Weekly: In here, out there
There's a quote I love by the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh:
"When we feed and support our own happiness, we are nourishing our ability to love. That’s why to love means to learn the art of nourishing our happiness."
In today's newsletter, you'll find a few ways to nourish your happiness. Know that as you do, you're also supporting your ability to make others happy, too.
Have a great weekend,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
Watch the animation on YouTube
Here's a rule of thumb that will help you.
If there's something out there that brings you joy in here, make it a priority in your life.
It sounds so simple — but it's a lesson I personally forget over and over again.
These sources of joy are important. They're not accidents, or distractions, or trivial. They're clues, perfectly placed to guide you towards a meaningful life. Your only job is to make like a detective: with a curious and open mind, follow them.
This week, try this: notice these sources of joy. When you experience it, say to yourself: "There's joy in here because of something out there."
Once you’ve noticed it, ask yourself: What's one way I can make this a priority?
More Tips and Tools
1. How to become wiser — 25 questions to make you wiser.
2. Nudge the world — It's up to us to fix this world.
3. Remember your inner goodness — Whatever happened to you does not define you.
4. How to truly connect — 6 steps to move into loving connection.
5. Moments of goodness — Why looking for the good matters so much.
Or listen to the podcast episodes (Apple, Spotify) from this week!
Community
"Learning ballet as an adult!"
"Music."
"My movement practices, my newly found morning routine and the ability to hold two things at once (joy/fear, grief/love, etc)"
"Daily Yoga With Adriene... In the beginning the yoga didn't feel that good while doing it (runners hips are tight!), but I always felt good after. Now I look forward to it as a stabilizing moment in my day where I can find joy, release things I am holding, and savor my breath. It pretty much has saved me the last 3 years."
"Being able to spend some mornings on my couch, in my apartment, petting my cat."
"Singing in the car with my daughter."
"Teaching and coaching."
"Watching the sunrise on a walk with my coffee."
"My dogs. The way they ait for me to get home and love me the way they do."
"When I can put words to the awesomeness in my head."
"My cat, my hair, sparkling water, when I come home to my warm apartment when it's cold."
"Taking care of my plants and learning more about them."
"Doing good."
Inspiration
1. It's the coolest rock show in Ann Arbor (NYT) — Trust me: start with the tweets and then click through to the story!
2. Go ahead and quit (SELF) — On the theme of joy: reclaim this time and devote it towards something joyful!
3. Interviews with inspiring and creative people (The Creative Independent) — This is an amazing collection of interviews; if you need a boost of inspiration, have a browse.
Before You Go
Listen to the Newsletter
No spam, just joy.
