Gratitude & Happiness - A Perfect Match!

Week of July 30th

The week's mindset is HAPPINESS

We want to hear from you and include your HAPPINESS LIST on our blog! What are some simple things you do to boost your mood and increase your happiness?? Send your list to info@mymindset.com.

One of the simplest ways to boost your happiness is to shift your focus to what you are grateful for...
Below, Coach Janette Valentino explores using a gratitude journal to capture pure joy and happiness in the present moment . This is an excerpt from Janette's Newsletter, Valentino Coaching. Click Here to read the complete newsletter.

Pure joy in the present moment is never far away. The more you focus on what you're grateful for, the more things you notice to be grateful for. I know that my gratitude journals helped me slow down a bit and see things I wouldn't ordinarily see. They helped me notice small things that happened that made me smile or that touched me or that brought me joy or pleasure in some way. Here are some examples:

• April 19th, 2001: I'm grateful for the little bird I saw this morning with a leaf in its mouth.
• September 4th, 2002: For the nice man with the cat that pumped my bicycle tire
• January 2nd, 2006: For going outside without a coat and not having to change shoes! (This was when I was living in snowy, cold Sweden and was in California for my Christmas visit.)

When I look at entries like these (and there are lots of them), I realize how small things make such a difference. It helps me remember that me smiling at a stranger can make their day as well. My friendliness or my concern can make a huge difference. It also helps me pay attention. I noticed things in nature, the light, the air so much more when I started writing down these things (now it's automatic). And lastly, it reminds me that the beautiful, small things are at my fingertips constantly, every day.  

So now it's your turn. Think about your day so far or your day yesterday, and what were some very small things that made a difference - something you did or saw or felt or something that someone else did or said. Come up with one or two things and sit with them a moment. What can you do today to be present, to appreciate, to make a difference (to yourself or to someone else)?

Janette Valentino is a Certified Professional Life Coach who works with clients around the world. With her MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), she spent 11 years working at the university level and in the corporate world with students and executives -- supporting them in their personal growth related to language development. With the shift to coaching, the focus changed a bit while the qualities of support, fun, creativity, encouragement and inspiration that Janette brings to work with clients became even stronger. Coaching is like going on a journey and having lived in Europe in four different periods for a total of 18 years, Janette knows a lot about journeys. She loves to be a traveling companion to her clients on their personal journeys of exploration and discovery -- whatever the destination. Janette has made and had many big changes in her life and is passionate about coaching people through changes (either ones that have happened or want to happen) and the transition process that follows. She can be reached at janette@valentinocoaching.com. http://www.valentinocoaching.com