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Tag Archives: Happiness

Joy, Peace and Contentment Are Mine!

20 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Attitude, Choices, Contentment, Faith, God, Gratitude, Joy, Peace

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Contentment, Happiness, Peace

When I give my attention to the still, silent world around me in the early pre-dawn hours, I hear the most beautiful and unique bird songs! When I open my window coverings in time to see the sun rising, sometimes I get the most vibrant show of color even for only a few fleeting moments. When I smile at a stranger, often I’m rewarded with one in return. When I await the few geese that fly over my house each morning, I feel a familiarity with their routines. When I water my plants, I take on a sense of caring which enables me to nurture and to tend to them. When I look out upon the landscape throughout the day, I am rewarded with the sights of animals and nature going about their business. When I go to church on Sunday, I find a communion with other joyful believers which feels like a community of which I am a part. When I seek, often I find! And when I spend my first few minutes of consciousness both morning and night in prayer, with His Word and in my purposeful gratitude, I can realize the world and my life not as one driven solely by despair, discomfort or disquietude. Instead, I am rewarded with the most amazing peace of mind, heart and body! 82   What a joy it is to know that no matter what comes my way, God has given me enough within to overcome what I must and to be grateful for what I have! Just by focusing my mind, my heart and spirit upon that which brings me joy, peace and contentment, I change my whole life’s perspective. Life is happening all around and often times, it is chaotically prescribed and dosed. But that doesn’t mean I have to dwell in the chaos or fill my soul with it! The choice as to what and to whom and as to how I give my attention, place my focus and expend my energy is always up to me! The world may deliver screaming, shrill distractions, it may bring moments of trauma, heartbreak or even the unimaginable; but the state of my mind and my heart is within my control. What matter fills my thoughts and my emotions is mine to decide. Signature02

WHIMSY

05 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Happiness

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Fun, Happiness, Joy

WHIMSY

Whimsy, the art of finding joy in doing the silly things you love to do!  I categorize whimsy as the random desire to frolic, twirl, doodle, lolligag, linger, twiddle, and even dally!

Whimsy is the non-deliberate pursuit of nothingness, of pleasing oneself by partaking of happy-go-lucky random silliness.  I recommend that each one of you partake of random acts of whimsy each and every day, as that is the only way to alleviate the burdens of this world’s big weights upon your shoulders.  Whimsy is to our spirits, as taking in a fresh breath of air is to our lungs!  We celebrate our days spent wandering through our own unscheduled whimsy.  What, you may ask, might a great whimsical day include?  Well, in best measure, a day of whimsy might include, but surely not be limited to, dancing through your house on your day off listening to your favorite songs from the past; or twirling about the slippery kitchen floor with your daughter; or making wishes upon the shooting stars rocketing across the ebony night sky.  Whimsy is letting your childlike joy and desire to play take over for the regimented adult need to be disciplined, structured, reserved and shackled in maturity.  Whimsy is letting the grown up in you find the child all over again!

What do you do if it’s not natural for you to be whimsical?  Well, I suggest you run right now to the nearest open portion of your house and allow yourself five minutes of unadulterated twirling, or air-guitar playing while singing along to your favorite oldie-but-goody songs.  Just play!  If you need instruction, you might need more than my help, but try.  Bridge the part of you that is hesitant to let their inner child out.   Remember, life is a very precious and all-too-short journey, live it fully with passion and don’t allow yourself to be anything less that the star in your own life, be whimsical and love your life today!  Live it like there’s a party going on!! 

When Pain, Grief or Hurt Come…

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Happiness

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Attitude, Fairness, Grief, Happiness, Pain

When Pain, Grief or Hurt Come…

When pain, hurt or grief comes to call in your life, it’s fair to give it some time, to ponder & to heal. But don’t let it become the reason for your life, or your sole focus, for then all you’ve done is cheat yourself out of your own happiness! Move through things as you are able, get help if you need it, but don’t let something tragic, or negative or painful be the story of your life! There are many more sunrises ahead in which joy, happiness & smiles can find you, but only if you learn to take each event as it comes, deal with it at the time & then close the chapter when it’s time so that you prepare yourself for moving onward! The only person responsible for your happiness is you!!!

Conquering…

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Cheryl Ries in God, Happiness, Life

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God, Happiness, Joy, Life

Conquering…

Life is not easy . . we reach stages in our lives when things happen which we simply do not understand, nor have answers for, which test our self-confidence or take hostage our self-esteem.  We feel challenged and pinned up against a wall, immovable and often incapable of progress.  When in these states, we often feel completely out of control, unworthy and stressed to a high level.  It might be a personal problem with a close associate or loved one; it might be from health issues we seemingly cannot resolve to our own satisfaction; we might be beleaguered by conflicts in our work, our home life, our personal relationships or elsewhere; or perhaps we are just aging and feel uncertain how our lives will pan out, how our dreams will be realized.

 Life is not easy, it demands our attention and perseverance to make the best choices, to examine our options and to be true to our own internal spiritual needs.  We must live in tune with many varying factors for our lives to be sensical and for us to deem them successful in the end.  When even one part of our life is out of tune, we notice a sour note played out in the way we appreciate things . . some of our joy is waning, our happiness is not guaranteed, we are more stressed and we struggle more against the currents of our daily endeavors.  Even one choice made erroneously, against what we deem essential for the happiness and contentment of our spirits, can leave us burdened with troubles! 

Knowing what makes you happy is key.  First of all, knowing that only you can be responsible for your own happiness is even more essential in life!  It is no one else’s job to make you happy, to cause your happiness, nor to decide what things in life will lead to your happiness.  Only you, with your consult in God, can make those determinations!  Learn to listen to the internal nudges and proddings which are your instincts.  They are often the best way to heed the real desires of your heart, no one else need convince you of their viewpoint . . only your desires matter after all, it’s your life!  Learn to trust your judgment as it is always the case that a wrong choice, or a choice which weakens your spirit, goes against God’s will or isn’t in your best interests will spike an instinctual call to make a different choice, or at the very least, to correct a poor prior choice!

 We are our own best advocates . . we know what it is that we need, want and what is best for us.  Learning to keep that in the forefront of our minds when making all decisions always assures that we will not make wrong decisions.  It’s okay to say no, to not do what others ask, to be so concerned about the state of your own spirit, that not doing something is the way to go!  Listen with a more alert heart to what makes you spirit content, that is what you should always do!  It is true that you always know in your own “gut” what is right or wrong, it’s instinctual, you feel it! 

The other way to conquer all your issues is to find a peaceful way to be calm when making decisions, when thinking and deliberating on something, and when you are pondering outcomes.  I choose to seek God’s counsel, for I always think He is leading me in the best way possible, knowing the best course for me, and He is always with me wherever I go.  Without my prayerful contemplation on everything throughout my day, I would be lost!  I ask Him for His grace, His favor, His direction and His loving compassion through each part of my day, every day.  I rely on Him, as He is my Shepherd.  Faith allows me to make that most easy decision to trust in God for all things I need and all that I must do.  It’s as simple as deciding that the way off the cliff each day is the way of faith!  As for our struggles, each one of us has them and must overcome them throughout life.  We haven’t exemptions from struggles.  When I’ve been overwhelmed and clearly befuddled by mine, I find that the most obvious reminder that I need God for everything!  I am incapable of doing and being anything without Him.  I am literally a lost sheep without the voice of the Master.  

Trusting in your Spirit’s communication, which comes through the instincts you sense, is the best way to know that you are keeping on the right path, making the right moves and following in God’s will for your life.  Anything else, and you will feel it as a gnawing in your own gut!  Pay attention, all the signals you need are there!  Just listen to the active voice of the Spirit within you.  It never steers you in the wrong direction.  If you make a wrong turn, listen anew and heed the best way to make the situation work out for your behalf!  It’s never wrong to turn it over to Him!

Happy Any Day of Love

03 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by Cheryl Ries in Happiness

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Communication, communication, feelings, Happiness, Love, love

Happy Any Day of Love

Happy Any Day of Love . . . today, tomorrow, the day after … the next!! Each day should be a day we freely give of our love, not just one day earmarked for it. You don’t have to proclaim it one day for it to be “heard”, nor felt by somebody’s heart on any given day! There are cards, songs, balloons, candies, gifts, all wrapped up for giving tomorrow, but the greater gift is your love given every day hereafter! It’s not just one day of the year we should choose to share our love or make someone we love aware of our feelings.

 If we are only sharing that one day a year, or just on special occasions or on holidays, we aren’t really being open with our hearts.  It’s not essential to always tell someone how you feel, it’s in letting them know, however that might be.  Some communicate their feelings by doing little things every day, others give gifts, and some just exude their heartfelt feelings through looks, glances, subtle comments made to their partners.  It’s not one way which should tell you the “rule” that you are loved, for in that narrow-minded perspective, you may miss that your partner is giving all that they can.  

Be open to the fact that just being loved is the unexpected icing upon the cake of giving your love!  Expect nothing and still give freely!  That is the real gift of love, which should be given each day, freely and without hesitation!

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Cheryl Ries-Author & Model

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