Thank you for reading! Hopefully this last month has been a positive experience for you. (just finding us? start here!) Perhaps you’ve found a few new ideas to use in your life. In our home, it’s amazing the differences we’ve made from July 31st until today. I’ve really loved creating the #31daystohappy. We still have a couple days left, but since tomorrow is October 1st, today I want to talk about fresh starts. Why do new beginnings always symbolize joy? So, bye, September! You’ve been wonderful but all I see ahead are grand adventures I’m excited to try!
If we had met back in May, I was a mess. I felt like I could just barely make it through my day. If you had talked to me about what I’m about to mention, I would have laughed and laughed. Because how in the world can you find the energy for a fresh start when just keeping the status quo is draining the life out of you?! Eventually, I got to the point where the status quo couldn’t continue and I broke.
Fresh starts & trying new things always improved my mood. I never realized it, but they are actually requirements to be happy! In a recent anti-anxiety course, I learned the human mind needs both stability and variety. While it craves certainty, it also requires stimulation through new activities, new people, new conversations and breaking from routine. Adding variety into my life in various {helpful and safe} ways brought me a great deal of peace. It’s as if the stimulation uses up the spare energy my mind used to involve in anxiety . Now I assign myself small, achievable new tasks for each day. These prompts give me something to look forward to and I find more adventure in routine. New dinner menus, outfit combinations, and visiting out of touch friends brings new beginnings & happiness into my life. It helps me see the bigger picture.
Fall’s magic makes it a great time for experimenting and trying new things. It’s definitely one of my favorite seasons and this year instead of letting it pass me by, I’ve created a list of 28 ‘challenges’ for myself. Kind of like a fall bucket list. And if I check them all off, the reward is a new crop of positive memories! I can’t wait. I’ve created a free printable of my prompts and I’ll be sharing more about each one and how they contribute to bringing more happiness into my life along the way.
Download Your Free, Printable October Bucket List!
Download Your Free, Printable October Bucket List!
Prompt 28 – #31daystohappy
Try something new this weekend. (Make sure it is a quadrant one activity!*)
It can be a new recipe, a new walking path, going to a farmer’s market, or a drive to check out the fall leaves. Or even a quick project you know you can finish in one sitting. Does something immediately pop in your mind?
I’ll be spending the weekend working & listening to LDS General Conference. It’s my favorite weekend to be inspired!
Thank you for reading!
I am not a doctor and nothing I write here is a substitute for medical advice. If you are suffering from a medical condition or unhealthy thoughts, please seek help immediately. For my full disclaimer, please click here
Super fun list Amanda!! Can’t wait to see what you create!
You are so awesome and inspiring!! Thank you for all you do!!
What a great volume of work you created!
Thank you for sharing so much, and for the great links, ideas, inspiration.
There were three very powerful “struck home” posts for me – and I learned volumes from those.
Now – it’s on to changing what I do so I can change that part of my life (which needs change)!!!
Thank you again for your time and effort – toward Happiness!