Marci Shimoff is a master in being happy. The teacher in The Secret is helping millions around the world to achieve that often-elusive state of joy.
Marci, who is author of Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, has all kinds of jewels to share with you, many of which she shared last year when she appeared as a guest on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show..
In fact, I invite you to listen now to Marci’s happiness tips on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show.
Anyhow, recently Marci emailed her list with thoughts about summer being her favorite time of year and how hiking up a mountain gave her “that special flavor of happiness” she experiences in these warm months.
But, she points out though that “lasting happiness isn’t dependent on balmy weather.”
“In fact,” she writes, “research shows people living in warm, summery spots are not
necessarily happier than those living in colder climates. According to one
study, the four happiest places on earth are Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and
Iceland—not exactly tropical paradises.
“The implications of that are pretty amazing: positive emotions
open us up!,” Marci writes. “So, how much positivity do we need?” she asks. “…The secret,” Marci maintains,” lies in internalizing the well-being and freedom you feel during summer (or whatever your favorite season is) and bringing it to everything you do.”
Marci Shimoff then offers three ways “you can use the happiness perks of summer to create an ‘invincible summer’ within yourself year-round:
1) Sunshine:
One building block of bliss is getting plenty of Vitamin D, which has been
found to combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the blues that can come with
the short, dark months of winter. Sunlight triggers our body to make Vitamin D,
one of the reasons sunshine brightens our mood.
The problem is, to protect our skin from cancer, most of us use
sunblock, which unfortunately also blocks the production of Vitamin D. But
natural health expert Dr. Marcelle Pick says as little as 15 minutes of sun in
the early morning and late afternoon for light-skinned people and up to 40
minutes for individuals with dark skin is enough to create much of the Vitamin
D they need. Pick says this amount of unprotected exposure will be safe for
most people. So take a short walk before and after work to soak up some rays,
and ask your health professional about getting more Vitamin D in supplement
form.
2) The Great Outdoors:
Mother Nature is another source of well-being readily available in summer. Our
modern lives are fractured by the millions of thoughts, fears, and demands that
press in on us every day. A walk in the woods restores wholeness. A backyard
picnic creates delight. An afternoon splash in a body of water refreshes our
spirits. The more time you spend immersed in the nourishing, simple joys of nature,
the more wholeness you’ll gain, and then carry with you into the rest of the
year.
“3) >Friends and Fun:
People tend to be more social in the summer, gathering for outings, meals, and
games. Our sense of community is heightened when we join others outdoors to
enjoy long summer evenings on porches and activities at local parks. In short,
there’s more of a feeling of play in our daily routine. To make summer last
longer, keep that sense of fun and social engagement alive throughout the year.”
Marci Shimoff then offers “a bonus tip from Ayurvedic medicine” with which I disagree. She points out that “to purify and energize your body, walk barefoot in the morning dew.” While this idea is quite compelling, I don’t recommend doing this nowadays, given the fact that in the summer in particular, ticks tend to be pervasive in grassy areas. Catch my upcoming radio show on Aug. 25 to learn Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lyme Disease but Were Too Confused to Ask.”
Happiness expert Marci Shimoff concludes by reminding us, “being happy for no reason means being happy in all
seasons!
I hope Marci’s tips will help you to become happy. (FYI, I didn’t post these sooner, because I was taking much-needed vacation time and being happy swimming, biking, hanging out with loved ones, etc.
Listen to Marci now give more happiness tips on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show.