How to do it? Well, turns out there is the perfect course designed exactly for this purpose, combining both the latest cutting edge research on the brain and Buddhist teachings. Its called the "Awakening Joy Course" and is an online 10-month experiential course meant to develop our natural capacity for well-being and happiness. It has been so popular that it was featured in O magazine, Yoga Journal, and Health magazine. Join me as I take the course, or join yourself!
If you don't have time for the course, you can also follow along by reading my blogs and the two books: Awakening Joy by James Baraz, and How We Choose to Be Happy by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks.
Below are the teachings from last month.........next blog I will share this month's teachings! Stay tuned....
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February - Inclining the Mind Towards Joy
The course is based on three principles:
The course is based on three principles:
1) Inclining the Mind Toward Joy
2) Developing and increasing wholesome states of mind that lead to happiness
3) Noticing the feeling of gladness that accompanies wholesome states
The first step is to consciously set the intention to be happy. To literally make that the center of our lives. Its amazing when we reflect how unimportant we make that in everyday life. But this step is forcing us to make it first and to constantly reflect back on that intention, cementing it into our subconscious. Wake up with the intention to be happy and watch how it transforms your day!
Next, to deepen this intention, we must notice joy when it arises. We have evolved as humans to be biased towards registering negativity, but we counter this consciously by being fully present when experiencing happiness and noticing with all our senses. Put in another way, we are working to build up a "storehouse of positive experiences."
Lastly, we identify what brings us joy and make a Nourishment List. These are wholesome activities and experiences that nourish our spirit and lead to greater states of joy. And then we work to incorporate these activities into our lives as much as possible. "If we are too busy to nourish our spirit, we are too busy."
Supportive Practices:
The first step is to consciously set the intention to be happy. To literally make that the center of our lives. Its amazing when we reflect how unimportant we make that in everyday life. But this step is forcing us to make it first and to constantly reflect back on that intention, cementing it into our subconscious. Wake up with the intention to be happy and watch how it transforms your day!
Next, to deepen this intention, we must notice joy when it arises. We have evolved as humans to be biased towards registering negativity, but we counter this consciously by being fully present when experiencing happiness and noticing with all our senses. Put in another way, we are working to build up a "storehouse of positive experiences."
Lastly, we identify what brings us joy and make a Nourishment List. These are wholesome activities and experiences that nourish our spirit and lead to greater states of joy. And then we work to incorporate these activities into our lives as much as possible. "If we are too busy to nourish our spirit, we are too busy."
Supportive Practices:
1) Meditate daily for at least 10 minutes. For instructions go HERE.
2) Sing every day, or do some other creative expression. Singing is great because it immediately tunes you to a vibration of well-being.
3) Move your body! Yoga is great because it also cultivates the mind-body connection
4) Do something nourishing for yourself regularly. Use your Nourishment List!
5) Journal. Write daily: What am I grateful for? What did I enjoy today? When do I feel satisfied?
EnJOY!
