Over time lots of little bumps of happiness can turn into a happier you overall! Great news. In a busy, fast, and demanding world, it is important to find happiness where you can. But what if you could create your own?
Sometimes it is the little activities that can make you happy; it doesn’t have to be big grand gestures.
So, what type of things can you do to give you those little bumps of joy and happiness?
Basics
It should be as simple as – when you are thirsty, you drink, and when you are tired, you sleep. But most of the time, we push back by not taking a drink, will ignore how tired we are, and doing other things that we know mean we aren’t meeting our basic requirements to feel okay.
When you feel a little bit low, ask yourself, have you been meeting your most basic needs? If the answer is no, then make a point to do so over the next few days. Most of the time, we will feel much better.
If you can seem to shake the low feeling after a few days of proper care, then it might be time to consider talking to someone by finding your local top mental health treatment centers.
Gratitude
There have been more studies into gratitude than ever before – and some of the findings are very interesting. They state that when we actively practice gratitude, our brains start to react differently. The easiest way to start with gratitude is to try to make sure you point out at least one thing each morning for which you are grateful.
The more you do it, the more you will notice everything that you have. A gratitude journal is a great way to catalog all of the stuff you have that can make you feel great.
Research shows that after 14 days of practice, you will feel a boost of satisfaction that will lead to those happy emotions.
Nature
Humans are meant to be outside, although that can be harder and harder to do in this modern technology-based world. Spending time outside in the sunshine (or any weather) in the woods, green fields, or near water is great for us. People who spend time in nature have a much lower level of depression than those who don’t.
Going for long walks in nature might not be for you… but you don’t know unless you try! Grab some walking boots and head outside. Keep doing it daily or every few days, and see how you feel.
Create
When we were children, some of the stuff we would do to have fun was color, draw and read. Over time we stop doing those fun activities and replace them with the everyday busyness of life.
Think about the last time you got to do something creative – with no other reason but just to do it. If it was a while ago, maybe it is time to think about what you might want to do. Creating with your hands can make a huge difference to our mood. And, as an added bonus, hobbies make us happier and more confident! The more we do it, the more we get of both.
I can’t believe it’s 2022. It just sounds so futuristic. It makes me think of the times I would watch movies when I was younger. Cars were flying, robots were serving food, microchips were being implants and the time was 2022. It seems so crazy and far away at the time. Now that the year has finally arrived, it just sounds so crazy to say it aloud…2022!
WTF?!
Between COVID, politics, racial tensions, unemployment and beyond…these last two years have been quite eventful. And now with 2022s arrival, I decided to sit down, take a breath, and assess what I’ve actually learned this past year.
Want to hear it?! Well, here it goes…
#1. Mama Bear don’t play that shit.
Let me preface this by saying that I’ve always kind of been one to say what’s on my mind. But with that, I would always fall back off of expressing certain feelings because I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers. Since having my son, I’ve found that I don’t give a damn if the feathers get ruffled so much that they fall on the floor and wither away. This past year, I’ve been tested so much by people who tried to talk to me with disrespect and/or treat me with disrespect. Particularly family members. It’s funny how people treat you when they think they can get away with it. Then they turn into a victim when you call them out on it. 2021 taught me to say what I mean and mean what I say. Even if that means that people will stop wanting to associate with me. I give respect to all and demand respect from all. Its important for me to show my son that it’s okay to stand up for yourself. I no longer walk on egg shells for anyone.
#2. Don’t spend just to have shit.
Like some of you, my finances have been unpredictable. Being an entrepreneur makes it even more important to make smart money moves. So spending just to have a crapload of inventory or because something was on sale is so 2021. I used to buy all of kinds of stuff just to have it. For instance, I would buy tons of fabric to make various looks for the handcrafted collection. Then make several pieces in different sizes and wait for them to sell. Sometimes they would sell and sometimes they would just sit in inventory forever!! But now, I make a sample and then make each piece when it is ordered. It helps to cut back on wasting money (and fabric). 2022 is about continuing to make smarter decisions.
#3. Life is short, stop and smell the damn roses.
I’m a very goal oriented, list making type of person. And I still am. But I don’t sulk when something isn’t completed exactly as planned. Like I did in 2021. I’ve found that my life won’t fall apart if I take a day off to binging on Netflix with my husband or playing with my baby. As long as I’m doing something it will get done. Plus, taking breaks is great for your mental health.
#4. My entrepreneurial journey is mine and no one else’s.
I’m a talker. And so there are times when I’m just having conversations with someone and before I know it, I’m spilling the beans on business things that I’m working on. 9 times out of 10, the person that I’m speaking with will throw some shade on my idea. But I had to realize that this is my journey not theirs. That’s why they are still working at a job that they hate. Because they are scared of failing or lack of ambition. That’s their problem. Not mine. I’m on my own journey. Soooo, 2021 (and years past if I’m being honest) has taught me to keep my damn mouth closed.
#5. Shit, I Need To Wearing My Own Label More!
I’ve basically been in the house for almost 3 years. Mid 2019, I was in the early stages of my pregnancy. So, I was scared to do anything. Then early 2020, COVID hit and I chose to stay in the house ‘til I had my baby. After his birth, I’ve definitely been in the house cause I didn’t want to risk him getting sick. So, wearing an oversized t-shirt has been my uniform for the last few years. But since we thought COVID was dying down, my husband and I decided to get out to attend our family holiday party. Of course, I needed something festive you wear. I searched high and low without finding even one thing that I really liked. Nothing seemed to suit my style. That’s when I decided that in 2022, I’m wearing Fashion Not Fear only. With the exception of jeans. I mean it is my brand. Plus, who knows what I like to wear more than me?! 🤷🏽♀️ Watch out for my posts here and IG showing what I’ve made myself.
Soooo excited to see what 2022 has to offer. And not to see what comes my way. But to see what I MAKE happen. What are you taking into 2022? Let me know in the comments…
Tanya Regan is a speaker, creator, and filmmaker in Mandurah Western Australia. She uses her art of storytelling to teach, heal, connect, and inspire.
I reached out to Tanya about sharing her fearless journey and sent her some questions so that we can get all up in her fearless living business. This is what she said…
1. Tell us what life was like before you began your fearless journey into making short social impact documentaries?
In late 2016 I was heavily pregnant with my third child and my mental health was not in a good place.
I was having a baby girl and I wanted to show her what a strong woman looked like…. AND I DID NOT FEEL LIKE A STRONG WOMAN.
I spent my days counting down the clock to when my husband would get home from work. We had only recently moved to a new town, where I did not know anyone. I was isolated and lonely. I never felt like I was doing a decent job as a mum. I felt like I did not know what I was doing. I poured all of myself into my children and there was nothing left for me.
Going into 2017 I made a new year resolution to be more creative. It was my attempt to fill my cup and do something for me, but I also did not know where to start with creativity. Just after my baby was born, I started developing myself as a creative person by doing a self-guided course in creative recovery called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Every morning I would breastfeed my baby until she fell asleep and then I held her for a couple of hours while I worked through the exercises in the book. I was scared my baby would wake up if I put her in her cot, so I just kept holding her all through her nap while I worked on ‘me’.
My creativity started to open and how I saw the world changed. I realized that creativity was not something that I had to magic from nothing, but it was an energy that I could learn how to tap into. By the time my baby was one year old I was so creatively inspired that I was making my first short film.
When I made that film, I did not even have a camera, so I borrowed my dad’s old handy cam. I used what I had, borrowed what I did not have, and I just made it work. That film was a finalist in a film festival and played in a local movie theatre on the big screen.
I knew that I had to find a way to fill my own cup again.
2. What made you want to take the leap and start your company?
It was in the process of making that first film that I was able to re-create my identity. I had lost myself in being a mum but then I found myself through being creative.
I have now made ten short documentaries. My films are about the themes of creativity, connection, and nature. It is an art for me and a way that I express myself.
3. What have you learned about yourself during this journey?
I have learned that wherever you are in your personal life story you can always choose to be your own hero.
I was a lonely and sad, 37-year-old, stay at home mum when I made my first short film. I did not own a camera. I was new in my country town and did not even know anyone who I could interview.
Working on myself and connecting with my creativity empowered my inner magic.
4. What would you do over again before you took the leap? (If anything)
If I could do it all over again, I would have started sooner. I lost time doubting myself.
5. What is life like since you have taken the leap into fearless living?
I feel like me again, but a better version of me because I am doing fulfilling work now. My biggest challenge now is balancing being a mum of three children who are still young, with being a filmmaker and creative person.
6. Tell us about your films.
My films are 2 to 5 minutes long and are all human stories with a social impact message. I believe that creativity, connection, and nature have been devalued by our society and so those are the messages that play throughout my films.
7. What is one useful tip you would share about how to juggle motherhood with all the other things you are doing in life?
My biggest tip for other women juggling motherhood with all the other things we are meant to do is to know your season.
It would not have been possible for me to make a film when my baby was a newborn, however, I could breastfeed her while I developed my own creativity.
Even now, I would love to be working on a feature film, but my children are still young and of course demanding. I do not want to miss that so for me it is about finding a balance and that balance is constantly changing.
The key for me to be a good mum is to fill my cup. Creativity is one of the ways I do that, but I have also found other ways now too.
8. What has been the most difficult part of your journey?
When I have mum life and filmmaker life in balance, I am great. When I am out of balance, which is what happened for me again at the beginning of the pandemic, it all goes a bit pear shaped.
Celebrate yourself for your own baby steps, for your own progress and know what your own limits are.
9. What has been the most rewarding part of your journey?
The most amazing part of the creative journey is when that creative spark first hits you. There is an excitement and aliveness of making something that does not yet exist and bringing it into form. Receiving feedback from people that they feel “seen and heard” in my films as they connect to the messages, that is the cherry on the top for me.
10. How do you stay motivated when things get tough?
(laughs) I usually have a temporary breakdown, I might cry for a bit, I let myself feel the tough feelings. Then I dust myself, take a deep breath and work with what I have.
11. Share something about your journey that you feel is important that we have addressed.
If it feels good, do it.
If it feels heavy, put it down.
Excitement and fear can sometimes feel remarkably similar. Feel into the difference and then take inspired action.
Then take one intuitive step after the other and if things mess up be kind to yourself, be ok with mistakes, and then take another step.
One foot in front of the other, one step at a time, that is how we move forward.
Andy Kahl says she wouldn’t call herself totally fearless but I certainly would! This drag racing, cancer survivor is living fearlessy and helping people along the way.
Welcome to another episode of Fearless Woman! If this is your first time here, let me just tell you what you are about to witness. In this series, we feature women who are living life on their own terms and making a difference.
And this episode is no different! Meet Angie Karanja. She’s making a huge difference! As a teenager, she found herself fighting off both an abusive step-father and relationship. Going through such difficult times, inspired her to start a movement for raising teenagers.
I’ll let her tell you her own story. You have to hear this…
Told you she has such an inspirational story to share! Want to keep up with Angie? 🤔. You can follow her on IG.
Thanks for checking out her story! Leave your thoughts in the comments…
It wasn’t until the end of my pregnancy that I started to realize how much I let my days go by aimlessly.
During my pregnancy, I spent so much time worrying about my health, the babies health, and COVID-19. Wondering if I’m gonna have a c-section or not, constantly researching every single symptom and reading tons of stories about pregnancies that ended terribly. Towards the end of my last trimester, I started to realize that I spent so much time focusing on bullshit that I didn’t just enjoy the process. Gaining weight, eating everything, feeling the baby move around, basking in the happiness with my husband etc.
During that time, I began replaying the last few years of my life and noticed that I had been just going through the motions for a while. Helping to take care of my sick dad, doing everything my then fiancé wanted me to do (just because I thought it would make him happy), spending weekends at multiple family events when I really wanted to just stay home and watch a damn movie. It was just a lot of doing everything for everyone else. Not spending time with me and making the day count for me.
Thank goodness those days are long gone. I snapped out of it. I really feel like my son helped me get there and he doesn’t even know it. He put perspective and focus in my life.
Soooo, here are some tips that help me to seize the day and make it count. Hope it helps you…
Work off your own schedule. Not anyone else’s.
If you’re asked to do an activity and you don’t want to do it. Don’t. Only fill up your schedule with things you want to do. Not things others want you to do.
Make it your business to be honest with others about your feelings.
Lying just takes a lot of time. And can hurt a lot of feelings. Save yourself some time and keep it real.
Take a few minutes (if not more) to show gratitude for things in your life that you’re grateful for.
You might wake up in the morning and feel grateful for the sun to shine in your bedroom. Take a moment to soak it in and feel that gratitude. I am a night owl, so each night I find myself staring at my baby and husband; soaking in the love and how grateful I am to be blessed with them. It really just feels good.
Make a daily goal list.
Getting things accomplished can always make you feel like you kicked the days’ ass. So, make a list, check it twice, and knock off as many tasks as you can. It can be as small as watching something you have on DVR to creating a budget.
Don’t let others put all of their bullshit on you.
This is a big one for me! I’m the person everyone calls when they want to talk. But I can’t let their energy transfer to me. I’ve found a way to dodge it. Sometimes I’m straight up by telling them that I don’t want to hear any bullshit. But if you’re not ready to do that, change your tone to sound uninterested and hopefully they catch the hint. Or just say you have to go. Don’t waste your day worrying about someone else’s crap.
Stick by what you decide.
I had a habit of making a decision. I’d back and forth a million times pondering if I made the right decision. Now, I don’t do anything without giving it some thought. After I’ve done that, I make the decision and move forward with it. No use in wasting your day worrying about if you did the right thing. What’s done is done.
Do what puts a smile on your face.
Do something every day that makes you smile. Watching your favorite show, going for a run, eating something sweet…whatever it is…do it! You will never regret it.
What are some of the things you do to make the day count? Let me know in the comments…
2020 has been quite a year! Unfortunately, amongst other things, it led us to not be able to have a runway show. All of the shows that we were scheduled to appear in were cancelled.
But there’s always next year…hopefully!
One thing is for sure, I won’t take for granted being able to participate being in a show. I never realized how much it was missed until the option was no longer there. So, for reminiscing purposes, I wanted to show you the last show we did in 2019.
Take a look at time Fashion Not Fear was put on a runway! You will notice something about their face accessories. Am I a fortune teller or what?? Plus, wait til the end to get all of the outfit details.
Which was your favorite look?? Let me know in the comments…
I’ve been in full on mommy mode since having my first baby about 5 months ago. Changing diapers, breastfeeding, rocking my baby to sleep, and entertaining him ’round the clock. And I couldn’t feel happier. This Mom thing is definitely what I am supposed to be doing.
I received tons of Mommy tips before my son arrived but there are lots of things that I wasn’t told. Here’s some of the ‘ish no one told me.
You will worry about everything. I spend most of the day wondering if he’s okay. From deciphering a cough to examining poop color and making sure his nostrils aren’t blocked. 🤷🏽♀️
Ambidexterityand doing everything with one handis essential. When my baby falls asleep in my arms, I would do anything to not disturb him. I’m left handed and before having him, I couldn’t do anything with my right hand. Not anymore!! I’ve learned to use whatever hand is free at the time. From changing diapers to washing dishes.
Learn how to hold your pee. Like a previously mentioned, disturbing a baby is the worst! Once they fall asleep in a certain position, know that you are stuck in the position you’re in until they wake up. Get ready to hold it for a looooong time!
Get used to living like a zombie. I haven’t had more than 3 hours of sleep at one time since my second trimester. My third trimester left me so uncomfortable that sleeping was a joke. Then after having the baby, the real sleepless nights set in. Either I’m up feeding and changing the baby or I’m up just staring at him all night making sure he’s okay.
Learn how to make up a song and dance at the drop of a hat. The art of distraction is key when taking care of a baby. Singing a song can quickly pivot a baby from crying to laughing. You can make up anything. They don’t care. So, tune up your vocal chords.
There’s much more I was never told but I’m always up for a surprise. So it’s all good! Cheers to all of the Moms and Dads out there making it happen. No matter what!
Is there something you learned when you became a parent that you did know anything about?? Drop it in the comments…
Neon, bold prints, pastels…the color options and combos are endless. But none of them can hold a candle to the classic color combination of black and white. It is forever classic. If black and white is all up in your wheelhouse, here are some pieces you should add to the cart right now.
