4 (easy) happiness tips you can do today!

C'mon, get happy!

Life is meant to have its ups and downs (after all, we would never know what happy felt like unless we felt its opposite from time to time), but that doesn't mean we can't strive to feel that yummy-goodness of happiness more often! In fact, there is a lot of happiness research out there now--researchers are discovering what makes us happy, and ways to help us stay that way more often!

That said, although there are LOTS of ways to feel happier, I'm including a short list of tips that can help up your happiness quota on a more regular basis!

4  Happiness Tips

1) Savor happy memories and moments.

Although it's not good to get stuck in the past, we can use our happy memories to up our happiness capacity. In fact, research has shown that if you do a practice called "savoring" where you visualize and allow yourself to FEEL and re-experience past happy moments by reminiscing about them, you will actually increase your ability to be happy!

How to "savor":

Sit in a quite space.  Allow your mind to go back to a moment where you felt happiness, joy, pleasure, etc.  Visualize the moment in as much detail as possible--touch, taste, smell, etc.  Now, very importantly, see if you can remember how you FELT during that time (this is the most important part).  Soak in and savor those feelings.  Let them permeate your being.  If you like, imagine the feel of happiness, joy, etc. as a color filling up your entire person. Sit with and savor this feeling for several minutes each day.

Note: If you're having a hard time thinking of a happy memory, instead imagine a person whom when you are with them, you feel happy, peaceful, etc. or even a beloved pet.  In essence, find a thought or image that brings you happy, feel-good emotions, and savor that.

Extra credit: Savor happy moments while they're actually occurring!

2)  Drink Kefir.*

  Ever heard of kefir water or milk-kefir?  This lovely pro-biotic beverage is a bit of a wonder in my opinion.  It improves how you feel by improving your gut health! I thought I would have my lil' brother (a bio-chemist) explain how this drink can help you feel happier (and get healthier to boot!)

"Kefir is a probiotic drink with a variety of good bacteria. When these bacteria begin to inhabit the gut they are responsible for a majority of the body's serotonin. Serotonin is known as a "calming neurotransmitter" and most of the body's serotonin is found in the gut. Clinical studies have shown that with the addition of high dose probiotics (specifically the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus) that test subjects showed lower stress level hormones and an increased feeling of contentedness."

Where to get kefir:
Most grocery stores will carry kefir beverages. They come in milk and water forms.  I recommend the Redwood Hill Farms goat milk kefir (it has a picture of a goat on the front), or Kevita  sparkling beverage (comes in many flavors).  Milk kefir can be found in the dairy section of the store, and water kefir (Kevita) can be found where they sell single, cold beverages like Kombucha or chilled coconut juice.

Note:  If you choose other brands than what I listed, that's fine, but be sure to check that they have the Lactobacillus rhamnosus culture.  That is the bacteria that helps you (and your well-being) the most!!

*And as always, check with your doctor if you have any medical issues before adding kefir into your diet.


3) Get your spirituality flowing.

 

Research shows that people who feel connected to something greater than themselves, call it Source, God, Spirit, Nature or Oneness, are happier than those who do not.

Now, don't get worried if you're not into "spiritual stuff" (although since many of y'all are my Reiki peeps, I doubt this is the case for many of you).  You can be "spiritual"  without any spiritual beliefs in place.  Some find spirituality by walking in nature, for example.  Whatever makes you feel that you are connected something greater to yourself is what you need to be doing on a REGULAR basis.  That could be meditation, prayer, yoga, breathwork, etc.   Feeling connected in to your source will help you feel more re-sourced and happier overall.

4) Get some Energy-work.

This list would not be complete without adding in energy- work. Of course I think Reiki is a super-helpful way to find that skip-in your step! Reiki is relaxing and restorative by nature. It helps clear out the old energy that is not serving you, and helps you to heal in body, mind and spirit. In fact, Dr. Oz (whose wife is a Reiki Master) believes it's the number one form of alternative medicine.






I hope this list has been helpful.  The next step is to try one, two, three or all four of these happiness tips, and pay attention to how they impact your happiness levels!

Have some happiness tips of your own? Please share them by commenting below. I would love to hear from you! 

Until next time...may you're days be filled with happiness and lovely delights!

Peace,

Nancy
Reiki Master Teacher ~Intuitive Healer~Lover of life!

Adding Reiki into your meditation routine (for Reiki practitioners)

If you meditate, AND you happen to be attuned to Reiki, adding a bit of Reiki into your meditation practice may be a way to add a bit of "spark" to your ho-hum meditation routine.

So, you might ask, how does one add Reiki into meditation?
It's simple, really.  Below are a few suggestions to get you started with ideas as to how to incoropate these two lovely practices into one:

1) Clear and set the space with the Reiki symbols.

In the same way that you would set and clear a space before a Reiki session, you can also set and clear a space before you meditate.  This can allow for you to gain better insights into yourself when the room is no longer cluttered with other people's thoughts and energies.

First, hold the intention of clearing and cleaning the room of negative energies, and to bring in positive, healing energies.  Next draw the Choku Rei on the ceiling, walls and floor.  Then, draw the Sei Heiki on the ceilings, walls and floor.  Finally, draw the Choku Rei one last time on these same surfaces.  If you like, light a candle, and begin your meditation practice.

2) Use a Reiki symbol as the focus of your awareness.

Choose a Reiki symbol that appeals to you---the Power Symbol or Choku Reiki is always an excellent symbol to start with.  Now, bring your mind to the image of this symbol.  You can also say the name of the symbol.  From here, you can use the image of the symbol as your focus for the mediation practice in the same way you focus on your breath or come back to a mantra when you start to become lost in your thoughts.  You can imagine breathing in the symbol, and exhaling the symbol.  Alternatively, if you mediate with a mala, you can chant the name of symbol 108 times---once for each bead on the mala.

Really you can be creative--the key is to use the symbol in the same way you would any other image, object of mantra in a meditation practice---as a focus of attention, and a way to help you stay present--by coming back to the symbol each time your mind strays.

3)  Reiki yourself as you meditate.

This is perhaps the most simple way to incorporate Reiki into your meditation practice.  Simply ask for the Reiki to flow before beginning your meditation practice.  Then, simply place your hands on either your stomach, chest, or legs, and intend for the Reiki to flow as you meditate.  Easy, simple, powerful, effective.


4) Send distance Reiki as a form of lovingkindness practice

For those who practice Metta or lovingkindness meditation, you can use distance Reiki as a way to send yourself and others a form of lovingkindness.  You must be a level II practitioner in order to do this practice---simply follow the steps for sending long distance Reiki, and then offer the Reiki as a form of kindness to whomever you are choosing to that day. 

5) Be creative

There are so many of you that have amazingly wonderful ideas of how to incorporate more Reiki into different life routines.  I encourage you to experiment in order to discover other ways to enhance your meditation practice!


Have some great ideas already?  Please post in the comment below!

In light,
Nancy

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Distance Reiki: How Does It Work?

Check out my quick (less than 5 mins!) video about how Distance Reiki works!

Love,

Nancy

@Remedyreiki
www.remedyreiki.com

Short Video: What is Reiki?

This quick Youtube video explains the basics of Reiki and its uses in just a little over 3 minutes!

Please forward to friends who may be curious about this amazing healing energy!

Peace,

Nancy

www.remedyreiki.com

Reiki for stress relief

People have Reiki treatments for many reasons: illness, addictions, depression, anxiety, grief.  You name it.  And, Reiki manages to have a positive impact on all these ailments.  But, with its amazing ability to heal, people often forget that an amazing use of Reiki is to combat stress.  Reiki is a fantastic way to deal with, manage and release stress we all experience.  In fact, although as a practitioner I can't "guarantee" that the Reiki will do specific things, I can say with much certainty that a Reiki treatment will relieve stress.  In my own practice I have seen the calming and energetically nourishing ability of Reiki in my clients.  Reiki really is the energetic equivalent of a massage for the chakras. So, if you're struggling with extra stress (and who isn't) and are looking for a different way to manage it--and get a lovely energetic healing in the process--look no further than your nearest Reiki practitioner.  Or, if you live in a location where Reiki practitioners are scarce--many practitioners offer long-distance Reiki (myself included) which has the same benefit minus the personal touch.

Have you had any experiences with Reiki relieving stress?  If so, I'd love to hear about it.  Please leave a comment below.

Why use Reiki?

See my article on this topic by clicking here

Reiki to heal a broken heart

My first on-line article! Check it out here!

Using reiki to heal a broken heart