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Greetings in this month of celebrations! Father's Day,
graduations, and popular June weddings are all good
reasons to celebrate. We can't forget the official date
of the summer solstice, either, which this year falls on
June 20th. As we choose our celebrations, it's a good
time to reflect on the freedom of choice we enjoy each
day. The second of the "Six Happiness Tools" (see my May newsletter to read about the
first tool, appreciation), choice is a powerful
instrument for creating positive change in our minds
and in our lives.
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Happiness Tool #2: Choice
Choosing what and when to celebrate is just one
example of the kinds of choices we make in the
course of a lifetime. Dan Baker, Ph.D and Cameron
Stauth, the authors of the book What Happy People
Know, write that "Choice is the father of freedom
and the voice of the heart. Having no choice is like
being in jail. It leads to depression, anxiety, and
helplessness. Happy people choose the course of
action or non-action."
In my work as a hypnotherapist, as well as on the path
that I personally travel, I focus on choosing
thoughts and feelings instead of blindly following
the mind's habitual patterns. When we choose
empowering thoughts or choose not to dwell
on negative thoughts, we feel better and life flows
easily. We feel less stressed, less anxious, less
frustrated, and more in control. What does all this boil
down to? Feeling happier. See my quick tips
below for ways to use choice as a tool to achieve your
own happiness.
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4 Quick Tips for Choosing
If choice is the second Happiness Tool, how do we
use
it? Read on for four quick tips.
#1 - Choose awareness
Do you ever reach the end of your day and feel like it
all went by in a blur? Chances are a lot went by
unnoticed--including many thoughts and feelings that
positively or negatively impact your happiness. By
choosing to stop periodically throughout the day, you
can heighten your awareness in this area. Simply take
a moment now and then to ask yourself how you're
feeling. Frustrated? Sad? Angry? Joyful? Excited?
Calm? As you notice your feelings, you can use them
to "track" the thoughts that trigger them.
#2- Choose your feelings
Once you become aware of the thoughts that trigger
your emotions, you can then choose how to react. For
example, say you realize the thought of an
upcoming
presentation at work makes you feel anxious. Once
you become aware of this relationship between
thought and feeling, you can choose to either give in to
stress or invite a sense of calm to take its place.
Choosing some relief feels so much better than no
relief!
#3- Choose your thoughts
Instead of thinking negative thoughts, choose to think
positive ones. For example, when your upcoming
presentation comes to mind, your habit may be to
think "I'm going to be so nervous, I'll forget what to
say." What if, instead, you think "I'm excited about my
material and I feel prepared to share it." Did that
thought improve your feeling? If so, it's working to
bring you into alignment with greater happiness. If
not, try other thoughts until you feel better. The
thoughts do not have to be on a grandiose scale, they
only need to offer some improvement in how you feel.
#4-Choose your actions
Finally, choose actions that make you feel good.
Going back to the example of your presentation,
imagine you say yes
to time for positive visualization before your
presentation and politely say no to your co-worker's
request for a last minute meeting. By doing so, you
are choosing to act in a way that is in alignment with
feeling good.
As you play with these tips, you'll discover how you
really can choose your thoughts and feelings. By
exercising choice, you will empower yourself, gain
control of your life and feel happier as a result!
For further exploration of choice, I
recommend:
- The Laws of Attraction by Esther and Jerry
Hicks
- Ask and It is Given by Esther and Jerry
Hicks
- The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intention
by Esther and Jerry Hicks
- The Power of Emotions by Esther and Jerry
Hicks
- Change Your Thoughts and Your Life Will
Follow by Karen Casey
- Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain
- The Biology of Belief by Dr.Bruce
H.Lipton
- Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins
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To the power of choice,
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