Success is a tricky thing. If we are to be truly successful we must teach ourselves to show compassion to others and learn to live with kindness.

So, when you are looking to create more happiness in your own life, try showing kindness to another person.  For me, my overall health and sense of well-being are increased as I show kindness and generosity to others.

Studies have shown that showing compassion is vital for our own inner peace, mental awareness and emotional strength. When we choose to be compassionate it will not only remove the obstacles that get in our way but it will open our hearts and increase our overall joy in everything we do.

Compassion will also strengthen our awareness we have with other people, which is obviously a good thing for us and society.

• Choose to make it a daily goal to live with more compassion in your life.
• Develop a widened range of concern and understanding for others.
• Rather than judging others, try a little kindness instead. Believe me, this will change your life!
• Try this on act of kindness. Next time you are at your favorite drive thru, pay for the car behind you. Then, check in with yourself and see how it feels to be kind to a total stranger.

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Have you ever had one of those days when life can feel like a series of never ending tasks? I know I have! For me, it was like I moved through each task awaiting the next. All the while, I was hoping to find just a second to catch my breath.

Oddly enough, catching that quick breath is exactly what I needed. In fact, those three quick breaths helped even more than simply pushing through. Best of all, this will work for you too!

Taking a strong deep breath helps to release the daily stress(es) that deplete your energy, lessen your productivity and stomp on your happiness. Not to mention, it just feels good too!

You will find it amazing just how quickly three deep breaths can get you back on task. It is important to understand that there are several studies that show the innate benefits showing that conscious breathing works. However, when you experience the benefits for yourself – then and only then will you see the difference it makes in your own life.

Choose to make it a daily routine to begin and end every day with three strong, deep breaths. And…don’t be afraid to use this technique throughout the day as well.

1. First, take a breath to become aware – close your eyes and feel your breath moving in and out, nice and slow.
2. Second, take a breath to focus – keep your eyes closed and feel the calm, still balance return to you.
3. Third, take a breath to find a new beginning – still, with your eyes closed, feel that deep connection to your surroundings. Renew by anchoring in on the moment and stabling your emotions. Life IS good, you ARE good, things WILL be better! Feel the breath and the stress leave your body.

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

The fact is that we are all looking for something. Whether it be money, love, time, friendship, health, happiness, a satisfying career, or simply success, we are all looking to improve our lives in one way or another. Truth be told, most of us already know what to do, but we choose (subconsciously or consciously) not to do it.

Rather than taking action to create those positive changes we so desire, we typically choose avenues that release us from our decisions. Or so we think. By passing the blame, complaining about the many reasons “it” never happens and making excuses for what is missing in our lives we let ourselves off the hook. Or do we? This failure to push thorough on our own is how we get stuck. We allow our negative thought patterns to become so deep-seated that we fail to even notice them.

This is why it is so important to have a good daily routine. For me, this routine is a clear daily reflection. By reflection I am able to see my life more clearly, and so will you when you begin this one simple step. You and I will more clearly discover personal awareness and learn from our daily experiences. We will gain the knowledge that will make it easier to choose the best avenue to take and create the truly fulfilling life we desire.

• Begin by making it a daily routine to “Check In”. Reflect on your day and see how it went!
• Then, begin to point your actions and choices toward the bulls-eye, which is creating the life for yourself that you have always dreamed of.
• Finally, commit yourself to take one life changing action each and every day. Then, see the difference it makes!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Everyone has patterns that keep them from functioning at their full potential. Typically, 20/20 hindsight shines light on this well after we make the wrong choice and we are left thinking to ourselves, "How could I possibly get here…again?"

Since studies have shown that the subconscious mind drives more than 90% of our thoughts, actions and reactions we must then understand that only 10% of our thoughts and actions are made consciously. Sadly, since life leaves very little room for reflection, most of the time we do not even notice that we have made a poor choice until well after it is done.

So, it is no wonder that our unconscious patterns are making the decisions that we struggle with most.

It is because of this that we need daily routines that will keep us in touch with our own lives. By understanding that this is an area of weakness we can make the choice to empower ourselves to intentionally choose our decisions. When we make this choice it will help to get rid of most, and maybe all, of those unhealthy patterns, giving us the life we strive for.

Here are some helpful hints to get you started!

• First, you must take time each day to pause and reflect on how your decisions affected your life and the life of others.
• Second, intentionally choose to celebrate the highpoints.
• Third, by recognizing the highpoints you are more aware and able to learn from your experiences and begin to see the “right” decision as they appear.

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

In today’s world living with change is clearly something we have to deal with on a regular basis and it appears to be gaining speed. Nevertheless, while change typically has great benefits for us, it can feel a bit overwhelming at times.

I know that I prefer it when things are predictable and within my control. How about you? Unfortunately, making a change in our lives has a way of rocking the boat we call life. Then, when we are facing these changes, those awful feelings of anxiety and fear begin to show their face once more.

If we allow ourselves to let things get out of hand those fears can quickly twist reality and leaves us feeling helpless, weak and frightened. However, when we make the choice to take action in our own lives in order to control our fears they lose their control over us!

This week, learn to lessen the stranglehold that uncertainty has over you. Look at life with a new found clarity and perception. You do not have to fear the unknown; it is possible to tackle the unknown with certainty and strength. It is time to conquer those nagging worries. Follow the routine below this week and see the difference a life with confidence can give you.

• Start by identifying a worry that has been bothering you.
• Thinking about that worry, write down all of the worst things that could possibly happen if that fear were to come true.
• Then, ask yourself this question: Can I live with that situation if it ever were to occur?
• Finally, take the time to pinpoint how and what you can do to come to a positive solution that you are happy with.
• Now, take the time today to live a fearless life, reduce your worries and know that uncertainty does not have to be a bad thing!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Over the years we have all been trained to believe that a fast paced life will make us more successful. After all, faster is better, faster helps us to be even more productive and when we work faster we will certainly be respected and praised. Or is all this just something we have been led to believe for others personal agendas? You need to take care of yourself. A healthy you will always be the most successful you!

So, while you are always willing to push through life, day in and day out, fill your calendar with more appointments than are humanly possible and trade the happiness you could have today for the happiness that tomorrow “might” bring, you are missing out on what is there for you now!

Fortunately, you, and I, can change. We can get out of this rut we have put ourselves in!

It is possible to learn to slow down. We can be more focused and become there for ourselves, living our own lives. It is possible to create the routines needed to actually strengthen our productivity as well as our efficiency making it possible to enjoy each day.

This week, practice the art of slowing down. Then, you will experience how much more fulfilling life is when you are actually involved in it.

• Start by choosing to make space to breathe each and every day! Take a little “me” time four or five times every day. You can read, meditate, do a puzzle, whatever you find calming to your daily pace.
• Then, create and maintain your To-Do list(s). Manage your time, schedule your life in such a way that you will be able to handle the events you choose to handle. Remember; slow down does not equal death. In fact, slowing down might just equal life!
• Finally, be sure you are always present in everything you choose to do. It is your life, so live it!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

It is true, as life’s daily requirements continue to increase, it is far too easy to put off spending time with the people you need to spend time with, your friends. Face it, you have far more important things to do than just waste time hanging out, or do you?

As studies have shown, spending time with your friends is actually very good for your overall health. When you hang out with friends you tend to be more open with your feelings, which reduces many types of disease and stress relates complications. Additionally, your body will generate more serotonin, which increases feelings of contentment, happiness and your overall feeling of joy in life.

This week, choose to make the time to cultivate your friendships this week. It is time to develop the relationships that give you support on so many levels. Now is the time to feel the love!

• First, schedule a time to hang out with friends this week!
• Then, be sure to check in with your inner circle more often.
• Focus on keeping your relationships alive and well.
• Finally, remember that a good friend is there for his friends too!!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Everyone has a night where sleep appears to be impossible. You know, one of those night’s where your mind start to race the minute your head hits the pillow. This is actually quite a simple math equation: the thought of all that is to be done tomorrow (+) the list of everything that was not completed today (=) an over productive brain that just will not let us rest. I know this has happened to me. What about you?

There are many bedtime routines that will help both our mind and body relax, which is a fundamental key to getting a good night’s sleep. As you know, a good night’s sleep is imperative to your physical health. Proper sleep strengthens your physical condition, emotional strength and mental awareness. Perhaps this is one reason that everything seems so much easier when we are well rested.

Bedtime routines will help your mind and body get ready to relax and unwind. I am giving you three simple routines to follow that will help to get you going on your new life with a healthy, robust sleep pattern. Don’t delay; make the choice to give one a try this evening.

• Routine #1: Turn off the screens (phones, televisions, laptops, games, etc…) one hour before you go to bed. Yes, I know…but try it anyway.
• Routine #2: Take the time to meditate or do a devotional for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Routine #3: Journal. Yes, I said journal! Take the time to write down everything on your mind. Then, identify one or two things on your list that you can take care of tomorrow.
• **These three routines work particularly well when used together**

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Your daily routines help you manage your life’s busy schedule. Your routines help to simplify decision making, and they keep you on track. By doing so, these routines strengthen your both your efficiency and your effectiveness.

However, you must also understand it is also important to live life with a little adventure. When you add new experiences to your life you will have the ability to create more positive emotions, while at the same time opening your mind to new and exciting possibilities. Another benefit of adding a little adventure to your life is that it will assist in easing your worries.

It does not really matter if you plan these adventures or take advantage of them as they come upon you, choosing to experience life with a little sense of adventure re-joins you to that creative energy you use to motivate yourself into action. Let’s face it, when we are motivated into action…well that is always a good thing.

• You can start by shaking up your weekly routine and trying something new.
• No need to overhaul your life, just refresh your routines with small simple changes.
• Then end result will be that you feel more calm, inspired and re-energized!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.”
― Joseph Campbell

I know I have covered this before, but your physical environment is many times a metaphor for your life. When you make the choice to have a cheerful, open, organized living space your life will reflect that as well. Likewise, when you allow your living space to become gloomy, cluttered, disorganized your life will also reflect that as well.

As it turns out, a messy environment acts much like physical weight – it drains not only your mental well-being, but your emotional energy as well. When you choose to be disorganized it stifles your creativity and your motivation.

By choosing to clean up your space you add a positive outlook to life that will boost your emotional energy and add new life to your creativity while at the same time increasing your motivation to get things done. Start today and experience how even the little changes in your environment can make a huge impact in your energy.

• Start by surveying your space and looking at how you want to expand it
• Then, keep it simple. Look for the easiest ways to make that happen. Small initial rewards give light to the end of the tunnel.
• It is very important to focus on one project at a time. Do not overwhelm yourself!
• Finally, you are done. Enjoy the new you!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!