Some of the things I enjoy about Valentine’s Day are the beautiful colors, the bouquets of flowers, the abundance of chocolate, and the focus on love. The power of love is undeniable. The ability to give and receive love makes life better. Expressions and acts of love don’t have to be bold. They can felt in quiet moments. They can be felt from a gentle touch, a kind word, or a small gesture.

Creating more loving moments towards yourself and others will change your life. Love is the glue that holds our relationships together. Extending that love to include compassion for self enables us to grow, change and give more to others.

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

— Charles M. Schultz

5 Ways to Add More Love and Compassion to Your Life

Hug Break

My husband and I were home during the big snowstorm last week. After several hours of working at our desks, Steve called out to me. He said, “Hey Honey, it’s time for a hug break!” I smiled as I got up from my desk and met him in the hallway for wonderful hug. What a simple act that left me feeling happy and loved. Did you know that the hormone oxytocin is released when we’re physically close to another person’s body? It helps us connect to others. In The Little Book Of Hygge, Meik Wiking said that oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” the “cuddle hormone,” or “social glue.” Hug someone today to increase your love and happiness quotient.

Dance Break

My mom has vascular dementia, so while we can still have conversations, words aren’t always her best mode of communication. Music is though, so we often sing and clap together, or I listen to her play the piano. She has an incredible sense of rhythm. Moving our bodies to music or dancing with others is one of the most joyful things we can do. During a recent visit with my mom, she was so energized by the music we played for her, that we ended up dancing together. It was a joy-filled moment of love and connection.

Sisters Break

This past weekend our daughter, Allison, drove from Brooklyn to visit her “baby sister,” Cassie, in Boston. Our daughters have been very close from the day Cassie was born. As a matter of fact, when Cassie was born, Allison was convinced she was her baby. And right from day one, our girls had a special bond. Fast forward 24 years later and they are still close. Each time I thought about them visiting and spending time together this weekend, my heart was filled with love and warmth. Love can be felt through the relationships we have and by thinking about and being around the loving relationships others have. Soak in the love.

Creative Break

I like to make cards and write notes. Sometimes I use my photographs. Most recently, when making Valentine’s Day cards, I decided to take out my watercolors. I used to paint frequently, but haven’t in years. It was like having a conversation with an old, comfortable friend. I just loved dipping my brush in the paints, swirling it around in the water jars, and painting on the textured paper. I had forgotten how much I loved painting. Love can be felt from the relationships we have or the creativity we engage in that touch our souls.

Mindfulness Break

I continue to engage in living more mindfully and practicing daily mindfulness meditation. Especially through meditation, the practice encourages self-compassion. I set aside time each day to focus on simple awareness of connecting my mind, body and heart. The practice encourages being curious, non-judgmental, and kind to the self. By gifting myself this time, it’s helping me to experience more gratitude, more calm, and expand the energy, focus and love I have for others.

On this day of love, this day of sharing and this day of eating more chocolate than usual, I wish each of you a very happy and love-filled Valentine’s Day. What resonates with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts about change, love and compassion. Come join the conversation!

The current installment (v13) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my latest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance.

I’ve included unique and inspiring change-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are a beautifully engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Happy Living Change

The word, hygge (pronounced hooga), has been showing up in popular culture lately. While it’s not a new word or concept, it is new to me. Meik Wiking, author and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen educates us in The Little Book of Hygge – Danish Secrets to Living Happy. He describes hygge as “an atmosphere and experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down.” Other descriptions include “coziness of the soul” and “taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things.” Denmark consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world. It seems that hygge has a positive influence for the Danes’ happiness. Hygge can be experienced through a combination of ways, which includes giving attention to the quality of light (low light, fire and candles preferred), having close, small social circles, eating comforting food and drink, wearing comfortable clothing, expressing gratitude, and spending relaxed, non-competitive time with loved ones. “Hygge is about the now, how to enjoy the moment and make the best of it.” If you’re looking to change your happiness quotient, perhaps exploring hygge will inspire you.

2. Interesting Resource - Mindfulness Change

One of the changes I’ve made this year has been learning more about mindfulness through reading, meditating, and taking a mindfulness training course. In a special edition of Time magazine, Mindfulness – The New Science of Health and Happiness, there is a terrific collection of articles about the benefits of mindfulness practice along with the science to back up those benefits. If you’re looking to reduce stress, increase focus, and be more present, the mindfulness path could be the answer. Change can begin with curiosity. That curiosity can develop into action.

3. Interesting Tech - Habit Change

Stopping bad habits and forming new ones is all about change. If you’re in the habit-change-mode, but are feeling challenged because you don’t have the help or support you need, try HabitBull. This app allows you to organize and track to either break bad habits or build positive ones. With an easy set-up, reminders, inspiring quotes and a support community, you’re just one step closer to making the changes that you desire.

4. Interesting Product – Mood Change

Have you noticed how color affects your mood? You can easily change your mood by adjusting your environment with the Luci® Color light. It’s solar powered, inflatable, and has a feature that lets you set it to a single color or cycle through all the colors in sequence. What color are you feeling today? Are you ready for a change? Light on!

5. Interesting Thought - Positive Change

One small way to change our day is to change our perspective.  Our attitude influences our experiences in positive or negative ways.

Use positive thoughts or affirmations to encourage successful outcomes. See what changes occur when you begin your day with a positive thought. 

What are your interesting finds? Which ones resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Are you hard on yourself? Do you engage in negative self-talk about the things you didn’t do or should have done or won’t ever get to? If so, it’s a good time to engage in some self-compassion. You probably are more compassionate with your family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Do you extend that same graciousness to yourself?

This month I began taking a mindfulness training course. I’m enjoying the mindfulness meditation practice along with journaling and experimenting other ways of living more mindfully. So much of what I’m learning resonates with how I have always lived. Yet with this training, I’m learning new tools and ways to connect the learning to a fuller daily living experience.

Some of the mindfulness practice centers around focusing on your breath. By developing an awareness of the breath, the inhale and exhale or the expansion and the contraction of the body, you can quiet the mind, become more relaxed, less stressed, and gain better physical and mental clarity.

As I worked on the “Breath Awareness” practice this week, there was one particular passage of the guided meditation, led by Laurence Magro, psychotherapist and mindfulness educator, which I found particularly beautiful. It also connected to this month’s fresh start theme. She said that . . .

“The breath serving as an anchor, an anchor to the present moment. Knowing that you can always start over, coming back to the breath to refocus your attention on the present moment. Being willing to begin again with patience and kindness towards yourself.”

 - Laurence Magro, MBA, MS, LMHC

Are you in need of a compassionate fresh start? Could you use a boost, an anchor, some words of encouragement, or some self-compassion to engage in a do-over? Consider using your breath to refocus on this moment. Let go of the shoulds. Ground yourself in the here and now. Expand from there.

What are you experiencing right now? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Three very wise words culminate with New Year’s Eve’s countdown. They provide inspiration for getting the most out of the clean slate that a new year offers. They can work their magic to energize your fresh start. After all, with a new year come opportunities to begin again, to reset, to dream bigger, and move forward. What are the three words? 

Watch the short video to find out!

 "3 Words" video

HAPPY

Take a moment for a mindset check. Where are you? Are you feeling that it’s all doom and gloom? Or are you feeling that possibilities abound? Are you willing to look at your shortcomings and failures as opportunities for growth? The attitude that we bring with us through the good times and bad, is what makes the difference. If you need help enhancing some positivity, read The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. His seven principles show you how to make happiness drive your success. It all starts with your attitude. Adopt some happy today.

NEW

Can you feel the excitement of doing or trying something new? I love learning, exploring new places and meeting new people. Stepping towards something different can energize us in ways we never expected. It can open new paths of exploration and thinking. Are you going to try something new this year? I just enrolled in a mindfulness training class. I’m so excited to explore more deeply a topic that I’ve been interested in for a long while. I’m open to learning and seeing where this might take me. What will be new for you this year?

YEAR

One of the beautiful aspects about this time of year is that we get to push that reset button. We have a whole new year with 365 days to explore. What is important to you? Perspective and patience is everything. Change isn’t instant and reaching your goals won’t be either. You have time to pursue them at a reasonable pace. Small changes made regularly, one day at a time, one decision at a time, will add up to success in the course of one year. What will you commit to now? What will you work towards? You can make a difference in one year’s time. 

No matter where you are or what has happened in the first few days of this New Year, take a moment to use these three gifts: Happy…New…Year. Locate, reflect, and plan for an outstanding year ahead. There will be bumps and glitches and unanticipated snags. There will also be amazing days of insight, growth and success. Find your bearings and forge forth with energy and determination. Where are you headed? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation!