Fun & Interesting Information You Can Use to Grow Greater Happiness

The best advice you can give your kids...

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:41:57 GMT

Do what you LOVE... and the money will follow

What did you "want to be when you grew up"?

An Astronaut? A Rockstar? An Athlete? An Artist?

What response did you get when you said those things?

T here are soooo many things we can do and, when it comes to what we do "for a living," most of us have been conditioned to loo`k past our dreams and focus on the mundane, the common, the "safe" or "practical" options.

The next time your partner, your kids, your friend, or even you have a "crazy idea," instead of saying things like "That's so competitive!" "How will you ever make a living?" "Everyone wants to do that when they're young!" "An astronaut! You don't even like flying!"

Try a different kind of response:

"That sounds exciting! WHAT do you need to do to make it happen?"

THEN instead of focusing on the reasons "why not", look at all the reasons it CAN work, and what kind of ladders, trampolines, and support systems are needed to get from HERE to THERE.

..and ALWAYS, remember to appreciate Baby Steps, those small, incremental acts, actions & victories that move us ever closer to our goals.

Baby steps can take us everywhere!

For more of the pursuit of happiness, here are the words of the late, great Alan Watts ,
in a charming video by the brilliant people at AfterSkool

When I was young, I wanted to be a fashion designer, and t he voic es around me and in my head said things like, "It's too competitive," "You'll never make a living doing that," and countless variations on the theme.

So, i nstead of applying to design schools, I went to college & studied business/economics. Over the next 10 years or so, I had adventures, good adventures. I was a sales rep in the Caribbean, I worked for companies all over the US, and I eventually started making good money. Then, almost exactly 6 weeks after I'd bought my first house , everything was unpacked except the knickknacks and pictures, and it struck me .

Deep in my soul a voice was saying, "I don't want to unpack, because then I'll be TRAPPED!" I began to have fantasies of walking into the woods with nothing but the clothes on my back, because I was feeling trapped by my possessions.

It got me thinking...

If I'd followed my passions and studied fashion design instead of business, starting with entry level jobs, then rising to next step, and then the next, over the course of that 10 years where would I be? Most likely, I would have been making at least as much money and achieved at least as much professional status (probably more of each) as I had in 10 years of "having a regular job" that didn't feed my soul.

So, 8 weeks after I bought it, I put my house back on the market , sold my car, quit my job & moved to Vermont to "make a living doing something creative, " even though I wasn't sure what that looked like.

One day I met a woman at our local Saturday artist's market who was making & selling skirts. I watched what she was doing and thought, "if she can sell that, I can sell SOMEthing!"

Two weeks later I set up my first little table at the artists' market making & selling chakra-activating jewelry and, from that first day, until the day I went on strike against myself (that's another story), my jewelry supported me .

My baby steps (three pairs of earrings & a toe ring on the first day) took me where I needed to go.

So, the next time you or someone you love has a "crazy idea," lean into it!

Someone is doing it.

That means it CAN be done.

That means that if you are passionate about it, it can probably be done by YOU!

Marsya

p.s.

If you have a story about how following or not following your dreams has changed your life, please share this post with a note about your experience, or just drop us a line!

We love hearing from you!

p.p.s.

You are 100% allowed to change your mind, refine your vision, and pick a new path if you're not grooving on the path you're currently following.

After 10+ years making energy-based jewelry, I knew I needed to bring these healing energies to people in different ways.

So, I began offering healing workshops, corporate yoga, and eventually founded Seeds of Light to bring the mindfulness & self-care tools I've spent a lifetime learning & sharing to young people.

This little gallery illustrates my evolution as an artist during my jewelry days.

On the first day I had a table & two chairs w tablecloths & black beans in plates for display. 10+ years later, I had a setup that took 3 hours to put & and 2 to break down, and dear friends & clients around the country.

I baby-stepped my way into a career that fed me & taught me in ways I could never have foreseen, and I will be forever grateful that I set up my little table on that first July day in 2003.

I am also grateful that when making the jewelry stopped serving me energetically, I decided to do something different. For, it is all of those things that lead me to where I am today.

More WOW-Bell!!!

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 18:43:09 GMT

Want to encourage positive behavior? Ring that WOW-Bell!

What makes YOU feel good about yourself? What makes your KIDS feel good?

For me, a sense of accomplishment & feeling appreciated (aka a sense of acknowledgement) can take a bad day & turn it good.

HOW can you help the people in your life feel a sense of accomplishment & appreciation?

A WOW-bell , of course!

What is a WOW-bell?

A WOW-bell is a bell that is rung when someone does something worthy of acknowledgement, aka a pat on the back, a gold star, or a hearty "well done!"

Start that cycle of positive reinforcement today! Get your WOW-bell ringing!

Hang it in the kitchen, the living room, by the front door… where your family will be most likely to see & use it .
Encourage EVERYone in your family to make of list of things for which they'd like to be acknowledged .
Allow EVERYone to ring the bell for themselves AND in a show of appreciation for others

Feeling creative? Do your kids like to decorate things?

Make your own WOW-bells for that EXTRA-special touch!

Here are links to several sources of Cow-Bell that you can turn into your own personalized WOW-bells:

The CowBellShop has the best prices & selection

Amazon has these cowbells w handles and offers free “Prime shipping”

Want to make your WOW-bell today? Michael’s has these available for in-store pickup

Not feeling particularly creative?

That’s okay! This WOW-bell is already decorated for you

WHY do "pats on the back" matter?

A sense of pride in one’s self, aka positive self-esteem, is essential both for happiness NOW & for success later in life.

How do we build that pride & self-esteem?

By acknowledging effort , rewarding accomplishment , supporting teamwork and developing resilience .

Traditionally, our society has rewarded accomplishment/achievement, victory, winning...

By only rewarding the successful completion of a task , however, we create a "fixed mindset" in our young people that reduces creativity & resilience. It teaches them that there is only one kind of success, that anything other than that one outcome has no value, doesn't matter.

When we reward young people for effort, the steps they take along the way, and we teach them that it's okay to have the wrong answer, to make a mistake or to hit a roadblock, they develop a "resilient mindset" and a "not-yet" attitude instead of an "I can't" attitude.

They learn that set-backs aren't permanent & that obstacles CAN be overcome.

By using the WOW-bell, YOU are encouraging a "resilient mindset."
You are rewarding effort, teamwork, responsibility, helpfulness, creativity & problem-solving. You are giving value to the process of trying, failing & learning that leads to growth, improvement & ultimate success.

There are several ways to use your WOW-bell:

• To acknowledge accomplishment , some people like to make a list of “WOW-bell-worthy” tasks including: promptly completed homework, specific chores, or a goal that has been set in advance. Then they ring the bell when the things on the list are completed.

• You can reward effort & “stick-to-it-iveness” by ringing the WOW-bell when someone finishes a project that took long time, had multiple steps, or presented unexpected challenges.

• Encourage resilience by ringing the WOW-bell when someone faced with a setback or problem either asks for help (after having tried to solve the problem on their own) or comes up with a creative solution to that problem.

• The WOW-bell can also be used to acknowledge someone for going “above and beyond” their regular responsibilities. For example, if someone helps with their siblings, takes out the trash, feeds the pet, helps make dinner, vacuums, folds the laundry… (anything that’s not normally their responsibility), that is a WOW-bell-worthy action.

• Speaking of going above & beyond, remember to ring the WOW-bell for YOURSELF . You’re going above & beyond almost every day, and you deserve some recognition too! If you do something that requires special effort or a task that you particularly dislike (for me that would include taking out the trash & dusting), RING that BELL!!!

Ring your WOW-bell often & enthusiastically!!!

Let people being celebrated ring that WOW-bell themselves!!!

Ring it to say "Good Job"

Make your WOW-bell ring LOUD & PROUD!

Once your family has had its WOW-bell for a week or two, write us a little note & let us know how it’s going. Tell us how you’re using it in YOUR home & what changes you’ve noticed.

• Do your children do their homework more readily knowing they get the to ring the bell when it’s done?

• Are your children doing their chores with less nagging because they know their effort will be acknowledged?

• Has the chance to ring the WOW-bell for going “above & beyond” inspired people in your household to be more helpful?

• How are YOU using the WOW-bell in your home to encourage the behavior you want?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Marsya~

There's no place like OM

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:52:48 GMT

Om-ing ... 5 Minutes per Day That Really CAN Change Your Life

Have you tried meditating & found it boring or frustrating?

You're not alone.

Don't give up! Give Om-ing a try.

Om-ing works AND everyone can do it!

5 minutes a day will, quite literally , shift your vibration & change your world...

ॐ... Om ... Aum.... A....U....M........................

Those are all ways to represent the Om sound

When you Om, you actually PHYSICALLY "change your vibration" . You reset, retune & retrain your body & your brain.

This has the effects of decreasing anxiety & depression, improving immune function, and reducing your body's stress response during a resting state.

Why is Om-ing so effective for BOTH children & adults?

Om-ing stimulates your vagus nerve . Your vagus nerve controls your heart, your lungs, AND your digestion. It is the LONGEST nerve in your body and it controls almost all of the functions of your your parasympathetic nervous system (breathing, heart rate, digestion, sweating & more).

How do we do it?

When Om-ing, you'll want to break the sound into all three parts: A.... U.... M...

As you do it, notice what you're feeling.

The sensations are subtle but, if you pay attention, you'll begin to feel the vibration move from the base of your spine or the back of your skull, up to the crown of your head, and then down the front of your face to tickle your mouth & lips.

Traditionally, you hold the M.... sound 3 times longer than the A.... & U.... sounds.
This is because the A.... sound represents "creation"... The U.... sound represents "preservation"... the M.... sound represents "destruction"... and y ou have to clear away the old to make way for the new .

Let the OM-ing Begin!

Take a nice long deep breath in
A - feel this sound at the back of your mouth, near the back of your throat of your skull. You can almost swallow the sound. Feel the tone resonate in the back of your skull down to your chest & belly... See if you can feel it all the way down at the base of your spine...
U - feel this sound in the center of your mouth. Try to send the sound upward through the roof of your mouth to the crown of your head. You might feel vibration around your cheekbones or in your sinuses. Feel your heart expand with sound & love...
M - gently close your lips. Make a humming sound so you can feel ‘m’ buzz or tingle the front of your face, your lips and maybe even your teeth. Feel the vibration move through your throat and resonate the space between your eyebrows... Allow a sense of peace and serenity to wash over you as you release that final mmmmm
Pause... take a nice long deep breath in... and begin again.

Do this for 5 minutes a day, for a week... and see what shifts you notice.

Remember Everyone can OM!

It's impossible to do it wrong .

You can do it anywhere .

You can do it walking or sitting, lying down or standing .

You can do it one Om at a time or you can do it all day .

Why OM-ing? The Science is Clear

1) Relieve Anxiety and Depression

The International Journal of Yoga published a study that found chanting om to cause limbic deactivation , offering mental clarity while lowering the intensity of fear and worry. As a whole, the limbic system is associated with emotions, learning,stress, and motivation.

2) Improve Pulmonary Function

International Journal of Yoga studied 82 people as they practiced pranayama (breath work) and chanting for five minutes a day, six days a week, for two weeks. All 82 participants showed significant improvement with various pulmonary functions.

3) Improve Focus and Intuition

Just like other forms of meditation, chanting Om improves your focus and intuition. Since Om is the seed sound of the Third Eye Chakra , as you chant om, you attune yourself to see clearly and with greater focus.

4) Increase Pleasure

Chanting Om creates a vibration that moves throughout your skull and brain tissue, stimulating the pituitary gland and promoting the experience of pleasure in everything --- like driving to work, walking, or even taking out the trash. Functionally, the pituitary gland is responsible for hormone regulation and the secretion of certain hormones like endorphins and oxytocin.

5) Balance Your Chakras

When you chant Om, you practice moving the vibration from the base of your body to the top of your body (keep reading to learn more). As you move the vibration up, you clear & balance your chakra system .

ॐ Click on the image below to Bring the OM home with a downloadable OM coloring page ॐ

Want a Smarter, Happier Kid?

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:28:39 GMT

Tell Them to "Go Play"

Science has shown that play, particularly play that stimulates the vestibular system (the part of the inner-ear responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation), activates areas of the brain critical to our ability to pay attention, turn our thoughts into actions, coordinate movement and respond to sensory data.

Play, recess, and physical education improve the ability to handle stress by "training” the body. Activities like running, jumping or playing tag help develop the experience needed to recover faster from the quick surges of adrenaline associated with both physically demanding activity and emotionally stressful situations. Exercise (which for children generally means active play) encourages the development of new brain cells (Van Praag et al., 1999), increases the production of brain chemicals which boost neurons' ability to communicate with one another (Kesslak, Patrick, So, Cotman, & Gomez-Pinilla, 1998) AND increases the production of both norepinephrine and dopamine which energize and elevate mood (Chaouloff, 1989).

Exercise has been shown to improve cognition, enhance memory, and reduce the likelihood of depression (Kempermann, 2002), and students who are engaged in daily physical education programs consistently show superior motor fitness, better academic performance and a better attitude toward school than students who do not participate in daily physical education (Donevan & Andrew, 1986). Swinging, rolling, jumping, crawling, rocking, and tumbling (all of which stimulate the vestibular system) are, therefore, crucial not only for your child's physical development but also for their cognitive development and their mental health.

Happily, this leads to an obvious conclusion: If you want to help your children develop to their fullest potential and live their happiest, best lives, tell them to “go play."

If you want to bring even more joy, balance and “coping capacity” into YOUR life, “go play” with them! Get outside, play tag, do a cartwheel, jump for joy!

Fifteen minutes a day can make a world of difference…

Wishing you a day filled with light, learning & joy!

Marsya~

To learn more, check out Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2nd Edition by Eric Jensen

Is Empathy the Secret to Happiness? Research shows it is

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 14:59:24 GMT

The Latest Research Shows That Empathy Is Key

Thanks to the latest scientific research, the secret to happiness isn't so secret anymore. Empathy is the key.

The old saying "Nice guys finish last," it turns out is just not true. "Nice guys" finish first in a lot of ways.

Research shows that people with high levels of Empathy , that is "the ability to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference," are generally happier, healthier and more successful at work. That same research shows that Americans, on average, are 75% less empathetic than they were 30 years ago. We also know that when people are more stressed they are less empathetic. That means that our children are not only less empathetic as individuals, but that they're growing up in a less empathetic society.

Happily, there IS something that you can do about this. Empathy can be taught.

In order for a person to experience empathy, they have to be able to put themselves in someone else shoes, that is imagine how the other person might feel in a given situation. To do that, a person first has to have an understanding of their own feelings and be able to imagine how they, themselves, would feel in that situation. The ability to understand and articulate one's own feelings is called "emotional fluency."

Emotional fluency gives people the tools to identify their emotions, to understand the processes that lead them to feeling a certain way, and to begin to identify the cause and effect relationship between external forces and their internal reactions. This understanding makes it easier to imagine how someone else might feel in a given situation. The ability to imagine how someone else is feeling makes it easier to act with compassion in an empathetic manner.

Mindfulness education helps young people increase their levels of emotional fluency and, therefore, their levels of empathy.

So, if you want to help your children develop the skills necessary to grow into compassionate, empathetic adults, happy, healthy and successful, consider enrolling them in an afterschool mindfulness program, talk to your school administrators about integrating mindfulness education into the curriculum, and check out these tools you can use at home .

To learn more about empathy and why it matters, check out this article by NPR Why Intentionally Building Empathy Is More Important Now Than Ever . If you want to go a little deeper, check out this short, but excellent, TEDxTalk by Jamil Zaki BUILDING EMPATHY: How to Hack Empathy & Get Others to Care More .

Wishing you a day filled with light, learning & joy!

Do you ever feel frustrated by your child's behavior?

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:46:54 GMT

Understanding the 4 Stages of Emotional Development Can Help

"Do you ever feel frustrated by your child's behavior?" What kind of a silly question is that? Of course you do! Everyone does.

Happily, understanding the WHY behind a behavior can change the way you feel about the WHAT and help you figure out HOW to best deal with it.

This short video illustrates the way your child sees/ perceives/ reasons and how that changes as they grow older according to Piaget's 4-stage Theory of Cognitive Development . Watching it will help you understand the Why behind your child's What.

Knowing the Why behind your child's behavior (i.e. understanding your child's developmental stage) will help you figure out How to communicate in a developmentally appropriate way. This will make it even easier for your children feel seen, heard & understood and to see you as a trusted confidant & friend.

#behappy #behealthy #bewell #speakup #shareyourtruth #themoreyouknow #youthdevelopment #psychology #braindevelopment

Fun & Interesting Information You Can Use to Grow Greater Happiness

The best advice you can give your kids...

Do what you LOVE... and the money will follow

For more of the pursuit of happiness, here are the words of the late, great Alan Watts , in a charming video by the brilliant people at AfterSkool

More WOW-Bell!!!

Want to encourage positive behavior? Ring that WOW-Bell!

There's no place like OM

Om-ing ... 5 Minutes per Day That Really CAN Change Your Life

Have you tried meditating & found it boring or frustrating?

5 minutes a day will, quite literally , shift your vibration & change your world...

Why is Om-ing so effective for BOTH children & adults?

How do we do it?

Let the OM-ing Begin!

Remember Everyone can OM!

Why OM-ing? The Science is Clear

ॐ Click on the image below to Bring the OM home with a downloadable OM coloring page ॐ

Want a Smarter, Happier Kid?

Tell Them to "Go Play"

Is Empathy the Secret to Happiness? Research shows it is

The Latest Research Shows That Empathy Is Key

Do you ever feel frustrated by your child's behavior?

Understanding the 4 Stages of Emotional Development Can Help

For more of the pursuit of happiness, here are the words of the late, great Alan Watts ,
in a charming video by the brilliant people at AfterSkool