Gratitude

"In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy."- Brother David Steindl-Rast

I've recently been turned onto the notion that we can choose happiness. At first, this seemed like a really strange concept to me. How can you choose happiness right? Well, I tried it the other day. I was in a grumpy mood from the moment I set foot out of bed. This dark cloud continued to follow me around as I arrived at school and began preparations in my classroom. Deciding that I wasn't going to let myself be hijacked by a foul mood, I practiced mindful breathing and set my intention for a positive day.

Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us to be appreciative of life and our ability to participate in it. We can be grateful for our sight, our capacity to move our body, our breath... No matter the external conditions, we can find peace and happiness within ourselves.

Honesty

It truly is the best policy. I can't think of a time in my life when honesty hasn't been the optimal way to go. As difficult as it can be, there's a freedom that comes with telling the truth. It helps me stay in touch with my authentic self and reassures me that I'll survive whatever the hardship may be. Sometimes we need to face the truth to heal. This has been the case for me.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.
-Buddha