Play this MP3 audio track for ambiance while contemplating the following thoughts and ideas, and keep your journal handy to write down whatever comes to mind after you’ve performed this exercise …

 

“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha

 

Changing your life, even in small incremental ways, can only happen effectively when you start with yourself. It’s no different with happiness. After all, creating a happy life comes by making a decision to see yourself, others and the world around you in a certain way.

When you turn your attention inward, you can begin to experience that deep quiet from which true happiness springs, flowering in moments of inspiration, elation and happiness. The more you nurture yourself, the more capable you are of growing strong and coping with the stresses that threaten your well-being.

Picture yourself this week in the midst of a vast canyon. Feel the sun on your face, imagine the smell of the air, the earth below you as you sit, and breathe deeply. As you do, contemplate your place in this environment and how this makes you feel in relation to your everyday world. What small changes might you see that you can make in your world to impact your happiness and well-being?

When you are finished, turn to your journal to write them down, and consider them when setting your intentions for the coming year.