Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/354830
AUGUST 2014 | BRAVAMAGAZINE.COM 39 ŷƕƽƭƕƉźƼŧŷőơơǃ DECIDE YOUR LIFE HAS PURPOSE. Nothing would be the same if you didn't exist. You make a valuable difference. TAKE CARE OF FRIENDSHIPS. You don't need a lot of friends, but you need good ones. Choose people who bring you up, and run from the happiness vampires. SMILE. It can change your mood and make you feel lighter, more positive. ACCEPT YOURSELF UNCONDITIONALLY. You are not the size of your pants or your bank account. You are a beautiful complex mix of things that are uniquely you. NEVER STOP LEARNING. The world is always changing. Adapt and change your view. FIND YOUR PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. Invest in things you're good at. GET MOVING. Exercise makes you feel better. Don't overthink what to do, just start. HAVE FUN. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. Laugh and be silly as often as possible. THINK ABOUT YOU. Nothing changes without action. The "how to" suggestions above aren't difficult, but getting started can be. Finding the time for them is hard—but we are not too busy to live happy. In order to bridge the path from your reality to your future, you need a clear understanding of your reality. Taking a daily personal inventory is invaluable. Spend 10 minutes a day thinking about you. No judgment, just an honest baseline assessment. Use the list above, or tap into what would make you happy that day, rather than what you need to get done. Plan it. Get up early to reflect in the quiet of the morning or turn off the radio and use 10 minutes of drive time for self-evaluation. Whatever your plan, know that 70 committed minutes per week is worth it. No excuses. –C.A. breaking bad DEFY HABITS OF DISCONTENT So, you want to commit to your personal happiness by doing away with unhealthy habits that bring you down. Some habits, like smoking and overeating, are so familiar and comforting they can be difficult to cut out of your life. But, like the process of taking a personal inventory, understanding triggers and setting goals can be key to recognizing these psychological obstacles and ditching negative habits for good, says Dr. Lindsey Duca, coordinator of two Meriter-UnityPoint Health wellness programs, "Am I Hungry?" and "Mindfulness Training for Smokers (MTS)." "There is a lot of evidence that mindfulness helps reduce binge episodes and emotional eating," Duca says. However, she emphasizes that the weight management program is less concerned with numbers on a scale and more with overall wellbeing. "We teach it as a program to help you live well in the long term." Meanwhile, the MTS program combines medication with group sessions and a compassionate approach to teaching mindfulness techniques. Kelly Bodoh, the program coordinator, can speak to the results first-hand: She used to smoke two packs a day. The best part? You can apply the techniques to other areas of your life. "Those same skills are going to enhance your relationships, help you manage stress, navigate strong emotions and make healthier choices with regard to food or substance use," Bodoh says. –Cathy Martin "HAPPINESS IS NOT SOMETHING READY MADE. IT COMES FROM YOUR OWN ACTIONS." –DALAI LAMA XIV