I have always liked to help people. For me, there is nothing better than to make someone smile. To change the outcome of their day or remind them of the good happening in their life.
To become a writer, I needed that purpose of helping, otherwise my self-doubt would have convinced me not to. But taking me out of the equation, well, that was a different thing all together. Then it was possible to put on paper the things I wished would uplift readers. I could dig into myself and find words that might remind or convince the reader their life means something.
Something more than any of us can comprehend.
I wanted to convey that the darkness doesn’t stay forever; the dawn is always near. By doing that, I helped myself. Because as I wrote, I found I loved the process. There were times I would write a good sentence and shivers would run through me. I wrote every day until the habit became a necessity. Until the lessons I wrote helped me too.
The idea for The Initiates came from hearing daily about people in my area who ended their life. So many people, such beautiful, special, wonderful people. I cried for the pain they must have been in. For the aftermath for the families left behind. It took me years to finish The Initiates because the ideas kept coming. Too many. I needed to cull the ones that weren’t relevant to the story. It bothered me though. The lessons I dropped might still help but couldn’t if I left them in a drawer. So The Happiness Initiative was born.
Here’s an excerpt from a chapter:
When you feel nothing, give.
Giving differs from being a martyr though. There is no joy in sacrifice. All sacrifice brings you is more misery.
Maybe you are an introvert and the thought of putting yourself out there fills you with terror. Then walk through the area you live for thirty minutes. Is there anywhere that could benefit? Even if it’s ten minutes spent picking up rubbish, you are making the world more beautiful.
Gratitude alters everything. It is the missing link. It is the difference between living an ordinary life compared with extraordinary. Gratitude alleviates your whole life. Gratitude makes you feel wonderful. It’s intoxicating and uplifting. You cannot feel a negative emotion and feel grateful; they cannot exist at the same time. In any moment, you can only focus on one subject. So if you are noticing and listing all the good in your life you are turning your focus away from negative and that’s all you have to do. It’s that easy.
Turn your attention to good, no matter how little you have to be grateful for, there will be some good. Something – did you have a pleasant sleep? Is the weather nice? Did you eat something tasty? Did you read an outstanding book? Even if none of those things were good, be thankful that you slept at all, that you had any money to eat, that you can read when so many never get that opportunity. Even if it’s raining, you can be thankful to feel the rain against your skin.
It is all about how you perceive. You are alive! You get to spend another day on this earth. Do you know how blessed you are? How loved you are?
There are people at this very second taking their last breaths who would give anything, EVERYTHING, to have more time. Yet you are breathing and not even noticing. Be thankful for the tiny things and your thankfulness will give bigger things to have gratitude for. The boomerang will bring it.
Task
Do three acts of kindness this week. Give someone your time, or your love or anything else that you know would benefit them.
Thank three people and give them your reasons for feeling grateful. This can be hard to do if you are shy. If so, write three emails or anonymous letters and post it. Buy three thank you cards. It doesn’t have to be profound words or sent to people that changed your life. It could be the girl at the counter of the shop you frequent who always has a smile and goes out of her way for people. It could be someone who helped you in the past. It can be anyone. Just let them know what you witnessed that was good about them, that you appreciated. It is up to you if you want to sign your name, you do not have to.
Think of all the kindness you have been shown. It will feel good to compliment someone else. Have you ever been complimented? Imagine how good it will feel to the person you send it to, especially when they don’t expect it. Everyone wants someone to see them. See them. Tell them what you see. Know that The All sees that in you too.