03.13.2013 HAPPY thoughts

13 Happy thoughts from a book that consistently makes me happy; Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. These are her words.

1.  "One morning I woke up to the realization that, almost imperceptibly, I'd become a happy woman, experiencing more moments of contentment than distress."

2.  "When we can't access our inner resources, we come to the flawed conclusion that happiness and fulfillment come only from external events."

3.  "It is difficult to experience moments of happiness if we are not aware of what we genuinely love. We must learn to savor small, authentic moments that bring us contentment."

4.  "Let us grasp the awareness of what it is that makes us truly happy. Let us consider our personal preferences and learn how to recognize, then embrace, moments of happiness that are uniquely our own."

5.  "How happy are you right now?"

6.  "Perhaps you think you'll be happy when you get a bigger kitchen, or a new job, or the perfect someone with whom to share your life. But don't you want to start making happiness a habit right now?"

7.  "Happiness that the world cannot take away only flourishes in the secret garden of our souls.  By tending to our inner garden and uprooting the weeds of external expectations, we can nurture our authentic happiness the way we would nurture something that's beautiful and alive. Happiness is a living emotion."

8.  "If we are to live happy, creative, and fulfilled lives, it is crucial to distinguish between our wants and our needs. Unfortunately, many woman blur the distinction and then wonder why they feel so diminished."

9.  "Be courageous. Ask yourself: what is it I truly need to make me happy?"

10.  "We have to be willing to discover and then appreciate the authentic moments of happiness available to all of us everyday."

11.  "When we appreciate how much we have, we feel  the urge to pare down, get back to basics, and learn what is essential for our happiness."

12.  "There are several tools that I'm going to suggest you use to begin your inner exploration.  While all of them will help you become happier and more content and will nurture your creativity, this tool could change the quality of your life beyond belief: it's what I call the daily gratitude journal."

13.  "On the Simple Abundance path you will discover that your own opportunity for personal success, authentic happiness, and financial serenity is as close as your own back yard."