Live Your Dream Life

07 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Uncategorized

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dream life, fear, find your purpose, goals, How to, improvement, life of your dreams, mindset, personal growth, positive thinkin, self talk, success

In order to live your dream life, it will take effort on your part. Your dream life is unique to you. Some people dream of having a career they enjoy whether they make a lot of money. Some people dream of having a busy social life. Some people dream of having a loving family. Others dream of living in solitude. Your dream life should be a life that you find satisfying, full of purpose and full of meaning.

If you aren’t living your dream life, there are several factors as to why. Many things prevent you from living your best life. There could be certain obstacles in your way or it could be the fact that you aren’t taking the necessary action needed. You could be procrastinating. I wrote another blog about finding your why. Your why should compel you to give you the inspiration necessary to go after the life you want.

When you live your dream life, opportunities will always continually present themselves to you. There will always be obstacles but when your mindset is set on your why, you handle obstacles differently. Your mindset will change any circumstance that you find yourself in.

“The resources we need to turn our dreams into reality are within us, merely waiting for the day when we decide to wake up and claim our birthright.” – Tony Robbins

Sometimes we find that we have a skill or an ability that we never knew existed within us but when you find it, you find yourself moving forward on this new journey.

Are you living your dream life? Are you happy with your life and your circumstances? If the answer to these questions is no, you need to find out what is stopping you. Certain behaviors hold us back from living our dream life. Are you doing any of the following?

Evading Your Purpose. In order to live the life of your dreams, you need to stop evading your purpose. Be authentic. Always. When you are authentic, you will lead a life of purpose. This is YOUR life, no one else’s. What others think isn’t as important as what you think about your current situation. You need to make an effort to discover what it is you truly desire in order to go from here to there.

Release Fear. It is certainly natural to feel fear when pursuing something new. The fear of failure makes it feel risky to go after our ambitions. On the flip side, there’s a big chance of success and that is what your focus should be. You know that saying you can’t succeed if you don’t try? The same goes for living the life of our dreams. Don’t focus on limitations. Focus on your inner courage and take the necessary action in going after the life you want.

You Don’t Need Approval. You aren’t a child anymore and you no longer need approval for every single thing you want to do. You are an adult and you no longer need to be dependent on anyone else to give you any permission to life the life of your dreams.

You Don’t Need Validation. You don’t need to hear that you can life your best life from anyone other than yourself. Give yourself validation and permission to live the life you dream of.

Stop Second Guessing Yourself. Self-doubt is highly poisonous. If you want to accomplish anything in this life, you must praise yourself and lift yourself up. Stop doubting yourself.

Put in the Effort. When you put in effort, you can do anything. Boundaries are imposed by ourselves. Visions have no boundaries. Remember the saying “Believe and you can achieve.” Never allow mediocrity. Always strive for the excellence. Don’t minimize your ability. As soon as you decide that you don’t want to live a mediocre life, you will experience transformation.

Stop Negative Self Talk. Always remember whatever you tell yourself when spoken negatively will only cause any doubt to escalate. When you speak positively to yourself, you will build self-confidence and be on your journey to living the life of your dreams.

Stop Associating with Negative People. Toxic, negative people can trigger you and cause their toxicity to spill into your life. Limit interaction with toxic and negative people. Sometimes we can’t completely remove them from our lives but we can limit the amount of time that we associate with them. Personal boundaries are necessary in order to pursue living the life of your dreams.

Stop Comparing and Competing. The only person you should compare yourself to and compete against is you. Focus on how you can improve things to move toward living the life of your dreams. It doesn’t matter if someone has more money than you. What matters is what you do to go about making more money for yourself. It doesn’t matter if someone is in better shape than you. What matters is what are you willing to do to improve your appearance and health. It is never impossible to improve yourself.

Live in the Present. There is no need to look back with regrets. Your attention should be on the present and your focus should be on the future. In order to live the life of your dreams, you need to let go of the past. Remember any past choices and mistakes made you who you are today. Learn from them and continue moving forward since it’s impossible to go back in time to change them.

Fears should never prevent you from living your dream life. Obstacles are necessary for your journey. Personal growth needs mistakes. When you avoid anything because of the fear of failure, it is detrimental because you are also avoiding success.

Alter your perspective. Build on what you have. Use your knowledge. Start making small changes which will lead to bigger changes to allow you to live your best life.

Too many people choose to live a life of mediocrity and sadly won’t live out their dreams. Don’t be one of them. Let the past go and start living your best life immediately. Persistence is so important. Persistence and determination will get you where you want to be.

Remember all dreams start with taking action and one step. Do what you can the best you can.

The time has come to put your dream life into focus and make it a reality.

How to Become a Better Singer

30 Sunday Jun 2024

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Uncategorized

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authentic, authenticity, better singer, cover band, goals, How to, journey, lead singer, live band, live music, music, singing, training, vocal lessons

One of the greatest ways to get a crowd going is with great music. Sure, DJ’s are great but there is nothing like hearing a live band. I am the lead singer in my band, Daze of Dari, and it is so rewarding when I see people smiling, dancing and having a great time.

A good singer possesses the ability to affect others by transporting them to another place and even by reaching their soul. Here are some tips to being a better singer:

Always be authentic. Be vulnerable and bear your soul through your voice. When you express yourself genuinely, you connect with the crowd.

Make the song your own. Just because you didn’t write the song and you aren’t the artist everyone is used to hearing, it doesn’t mean you can’t put your own spin on it and give it your own personal vibe. Never lose your own identity of who you are as a singer. Don’t be afraid to push any musical boundary and add your own flair to each song. Always tell a story. Be expressive every single time you sing with every word you sing.

By incorporating your own dynamics such as changing the volume, the intensity or the style, you connect with the audience because you will be conveying your own emotion to the song. Even different phrasing and interpretive choices will add to expression. It will create a captivating and more memorable performance. Authenticity goes a very long way.

Monitor your voice. Most singers perform in different locations, circumstances and situations. Many have careers and a life outside of singing. Singers should always be aware of how they use their voice each day. A singer’s voice is their instrument and needs to be protected so it’s strong enough to handle singing for hours at a gig.

Take vocal lessons. Think of a singer as an athlete. Athletes train and so should singers. Vocal coaches offer exercises to prepare vocals in order to target sound and texture. You will learn your range, develop control, flexibility and technique. Different styles need different coaching. For example, if you want to sing rock/pop music, you can learn to sing with a brassy, edgy quality.

Always warm up. I know that it sometimes seems like there is no time because we are constantly running from one thing to the next. By taking the time to do warm-up exercises, you will help your voice transition from your speaking to your singing range. We don’t speak and sing in the same range so it’s important to take time to warm up so that you are more easily able to reach various pitches and notes without straining or harming your voice.

Develop breath control. Breath control is fundamental for singing. It allows you to sustain long notes, control dynamics and give a powerful performance. It gives you more control over your voice and improves your overall technique.

Proper posture is crucial for optimal performance. Stand up straight, relax your shoulders and be sure that your neck and head are aligned with your spine. Having proper posture will allow your breath to flow, improve lung capacity and will enhance your vocal resonance. Try not to slouch or tense your muscles as doing so will restrict your vocal range and have a negative affect on your vocal quality.

Vocal resonance is the richness and depth of your voice. When you develop resonance, your voice will be fuller with more vibrancy. When you project your voice forward rather than trying to push or strain to be louder, you will enhance your vocals.

Just like warming up, you should cool down. Vocal cool-down exercises can help with recovery after singing for hours. There are various slides/glide exercises that can be found online. One of my vocal coaches taught me the Titze straw exercise. On your ride home, keep the music off and stay quiet. Your voice needs to recover.

Always pace yourself. Try to organize your setlist so that all songs that are highly vocally demanding aren’t one right after the other.

Change the key to fit your voice. If a song is too high, a semitone can make a big difference. When you have a sing-a-long song with a higher chorus, it’s very common practice for lead singers to turn the microphone toward the crowd to have them sing during the chorus. This will give you a break while you are engaging the audience.

Get your sound right. This is crucial. Vocals are not amplified and cannot compete with electronic instruments. If you overwork to be heard over the drums and electronic instruments, you can lose your voice. Be aware of both your microphone and monitor position and be sure your sound equipment is correctly adjusted. If all of these parameters are in order, you will not have to work so hard to project your voice in order to be heard. Always take time before the gig to work on sound and so a thorough sound check.

A couple of other tips are to record yourself so that you can hear your progress and practice every day

Becoming a lead singer is a journey. You will need to be patient, consistent and have an innate willingness to learn and practice. With these things, nothing can stand in your way.

How to Stick to a Plan and Reach Your Goal

27 Thursday Jun 2024

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Uncategorized

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achievement, dreams, goal, goals, How to, journal, journaling, plan, reality, self belief, social support, techniques, victory, visualizatiion

Each one of us has, at one time or another, felt super motivated about making a complete change in some aspect of our life. Sometimes we swear to start on Monday evening only to lose every ounce of interest by Wednesday afternoon.

The path that we must take to reach our goals may not always be easy or smooth, but as long as we continue down the path in the right direction, a goal is attainable. If you are struggling to reach a goal, here are some tips on how to actually increase your stamina and help you to do what it takes.

Firstly, remember to always make your goal attainable. Having an attainable goal is an important factor in how likely you will be to stick to a plan.

Visualize your goal. At that first moment when you decided to pursue your goal, you visualized it to the point that it almost felt real. An important factor in sticking to and reaching a goal is just that. Incorporate visualization as a daily practice. When you wake up in the morning visualize the process, even the struggle, and see the end result of how it would look once you attain your goal. When you picture yourself doing what it takes and reaching the ever-so-wonderful finish line, it will greatly help your dream become a reality. Visualize daily.

Write in a journal. Writing down your goal greatly increases your chances of sticking to a plan. Answer questions such as “When do I want to achieve this?” “How will I feel when I achieve it?” “How does my goal connect to who I am and my values?” Describe your goal very specifically. By writing in a journal, you can also measure your progress and record it. Write daily.

Always have an If-Then plan. This will allow you to plan for the unexpected and still stick to your plan. It will allow you to create a strategy and stick to what you need to do. You will have fewer excuses to quit and more options to continue.

Tell others about your goal and get them involved. Social support is a wonderful way to stick to your goal. When people in your life become aware of what you are looking to accomplish, why and when you want to accomplish it and how you will go about making it happen, it holds you accountable. When others give you feedback, keep you accountable and become your cheerleader, it’s likely that you will continue down the path to reach your goal. Tell others.

Plan the first step. There is an old Chinese proverb that says “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.” Take that first step. Take that step even if it is something as simple as doing research and reading about what you need to do in order to reach your goal. From the first step, move to the second, the third and so on. Take that first step.

Always believe in yourself. You need to believe in yourself in order to stick to the plan. By believing in yourself, you increase your chances of reaching your goal. Believe in what you can achieve. Remember the saying “If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.”

Working towards goals can be difficult. It can be frustrating. Regardless, moving forward is crucial. Sometimes what you thought would work doesn’t. It is then that you think of and incorporate something else that will continue you to move forward. If you find that you are struggling, that’s where social support helps. Ask those that know about your goal for some ideas. It may shed a different light and make you see things in a different way. Adjusting a goal is always an option, giving up is not.

Celebrate your victory. When you reach your goal, relish in it. Be proud of yourself and thank anyone who supported you along the way.

Be clear about what you want. Have a plan. Have support. Create goals that work for you to create the life that you want. Use these techniques and your dreams can soon be your reality.

Living a Life of Peace

25 Tuesday Jun 2024

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Uncategorized

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exercise, grateful, health, How to, journalling, mediation, nature, peace, Self Care

A life lesson that is so important is learning to live a life of peace. To recenter yourself by releasing such things as feeling worried and overwhelming anxiety can be challenge. Sometimes we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. We feel the need to be more than we are or accomplish more than we have. We have a tendency to burn the candle from both ends in order to try to relieve the overwhelming feeling of pressure. Well, the truth of the matter is that pressure will always lurk within until we find inner peace.

Inner peace is the state of physical and spiritual calmness, despite external stressors. Finding your inner peace results in less worrying. It creates self-awareness, increased energy, more positive thoughts and compassion for others. Inner peace also allows you to react to other’s negative energy.

Life is all about living moment to moment. You are in control of what you want to do with your life and when you want to achieve goals. By doing what gives you a feeling of inner peace and by being fully present in each moment makes a significant difference in how you live your life. When you choose to live this way, you create a life that will be in alignment with your personal values, truth and integrity.

There are various ways to attain inner peace. Some strategies may work for you but not others. Each one is worth trying.

Spending time in nature is a wonderful way to feel peaceful. It can be as simple as taking a walk or just listening to and appreciating the sounds of birds. When you focus on your walk (walking meditation) or by taking in the sounds of nature, you can prevent your mind from thinking about things that bring you stress rather than peace.

Meditation has numerous benefits for our mental, physical and emotional health. It has been proven to decrease anxiety and ward off depression. Even reading a book on meditation, learning yoga, listening to a podcast on meditation can all help you on a path to peace.

Feeling grateful for what you have in your life rather than complaining about what you don’t have will cause you to experience peace. Those that have a grateful heart and who appreciate their blessings find happiness and peace within. A good way to experience gratefulness is by having a grateful journal. Each evening, before going to sleep by writing down five things you were grateful for that day shifts your mindset over time and retrains your brain to feeling more grateful, thereby creating happiness and peace.

Never let any mistakes in your past define the person you strive to be. Let go of any regrets. Always remember these mistakes made you a better person. You know the saying about looking in the rearview mirror. You’re not going backwards.

Self-care is crucial for inner peace and happiness. Can one truly be happy if they don’t love themselves? Loving yourself requires you to take care of your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. By eating healthy, exercising, and taking care of your well-being, you will feel happier.

A big strategy that many overlook is decluttering. When you declutter your surroundings by organizing and getting rid of things that aren’t bringing you true joy, you will feel more at peace. Clutter is an external stressor and it’s something that’s very avoidable.

Attaining inner peace will not happen overnight. It’s a day-by-day process that will take some time. Time is going to pass regardless, why not let it pass with a little more peace each day.

Finding Your Why

24 Monday Jun 2024

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Uncategorized

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How to, live your best life, Motivation, values, your purpose

Feeling stuck with no momentum and feeling stationary is something you can change.

If you are caught with not knowing what you want to do and living in limbo, know there is a way out. If you feel as if you are missing something, you can find it. The way to do this is finding your “Why.”

Your “Why” is your purpose. Your “Why” is your underlying motivation. It is why you do what you do and how you live for life day-to-day. It is your calling, your mission, your vision and your purpose. It defines who you really are and it is your core source for your motivation.

External pressures sometimes make us choose things that we really aren’t happy doing. A good example of this is a job that we have that really isn’t our calling. It’s a sacrifice we make, but it’s not our purpose. Having a true sense of purpose is an essential criteria for achieving success. A true sense of purpose gives you fulfillment. Having that strong sense of purpose actually has been proven to give you better health and longevity. Research actually shows that those who have become aware of their “Why” are less likely to experience anxiety and depression. Having your “Why” is linked to happiness.

Every single one of us has a “Why.” If you deep within, your why is hidden in your thoughts. Everyone can discover their “Why” and live the life they truly want to be living.

To find your “Why,” you need to look at your motivations, strengths, passions and your values. Never ask anyone else what it is that they think you should be doing. Only YOU can answer that question and only you can find your “Why.”

Some questions you can ask yourself are: “What activities get me excited?” “What have I enjoyed doing since I was a young child?” “What can’t I stop thinking about?” “What kind of work would really make me feel fulfilled?” “What makes me want to jump out of bed in the morning?”

Your values are crucial in finding your “Why.” Ask yourself: “What qualities do I possess that I find vital” “What matters to me?” Pay close attention to your answers because your answers will reveal who you truly are.

Visualization is powerful. Visualize yourself in both the near future and the far future. What does it look like? In your visions, are you living your dream? Are you living your life’s purpose that lives up to your passion and your values?

I recommend journalling. It’s such a great tool for so many reasons, including self-discovery. When you put your thoughts onto paper, it helps process thoughts and emotions. Things become clearer.

Finding your “Why” can be challenging. You need to reflect and it also requires introspection and honest self-awareness. It may take time. It will take persistence on your part but the effort is worth every ounce. Finding your “Why” will uncover what really matters to you. Knowing your “Why” will certainly cause you to live a more meaningful, fulfilling life because your interests, values and passions will all be in alignment.

Self-discovery and finding your “Why” is powerful. You will live the life you dream of and absolutely love. Don’t just exist. Life your “Why!”

Five Annoying Words

27 Thursday Oct 2016

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Family, Friendship, Grief, How to, Inspiration, Uncategorized

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Family, How to, Inspiration, life lessons, relationships

How many times have you heard these words:

Everything happens for a reason.

I believe in fate but seriously? That sentence can destroy us. It is also completely untrue. Some things, absolutely. But everything? Absolutely not!

If you have ever faced a tragedy and someone tells you that your tragedy was meant to happen or that it happened for a reason, even that it will make you a better person, you have every right to be upset and even go so far as to remove that person from your life.

Grief is brutally painful. There are so many facets to grief. Grief does not only occur when someone dies. It can occur when relationships fall apart, when opportunities are shattered, or when dreams die. It can even occur when you are struck with a serious illness.

Remember these words instead:

Some things in life cannot be fixed. Some things in life can only be carried.

These words are poignant and they aim right at the pathetic platitudes our culture has come to embody on an increasingly hopeless level. Losing a loved one cannot be fixed. Being diagnosed with a debilitating illness cannot be fixed. Facing the betrayal of your closest confidante cannot be fixed. These things certainly did not happen for a reason. They damn well cannot be fixed! These things can only be carried.

Sometimes devastation can lead to growth, but the truth is, it often doesn’t. The reality is that devastation more often destroys lives. And the true calamity is that this happens because we choose to replace grieving with advice.

After living through traumatic devastation, I choose to and now live an extraordinary life. I’ve been greatly blessed by those in my life, the opportunities I’ve had and the life I’ve built for myself and for my family. Loss has not made me a better person. Sadly, in some ways, it has hardened me.

I have always been a very loving and caring person. My losses have made me even more aware and empathetic of the pain of others. On the other hand, I also have a more cynical view of some and have developed impatience with those who are unfamiliar with what loss does to people. It’s true that you don’t get it until you live it but there are some that don’t even try to understand it. It can be quite frustrating.

I’ve had people tell me to “get over it,” or that those who passed away “would want you to be happy.”

I am happy. I have sad moments. People don’t “get it.”

If anyone tells you that all is not lost, that your situation happened for a reason, or even that you’ll become better as a result of your pain, you may want to choose to let them go.

I’m not saying you should. That is entirely to decide. It isn’t an easy decision to make and should be made carefully. The fact is that you can.

The ones who helped were those who were there when I needed them. And said nothing. They were just there. But in those moments, they did everything.

I am alive and I survived because of my deep love for my family. I survived and because of those who chose to love me and help me. When you are loved in silence, when people suffer with you, when they watch you in your darkest moments and see you emotionally destroyed and they love you through it, you survive.

When a person is devastated by grief, the last thing they need is advice. Their world has been shattered. At this time, we can acknowledge their pain and let them know that we are there with them. It is important to be with your loved one, suffer with them, listen to them, but please do not give them advice.

Acknowledging someone is powerful. It requires no education, training or skills. All you need to do is to simply be present as long as is necessary, comforting the wounded soul of your loved one.

Be there. Do not leave when you feel uncomfortable or when you feel like you’re not doing anything to help. Because it is then – in the shadows of horror – where healing is truly found. When others are willing to enter that sacred space with us, it is very powerful and very healing.

Be one of these people. Unfortunately, one day you will find yourself in need of one of these people. Find them. They will help you heal and not try to fix you with advice. They will help you carry your pain. These people are keepers.

Fate. Be that person and when you need them, they will be that person for you. That can happen for a reason.

Why to Lose the Negativity and Remain Positive

24 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Inspiration, Motivation, Positivity, Uncategorized

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Happiness, How to, positive, Positivity

It’s true. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

Every single day, events occur which give us the choice of how we choose to respond. Did you know that a single event can invoke vastly different responses from different people? Whenever anything happens, we are always given a choice of either responding positively or negatively. It’s a sad fact that a significant number of people choose negativity even over the most trivial things. Being negative every so often is acceptable but there is no reason to be a chronic negative person. Did you know that negativity has a widespread effect on your quality of life as well as an effect on those who are around you?

Negativity, just like positivity, is contagious. We all have neurons called mirror neurons. Mirror neurons allow us to sympathize with others after observing their facial expressions and/or actions, allowing us to synchronize with each others’ emotions. We are capable of sympathy because our mirror neurons are able to duplicate the pattern of activity of another person’s brain.

Did you ever notice how you feel happy when you are around happy people? The same holds true when we are in the presence of a sad person. A sad person’s mood will dampen our spirits. In a way, you owe it to others to stay positive. Wouldn’t it be better for others to feel happy in your company rather than you being responsible for bringing their spirits down?

Negativity is like a disease, a nasty and contagious disease. Please keep it to yourself. In reality, no one want to contract your negativity.

Negativity is draining. Most humans are sympathetic. Negativity triggers off a person’s sympathy. Most of the time, people cannot ignore a negative mindset because sympathy is actually a form of instinct. It’s something that is wired into our brain. Negativity is like a human black hole. It comes out of nowhere and just sucks the life out of you. No matter how hard you try to stay positive and remain strong, a person’s negativity ends up draining you. You then feel exhausted and you may actually start to feel depressed too. It becomes a vicious struggle.

Negativity can make you ill. When you are negative, your body knows it. The master gland in your brain known as the hypothalamus begins secreting cortisol, causing blood glucose to rise. Prolonged periods of negativity will cause blood glucose levels to remain elevated for long periods of time. This can eventually lead to glucose intolerance and diabetes.

Negative people are stressed people. Stress causes your body to release ghrelin, which is a hunger hormone. This hormone increases your appetite and plays a major role in your body weight. Not only will you seek out a lot more food but more often than not, you will seek out foods that are very high in sugar. I don’t need to tell you that foods high in sugar are very unhealthy. They cause inflammation in your arteries which can then cause clogged arteries. One is then at a high risk for high blood pressure, a stroke and heart disease. Is this worth a negative attitude?

The fact is that negativity is a bad habit. It is something that affects you and those around you. Negativity spreads because we all have mirror neurons and we have no control over it. In the process, we become emotionally drained. Negativity also affects your physical health.

Remember this: For every negative, there IS a positive. Find and focus on the positive. You owe it to yourself and those around you to remain positive.

train-your-mind-to-see-the-positive-in-every-situation.jpg

How Live a Happier and More Joyful Life

29 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Happiness, How to, Inspiration, Uncategorized

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Happiness, How to, joy, joyful, positive, Positivity

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Happiness is not solely a result. It is also a driving force.

Everyone wants to be happy. In fact, the right to pursue happiness is even written into our country’s Bill of Rights. Do you know how to be genuinely happy? Do you know the best way to acquire true happiness? The truth is that you can greatly increase your happiness levels and gain more satisfaction with your life. It has nothing to do with winning the lottery. It has everything to do with your own change of perspective and your own attitude. Great news, right? Yes. Because it’s something that mostly anyone can accomplish.

Retrain Your Brain to be More Positive

The first thing you will need to do is to teach and train your brain to be more positive. A sole reaction to focus on the negative will undoubtedly lead to stress and unhappiness. Remember, for every negative there is a positive. I know there are times in life when things are very difficult. I’m certainly not telling you to put your head in the sand and to ignore a terrible situation. I’m also not saying to pretend everything is always 100% perfect. I am just asking you to find the positive in a difficult situation and focus on it. Remember dwelling on the negative will cause stress and unhappiness. This will also cause depression and anxiety. However, if you choose to notice and focus on and appreciate the positive, it will be a powerful happiness booster.

Exercise

It’s a no-brainer that regular exercise is good for your heart as well as your body to burn fat, build muscle and allow you to maintain a healthy weight. It also causes the release of endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that promote happiness. People who exercise regularly are happier. They are less stressed, less anxious and much less depressed.

Penn State University conducted a study and found that the more physically active people are, the greater their feelings of excitement and enthusiasm. Less physically active people had much lower levels of excitement and enthusiasm.

It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do, as long as you do it regularly. You should aim for an hour a day of exercise, five days a week. It’s important to find something that you enjoy because you’ll be more apt to commit to it and stick with it. You aren’t limited to the gym or running outside. There are numerous ways to exercise. You can join a dance class, take brisk walks, play tennis, swim, take up yoga, or go for a powerful bike ride. The key is to find something active that you enjoy.

Express an Attitude of Gratitude

Teaching yourself to become more grateful can make a huge difference in your overall happiness. Gratitude will help you experience more positive emotions, decrease depression, feel better about yourself, improve your relationships, and even strengthen your immune system.

There are a number of things you can do to increase and cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Be sincerely thankful towards others. When someone goes out of their way and does something to make your day easier, be sure to express your appreciation. You will not only make that person feel good, but it will also boost your happiness. It subconsciously causes you to realize that you we are all connected and everything we do matters to others.
Keep a gratitude journal. I can’t express this one enough. I’ve also discussed this is a prior blog. At the end of the day, when you recognize and write down 5 things for which you were thankful on that particular day, it is powerful. Research has concluded that keeping a gratitude journal is a powerful technique that makes you feel happier and more appreciative.
Count your blessings. Retrain your mind to reflect on what you have to be thankful for. This includes people, life experiences and even material things such as having a roof over your head or food to eat. Focus on all of your blessings, whether they are big or small. You will be surprised to see that it’s actually a pretty long list.
Turn the negative into a positive. Remember, even the most painful circumstances are able to teach us a positive lesson. Reevaluate a negative event. Realize what you learned from it or how you became stronger, wiser or more compassionate. Once you are able to find meaning in things you’ve experienced, you will be more grateful.

Nurture Your Relationships

Relationships are one of the biggest sources of happiness in our lives. The happier a person is, the more likely it is that they have a large, supportive circle of family and friends, a loving marriage, and a thriving social life.

Nurturing your relationships is one of the best emotional investments you can make. If you make an effort to build connections with others, you will reap the rewards of more positive emotions. When you are happier, you attract more people into your life and you build higher-quality relationships. This leads to even greater positivity and happiness. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

There are a number of ways to nurture relationships.

Make a conscious effort to stay connected. One of the biggest end-of-life regreats that people have is losing touch with their friends. This doesn’t need to happen to you. Make an effort to stay connected to the people who make your life brighter. Take the time to call, and get together with those that matter. You’ll be happier.
Invest in quality time with the people you care about. Spending time with family and friends isn’t enough. It’s the quality of time that you spend that truly matters. If you are just sitting together watching television, it’s not going to strengthen your relationship. Those who are in happy relationships talk to each other. They share things with each other things that are going on in their lives. They share their feelings.
Offer sincere compliments. Let those that matter in your life know that you appreciate them. It will certainly make them feel happy but it will also encourage them to be an even better friend or partner toward you. It will also allow you to value your relationship with them more and cause you to feel happier.
Seek out happy people. Just like laughter, happiness is contagious. You can literally catch a good mood so make an effort to seek out happy people and spend time with them.
Allow the good fortune of others to bring you joy. One of the things that truly separates healthy relationships from unhealthy relationships is how people respond to each others’ good fortunes and successes. Show genuine enthusiasm and interest when your friend or family member experiences something wonderful. If you truly want a closer relationships, pay attention when the other person is excited. Ask questions. Express your excitement for them. Remember happiness is contagious, so as you listen to and share their experience, their joy actually becomes your joy too.

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Live in the Moment and Savor Life’s Joys

When you focus on the present moment, you feel centered, happy and at peace. You are likely to notice the good things that are happening around you, rather than letting them pass you by.

There are many ways you can start living more in the moment and savor the good things that life has to offer.

Begin daily rituals. Enjoyable rituals can increase moments of enjoyment into your day. It can be something so simple such as that first cup of coffee in the morning. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s something that you truly enjoy and appreciate.
Minimize multi-tasking. Savoring moments requires your full attention. This is pretty much impossible if you are doing numerous things at once. For example, when you are enjoying a meal, is it necessary to surf the internet. You will get more pleasure out of the food you are eating if you simply focus on your meal. By focusing on one thing at a time, you will maximize the enjoyment of it.
Revisit happy memories. There is no need to limit yourself to things that are happening now in the present. When you remember and reminisce about happy memories and experiences from your past, it leads to more positive emotions in the present.

Help Others

There is something to be said for helping others and feeling like you are making a difference in another person’s life. Those who help those in need and give back to their community are happier. People who help others have higher self-esteem as well as an overall psychological well-being.

Here are some ways to live a more giving life:

Volunteer. If you volunteer for an organization that you believe strongly in, you will reap the benefit of feeling happy. Happiness is a reaction when you contribute in a meaningful way.
Practice kindness. Always look for ways to be kinder, more compassionate and giving with each new day. It’s such a simple thing to smile at a stranger and brighten their day. A small gesture goes a long way.
Play to your strengths. The happiest people know what their strengths are, They build their lives around activities that allow them to use those strengths. There are many different types of strengths, including kindness, honesty, creativity, optimism, loyalty and humor. We all have strengths. Find yours and use it!

Get the Right Amount Sleep

Sleep is as essential to life as are air, food and water. Getting quality sleep every night directly affects your happiness, vitality and emotional stability during the day. It is during sleep that your body recharges, heals and regenerates.

When you’re sleep deprived, you’re much more susceptible to stress. Without enough sleep, it’s harder to be productive and make smart decisions.

There is also such thing as over-sleeping. Adults who sleep nine or more hours each night have an increased and rapid decline in their cognitive function than those who sleep between six and eight hours. This is a major risk factor for dementia. Sleeping longer than nine hours a night also increases your risk of obesity, heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

The optimal sleep hours are seven to eight hours a night. Aim for this and your happiness meter will rise!

Get a Pet

Pets not only provide unconditional love but studies have shown that mental sharpness is improved and blood pressure is lowered when we stroke our pets. Pets keep us more active, teach us empathy, increase our social connections, give us emotional support as well as bring order to our lives. This is a great way to increase happiness! If you are unable to own a pet, consider volunteering at an animal shelter.

Eat Healthy Foods

People who live longer tend to eat healthier. Junk food may taste good but the truth is you need to eat the right foods.

A healthy diet reduces your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Eighty percent of the food you eat should come from nature. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meat, nuts, legumes, dairy and whole grains are natural foods. Stay away from processed food and fast food at all costs. It’s not only taking years off of your life but it’s taking life off of your years.

Eating healthy food every 3-4 hours will cause you to feel more positive and energetic thereby creating a flow of happiness.

In summary, once you decide to make your own happiness the chief focus of your life, you will be living a life of joy that you achieved through your own efforts.

Which of these suggestions will you incorporate into your own life?

Creating Memories for Your Children

16 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Family, Inspiration, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

children, family ties, How to, Love, memories, parenting, tradition

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Making memories with your children is a way to create a lasting sense of belonging and shared identity. Making memories also builds security in children while giving them a stronger sense of safety. Memories are part of what hold family life together.

There are many simple things you can do to create memories. These days, some families’ schedules are packed with sporting activities, school projects, music lessons and more. Because of this, life’s simple pleasures are often forgotten. If you take the time to recognize life’s simple pleasures, you can begin to create meaningful bonds and create lasting memories with your children.

Making memories is not only about family vacations or day trips. What is more important in creating family memories and bonds is how we interact with our children whether it be through our words or with our actions. Wouldn’t you rather be remembered for being present and loving rather than to be remembered as the family tour guide?

Shared memories are also one of the things that strengthen the bond between parents and teenagers. The “emotional deposits” made throughout childhood make communication much easier during their teen years.

Creating happy memories for our children is something that is very easy to do and it is very inexpensive.

Below are some ideas on how you can start creating memories with your children:

Give Them the Gift of Your Time

Children become more secure, confident and cooperative when you invest in quality time with them. When you spend separate quality time with each of your children, it actually minimizes sibling rivalry. Children crave quality time with their parents due to a strong and natural drive for attention.

It is important to have separate “dates” with each of your children. Schedule one-on-one time with each one of your children. When two people are able to give each other their complete and undivided attention, bonds deepen. Joy, love and understanding are reaped. Trust me, they will cherish these days as much as you do!

When your driving, talk with your children. It’s easy to put on the radio and have them sit in the back seat, playing a video game. Turn the radio off and engage them in conversation. Ask them questions. Point things out that you see when you’re driving.

When you go out for lunch or dinner, be sure to put your cell phone away. Checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your email, etc., can wait. The moment that you have with your children is precious. Take the time to talk with them. Remember when you talk to them, look at them. Eye contact is powerful.

The gift of time costs nothing yet it means absolutely everything. Take advantage of every moment. Spend every minute you can with your children. Don’t take it for granted and put it off. Tomorrow may never come.

Write to Your Children

I have been writing to my children since before they were even born.

Buy a special journal to write in for each one of your children. Write them letters. Express your feelings, your hopes, your dreams or things you always want them to remember. By doing this, you are creating something they will cherish forever.

On special occasions, don’t just sign a card. Write them a letter right there on the card. Isn’t that so much more special than just signing “Love Mom or Love Dad?”

I started writing notes to my boys when they started preschool. I packed a note everyday with their snack. The notes soon became lunch notes and continued throughout middle school. My boys are now online schooled and I still write them notes to find when they come down for either breakfast or lunch.

Road Trips

It’s fun to just get into the car as a family and drive without any destination in mind. You will discover not only new places to visit, but you will discover new things while at the same time, building memories.

Story Time

Go to your local library and pick out a bunch of books. If your children are old enough, let them pick out the books they want you to read. Each day, at a time of your choosing, sit on the couch with a few books and read to your children. I lovingly remember sitting in the middle of my boys, each with their head on my shoulders as I read to them. Sometimes we’d wind up reading all of them and we’d have to go back to the library to get more. A great memory!

Family Traditions

In our home, we have many family traditions. A couple of our favorites are family game night and family movie night. It’s special bonding time that causes interaction as well as a whole lot of laughter.

Start your own traditions. Have a family party where you buy snacks and celebrate being a family. It’s really so much fun!

Whatever you choose to do, take the time to invest in starting family traditions. Traditions are sacred and they bond families together and make them even closer. You will never regret or forget the times your family laughed, played, and spent time quality time together and neither will your children.
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I hope this post has inspired you to start making wonderful memories with your children.

After all, isn’t family what life is all about?

Skills for Self-Motivation

15 Monday Feb 2016

Posted by Darielle Brooklyn in Motivation, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

How to, Inspiration, life skills, Motivation, procrasination, skills, success, WhfinancirselfTh

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In simple terms, self-motivation is the force that drives you to get things done. Motivation is the desire to do things. It is the crucial element in setting and achieving personal goals.

Your success in life will almost entirely depend upon whether you are able to motivate yourself. Fact: a self-motivated average person will always outperform a genius who is unable to get moving.

Self-motivation is similar to that of a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it will become. Similar to that of a muscle, in order to work to its potential, it needs to be exercised in various ways. When motivation is exercised properly, it is then that it will serve your goals.

Regardless of where one is in life in terms of things such as age, weight, career, finances or marital status, many of us need self-motivation tips to be successful.

Many things are required to be successful, such as experience, education, financial support or connections. The most powerful thing needed for success is an interior force which is entirely in your control. It is self-motivation. The fact of the matter is: it doesn’t matter what you know, who you know or where you are. Self-motivation is necessary to be successful.

I am going to discuss some methods for you to strengthen your self-motivation.

Surround Yourself with Motivated People

Surround yourself with people that will inspire you. These people will provide motivation to help you achieve your goals. They will empower you to make the necessary changes you need in order to succeed. When you surround yourself with motivated people with goals, you too will want to achieve your own goals as well. People with the same goal can be powerful. Being part of a team increases our determination, stamina and courage.

Goal Identity

Reachable goals are specific goals.

In order to get motivated, your first need to figure out your specific goals. Get as specific as possible. Whether it’s a change of career, going back to school, getting in shape, or finding a significant other, make sure it is an attainable goal. Your brain can help you accomplish anything if it knows precisely what it is you are aiming for.

Goal Timeline

Once you have decided upon your attainable goals, write them down. Next to each goal, write down a realistic deadline. The goal doesn’t need to be met by the exact date you choose. It is simply a time frame. When you have a time frame, psychologically you play a private game and you start to hold yourself accountable. When you write your goals down with a realistic deadline, your goals become real rather than remain thoughts that you simply toss around in your head.

Knowing Why

Knowing the reason why you want to achieve a particular goal will enhance positive emotion. This emotion will bring positive energy to your goal. The more you focus on the reason why, the better your chances of succeeding in reaching your goal.

Plan of Action

It may help to have a planner so that you can see your plan of action. You will see what is expected of you each day to reach daily and weekly goals. This will keep you on schedule and allow you to focus on the end result. This is definitely a way to stay motivated.

Stop Procrastinating

People that have a difficulty with motivation are usually procrastinators. They’ve fallen into the habit of putting things off. This habit is sometimes caused by feeling overwhelmed and that in itself will keep you from taking the steps necessary to reach your goal.

Procrastination is the opposite of inspiration.

A simple change in your thought process from “I have to” to “I want to” will help motivate you. Try it!

Did you ever hear of the Two Minute Rule? If it takes two minutes to do or less, DO IT NOW! Start there. You’ll begin to see a shift from procrastination to motivation immediately.

Visualize Your Choices

If you’re looking for motivation, visualize two paths.

The first path is the one you’ve been on. If you stay on this path you will be exactly where you are now, in a day, a week, a month or a year.

The second path is the path where steps are taken to achieve your goal. Visualize what that looks and feels like. Are you happier? Healthier? Are you more productive? Are you better financially?

Two paths. You have choices. Right here and right now.

Change Your Attitude

We all know that a positive attitude goes a long way. The attitude you have on a daily basis is crucial. It can make you or break you. A negative attitude will drain your energy. If you depleted of energy, you will lose motivation. Rather, start practicing positive thinking. Successful people are positive people. A positive attitude is critical for success.

A positive attitude will bring positive results. A negative attitude will bring negative results. Which attitude are you going to choose?

The reality is that you can spend your life waiting for motivation to kick in. Unfortunately, it may never happen. As I stated, at this moment, you have a choice to take action. Once you take that first step of action, you open up the flood gates of opportunity to embrace motivation.

Remember, there are two paths. One year from this exact moment, you will be another year older no matter what. You are free to choose your path but the choices you make today will affect what you see next year when you look back.

I wish you luck on your journey and I will leave you with this final quote.