If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
Click here for audio. For audio downloading instructions, click here.
Listen now: [audio:https://raisinghappiness.com/audio/5600_DR%20CARTER_RH_WEEK2.mp3]
This Week’s Practice
(1) Break out your happiness journal, and start recording your “bright spots” throughout the day and week. Bright spots are those activities or times when you feel bliss, joy, play, fun, flow, etc.
(2) How can you add more of them to your regular life?
- For example, I feel total bliss if I wake up a few minutes early, make myself a cup of coffee, and get back into bed with a book. This is a bright spot for me, and so I actually schedule time to do it; I know I can’t stay up late the night before if I want to wake up early.
- With my kids, my bright spot is bedtime: cuddling, reading, talking about the “three good things” from our day. I miss this time when I give a talk at night, and so I reschedule it for after school: I leave work early, pick up the kids, and we read and cuddle until I need to leave for my talk.
- Sometimes we need to clone bright spots from other people, or other parts of our lives. Please post your bright spots in the discussion here so that others get ideas. Sometimes it’s not about adding something blissful to the calendar, but instead transforming existing activities, e.g., afternoons with the kids, into something that we enjoy more.
(3) Schedule your “time for bliss,” and make your intentions public. Who can support you in bringing more bliss into your life?
Previous Practices to Keep Working On
- Schedule time to take the class. You’ll get more out of class if you watch the video and plan to do the practices at the same time each week. What time is that for you?
- Find a buddy or a group. If you haven’t found someone yet, don’t give up! Use the comment section to rally support from others, and to find people near you.
Join the Discussion. Please post your response in the comment section below.
- How did the first week go for you?
- What worked? What didn’t?
- What questions do you have?
Recommended Reading:
Chapter 1, Raising Happiness. You’ll get everything from this chapter in the weekly videos, so if you are busy this week, skip the reading and focus on the practices.
Happiness is Contagious
by William Martin, from his book The Parent’s Tao Te Ching
If you always compare your children’s abilities
to those of great athletes, entertainers, and celebrities,
they will lose their own power.
If you urge them to acquire and achieve,
they will learn to cheat and steal
to meet your expectations.
Encourage your children’s deepest joys,
not their superficial desires.
Praise their patience,
not their ambition.
Do not value the distractions and diversions
that masquerade as success.
They will learn to hear their own voice
instead of the noise of the crowd.
If you teach them to achieve
they will never be content.
If you teach them contentment,
they will naturally achieve everything.
We all want our children to be happy.
Somehow, some way today
show them something that makes you happy,
something you truly enjoy.
Your own happiness is contagious.
They learn the art from you.
Have a great week, everyone!