Happy 2011!  Depending on how you look at it, we’re starting a new decade this week, and I for one am looking forward to a happier, healthier, more prosperous decade than I had the last one. I’ve been through my difficult transitions and think that now’s the time for me to move forward on all the good plans now that the hard work of moving obstacles out of my way is completed.

I just came back from my annual New Year’s Celebration at Easton Mountain, and am reflection on my experiences there. Like many of us have had, this was an opportunity to gain some insight and great ideas, and what I don’t want to do is leave them in a notebook and forgotten. In this time of resolutions made and broken, I want to really work on the processes of moving forward in my life to get what I want out of life (I should be walking the talk here!)

I took a great workshop on developing happiness in my life, lead by Craig Cullinane, and it reinforced many thoughts I’ve had. The main point that Craig made (gotten from the writings is Tal Ben-Shahar in the book Happier) is that happiness is a practice that we can cultivate in our lives. If we surround ourselves with more positive emotions, thoughts and people, like a seed that grows in good soil, we are more likely to be happy and grateful if we make it a point to surround ourselves with happy and grateful thoughts. Radical, isn’t it?

What this has reinforced for me is that I need to ritualize this habit so I do it all the time.  As you know if you’ve been reading this blog, I meditate every morning and share my meditations on Facebook and Twitter. It’s been a great way to force myself to keep me on track (I can’t disappoint my fans who wait for my posts!). One activity is to write down 10 things each day that you’re grateful for. I’m publicly stating that that will be a part of the new nighttime ritual. I also need to include in there done other things that are good for me like flossing and getting to bed at a decent time.

So, how are you making sure you surround yourself with happiness?

Note: I’m having an free teleworkshop on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to talk about career exploration and give information about my Finding Your Calling workshop on March 18-20, 2011 (rescheduled from January 2011).  Please join me!

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