Psychologists in the past few years have focused more research on happiness and what seems to contribute to people becoming genuinely happy.  What they have learned is that gratitude is one skill that will increase your happiness.  In fact, people who keep a “gratitude journal” generally see a rise in their happiness within a few weeks.  It is a simple concept, you just write down each day in your journal or notebook,  3-5 things about that day that you appreciate or are grateful for.  These do not have to be earth-shattering events by any means.  In fact,  they can be quite mundane, such as:  you found a parking space near the door of the office as you were running behind schedule for your appointment.  It might be a compliment by a co-worker that they liked your new sweater or a magnificent sunset that took your breath away, but the point is, take time to notice and then enjoy this positive moment and log it in your gratitude journal.  This new awareness of the “good” in the world that you are focusing on will help you to feel more positive, and begin to view the world through a happier lens. 

Researchers are finding that people who live their lives with an “attitude of gratitude” tend to be healthier and live longer.   These people are able to focus on positive events around them on a daily basis and down- play negative events.  Keeping a spirit of optimism is essential in developing this new skill of gratitude.  Most of the time there is some good in a situation, regardless of how horrible it may appear at the time. 

Living with an “attitude of gratitude” has the potential to enrich your life in many ways as you become more aware of the wonder of nature all around you, and the beauty of the gift of each day.   If you want to inject your life with a big dose of positivity today, begin a gratitude journal and start to focus on a spirit of thankfulness.    Cicero said it best….

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others”.

Ahhhh…at long last, summertime is here!   The backpacks are put away, the kids have put down their pencils, and the alarm clocks are turned off for a few months signaling that more laid back time of the year we greatly anticipate, called “summer.” 

What does summer signal for you?  Is there a special significance or meaning you have attached to summer from your memories of childhood or from years when you were raising your own family?  What importance does summer play in our lives or do we view it as just another season of the year to endure the heat and humidity and look forward to the cooler days ahead when Fall arrives? 

Actually, summer can provide some of the best opportunities to join in fun activities as a family and make memories that last forever.   Some of  the best memories I have as a Mother of four are of our family trips to the beach.   We would build elaborate sandcastles together—complete with deep motes, which we would take turns filling with our buckets of sea water.   Whether we were gathering sand dollars on the beach, boating and teaching the kids to water ski, riding the roller coaster at our favorite amusement park, swimming together, getting a frozen custard on a hot afternoon, or driving in the car to our favorite beach in Florida, we all relished in the bliss of summertime! 

Summer provides us a natural pause in our crazy–busy lives to slow down and savor the joys of life.   Whether your kids are young and still in your nest, or older now with a nest of their own, take advantage of this most pleasurable season of the year we call “summer.”  Find new ways to enjoy and savor the beauty of summertime by slowing down the pace of life and finding the awe in the reddish-orange glow of a summer sunset, or in the millions of twinkling stars on a hot summer night, or in watching the hummingbirds enjoy your flowers.  

We are happier people when we savor with gratitude the gifts that come with each new day!  Research has shown that people who live a life with gratitude tend to be happier and live longer in many cases.  Summer provides us with the opportunity to take advantage of  more hours of daylight  in which to be outside and enjoy nature or our favorite  activities, resulting in more savoring, more happy times, and more summertime bliss! 

Do you want to be able to savor more in life, and enjoy the slower pace of summer while making memories with those you love to last a lifetime?  Do you want to experience summertime “bliss?”  Then, celebrate this season of summer and find the awe in the everyday life around you.  Slow down the pace, live in the moment, engage in activities you enjoy, and allow your soul to be replinished with the joys of life that surround you.

Is your tank on “empty” these days?  Do you feel like you are consumed with meeting everyones’ needs while putting your own needs on the back burner?  Do you want to be more productive and organized with the time and space you have?   Is it time to get a “lifestyle makeover?”  Do you long to find some inner peace again on this treadmill called “life?” 

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then it is time for you to “TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE!”  We live in a fast-paced and ever changing world that requires us to keep moving, keep adapting, and keep up!   As women, we juggle it all and pride ourselves in being adept at multi-tasking!   For many of us, our time belongs to everything and everyone else, except us.   We tend to our own  families, our extended families, jobs, volunteer commitments, church commitments, etc. and then one day we suddenly look in the mirror and realize, “I don’t know ME anymore!”    If you feel that you have “lost yourself” somehow on this journey of life, then it might be time to begin that road to reclaim “you” again! 

Take time for YOU and make yourself a priority today!  Start that road back to YOU again and learn how to infuse your life with new passion, purpose, direction, and organization.    Take a day to attend this life-changing seminar and begin the journey to rediscover and redefine yourself!  Spend the day with Deborah Olson, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Ellen Delap, Certified Professional Organizer and learn new strategies to reconnect with your soul, define your goals and boundaries, and declutter your life and home to make time for what is important to YOU!

Call or email Deborah or Ellen today to register and reserve your seat in this one-day seminar at The Veranda in Kingwood, Texas on Thursday, March 24, 2011.

Kingwood Counseling– 281-358-2030 

email: kwcounseling@earthlink.net

Ellen Delap–Certified Professional Organizer–281-360-7014 

email:  edelap@professional-organizer.com