WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL I was considered an easy-going child who loved to be around people. I had many friends and was highly sensitive to the people around me. My mom would often say I was an easy child to raise; I was light, fun and loving! This was who I was in spite of the many challenges I faced in my childhood.

During my teen years, things changed. Negative events surrounding my life slowly started to shift my mindset and my care-free nature. Over time, I transformed from an outgoing, happy little girl to an introvert who had become internally "reactive" to life. I went from waking up and being excited about my day to waking up and asking myself: "Is today going to be a good day, or a bad day?" The answer was far too often 'bad!'

In a reactive state, it only takes one perceived 'bad' event to throw you from your centre. From there, it's a downward spiral. This was true in my case. Because I was such a sensitive soul, my mood could easily be affected by the people around me. I would react to something or someone, internalize their emotions and end up feeling terrible for the rest of the day. Then I'd wake up the next day and start the whole process all over again. Over time, however, this internalization of feelings slowly took its toll on me and my health.

I started to develop what I like to call "habitual depression." I had "thought" and "felt" my way into a slump and had no idea how to get out of it. Not only was I in it, I had no idea how I'd gotten there to begin with or how to get out. All I knew was that the care-free girl that I had once been no longer existed and this troubled me.

In my early 20's, I reconnected with an old friend named Teresa. She was one of those people who was always in a good mood. No matter what challenges she faced, she was always doing great! High school... great! University... great! Relationships... great! I didn't get it; how could her life be so great? This question haunted me and later became the driving force which encouraged me to find my own happiness.

At around the age of 25 I remember having a revelation. I said to myself, "Stop it! Don't label the day as 'good' or 'bad' and then you won't feel it necessary to find the answer." Just like that, I stopped asking the question. It was to be the first of many steps towards freedom!

My inward journey had begun: I first had to acknowledge that I had no idea from one moment to the next what I was truly feeling. I knew I felt "off," but that was all I knew. So I trained myself to recognize the moment I started to feel 'bad' and then rewind my thoughts back to the source of my discomfort. I'd stop, take a breath and ask myself, "What is this feeling I'm having right now?" and "What were you thinking that made your mood change?"

This process, which required much discipline and focus, started to strengthen my conscious awareness about myself and my thought processes.

Over time I became real clever and realized that not only could I pinpoint the reason I felt crappy, but I could actually do something to change my mood. Quite literally I would do what I like to call 'self-soothing.' I would recognize what made me feel 'off' and then replace the thought with an affirmation or line of thinking which made me feel better. At first, it felt like I was lying to myself. But eventually, I started to believe what I was saying. I self-soothed myself out of feeling of 'bad' into a feeling of 'good.' In doing so, I started to make the connection that my thoughts were actually creating my mood.

Finally, I stumbled across the book The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks. This book brought everything full circle for me. The book talks about "segment intending" your day so that you create the day you want to have. Segment intending simply means taking breaks throughout your day to intend how you want the next portion of the day to look; it helps "...you understand the value of stopping many times during your day to identify what it is you want most so that you may add emphasis, and therefore power, unto that."

When we are consciously intending our days, our feelings act as our internal monitoring system to gauge if we are creating what we intended. If we are "feeling good" then we are intending effectively. By this time I got it! I was going to intend for "good days" from that moment on in spite of how the day unfolded around me. I was going to stop "reacting" to life and instead start to breathe in life by intending each and every day to be harmonious, joyful, and happy! To ensure my success, I stop periodically throughout the day and ask myself if I am creating the day I wanted. If not, I would intend another way.

Today I am in a different place and have come full circle: I have reclaimed my true nature, learned invaluable lessons and now assist others in doing the same. I have been given new eyes in which to see the world and recognize that growth is a natural flow of life. It is inevitable; especially for those of us who seek to help others in the form of healing. We all have to be the student before we can be the teacher without exception! In addition, with great respect, I now understand that growth requires change and this change produces an internal friction. This increased tension is needed to create the energy required to raise us to a new level of awareness. It may not always feel good, but it always promises to be worthy.

So if you ask me today how I am doing and my answer is "I am great," rest assured in that moment I am intending it to be so. I have taken back my power and recognize that I can't always control my environment but I can control my reaction to it! This is the power we've all been given and it can be accessed through choice. Like anyone, I too have down days... I am no different. But my down days are not intended to be my habitual way of being and they aren't for you as well. They are a time of self-reflection, to learn lessons and to grow! If we hold this intention strong, then suddenly the 'bad' days seem 'good' as well.

Below is a list of helpful tips that I use daily to help me maintain a sense of happiness amongst the many ups and downs of everyday life.

HAPPY PILLS

Intend Your Day
Every morning I start my day with an intentional meditation. I say the words: "Today I intend to be peaceful, joyful and harmonious. I intend to be open and allow my life to be guided by Spirit. I intend to enjoy my day, laugh and have fun. I intend to be fully aligned with my higher self & live each moment consciously. I intend to step into the flow of abundance and to share this abundance with others. Thank you."

By being clear of my intentions, the universe is able to reorganize itself to bring about these intentions for me. My job is to take periodic breaks throughout my day and 'segment intend' the day I wish to create. Am I creating the day I intended? If not, stop, take a breath and intend another way.

Visualize Your Dreams
Our dreams are our hope for tomorrow. Whenever you are feeling down, think about your dreams and they will bring renewed hope and energy to you and your current situation. Visualize yourself feeling good right now!

Words of Affirmation
Find an affirmation that really sings to you. Affirm it to yourself often. Start telling yourself each and everyday that you are great! Your body and your mind will listen and slowly start to believe you.

Change Your Environment
The mind can be an ever-ending hamster wheel. Change your environment which will change the flow of your thoughts. Get outside, go for a walk or meet a friend! Whatever it takes, get yourself out of your mental cage and set yourself free!!!

Dance!
Put on your favorite music and dance! Don't worry about what your neighbors or others may think; it's good for the soul and just feels great! It's virtually impossible to stay down when you allow yourself to dance!

Exercise
It has been scientifically proven that exercise helps increase the natural endorphins which make us feel good. If you can't control your mood with your mind, let your body take control and help lift your spirits!

Nature
Let nature fill you up! Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Surround yourself with the trees; get your feet on the earth or go to the ocean.

Help Someone
I always say that I have one of the best jobs on the planet because I get to help people help themselves. When you give of yourself freely, 'this energy fills you up first as it flows out to others.' If you can't help yourself, help another!

Be Silent!
Enjoy spending time with yourself to reflect and decompress in silence. No tv, no radio, just you! You just might find that you really enjoy your own company.

Find A Mentor
As a young adult, my mentor was Teresa. Although she could drive me nuts, she was also the person who inspired me to seek my own inner happiness. Today my mentors have changed, but the intention to hold a higher potential for myself remains the same.

Gratitude
If you do nothing else, be grateful! Remember to say thanks for the 'little things' and take time throughout your day to be grateful. By giving thanks, we are creating more of that which we can be grateful for. Gratitude equals joy!

© Angela Strank, 2008

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Strank is a Spiritual Mentor & Energy Medicine Practitioner whose life work and passion has been to study the relationship between the subconscious mind and the energy systems of the body. Angela draws on both the Western & Eastern Philosophies of healing to obtain an overall picture of her client’s Energetic health. She is a facilitator who helps bring deep rooted limiting beliefs to conscious awareness. Then with specific Energy Medicine techniques she assists the client in clearing these blockages from the bodymind. By integrating one’s Spirit & honoring the client’s innate healing abilities, her work assists in restoring the Body-Mind-Connection. Her mission is to motivate, uplift and inspire others to find the power within to heal themselves. Visit her website.