Following the Golden Road to Happiness in 10 Steps: Part 5 of 5

The final step to Following the Golden Road to Happiness is when you lay your head to rest, write down at least five (5) things you were grateful for today.  You can state the obvious like food, shelter, clothes, but as you continue this habit you'll realize you have an abundance of things you're grateful for.  As your awareness of being grateful broadens, so will your heart and mind open up to the other things in your life you weren't seeing.



Today's journey and every day after: 

1.  List out the things that made you smile in your journey today. How many can you find? 
2.  What did you celebrate today? 

3.  Forgive yourself and others. 

4.  Make a list of all your accomplishments - don't forget the little things! 

5.  Where can you put more color in your life? 
6.  What did you do to move today? 
7.  Add to your list the new things bugging you.  When you complete a task, scratch it off!  
8.  Do something today that nurtures you. What was it? 
9.  Plant the seed of happiness. What did you do? 
10.  Write down at least 5 things you were grateful for today. 


Now that I've taken you on the complete journey, it's time to create your own.  Print out the Golden Road to Happiness to start yours.  

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Following the Golden Road to Happiness in 10 Steps: Part 4 of 5

Today our steps take us to nurturing our bodies.  We must first take time to take care of us first.  I find I like to sing with the music turned up and then next thing I know, I'm either shaking my booty or getting those pesky tasks marked off my nag list.  Sometimes, when I'm alone, which isn't very often, I take a hot shower and spend extra time shaving my legs and using my favorite body sprays.    After that, I'll put on some cozy pajamas and settle in with a good book or movie.  Other times, I'll call a friend and we'll find ourselves laughing and giggling over the past or our busy lives.

Our last step for today in Following the Golden Road to Happiness is to plant the seed of happiness in others.  Can you imagine the garden we'd grow by just planting one seed at a time? It doesn't have to be something extravagant.  It can simply be saying hello with a bright smile to a stranger on the street, dropping off a card at someone's desk or maybe even shoveling that not-so-friendly neighbors's sidewalk.  Think back how it makes you feel when others do for you and then remember how good it feels when you do for others.  It's uplifting and it's contagious.  We are only one person but if we all take the time we can make this a happier world.

Today's journey and every day after: 

1.  List out the things that made you smile in your journey today. How many can you find? 
2.  What did you celebrate today? 

3.  Forgive yourself and others. 

4.  Make a list of all your accomplishments - don't forget the little things! 

5.  Where can you put more color in your life? 
6.  What did you do to move today? 
7.  Add to your list the new things bugging you.  When you complete a task, scratch it off!  
8.  Do something today that nurtures you. What was it? 
9.  Plant the seed of happiness. What did you do? 

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Following the Golden Road to Happiness in 10 Steps: Part 3 of 5

As we embark on our journey to happiness today, our next steps start with looking where we can put more color in our life.  I used to hide behind the color black.  My closet is now a rainbow of colors from greens to reds and can you guess? PINK! Bright colors make for a bright heart.  Shine some light on yours.

The next step is to start moving your body.  It doesn't matter what it is but start moving every day. I remember my first trip to the gym at work with a friend and I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to go very long.  I expected 3 or 4 minutes but I pushed myself to 10.  That feeling was empowering. My heart was beating and I felt alive!

Our 7th step is to start marking off the things you want to get done you keep putting off.  All they do is nag at you and weigh you down.  Don't you have enough to carry around? Move them out so you can let happiness move in.

Today's journey and every day after: 

1.  List out the things that made you smile in your journey today. How many can you find? 
2.  What did you celebrate today? 

3.  Forgive yourself and others. 

4.  Make a list of all your accomplishments - don't forget the little things! 

5.  Where can you put more color in your life? 
6.  What did you do to move today? 
7.  Make a list of the tasks or things bugging you.  When you complete a task, scratch it off!  

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Following the Golden Road to Happiness in 10 Steps: Part 2 of 5

In our second set of steps to Following the Golden Road to Happiness, we must forgive ourselves and others.  Carrying around the extra baggage only fills our mind and hearts with negativity.  Free yourself from these burdens so that happiness can radiate within you.  I wrote a letter to myself and forgave myself for abusing my body all these years.  I wrote to my father who has passed and forgave him for his alcoholism and how it affected my life.  I gave him love again rather than my resentment and it was freeing.  Others, I was able to put aside and say it doesn't matter anymore because it was time to move on.  I can't say what will work for you but it's important that you take this step.

Next, we need to list out all of our accomplishments.  What are you proud of? We all have them, you just have to admit to them. Some of mine are raising my children, getting my Master's degree. paying off my new car, surviving Cervical Cancer and of course loving myself.

Today's journey and every day after: 

1.  List out the things that made you smile in your journey today. How many can you find? 
2.  What did you celebrate today? 

3.  Forgive yourself and others. 

4.  Make a list of all your accomplishments - don't forget the little things! 

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Following the Golden Road to Happiness in 10 Steps: Part 1 of 5

This week , I want to take you on a journey.  An interactive journey to find your happiness.  People who are happy are more likely to naturally take the actions to meet their goals.  What I mean by finding your happiness is to choose to surround yourself with the things that make you happy every day.  

First, you start by focusing on your journey.  I don't mean that day of the journey when you meet your ultimate goal.  I mean the steps it takes to get there.  What good is the end result if you aren't enjoying the ride? I remember the first time I took the stairs at work by choice after surgery and how freeing it was to know that I had already come so far.  Every step I took, I smiled a little brighter and the top step didn't make me any happier than the first.  Every time I made a healthy food choice in the cafeteria I smiled because I knew it was getting me one step closer to my goals.  Every time I joined a friend in the gym at work and walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes or 30 minutes, I smiled because I knew I was getting stronger and it meant future play dates with my kids.  Every time I stood with my family in line at the amusement park this summer, I smiled because this was where I wanted to take them when I reached "my goal" and I had just begun the journey.

Second, I learned to find something that makes a tingle in my heart every day.  When you make a conscious effort every day to find a celebration, your mind will start to do it automatically.  Before you know it, you'll be your own cheerleader of your journey.  I can tell you that every ride I fit into, I celebrated.  I celebrate getting up in the morning and having life. My children's school programs, volunteering at their school, helping at a food bank, going out with friends, date night with my hubby, walking down the pier at Lake Michigan, family dinners, playing in the yard and even cleaning my bathroom. I celebrate it all.  All of those things fill my heart with happiness. All of those things are important to me in order to have a fulfilled life.

Today's journey and every day after: 

1.  List out the things that made you smile in your journey today. How many can you find? 
2.  What did you celebrate today? 

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