Do you practice life-affirming rituals every day? Maybe you exercise every day because you know it’s good for your body, and, certainly, you brush your teeth every day because you know it prevents cavities (Why Self-Care Is Important For Your Physical And Mental Health). But what about life-affirming rituals? What purpose do they serve?

  Sometimes I still struggle with self-acceptance, but I recently learned a new self-acceptance activity that has helped me learn to love every aspect of myself (Mental Illness And Self-Acceptance). Do you have things about yourself that you absolutely hate? When you suffer from mental illness, self-hate can be a common occurrence. I know it is for me but you can learn to love every aspect of yourself with this self-acceptance activity.

When you have a mental illness, a relapse prevention plan is key to happiness and bliss (Is A Mental Illness Relapse Part of Recovery?). You should always have a mental illness relapse prevention plan established.

The New Year brings the opportunity for lots of shame triggers. Do you feel overweight? Underpaid? Messy? It is important to know and identify your shame triggers so you can live a happy life—free of the grip of shame (Perfectionism And Self-Esteem).

As the New Year approaches, I realize how much I want organized living to a part of my life in 2016. Almost all of my stressful moments occur, to some degree, as a result of my disorganized life. I want to use organized living as a tool for happiness in 2016.

Sleep deprivation is the number one thing keeps me from bliss. But I’ve learned that I don’t have to live a sleep-deprived life. When I follow the tips listed in this blog, I’m able to not let sleep deprivation deprive me of bliss.

During my time in the military I was conditioned to exercise in the early morning hours. Typically, I was in the gym with my fellow comrades by 04:30 and out by 06:30. We knew once we started work our time was no longer our own. Now, as a civilian, I choose sleep over getting to the gym before the aurora. This means if I want to stay physically active and fit, I have to make time during the day or after I depart the office.

I live, I love, I laugh, I cry. I’m not perfect. No one is, not you or I. ~ Unk Meaning of Perfect Are you striving to be perfect? Have you made mistakes? Are you judgmental of self and others? What does perfect mean and look like to you?

Solitude simply means seclusion, quiet, and privacy. Some find solitude undesirable and even depressing. Others view it as an opportunity to reflect and discover spiritual enlightenment. Putting a positive spin on solitude creates an invitation for us to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Solitude is a call to action to simply spend quiet time away from the commotion of places and people abuzz. It is an opportunity for deep reflection about your self, happiness, purpose and contribution in this world.

Be mindful of the very moment you are living. Start exactly this second. You don't wait . . . ~ Alexandra Stoddard Where Does Your Mind Go? Are you paying attention? When you drive your car, are you on autopilot or on alert? When you are in conversation, are you engaging with the other or thinking of something else? As I was sitting in the backyard of a dear friend, taking in the scenic backdrop of rolling hills, sprawling green trees, magnificent limestone cliffs, and a serene lake, my mind harkened back to a trip I took to Los Colinas De Cuncumen. Just thinking about it fills me with joy. This was a place absent of technology and social fanfare. It was a place where peace and serenity embraced me the moment I arrived and, quite frankly, it is still with me today. It was an opportunity for me to reflect on the core of who I was as a human being. Many questions arose during my time there, but the one that continues to surface is, where does your mind go?