Hello Beautiful Sharon,

How do we create a happier life?

Moment by moment.

Most of us underestimate how our everyday moments affect how happy we are.

We hurry through the dishes so we can relax.

We rush through work so we can get home.

We speed through the drive so we can finally arrive.

Meanwhile, life is happening.

Millions of now moments are spent putting off our happiness until later.

Without realizing it, we practice postponing feeling good. Little by little, I'll feel good later becomes our default way of moving through life.

The funny thing is, vacations, celebrations, and reaching our goals make up only a small part of our lives. Most of life is spent in the ordinary moments.

But those moments don't have to be something we simply get through.

Years ago, on my nine-hour drive to visit my mom, there was a long stretch of desert that I hated driving. It was so blah, miles of flat land and sagebrush.

I'd find myself nodding off and slapping myself to stay awake.

One trip, I decided, No more. I'm going to enjoy this drive.

I intentionally engaged my mind. I planned an upcoming Joyshop, mentally walked myself through a self-esteem hypnosis recording I wanted to create, and dreamed up the next section of my Joyful Abundance Course.

Instead of pushing the speed limit to get it over with, my engaged mind woke up my senses. I stopped a few times to stretch, breathe in the scent of sagebrush, take photos of the incredible cloud formations, and soak in the wide-open landscape.

Research shows that the way we interpret an experience changes how we experience it. Psychologists call this cognitive reappraisal. By changing our perspective, we can change our emotional experience, even when our circumstances stay the same.

Our brains strengthen the thought patterns and emotional states we repeatedly practice. The more often we practice enjoying our now moments, the more naturally those patterns become.

I invite you to experiment.

Choose one mundane chore and, instead of just getting it done, engage your mind in a positive way.

Maybe it's washing the dishes.

Turn on your favorite music. Dance while you put them away. Think about someone you love. Appreciate your home, the meal you just shared, or relive a fun memory.

The dishes get done, you enjoy the journey, and little by little, you interrupt the old pattern of I'll feel good later and replace it with, How can I feel good now?

There is no greater gift than feeling good in the now moment.

In joy,

Sharon

P.S. It is my joy to help people discover how powerful their mind can be.

 For 20 years, I've helped over 2,000 clients create happier, healthier lives by shifting their thinking and discovering the power within.

Ready to discover what's possible for you? Schedule your FREE Discovery Session, Let's explore how your mind can become one of your greatest allies.

✨ Need a lift right now? Visit my Joyshot playlist for free 5–12 minute videos that help you calm your mind, shift your mindset, and enjoy your now moments.

If you're local to Garden Valley, Join my FREE 6-week Calm in Minutes self-hypnosis series at the library. Last chance to sign up is tomorrow. Call the library to save your space. Spots are limited (208) 462-3317.