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 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!

Many times, children are often taught to believe that if they are to be accepted they must change who they are. “Why can’t you be more like him”, “Why don’t you act more like her”, are common phrases we hear growing up. Sadly, we learn that it is a bad thing to be different and that being like everyone else is a good thing. Compliance quickly becomes the only way of life as we are desperately trying to fit in.
 
Then, as we become adults, we continue to pretend to be something or someone we are not in the hope of avoiding rejection. We strive to create ourselves with an outer image of who we “think or believe” others want us to be. Then, like an Oscar nominated actor, we play our roles in search of that little thing called acceptance. I know I have done this, and I am guessing you might have done this too.


Fortunately, in most people, there comes a time when we are just sick and tired of putting on the act. Most of us stop worrying about what others think of us and start to take pride in who we are. It is at that moment that you will begin to experience greater happiness and harmony just being yourself. Best of all, you will begin to feel the joy being loved for who you really are instead of the person you have been trying to be.

• Remember this…You are great just how God created you…Be yourself!!
• Being yourself allows you to enjoy how good it really feels to be you.
• Let others see the real you by bringing your personal individuality into the world. It will change your life!

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!

Technology is a great tool. It provides an amazing freedom and flexibility to our lives. However, technology can also keep us tied down to work 24/7 if we do not make the choice to separate ourselves and be present in our lives.

When we choose to be constantly plugged in, there is a portion of our energy and focus remains attached on the future. This attachment makes it difficult to connect with the people we love. Additionally, the anticipation of what is yet to come minimizes the moment we are in.

This Memorial Day weekend give the gift of being present. Make the choice to experience the fullness of your life. If you can, take time to notice how time slows down when you are in the here and now.

• GOAL #1: Completely unplug for at least 24 hours
• GOAL #2: Pay close attention to what you experience during this time
• GOAL #3: Repeat as often as you can make time
• GOAL #4: Make the time!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

When life’s daily requirements continue to increase, it is all too easy to put off spending time with your friends. After all, you have got more important things to do than just hang out, right?

Remember those days of youth. Just walking down the street with your best buddy without all those pressures that adulthood brings. Just a couple of friends, hanging out and having fun! You can have those days again, but it takes effort and time.

As it turns out, hanging out with your friends is actually good for your health. When you open up and share your feelings with others it reduces stress and disease. Oddly enough, you also create more serotonin, a neurotransmitter that increases feelings of happiness, satisfaction and security.

Make time to cultivate your genuine friendships this week. Develop the connections that support you on so many levels. And start feeling the love!

• Start by scheduling a time with friends to hang out
• Then, continue to check in more often
• Make sure to keep your connections alive and well!

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

Did you know that happiness is contagious and positively affects others? This means the positive energy you give off has a multiplication affect and when you surround yourself with happy people you will benefit as well.

Several studies have shown that if you hve a happy friend, your happiness increases by 15%. If your happy friend has a happy friend, it increases an additional 10%. And if your happy friend’s happy friend has a happy friend (even if you don’t know them) your happiness goes up another 10%. That is what I like to call happy math!

Happiness creates an upward spiral that powerfully lifts and expands your energy. Make it a habit to intentionally attract more positive support each day.

• Do something that makes someone’s day
• Spread unconditional joy and acceptance
• Spend time with people who lift you up