{"id":3288,"date":"2021-12-20T00:34:04","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T00:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carolhollandmarch.com\/?p=3288"},"modified":"2021-12-20T00:34:04","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T00:34:04","slug":"making-space-for-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carolhollandmarch.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/20\/making-space-for-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Space for Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By now, we thought our lives would have settled into whatever the \u201cnew normal\u201d turned out to be. That doesn\u2019t ring quite true. Not with a new virus strain, economic and political challenges, and warm weather that is both pleasant and a harbinger of an uncertain future.<\/p>\n

With it all\u2014frenetic holidays, rising prices, cataclysmic weather events sweeping the world, widening fissures in our society\u2014we can still make space for love, creativity, and yes, even happiness.<\/p>\n

The trick is not to forget we have more control over our lives than we take credit for. How we think is the key. I can\u2019t control most of what happens in the outer world, but I can change my thoughts. I can root out my negative beliefs that bring up feelings of helplessness and anger. I don\u2019t have to be a victim in someone else\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

I write my own story.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, I always did. Just as you are writing your story, embellishing it as you go along, choosing characters to interact with, how fast the plot moves, the setting, and how it feels to be you.<\/p>\n

Because of my early experiences, I created a lot of negative stories. Unpleasant experiences seemed to come at me from nowhere. Without the knowledge that I was repeating ingrained patterns formed from fear, distrust, and self-judgment, I was a victim of my mind\u2019s programming.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, I knew something was wrong, which made me feel bad but also propelled me into my healing journey. Eventually, I learned that to heal my wounds meant to let go\u2014of self-judgment, old patterns, fear, distrust, anxiety, and depression. The more of the past I released, the happier I felt.<\/p>\n

It is possible to be happy and creative, even during what looks like chaos. It\u2019s possible to make a private space where your creative self can enfold you in the unconditional love that is yours for the asking.<\/p>\n

All you have to do is change your thoughts<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Try it. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Try saying:<\/strong><\/p>\n