Daily Gratitude: Happy New Year to Team Terrie! I feel I had a deprived childhood because I never experienced Dr. Seuss. Nevertheless, this quote is a great way to start your new year. It’s also a great way to start any day of any year. As soon as you wake up in the morning, express gratitude that you did. Then, immediately proclaim “Today is my day!” Keep saying it no matter what comes up, no matter how busy you are. Repetition leads to mastery. Mastery in this regard is creating that great day. Remember what Willie said (William Shakespeare) “Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so”. Stuck in traffic? What do you think about it? What can you do to change that thought if your thought isn’t the best in the world? If you’re having trouble with that, try using the “compared to what?” concept. If you’re upset that you’re ‘wasting’ time being stuck in traffic, ask yourself “is this really that bad?” and if you say “yes”, follow it with “compared to what?” Others don’t have a car so they have to wait outside for the bus. If it’s hot, they have to stand there anyway while you may be stuck waiting but you probably have A/C. What about those who have to find a way to work every day? Or, those who have to walk? Or, those that don’t even have a job? There’s always a way to spin your circumstances. You can spin them in a good way or a bad way. The choice is yours.

Daily Gratitude: This is a good quote to use in the beginning of the year even though it’s applicable all throughout the year. All too often we get stuck in the past. All this talk about New Year’s resolution and goals is likely to depress many people and I would say most people have some kind of negative response to all the hype about goals etc. I’ve had enough of it for sure and i talk a lot about goals. But I don’t need someone shoving it down my throat 24 hours a day. It’s all about marketing and selling this program or that. So, we’re stuck with it I guess. But my advice is to take a look at where you’ve come from in the past year (or even a few years). Pick out what you liked and what you want to work on (avoid words like “change” because that automatically brings resistance). What you have as abilities is not what I have and that’s just fine. My goal are not yours and that’s ok too. It’s all about what you have and what you want to do. The most important (and hardest) thing is just to start. Once you’ve started, you can keep going. That’s what you’re after – just to start and to keep going. Start now.

Daily Gratitude: I keep talking about action and here it is again. This quote is accurate but it’s not only your actions. It’s also a feeling. You can think yourself into happiness, too. But, in a technical way, thinking is an action. The primary point is to not sit around waiting for something or someone else to “make” you happy. It’s your responsibility. It’s also a good idea to come up with different things you can do that make you happy. Maybe it’s taking a hike, volunteering to help others, reading a book, gardening, painting, or whatever. The reason you want to make a list of these activities is so you have them readily available when you’re feeling down. Just pick one from your list and set about doing it. Try also to make all your daily activities things you enjoy and that stimulate the happiness chemicals in your body!