***One Powerful Step To A Happier Life

A whimsical message arrived through my email. "Dear Lord," it began. "So far today, Lord, I have done all right. I haven't gossiped, lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over-indulgent. I am very thankful for that. But in a few minutes, Lord, I am going to get out of bed. And from that point on, I am probably going to need a lot more help. Amen."

Imagine waking up each morning with deep inner peace and joy that lasts throughout the day! This type of emotional well-being is possible. While a grand miracle of instantaneous healing is always possible, for most of us transformation to a greater life is a process. The habits of twenty, thirty, or forty years, are generally not wiped away in one or two days.

However, the good news is that emotional well-being is learned, not inherited. You can increase self-confidence, decrease stress levels, move beyond depression, and find compassion and kindness in your soul. Your emotional state is not permanent and is entirely changeable.

So what does this emotional well-being look like? Imagine being less affected by relentless inner self-criticism. Picture yourself able to move beyond stress, anger, fear, or despair. Envision an inner state of expanding peace, sensitivity, compassion, acceptance, and grace. Emotional well-being means that you release yourself from resentments and regrets, and release the burden you have been carrying of past disappointments, hatreds, and jealousies.

Emotional well-being is a gift you give to yourself so that you will feel more confident and excited about your own life. Emotional well-being is not the absence of emotions. Instead, it involves a greater ability to find center and know that overall you are safe and well, even in the face of intense emotions or difficult life situations. Achieving this state of greater happiness involves accepting that life is sometimes less than desirable, we sometimes fail, people may disappoint us, and that our emotions have value.

Often, having a new awareness of what constitutes emotional well-being can sow the seeds of change. Below are 23 statements that reveal the actions that support emotional well-being. If you have searching for greater happiness and joy and working to achieve a meaningful life, read the statements below to identify where you are on your own path to emotional well-being. Then use the knowledge gained from this information to choose one area of focus and take another step forward on your own jou
ey of joyful evolution!

1. I rarely numb myself with food, alcohol, medication, or sex to feel better.

2. I support myself and don't turn on myself - even when others do.

3. I know at least 3 things that make me feel better that do not depend on another person.

4. I allow myself spontaneous movement, speech, loving touch, play and laughter.

5. I accept that I am human, knowing it's okay to make mistakes.

6. I consciously decide to dwell on desired outcomes rather than relentlessly reliving past hurts, disappointments and failures.

7. I make decisions that allow me to feel passionate and good about myself.

8. I honor my word to myself and to others.

9. I make solid decisions and follow through with actions that support my decisions.

10. I accept that I no longer believe:

• I need to be perfect.
• I must have everyone's love and approval.
• It's easier to avoid my problems than to face them.
• Life should be easy.
• Life should be fair.
• "You owe me."n • Solutions are black or white.
• Love must be earned.
• Change is easy, or change happens spontaneously.

11. I now accept difficult feelings and emotions while having the skills and self-leadership necessary to cope and regain joy.

12. I take the time to reflect, meditate, pray, or sit silently so that I can focus on the larger perspective of my life.

13. I am creative in my life, flexible and no longer rigid.

14. I feel a growing sense of assertiveness, with power over my choices.

15. I am clear on my current life direction, and I use my talents to contribute to my own joy.

16. I accept responsibility for my life, not blaming anyone for the way I feel, think, or act.

17. My inner values include self-respect, honesty, and truthfulness. This is reflected in my speech as I say what I really mean and feel.

18. I recognize I have a right to my beliefs and opinions, yet I do not have to force others to see that I am right about everything.

19. I seek excellence in self, not perfection.

20. I live within my body, more relaxed and connected to myself, breathing more fully.

21. I live in a state of acceptance of what my life currently entails, while also holding onto my dream.

22. I practice disce
ment instead of judgement. Judgement sees good/bad, right/wrong. Disce
ment recognizes "useful" and "not useful" to me right now.

23. I am in possession of genuine smiles, authentic feelings of gratitude, and am loving and receptive to love.

If you are currently feeling bad about your self, depressed, stressed, lacking confidence, and not experiencing emotional well-being, take heart. There are solutions to your situation. Many, many people have been in similar situations at one time or another - which offers proof that you too can find the emotional well-being that you are looking for. Review the above statements and choose one specific action to incorporate into your life right now that will take you one-step closer to the life of your dreams.nn