Happy Thoughts List

Happy Thoughts List: The things that keep me going

Oct 242012

As I’ve said many times before, one of the few experiments that I can recommend without any reservations from this site is completing a happy thoughts list.

It’s been a busy few weeks and keeping my list of happy thoughts in mind has been a key part of me keeping my focus and my calm in the face of complications and stress!

So, without further ado, here are the things that have been keeping me going:

1. My wife: She’s my editor, my strongest supporter, and the love of my life. She’ll do silly things like change the wallpaper of my computer into a silly love note when I go to bed early. It’s the little things like that which have the power to make or break a day, and she helps to make mine.

2. Being good at what I do: I may be busy (sometimes more busy than I’d like) but the fact that I enjoy what I do and am pretty darn good at it (if I do say so myself) is an incredible confidence boost for me on a day-to-day basis. It’s like life itself cheers me on sometimes.

3. Potential: I keep my eyes on the future and my feet on solid ground. It’s amazing the potential the future has to offer, and I firmly believe that if I work hard for it I’ll see good results! Knowing that life is good and it will get better is and incredibly powerful realization, and a heck of a motivator in day-to-day life!

What would you put on your happy thoughts list?

Happy Thoughts List – Breaking through the Fog

Ponderings 1 Response »

Oct 142012

Well, it’s been a rough week for me if you couldn’t tell from the gaps in posting.

I’ve been sick for the past week and a bit, which if the longest I’ve felt ill in a while. However, today I think I saw the break in the storm.

Sickness, like storms, has a point where it breaks – where you know it’s uphill from here. Today I had that point. It was a bit manic, but for the first time in days I didn’t have a headache or a sinus ache. Everything felt better.

So, at the end of a very productive day, I’m going to try and cap my day off with a high note by writing a happy thoughts list.

So, straight to my happy thoughts!

1. My wife: It’s half past 10 and she’s snoring softly beside me right now (in fairness, she did work today). I love her and she always can bring a smile to my face no matter how wretched I feel.

2. My volunteering: I’m doing some volunteer blogging with XConnectTO. They do some ridiculously interesting panel discussions. I highly recommend looking them up. On a personal note, it feels good to be contributing to the community around me.

3. My cat: It may be silly, but my cat is a huge motivator for me. If I lay down in the middle of the day and be a lazy blob, he comes by and looks at me like he’s expecting me to do something. It’s a tiny thing, and I’m probably reading into it, but my tiny cat helps push me to keep active and moving when I otherwise don’t want to be. He’s been a godsend over the past few days while I’ve been feeling like a pile of dirt.

I hope you can find your happy thoughts to start the week. Tomorrow may be Monday, but with a few happy thoughts we can make it through just fine!

Happy Thoughts List – One Productive Night

Ponderings No Responses »

Oct 092012

Well, it was a busy day, but an incredibly productive night.

On days like today, I like to take a few minutes to make a happy thoughts list. After almost a year, the simple act of writing a list of happy thoughts is one of the most effective experiments I performed on increasing happiness.

So, without further ado, here are 3 happy thoughts for the night:

1. My wife: She’s getting home earlier from work, and that means more time with her. It’s a bit sappy, but it makes me feel happy!

2. Momentum: Tonight, when I got home from work, I didn’t stop moving. I kept going and I kept getting things done. Lately, I’ve been too tired from my cold to do anything when I get home, so this was a big improvement.

3. Recognition: I don’t live my life the way I do for the recognition, but it doesn’t hurt to get the occasional pat on the back!

Happy Thoughts List – One Very Long Week

Ponderings 1 Response »

Sep 262012

This is the longest week I’ve had in a while. I was at a conference this weekend, so technically today was my 9th day of uninterrupted work in a row. Basically, if I ever have needed a happy thoughts list, it’s now.

Rest assured, I get 2 days of lieu time, but that doesn’t make it easier right now.

However, despite the fact that I’m tired and a bit burnt out, the world is still a pretty fantastic place. Here is my list of happy thoughts for today:

1. Opportunity doesn’t just knock, sometimes it downright hunts you down: I’m 100% serious with this, you just need to take your blinders off and see the true richness of world around you. Sometimes the opportunities you’ve been searching for have been right beside you the entire time!

2. People standing up for each other: Sometimes, especially on the Web, you see communities spontaneously form to stand up for an idea. It’s like a crystalized solution of awesome suddenly forming in a chaotic world. Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds!

3. When good things happen to good people: In a mixed up world, sometimes karma does happen in positive ways. I like when good things happen to good people.

Happy Thoughts List – Remember to Smile

Ponderings No Responses »

Aug 232012

Just a quick list of happy thoughts before I head off to bed:

1. Cuddling with my wife in front of the TV.

2. Finding a way to puzzle my way through a problem.

3. Meeting new people and having a laugh with them.

I’ve always found that a happy thoughts list is a great way to focus on the positive after a day of solving problems. Why don’t you give it a try?

Happy Thoughts List – Things to remember on a long August Night

Ponderings No Responses »

Aug 152012

If you’re asking yourself “How can I be happy again“, you can always turn to one of my old faithful options, the happy thoughts list.

To date, the simple happy thoughts list is still one of the most powerful and effective experiments I’ve conducted on this website so far.

Tonight I’m feeling a bit glum as I had a long day and you can feel the first tiny breath of fall in the air, so I should take my own good advice and make a list of happy thoughts!

So, three things for tonight that are making me happy:

Firstly, I’ve been getting enough done that I can relax without the faintest trace of any guilt. It’s nice to know you’re not neglecting anything. There’s nothing wrong with relaxing, but sometimes that feeling of relaxing when everything is done can be extra special.

Secondly, my wife just called on her way home and offered to pick up chocolate for us both. Sometimes the little thoughtful moments are what makes a relationship spectacular!

And lastly, sometimes you stumble across the music for the mood you’re in right when you need it. The little bit of TV I watched tonight gave me exactly what I needed. I give you, the song that plays hope on this somewhat downer of a night:

Don’t those opening bars just grab you?

Ponderings 1 Response »

Jul 192012

I was feeling a bit glum today, so I wanted to take a quick moment to make a happy thoughts list. Reflecting on the good things always makes me feel better.

So, without further ado, here are my happy thoughts for today:

1. My wife: She brightens up the house when she comes home.

2. My cat: He must be half dog – he rushes down the stairs to greet me after a long day at work.

3. Chicken bacon: Okay, it’s far less profound than the other items, but it tastes REALLY good.

Happy Thoughts List: A New Week of Happy

Ponderings No Responses »

Jul 092012

Well, normally I’d be jumping into another experiment now, but I’m in the midst of cleaning up a lot of stuff (both on the site and in my house) so I’m going to postpone the next experiment by another week and continue to do some thinking.

After all, as I promised myself earlier, I need to learn to give myself slack on occasion.

So, rather than getting down on myself, today is an occasion for a happy thoughts list!

My happy thoughts for today are:

1. New Friends and Food: There’s always something special about meeting new people over food. It’s like you have a bond. And when you discover new food as part of the bargain, it’s an extra bonus!

2. Nice weather: Weather is like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. There’s too hot, too cold, and so rarely just right. However, today was a nice day and I got a lovely walk in before the rain, so I’m happy I got to enjoy the weather, as summer so often flies right by.

3. Leftover Cookies: Because, come on, there is no such thing as a leftover fresh baked cookie, there are just cookies I haven’t yet had the chance to enjoy! *grin*

My First Wedding Anniversary

Ponderings 2 Responses »

Jul 082012

In an interesting bit of symmetry, I had the opportunity to attend the wedding of a friend yesterday, and today I celebrate my first wedding anniversary.

A year ago at about this time, I had just said my vows to my beautiful wife. A year later, I’m even happier than I was before. Life is good and I feel blessed.

So, no big blog entry today, just a simple one. Take today to remind yourself why you enjoy life. Remember how to nap, or go out with people you don’t see enough and get memories to put on your happy thoughts list.

Have a great day!

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