Fun is an attitude, a state of being; it’s playfulness, enjoyment or amusement. Fun can inspire you, motivate you, and empower you to change your attitude, reactions and perception of yourself. Fun and a sense of humor will propel you toward your goal more quickly and give you inspiration, motivation and a sense of well-being along the way. If you’re having fun, you’re increasing your levels of “feel good” neurotransmitters in your brain ⎯ dopamine, serotonin, etc. When this happens, you empower yourself to feel better in general; you’ll find it’s much easier to be creative, energetic and empathic when you feel good.

Remember, fun is not something you look for outside yourself.  It’s something you own, embrace and develop within as you live life in the present moment. It’s easy to think that fun and happiness are things that you might wish would happen to you — things that come from a source outside you, such as a vacation or a new car — but that is a mistaken belief. You make the fun happen. It is totally up to you whether you enjoy life. Here are some tips to help you raise your fun quotient:

Develop Your Ability to “Be in the Moment.” Allow your inner self to awaken and recognize the sheer beauty of being alive. Use gratitude to build your enthusiasm for life, and stay in that attitude as you approach any task, obstacle, or occasion. Give yourself permission to wholeheartedly enjoy each moment without judging. Be playful ⎯ keep your knees loose, so to speak. Take a sip from the fountain of youth: having not yet been programmed to make a distinction between work and play, children are constantly exploring, discovering and enjoying the wonder of life. You can do the same, no matter what your chronological age may be. It’s all in your perception.

Break Out of Your Routine and Jumpstart Your Sense of Fun. Shake things up. Try learning a new language, sport or game. Take an improv class to increase your spontaneity. Go to a movie you’d normally avoid seeing. Try a totally different route to or from work. At work, take mini-breaks in the routine: at intervals throughout your day, jump up from the desk, stretch and move around, even at the risk of feeling a little bit goofy. Visit an amusement park and ride the rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, or carousel. At home, rearrange your furniture or try cooking a new and exotic recipe. Take a dance class. You’ll find your fun quotient multiplies exponentially.

Build your Fun Network. Find people you can have fun with, people you can be yourself with, people who can let go and try new activities, methods and techniques. When you find people who appreciate amusement, enjoyment and laughter, stay connected with them and look for more people to add to your “fun network.” Solitude and isolation are sure ways to suppress and stifle your sense of fun, so make sure you broaden your scope of experience socially, and in real time, not in a digital sense. Yes, social media can be fun, interesting and helpful, but there’s no substitute for real, live socializing. And the people in your network will support and energize your practice of having fun.

Celebrate Laughter. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? When was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt? Kick-start your laughter engine – visit a comedy club, watch a funny movie or TV show or read a humorous book. Be silly with someone you trust. Let your hair down, so to speak, and see how much healthier, more likeable and spontaneous you feel. Get into the fun of laughing at yourself, and always take the opportunity to laugh with others.

It’s easy to be so committed to reaching your goals or meeting your expectations that you forget to have fun. Choose to laugh, feel good and amuse yourself and others — these are conscious actions, and skills that can be developed until they become second nature.

Having fun, laughing, and feeling good will improve health and performance, accelerate learning and memory, increase confidence and empower you to accomplish even more than you dreamed possible. Those who live each moment with a sense of fun and humor find it easier to tolerate, accept and amuse others. Enhance all your relationships with your new attitude. Remember to celebrate the present moment, enjoying each and every aspect of living, and fun will introduce you to yourself again and again.

Laughter wins. Adding humor to your speech will make your intellectual content easier to remember and a whole lot more fun to deliver. Your audience will retain more of what they hear because humor reduces stress. The lower the stress level, the more we learn. Research has shown that laughter stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, accelerating learning.

You don’t have to be a professional comedian or even a class clown in order to infuse a presentation with humor. You don’t have to tell jokes. You can cultivate a unique sense of humor, develop funny material, and acquire skills for delivering humor. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Fun is the bottom line. If you are having fun and feeling good, you are more likely
to laugh and to create laughter. Confidence, enthusiasm and likeability flourish when you are enjoying life in the moment. Loosen up and practice the art of not taking yourself too seriously. Cultivate a sense of playfulness and focus on having fun, even in mundane things. Immerse yourself in the experience by hanging out with funny people and people who like to laugh.

Visit your local comedy club or watch standup comics on television, taking note of what makes you laugh. This will tell you a lot about your sense of humor. You’ll soon find you are funnier than you thought you were, and your unique sense of humor will manifest itself. After that, it’s just a matter of honing and polishing your wit.

When you’re having fun, your audience can sense it. The fun is contagious, and the audience will be pulling for you. Even if one of your lines doesn’t get a laugh, if you stay in the moment and have fun, it won’t make a difference. You’ve made friends with your audience, so a self-deprecating “saver” comment such as, “That was funny at my house…” can pull you out of the comic ditch.

Your attitude, perspective or point of view will help you develop your brand of humor. A lot of humor comes from looking at things from one specific vantage point. What’s your personal spin, your take on things in the news, in pop culture or on daily mundane situations? Are you skeptical, enthusiastic, optimistic, defeated or depressed? Any or all of these can be tipped into a comic perspective and will serve as a mother lode of humor.

Tap into what annoys you, but look at it with a humorous approach. Go on a rant – on paper. A sense of desperation, when you apply it in a funny way, can get a really big laugh. Try it and see what kind of funny stuff comes of it. This is a big stress reliever, because the next time someone annoys you, you win! Conversely, what are you excited about? What do you really love? Write it down. A pattern will emerge. Be yourself. Relax. Step back and find yourself looking at life from your new comic perspective.

Prepare your mind as you prepare your presentation. Preparation is essential in public speaking, and doubly so when using humor. Of course, you’ve prepared your material, what you are going to say. But often presenters get so wrapped up in the words they are going to say that they forget the spirit, energy and passion of their message.

Humor requires enthusiasm, commitment and emotional investment. In order to get better connected prior to presentation, ask yourself, “What am I bringing to the relationship with my audience? Do I want my audience to benefit from the humor, or am I preoccupied with my own ego and the fear of my humorous lines bombing? Am I speaking from the heart? What do I love about this message and this speaking opportunity? What do I love about my audience?”

If you fill yourself with optimism and positive anticipation, it’s easy to savor the fun of creating laughter. When you let go of your ego, you relax and radiate confidence. Remember that confidence, likeability, and relaxation are key to this process.

Emphasize the “present” in your presentation. Stage presence, cadence or timing, and platform skills will develop with practice. An audience needs to like you in order to laugh. They need to pick up on your confidence. One way to radiate confidence, or at least an illusion of confidence even when you’re not feeling it, is posture. Stand up straight. Throw your shoulders back. Stand with your feet planted, your weight distributed evenly – that is, don’t shift from one foot to the other. Always move toward the audience. Never appear to shrink back or retreat.

Smile and keep on smiling. Make eye contact. Remember the audience wants the same thing as you do: they want you to be funny and do well. When you deliver your laugh line, slow down and enunciate. When they laugh, stop and let all the laughter die down before continuing. That way you simply ooze confidence– or appear to! Comedy is always in the “now.” Stay in the present moment, and you will be aware of opportunities for extemporaneous humor.

Now that you’ve taken a look at the Tao of Humor, you are ready to begin your journey. Humor energizes, relieves stress, and improves learning and memory. Enjoy the process of sharing and enjoying laughter. And above all, remember to have fun!

Resiliency is the ability to bounce back, adapt to adversity, and roll with the punches. Resilience gives us the flexibility to restore ourselves, and our lives after difficulty, trauma, and loss, and it is a quality in high demand during these rapidly changing times. Although there may be a genetic factor involved, resilience is not something you are either born with or not. You can learn, build, and develop your resilience. A sense of humor, like resilience, can also be learned and developed, and it can really help you to roll with the punches.

Here are four strategies to help you build your resilience:

Get Connected, and Stay Connected. Resilience does not mean standing alone through hard times. Relationships with others who are supportive and positive are essential to achieving and maintaining resilience. Mentors, friends, family, advisors, and associates can provide encouragement, experience, strength, and hope during uncertain, adverse, or painful times.

Isolation creates brittleness and inflexibility – you’re more likely to sink into a negative state of mind when alone with losses, failures, or trauma. And your connectedness involves not only receiving, but giving encouragement, experience, strength, and hope. When you reach out to support and share with others, you gain and build resilience and allow yourself a chance to heal from your personal injury or trauma. Get involved with support groups, community involvement, etc. And remember to have fun. Fun does wonders for your sense of humor, your resilience, and your health.

Look Back, Learn, and Whenever Possible, Laugh. Allow yourself to review past events and reinterpret them, drawing strength from your experiences. As you review your life, step back and look at yourself objectively, as if you are watching a movie. Review your story. Find humor where you can, inspiration and courage where you can. Give yourself credit for character and grace and avoid blaming or judging yourself or others. Refuse to engage in beating yourself up or “should-ing” yourself to death. Accept the things you can’t change and take stock of the things that are within your power to change.

One thing that is always in reach, always in your power to change, is your attitude. Everyone has a story. Remember that you are the author of your life story. You may prefer to think of yourself as the director of your “life movie.” If so, cast yourself as the hero. You can find your bearing and begin working toward a triumphant third act or conclusion. And, as in movies, a little comic relief can’t hurt.

Develop a Plan of Action. If you want to build resilience, you will need a daily plan of action. Action creates motivation, and motivation creates more action. Always be proactive in the face of adversity, failure, loss, illness or injury. Advance in the face of difficulties or challenges, one day at a time. Remember, you’re working on the next scene in your life’s movie, so make it a comeback story — a triumph of the human spirit theme. Reach out and march forward toward all that life has to offer. Think: I’m still alive. This experience did not kill me. What doesn’t kill me I can use to make myself stronger and more flexible. Set measurable, doable goals and be consistent with your action plan.

Keep Hope Alive and Practice Being Optimistic. Always look forward to a bright future. Visualization is a powerful tool used by athletes, performers, and people from all walks of life. At least once a day, take time to visualize yourself where you want to be, and celebrate it as though you are already there. Permit yourself to feel all the peace, exultation and joy that comes as you picture yourself in this specific happy situation, having reached your goal. It’s good to visualize the same thing each day — repetition programs your unconscious mind.

Write affirmations or use mantras. These tools can help you to establish your own inner cheerleading squad. When you choose a mantra, be sure it’s positive. “It’s temporary,” “I’m learning,” or “I’m healing,” are positive mantras. Obviously, “Why me?” or “It’s not fair,” are not positive mantras. Practice mindfulness meditation and develop skills to counteract negative feelings and mindset.

Always remember that if you feel good, things will go better. And feeling good is a choice. You can change negative thought habits — this has been proven scientifically with behavioral therapies. Use positive self-talk. Direct your inner dialogue, allowing moment-by-moment opportunities to encourage yourself as a friend, mentor, coach, and advocate.

Okay, it’s your movie, your life story. Often, the best-loved films are stories where underdogs triumph; where the lead characters, presented with adversity, discover their deep inner strength, embrace change, learn powerful lessons, bounce back, and ultimately win the day. Resilient people view difficulty as an opportunity to adapt, create, innovate, and advance in one or many areas of their lives. Does art imitate life, or is it the other way around? That’s up to you.

Happiness is a state of being. It is a way of thinking, a conscious choice. Lots of people think the “pursuit of happiness” is a linear process, so they live in a state of expectancy, or hope of happiness arriving…some day. They pursue, hoping to some day overtake happiness when the conditions are perfect. But you can experience happiness in the present moment, without waiting, if you give yourself permission — in the moment. There is no need to meet any requirement, fulfill any quota, or compete with rivals in order to allow yourself the liberty of carrying unconditional happiness inside you every moment of the day. You are calling the shots here — your life is yours alone to experience. Here are five strategies you can employ to discover and develop the art of unconditional happiness:

Recognize that happiness is available now, in the present moment. One way to increase your “now awareness” is to take a break, a mini vacation, or a sabbatical. Set aside a few minutes during the day to focus completely on the now, the present moment. Relax, and become conscious of your breathing. Channel your mental energy away from thoughts and inner dialogue – allow yourself to simply be here now. Observe your inner and outer environment, without judging anything. Accept sensory input, or the lack of it, as what is, as part of the moment. Listen to the background noise in your office, or the silence, around you. Experience your emotions, your physical sensations, and a sense of your body. Look at your hands, your desk – or close your eyes, if you like. The object of this exercise is to experience life in the moment, unfettered by thoughts of past or future. Consciously relax the muscles in your neck and shoulders, and practice letting go of your tension. You can do this exercise while taking a coffee break, in the elevator, or in a brief moment in your office, door closed if you need it. In the moment, practice smiling, inwardly, outwardly, or both, without feeling the need to justify it.

Choose to think positive, self-enhancing thoughts. Begin by making a list of at least five self-enhancing statements, or affirmations. These statements may describe both skills or qualities you already possess and those you aspire to develop. When you compose this list, make sure you describe yourself in present tense, for instance, “I am enthusiastic about my job,” rather than, “I will be enthusiastic about my job.” Be generous with yourself – be your own cheerleading squad. Read your list aloud to yourself, preferably each night before sleeping. When you read or recite your self-enhancing statements, practice accessing feelings of love, happiness, peace, satisfaction or joy. The idea of this exercise is to become conscious of, and to emphasize, all the attributes you bring with you into your workplace, your thought life, and your personal life.

Choose to observe and acknowledge your feelings. Act, don’t react. The emotions you experience are your choice. Now that you’re living consciously in the moment, begin to observe your emotions as they present themselves. A negative feeling can result from a conscious − or an unconscious − negative thought. When a negative feeling presents itself, for whatever reason, don’t react to it, dwell in it, or waste time trying to inwardly argue it away. Instead, acknowledge it, then dispense with it by consciously employing a powerful positive thought or affirmation. The resulting positive emotion will in turn turbo-charge your positive thought. Now luxuriate in and celebrate the cycle of positive thoughts and feelings.

Know that happiness is not contingent upon people, places, things or events. You alone hold the key to your personal happiness. When you recognize that happiness is a state of being in which you now choose to dwell, you can relinquish your grip on believing that the opinions of others, your status, material acquisitions, or any part of your external environment determines your “happiness quotient.” Of course, prosperity, approval, recognition, and success are good things, but they’re not requirements for happiness. It’s very important that you recognize this, so you can then adjust your priorities. This frees you to explore the power which waits for you in the present moment, the now. You don’t need to strive to meet any criteria; simply turn your attention inward and discover your happiness matrix.

Embrace a sense of moment-by-moment renewal. Each moment presents an opportunity to refresh your awareness, celebrate your strengths, focus your intention, and rediscover your direction and purpose in life. Experience the joy of knowing that every moment is new, vibrant and full of possibility. If you’ve experienced a stressful situation, you needn’t carry it with you throughout your day. Breathe in, accept the energy of the new moment, breathe out, and use one of your self-enhancing statements. Release yourself into gratitude, knowing that in the “now,” this new moment, you hold the power to wash away stress, discomfort, or annoyance. Recognize the choice is yours, and begin “rebooting” your attitude. As you move forward in time, relish the optimism that comes with opting for happiness. Celebrate the moment, and look forward to what’s next!

Harness the power of the moment to choose happiness. Once you recognize the significance of the present moment, you can begin making the conscious choice to be happy. This is not a process of denying the existence of stress at work, a coworker or boss that is difficult or a project that is not going well. It is the process of accepting and acknowledging the existence of beauty, love, gratitude, and happiness, even when pain and problems present themselves. Often people find it easier to accept negative aspects of life than to accept all the positive forces surrounding them. Breathe in slowly, breathe out, and make this declaration to yourself: “Happiness is here, it’s free, accessible, and unconditional. It is mine any time I want it. I give myself permission to enjoy unconditional happiness. I don’t need any obvious reason to be happy! I can experience happiness during times of hardship as well as prosperity, loss as well as gain, difficulty as well as ease. Happiness is the state of my being; it is where I reside!”

Having made your declaration of independence from conditional happiness, start walking the walk. Be mindful of increased options, choosing to think optimistic, kind, loving, generous, and forgiving thoughts as you move through life. Let go of the burdens of self-doubt, of comparing yourself to your coworkers, and fearing the future. The future is born of the present. Begin a love affair with the present moment, consciously accept life as enough in itself, and slip into the joy of being alive. Feel better? That’s unconditional happiness.


Thought is power. Conscious, directed thought is a super-power. Any accomplishment, action or change in your life is the result of a thought. If you think negative thoughts, the results will be negative. That’s why it’s essential to learn how to direct your thought-power into positive channels. Begin with a positive, healing, self-enhancing thought — a statement such as, “Today I am smiling more often, thinking more deeply, and feeling more gratitude than ever.” You can say something like, “Today I am better organized, more efficient, and even more prosperous than ever.”

Take a moment to visualize yourself becoming all of the things you are thinking. Now release yourself into the emotional power surge that comes with visualizing yourself becoming more. Embrace the emotion and continue to do a feelings check-in throughout your day. If you observe yourself experiencing a negative emotion, repeat your self-enhancing statement — and put some passion into it — visualize to refresh your power.

The emotional surge primes you with motivation to action. Remember, you cannot accomplish or create change if you neglect to take action. Great achievement is a direct result of thousands of baby steps — conscious, diligent applications of effort toward the goal. Conceive, then consistently, passionately believe…and achieve, and step into a mode of scintillating, self-transformative badassitude!

“The mind is everything. What you think is what you become.” — Buddha

In the world of transformative badassitude, enthusiasm is golden! Enthusiasm opens doors, energizes, and maintains a level of fun and focus. When You’re enthusiastic about everyday life, your everyday experiences become more significant. Enthusiasm highlights your goals, gives you direction, and makes others want to be around you.

When you live in a state of joy and anticipation, each small step offers you a taste of that crossing-the-finishline thrill. Build your enthusiasm by smiling often, laughing whenever possible, expressing gratitude, and celebrating each and every accomplishment.

When you feel and act enthusiastic, opportunities present themselves and you notice them! Because you feel “up,” you know you’re up to the challenges, and you take advantage of all opportunties. Don’t hang back or throw a bucket of water on your enthusiasm by engaging in negative self-talk. Instead, be your own cheerblock! Pump up your enthusiasm and run with it.

But don’t get so wrapped up in your meditation practice and visualization that you isolate yourself. During the kickass personal transformation process, you’ve got to stay connected to your network in order to create and maintain momentum and enthusiasm. Isolation is counterproductive — avoid it like the plague! Sure, it’s important to take time for yourself, to relax, clear your head, meditate, and recharge…but if you aren’t in touch with your support network, people you have fun with, mentors, and role models, your will soon be depleted.

Reinventing yourself is exhausting if you’re trying to go it alone. So reach out and get in touch with others who are like-minded. You will return home refreshed, encouraged, and re-energized! Don’t try to drag yourself down the road all alone — you won’t get far. You’re better than that, so build and value your support network.

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

Conscious practice of gratitude is changing my attitude and I’m feeling the benefits! I’m working a 28-day gratitude makeover program, inspired by Rhonda Byrne’s book, “The Magic.” I finished Day 7 and am on to Day 8. Gratitude has been my mainline, my go to emotion since I got into recovery in 1995, and it always gets me through any rough spot, crisis, or difficulty. When we celebrate every single thing we possess, earn or receive, knowing that life is a gift, the positive energy generated from this practice opens doors and reveals opportunities.

During the past several months, I’ve set new goals, both short term and long term, for myself. I’ve been working hard on a number of projects. My husband got diagnosed with cancer and he began a program of meditation and visualization, coupled with traditional medical treatment. Always the plucky fighter, I stepped up to care for, support, encourage and nurture him through his course of treatment. The results stunned us — and his physician: post-surgery, his scans came back clear, and now, eight weeks out from surgery his tests show he’s cancer-free. Of course I’m thrilled — and grateful. Who wouldn’t be?

But during the past couple of weeks, in spite of the fantastic health news, I started feeling overwhelmed about finances and all my goals and found myself complaining and making negative projections in my head. Fatigue and frustration stalked my days and nights. I found myself wondering why nothing seemed like fun anymore. Then I remembered my gratitude path. I started thinking of all the things that are going right and all the stuff I’ve survived and overcome and escaped and triumphed over. My mood picked up a bit, but not all the way. On a visit to a copy store, I noticed Byrnes’ book in the impulse aisle. I picked it up, read a few pages and realized the entire book is about the magic of gratitude, and immediately purchased the book even though at that moment I was extremely anxious about money.

The idea of working a 28-day gratitude life makeover appeals to me right now, so I started working the program she recommends. The exercises are simple and easy to integrate into a daily work schedule. Each day I’m focusing on a different aspect of life and consciously practice gratitude for that particular thing. One day it’s relationships, another day it’s finances, today is giving thanks for food and water. The amount of things I’ve unconsciously take for granted is staggering! Now my vision is correcting itself and I’m seeing life in a whole new way. I recently experienced some really difficult situations and immediately I recognized them as new opportunities to respond with gratitude and enthusiasm. And in the crisis, I found myself appreciating other people and noticing more things that I’d previously taken for granted. If I’m not actively noticing and appreciating everything around me, I’m taking things for granted. Now I’m noticing more and more miracles in life, moment by moment.

Energy, creativity and inspiration give me strength and hope. As I practice gratitude I experience all of those things more often and more consistently. I’m discovering new ways to instill confidence in myself and others, and my physical body feels energized and relaxed. I’m starting to understand what Bruce Lee said about limitations — “If you always put a limit on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits, only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” There’s another thing to be grateful for! I’m grateful to Bruce Lee, for being such a fierce, brave example of human potential, and for making such a positive, bold statement. Oh yeah, and thanks, Rhonda Byrne for your book. Now to push on toward those goals…

Because I’ve been stressed out and feeling overwhelmed lately, I treated myself to a walk in beauty today! And guess what? It worked! Instead of booking an appointment with a therapist — something I’m not knocking, by the way, since I’ve benefited tremendously from therapy — I visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art, a gorgeous place set on 152+ acres of wooded land near the city’s center.

First of all, I was bowled over by the fact they don’t charge admission. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I concentrated on two of the exhibits. One was called, “Fluid State,” by Alyson Shotz, an artist with a love of physics and science. Her glittering, flashing animated work reminded me of chrome, hematite, sea spray and starlight all rolled into one. http://www.imamuseum.org/exhibition/alyson-shotz-fluid-state

Then, slack-jawed from viewing Alyson’s stuff, I climbed the stairs to the second floor, where I helped myself to a hearty slice of the “European Art” exhibit. I saw all my fine-art-fantasy-men: Van Gogh, Gaugin, Cezanne, Monet and Hieronymus Bosch — man, I love that guy! — http://www.hieronymus-bosch.org/

Between the beauty of the grounds, complete with meditation paths — and the stunning exhibits inside, my angst cooled down and I found myself refreshed, inspired and renewed. Art is a healing force, a life-affirming process and presence. I believe that art must be essential to human existence. As living beings, we possess the drive — the need to appreciate, make, discover, and share art, in one form or another. From neolithic cave paintings to urban graffiti, art walks hand in hand with imagination, inspiration and innovation.

These are all pretty lofty thoughts for somebody who’s been maxing out on stress and trying to bury self-doubt in ridiculous ways. (Like watching old episodes of the mid-2000s series, “Lost,” on demand on cable — yes, I actually watched an entire season! I never watched that show back when it was on, thought it was a reality show. Do they ever get off that f___g island??)

Yes, I am embarrassed about the overdose of television, but not ashamed. Shame is counterproductive for me, it’s a negative emotion I can do without. Embarrassment is productive for me, in small doses. It’s a reality check, and it keeps me from completely letting go and turning my brain and body to mush. Avid exercise, voracious reading, and a healthy diet are things I am embarrassed not to engage in! Or maybe it’s pride — but isn’t embarrassment simply a mildly wounded pride?

If you’re feeling stressed out, discouraged, overwhelmed or just plain tired, try going to an art museum. It’s a quick pick-me-up, a consciousness-expanding shot in the arm. Hey, does life imitate art, or does art imitate life? Who cares? I’m going to the African and Oceanic exhibit tomorrow, on the third floor!

Optimism is capital, it’s premium metaphysical real estate, the domain of Kickass Personal Transformation. When you invest in optimism, you get back heavy returns. How you think about yourself, life, and others determines the quality of your experiences, your worldview, and your impact on the rest of humanity and nature, so why not engage in a proactively positive outlook? The process is simple, effective, and can be initiated instantly by harnessing the power of the present moment. Cultivate your “now” awareness, and begin creating thoughts and feelings of joy, love, and the certainty that good things are coming your way. The choice is yours — you hold the key to your own happiness, so find what pocket it’s stashed in.

Happiness is with you now, it’s all around you, and when you begin to acknowledge the bliss, opportunity, and peace which lies at the center of each moment of life, you awaken to your own boundless potential for positive change, creativity, health, and prosperity. When you begin to employ the tools which will build your positive mindset, you’ll uncover negative thought patterns that have been sapping your optimism reserves. That’s totally cool because it means your tools are working!

Some handy items for your cognitive toolkit include mantras, visualization, and positive self-talk. Mantras are brief, often alliterative phrases you repeat to yourself throughout the day in order to program your unconscious mind to create a sense that the glass, so to speak, is half full, or even brimming. “Life is good,” has been a mantra of mine for many years, and it never fails to pump up my neuronal pathways with good neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.

Visualization helps you “see” your dreams unfold in the moment. If you can see it, you can build it, create it, accomplish it, experience it. When you visualize, be sure to allow yourself to luxuriate in a powerful positive feeling. This emotional connection will anchor the visual image and turbo-charge the power of the moment to attract the good thing you’re visualizing.

Resist the tendency to think negative thoughts about yourself, others, your past, or your future. Negative thoughts or statements can lead to a negative emotional “quicksand” that can trap you and drag you down. Be mindful of how you perceive your past negative experiences — that is, disappointments, perceived failures, losses, etc. It’s tremendously liberating to look back and recognize the strengths and abilities which have carried you through adversities and obstacles to where you are now. Celebrate your accomplishments, strengths, and victories.

Human brains possess a wonderful ability to repair, rebuild, and refresh. All you need to do is help your brain out a little bit, and you’ll soon experience the benefits. Exercise is important, because when you’re building your muscles, you’re building your brain. A healthy diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein will give your brain the nutrients it needs to maintain your levels of “feel good chemicals.”

Turn your back on regretting what’s behind you, or fearing what may lie ahead on your journey. Ask, “What’s next?” Invest in now, and in the beauty and promise of what lies ahead. Harness the infinite power of the present moment and ride it into a bright future.

You don’t have to be born a genius, a gifted person, in order to be creative, but you do need to develop your own creative genius. The key to creativity is action. A person who thinks of innovative, exciting ideas, and then doesn’t act on them, is an imaginative person, but not a creative person. The act of creation brings something into being. Creativity and genius are the product of thousands of hours of action — practice, study, training. And the amount of encouragement, motivation, and opportunity you receive influences your creativity and your product.

Allow yourself to let go of limitations — open yourself up to opportunities — in the moment. Throw your brain a curve ball — try something new: make changes in your daily schedule, drive a different route to work, rearrange your furniture, wear different colors or clothes. Learn a new language. Shake things up. It cuts you loose, so you can think outside the box. Avoid negative statements or self-talk that can slap a bummer on your brain. Instead, make affirmations such as, “I am creative,” or “I’m the funniest person in the room.” These are self-enhancing statements that build confidence and switch on creativity and charisma. Let it happen. Banish any negative thinking that stifles fun and inspiration.

When it comes to unleashing your creativity, sometimes it’s good to simply let yourself go — “crazy.” The primitive part of the brain speaks of fear, listing all the “shoulds and shouldn’ts,” and the “ought to’s” and “could have’s,” so that creativity is blocked. Often the “crazy” idea, the one most feared, is the one to embrace. Try embracing the things which anger you, or the things you’re inclined to immediately reject — you may discover a a creative wellspring which will feed your productivity. Allow your imagination free rein, never giving in to the desire to impress others. Know who you are and what you want, staying loyal to yourself and your goals.

Whatever you think, whatever you believe, you become. So believe in your creative abilities and motivate yourself daily. Procrastination is the enemy of creation and productivity, so make sure you don’t fall into that pattern and burn out. Sometimes staying motivated means taking one or two baby steps per day. Other times, you’ll accomplish much more in a day. The key is to stay in the game. Keep chipping away at your project and it will take shape before you know it. Your genius will emerge, one day at a time.

Relentlessness. Tenacity. Doggedness. All are aspects of mindful badassitude — a throwdown, no-holds-barred pursuit of happiness, success, and fulfillment of goals and dreams. Some days, life caresses me like a tropical breeze, ruffling my hair and soothing my skin as I make snap decisions, pleasant phone calls, and unexpected opportunities. Other days, life dishes out tough love, battering me like a typhoon, tossing my self-assurance on the rough seas of opposition, rejection, and self-doubt. Still, I’m never swept off the deck, because I’ve got my sea legs — my relentless pursuit of my goals and dreams, my badassitude!

The past few months have been intense. In December, I got hit with a resurgence of repetitive stress injuries — in both arms, carpal and ulnar. Although I declined surgery and still do, I’d made considerable improvement since the initial injury back in 2008, and thought I could keyboard all day long. Turns out, that’s too much, and I had to drop back to minimal keyboarding. I’m back on the healing path, taking it easy. Life is fabulous as long as I’m mindful.

In early January, my husband, Chris, received a diagnosis of cancer. He opted for surgery, on April 2, and came through like a champ, and now is progressing well. Recently, his doctor delivered good news — turns out Chris won’t have to do radiation at this point, since all scans indicate the surgery got it all. I am so grateful for this — I get to spend some more time with him, and that’s something to celebrate each moment.

Chris is my husband, but he’s also my true love, my hero, my best friend. During the past few months’ challenges, he reminded me that we’ve whipped bigger things, and then we’d laugh and take encouragement from the past. We’ve been partners in many endeavors and comrades in arms in our share of battles.

Since July 10th, 1987, we’ve stuck together. When we met, we were both outlaws, renegades, rebels, you might say, and our challenges differed greatly from the ones we face today. He was a biker, and I suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. I’d been trafficked to organized crime figures in Tokyo, been brutalized, then escaped and returned to California. We both were trekking through the underworld, the drug scene. We recovered from addiction together and began the badass labor of love — changing our lives one day at a time.

Mindfulness meditation, mantras, and visualization are all tools we use in our action plan, and they help us to navigate the seas of life and work. You truly can cultivate your resilience, relentlessness, and life purpose. Look back at how far you’re come. Try doing this each day, and appreciate all you’re survived, conquered, celebrated, achieved. Remember your high points, triumphs, and accomplishments. But also allow yourself to recall — and appreciate your stuck points, slow days, rough goings, failures and rejections. If you look back at your life as if it were a movie, casting yourself in the hero’s lead role, then you can see that in the rough spots, the darkest hours, the hero rallies, latches onto inspiration, or fights through to victory.

I’m still in a rough spot right now, but I believe in the power of transformative badassitude. I’m staying the course, one day at a time. And one day at a time, I’m relentless…in a mindfulness meditative kinda way!