Have You Taken Your Bliss Break Today?

I woke up this morning to the television. My husband has it set to turn on like an alarm. It’s always on NBC when it powers up, greeting me with the local NBC "Storm Alert." It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny and beautiful; their weather report is always the "Storm Alert." As I kicked back my covers and looked at the screen I thought, "How ridiculous!" It’s not even storming. Why can’t they call it something neutral like the "Climate Report" or something positive such as "The Sunny Alert," or "Everything’s Coming up Roses?" Why focus on the storms? 

Then, of course, that set me off on an entire train of philosophical thought. Some people only see the storms in life – the negative aspects. They pick things apart looking for the bad and rarely praise the good. Why do people focus on what they don’t want? When we gripe, complain, and talk about negative news, we’re giving energy to all the things we don’t want and bringing more of them into our lives. It’s a law of nature – whatever we feed grows. Why feed the negative in your life? Do you want more? I certainly don't! 

Joseph Campbell’s statement couldn’t be truer, "If you follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be." 

He didn’t say follow what makes you aggravated. He didn’t say, "Expect the worst" or "Expect people to do you dirty." (That's Southern slang for treating you unjustly.) No, he said, "Follow your bliss!" Expect people and opportunities to come out of nowhere to work together for your good and your blessing. This is something I’m consciously working on . . . doing those things that bring me the greatest happiness on a daily basis and expecting the best. 

Throughout the day, I take mini “bliss breaks” that keep me focused on the positive and beautiful in the world. Some things I do are: 

• go outside for a few minutes and dig in my garden,
• sit on my front porch and count my blessings,
• take a walk to pet the horses,
• give my husband a big hug and a kiss and tell him how lucky I am to have him,      
• go to lunch with a friend,
• crank up my music and sing along,
• pull my son onto my lap for a big hug,
• call a friend to chat, or
• kick back with a good book.

I’ve found that sprinkling these “bliss breaks” throughout the day not only makes me feel better and more grateful for what I have, but also brings more good things to me.

I challenge you to make a list and start the habit. Ask yourself, "What brings me happiness? What brings me true joy?" Sprinkle your bliss breaks through the day and watch wonderful things unfold in your life. While you’re at it, think bigger . . . point your entire life and focus toward what brings you bliss. It’s a miraculous way to live! 

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)