Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

What makes people happy? If you have been struggling to be happy yourself, perhaps it’s time to see how happy people are doing it. By learning what they do, you can emulate them for success.

1. People go between states of emotions constantly.
   You can be happy for a short period, and then you are thinking about something that stresses you out. Even people who seem happy all the time go through changes in emotion. These people are more likely to be content. No one is thrilled all the time. Learning is an essential concept, so you don’t put too much pressure on yourself when you see happy people.
   
   
2. Consider what you have in life.
   Are you in good health? That is a crucial area if you aren’t in good health and can do something about it. Learn how to eat right, even if you hire a nutritionist. Incorporate exercise into your routine. It’s not necessary to become a gym rat to get in shape. You can become healthier by walking frequently.
   
   
3. Happiness is not just about money.
   Although having enough to provide for your family is less stressful, happy people don’t care much about money. When people become obsessed with money, they can usually obtain it. But, it doesn’t lower their stress. The obsession often raises anxiety because it becomes the sole focus.
   
   
4. Happy people don’t chase dollars.
   They are content with what they are doing and don’t worry about squeezing out another salary increase. It’s okay to get them occasionally. But, if you chase the buck, you will never become good at anything. Happy people often are experts in what they do. They made it this way because they stuck with it and didn’t chase dollars.
   
   
5. It’s rare to find happy people and don’t have any friends.
   Socializing is a significant factor when trying to be happy. You don’t need dozens of friends. When you have a few that you can trust, that will be necessary. It’s okay to use social media to connect, but that is even better if you can get together in person.
   
   
6. Try to make your home an environment where everyone feels safe.
   Happy people know that family is important. They know that their homes should be a sanctuary. If it’s not, they take steps to correct the situation. Spending time with family is a huge part of what makes people happy.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

Keeping a journal is a technique that can help you improve your life. To some people, the ability to keep a journal comes naturally, while others struggle with it.

Whether you keep a consistent daily journal, an occasional journal, or jot notes to yourself when ideas come to you, this technique can have powerful implications in helping you attain your goals.

Making Things Happen

Putting your goals, thoughts, hopes, and dreams on paper can help you actualize what matters to you most. Bring your goals and plans to life by writing them down. Read them as often as you can to focus your mind on living your desired life.

Try these journaling strategies to help bring all your self-improvement goals to fruition:

1. Write quickly and passionately. Let the ideas flow onto the paper without dwelling on one thing for too long. Writing in this manner will allow your goals, dreams, and wishes to flow out freely beyond what you thought possible!

• Try setting a time goal and writing freely without pause until the period ends. Once you have finished, you may be surprised with what you’ve written and gain new insight and understanding from this activity.

2. Write consistently. You may not be an everyday writer, but formulate a routine to keep your journal flowing. When you write daily or weekly, you’ll find greater consistency in your thoughts and reflections.

3. Set goals and reflect on them. Outline your most important self-improvement goals when you begin your journaling experience. Reflect on them often to determine whether or not you’re taking active steps toward achieving them.

4. Be honest. You can be sincere in your journal because no one else will read it but you. Share your secrets, dreams, and desires – even those you cannot share with anyone else. Use your journal as a sounding board, and never sacrifice honesty.

5. Ask yourself tough questions. Self-reflection is an essential aspect of self-improvement, and your journal can aid significantly in the reflection process. Ask yourself questions about where you’re at in life and where you want to be so you can brainstorm the necessary steps in the self-improvement process.

6. Refer back to your past writing regularly. When you have a bad day, look at your positive writing to ease your thoughts. When you feel lost or unsure about yourself, look back over your goals and insights to find guidance.

• There’s a wealth of vital information in your journal if you use it consistently, and you can turn back to this information to show you where to go next.

7. Choose a journal that’s right for you. Select a journal that resonates within you, something that you feel comfortable and confident writing in. You can purchase a journal from a bookstore, create your own, or collect loose pages in a binder. The right journal will inspire you to use it.

Simply putting your thoughts down on paper can help you realize your dreams and focus on what truly matters in your life. Strive to write in your journal as often as you need, and refer back to what you write to help you keep those goals in mind. Journaling is a powerful tool but is only effective when you’re willing to put your passion into it.

Until next time, stay safe, and keep the faith.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms and dads handling both roles. This year, I thought I would share a picture of my mother’s mother, my mother, and my siblings, including my brother.

I have three other sisters and a brother not pictured here. We are all moms and my brother is a dad. We used to get together for all the holidays before we became scattered across the United States. We grew up with very little. But when I look back, I never felt poor or that we were lacking anything. I admit there a few things we missed out on because we didn’t have the money, but we had each and when we weren’t disagreeing, things were great. My mom and dad are no longer with us and their absence is sorely missed even knowing they are in a better place.

I hope you have good memories of your families and you are sharing your day with the people you love. Over the years, many people have come into my life, and I have come to love them and you.

Have a Happy Mother’s Day. May the Lord’s blessings continue to be with you and your families.

Well said. tomorrow, I will share my siblings with you as part of my mother’s day message. Until then, stay safe, and keep the faith.