1. The Big “O” – Oxytocin: This is the hormone of trust and “love.” It is a natural calming and feel good chemical. It connects and bonds people together and when released will evoke feelings of contentment, reductions in anxiety, and feelings of calmness and security. Simply touching, hugging, and interacting with loved ones can release Oxytocin and enhance intimacy.
2. Get Moving and Exercise: A proven way to enhance mood is to stay active and exercise. We have to move to be happy. Even a brisk walk can do wonders for our outlook and daily mood. When adults have around 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity per day it has been shown to be an important factor in not only physical health, but psychological well-being as well.
3. Breathe Well: An often overlooked source of calm and health is deep breathing. Our breath is always with us and can be used as an anchor to relax our mind and body. Becoming mindful of our breath can be a tool to manage stress and anxiety in any context. Start taking deeper, longer breaths to get more oxygen flowing through your brain.
4. Gratitude: We all have ups and downs each day, though when we focus on and what we still have and what is going well our mood will be enhanced. Start appreciating what you have and be thankful for the relationships, skills, and opportunities that you have been blessed with. To help you do so, keep a gratitude journal or write a letter of gratitude to someone who has helped you but hasn’t been thanked yet.
5. Meditation: Many many late researches in brain science shows that a daily practice of meditation increases creativity, intuition, health (by lowering blood pressure and slow breathing) and happiness. It also makes one become calm, laugh a lot, Love and naturally look at the positive side of everything. All those things are seen as major brain changes that are taking place in the time of practicing.
A few days ago, I commented on another blogger’s site that laughing, smiling and hugs were all good for the soul. That being able to laugh helps to keep things in proper perspective and that every now and then there are days where the only options seem to be laugh or cry. I would rather laugh anytime. Wouldn’t you?
WELL, that’s all good and fine, at least by me, however, I forgot something very important, MUSIC!
I really cannot image how ever I forgot music in my spiel, since it is and always has been my constant companion, never letting me down. The only thing to add to the music would be dancing……well, maybe not the ONLLLYY thing.
Anyway, if you know me even a little, then chances are you know that I’ve not met much music I don’t like. So while I spent most of that day working on my web pages, I had music in my ears all day. I started with broadcast radio, then online radio, then remembered that I wanted to download some music, which led me to listening to my newly acquired music and some old stuff I happened to have with me.
So, this is what was playing all that day. Hope you find something new that you like!
As I write this – ♦ Since I’ve Been Loving You – Led Zeppelinfrom the “How The West Was Won” CD is in my ears.
It’s hard to get better than Zeppelin! I mean, come on, who is better!? I don’t usually like to hear bands even try to cover them.
However, I do like this Dubstep Remix of Kashmir I ran across on the web.
♦ Kashmir– Led Zeppelin(BlaCk DoG Dubstep Remix)
Also, on that day – I wanted to download some ♦ Maroon 5, I found Moves Like Jagger!
While the entire book is really great, (I’ve read it many times now as well as gifted it to friends).
I’d like to share with you my three favorite passages (there is one for every day of the year).
Hope you enjoy them too:
July 16th
A reason. . . .
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on. Next!
When a prayer is answered, there is no need to cry.