Hello Friends! … and Happy Sunday.  I’m beginning this week in the hope that I set some realistic accomplishments, and even if I don’t get everything done, I’m not going to feel like I failed.  Set-backs are life’s little occurrences and they happen to the best of us.  This is a new week and I’m feeling good.

Last week was productive and I know that I got a lot done, but in that spirit, I missed some other things.  I also missed two days of yoga and exercising because of my back flaring up.  Some years ago I learned that the discs in my lower back are disintegrating, and while surgery wasn’t necessary at that point, I would have to work harder to get my body and core stronger, so I spend several months in PT as a result of that.  Life happens and your body reminds you that you can’t do everything.  It reminds you that you need rest.  So I did just that, and got caught up on my shows, finished two books, worked on my budget, and cleared out some in boxes. My body forced me to be productive in other ways, and that was a reward in itself.

How do you reward yourself when you need rest, or when you finish a task.  Too often we don’t reward ourselves with just a little something.  It could be as small as a special hot drink or bit larger like a new pair of shoes. As I talk about rewards this brings me to  List #34  which asks … “List the foods that taste great and make you feel good about yourself when you eat them.

• Roasted potatoes
• Buffalo Wings/Fried Chicken
• Cinnamon rolls
• Biscuits
• Plain M & Ms
• Black & White frosted cookies
• Apple Pie a la mode
• Mac & Cheese
• Fruit juice
• Cocoa Pebbles

“TAKE ACTION” Time for a yummy snack! Go make or buy yourself a snack that makes you feel great emotionally and physically, and tell yourself out loud, “it’s treat time!”

I’ve already indulged in one thing on this list which and for no other reason than … I needed a “pick-me-up”.  I use to feel bad about eating certain things on this list and I would justify my reason for buying or making them as my reward. The problem began when I wanted these things all time, and if you’ve been following me for a while you know that for health reasons most of the things on this list are not good for me. It doesn’t mean that once in a while I can’t indulge myself and have something special.

Giving yourself something when you’ve had a hard day, or when you’ve accomplished a project or task is great because you have a little extra incentive.  I usually reward myself with something once a month.  My best friend and a former co-worker used to always say to me … “get yourself something”.  You work hard all week so buy yourself something for you, and if you don’t buy anything … save that money for you.  It was all about giving to yourself because these actions promote happiness.  They make you feel good, and it’s probably just what you need to trigger the pleasure sensors of your brain.

Do you notice how everything is different when you’re happy?  Your outlook on your day, or a problem.  How you talk to other people or friends; your stance … just everything about you glows, and pulses and you radiate that feeling.  I don’t need to feel like that all the time, but I like to think in general that I am a pleasant person, and most of us do a great job at hiding how we really feel, which is why getting at the core of why your unhappy is important for your well-being. I don’t want to fake happiness [which was part of List #32], I want to actually feel happy, I want that deep down happiness, that happiness that no one person or thing can take away from me.  It’s what we all want to achieve in life … the endgame.

With that … I’ll close my post today.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and with each post in this series, I hope that I can bring some of my experiences, and joy, to others, because if you have joy in your heart, then you spread that joy to others, and pay it forward. The 52 List for Happiness: Weekly Journaling Inspiration for Positivity, Balance, and Joy is available on Amazon.  – [Know Thyself] Wye

Want to get caught up on my 52 List Journal?  See how this all began by starting from List #1 in the Archives.

PHOTO CREDITS
◈ header image | Moyo Studio + Creative Market
◈ 52 List Journal images | by Wyetha

EQUIPMENT//SHOOTING
◈ Nikon D90
◈ iPhone 6 plus

PROGRAMS//SOFTWARE//AUDIO
◈ Adobe Lightroom
◈ Adobe Photoshop
◈ PhotoScapeX
◈ Garage Band