The willingness to be happy…
“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
~Abraham Lincoln
Happy HAPPY DAY! It’s Friday, and with my creative cohorts over at The Next Chapter, it’s that time of the week to relish in what makes me happy, roll around in gratitude, flaunt my joy, and boast in my excitement. There’s no catch, no strings attached… just pure unadulterated happiness. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the willingness to be happy… we can let so much hold us back. I think for a long, long time, I was afraid to let myself feel authentic joy because I was always worried that it would somehow be wiped out, that living life deeply connected to my bliss would somehow mean that there was that much more to lose. Thank goodness I came to my senses and realized that’s bologna!
That doesn’t mean I walk around in a haze of wonder all of the time… everyone has challenging, and even horrific days… but I’ve realized that in allowing myself delight, I am able to be more present with and open to whatever life brings. Authentic happiness grows like a mighty oak tree, digging into the earth at the same time as reaching for the sky, grounding us, and offering us hope.
Are you willing to experience a down-to-your-bones and perhaps a little silly sense of GLADNESS today?
This is what my HAPPY looks like this week…
- My SWEET sister friend, Mary Gordon, is coming to visit for the weekend, and we’re going to see Jeff Daniels (yes, the actor- singer-songwriter!) in concert!
- Putting my health first, and discovering lots of support around the journey toward WHOLENESS.
- The MAGICAL appearance of new babysitters…
- Discovering the perfect YUMMY food for my retreat.
- A few days of warmer temperatures that made me want to BREATHE a little deeper…
- My PRECIOUS children, who sometimes like to pretend they’re the parents and take care of me.
- My honey, whose love and encouragement ASTOUNDS me every single day.
- My newly rearranged studio, and the new rug that WEAVES it all together.
- The building EXCITEMENT for my retreat coming up next week!
- A decaf soy chai and a hot stone massage this morning… AHHHH, I’m still a little out of it!
- The beautiful CLARITY of knowing I’m right where I want and need to be.
I wanted to share with those of you not on my mailing list but visit my blog frequently that in honor of those who dance in the face adversity (inspired by the beautiful people of Haiti who will not allow their amazing spirit to shrink despite the tragedy they are facing), I am offering 2 very special spots in my upcoming retreat on a scholarship basis. One of these spots has been taken, but there’s still one left. Yeah, as crazy as that sounds, I’m giving 2 spots away in the retreat for free… only because I know that there are women out there who, for whatever reason, feel that they can’t come, even though their heart says yes, women whose stories will add richness and truth to our gathering. I look so forward to all of us embarking on a journey where we rise above the mud, the resistance, the obstacles, and SING, honoring the authentic spark within each of us. This, to me, is what it’s all about!
If you’re interested in this unique opportunity, please respond here or email me at Lisa@SacredCircleCreativeCoaching.com as soon as you can. The retreat begins a week from tomorrow! I invite you to share one or two sentences about what you feel holds you back from truly showing up in your life…. sharing a glimpse of the WILLINGESS you have to grow and expand into your glorious potential and authentic happiness!
Categories: Health, Living Mindfully, The Happy Book, The Next Chapter, gratitude, inside out, life purpose | 
Tags: action, authenticity, gratitude, happiness, Jamie Riddler, Lisa Rough, The Happy Book | 
9 Comments »
Thanks for sharing your ‘happy’ this week and popping by for a visit! Keep smiling!
Your post put big SMILES on my face. What a great list of happy moments. Congratulations on making your health a priority. Your retreat looks wonderful. Unfortunately, I’m just too far right now to make it happen. What a generous offer two spots. Have a lovely weekend.
Thank you for sharing your happy week. The quote from Abraham Lincoln is something I will think about and share with others. Have a wonderful retreat. I can not wait to hear more about it.
What a very Happy list. It made be swoon with Happiness! Your retreats sounds so inviting.
It is wonderful that you came to your senses and decided to indulge again in happiness – but I know how easy it is to be fearful that the good won’t last so why set yourself up for loss. Much more courageous to put yourself out there – and your retreat sounds terrific – the stories that will be shared will be full of that kind of courage, I bet.
Great list of happy things this week! Blessings, love hearing sharing another book adventure with you!
Thanks for sharing your happiness and commenting on mine. I had no idea Jeff Daniels was a musician. Some of those darn actors are good at everything! Putting your health first is always difficult as a mom because we want to take care of everyone else first. It is good that they want to take care of you. You are blessed! I hope you have another week full of joy and good luck with the retreat. That is very generous of you to offer two extra spots. I look forward to reading more about your happiness to come.
Excellent list and what an adorable pic!!
I love your blog!
Greetings…what a great happiness list. Thank you also for reaching out to all of us through your generous offer coming to your retreat\. I look forward to spending a lot more time on your site. You have such a rich offering of workshops and courses. We’re neighbors because I live in Maryville Tennessee which is about 2 hours from you. Here’s to a very happy week. See you soon.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Comments also bring happiness. Thank you for your generous workshop offer! I wish I lived closer by and could take advantage- gatherings like that can be so energizing.
As for the mail art….it’s a way of communicating through images and free form and not so much with words, although often there is some kind of message included. You send handmade letters or postcards by snail mail- often daily ephemera and little tidbits of paper scraps from your daily life are collaged or interpreted visually in some way and then mailed to a lucky recipient. “Good Mail Day” says the way to receive mail art is to send mail art. I need to get this trend started in my life. I