced. Watch how much energy you are exerting. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not running around like a mad person trying to do too many things at once. You know, stop and smell the flowers. ;)

Sleep! Everyone's need for sleep will differ, learn how you run best and try to stick with it. For example, I function rather perfectly on 7 hours of sleep. My husband on the other hand needs 8-9 hours of sleep. Keep in mind that oversleeping can be just as bad as under sleeping. If I oversleep (for me over 8 hours) then I feel lethargic. Again, figure out what you feel best at. Generally people need a minimum of 7-8 hours. And if you're having trouble sleeping, figure out why and work to remedy it. Maybe you're snacking too much before bed or watching too much TV before bed? Maybe your room simply isn't dark enough? Maybe it's too noisy. There are always solutions, so seek them out and… sleep. 

Move! Okay, you're done sleeping, now get moving! Go go! If you're not creating energy then you won't have energy. For example, if you're sitting around being lazy watching TV or playing video games all day then don't expect to Feel energetic or to Have more energy. Moving, on the other hand, Does create energy! So try adding more activity to your day, get that body moving in any way possible and as frequently as possible. 

Eat! Whether it's from not eating or eating the wrong foods, fix any eating problems. Food is life, food is energy, food is fuel for your body! Don't cram it full of processed, sugary, junk food! Fill it with good-for-you veggies, fruits, and Real food! I swear this is the biggest problem most people have, eating bad foods and then wondering why they have no energy. Getting an allergy test is a great idea as well as eating foods your allergic to can totally zap away your energy. And learn to eat less in the evening and more instead during the day--which is most people's problem.   

Get off them screens! TV screens, phone screens, computer screens. Have you ever noticed how tired you can feel after staring at a screen for an hour or few? They're like energy zapping machines, releasing positive ions (which are actually the bad ones) and taking away your motivation and making you feel lethargic… which usually turns into, well I don't feel like doing anything anyway so I'll just stay on Facebook a while longer. NO! Get your butt off that seat and go back to point #3, get moving! Your eyes, your mind, your body, your energy will thank you. If you are stuck at a computer for work then take breaks often, look away from your screen often, and if you're still limited then try to keep your body moving in other ways even if you're at your seat. 

Granted, you may not see improvements the next day, after all, you'll be replenishing the lost energy. However, most people will start to see changes within a couple days if you start doing things right. These are simple but crucial points so remember them well and start feeling like the sparkly energetic creature that you are and steer clear of that little energy-zapping monster. ;)

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☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺ Law of Attraction Tip: Make a list of what it is you want, whether it's your dream home, a job, a relationship, whatever, and get into details! Get specific. The world lied when you were told you can't have what you want in life. You never have to sacrifice. In fact, the more specific you are, the easier it will be for the Universe to bring you what it is you are asking for.    

☺ Lay under the stars! It's truly magical! Get some friends together or go solo. Try to get out to a place where you can actually see them, away from city lights. Connect with the Universe and breathe in its epic beauty! 

☺ Mood Shifters! Make a list of what The Secret likes to call "Secret Shifters" to change your mood around when you're feeling low, down, or angry. Have them handy so that at any moment you can instantly change your mood around. They can be as simple as a beautiful piece of music, a picture, a memory, an event, anything that can change your mood in a snap! Different ones will work on different days so having a list to turn to is super handy. :) 

☺ Use Cold Water more! Here's your eco tip of the week! Switch to doing your laundry on cold water. When you turn on the sink, try to use cold water instead of hot--like washing your face in the morning or evening. Especially with it being summer it's mucho better. And for your laundry, well, your clothes will also thank you for it.  

☺ Make today a Good Deeds Day!  Go out of your way today to spread joy and do good deeds. Give kindness to others. Give encouragement and speak positive words to those around you. Give an extra big tip. Be nice to drivers. Give someone a gift, just because. Fill someone's meter. Lend a hand. Open doors. Buy someone coffee. Smile and give your genuine love to everyone you encounter today.  

☺ Take time to read this week. Sometimes we don't make enough time to do things we enjoy or that are good for us. Reading is one of those things that, for me, gets put on the back burner and I usually have a pile of books that I'm half way through. If you're the same way then I want you to take some time to read this week. See if you can finish a book you've been stuck in the middle of. ;)

☺ "Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it." - Eckhart Tolle. Because technically you Did choose it (you know, Law of Attraction) and there is a reason for everything. Have faith and make the best of every situation. Learn to go with the flow and not resist. 

Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 

Create a Nice Day! xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

 We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺ Cheer Up! It's only Monday! ;) There is plenty to smile about, to be grateful for, and happy experiences waiting to be had if only you choose to Cheer Up and seek out the best. Opportunity is only found when you accept it and welcome it into your life, so grasp the opportunity to smile and to welcome all the goods things just waiting to leap into your day. 

☺ Cheer Someone Else Up! While we're on the topic of cheering up… on your happy little path be sure to cheer up at least one other person today. Make your positive attitude so contagious that it spills over onto others.

☺ Declutter Time! It's hard to feel "zen" or relaxed or focussed if you have a constant clutter, whether it's in your workspace, living room, kitchen, or space just for you. Do a little (or big) cleanup, sort through what benefits and enriches your environment and what is just sitting there doing nothing or unappealing. Also, dare to clean out your fridge and freezer, it's scary what can lurk in there! Clean up your environment and you'll clean up your headspace and soul.   

☺ Have Fun Working! First, pick up an unbreakable positive attitude, next do everything you need to do to make your job fantastic. Listen to some awesome tunes, dance around (whether or not others are looking), have amazing conversations with customers, do something silly, take breaks. Do whatever it is you need to do to fill your work day with bliss. 

☺ Watch "Yes Man." Because this movie is always an awesome one to rematch and pick up that awesome "yes" attitude to enhance your life. You know, life is about living, so live a little! ;) 

☺ Challenge yourself! Spend the next 24 hours without Complaint, or Criticism, or Speaking of the Past.

☺ "Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest." - Sri Chinmoy Pick up that loving attitude, that surrender to all things positive and watch how your life transforms and blossoms. 

Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 

Create a Nice Day! xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺ Take whatever comes your way. Just go with the flow and use whatever the universe delivers instead of resisting it, no matter what it may bring. Always see the positive side and make use of any situation, ordeal, or mishap. Remember that everything happens for a reason, there is always a lesson, and there is always a positive side and outlook. ;) xo

☺ Extend your Compassion for Animals. We disconnect ourselves so much from animals, which is why we have so many industries that abuse animals (meat, dairy, wool, animal-testing, fashion, honey, hunting, zoos, circuses, and so forth). Take some time with animals and realize that they DO have souls. A lovely online friend of mine shared this beautiful article that will absolutely inspire you and touch your heart (http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/stories-that-prove-animals-have-souls). So connect with animals and remember that they are living breathing emotional creatures with souls of their own!

☺ Take up a 30 Day Challenge! Of whatever you want! Make it something productive to better your health, your happiness, your Self. Challenges are fun because they commit us to something and keep us motivated. So commit yourself to a 30 Day Challenge, whether it's picking up "The Magic" and doing those exercises, jumping onto a vegan diet (my Going Vegan Guide is coming out in the next week!), an exercise routine, doing good deeds and acts of kindness every day, taking on an artistic project, orrrr, revisiting my "30 Day Self Challenge" right here on the blog! ;) 

☺ Correct Negative Thoughts… The Law of Attraction is always in motion (whether you believe in it or not), your thoughts become things, what you think about comes about. Be aware of your thoughts and words, and if you say something negative or unfavourable, correct it with words of positivity. You can always correct your thoughts, that's the fun part! So catch yourself, be aware, give thanks instead of complaining, and choose how you want your day and life to be. ♥

☺ Learn to Cook!  Befriend your kitchen! I remember I used to despise cooking, yet it was something that I wanted to learn to do and actually feel motivated to do. Low and behold, the Universe kinda kicked me into it after I got an allergy test done a short time after I went vegan. Your kitchen is your friend! There is nothing more rewarding than making your own food, knowing what it is you are actually eating, and putting genuine love and care into food preparation. Plus, you can make it fun! Play some awesome tunes, dance around, make it your zen time.  

☺ Make faces in the mirror! Say whaaaaat? Stop taking yourself so seriously! And what better way to learn to do that then to poke fun at yourself. I'm serious now, go and make faces in your mirror! Because if you can't put yourself up to doing this then you are definitely taking yourself and life too seriously. ;) 

☺ "Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing." ~ Denis Waitley Take a chance, jump on opportunities. You'll never fully embrace and experience life to its fullest unless you learn to actually Live! 

Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! 

Create a Nice Day! xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☺ Motivational Mondays! ☺

 We're taking back Mondays!!!

"Motivational Mondays" are fabulous tips to get you excited and pumped for the week! 

Feeling low? Moody? Down on life? Well, that's what these posts are for! Time to feel awesome again and get some Positivity rolling! Just because it's Monday doesn't mean you can't have fun, smile, and enjoy Today! Apply these tips to your week and try to tell me that you don't start to see an improvement in your life! ;)

It's all about You! Change your perception, change your attitude, love your life! xo

☺BE!  This week is a BE week! Change starts with ourselves, by choosing to Be all that we want to Be. So… Be amazing, Be Happy, Be Positive, Be Smiley, Be Awesome, Be Loving, Be Caring, Be Honest, Be Spontaneous, Be Supportive, Be All that You can Be! :) 

☺ Be Adventurous! And spontaneous, because this is always always always a good reminder and a good way to live life. You know, playing the "Yes" game. I like to throw in this challenge every so often because it keeps life interesting and you almost always end up having a super fantastic week! So be adventurous and be open to the fun of the world around you! 

☺ Be Clear!!! If you're upset about something, don't be passive or play the guilt-card on others, just be up front and super duper honest and clear about how you're feeling. Being passive aggressive gets you, nor those involved, anywhere and only creates a negative cloud. Communicate! I can't say it enough. And I feel like I have some good experience with this seeings as I've been with my hubby for eight years and we are always able to see eye-to-eye and work through things. Honesty equals resolve, silence (and the passive gestures and attitudes that come along with that) get you into a deeper negative state. So be Clear! 

☺ Be Smiley! Wear the biggest friendliest Smile and see what happens! People might think you're crazy, but they're just jealous, and you're guaranteed to feel awesome and attract positivity into your day. Smile at people like you've known them your whole life. It's an amazing feeling to spread that love and joy and receive smiles in return.  

☺ Be Brave! BRAVERY: thinking outside of the box! To listen intuitively to yourself, to trust yourself beyond trusting what others tell you and then to go with it instead of following the norm of society. For allowing yourself the courage to be taken a new direction, a new path, that could potentially change and shift the train of thought of the world. BE BRAVE!

☺ Be Yourself!!! And ROAAARRRR! Be the lovely person that you are and don't be afraid to use your voice, express yourself, and stand out in the crowd! Or be still in a crowd. The point is that we are individuals with different ideals and views and souls. And that's a damn lovely thing! So no matter who you are, be comfortable be yourself and always let your soul shine and your voice… well, Roaaaar! ;)

☺ "Be like little children and Make-Believe." Use this quote and apply it every day to your manifesting. Remember that the power of your thoughts will draw what you think about to you. The more you believe the more instant whatever it is you want will become reality. So make-believe to make it real! :)

Have a beautiful day, week, life! Much Love from me to you! And don't forget to Beeeeee! ;)

Create a Nice Day! xo

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.