how to be happy

How to Change Your Travel Habits for a Happier Life

March 20, 2017 by Joi Leave a Comment

Too often do you see people easily overlook the impacts traveling can have on your overall, general wellbeing. If you are spending significant parts of your day being held up in hectic traffic, then your mind will feel hectic too. It is hard to transition a stressful journey into a calm day, especially if you know the commute home will be just as bad.

Therefore, it is important to think about how you travel, and whether it is causing any negative effects towards your health. If driving to work is setting you up for a stressful day, then it could be time to look for alternative methods of traveling.

By building exercise into your travel routine, you will be reaping in double the benefits. For a start, walking or cycling to your destination will give you time to clear your head, and over time it will boost your fitness. If you haven’t cycled for years, then this is the perfect time to start again, as there are facilities and cycle lanes set up on most roads to make your journey safe. You could be surprised at how quickly you can get to your destination when you’re not sitting in traffic.

Another plus is, if you exercise more, you will also have a boost of happiness through the release of endorphins, making it a win-win option. Furthermore, you could save huge amounts of money by opting for this method of transport.

Alternatively, maybe catching public transport is the root of your problem due to the constant worry of being late and unreliable connections. Maybe you are sick of the discomfort from over-crowded buses or trains. This kind of regular discomfort can cause anxiousness, panic attacks and slowly build towards mental health issues. If you are in this situation, then it might be better for you to work out whether it is better for you to drive to work, or ask your employer if you could work different hours to avoid the heavy traffic and avoid busy times on public transport.

If driving isn’t an option because you haven’t learnt to drive yet, then you should think about learning. You could pass your test on a quick course and prepare for your theory test online here. Being able to drive will give you much more freedom and provide happiness.

However, sometimes public transport is the only effective method of travel within major cities. If you catch a train, then you are able to perform tasks driving a car would not permit. You can grab a seat, take out your laptop and/or tablet, and either relax or prepare for the working day. This is a perfect way to utilize the time otherwise spent driving, cycling or walking, and can help the busy businessperson.

Similarly, you can spend your time on public transport completing simple errands such as grocery shopping or gift buying.

There are lots of ways you can make changes to set you up for a happier life, so make sure you invest in a way of life that can help you lead a blissful, healthier lifestyle you will be thankful for years down the line.

Author Bio:
Lucy has been working in the fashion industry for six years. A dedicated follower of all things fashion and beauty, she is passionate about new industry developments. Lucy is now a full time freelance fashion writer.

How to Keep From “Losing” Yourself in the Ugliness Around Us

November 30, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

Life is Too Short to Be Anything But Happy!

Never Let Anyone Else Rob You Of Your Joy or Silence Your Happiness!First things first. Before I go any further…. I just want to say that I do not have a “side” when it comes to the recent Presidential election. I did not vote this particular election and, what’s more, while watching the results on CNN that evening, I did not feel the overwhelming “investment” I’d felt in past elections.

My personal candidate was Marco Rubio, and I greatly respected Ben Carson as well. If Vice President Joe Biden had thrown his hat into the race, I would have had a candidate in each party. I guess I should be glad I never had to face the problem of liking too many players in the game!

Don’t get me wrong, unlike most people, I don’t feel any animosity toward Hilary Clinton or President-Elect Donald Trump. I respect many of the things they’ve done in life, including their children. Are they perfect? No more so than you or I. I wish both of them a world of happiness and success in life. I have no time for or inclination toward hate, bitterness, or resentment – so if you’re waiting for me to spew any ugliness, you’ll be sorely disappointed. I leave the judging to God.

I only point these facts out because there is an unreal amount of hate swirling around these days and I don’t want anyone thinking I have a political agenda. I have no such thing. What I have is a “happy agenda” and I’ve had a bad case of it for as long as I can remember.

I want people to be happy! Not just the “smile on their face” kind of happy, either. I want people to be so happy and so in love with life that they find it almost impossible to sit still.

The present emotional climate in the world is stormy with signs of getting worse before it gets better. And this from an eternal optimist! I take no joy in pointing it out, but if you expose yourself even slightly to social media or mainstream news, you already know this assessment is spot on.

Is this a tragic situation? No…… It is what it is. History is filled with tragedies – any fellow history buffs reading this are already nodding their heads in agreement. The Boston Massacre, the Trail of Tears, Slavery, the Civil War, Concentration Camps, and on and on. Those were unspeakable, unimaginable, and gut-wrenching tragedies.

History is also filled with protests, marches, anger, and the other situations we are seeing on an almost daily basis. These periods come and they, eventually, go.

One of my mom’s favorite quotes was, “This, too, shall pass.” Eventually, the anger, raging, fighting, and lashing out will die down. In the meantime, I want to encourage as many people as I possibly can not to “lose” yourself in the ugliness. If that means removing yourself from it – as in getting off of social media or cutting back on the news – do it. Do whatever it takes.

I, personally, (as a web publisher) have to stick it out. Sometimes it feels like I’m standing out in the rain without an umbrella. My main social media activity is on Twitter and, within just the past two years, the rain has felt more like a raging storm…

I’ve seen close friends go at one another in ways I’d never have thought possible. All because they disagreed on a Presidential candidate!
I’ve seen wonderful, easy-going Christian men and women who once tweeted encouraging and uplifting messages become so filled with hate and anger that their tweets should come with warning labels.
Put simply, hate and anger are absolutely everywhere – celebrities, corporations, news outlets, social media platforms… they’re all getting into the mix.

As I said earlier, the emotional climate in the world isn’t what I’d call tragic. However, I’ll tell you what IS tragic – seeing people lose who they are and what they stand for. It’s tragic to see individuals become so consumed with hate and anger that they cannot even carry on civil conversations. People have lost the ability to civilly disagree with others. They’ve lost the ability to accept that others have opinions that may be different from their own.

People today have the mindset of, “I’m right and if you don’t agree with me, you are wrong.” But they don’t just stop there… they will unload on anyone and everyone with name-calling, belittling, accusations, and venomous anger.

Simply for having a different opinions.

So where do we go from here? In addition to praying (day and night!) for things to change, we have to be on guard. We have to make sure that we don’t allow others to steal our joy. We also have to be on constant guard for something else – we have to make sure we don’t turn into them. Think of a zombie movie for a minute. What’s the worst possible thing to happen in a zombie movie? For the hero or heroine to become a zombie – for them to become the vile, cruel, and.. let’s face it… downright ugly zombie.

If we give the bitter, angry crowd too much of our time, our hearts, and our thoughts… we will slowly become more and more like them. What a revolting thought!

Who in their right mind would want to spend so much time angry, bitter, resentful, and mean-spirited – all while being constantly on the prowl for something else to get upset about.

A few nights ago, I saw a young man (who, a year ago, was one of the calmest, happiest people on all of Twitter) – within a span of 30 minutes – verbally attack THREE different groups of people. Not one, not two.. but three. He hurled accusations and made a bitter little spectacle of himself. I instantly thought back to who he used to be and felt kind of sick to my stomach. Slowly but surely, he lost himself.

I hope that hasn’t happened to you and, if you’re close to “the line,” I hope this will serve as a reminder.

Actionable Ideas

Unfollow any social media accounts that spew negativity and ugliness. EVEN if they’re simply reporting news – some news accounts are inherently negative and, trust me, you don’t need that in your life.
If you see a news story coming on that you know will “stick with you,” turn the channel. You aren’t going to lose any life points by not knowing all the news stories.
Each day – throughout the day – ask yourself, “Who do I want to be?” Frequently reminding yourself that you want to be happy, positive, encouraging, and giving will help you keep from slipping into anger and will keep you from throwing an adult temper tantrum… which is possibly the ugliest thing in the entire world. Yes, even uglier than zombies. Before speaking, “tweeting,” or even “retweeting” get into the habit of asking yourself, “Is this the person I want to be?”
Spend more time doing what brings you joy. Enjoy sports on tv, watch old movies, read Agatha Christie mysteries (or your own favorite author, of course!), watch the History Channel, cook, take up a new hobby, play with your pet, walk… whatever your bliss is, don’t just walk to it, run to it. When “times are rough,” like they currently are, you need these blissful moments more than ever.

Life is short and we aren’t going to get a second shot in this life. Please don’t spend it worked up about things that are beyond your control. It isn’t good for your family, your mind, your happiness, or your health. Don’t let anyone or anything steal your joy.

Ironically, after typing out well over 1,00 words, I think we can sum it all up in two: Choose happiness.

Keep smiling!

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Keeping a Sense of Humor: My Personal Weapon of Choice

November 2, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

Every time you find humor in a bad situation, you win!

I’m not perfect. I am so far from perfect we don’t share the same zip code.

Or time zone.

Or President.

You get the idea.

However, it’s often us woefully imperfect humans that have the most to share that could be of a helpful nature to others. Why? Because when we hit upon something right or good, it stands out like a lighthouse in the dark of night. We’re like, “Holy cats! I got this right! Let me tell you about it!”

One of the things this imperfect human “got right” was this: At some point along life’s highway, I decided that having (and keeping) a sense of humor is the secret to life. Okay, secret to life may be a little dramatic, but you can’t really fault me for that – I grew up watching Susan Lucci on All My Children. How could I not, at times, wax dramatic?

Someone else I grew up with was a father who was probably never serious for more than 10 minutes at a stretch. That’s undoubtedly where I got it from. That and an overwhelming obsession with birds, westerns, flowers, and coffee.

Cool genes.

In my Twitter bio (on my personal Twitter account, @JoiTaniaSigers), I even mention my refusal to take anything too seriously. That, of course does not imply that I am not serious when in the presence of things that are of a serious nature. Far from it. It simply means that a sense of humor is one of the two things I’ll always carry with me into any battle.

Even if the battle is an MRI and even if it’s God, Himself, I’m cracking jokes with.

When I was in my mid-twenties, my oldest daughter and I were in a bad wreck (it wasn’t remotely my fault, I just want to put that out there – so many vehicular mishaps ARE of my doing, I’m darn sure going to crow when one isn’t). I had to have an MRI – which is perfect, perfect, perfect HELL for someone who is claustrophobic. H-E-L-L. I was scared to death leading up to the MRI and I was scared to death as I was rolled into the narrow machine.

So, with eyes tightly shut, I prayed. And prayed. And prayed. (Prayer is the other thing I carry into battles.) At one point, I prayed for God to send a guardian angel to help calm my nerves so I could last for the full 30 minutes. Then I said, “No! Cancel that last order… there isn’t room for both of us! DO NOT send an angel in here.”

I immediately pictured God chuckling at my silliness and had to chuckle myself.

I lasted the 30 minutes.

Just last night, while making supper, I burned my left hand badly. No, let’s give it the respect it deserves – I burned it BADLY. I splashed a good deal of HOT bacon grease out of my iron skillet and onto the front of my left hand – and up a finger.

It hurt like crazy. It hurt like crazy when they put medication on my hand in the urgent care center and it hurt when they wrapped it. It hurt as I sat up in bed last night when I should’ve been sleeping. Kind of hard to sleep when the entire top surface of your hand and one finger are blistered up and burning like someone sat a match to a glove and stuck your hand in it.

It hurts like crazy now too – in fact, my left hand is hating me with a cruel hatred with each word I type. It’s like, “You’re doing this, why?? First you baptize me with hot bacon grease and now you’re putting me on a keyboard treadmill??”

A lot of pain and inconvenience involved – But, like the MRI, the bacon grease and the pain did not win. I won. Why? I found the humor in the situation.

That’s the thing about seeing things through clown glasses (whenever possible), you take full control of the situation – you snatch it right out of the enemy’s claws. This morning, as I sat looking at the bandaged hand and wondering when or if it would actually quit hurting, I realized that I needed to let my psyche and my family know that I was okay…. that’d I’d come out on top and had taken victory out of the enemy’s claws.

I found a stuffed girl bear, put some tape on her paw (her left paw, like mine), and took a picture. I sent it to my daughters and said, “Twinsies!”

Being goofy, being silly, being downright weird, and laughing – those are my weapons and this was my way of letting my girls know that I’d won.

Whatever you’re going through, I’m with you in spirit. I know bad situations are not funny – but I also know that if you can find any humor whatsoever, it will save you.

I am now going to give this poor hand a break and pour a tall glass of iced tea, sit in my favorite chair, watch Andy Griffith reruns – and pray the episode where the farmer’s barn burns down isn’t in the lineup.

~ Joi (“Joy”)

Twinsies!

Review: Cultivating Gratitude – A Guided Journal for a Positive Mindset

June 24, 2016 by Joi 1 Comment

Cultivating Gratitude: A Guided Journal for a Positive Mindset by Beth Bunchman

Call me honey because I am on a big roll. I am in the midst of a great string of books that I’ve been sent to review on Self Help Daily. One after the next, they’ve just been exceptional. It makes it kind of tough to review them, actually, because I want to devote enough time to each one. I also worry about them getting lost in the rush of reviews – which is why I take care to “group” reviews of different books within the same time frame.

Today’s book is (I reasoned) a perfectly beautiful one to close out the week with. I resonate with this book – from the colorful cover to the entire attitude and vibe, this book and I are simpatico and, I have a feeling, it’s beautiful author and I would get along famously.

From the Back Cover:

Write, doodle, & brainstorm your way to a positive mindset.

In this journal you will focus on nurturing and nourishing your mindset for greater overall health and happiness.

Within these pages you will find thought-provoking journal prompts, ample space for writing or drawing, and numerous garden-themed doodles for coloring.

You can plant seeds of gratitude, grow your gratitude garden, and watch your life landscape begin to shift in just minutes a day.

Benefits of this gratitude practice may include: improved sleep, stronger immune system, greater optimism, decreased anxiety and depression, higher quality relationships, and a sense of community.

While the title of this colorful, upbeat book is, “Cultivating Gratitude,” I think it could have just as easily been “Cultivating Happiness” – truth be told, there are so many wonderful names it could call itself. However, in the end, the one it goes by is probably the best because that’s where happiness and positivity begin. If you aren’t grateful… truly deep-down grateful… how on earth can you be happy or positive?

Answer: You can’t.

{Review Continued Below….}

Cultivating Gratitude: A Guided Journal for a Positive Mindset by Beth Bunchman

Ironically, I’ve actually been thinking a lot lately about gratitude. Gratitude is a beautiful trait- but it’s a vanishing trait. People seem to think they’re owed this and due that. When you do someone a favor, they act like, “It’s about dang time you served me, servant!” Okay, that may be exaggerating, but you get the idea. People simply aren’t as grateful for what they have or what is done for them these days.

Is it any coincidence that positivity and happiness are also less prevalent these days? I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all.

From the Introduction:

We’ll start out slow and easy – focusing on the positives in life by creating beautiful lists of all the wonderful things about your life and pushing you to find the bright side of some of your struggles.

But this journal will go much deeper than that.

• In Step 1, we’ll cover your personal and professional life, physical and emotional body, spirit, strengths and accomplishments, and the things you do to nourish your true self, as well as your opportunities for growth. (Whether you complete one page per day or per month, you are sure to experience enhanced daily positivity, gratitude, and appreciation!)

• Then, in Step 2, you will use that massive fire of positive energy you have created to go within, address the ego, and re-ignite your intuition. You will work to nourish the body, mind, and spirit as you transition from a body-centric view of “self” to a soul-centered view.

• In Step 3, you will begin to step into your own power to become a source of love and light in the world. You will find confidence in your own unique skills, acknowledge your new attitude of gratitude, and create a ripple of appreciation throughout your community.

This journal is also a coloring & doodle book. Throughout the book you will find loads of white space to write or doodle. You will also find a lovely selection of doodles and drawings included for you to support your creative process.

{Review Continued Below….}

Cultivating Gratitude: A Guided Journal for a Positive Mindset by Beth Bunchman

About the Author: Beth lives in Conifer, Colorado with her wonderful husband of thirteen lucky years, Dr. Matt Bunchman, DMD. Together they have three amazing children, two crazy dogs and a budding homestead complete with beehive, chickens, rabbits, and a small garden. She loves spending time with her family and friends, hiking, gardening, drawing, painting, scrapbooking, writing, and reading.

Why I Love this Journal and, More Importantly, Why You Will Love this Journal!

Have you ever brainstormed? It’s a glorious thing! I do my best thinking and soul-searching when my cat Alexa and I are sitting at the kitchen table – pen and paper in had. I write down my goals, thoughts, “to do”s, and “gotta do”s. I think of it as getting in touch with myself and centering my world.

Sure, that sounds kind of like hippy speak, but it’s the only way I can think to describe it. I center myself.

A guided journal, such as this beautiful and perfectly done one, is the ideal way to get in touch with yourself and the world around you. It slows down the pace of your life and reminds you of the things that matter. This wonderful guide will enlighten you and entertain you.

By the end of the journal, you will be a more gracious person and, as a result, a happier one. Find Cultivating Gratitude: A Guided Journal for a Positive Mindset by Beth Bunchman on Amazon and take the journey with her.

You’re going to love every step of the way! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

How to Feel Happy When Happy is the Last Thing You Feel

June 15, 2016 by Joi Leave a Comment

When You’re Feeling Sad, Your First Move is to CHOOSE Happiness!

Some of the most searched for topics online are…

How to be happy.
How to feel happy when you’re sad.
How to overcome sadness.
How to cope with depression.
How to cope with sadness.
How to keep from crying…

So many people with so many feelings – feelings that aren’t measuring up to what they want, or need, them to be. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t kind of break my heart that so many people are so desperate to feel happier that they turn to search engines. I wish I could pop into each one’s world, with two Raspberry Smoothies in hand (one for me and one for them) and try to lift their spirits.

If you, ironically, have landed among these words through a search engine via words like the ones above – I can’t share my raspberry smoothie with you right now but I hope I can help, if only just a little.

It won’t be for a lack of trying.

There are times in life when we’re going to feel down just as there are times in life when we’re going to feel downright giddy. We all “get that,” of course, but when we’re in the lower ranks of emotions, it’s not a lot of comfort.

Access the Situation.

Before you continue your pursuit of happiness, ask yourself a few questions.

Has something, in particular happened that has made me sad? If this is the case, cut yourself some slack. Your a flesh and blood human being and, as a result, have emotions. When something is painful, we feel pain. When something hurts our feelings, it leaves a bruise on our psyche. It’s natural. As with physical injuries, emotional injuries take time to heal. Give it time.
Have I been getting enough sleep? A lack of sleep makes us prone to be overcome by emotions much more easily than we are when we’re fully rested. What you’re feeling right now could probably be alleviated GREATLY by a glorious nap.
Have I taken any over the counter medications? Certain medications can do a number on the way you feel. Benadryl and other allergy medications, for example, can really play tricks with your emotions. You can find yourself thinking, “I’m sad..” when you know full-well you have nothing to be sad about. If this is the case, keep reminding yourself, “It’s the Benadryl whining, it’s not ME!“

Accessing the situation should always be your first step in dealing with the blues.

Once you have a pretty good idea what the REASON is, you can move on to making yourself feel better. What makes me feel better may be exactly what makes you feel better – then again, what floats my boat may sink your’s! Read through the list of “Pick Me Up“s below and find the ones that resonate with you. It may take one, it may take three, and – if your emotions really and truly have the upper hand today! – it may take 10.

Pick Me Ups When You’re Feeling Down (OR How to Feel Happy Again!)

Contact “THAT” Person. We all have at least one person in our life who just seems to make the day brighter. Their outlook is almost always positive, they laugh easily and freely, and they seem to have a gift for taking negative vibes and spinning them into something positively beautiful. If at all possible, invite this person out to lunch or over for coffee. Spending time with them may be just what you need. Emotions and “vibes” are contagious, after all. Keeping that in mind, avoid the “Negative Nancies” until you’re in a better place. The last thing you need in your vulnerable position is someone bringing you further down!
Spend Time with a Cat or Dog. In a similar vein to the above, spending time with a pet can do wonders for your mood.
Carve an Hour Out of Your Day and Engage in Your Favorite Hobby. If you love reading, read for an entire hour (bliss!). If you love photography, take your camera and have at it. Do what you love for a whole hour and, after it’s over, take another if you can.
Spend Some Time Outside. For whatever reasons, many times simply going outdoors can lift your mood. Take a walk, sit and listen to the birds, do a little yard work.. just enjoy the great outdoors.
Be Active. Physical activity often lifts your mood and chases emotional clouds away.
Accomplish Something. There is something incredibly satisfying about accomplishing something, whether it’s cleaning the refrigerator, washing your car, writing a blog post, straightening your closet, or catching up on laundry. Simply getting something done and sitting back and looking at it is a great feeling. The last time I had a little case of the blues (thanks Benadryl), I washed my vehicle and cleaned the inside as well. The combination of time spent outdoors, physical activity, and having something accomplished all worked together like magic.
Treat Yourself. This one is pretty fun, if you ask me. Whatever your idea of a “special treat” is, treat yourself! Sundae, smoothie, new book, makeup, golf towel, pink top, blue top, lunch at Olive Garden… buy yourself something deliciously unnecessary and love every second.
Talk to Someone if You Think It’d Help. Maybe it comes from being an only child, but I’ve never been one for “talking it out” when it comes to my feelings. I tend to sort them out on my own, if you will. However, it seems that the majority of humans love to talk it out with someone. Can I suggest that you at least do in face to face with someone you trust and not take it to social media? Please… I’m begging, here.
Harness Your Thoughts. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is perfect for times when you feel low. Why? It reminds us where to corral our thoughts – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV) This beautiful verse could probably cure more emotional ills than Dr. Phil could name. Point your thoughts in the right direction and watch everything else follow.

Final Thought
When you have a terrible cold, what do you do? Sit around and lament the runny nose, curse the aches, and vow that you’ll never feel better again? Of course not. You know that it most certainly will pass and that your happily ever after has not been compromised. The same is true when your emotions have a “terrible cold” – this will pass and you’ll be yourself in no time.

While “down,” do as you would when nursing a cold. Take extra good care of yourself, get more rest than normal, eat right, and hug your cat (or dog) often.

Feel better soon!

~ Joi (“Joy”)

How to Change Your Travel Habits for a Happier Life

How to Keep From “Losing” Yourself in the Ugliness Around Us

Keeping a Sense of Humor: My Personal Weapon of Choice