It is natural for us to think – we are thinking creatures.  And if we think on purpose- in a direction of our choosing - it`s a beautiful thing.  But our minds tend to create a lot of stress and negativity if they are left to their own devices.  The mind is quick and clever; it loves to find problems and things to worry about, and can easily make you angry or anxious- about something that happened 10 years ago, for example (that has nothing to do with now). 
 
We pay attention to our health and diet, we take care of our homes, cars, bank accounts, our families and dear ones.  We don’t take really good care of our thoughts, though.  We don’t pay attention to what our minds are doing, or the effect their incessant negative chatter has on us.
 
Why do we want to think on purpose – why make the effort?  Simply, if you do not master your thoughts, they will certainly master you. 
 
Your thoughts set the sail in your life and create your opportunities.  You feel and act according to what you are thinking. The world reflects it back to you.  In other words, you get what you think about.
When you think about something sad, your expressions, language, mood, gait, posture, decisions, judgement, perspective....are ALL directly affected.  So the nature of your thought determines how you feel, and the feeling of the thought is translated in the body (physically and emotionally) and determines how you conduct yourself.  
How you think sets the sail for how you start the day, and what winds you are able to catch!
 
Here is the basic rule: What you put in is what you get out. This means when you put a negative thought or perspective into something, a negative result must flow from it.  For example, when you put negative, angry thoughts toward a person or relationship, a positive, harmonious relationship cannot result.
 
Also, it`s nice to control your own direction in life.  If you have freedom to steer yourself along a path you prefer, why wouldn’t you?  If you could but don’t, there may be habits in the way.  If you could but won’t , that means you really don’t want to. 
 
You have the right to choose between a depressing thought and a great one.  Choose the great one -because it feeds your heart and soul with good “food”, and because it feeds, through you, good things to the world.  It`s easy to do: whatever you are looking at or thinking about, challenge yourself to – very sincerely - find the positive in it.
 
Claim your power to be happy, choose it on purpose, and know that by doing so you are not only feeling good yourself, you are uplifting others.  Be happy for yourself, and for the world in which you live -for your family, your friends, your community, and the world.  Do your part for the world and take care of your own happiness.  You cannot make a better world by adding more judgement and anger – you do it by adding more happiness.

 

As summer unfolds more fully each day, our thoughts often become more lighthearted and carefree – our hearts almost like the swelling buds on the trees, opening to the sun. 
What if this happy state of mind could be cultivated intentionally, so that it exists on rainy days too?  What if, no matter what the weather is, or what is in our bank account (or not), we can live in a state of joy?
 
Happiness is a state of being that can transcend all external events – it is possible to live this way all the time. There are really two different kinds: one is the happiness that occurs when a desire has been fulfilled, or when things are going our way. The other exists deep within us, all the time, and is not attached to anything at all.  It requires nothing.  However, to access it, there are some things we need to do.

Our minds are the source of unhappiness in our lives – and so we begin there.

1. Slow down and pay attention!
Your senses shower you with rich experience all day - did you notice the feeling of the fridge door handle when you opened it?  Was it cool to the touch? Do you feel the sunlight on your face when you step outside?  Did you fully taste every spoonful of breakfast?
It`s amazing to connect with your senses throughout the day.  Your mind says “Yes, yes, been there done that, let`s get moving and get on to something more important!!”. 
Funny thing, though – your mind has decided it knows all about the taste of an orange....but if you continue to fully experience your senses and ignore the urgency of your thoughts...you will see that every moment is new, and fresh, and wonderful!  You really haven’t “been there and done that” because this moment – and all the richness within it - has never been before.

If you can slow down and notice what your senses are telling you, at least once in a while, you might be able to try something else:

 2. Try becoming aware of the space around you. 
Feel it – don’t think about it.  The space around you, if you can feel it, feels alive - like a vibrant energy field.  Practice becoming aware of this – and happiness will be yours.  Yes, it is that easy.

3.  Observe your thoughts.   
Watch what they do, how they love to dash about in circles (like Thing One and Thing Two in Dr. Seuss)....and don’t believe a single thing they say!  Just watch them play and enjoy the show.

If we let our minds race along as they wish, pulling us behind, we can never be happy. We cannot truly perceive the incredible beauty around us.  We cannot truly see, or hear, or feel – while the mind is in the driver`s seat.  But if you can disconnect from it a little bit – by sensing things around you as fully as possible, and watching your thoughts play their silly games – you have created space for the natural joy that lives within you to make itself known.

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