Wednesday, December 15, 2010

TREND: BEAUTY BEAUTY EVERYWHERE

As a culture, we are obsessed with beauty.  And the definition of beauty continues to evolve . . . incorporating not just the way we look, but the way we feel.  And the way we feel is affected by all of our surroundings.

This means that a beautiful home can also make us feel beautiful.  Aesthetics that touch the senses allow us to feel happier, more joyful, more in touch with ourselves and others . . . and yes, even prettier and more beautiful.  So the next time we light candles or fragrance sticks or place fresh flowers in a vase, we're not just enhancing the scent of our environments -- we are adding a sense of beauty to our personal space and to ourselves.

Beauty . . . inside, outside and all around.


 

Thursday, December 2, 2010

TREND: THE HAPPINESS CONVERSE


Psychology lecturer and author Shawn Achor, in his book, The Happiness Advantage, explains why we have the wrong attitude and expectations regarding happiness.

We have been trained to believe that success and accomplishments create happiness . . . but what if it is the opposite?  What if . . . personal happiness, self esteem and a positive outlook on life actually create success?  Makes so much sense!

Achor says:
"If success causes happiness, then every employee who gets a promotion, every student who receives an acceptance letter, everyone who has ever accomplished a goal of any kind should be happy. But with each victory our goalposts of success keep getting pushed further and further out, so that happiness gets pushed over the horizon."

Our formula for success is "broken", maintains Achor.  Following one of the largest academic studies of its kind on happiness and human potential, Achor found that success comes most naturally to those individuals who consciously build a platform of personal happiness and use it as a springboard to success. 

Don't worry; be happy.