Whenever you are looking for a fast, easy way to recharge your overall state happiness, simply take a walk. Take the time to visit God’s Creation and spend time with Mother Nature. There is a natural energy that accompanies the unique and soothing feeling of the world we live in.
But, can being in nature really make a difference?

There are several studies in the Journal of Environmental Psychology that have explained the positive effects that accompany spending time with nature. Personally, I believe that all Creation was designed to work together. We take the time to keep our world in the best shape that we can while nature itself helps to reset our psyche. So the answer to the question above is this: Yes, with the right attitude, simply being in the presence of nature will help us to connect or re-connect with us to our world. And believe me, it just does not get any easier than taking a walk in a park.

Simply put, when you take the time to spend in nature, even for just 30 minutes, will increase your feelings of energy and overall health. Additionally, spending time in nature will also leave you feeling more feeling and giving. The fact is you will thrive when you choose to stay linked to Mother Nature.

Best of all, Fall brings us a beautiful collage of colors that can excite the senses and make even he manliest of men see the world in a new and fresh way.

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!

It is far too easy to be judgmental. When you choose to simply pay attention to your thoughts you will see how many times you make the choice to be critical, and sometimes even flat out unkind to yourself and others. It is not a pretty sight to see. However by being aware of these comments is always the first step.

What is enjoyable is when you make the choice to voluntarily see the best in yourself and others. One way you can do this by developing the attitude of the three g’s: generosity, gratitude and gratefulness. Using the three g’s will teach you to learn to keep your heart open and draw out the best in all of us.

Today is the first Friday of the month. Try following the example set by KTIS, a radio station in Minneapolis/St. Paul - Minnesota, and do what they call the drive thru difference. When you are out and about today, go thru the drive thru and pay for the car behind you! Trust me, you will make a difference in their lives and your own!

• Make the choice to become aware of your judgmental thoughts
• Then, choose to immediately redirect them to be positive, look for the good!
• Finally, pay attention to how good it feels when you choose love over hate…

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

It is far too easy to be judgmental of others. I know, I struggle with this every day. Who cut me off on the highway? Fellows co-workers beliefs about God? Even how I look in the mirror after a shower can be judgmental. However, there is a way out of this trap.

Simply pay attention to your thoughts, all of your thoughts, and you will see how often you are critical (and downright unkind) to yourself and others. It is not pretty to witness, but awareness is always the first step.

It is empowering when you readily see the best in yourself and others. You do this by cultivating an attitude of generosity, gratefulness and appreciation. This is how you learn to keep your heart open and bring out the best in us all.

A local radio station here in the Twin Cities (KTIS 98.5 FM) has this cool thing they do to pay it forward. They call it the drive thru difference. Simply put, next time you are out and about simply how a stranger a random act of generosity. Pay for their meal, buy their gas, give them a grocery gift card, volunteer or shovel a neighbors walk.  Just show them your gratefulness for being here on this planet with you. Generosity is contagious! Plus, notice how good you feel when you pay it forward to someone else.

Here are a few steps to make life just a little more fun and increase your overall happiness:

• Start by being aware of your critical thoughts
• Next, positively redirect those thoughts  immediately
• When possible, pay it forward. Spread contagious generosity!!
• Finally, pay attention to how good it feels to cultivate a kind heart