How are you doing?

Fine?

That’s how we always answer that question, isn’t it?  Is it true though? Are you really doing fine?

I’m asking because I personally, haven’t been as fine as usual these past few months. I’ve been struggling to bounce back after two very invasive eye surgeries that kept me out of the game far longer than I had anticipated.

Fortunately, I think the worst is finally behind me as far as the surgeries go (though I still haven’t been released for all activities), but still…it has been an ordeal.

I think the thing that surprised me the most about my situation is the toll that my physical condition had on my mental well-being. In fact, if I’m being honest, I feel as though I’m bouncing back physically more quickly than I am emotionally.

Fortunately, as a trained and certified Life Coach, I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to helping clients to bounce back after setbacks. Now it’s time to try a few of these strategies out on myself.

If you find yourself feeling a little blue or off your game, pick out a few of these suggestions to implement in your own life. Emotional health is just as important (maybe even more important than) physical wellness, so don’t let it take a back seat when the going gets tough.

20 Easy-to-Implement Mental Health Boosters

1.) Take a good look at your existing self-care routine. Does it really do the trick? Do you make self-care a priority or is it something that happens only if/when there is time left at the end of your crazy, hectic day (because let’s face it, when does that ever happen)? For the next 31 days, commit to making time EVERY SINGLE DAY for some self-care.

2.) If you feel like you are a slave to your in-box, it is time to do some purging. Spend 30 minutes a day over the next week going through your email subscriptions and unsubscribing from those that don’t add any true benefit to your life.

3.) Try meditation. If you don’t think you’re the meditating type, click here for my post on meditation for non-meditators. You can also check out the site, Fragrant Heart for some beautiful guided meditations. I especially love their meditations for relaxation and stress relief.

4.) Create a “feel good” playlist that you can crank up anytime you feel a funk coming on. Might I suggest adding “Baby I’m a Star” by Prince and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by Wham to your list. What can I say? I’m a child of the 80’s.

5.) Practice conscious moments of mindfulness throughout your day. For some practical suggestions on how to do this, click here.

6.) Start using positive affirmations—they work! Click here for a downloadable printable of my faves.

7.) Make a plan to finish something that you’ve been putting off—and then get started on it. You’ll be amazed at how good it will feel to check it off your “to-do” list.

8.) Reach out to a friend. Go for coffee, grab lunch, take a walk. Spend some time reconnecting and sharing some laughs.

9.) Take a close look at what is going into your body. Do you subsist on calorie laden fast food with little nutritional value or do you nourish your body with healthy, organic fruits, veggies and lean protein? It’s nearly impossible to feel good mentally if you’re loading up on fats, sugars, caffeine and junk. The old saying “garbage in, garbage out” is true.

10.) Take a close look at what is going into your mind. Just as our physical nourishment is of critical importance to our overall well-being, so too is our mental nourishment. Turn off the negative and extremely biased nightly news programs, put down the gossip magazines and limit the gangster rap. Instead, fill your mind with positive stories, pretty instrumental music and inspiring reading material. You’ll notice a difference in your mental state almost immediately.

11.) Step outside and take a few deep breaths. Feel the sunshine (or raindrops) on your face. Fill your lungs with fresh air. While you’re outside, look up at the sky, plant your bare feet on the earth (unless it’s snowy out) and revel in the feeling of being alive.

12.) Create a sacred space that is all your own. For suggestions, click here.

13.) Try re-framing your struggles. Spend some time thinking about how your difficulties have made you stronger and more resilient. Look for the silver linings—they’re there, you just need to look.

14.) Go on a social media detox. Spend 48 hours with no Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat etc. Instead of spending hours looking at other people’s highlight reels, invest that time in yourself. Go for a walk, give yourself a pedicure, relax with a good book, etc. The images that you see on social media are not real life, but the moments that you carve out for yourself are.

15.) Create your own vision board. Not only is this a fun activity, it can be a powerful tool for creating the life that you most long to live. For more information on how to create and use your own board, click here.

16.) Read something inspirational for a change. Books are great for escaping into a world of fantasy, but they can also provide real inspiration and practical advice for living a truly FabYOUlous life. For a list of some of my favorite personal development books click here.

17.) Enjoy a night out with yourself. Learn to enjoy your own company without feeling weird about it. Take yourself to dinner and a movie, peruse a bookstore or check out a local band…whatever sounds fun to you—do it. For other suggestions on how to enjoy your time with yourself, click here and here.

18.) Tap into your creativity. You are creative–whether you think you are or not. We all are. Sometimes it just takes some intentionality to tap into that creativity. Click here for some creative ways to express your creativity.

19.) Adopt an attitude of gratitude. Yes–the topic of gratitude has been a bit overdone and had been covered by just about everyone. That’s because it works. It is impossible to stay in a funk when you are busy counting your blessings. If you need a little refresher on the benefits of gratitude or suggestions on how to make gratitude a habit, click here.

20.) Cultivate your own sacred, spiritual practice. This doesn’t mean going to church every Sunday or reciting ancient prayers (though it certainly can include either of these), it means cultivating a personally meaningful spiritual practice that feeds your soul and nurtures your connection to your higher power–whatever/whoever that is. Spirituality is a highly personal thing, and yet, having a spiritual practice can be immensely comforting and beneficial during difficult times. Click here for some ideas on how to discover  a spiritual practice that is right for you.

While mental health should never be taken lightly, and serious blues warrant a visit with a trained counselor; implementing a few of these quick strategies can help turn a bad day (week?) around, and if maintained over time, can lead to a prolonged sense of well-being. Give it a try–you’ve got nothing to lose…except the blues.

Ahhh March—the month of shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold and LUCK.

How lucky are you feeling this month? Are you one of those who always seems to snag the closest parking spot at the store right after hitting nothing but green lights? Does your name often get pulled for prize drawings, and your parade never get rained out?

Or are you just the opposite—someone who never seems to catch a break and often tends to get kicked when you’re down?

I’ll confess, for the longest time, I felt like the latter. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to make things go right in my life, something always came along to mess things up.

That has changed though.

No, I didn’t find a lucky four-leaf clover, nor did I uncover a genie to grant me wishes. I simply began to understand the fact that I alone, was responsible for the amount of luck in my life. Let me tell you—that one realization has made ALL the difference.

Now, I truly feel like the luckiest girl in the world, and the Universe is doing a fantastic job of supporting that feeling (I mean, I did win an all-expenses paid trip for four to Hawaii and rarely do I not get a front row parking spot).

If you are ready to get Lady Luck back on your side, try the following suggestions and then prepare to smile as you hear your friends constantly say “you are SO lucky”…then, spread the luck by sharing these tips with them as well.

Five Simple Ways to Get Lucky…

• Recognize luck for what it truly is. What most people attribute to luck is really just an ability to be open to and seize opportunity when it arises. Oprah Winfrey once said, “I don’t believe in luck. Luck is simply a matter of preparation meeting the moment of opportunity”.

  “ Luck is simply a matter of preparation meeting the moment of opportunity —OPRAH WINFREY

  I have found this to be true in my life as well. Yes—I felt incredibly lucky when I won the trip to Hawaii, but I wouldn’t have won it if I hadn’t taken the opportunity to enter the contest. I had also (a few months earlier) created a vision board that had a beautiful photo of Waikiki beach on it. That image had ingrained into my subconscious and helped me to recognize and act upon the opportunity to enter the contest when it arose. Yes—there was some chance involved, however; I never could have won if I hadn’t envisioned a tropical vacation and then taken the initiative to enter the contest.
• Be the rising tide. There is an old saying that says “a rising tide lifts all boats”. When we work for the betterment of not just ourselves, but for others as well, we become a powerful magnet for luck. Not only do we create an atmosphere of cooperation and interconnection, we build bonds with others who will want to support us when they are able. This doesn’t mean that we should be generous to others just so they will feel indebted to us, it simply means creating a community where luck and abundance are generously shared and therefore allowed to be manifested more freely.
• Practice gratitude. For many of us, our natural bent is to notice when things are wrong, broken or unfair. This is why adopting a daily gratitude practice is so important. Gratitude is the one surest way to bring luck, abundance and joy into our lives. When we make a conscious effort to express gratitude for the good things in our lives, we (by way of the Law of Attraction) naturally attract even more good things. Additionally, taking the time to appreciate our many blessings might just help us to realize how truly lucky we already are.
• Put yourself out there. Often, we get so conditioned to our same old routine—day in and day out—that we forget that there is a whole wide world out there just waiting for us to come play in it. The more we expand our sphere of experiences and relationships, the more opportunity we have to find lucky breaks, make meaningful connections and discover new paths. Sometimes luck is waiting for you to step outside of your comfort zone and do a little exploring.
• Tell negativity to take a hike. It is impossible to invite more luck, abundance and good fortune into your life if you are filling your mind, body and spirit with negativity. If you truly want to get lucky, you need to take a hard look at the substances and influences that you are allowing into your being. Do you fill your body with nutritious, energizing food or are you addicted to fast-food drive-ins and alcohol? Do you waste away in front of a television, watching mind numbing reality TV shows or do you fill your mind with content that encourages creativity and personal development? How about your social circle? Is it filled with people who encourage you and inspire you to be the best person that you can be or do you hang out with people who are dishonest, negative and going nowhere in life (if you tend more toward the latter, you might want to read this post on setting strong personal boundaries). So much of our experience of life can be molded by the influences that we allow into our consciousness. If your luck seems to have run out, it might be time to start cleaning up your act. Rid your surroundings, your body and your psyche of negativity and just watch how things begin to change for the better.

You truly don’t have to have been born under a lucky star or find a field of four-leaf clovers to turn your luck around. The luck that you experience in your life is entirely created by you and your own choices.

“ The luck that you experience is entirely created by you and your own choices —MELISSA VENABLE

Once you recognize that fact and begin taking steps to raise your vibrations (more suggestions here) and take accountability for your thoughts, words and actions, you’ll soon start to feel like the luckiest person you know.

Today truly is your lucky day…click the image below to receive our two most popular ebooks for FREE

Valentines Day is upon us which means that everywhere you look there are sappy images of lovey-dovey couples doing lovey-dovey things together.

While I’m a big fan of love, I don’t necessarily think that you have to be coupled up in order to live a rich and FabYOUlous life. In fact, I think that there is genuine value in learning to love your own company. I’ve written an entire post on the Joys of Masturdating that details the benefits of enjoying solo activities, but if you’re a little stumped for ideas, here is a fantastic list to get you started. Best of all–not only are these activities fun, they can also help to boost self-confidence and help you connect with your soul’s desires. Additionally, learning to value your own company can enhance your other relationships because having a solid, foundational relationship with oneself is the critical bedrock upon which all other relationships are built.

“ Having a solid, foundational relationship w/oneself is the bedrock upon which all other relationships are built. —MELISSA VENABLE

Solo Activities for Connecting with Your Soul’s Desires

• Grab your favorite book and head to a coffee shop for some uninterrupted reading.
• Take a cooking class to discover new types of cuisine.
• Visit a nearby town for a day. Explore new shops, eat at a new cafe etc.
• Learn to knit. Click here for a link to a fun slipper pattern (and a link to a simple how-to-knit tutorial for absolute beginners!)
• Binge watch a great Netflix series without feeling guilty for it.
• Volunteer your time at a local nonprofit. Might I suggest The American Red Cross?
• Start a garden. If outdoor space is limited, try creating your own indoor succulent garden. Click here for an easy tutorial.
• Learn something new by signing up for an online course through Udemy. There are literally thousands of courses to choose from–you’re sure to find something that appeals to you.
• Head to the make-up counter at your local mall and try a fresh, new look
• Head outdoors with a warm blanket and cup of hot cocoa for some nighttime star gazing.
• Create a new look in your home by rearranging the furniture and adding some fresh accent pieces.
• Learn a new language. There are plenty of online courses/apps that can help facilitate this.
• Visit your local library.
• Learn how to play an instrument.
• Do a jigsaw puzzle.
• Go on a solo travel expedition.
• Create a Vision Board. Click here for an explanation as to why and how.
• Explore a nearby hiking trail.
• Go to an afternoon showing of a movie you’ve been wanting to see. Be sure to buy yourself a large popcorn.
• Grab a handful of quarters and head to a local arcade.
• Take an art class. Don’t worry about being good.
• Learn how to design a website.
• Try paint-by-numbers.
• Try a fitness class that you wouldn’t normally attend.
• Try prepping all of your meals for a week.
• Treat yourself to a spa day.
• Hire a Life Coach to help you experience new levels of success and fulfillment. Click here for information on my coaching programs.
• Challenge yourself by taking a rock climbing class or signing up for an obstacle run like the Tough Mudder.
• Offer to babysit for an overwhelmed mom.
• Take $20 to a local thrift store and try to fashion a new outfit for yourself.
• Go for a bicycle ride around your neighborhood.
• Sign up for a weekend meditation retreat.
• Get a tattoo.
• Get up early to find a nice spot to watch the sun rise.
• Test drive your dream car.
• Attend a performance by your local symphony, ballet troupe or acting guild.
• Have some professional photos taken of yourself.
• Order in and enjoy a quiet night at home.
• Visit your local farmers market and create a healthy meal with your purchases.
• Make some new four-legged friends by volunteering your time at a local animal shelter.
• Indulge in a pampering bubble bath. Make it even more luxurious with scented candles and fragrant bath bombs.
• Visit a local museum.
• Start a DIY project.
• Give yourself a mini spa day with a do-it-yourself manicure, pedicure and facial.
• Expand your musical horizons by attending a musical performance (or purchasing a CD)  in a genre that you don’t usually listen to.

Start by picking five activities that sound fun to you and then begin to expand further outside of your comfort zone. Before long, you’ll discover that flying solo has real, tangible benefits that can’t be replicated when coupled up.

Could it be possible that the Beach Boys of 1966 had a deeper understanding of Universal laws than most of us do in 2018? I mean, clearly their hit song Good Vibrations was about a girl–but that girl definitely knew how to put out some good vibes and attract the guys.

I have no idea how well versed the Beach Boys were in subjects like quantum physics or magnetic frequency, however, it’s clear that they knew a little something about the effects that good vibrations have on attraction and (in their words) “excitations”. In fact, whether they knew it or not–the Universal Law of Vibration is one of the most powerful laws impacting our lives in every single moment of our existence.

In simple terms, the Universal Law of Vibration states that every particle in the universe is in constant motion and carries energy within it. This law applies to everything from giant planets, stars and moons to the pencil on your desk and the chair under your butt. This isn’t just a bunch of new age woo-woo, this is actual science as there are high-powered microscopes that are able to see the vibrational energy of even solid objects. What’s more–not only do all objects vibrate, they vibrate at different frequencies and, thanks to the Law of Attraction (for an overview of all 12 Universal Laws, click here), objects with a high vibrational frequency are attracted to other items with high frequencies (the same is true for objects with low vibrational frequencies–they attract other low vibe objects/experiences). High vibe objects, experiences and emotions are those that elevate our lives to higher levels of joy, contentment, love and compassion, while low vibes will make us feel tired, stuck, lethargic and unenthused. If you’re curious as to how you’re vibing, here is a checklist to guide you…

You’re stuck in a low-vibe state if…

• You feel physically unwell/unfit
• You continually seem to make poor life choices
• You feel stuck in an unfulfilling existence
• Your relationships are dysfunctional
• You experience chronic pain
• You have no energy and feel a constant sense of lethargy
• Your finances are a wreck
• You have a difficult time trusting yourself or others
• You often experience feelings of resentment or jealousy
• You seek out unhealthy means of self-soothing (drugs, alcohol, sex, cigarettes, food, etc.)
• Your life lacks direction or purpose
• You watch a lot of violent multimedia
• You are needy or high maintenance–expecting others to take care of you because you are incapable of taking care of yourself
• You feel cooped up with little exposure to nature
• You struggle to feel or express gratitude

You’re enjoying a high-vibe state if…

• Smiling and laughing come easily to you
• Your relationships with others are joy-filled, meaningful and mutually beneficial
• You experience high levels of energy and physical vitality
• New opportunities often find their way to you–whether you consciously seek them out, or not
• You are able to delay gratification if doing so will lead to a better result in the long-run
• Other people are drawn to you
• You are highly creative and have lots of ideas that you’d like to pursue
• You feel that life is full of endless opportunity
• You feel divinely connected to your higher power
• You don’t take yourself too seriously
• You regularly exhibit a high level of self-discipline that serves you well
• Synchronicities and “happy accidents” happen for you on a regular basis
• You are filled with gratitude on a daily basis
• You can see the good in people and situations (even when others can’t)
• You have strong personal boundaries
• You feel as though your life has purpose and that you are following that purpose
• You regularly nurture yourself and others
• You enjoy regular time out in nature
• You are tuned in to your intuition

While these lists aren’t exhaustive, they should give you a pretty good idea as to how you are currently vibing in your life.  If your life isn’t what you long for it to be, changing your vibration is one of the quickest and most effective ways to turn things around.

“ Changing your vibration is one of the quickest & most effective ways to turn things around.

If you are serious about living a life of purpose, contentment and joy, try these vibration raising techniques today and start noticing the (almost immediate) effect that they they have on your life experience. Then, once you start living your life in a more consistently high-vibe state, you’ll be able to build on that initial momentum and continue to expand your experience of good vibrations–just like the Beach Boys.

Vibe Up to Level Up

• Practice positive visualization with the help of a Vision Board. For suggestions on how to create a truly powerful Vision Board, click here. 
• Recite daily affirmations. Click here to download and print a list of powerful abundance affirmations.
• Stop dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Instead, embrace the present moment and live it to its fullest.
• Get rid of clutter in your space. Make room for fresh, new energy to come in.
• Go on a social media fast. I mean seriously–who needs to read one more angry political rant?
• Get outside into nature. Look up at the stars, take a walk through a park, breathe in some fresh air and feel your connection to all of nature.
• Practice an attitude of gratitude. Click here for practical suggestions on how to do this.
• Smile. Just the act of smiling (whether you feel like it or not) has been scientifically shown to increase one’s level of happiness. 
• Use aromatherapy to elevate your vibes. I love essential oils for this purpose. Some of my favorites include Rose, Jasmine, Lavender, Frankincense, Peppermint, Sandalwood and Juniper Berry. If you’d like to learn more about essential oils and how to use them, click here.
• Be generous, kind and compassionate with others. Putting these vibes out into the Universe will bring those vibes back into your own experience.
• Listen to high-vibe music. While I’ll confess that I do love death metal (don’t judge), my music of choice when I need to raise my vibration is a special kind of music called wholetones This music is recorded at various frequencies that have been shown to promote healing, feelings of well being and joy.
• Get your blood flowing with some exercise. Even going for a simple walk around your block can do wonders for your emotional state. Click here for simple suggestions on how to rock your walk.  
• Reduce the toxic load on your system. Click here for practical suggestions on how to do this.
• Shake up your chakras. If you have no idea what this means or how to do it, click here.
• Learn mindfulness through meditation. It’s not as complicated as you may think–click here for a guide to meditation that is written specifically for those who think that they can’t meditate (you can–I promise).
• Get enough sleep. No one can sustain a high vibrational level when exhausted. Click here for simple suggestions on improving your slumber.
• Forgive past hurts. You don’t have to lose the lesson, but you also don’t have to hold onto the pain. Let it go.
• Surround yourself with positive, upbeat people who model for you the kind of life that you want to live. For a closer look at the power of your posse, click here.
• Utilize the power of crystal energy. I am still a novice when it comes to using crystals, but I do believe that they can be powerful tools for increasing one’s vibrational frequency. Some top crystals for this purpose are Bloodstone, Smokey Quartz, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Aventurine, Citrine, Celestine and turquoise. If you’d like to research the power of crystals further, check out my favorite book on the subject here.
• Focus upon the positive aspects in life because what you focus on, expands
• Spend time with a favorite animal. This is good on so many levels–click here to learn more. 
• Drink plenty of water (not coffee, not soda, not even wine!)
• Own plants. They improve the flow of good energy in your home/room/office
• Find ways to express your creativity. Write, dance, sing, paint, craft…whatever delights your inner muse.
• Love. Love your spouse, love your kids, love your friends, but most importantly…love yourself.
• Connect to your higher power–whatever that means for you. For guidance on deepening your own spiritual connection, click here.
• Protect your own physical, emotional and spiritual energy by having solid personal boundaries. Admittedly, this one can be hard. For some advice on how to erect these boundaries, click here.

If some of this talk of vibrational energy sounds a little woo-woo for you, I get it. I was skeptical of the Law of Vibration too when I first heard of it, but then I experimented and the more I experimented, the more I became a believer. If you are interested in dipping your toe a bit more into this topic, check out this post that summarizes the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe and then download this powerful list of 50 FabYOUlous Resources for the Spiritually Curious. 

Finally, don’t forget to grab our two FabYOUlous Freebies by clicking the image below…

First a disclaimer…

I am not crazy. In fact, I am sometimes entirely too rational for my own good. I don’t jump onto bandwagons and I don’t readily accept things to be true just because someone says that they are. I like to research, quantify and form my own rational opinions about things.

That being the case, I have always considered the “new age” movement to be a bit too wackadoo and “woo woo” for my logical sensibilities.

Something inside of me is shifting though. It started subtly…intuitive hunches that turned out to be correct, synchronistic happenings that were just a little too coincidental to be explained, etc. Then, those experiences grew into something more. As I became more and more open to the idea that maybe the Universe had things to offer that I hadn’t previously considered, more and more of those experiences began to manifest in my life. I’ve had complete strangers tell me things about myself that they couldn’t possibly have known without some otherworldly guidance (as I’m typing this, I realize how crazy that sounds but I also know that it is TRUE), I’ve felt the astounding (and very, very real) physical effects of an energy healing session (for a very basic introduction into energetic healing via the chakral system, click here), and I have manifested incredible experiences (like an all-expenses paid trip for four to Hawaii for seven nights) seemingly out of thin air.

No, I am not crazy; but I’m also not stupid. If something shows up in my life and seems to have the power to effect real and lasting positive change–I’m going to look into it. So…that’s what I’ve done. I’ve dipped my toe into many of the offerings that this new consciousness offers and though I don’t necessarily buy into everything (astral-projection is probably never going to be my jam); I have become awakened to the fact that there are forces at work that I can’t explain, and have accepted the fact that just because I can’t explain them doesn’t mean that they aren’t real.

With so much information out there, the researcher in me needed a logical place to focus my attention, so I decided to start at the very beginning, with a study of the Spiritual Laws of the Universe. This study has led me to the realization that I have been experiencing many of these laws for years, but simply didn’t have the vernacular to explain them or perspective from which to comprehend them. How about you? Read through the explanation below of the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe and see if any of them resonate with you. If you find that your interest is piqued, check out my list of resources for newbie spiritual seekers here.

The 12 Spiritual Laws of The Universe and What They Mean in Practical Terms

I stumbled upon the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe when I googled “Law of Attraction”. I had watched the movie The Secret and was eager to learn more about this powerful law. Little did I know that the Law of Attraction was simply one law in a whole network of interconnected laws that impact every aspect of the human experience.

When you study these laws and gain a solid understanding of the concepts behind them, not only will you develop a clearer picture of your own place in the Universe, you will also become more aware of their influences upon you, and thus be better equipped to harness their power and create positive change.

1. Law of Attraction: Let’s begin with the one that most people are at least somewhat familiar with. The Law of Attraction has garnered a lot of media attention–especially since the release of the movie, The Secret. Simply put, this law states that “like attracts like”. So, for instance, if you want more friendly, loving and supportive interactions with people, you need to become more friendly, loving and supportive. When you put good, positive and high-vibe energy out into the world, that is the kind of energy that you will receive back. It goes beyond this though (because obviously…nice people will attract nice people while jerks will attract jerks). The law of attraction is also the law that allows you to manifest things (like trips to Hawaii!) into your life by getting into vibrational alignment with your desires. For a better understanding of how this vibration works, check out the next law…
2. Law of Vibration: The Law of Vibration states that every particle in the universe is in constant motion and carries energy within it. This law applies to everything from giant planets, stars and moons to the pencil on your desk and the chair under your butt. This isn’t just woo-woo, this is actual science as there are high-powered microscopes that are able to see the vibrational energy of even solid objects. What’s more–not only do all objects vibrate, they vibrate at different frequencies and (thanks to the Law of Attraction), objects with a high vibrational frequency are attracted to other items with high frequencies (the same is true for objects with low vibrational frequencies–they attract other low vibe objects/experiences). If you are truly interested in living your best, most FabYOUlous life, do all that you can to understand how this Law of Vibration works and then, make it your mission to live your life in as high-vibe a way as possible You’ll know that you’re vibrating at a higher frequency when you feel more joyful, experience increased intuition and are able to manifest your desires more easily. (check out the resource sheet for suggestions on how to raise your vibration)
3. Law of Divine Oneness: I started with the Law of Attraction because that is the law that gets the most buzz and that people are more familiar with. However; I probably should have started with the Law of Divine Oneness because this law truly is the foundational spiritual law that all others are built upon. Simply put, the Law of Divine Oneness states that everything in the universe is interconnected. In other words, every word, thought, desire, belief, action and choice that we have, impacts the world. Sometimes the impact is immediate and obvious. Other times, the impact may take a while to be felt, or may never be felt at all (however, according to this law—everything does have an impact, whether we experience it personally or not). Understanding this law and living in accordance with it, not only makes us more powerful, it also makes us more empathetic and ultimately, kinder to those with whom we are sharing this human experience.
4. Law of Inspired Action: Out of all the different spiritual laws, I think that this law is my favorite. I also feel that this law is the one that left a lot of people wondering why on earth they didn’t magically manifest the beautiful beach house that they put on their vision board after watching The Secret. You see, the Law of Inspired Action is the law that supports the vibrational work of the Law of Attraction. The two laws (three really, when you include the Law of Vibration) really do all work in tandem. Basically, the Law of Inspired Action states that in order to receive the desires of our hearts, we must not only raise our vibrational level, we must also compel ourselves to take inspired action. My magical Hawaiian trip is a fantastic example of how this law works.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               After watching The Secret, I made a vision board and on this vision board, I placed an image of a beautiful beach with a city nightscape behind it. I had no idea what beach it was, or where in the world it was located—all I knew was that that every time I looked at that image, I was happy, and I could easily imagine myself and my family frolicking around in the water of that beach. Well, shortly after making that vision board, I received an email from Red Lobster (what can I say—I love their Cheddar Bay Biscuits) and along with their regular coupon offerings, they also announced their nationwide Lobsterworthy contest which had as a grand prize, an all-expenses paid trip for four for seven nights to Hawaii. Now, I am not normally someone who enters a bunch of online contests (like never really), but since the beach scene from my vision board was at the top of my mind at the time, I took a shot and entered. I took inspired action without realizing at the time that that was what I was doing. I suppose that I don’t need to tell you who won that nationwide contest, do I? Yep—I did. My entire family and I got to spend a glorious week on the island of Oahu and it was all paid for by Red Lobster. We got to enjoy a Dolphin Swim experience, a Hawaiian Luau, a sunset jazz cruise in the harbor…all without spending a dime of our own money (other than our souvenirs—which we bought a ton of since we weren’t spending any money on the actual trip!) The craziest part was that on one of the last nights of our trip, we happened to be strolling along Waikiki Beach when I glanced back at the city of Honolulu behind us and that’s when it happened. That was the moment that I realized that I was looking at the exact cityscape that was in my photo on my vision board. There were a few very distinct looking buildings that made it impossible to mistake that beach scene from any other beach scene. THAT was my beach from my vision board—and I was currently frolicking in its waves with my family. I cannot even begin to tell you the feeling that swept over me when I made that realization. I literally got chills and felt such an overwhelming sense of “holy shit” that I couldn’t talk or move for several minutes—I just stood there, my toes in the surf looking back at the exact image from my vision board. To this day, thinking about that moment still fills me with such a sense of awe at how the Universe works, and serves as a constant reminder as to the power of this Law of Inspired Action. 
5. Law of Correspondence: The Law of Correspondence links directly back to the Law of Divine Oneness. The premise of this law deals with prominent patterns that are repeated (in both large and small ways) throughout the universe. An example of this can be seen in the spiral pattern that reappears numerous times and places throughout the galaxy, as well as in the teeniest of sea shells. Try noticing recurrent patterns in your own life (and in your ways of thinking) and consider how they may be repeated elsewhere in the world. As you do this, you can also consider ways in which you can create new patterns that will have a larger impact in your life and in the world.
6. Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy: We can’t necessarily see this law, but we can definitely benefit from it. The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy tells us that everything around us is in a constant state of flux. We can’t see this because the “flux” is often happening on a cellular or atomic level. Despite not being visible, this law is important because it teaches us that we have the power to trigger positive changes within our environment and the people with whom we associate. When we bring our high vibes to a situation, we can trigger positive change in everything (or everyone) around us. This is also beneficial when we are feeling down or low-vibe—exposing ourselves to encouraging and energetic, high vibe friends or taking part in enjoyable activities can naturally trigger positive energy transmutation within our own psyches.
7. Law of Compensation: This law basically tells us that we reap what we sow—we will get back that which we put out. It is similar to the Law of Attraction except that the Law of Compensation states that the compensation can come in many different forms. An example of this could be lottery winners. It might appear as though winning the lottery would be a fantastic reward. The Law of Compensation however; shows that this isn’t always the case because a vast amount of wealth often leads to a life of ruin. Compensation (in all its forms) can make or break a person depending upon how that individual has lived his/her life. Again—we reap what we sow. This law should serve as a reminder to us that we need to be mindful of how we treat others, and our planet.
8. Law of Relativity: You’ve heard (and have probably used) the phrase “it’s all relative”, right? Well, that is the Law of Relativity in a nutshell. This law simply states that all things are neutral when viewed in isolation. No person, situation, circumstance or experience is deemed good or bad, until it is compared to another. For example, you might be feeling a bit under the weather because you’re fighting a cold. This seems bad until you compare it to someone who is in a desperate battle against an aggressive form of cancer. It’s all relative. By keeping this law in mind, we can remain conscious of the fact that there are always multiple perspectives for any given situation. Even the person battling cancer can feel that their situation is better than a healthy person’s if they are surrounded by people who love and support them while the healthy person’s life is lived alone and devoid of love. Again—it’s all relative.
9. Law of Gender: Despite its name, this law has very little to do with biological sex. Instead, it refers to two very different types of energy. Sometimes referred to as masculine and feminine energy, these energy types have also been called yin and yang, order and chaos (it cracks me up that the energy of chaos is usually attributed to female energy), anima and animus, etc. Each one of us (despite our biologically assigned sex) is made up of both types of energy to differing degrees. In order to live our most authentic and fulfilled lives, we must learn to embrace both kinds of energy while also finding a sustainable balance between the two.
10. Law of Cause and Effect: This is one of the most straightforward laws of the Universe. Basically, it tells us that every action has a corresponding reaction. We already (thanks to the work of Sir Isaac Newton) know how this law works in the world of physics—but it can also be applied to spiritual aspects of our nature and of the Universe. Simply put, your spiritual life, emotional state and vibrational level can impact the world around you, causing positive or negative reactions. Similarly, your physical environment can impact on your spirituality, whether for good or for ill.
11. Law of Polarity: When contemplating this law, the most important thing to keep in mind is that everything in this universe has an opposite and that it is the existence of these opposites that allows us to comprehend and give meaning to life. As an example–it is the difficult times in life that help us to better appreciate the good times. By being mindful of this law, we can better learn to cope with and remain resilient during times of trouble or use our time of prosperity to carefully plan and prepare for times of lack.
12. Law of Rhythm: This law is also sometimes called the Law of Perpetual Motion because it focuses on movement—particularly referring to the fact that all things come in cycles. This law is very evident in nature as we witness the changing of the seasons, lunar cycles or even the perpetual daily cycle of sunrise to sunset. It is also present in the human body’s aging process as well as the differing stages of a person’s life. Maybe today is a busy season of working and sowing seeds so that you’ll be able to rest after a season of harvest. Or perhaps you’re enduring a difficult season; this law can help provide the perspective necessary to understand that a better season is coming.

There is truly so much to learn when it comes to this new consciousness and I am still just testing the waters. Nonetheless…I am astounded at how much of the information that I’m gathering, genuinely resonates with my spirit. I will be posting more regarding my discoveries, but this basic understanding of the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe seemed like a logical foundation upon which to begin building. Again, if this realm of new-age consciousness is something that you find intriguing, click here to download a free ebook full of resources for the newbie spiritual seeker.

Mindfulness is such a popular buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean, and more importantly–how do we obtain it?

I’ll be the first to confess-the whole concept of mindfulness, is one that intimidated me for a long time. In my mind, I equated mindfulness with hours spent on a meditation pillow, doing nothing but breathing; and frankly, that sounded really, really boring to me. Thankfully, after studying the topic a bit more, I’ve come to a much clearer understanding of what mindfulness really is and how to incorporate it into my life in small, intentional doses throughout the day. These simple tweaks have allowed me to seamlessly integrate mindful moments into my schedule and reap the benefits of a clearer, more aligned, mind, body and spirit.

If you, (like me), have a non-stop life, but still long for a more mindful existence, try incorporating a few of these simple techniques into your day.

Simple Steps to Daily Mindfulness

• 6:30 A.M.–Start your day in a mindful way. Rather than hitting the snooze button four times before rising, get up immediately and open your window blinds. The sunlight will help to wake up your senses. Next, make your bed mindfully by setting your intentions for the day as you smooth your sheets and plump your pillows. Finally, as your going through your normal morning routine, use the time to mentally set the tone for the coming day. I like to think of things that make me smile while I’m brushing my teeth and recite my daily affirmations while putting on my makeup.
• 7:00 A.M.–Take your joe outside. Summer mornings are the perfect time to slow down a bit and savor the flavor of your morning cup of coffee. Feel the warmth of the mug in your hands and the warmth of the sun on your face as you step out onto your porch (balcony, back yard…whatever) and sip your favorite brew. If you live somewhere that makes this difficult (a high-rise apartment building for example), you can still mindfully enjoy your coffee by sipping it near an open window with fresh air wafting in. Be sure to take a few moments to enjoy the aroma of your coffee before taking a sip and then, truly savor your first few swallows.
• 7:30 A.M.–Don’t inhale your breakfast. Again, slow down. Instead of shoving a stale bagel in your mouth as you head out the door in the morning; make the effort to actually enjoy your breakfast. If this seems impossible to you, start your planning the night before by setting out your plate and utensils and having your food ready for preparation. Not only will this allow you to truly enjoy your food, research has shown that eating mindfully also helps to improve digestion and regulate appetite.
• 10:30 A.M.–Mid morning moment of awe. While it might be difficult to step outside and marvel at the beauty of nature if you work in a cubicle in a big city office, you can still sneak in a moment or two of awe. Simply click here to view tons of gorgeous scenery photos that will allow your mind to relax while you take a few moments to re-center yourself and slow your breathing a bit.
• 12:00 P.M.–Enjoy a quiet lunch by yourself. Sure, it’s fun to grab lunch with your besties, and occasionally, it is important to have a working lunch with a client. When possible however; try to enjoy your lunch with a side order of peace and quiet. Take a good book with you (might we suggest this one?) and find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Drink some cold water (or hot tea if it is winter time) and just enjoy your own company as you enjoy your meal.
• 3:00 P.M.–Mid afternoon appreciation. Mid afternoon is the hardest time of the day for me. In order to bring a little mindfulness to my mid-afternoon slump, I’ve set a reminder on my phone to beep (or vibrate) every day at 3:00. When my reminder goes off, it is my trigger to take a look around me and think of something that I’m thankful for. Yesterday, it was the space heater under my desk (the air conditioner in our office is RIDICULOUS) that I was most thankful for, but other days it might be the fact that the weather outside is beautiful or that the copier didn’t jam on me as I was printing my workshop handouts. Just taking a moment to be still and give silent gratitude is often enough to re-align my heart and mind in a mindful manner.
• 5:00 P.M.–Create a calm commute. I’ll confess, my commute home in the evenings after work had become so routine that I sometimes barely remembered the drive. I mean, I’m sure that I used my turn signals appropriately and obeyed the traffic laws, but honestly; everything had become so rote that I could seriously drive for miles without even thinking about what I was doing. In order to take back my drive time in a meaningful way, I’ve created mindfulness “anchors” that serve as reminders to come back to the present, take a deep breath and fully re-engage with my mind and body. For me, these anchors are red lights. Whenever I come to a red traffic light, I tell my mind to stop and come back to itself. If your commute is on a bus or subway, you can use the dings at stops as your anchor or perhaps, a certain stop along your way can serve as your anchor. No one needs to know about your mindfulness practice since it is something that takes place internally–so don’t worry about what other commuters are thinking of you.
• 10:00 P.M.–Wind down with intention. As you start to prepare for bed, spend some time connecting with your spirit. Do five minutes of meditation (for some of my favorite guided meditations, check out fragrantheart.com) and maybe some light stretching. If you feel as though you need more help with unwinding, take a warm bubble bath with some lavender essential oil and allow your body to relax and your mind to release the tensions of the day. Once you’ve relaxed a bit, allow yourself to mindfully observe the shimmer of the bubbles and inhale the fragrance of the lavender; bringing your attention fully to the present moment.
• 10:30 P.M.–Lights out. As you lay your head on your pillow, allow yourself a few final moments of mindfulness before you drift off to sleep. Notice how comfortable your bed feels and how soothing the dark is. Stay in the present moment without worrying about tomorrow’s to-do list or the things that went wrong earlier in the day. Just allow your spirit to enjoy the calm as your body slips into slumber.

While getting into the groove when it comes to practicing mindfulness might take a little time (hence the reason it’s called a practice), mindfulness is a skill that can be learned, and therefore, the more you practice it, the more you will naturally begin to develop the ability. Really, it’s not the being mindful that is difficult–it’s the remembering to be mindful that’s the challenge. By implementing these mini mindfulness moments into your normal routine, you’ll begin programming your mind to remember them automatically, making you naturally more mindful of mindfulness.

What is it about Scandinavians? They consistently rank as among the happiest people on the planet and they have some of the funniest sounding words (remember my recent post on Hygge, yep that’s a Scandinavian word too). Still…funny vocabulary aside–the rest of us on planet earth could certainly benefit by taking note of some of these Scandinavian words, and incorporating into our routines, the concept that the words define–like for instance, the word sisu.

Sisu (pronounced see-soo) is a life philosophy that is a central part of the collective discourse of the small country of Finland. While some equate sisu with stamina, perseverance or grit, it’s really more than that. In fact, sisu can be thought of as the psychological gear that kicks in where perseverance leaves off. It is essentially, the process of positive adaptation to stress or a tragedy. It is a reserve of emotional/physical power that enables extraordinary action to overcome mentally or physically challenging situations. It’s what kicks in when you pull a quad in mile nine but still make it to the finish line of your half-marathon, or you make the decision to leave a dangerously toxic marriage even  though you’re not sure where you’ll go or how you’ll support yourself. Basically it’s what happens when you feel like you just can’t go on, and yet…you do.

Nurturing and strengthening our sisu “muscles” before we need them will help to ensure that when the unthinkable happens (because at one time or another–it will happen…for all of us), we are more prepared to dig deep and deal with it. The Finns believe that one of the best ways to build up our sisu is to engage in activities that take us outside of our comfort zones–because let’s face it, we won’t need our sisu when we are tucked safely within our cozy little worlds where everything is predictable and easily managed. In fact, there is a Finnish proverb that speaks directly to this willingness to push past our normal limits…

“ You can never cross the ocean until you can find the courage to lose sight of the shore —FINNISH PROVERB

Don’t worry though–stepping out of your comfort zone is something that you can learn to do gradually. For example, if you tend to be a bit shy, you don’t necessarily have to walk up to your crush and immediately ask for a date; you can just start out by smiling and saying hello. You can also expand your comfort zone by simply doing everyday things in different ways. Try taking a different route to work in the morning, listen to music that is outside of your norm or try a new dish at your favorite restaurant instead of your usual.

In addition to taking practice steps outside of our comfort zones as a way of building our sisu reserves; we can also better prepare ourselves for challenging moments by doing everything in our power now to make sure that we are as mentally, physically and emotionally stable as possible. Tending to our own well being, truly is the best defense that any one of us has against those curve balls that life sometimes throws. This means, making sure that we are getting adequate amounts of sleep, watching what we eat, getting enough exercise/movement, allowing for moments of rest and relaxation, nurturing our relationships and tending to our spirits. Self care also means that we make an effort to get centered and silence all of the “noise” going on inside our mind. This can be done through meditation, prayer or deep breathing exercises. By practicing mindfulness in this way, we will be better able to clear our mind and calm our thinking when faced with moments of stress or turmoil. 

The bottom line is this…none of us wants to reach the point in life where something is so physically or emotionally overwhelming that we feel like we can’t go on. However; like it or not, very few of us make it through life without experiencing those feelings at least once. If we work now to keep ourselves emotionally and physically strong while also taking steps to bolster our internal strength and clarity of mind, we give ourselves every opportunity to not just make it through those moments, but to thrive in spite of them. Nurturing your sisu now will ensure that you have it when you need it.

An important aspect of building up your sisu is to ensure that your body is properly energized. Click the image below to receive our free ebook, “50 FabYOUlous Ways to Energize Your Life”. As a bonus, you’ll also receive our uber-popular ebook, “365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers” for free.

Oh burnout. It catches up with all of us at one time or another. Maybe we’ve run ourselves ragged trying to keep up with kids, work, mortgage payments…life. Or, perhaps our burnout is the result of chasing our dream, but chasing a little too hard. I’ve experienced both.

The crazy thing about burnout is that it isn’t always easy to recognize. We may feel a little cranky or out of sorts, or maybe we just have a hard time dragging ourselves out of bed in the morning. It comes on subtly and without warning; but without proper tending, burnout can suck us into spiral of depression, lethargy and disconnection that can be incredibly difficult to escape.

The key to overcoming burnout is to reignite your passion for life. There is a huge difference between being “on fire” and being burned out; and all you need to do to go from the latter to the former is to rediscover your spark and then, throw some fuel on it.

“ There is a huge difference between being ‘on fire’ and being burned out —MELISSA VENABLE

The trick is to recognize the early symptoms of burnout and then treat the underlying cause of those symptoms. Here are seven easy ways to do just that…

7 Ways to Light Your Fire When You’re Feeling Burned Out

1. Take your life off of auto-pilot. I fully believe that the Universe (God, Spirit…whatever identifier resonates with you) is constantly giving us signs and guidance as to what path our life should take in order for us to fulfill our divine purpose. The problem with burnout, is that it causes us to follow the path of least resistance in life, which, in turn, causes us to miss out on these “Heavenly hunches”. We go through our days on auto pilot–doing the exact same things in the exact same way…day after day after soul-sucking day. The Heavens could open glorious doors of opportunity for us, but we wouldn’t notice them because we’ve got our heads down, trudging our way through our day without ever bothering to look up and consider any different possibilities for our life. In order to re-light the fire of our passion, we must learn to break ourselves out of this stagnate, auto-pilot mode. Go out with friends, start a new book, try a new recipe, create something with your hands, take a weekend getaway…just do something new and different. By trying something new, we begin to gradually pull ourselves out of the quicksand of stagnation that is a hallmark indicator of burnout. The more we begin to incorporate new experiences into our lives, the more fun we’ll start to have and the more fun we have, the more fuel we’ll be pouring on the fire of our passion.
2. Stop forcing things. One sure-fire way to know that you are experiencing burnout, is the feeling that everything is hard and that you have to force yourself to make anything happen. You feel like you are constantly facing an uphill battle with one arm tied behind your back. This particular breed of burnout often comes as a result of the “hustle hard/slay all day” mindset. We have big dreams for our life but we allow ourselves to burn out in the pursuit of those dreams. I’ll confess–this is my particular flavor of burnout–the one that I am most prone to experiencing. I love–make that LOVE–working on my dreams and goals. I love it so much in fact, that I sometimes let it go to an extreme and only slow down when I am forced to slow down because I am physically and emotionally exhausted (and sometimes sick). What I am gradually starting to understand however; is that life feels much lighter and my goals actually come to fruition much more easily and quickly when I stop trying to force things and instead begin to allow things. In order to allow this allowing, we must learn to center ourselves and get aligned with our spirit and highest calling. For me, the easiest way to tap into this state of allowing is through meditation. If meditation is new to you, click here for a beginner’s guide to meditation and mindfulness.
3. Start expecting miracles. While under the black cloud of burnout, all we see is difficulty and struggle. In order to remedy this, we must open our eyes and intentionally begin looking for the miracles that surround us. One of the easiest ways to get our eyes off of our problems and on to our blessings is to begin practicing radical gratitude. It might sound overly simplistic but I have found it to be absolutely true–the more we show gratitude for the daily miracles in our lives, the more daily miracles we’ll experience for which to be grateful. Click here for several simple suggestions on how to put the power of gratitude to work in your life.
4. Expand your experience. Ever notice how much smaller your life gets when you’re experiencing burnout?  You wake up (begrudgingly), suck down some coffee, drag yourself to work, slog through your day at the office, clock out, come home, crash in front of the television and zone out until it’s time to go to bed and start the whole thing over the next day. The entire universe seems to contract in on itself and your world becomes smaller, dimmer and less engaging. In order to re-light your fire, you must find ways to expand your experience of life. Take a class to learn more about something that you’ve always been interested in, explore a town that you’ve never visited before, get together with people who inspire and encourage you–just do something to break the monotony of  burnout and rekindle the fires of passion. Action that is aligned with your soul’s purpose is the absolute fastest way to light your fire and reconnect with your passions.
5. Break old patterns of being. So often, we end up in a cycle of burnout because we repeat the same negative patterns of experience again and again. We know that our relationship with our significant other is toxic, but we keep going back because we’re too scared to try going it alone, or maybe we are suffocating under a mountain of bills that we can’t pay, and yet we soothe ourselves with some retail therapy which just ends up adding to the problem. We all have ingrained habits that we repeat, often unconsciously. The key to breaking the chains of these hard-held habits is to first become aware of their existence and then, recognize the purpose that they are serving in our lives (comfort, distraction, etc.). Next, we must take immediate action in the opposite direction of those habits. Instead of hitting the snooze button when your alarm goes off in the morning, understand that you are just using the snooze button as a way of avoiding the inevitable and instead, immediately get out of bed and open the window shades to let in some light. By taking intentional and immediate steps in the opposite direction of your deeply ingrained negative habits, you will begin to rewire your brain for action and success. For more on how to make this technique work for you, check out the book The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins.
6. Stop “shoulding” on yourself. Let’s face it, when we are burned out, we know that there are plenty of things that we should be doing. We should be working out more, we should be watching what we eat, we should turn off the TV and go for a walk instead, etc. So many shoulds, and yet so little energy or enthusiasm to do any of them. Rather than allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by all of the things that we should be doing, we will be better served if we simply choose one, tiny little should and focus on getting back on track with it. Taking one little action in the direction of one, single should is often all it takes to swing the momentum back in our favor and re-light the fire within. Once we’ve gotten a handle on that small should, we can build upon the success by tackling the next, single should. Eventually, we will discover that we have gotten back in the game and have moved from burned out to on fire.
7. Learn to rest–but don’t stop. When we find ourselves burned out as a result of pushing too hard and burning the candle at both ends, it is imperative that we learn the value of rest. However; as vital as rest is, we must learn only to rest–not to stop. Allow yourself to slow down, take a breather, take a nap, go on vacation…whatever it takes in order for you to regain your energy and enthusiasm but then…rise back up. For some great suggestions on how to truly let yourself relax and  capitalize on that downtime, click here.

While all of these suggestions can be helpful when it comes to rekindling the fires of a passionate and purposeful life, none of them will work for the long-haul if you don’t know what your purposes and passions in life are. Nothing contributes more to long-term feelings of burnout and apathy than not feeling aligned with your true calling. If you feel as though you could use a little guidance in rediscovering just who you were created to be and how to release that FabYOUlous creature to do her work in the world, check out my book, Finding FabYOUlous: A ‘Self-Help with Sass’ Guide to Finding, Celebrating and Capitalizing On the FabYOUlousness that Makes You, YOU.

Another great way to get in touch with the person that you were created to be is through the use of intentional questioning. Click the image below to receive the FREE ebook, 365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers. When you click the image and enter your information, you’ll also receive the ebook 50 FabYOUlous Ways to Energize Your Life as an added bonus.

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a word that has been around for a long time but is just starting to gain traction in the U.S. It originates from a Norwegian word that loosely translates to a sense of comfort, well-being and togetherness. It’s the cozy feeling you have when you are curled up under a blanket with a good book and cup of cocoa as the snow falls outside; or when you and your family gather around the table for a game of Uno (or better yet–Jenga with a Twist) after having shared a meal together.

The Danes are famously the happiest people on the planet (despite having terrible weather and one of the highest tax rates in the world) and one of the biggest reasons for this is the fact that hygge is a cornerstone of their way of life. This is a lesson that the rest of the world could benefit from learning. 

While most things associated with hygge are things that we typically associate with fall and winter (blankets, fireplaces, fluffy slippers, warm drinks etc.) There are ways to incorporate this sense of well-being, comfort and coziness into our spring-time routines as well. Here are seven ways to practice hygge this Spring so that intentional well-being becomes a way of life–all year long.

Seven Ways to Practice Hygge in the Spring

1.) Keep the fires burning. Fire in the fireplace is a mainstay of a hygge lifestyle. Obviously, that’s great for taking off the chill during fall and winter months, but who wants a fire once the temperature starts heating up? To keep this hygge practice going during the spring and summer months, simply take the fire outside. Grab some marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars for s’mores and build a fire in a fire pit. Invite some friends over and enjoy the comfort of camaraderie underneath the stars.

2) Keep the candles burning but swap them out. Candles add a cozy ambiance to any setting no matter what time of year. For spring and summer though, you might want to consider swapping out the spicy or woodsy scented candles for something a little lighter. Try floral scents like gardenia or rose or fruity fragrances like lemon.

3.) Bring nature indoors. Bring in some beautiful, fresh cut flowers or click here for a tutorial on how to create your own tabletop succulent garden. Not only will having some fresh plants inside make your space feel more alive–it will also help to cleanse the air since plants are natural air purifiers.

4.) Let in some fresh air. Now that the weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, it’s time to spend more time being active outdoors and getting some fresh air. It’s also time to let some of that fresh air in to our homes. Open the windows, let the fresh air in and allow the freshness of spring to invigorate your senses.

5.) Declutter. During the colder months we tend to hibernate which means more heavy blankets, pillows and throws. Spring time is the perfect time to pack those items away, and streamline our spaces. Few things create a sense of calm more quickly than getting rid of clutter and making room for new energy to circulate throughout our living areas.

6.) Lighten up. Everything seems heavier in the winter but in the spring, it’s time to lighten things up. Open the shades to let the light in, swap out dark, heavy fabrics for lighter knits and linens and replace warm, dark colors with lighter pastels and creams. Not only will this lighten up your decor, it’ll lighten your mood as well.

7.) Play some outdoor games. Whether it’s croquet, bocce ball or oversized yard Jenga, outdoor games can replace indoor games of cards and dominoes once the weather gets nicer. Enjoying time outside with friends and family, playing games while drinking some ice cold lemonade and sharing stories can create just as much connection as playing board games in front of a roaring fire while sipping cocoa.

Comfort, coziness and togetherness are key components of a hygge lifestyle and they are feelings that can be cultivated all year long with a little intentionality. Try these seven tips for a spring full of hygge based happiness.

Once you’ve added a little hygge to your life, keep building upon your success by taking steps to create a better mindset. These two ebooks are sure to help. Just click the image below to download your FREE copies of “365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers” and “50 Ways to Energize Your Life”.

I am very HAPPY to say that I live in the fourth happiest city in the U.S. (according to a study published in the book, The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons from the World’s Happiest People by Dan Buettner). However; I firmly believe that true happiness is a state of mind, not something that is dictated by your zip code.
I also happen to believe that happiness is something that we must take responsibility for consciously cultivating in our lives–it’s not just something that we stumble upon if we are lucky.

In today’s world of political mud slinging, school shootings, flu epidemics and what have you, it can be increasingly difficult to find a reason to smile. Yet, despite the difficulty, it is imperative that we make the effort because studies have shown numerous correlations between happiness levels and health and longevity.

So…what do we do when it seems that our happiness has gone packing and is nowhere to be found? Well, for starters, you can try any one (or a combination) of these 20 FabYOUlous Happiness Hacks. . .

1. Turn up your favorite jam. It doesn’t really matter if it’s hair metal, classical, hip-hop or country–what matters is how the music makes you feel. Put together a playlist of your favorite, energizing songs and keep it handy for those moments when the blues take hold. I have an embarrassing confession to make here…one of my “go-to” songs for when I need a boost of happiness is Come On Get Happy by the Partridge Family. Yes…I have the Partridge Family on my playlist. Don’t judge me–it works–give it a listen! Come On Get Happy
2. Turn down the news. It has literally been years since I’ve watched a news program or read a newspaper. Does this mean that I am woefully uninformed on current events? Nope. I still always manage to hear about important news. What it does mean though is that I am not constantly inundated with stories of murder and mayhem. Instead of the news, I regularly listen to uplifting podcasts (like Live Happy Now and Lead to Win) or read inspiring books like, oh, you know… Finding FabYOUlous or any of these amazing books.
3. Drink. Okay, settle down–this isn’t a green light for imbibing when you’re feeling low. In fact, alcohol is a terrible thing to add to the mix when you’re already feeling down (just look at your last drunk text to your ex for further proof). Instead, try downing a tall glass of good ol’ H20. As it turns out, crankiness and feelings of lethargy are early tell-tale symptoms of dehydration. For more great reasons to chug some water, click here and and then, click here for some great ways to kick your water drinking up a notch with some health and flavor boosting infused water recipes.
4. Start planning your next getaway. Who doesn’t love going on vacation? Did you know though that research shows that looking forward to a trip often brings more happiness than the actual vacation itself? Often this stems from the stress of managing vacation logistics, reservations, flights etc. If you truly want to get the most of your vacation experience, plan a relaxing vacation instead of a jam packed whirlwind of sight-seeing. Vacationers who enjoy restful and relaxing vacations tend to report higher levels of happiness while on vacation. To make this strategy work best for you, pick out a relaxing vacation spot and then enjoy yourself as you peruse photos from that location and research fun things to do. Be sure to factor in plenty of downtime too.
5. Get thyself to a beach. Since we’re on the topic of vacations, let’s consider making that next trip one that ends up at the beach. Studies show that breathing in sea air and gazing at beautiful sunsets (or sunrises if you’re an early bird) over the water are incredibly calming and good for mental health. While you plan your beach vacation, be sure to look at photos of beach scenes because just looking at photos of beautiful beaches or listening to soundtracks of crashing waves have been shown to have a positive impact upon mood and stress levels. 
6. Give of your time, talent and treasure. You know that awesome feeling that you get when you’re engrossed in a pleasurable activity (like eating chocolate or… having sex)? Well, the same areas of the brain that are activated during those activities are also activated when you give of yourself. It doesn’t matter if you donate money to a charitable organization or volunteer your time to make a difference, the simple act of “giving” boosts happiness levels by creating a sense of purpose and increasing life satisfaction. For suggestions on organizations that could use your support, check out the website Volunteer Match.
7. Celebrate someone else. Oftentimes, our feelings of unhappiness stem from feelings of not measuring up. We see someone else who is enjoying life and instead of celebrating their happiness, we succumb to feelings of “why not me?”. Instead of falling into the comparison trap, try flipping the script and summoning up thoughts of genuine joy for others. When we are able to sincerely celebrate the happiness of others, we experience what researchers call “relational positivity”.  This causes pleasure neurons in our brains to fire in response to seeing others experience joy. In simpler terms, we can literally catch someone else’s good vibes.
8. Live with an attitude of gratitude. The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness is nothing new. Mainstream media has been touting its benefits for years (thank you Oprah!) and long term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in all areas of personal well being. In fact, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have shown that an attitude of gratitude can help to ease chronic stress which leads to improved immune function and a reduction in unhealthy inflammation in the body.One simple way of cultivating a gratitude practice is to keep a daily gratitude journal. Even on the worst days, there is always something to be grateful for. For more suggestions on putting the power of gratitude to work in your life, click here.
9. Go on a complaining fast. As you begin to cultivate an attitude of gratitude, you’ll notice that your propensity for complaining will naturally start to diminish. Still, we’re human and as humans, we will still find reasons to complain. In order to combat this natural bent, try going on a 24 hour complaining fast. Even if you slip up and don’t make it through the full 24 hours without complaining, just challenging yourself in this way will bring an awareness to your complaining habit. When we are able to become more aware of our thoughts and habitual ways of being, we can train ourselves to detach ourselves from our negative thoughts and tune in to how the thought affects us. Awareness of this type can help us to pull back and reframe our thoughts in a more positive way, thereby preventing a knee jerk negative reaction.
10. Pound some protein. We truly are what we eat, so we should eat happy. When you eat foods like poultry, meat, nuts and milk, you are ingesting the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is a critical component in the production of the brain chemical, serotonin, a.k.a. the “happiness chemical” (and don’t worry, those stories about tryptophan making you sleepy–well, they’re just not true, it’s the amount of food you eat on Thanksgiving that really makes you want to take that nap). Just like anything else though, it is possible to consume too much protein, but unless you are one of those muscle heads at the gym who constantly slam protein drinks, cut carbs and participate in all manner of less than healthy practices for the sake of looking “swoll”, you likely don’t need to be too concerned about this. Just be smart and remember–everything in moderation.
11. Give three cheers for CHOCOLATE! I can’t tell you how HAPPY I am that chocolate is on this list. Numerous studies have shown that eating chocolate is a sure fire way to trigger happiness in most people; but c’mon–did we really need a study to tell us that? Still, researchers speculate that the flavonoids and plant compounds found in cacao (a key ingredient in chocolate) play a role in chocolate’s mood boosting capabilities. For added benefit, make dark chocolate your chocolate of choice, because research published in the journal, Nutrients has found that dark chocolate not only makes us happy, it improves our concentration and boosts our memory too. 
12. See the light. When you wake up in the morning, be sure to open your window shades and let the light shine in. Then, take a stroll around your block during the afternoon to get some more natural sunlight. Exposing yourself to natural light triggers your body to stop producing melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy) and promotes wakefulness. Allowing your skin to soak up a bit of the sun’s UVB rays will also help your body to produce much needed Vitamin D. Plus–there’s a reason that so many places on the Top 10 Happiest Cities in the U.S. list just happen to be in areas with a lot of sunlight–sunshine just makes us feel cheerier; it’s as simple as that.
13. Commit a Random Act of Kindness. One of my all time favorite quotes comes from Mark Twain; he said that “the best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up”. As it turns out, Twain was on to something because science now shows that doing simple acts of kindness for others can improve overall life satisfaction in as little as 10 days. These acts can range from the small (holding the door for a stranger) to the more elaborate (planning a surprise vacation for your spouse) though simple, thoughtful acts committed on a regular basis seem to pack more happiness punch than larger, more extravagant (less regular) acts.  One of my personal favorites happens to be paying for the person behind me’s order at a drive-through. It rarely costs over five dollars (obviously I go to cheap drive-thrus) but it leaves me feeling good all day long.
14. Spend time with people who love, support and celebrate you. Nothing can suck the happiness right out of a person faster than being in the presence of someone who belittles, bullies or berates you. We all know who those people are and we likely take steps to avoid them as much as possible. What about those whose energy draining behavior is less obvious though? What about the sister whose backhanded compliments leave you feeling worse than before or the office “hot shot” who seems nice enough and yet refuses to acknowledge your existence? I refer to these individuals as “drains” because they have the power to literally drain us of our energy, enthusiasm and esteem. On the flip-side, we also (hopefully) have those people in our lives who just plain love us. They are always happy to see or hear from us, they think our ideas are awesome and they always have our backs. I call these people “sprinklers” because, just as a sprinkler helps to water the lawn so that the grass can grow, they sprinkle us with their love, thereby allowing us to flourish and grow into the best versions of ourselves. Raising our happiness levels can often be as simple as associating with the right kind of people and then making it a priority to spend time with them. Once you find your tribe of sprinklers, you can click here for some fun ideas on what to do with them.
15. Flip through a photo album. Unfortunately, our brains are naturally programmed to focus on what’s going wrong in our lives. This bent toward pessimism had evolutionary benefit back when we had to stay away from dangers like wild animals, but now that our lives are WAY more cushy (I mean, I haven’t had to fight off any bears lately–have you?), those negative thoughts take up way too much space in our brains. To combat this, we need to be proactive about filling our minds with positive images and memories. One of the quickest ways to do this is to pull out a photo alum and reminisce about good times with friends and family. I know that when I’m in the dumps, all I have to do is glance at some photos I have of a trip to Hawaii that I took with my husband and three, young adult children. Seeing the smiles in those photos (along with the gorgeous beach scenery–see item #5 on this list) always elicits a warm, fuzzy and incredibly happy feeling. To make this strategy even more effective, take some of your favorite photos out of the album and put them into pretty frames that you can place on your desk, nightstand etc. so that you can conjure up those happy memories more often. You can also click here for a fun tutorial on how to make your own vacation map frame. 
16. Get a whiff of happiness. I’ll confess, I’m no expert at aromatherapy, but I do know without a doubt that there are certain fragrances that make me happy. One is movie popcorn…love me some buttery movie popcorn. I’ve also experimented enough with different essential oil blends to know that there are many of those that elevate my mood and make me feel more energized. If you are new to the essential oil craze, I’d encourage you to visit this site and then, once you’re more familiar with what essential oils can do for you, you can try a few that are proven to have mood elevating effects. My personal favorite happiness blend is wild orange with peppermint. It sounds weird, but citrus scents have been shown to boost happiness levels while peppermint has an energizing effect. Plus, as weird as the combination sounds–it smells really good. Click here for my favorite essential oil diffuser.
17. Indulge in some pampering. Why is it that we, as women, tend to take such great care of everyone else, and yet we’ll allow ourselves to fall into complete emotional and physical exhaustion before extending a little love to ourselves? This is a tendency that needs to stop if we are going to experience regular happiness in life. While self-care is certainly important when we are experiencing the blues, it is crucial that we understand that self-care is something that should be practiced every day, and when administered regularly can help us to avoid feelings of sadness, overwhelm and exhaustion. The important thing to remember here is that our pampering should come in the form of healthy activities. When we are stressed out, it is all too easy to fall into unhealthy habits (downing an entire bottle of wine for example–or eating an entire gallon of Haagen Dazs in one setting), so prepare yourself ahead of time by having a list of healthy self-care activities that you can easily indulge in. Some of my faves include: taking a hot bubble bath, reading for pleasure, knitting, getting a massage and heading to a nearby lake with my paddle board.
18. Enjoy some flower power. On your way home from work, be sure to stop by a flower stand and grab a pretty bouquet to take home. A study from Harvard University has found that people reported feeling happier and more energetic after looking at flowers. This effect seemed strongest when flowers were viewed first thing in the morning or were displayed in a room where they spent a lot of time.
19. Walk it out. This strategy is excellent because not only will it make you feel better emotionally, it will make you feel better physically too. Physical exercise releases endorphins into our system which helps us to feel good. Best of all, this strategy isn’t reserved just for those who spend hours a day at the gym; research shows that just five minutes a day of any outdoor activity (walking, running, riding a bike, etc.) can improve your mood almost immediately.
20. Cuddle your critter. While therapy dogs have long been used to help lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression in those who suffer from PTSD or who live in nursing homes, current research now shows something that those of us with pets have long known–a few minutes with a favorite animal does wonders to reduce stress and tension thereby promoting happiness. For more great info. on the benefits of pet ownership, click here.

Just typing up this list has me feeling happier already–I hope that reading it has done the same for you. For more ideas on how to improve your life, be sure to click the image below and sign up for our TWO free ebooks, “365 Questions to Help You Find Your Answers” and “50 FabYoulous Ways to Energize Your Life”