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The Positive Twist

Happiness isn’t just a destination—it’s a journey. That’s the message behind 30 Days to a Happier You, the new book by Scarborough-based teacher and chaplain Lori Spensieri, set for release on March 20, 2025—International Day of Happiness.

As an educator and spiritual guide, Lori spends her days teaching students about kindness, love, and the power of a positive mindset. With a passion for mental health and well-being, she believes that positivity should be an essential part of any mental health action plan, alongside mindfulness and meditation. Her ultimate goal? To take her message to the global stage through TED Talks, inspiring others to embrace happiness as a daily practice.

For those looking to take control of their happiness, this book offers the roadmap to do just that. 30 Days to a Happier You will be available on major platforms starting March 20, 2025.

For media inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact: lori.spensieri34@gmail.com.

By Author Lori Spensieri

A New Theory by Mel Robbins

If you've ever found yourself trying to control how others act or wishing they'd do things your way, Mel Robbins' latest book, "Let Them", is a game-changer. It’s a refreshing guide to releasing the need to control people and learning how to accept them as they are—without losing your cool.

In "Let Them", Robbins dives deep into the art of letting go—of expectations, of frustrations, and of unnecessary emotional baggage. Instead of forcing others to change, she teaches you how to shift your energy and focus on what really matters: your own peace of mind.

The Biggest Benefit to Letting Them:

The biggest benefit? Freedom. When you stop trying to control other people, you free yourself from frustration and emotional turmoil. You start living more authentically, more peacefully, and with a deeper sense of inner calm. Letting them be who they are—and letting yourself be free—is the ultimate liberation.

So, if you’re ready to reclaim your peace, stop stressing over what you can’t control, and start focusing on your own growth, "Let Them" is a must-read!

World Happiness Day: Spreading Joy Around the Globe

What is World Happiness Day?

World Happiness Day, celebrated annually on March 20, was established by the United Nations in 2012 to promote the idea that happiness is a fundamental human goal. This day highlights the importance of creating policies and practices that contribute to the well-being and joy of individuals and communities worldwide. It’s a reminder that happiness isn’t just a personal pursuit—it’s a shared responsibility.

I’m this article we look at:

- What is Happiness?

- Traditions Associated with World Happiness Day,

- 10 Easy Actions to Help Others Experience More Happiness,

- Aspects in Life That Contribute to Happiness,

- Lastly we talk about the upcoming 60 day happiness challenge and my all-new happiness book launch

Traditions Associated with World Happiness Day

-Spreading Positivity: People worldwide participate in activities that encourage kindness and joy, such as writing thank-you notes or volunteering.

-Celebrating Diversity: Countries and communities celebrate their unique cultural traditions that bring happiness, such as festivals, dance, or food-sharing events.

-Reflection and Gratitude: Many use this day to reflect on the good in their lives and practice gratitude through journaling or meditating.

-Community Initiatives: Schools, workplaces, and organizations often hold events promoting mental well-being, teamwork, and happiness.

The 60-day Happiness Challenge

The 60-day Happiness Challenge runs January 20th - March 20th. 

** There will be more information about this challenge very soon. 

World Happiness Day is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action. By understanding what happiness is, embracing traditions, and taking simple steps to spread joy, we can contribute to a happier world. This March 20, let’s work together to uplift one another, celebrate life’s small blessings, and share the light of happiness with everyone around us. Click here for the free 60-day Happiness Challenge Worksheet. To purchase the 60-page digital workbook click here. 

Let’s all get happiness together!

By Lori Spensieri

People will go to great lengths in order to attract more positive energy into their lives, and to get rid of negative energy. Some have a Priest bless their home. Some burn sage and smudge their home with the sacred smoke. Some will attend church very regularly, and confess any and every sin big or small to their Priest or Pastor. Well, what if I told you that there is a very simple way to do this. A really easy way to attract all the positive energy that you could ever want. It is something so simple and basic you may already be doing it. It is the idea of using positive energy symbols. 

Symbols are powerful as they can communicate directly with your subconscious mind. It’s no wonder that religions and cultures all over the world have always used symbols in order to feel closer to the divine and trigger positive changes. Let’s look at 6 powerful symbols that you can use in your life to attract positive energy, protection, good luck and prosperity. Hang in there until the end. I will be saving the best for last. 

When these symbols are activated they release positive energy, allowing the manifesting of some creative, energetic power within the user. How does one activate the symbol? The symbol itself carries special meaning and hence power. Here are 3 ways to further activate the power. 

One, while looking at the positive symbol, hold a positive thought, and a positive emotion, for 17 seconds. Do this 4 times for a total of 68seconds. The second way is to have it blessed by your priest, pastor or minister, and lastly you can simply declare the symbol to be an initiator of positive energy or a transmuter or any energy. There are other ways as well to activate energy but these are ways that do not require other knowledge, skills or abilities. Comment below which of the 3 ways resonates with you. I like to declare my symbols are positive and powerful. 

The following symbols are some of the most powerful, prolific and important that are currently known to us. I will explain the significance of each, and how you can use it in your life. 

Top 6 Symbols for Positive Energy

6. Enso

Number 6 on the list is the Enso. The Enso is a Japanese symbol of enlightenment that dates back to the 6th Century. It is also particularly revered in Buddhist cultures. The word Enso translates roughly to ‘Zen circle’ and can either be drawn as a complete circle (which represents perfection or enlightenment). An incomplete circle that allows the creator to develop further.

In the incomplete form, it can also represent the beauty of imperfection which makes it a great symbol to boost confidence and help you to achieve inner harmony. The Enso reminds me very much of the film Arrival with Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. 

The aliens communicated using ink in circular formation. It was quite profound as the form of communication is indicative of the way of thinking and even perception of time. You can incorporate this symbol into your life with wall art, tattoo design, on the cover of your gratitude journal.

5 Unalome 

The Unalome is a Buddhist symbol, featuring a single line that spirals, twirls and ends in a straight line. Although simple in appearance, the Unalome holds within it the entire philosophy of human existence.

In Buddhism, the Unalome represents the path we take in life; it’s a representation of our journey. The path can be winding or convoluted, but it eventually ends in a straight path, symbolizing mental freedom and enlightenment. Essentially it is the human mind going from confusion and disarray to understanding and organized. This is the opposite of the concept of entropy, the principle of all energy and matter constantly expanding and becoming more random. Please see the diagram here that shows the meaning of each part of the unalome in more detail. Pause the video if you need to and see the website.

4 Spirals

The next symbol of positive energy is the spiral. Spirals represent awakening, wisdom, evolution, connection with higher energy and enlightenment. They can be looked at as a winding stairway that takes you down the rabbit hole from the outer world to the infinite inner world. They also represent the connection between the conscious and subconscious. When you get in touch with your inner self, you begin your journey of enlightenment and connection with higher energy. Spirals are everywhere in nature as well. Spirals also represent entropy as discussed in the last positive energy symbol. There is a spiral in the unalome that we just discussed. 

You can incorporate spiral by doodling them while you are on the phone. You can have spiral decorations. There are spirals in many pieces of wall art like stary night by vincent van gogh. Spiral stair cases,  

3 Mendallas 

Positive Energy Symbol number 3 is the Mandala. Mandala is a Sanskrit word, literally translates to “circle”. Not only do these intricate circles represent oneness or non-duality– again, the knowledge that you are one with everything in existence– they’re also said to help access inner knowledge during a meditative state. Some swear by these designs, staring at them during meditation to gain massive insights. To incorporate mandalas you can wear them on jewelry and pendants. There are mandala patterns on carpets, drapes, shower curtains, tapestries, plates, optical illusions, and relgious imagery. Mandala are associated with frequency and sound as well. You can combine listening to a certain solfeggio frequency while mindfully looking at the rings of a mandala for a profoundly meditative experience.  

2 OM

Number 2 is the OM (or Aum). It is considered sacred as both a sound and a symbol. Its origin is based in Hinduism however it has also been adopted by a number of other religions such as Sikhism and Buddhism. The symbol itself is a combination of three Sanskrit letters A, U, and M, which represents the union of mind, body, and spirit.

Just as the sound of Om represents the four states of Brahman, the symbol Om written in Sanskrit also represents everything. The material world of the waking state is symbolized by the large lower curve. The deep sleep state is represented by the upper left curve. The dream state, lying between the waking state below and the deep sleep state above, emanates from the confluence of the two.

It is believed that the vibration of the OM sound was responsible for the creation of the whole universe and consciousness itself. All major religions recognize this vibration but each religion has their own name for it. For example, in Christianity it is known as ‘Amen’.

To use this symbol you can do any of the following; 

• Use this sound while entering meditation

• Wear the symbol as jewelry 

• Keep it near you for a boost of positive energy 

• Have it incorporated into art or patterns in your home

1 - one that is individual to you. 

Number 1 symbol is a symbol that is individual to you. This really does goe without saying. Any symbol that makes you feel happy, grateful, calm and mindful is a great positive energy channeler. The elicited feeling is evidence of a high vibration, high frequency positive energy. This can be a horoscope symbol, a favourite number or anger number, a shape, a symbol associated with a synchronous event, a religious item. The options are endless. A symbol that really resonates with me is the unicorn. I love cats, lightbulbs, peace signs, hearts and the fibonacci spiral,  but my favourite by far is the hexagon.

Here are 5 ways to use these symbols. 

• Firstly you can wear symbols. You can wear clothes with symbols or jewerly with symbolic charms. See the Amazon seller, Dave the Bunny, shown here. This seller has so many amazing choices of bracelets, necklates and keychains with amazing symbols. This will bring you so much positivity, peace and high vibrations. Here is the buddha, here is the elephant. The hamsa is really nice. They have many charms with saints and the christian cross. They have doves, aliens, the yin yang and the lotus flower. Just check out the link to see whats available. 

• The second way is to have art on your walls in your home that includes your symbols. I mentioned starry night or a painting of an elephant in the Sahara. You can have a statue of the buddha. I have one here and I have a statue of jesus and mary that I absolutely love.

• The third way to use these in your life is by getting a tattoo. It does not have to be a permanent tattoo. It can be henna or a temporary tattoo. I have a dove tattoo here. Comment below if you have a tattoo and what it symbolizes to you. 

• The fourth way is to purchase or create stickers of your symbols and place there in places where you will see them a lot. You can get any sticker in the world at 

• Lastly you can incorporate your symbols into mental world. Visualize it. 

In brief, if your life could use a little more luck, abundance, or positivity, it can’t hurt to get to know any of these beautiful symbols a little better. All of these symbols have been used since ancient times to remind people of their infinite, abundant nature; if this sounds like something you need in your life, pick the symbol that you resonate most with, and keep it near you as a daily reminder!

What is your favourite symbol? Which one makes you feel positive, happy and invincible? 

Thank you for watching. I had fun learning about this topic. I hope you enjoyed it. Please have a lovely day and eh! be positively happy. 

By Lori Spensieri

 Life can be a challenge but it can also be a huge blessing. There are so many potential outcomes for each event. Have you studied quantum physics at all? Well, according to quantum theory, there are infinite possibilities for outcomes. We want good outcomes. Of course we do. But, how does one increase one's chances of good outcomes?

There is the secret. 

The way to increases one's chances of desirable outcomes is to know this secret and to use this secret, in the right way. What is this secret? I am going to tell it to you. The secret is to feel good. The secret is to feel good, or whatever feeling one would have upon having their desire fulfilled. Sounds simple but what does this mean? 

This means that you must literally become the person that would have this desire fulfilled. Be the way that person would be. Dress the way this person would dress. Talk the way this person would talk. You may be saying that this is counter-intuitive. We are told from a young age to just 'be yourself'. Well if your true self is the version that has the desire fulfilled, than this will not feel strange or unnatural. 

What do you do in order to live in the end?

Well, we will follow our tried and true steps. ASK, BELIEVE and RECEIVE.  

Disclaimer. The rest of the article is organized in order to show you a variety of ways to become the highest version of you, the one that has the desire fulfilled. I will show you behaviour aspects as well as products, and services that will help you along the way. Some of the links are affiliate links, although I do stand by all suggested products, books and services. With that being said, I do no accept legal responsibility for the use or misuse of these items. I do not image any injury occurring, although one can not be too careful. 

TO be continued. 

By Lori Spensieri

The truth is, I have always known, or at least felt,  that there is more to all of this…than well,  what we can see. Our senses don't tell us everything and at times they can be misleading or even be completely wrong. It is OK. We have other senses. We have our 6th sense too and 7th and 8th etc. 

This all made my head spin…

So, I started to read, in an attempt to answer some tough questions. 

We did not have the internet so I had to depend on written text and encyclopedia and I asking my dad tons of questions.  In my research about this,  digging through quantum physics research, and falling down numerous rabbit holes, I discovered a lot of fascinating stuff. There are hermetic principles, sacred geometry, the golden ratio, the Fibonacci sequence and the universal laws. I read about mediation, alternate states of consciousness, astral travel, remote viewing, and so much more. 

All the while I was and am still a practicing Roman Catholic. In fact, I work at a Catholic School Board. I teach both Catholic religion classes and world religions. Not once did I feel that the information that I was gaining was in any way evil. I felt comforted by it, as I saw it as being handed to me by God. In particular I was excited about the law of attraction. 

I want to talk about the Law of Attraction and answer the question, is the law of attraction evil? Well the truth is, no It is not. No law of the universe, no hermetic law, no physics principle can be seen as inherently evil. But,  a knife is not evil, a car is not evil and painkillers are not intrinsically evil.  But all three of these can be used to kill someone. All 3 can do harm when used without respect or understanding of proper use. 

The Laws are neutral

With all of that being said, the same goes for universal laws. They are powerful and have potential. Potential for good or potential for the other end of the spectrum, evil. That is the law of polarity. Anything that can exist in one extreme can exist in the other. I will tell you how to use the law of attraction in a way that allows you to reconcile your potential guilt, or feelings that maybe it’s evil. 

In Christianity there is a concept called predestination. It’s the idea that our destiny is somehow already carved out. This is something I don’t believe. I think all outcomes for one’s life are based in probability. Quantum physics says that there are infinite possibilities for outcomes of any situation. The only thing is that certain outcomes have higher probability based on certain aspects; genetics, subconscious and conscious beliefs, our past, our desires etc, the mindset, shadow self. 

Your desires are given to you by God. If you desire to create beautiful art, it is God using your hands and skills to express them self.  Now, when one has a desire, he or she must feel happy about, feel motivated, allow inspired ideas to consume one’s mind and then take action. Now this action often feels scary. The fear of failing. The fear of losing money. The fear of looking silly. It can stop us..and what did Yoda say in the phantom menace?

A Quote from Use the Force, A jedi’s guide to The Law of Attraction.

By Joshua P. Warren.

“Any moment that you are feeling fear, switch your thoughts elsewhere, then act if you need to remove yourself, from danger. Just as gratitude attracts more things for which to be grateful, fear attracts more things to fear. Acknowledge fear, but do not be afraid. You will receive back whatever you put out.”

Simply put, the law of attraction says that you receive in your life, what you are, not what you want. If you are feeling positive feelings, having positive thoughts and have positive intentions, positive things happen. The opposite is also true. In the law of attraction’s workings, the most important things are thoughts and feelings. Essentially the world is you pushed out.t These two concepts are so closely interwoven we get one of those chicken/egg paradoxes. Thoughts lead to feelings, but feelings guide thoughts too. SO where does it start?

Ok first of all, when deciding what you want, you will manifest more readily and easily when the desire is something that is seen as good, by society, that is a benefit to all, not just oneself. Manifest peace for a nation, manifest success for everyone involved in a venture. Manifest the world all having enough to eat. You could also manifest getting a raise, which benefits your entire family, and allows you more time with them. You can manifest getting your book published which will help the world understand a certain topic better. 

This is like going with the flow, going with the grain, riding the wave. That is when it feels easy. 

Why does the Law of Attraction leave some feeling unsatisfied?

There are a few reasons why one does not feel happy or satisfied after manifesting a desired item or event. One of the reasons that people feel unfulfilled by the law of attraction is that the items or things being manifested aren't what he or she really wanted. Keeping up with the Joneses will never leave you satisfied. There will always be the next thing. In the 10 commandments, Jesus said to not covet what others have.  This means that we should not be comparing ourselves to our neighbors, and friends or being jealous. 

Doing things in the certain way.

 Also based on the Law of attraction itself, attaining something due to jealous feelings will simply attract more to be jealous about. All you will notice are the things others have that you lack. That is a slippery slope to unhappiness and it is a lack-mindset.  Another reason that some are unsatisfied with their results of the LOA despite being successful is that the items manifest are not things that are aligned with their true higher self or their true purpose, and Lastly, a Third reason is that the manifestation that he or she succeeded in achieving, is not helping to better the state of the world.

Another key idea here is that in the law of attraction one must be sacrificing something to gain something. Nothing is free and we all know this. When something seems too easy or quick, the value that one might associate, is not afforded. We know deep down that we have to put in the work, we have to study or create or make important contacts. 

CLICK HERE TO GET TO THE VIDEO FOR THIS CONTENT

There are many people who believe that proponents of the Law of Attraction are encouraging people towards materialism.

It’s true that the most teachings of the law of attraction are focused heavily on helping you gain material and financial success, but the more authentic teachings actually attempt to bridge the material realm with the spiritual realm.

I firmly believe Jesus, by far, was a very authentic teacher of the law of attraction, though he never really used that term directly.

Upon reading the bible you will find many indirect references to the law of attraction, and some very direct ones.

Jesus said in one of his teachings alluded to the law of attraction by stating that “Anything that you ask in a prayer, believe that it will be given to you.” .

This was the most direct reference that Jesus made to the law of attraction.

The conventional teachers of law of attraction described it this way– “When you ask or desire for something, and believe in your mind that you can have it, then you activate a strong current of attraction which will draw you towards its manifestation”.

This is exactly what Jesus was conveying though he referred to “asking” using the idea of “prayer”.

Truly, to "believe is the most important factor to make note of. This is due to the idea that when you ask for something and don’t believe that you can have it, it’s not possible for you to see its manifestation because you will not be a vibrational match to your desire.

Being aware of and attentive to all 12 laws of the universe will lead you to the life of your dreams. The more you know the better. But “knowing” alone won't get you there. Can you guess what will get you there?

These actions have an immediate cause and effect ripple effect in the universe, causing things, people and opportunities to start moving toward you and the big goal. 

This method - little leads to big  is a bit different. Instead of the one broad big action, this method involves many small actions. We know that small efforts will add up over time. Small daily actions will compound. Just like interest on a savings account. It may be pennies per day but over time it adds up and multiplies in value. Another example is in weight loss. You can't do 36 hours of cardio in one day and burn 36,000 calories to lose 10 lbs. Instead daily workouts that are based on HIIT training or targeting the right fat burning heart rate will be more effective. 

So in this method there are 3 steps. 

Sounds familiar? The three steps are in line with the ASK-BELIEVE-RECEIVE system. 

The first step is to outline what your perfect dream life looks like.

For this you can use a vision board, a mind map (see the description for a mind map you can use), a scripting exercise or a personal statement of desire. You can find this on the website as well. 

Next you will do a practice that helps you to believe that you already have this ideal life. Your options:

• Be the version of yourself that has it. Dress like it, speak like it, talk like it. Be it. See my video about becoming the ideal version of yourself from the outside in. 

• You can also do a focus wheel.. see my video about focus wheels here. 

• Another method is help you believe is to reprogram your subconscious mind with positive affirmations, either subliminal or not.

Lastly you will receive by releasing and letting go. 

You will busy yourself with life 

Do a hobby, hang with family and friends, distract yourself by enjoying your life.

How is this different from other methods 

Welll there is one more aspect to this method 

You will do one small action that is directed toward your goals and ideal outcomes. 

This can be an email to a potential client, 10 mfinutes of researching of potential educational programs you could consider, work in a website or art portfolio. I have made a list of 100 small actions you can take on a given day. Not 100 in a day. Also, keep track of these actions so you can what works. 

Thank you for reading. 

Can I point out that Chris Rock, got smacked in the face, by Will Smith, for making fun of Jada Pinkett Smith? He was making a rather basic and insensitive joke about her lack of hair. He claims to not know that she has an autoimmune disease called Alopecia. 

Quick question...

Does it matter if he didn't know that she has a disease? 

Does he not know that people are intimately connected to their hair? 

Losing hair for a male or female can be traumatic. It is linked with physical illness like cancer or mental illness and stress. Losing ones hair is synonymous with losing control over one's life. It was a low blow. 

I will not address Will Smith's reaction here. That is not the point of this video.

Chris rock was paid to make people laugh by making fun of people with personal issues. That is the spirit of mockery. If will smith had not reacted no one would have thought anything of it. Mental abuse is somehow considered acceptable, if seen as a joke. If that abuse is physical in nature, it is absolutely not. Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais, Jeffrey Ross and so many others are rich because they make fun of people for a living. Its called a roast. To be roasted, some see it as a compliment. It is not. It is a basic form of manipulation. These roasted celebrities aren't even allowed to just live and be proud to have differences. 

You are guilty of supporting the spirit of mockery even if you never once make a joke about someone else. You are guilty too when you laugh at a joke that is in the spirit of mocking someone else. 

Think about it. If there is no one to laugh at the joke, it won't be said. Change starts with everyone, with all of us. 

Let's raise our standards for humour. Do you know what is funny? 

A lot of Russel Peters comedy is pretty funny,  He has many joke that bring people together to laugh about a tradition that many people share that may seem silly. Maria Bamford, makes voices that are side-splittingly hilarious. Jeff Dunham is a ventriloquist who uses a puppet to make others laugh. Slapstick comedy has the comedian doing silly things that often has them get mildly hurt for laughs. 

In an article called,  How to Discern and Silence a Mocking Spirit by BY PHYLLIS TARBOX

The author talks about the demon of mockery. The demon of mockery is using lazy mean humour to discourage you and to even cause you to doubt yourself and  your faith. 

What can you do when you experience the mocking spirit in your life?

Here are the 4 steps to use in handling this negativity effectively.

1. The first step is to recognize it. Whether it is coming from a friend, loved one, a celebrity on TV or if you see it in yoruself, recognizing it is the first step and its is super important for your awareness to be active. You will notice sarcasm, rhetorical questions, mean spirited comments or questions. 

1. The second step is to choose to ignore the mockery. Give it no attention or energy. You may think that you have to stick up for someone or yourself…but that is just feeding the spirit. Remember, what you resist persists. Instead, stand for kindness, sincerity and positivity. 

1. Step 3 - combat negativity or evil with a combination of positive affirmations, prayer and mediation. Strengthen your mental ability to chose your reactions and not be slave to them.

1. The final step is to guard yoruself. You can start with 2 crystals. Quartz and onyx. Quartz will destroys negative energy around you. It clears your mind and reset your positive inspiration. Onyx is good for absorbing the negative energy and transmuting it into useful positive energy and luck. You can guard yourself with other positive habits like proper sleep, diet and physical activity. Surround yourself with positive supportive people.

Do you know someone who is filled with the spirit of Mockery? We all do. Share your story. Leave a comment, send me an email. I would love to do a followup video that shares your stories and how you overcame each. 

5 easy Steps to follow in order to achieve balance in your life. 

All things in life require balance. Balance is essentially the evenly spread extremes in any polarity. Nature itself has a balance. Consider the food chain, the seasons, night vs day, the water cycle…i can keep going but i think you have the idea. Balance is not only important but it is inevitable. The law of large numbers says that in any binary system, with equal odds of either outcome, the distribution will come closer and closer to 50/50 as you do more and more trials. Nature is pretty good. Too bad our lives dont naturally balance themselves out. What if i told you that our lives do. When you fill your plate with too much, inevitably something will give. Something will have to leave the system. This is why we tend to get sick when we are doing too much and becoming burnt out. Your body will literally force you to stop and slow down, restoring more balance into your life..whether you like it or not. Knowing this, you must agree that it will much better to start leading a more balanced life now, before nature starts making changes for you. 

Without further or due, there are 5 steps to achieving a more balanced life. 

Step 1) Decide what your idea of balance is. What does it look like? Feel like? What are the things in your life that require balance?

Step 3) create a schedule. You can do this on paper or digitally but i always prefer the physical paper first and then use my phone or ipad to set reminders. Make sure that you allow for some routine in your schedule. And add room for some spontaneity. 

Step 4) ensure that you get enough sleep, water and physical activity. 

Step 5) start each day with an intention to live with balance, love, joy, peace and kindness. 

Thank you for watching. Remember that keeping a level of balance in your life is important. When your life lacks balance you will experience symptoms of anxiety, stress, physical un-wellness and other undesirable symptoms. Make your life and the balance in it, a priority. 

Remember to leave any comments, questions or requests in the comments. 

Sending love and light to all of you. Have the most wonderful day and..

 Eh! be positively happy.

Full Book on PDF 

Read the book that inspired The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. 

This is an amazing gift idea. It keeps on giving. Each one is a little different but you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. The idea is that you pay a set fee, and then the service will deliver a package of themed items at a set interval. Often it is a seasonal box, where the buyer gets one in the summer, fall, winter and spring although some have more or less. It is so fun when each box arrives. Some companies allow for customization, although I love to get surprises. 

A magazine subscription is such a versatile option for anyone on your list. There are so many different magazines out there. I remember when I was around 10 years old, my mother would get about 6 different magazines delivered to our home. I was so excited when each would arrive. One of my favourite today is New Scientist. I have included a link or you can click on the ad to get the best deal possible. If you are stuck for a quick last-minute gift this is a great option. 

For a list of the top 50 magazines click HERE. 

Gaia offers the largest online resource of consciousness-expanding videos—over 8,000 informative and enlightening films, original shows, yoga and meditation classes, and more that you won’t find anywhere else.

Right now you can get the following deal: Gaia.com $15/month or $125 per year - saves you 30%

An online course from a company like Udemy,  is a great option for anyone on your list. You can purchase individual courses, or the new option of Udemy on demand. This way the receiver can take any and all courses that he or she desires. There are courses on anything, How to Succeed on Youtube, Starting a Business, How-to-Knit, Yoga, Reiki, or anything else. 

Courses start at CA$16.99. Buy two or more and save an extra 15% on sale prices with code MULTIPLY. Sale ends Dec. 21.

11) BONUS idea 

One last idea, which is quick and easy is to make a donation for someone, on their behalf. 

The Pledge:

I (name), on this date, hereby pledge that I will be a good person.

I will follow the golden rule. I will treat others well and kindly, in the way I would like to be treated. 

I will not speak if the words I will say are not true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind. 

I will set a good example. I will react to unkindness with love and patience. 

I will be an ambassador of kindness, goodness and open mindedness. 

I pledge this to myself, my fellow humans, the creatures of this Earth and the Earth itself. This goes beyond religion, politics, economics or any other division. Together in kindness we stand, separated we fall. 

I pledge this. 

Where do I find the pledge?

You can find the pledge at the website change.org

Click HERE.

What else can I do to help?

There are a few things that you can do in order to help raise the vibration of the Earth and spread kindness. 

What are some simple ways to be kind?

• offer to help someone with a chore or task

• surprise someone with a coffee or tea

• send someone a supportive text

• like others posts and photos on social media

• Give someone a simple sincere complement

• Smile

• Make a small donation 

• Volunteer a little bit of time

According to an article Psychology Today, 

Feeling joyful has its health perks as well. A growing body of research also suggests that happiness can improve your physical health; feelings of positivity and fulfillment seem to benefit cardiovascular health, the immune system, inflammation levels, and blood pressure, among other things. Happiness has even been linked to a longer lifespan as well as a higher quality of life and well-being

So here goes. The 10 reasons you want to be happy.  

Reason one) When You are happy, you attract happy people into your life. This in turn attracts more happiness to you as you react to these positive happy people. 

Reason two) Naturally Happy people tend to depend less on external stimuli for good feelings. This leads to less drug and alcohol dependence. 

Reason three) Higher happiness and satisfaction levels are correlated with healthier BMI’s and more successful weight loss. Happy chemicals from the brains have a suppressing effect on the appetite. 

Reason four) When you are happy and doing something you love,. You enter the flow more easily. This allows you to be more productive and satisfied with what you are doing. 

Reason five) Happy people tend to have better social relationships and romantic relationships. As mentioned before, happiness allows one to look inside for good feelings and hence the happy person expects no one else to make them or keep them happy. They know happiness is an inside job. 

Reason six) Happy people are often better with money and they do not tend to spend frivolously. They are not looking to complete themselves with stuff or things. 

Reason seven) Happy people compare themselves less with others. They do not feel the need to keep up with the joneses. Comparison leads to competitiveness which stifles happiness and creativity. 

Reason eight) Happy people sleep better. They are good at processing thoughts and compartmentalizing so that thoughts do not become intrusive at night. Rest is super important for the creation and maintenance of happiness. 

Reason nine) being a happy person allows you to be more objective and see problems or issues from multiple perspectives. This is a great skill as there is always a positive side to every situation and ironically it is easier for a person who is already happy .

Reason ten) The last reason that it is a benefit to be happy is due to the Reticular activating system that says allows us to focus narrowly on one thing, combined with Hebb's law that says Neurons that fire together wire together...so if you are happy and focus on being happy and happiness, you will notices so much of it in your life. 

Problem #2

You don't know yourself. Well maybe you know yourself on the surface or on a superficial level. Knowing yourself also does not automatically mean that you understand yourself. Knowing oneself enough to be happier means understanding oneself on a deeper more meaningful level. 

Often, the surface level will mean that you know the whom, what and where of you. To realize the why and how (about your self and your motivations and desires) requires much more work.

See the chart below

                                                Surface Knowledge of the Self        

• I snack on junk food late at night.

• I'm tired all the time

• I prefer Dance music to other genres. 

    Deeper Understanding of the Self                                   

•  I snack because I don't take time through the day to eat a healthy meal.

or

•  I snack because I'm bored and/or lonely.

• I worry too much about everyone and I do not take care of myself as well as I should.

• Dance music reminds me of being in my early 20’s when I felt carefree. The bass and the fast tempo make me feel excited and alive.

Problem #7 

You think too much. 

Solution 

Back in 2010 when my first-born was only about 8 or 9 months old, my mother taught me the most useful child-rearing trick. She would tell me that it is all about distraction. When the baby wanted something dangerous, like a small Lego toy, he would cry and I would attempt to sooth him. My mom would quickly replace the tiny toy with something colourful and safe and baby would be laughing again in no time. 

The same thing goes for adults too. 

When you find yourself overthinking, distract yourself. Fill your mind with something useful, rather than useless mulling over something that you have no control over. 

5) Blogging. Writing can be a release. It is a true combination of both hemispheres of the mind. Your logical and definitive right brain provides you with ideas for blog topics that are organized and related. Your Left brain gives a creative flair to your writing. 

Everyone and brother has a blog now. The beauty of blogging? Well, the beauty of the blogging is that you can write about anything you want. See my list below. 

8 Have a Favourite Celebrity. This is a different kind of star gazing. What hobby could possibly be easier than simply liking someone? Cara and I have had so many favourites throughout the years. Take a look at each of our lists below.

How is having a favourite celebrity a hobby?

 Why is it fun to have a favorite? 

Your favourite band is touring in your town? Your favourite socialite is being added to the cast of Housewives of New York? There is an interview of your favourite celebrity chef on the Chew? When  you see an image of your fave or you hear their name it sparks a sense of excitement and interest. It becomes something with which to look forward. Set your PVR, buy a ticket or show up where your fave will be signing copies of their new book. Have fun with it. 

Another reason that it is fun to have a fave allows your inner child a little more time to come out and play. When you were a kid, you had a fave cartoon character. When you were a toddler you had a favourite character. Who was it? Was it Barney? Ernie and bert? Maybe it was Captain Kangaroo if you are from my generation. I just dated myself. When you were a kid your favourite celebrity was a fictitious being. You didn't know this but if you really think about it...it is a little bit tragic. As an adult your favourite celebrity is a real person. You could actually meet this person. That is awesome. 

10) Reading. Read anything and everything. Reading stimulates the same parts of your mind that are associated with the imagination and creative thinking. As Napoleon Hill's says in his “How to Think and Grow Rich”, there are two types of imagination. There is the Creative imagination and the Synthetic imagination. The synthetic imagination is the type of thinking that we use when we attempt to use old knowledge to solve a new problem. It requires the presence of old information or experiences that we synthesize into new ideas or plans. This is a wonderful and useful type of thinking but the true thinking that spurs authentic creativity and novel ideas is ** creativity. This can come to you in the form of an inspiration or a sudden “a ha” moment. Btw, Oprah you are a truly amazing woman, but you did NOT coin the term “a ha moment”. Teachers, philosophers and great thinkers alike have been using this concept for as long as people have been having “A ha” moments. But I digress…. 

Reading allows you to be taking input and creating output at the same time. This is a magical form of multi task. When you are truly enjoying a novel, short story or comic book you are reading each word as you create pictures in your mind’s eye. .

So what hobby will you take on?

They are all inexpensive (for the most part) and they are all easy to try with little to no prep work. When you feel your life becoming too predictable or too repetitive, you can break up the monotony with a new hobbies

By Lori Spensieri

The 30 Reasons We Fail 

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” —Paulo Coelho.

And as the author of the famous book, the alchemist, he knew something about the importance of the types of beliefs and thoughts that we keep and maintain and how these can be turned into the things and circumstances that we want to see in real life. 

Napoleon hill, in his famous book, Think and grow rich, spoke extensively on the benefits of trying, attempting and taking risks. The example that Hill often cites is Thomas Edison, having tried 9,999 ideas in trying to develope the electric light bulb only to be met with failure. Although on the 10,000th try he achieved the fruit of his efforts. The message there was that you have to really want it, your desire, with a burning passion, and then be persistent. After each failure you reassess and try again. Think of each failure as one step on a stair case, still leading you up to your goal. 

According to Napoleon hill, there are 30 potential reasons that one may find oneself in the position of not being successful, or as he puts it, one may find himself in the state of failure. 

I will read you the direct exert from his book. See the full list in the description of this videos. I have included timestamps for your convenience. I have also included an amazing checklist that you can download and use when you find yourself in a state of failure. It will help you to take an objective look at yourself. 

By Lori Spensieri