SevenDays toaHappierYou!!

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byCarolynBudai,GoalswithSoul www.goalswithsoul.com www.facebook.com/goalswithsoul carolyn@goalswithsoul.com

Thesedaysweareallveryawareofthefactthatwetendtoloseourselvesinourlives,asour busyness(andbusiness)takesover. Thesearetheareasyoushouldbeconcentratingoninordertogetyouruniqueessenceback,to findyourselfagain!Ihavesuggestedlookingatoneperdayoverthespaceofaweek,butof course,youneedtobelivingtheseeverydaytogetthemostfromthem...sodotheexercises, oneaday,oneaweek,oroneamonth,whicheverallowsyoutobestintegratetheirmessages andlessons,andthenreallystarttolivethem. Day1.Knowyourpurpose. Itisdifficulttoalignyouractionsinlifewithyourlifespurposeifyoudontknowwhatitis.Thisis abouthowyouwanttoliveyourlife.Createamissionstatementthatcanactasyourcompass throughlife,showingyouyourowntrueNorthasyounavigatethecalmwatersaswellasthe stormsthatthreatentoengulfyou.Itisnteasybutitsworththeeffort.StevePavlina,oneofmy favouritebloggers,wroteagreatposttitledHowtodiscoveryourLifePurposeinabout20 minutes.Havealookatithere: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/01/howtodiscoveryourlifepurposeinabout20minute s/ Thensetasidesomequiettime,andseekyourpurpose. Day2.Knowyourvalues Whatdoyoutrulyvalueinlife?Youwillfinditdifficulttoknowifyourgoalsarealignedwithyour valuesifyoudontevenknowwhattheyare!Andyet,livingalifewhichisoutofsyncwithvalues isoneofthemostcommonsourcesofdiscontent.Browsethislistasyouconsiderwhatyour valuesareandtrytocomeupwithyourtop10

Abundance
Affluence Wealth Acceptance Acknowledgement Accessibility Approachability Availability

Accuracy Achievement Ambition Capability Commitment Competency Desire Determination

Modesty Precision Resolve Speed Success Thoroughness Activeness Aggressiveness

Cooperation Discretion Diversity Helpfulness Hospitality Openness Respect Restraint Accomplishment Composure Confidence Control Conviction Courage Decisiveness Discipline Dominance Drive Dynamism Dependability Diligence Endurance Energy Flexibility Harmony Humility Perseverance Persistence Preparedness

Direction Eagerness Effectiveness Efficiency Excellence Fluency Focus Introversion Mastery Expectancy Fearlessness Ferocity Fierceness Fortitude Heroism Independence Industry Meticulousness Organization Courtesy Decorum Deference Devotion Devoutness Faith Piety Vitality Vivacity Warmth

Alertness Anticipation Assertiveness Assurance Audacity Boldness Bravery Carefulness Certainty Power Self-Reliance Adaptability Adroitness Agility Awareness Balance Calmness Conformity Consistency Playfulness Spontaneity Wonder Altruism Benevolence Charity Compassion Encouragement Gallantry Generosity

Reliability Resilience Self-Control Serenity Spirituality Adoration Affection Appreciation Attentiveness Camaraderie Thoughtfulness Wisdom Amusement Cheerfulness Conviviality Cordiality Empathy Enjoyment Entertainment Excitement Exhilaration Extroversion Friendliness Gregariousness Humor Understanding Articulative Brilliance Clarity

Zeal Adventure Curiosity Daring Discovery Dreaming Enthusiasm Exploration Fun Inquisitiveness Concentration Craftiness Cunning Expressiveness Exuberance Insightfulness Mindfulness Passion Perceptiveness Resourcefulness Shrewdness Stealth Beauty Charisma Charm Dignity Elegance Gentility Grace

Giving Gratitude Kindness Love Philanthropy Service Sharing Support Teamwork Thankfulness Comfort Contentment Delight Ecstasy Elation Happiness Joy Candor Credibility Directness Duty Frankness Honesty Honor Integrity Loyalty Sincerity Expertise Knowledge

Cleverness Trust Truth Virtue Creativity Education Growth Imagination Ingenuity Inspiration Intelligence Intuitiveness Inventiveness Learning Logic

Poise Presence Bliss Pragmatism Prudence Realism Vision Fairness Fidelity Impartiality Justice Fame Fashion Family Fitness Health

Leadership Intimacy Freedom Liberty Privacy Hopefulness Optimism Originality Reason Uniqueness Economy Frugality Thrift Experience

Another way to get in touch with your values is to ask yourself some of these questions: *If there were just THREE rules that everyone should follow, what should they be? * What would you stand up and fight for? *What would you risk losing your reputation for?

*Think of three people you admire the most. What qualities and values do they embody? *What is your favourite animal, mythical or real, and what does it represent to you? Now look for common themes. It is worth journalling this over a longer period of time, considering each question in depth. Remember, once you have identified YOUR values, that there is no right and wrong - someone else may have values different to yours, and that may be causing conflict - but your values are not better or worse than theirs. Try to consider what their values might be....and you may view them in a more sympathetic light.

Day 3. Know your needs

Inordertoliveinlinewithyourownauthenticityyouneedtotakecareofyourself.Whatdoyou NEED(notwant)inyourlifeandhowcanyoumakesureyougetit?AsidefromMaslows basichierarchyofneeds,TonyRobbinshascomeupwithalistofneedshebelieves fundamentaltoourexistence: *Theneedforcertaintyandsecurity:Toknowthatyouhaveahouse/shelterwhereyoucan besafeespeciallyatnightortobecertainthatyourpartnerofchildrenwillbeathomewhenyou returnintheafternoon. *Theneedforuncertaintyorvariety:Theneedisinconflictwiththefirstone,butdoesplay animportantrole,thatswhypeoplewatchsporteventsandmoviesbecausetheydontknow howitwillendorwhatthefinalscorewillbe.Thatswhypeopleexploredifferentroutestothe samedestinationorordersdifferentmealswhentheyeatoutinthesamerestaurants. *Theneedforconnection:Whenyouexperienceforexamplearomanticbeachsunsetwith aloveonethesatisfactionoftheexperiencewillnotbe1+1=2buttheresultwillbe5. *Theneedtocontribute:Peoplewanttomakeadifferenceinanotherslife.Itcouldbeinthe formatofmoney,theirtime,support,knowhow(sharingknowledge) *Theneedforrecognition:Apatonthebackforajobwelldone.Toreceiverecognitionforan outstandingperformanceorforwalkinganextramile. *Theneedtogrow.Everythinginlifemustgrowifitdoesnotgrowitwilleventuallydie

TheneedforconnectionandtheneedtocontributealsofeaturehighlyinMartinSeligmans

definitionofThegoodlife. Howdoyourelatetotheseneedsinyourownlife?

Day4.KnowyourPassions. Whatdoyouenjoyinlife?Whatmakesyoucry?Takenoticeofthethingsthatyoulovedoing, thetelevisionshowsandmoviesthatmoveyou,thenewsstoriesthatmakeyouangryorpunch theairwithjoy!Whatdothesetellyouaboutyourself?Andhowcanyoumakethemostof theminyourlife?Howcanyouhonouryourownauthenticity? Day5.Nourishyoursoul Communewithnature.Reflectinsilenceandstarttotuneintotheinnerwisdomyoupossess. Taketimetobreathedeeplyandquietyourbusymind.Learnthetechniquesofmindfulnessand gratitude,andapplythemregularly.

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Day6.Gettoknowyourstrengthsandmakethemostofthem!!Whatareyourpositive traits?Whatareyoutalentedat?Ifyoustrugglewithyouranswers,askothersandfind somethingthatresonateswithyouaswell.Thisweek,makealistofyourtopthreeandfinda waytouseeachofthematleastonce....andseethedifferenceinhowyoufeel!Considertaking

theVIAsurveyofcharacterstrengthsatwww.authentichappiness.com(free)theseareyour ValuesinActionstrengths,soclearlylinkstronglybacktoyourvalues.Themoreyoucan employyourtopfiveinyourlife,atworkandhome,thericherandmoresatisfyingyourlifewillbe. Day7.ServeothersAnotherelementofMartinSeligmansGoodLife,ashedemonstrates throughextensiveresearchthatthosewhoserveothersaremuchhappier!So,itsawinwin situation.Whenyoushareyourtalents,yourgiftswithothers,yoursenseofinterconnectedness grows.Youaregivingback,inappreciationofwhatyouhavebeengiven.Sotoday,lookfor waystogive,especiallyinwaysthatutiliseyourstrengths,thataddressyourpassions,and whichhonouryourvalues. Giveahomelesspetahome (aslongasyouwillcareforit forLIFE!),giveahomeless manapairofshoesorahot meal,volunteeratacausethat meanssomethingtoyou.
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