Do you feel happy every day?
Do you notice truly notice where your thoughts are pointing and how your thoughts effect your happiness?
In other words, what you think about reflects how you feel. Today we talk about The ability to quieten your thoughts and to practice the art of noticing what is going on around you and how this directly affects your ability to feel happy.
Go and make yourself a nice cup of tea and let’s have a lovely chat.
You can also Watch and listen on You Tube here:
Today I read from my book ‘Daily Rituals For Happiness’ available on Amazon
The art of noticing
‘Another important concept, which follows on from ways of seeing, is ‘the art of noticing’. This is about paying attention, observing and witnessing every detail of your life in order that is more fully experienced. I have personally found that the more I practice the art of noticing, the more positive and optimistic my way of seeing has become. Why don’t you take a moment right now to notice what is going on around you? What sights, sounds and aromas can you detect? How does it feel to breathe the air? Pay attention to your breath and notice the exhilarating gift of inhaling and exhaling.
Walk around the area you are in, whether it is your bedroom, the kitchen, your office or the garden. Touch things, feel their texture, and listen to what you can hear. Notice one sense at a time for several moments and then go on to another sense and notice this for several moments too. Listen to sounds, one at a time. Separate out the various aromas and observe them one by one, naming each of them in your mind. Notice how you feel about each sense and try not to let your mind wander or jump forward into the future. As soon as you let your mind leap into the future, you lose this precious moment. You are in charge here. You get to choose where you allow your mind to go. You have the power to keep your mind in the present, in the here and now.
The ability to quieten your thoughts and to practice the art of noticing what is going on around you lies within your mind, and the ability to change and modify your behaviour goes hand in hand with it. Throughout this book, we will complete a number exercises to help you practice the art noticing. For now, I just want you to register that ‘noticing’ is a skill. It is one we can consciously develop and it can help us feel happier.'(Daily Rituals For Happiness’ Lauren Ostrowski Fenton)
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR and self help videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Hello, Lauren here. I am a mum of four incredibly awesome, amazing children including twins. I am a passionate blogger, podcaster, writer, personal trainer, and You Tuber. My podcast is about spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. Welcome to my podcast
Today I read from my book ‘Daily Rituals For Happiness’ a simple exercise I call ‘life source breathing….
“This idea of space is a really important to me because for much of my life, I simply did not allow myself any room for happiness. I was too busy rushing around, keeping fit for my next triathlon, trying to find or keep a relationship, seeking approval from others, gaining another qualification, holding onto the past, and worrying obsessively about the future. Does this sound like you? So many of us have lives like this. We are busy, distracted and bouncing around without any true focus or clarity. We keep looking towards a brighter future that never seems to arrive, rather than experiencing happiness in the now. We allow ourselves to be drawn into other people’s stories. We ruminate, we obsess and we overthink our lives. On top of that, will fill our physical environment with all kinds of possessions. We fill our bodies with junk. We try to cram so much into every single day that our lives end up being overcrowded. It is no wonder we lack the space to be happy.
Space can be defined as being a continuous area or expanse which is free and available. Just think about those words ‘free’ and ‘available’ for a moment. What do they mean to you? How do you feel when you say them out loud? What images appear in your mind? For me, I imagine feeling free to love, free to run, free to be myself, and free to be available to possibility and opportunity. I visualise myself walking along the beach, holding hands with a friend, playing with my children, or laughing with friends. I also imagine a spacious room with natural light streaming in as I meditate in contentment. You might like to write about your responses to these words or draw images of them in your journal. Ask yourself if you have a sense of freedom and availability in your life.
Often we end up being distracted and cluttered by habits, objects, people and places that take us away from ourselves and our happiness. So how do we get this back? How do we get back to our true selves? When we create space, it is like pruning back an overgrown tree and seeing the sun shine through the branches. When we clear away the physical and emotional clutter in our lives, we are making room to focus upon one sensation at a time. We allow ourselves the calmness and clarity to practice the art of noticing and to become fully aware of ourselves and our surroundings. We also rediscover what really matters to us and can begin to see who we really are.
As I went through the process of grieving after my marriage ended, there were several stages when I needed to create space in order to heal and be happy. I kept so much stuff from my marriage. I had in a treasured box every card and letter my ex-husband ever sent me, along with gifts and other things which reminded me of my married life. And yes, at times I would look inside this box and reminisce. Sometimes it is positive to hold on to memories, but in this situation, all this stuff was taking up space and keeping me stuck in the past. It was cluttering up my mind and stopping me from moving on. On one occasion, one of my friends pointed in frustration at a wedding picture still displayed on the kitchen buffet and said, “For heaven’s sake, get that dinosaur out!” After a while, my girlfriends began coming over to my house and to help me declutter. With their assistance, I cleared out the house and let go of the things I no longer needed. The funny thing was that as much as I felt better when I decluttered and gave things away, it was still hard for me to let go. I think this is because we sometimes allow our emotional baggage to define us so much that we almost become attached to it. I think that’s what it was like for me.
Life-source breathing exercise
This is a pranayamic inspired breathing exercise to help you create the space to be in the moment. I find pranayamic breathing to be incredibly healing in my own journey, especially when I feel overwhelmed or a lack of balance. Prana is a Sanskrit (ancient language of India)word for ‘life force’, and yama means ‘to control’. Pranayama therefore means regulating the breath or respiration. The way we do this is through the formal practice of exercises that control the breath in order that we may feel aware, in the present moment, and vital. Prana or life force enters the body through the action of breathing. Likewise, breath is life – not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. According to ancient Indian belief,if the prana level is high and its flow is continuous and unencumbered, the mind remains calm, positive and motivated. However, due to lack of practice and attention to one’s breath, the breath may become restricted or limited. When our breathing does become restricted, feelings of anxiety and fear or a lack of self-awareness may increase. By practicing pranayamic breathing, you are essentially increasing your lung capacity and learning to sit with the experience of each breath.
Please be aware that the practice of pranayama is an ancient practice and requires skill. The reason I would like to use a pranayamic inspired exercise here is the pattern of our breath and the amount of lung capacity we use tells us so much about our awareness of our surroundings, our space and our self. Inspired by pranayamic breathing techniques, I call this exercise life-source breathing because it reminds us that we are alive now and brings us back to the source – which is ourselves. Breathing is one physical act which clearly relates a physical action to our emotional state. Long-term practice can help with our focus and self-awareness. This exercise is intended to be both physical and mindful. It is suitable for beginners, although I must admit that it is also one I do daily.
Before you start
As with any physical practice, it is a good idea to consult your doctor before you start this pranayamic inspired breathing. There are also some environmental requirements you will need to put in place before you begin. It is better to be in a comfortable environment with a room temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold. Make sure your airways are open and spacious. Blow your nose before you start so the air passages are clear for nasal breathing. And of course, don’t practice if you are feeling unwell. Pay attention to how you sit, whether that is on a chair or cross legged on the floor or a cushion, and keep your back straight. Remember that your practice is just that: a practice. Start with one to two minutes a day. Yes, you read correctly. I did say one to two minutes a day. This is not about quantity; it is about practice and quality. There are so many times throughout my day that I sit down for one minute and consciously do life-source breathing.
Instructions
As you sit quietly and breathe, imagine an open space and visualise the journey of the breath and the life force energy that is created through the act of nasal breathing. Really notice the here and now and connect this sense of presence to each breath. As you find your breath slowing down, gradually notice your chest, your throat, your limbs and other areas of your body separately and with focus, then let each one go. Allow yourself to physically let go the whole of your body as one. Feel the life force of breath touch and revitalise each part of the body. Give particular focus to your heart space, which is the area around your heart. This is the source of self-awareness and compassion. Sometimes I may place my left hand for a moment upon my own heart space to feel my heartbeat as I focus on the rise and fall of my chest with each breath. I find this works as a trigger for me to let go. Become aware of the relaxed sensation in your body and consciously allow that feeling to travel down your spine. During this time imagine space, infinite space, stillness and quiet. Inner calmness will then be experienced.
I want you to pause now and just observe your breath. Notice its quality and length, without any judgment or expectation. What is it telling you? Notice the effect of lengthening and deepening the breath. How does this pattern of breathing make you feel?Practice the art of noticing your breathing around particular places, spaces and people. Record your observations in your journal. Try to tune in to what your breath is telling you. When we are happy, our breath is unimpeded. Our self-awareness is at one with our physical self. By breathing and taking the time to be still, we can create the mindful space within us to allow us to feel happy.” (read from Lauren Ostrowski’s book Daily Rituals For Happiness available on Amazon
What did you learn from this exercise? Did you find it useful? I find it really helps in my daily happiness practice. What did you think? I would love to hear from you.
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR and self help videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
What state is your body in? Do you feel fit?Do you feel healthy? Do you feel truly well? Today we explore the intricate balance between our physical, mindful, and spiritual self and how this affects our state of happiness right now. Go and get yourself a beautiful cup of tea and let’s have a friendly chat.
Warm regards Lauren a.k.a. the whispering mother
Wellness: the state of balance between the physical, mindful & spiritual self.
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Hi there. It’s Lauren here and I’m seated at my favourite comfy chair, cup of tea in hand. Today we discuss compassion. Just as there is no love without compassion so there is no compassion without practicing kindness…every single day.
What do you think? Do you agree or do you feel differently? Are our very feelings of compassion definitively compassionate if there is no ensuring compassionate action? Is the feeling of compassion enough in itself?…or is more required? And what is the purpose fo feelings if we are not going to act on the virtuous ones? Let’s explore compassion over a cup of tea.
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Hello, Lauren here, do you have your cup of tea ready? Today were gonna talk about judgement, love, perception, and compassion. This one is very close to my heart so wriggle down into your chair comfortably, have your cup of tea in hand, and let’s have a lovely chat as friends.
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Welcome everyone, do you have your cup of tea ready? Today we’re going to talk about one of my formulas to happiness. The acronym for this formula is I V D; a neat way to remember this is with the words ‘I Value Decisions’. I stands for ‘identify’, V stands for value, and D stands for declutter and decide. This formula presents a useful way to unpack issues with a level of objectivity and perspective. So get yourself comfortable and let’s have a friendly chat and a nice cup of tea.
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
“HAPPINESS IS RUNNING WATER,
A LIGHT SWITCH, & A MOMENT OF STILLNESS” Lauren Ostrowski Fenton
Today I talk about the miracle of turning on a tap to flowing water. I talk about the gift of light and I talk about gaining perspective over our lives. There is never going to be a perfect time to feel happy as all we have is now. So go and get a cup of tea. It’s time to have a lovely chat between friends.
Topics
Parenting
Feeling happy
Ageing
BUY MY BOOK ‘Daily Rituals For Happiness’ and learn step by step how to be happy
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Today I have a mishmash of thoughts to chat about. Have you heard that quote ‘planning to fail is failing to plan’ ? Today we chat about the importance of planning each and every day in order to feel happy. We talk about balancing roles, multitasking and fulfilling responsibilities. We also explore planning, journaling, and practicing your core values. And of course, we also chat about finding happiness every single day.
It is the school holidays here and as you know I have for beautiful ( and young)children home from school. My gratitude for my four beautiful children is one amazing story in my life. However, four beautiful children also bring with it many stories; stories which need to be heard each day. Each day I listen to and process my children’s stories of experience, learning, growth, development. Of course, I love to be a mother but I am not only a mother. Mothering is something that I do; a behavior rather than a label. I am so many things and I have many stories which make up the person that I am. So what is the formula to multitasking and still finding happiness? What are your stories? How are you finding and exploring happiness each day? How are you honoring all the stories which make up the amazing person that you are? Do you have your cup of tea ready? Mine is in hand. Let’s have a lovely chat.
Topics covered today
Parenting
Single parenting
Journalling
Planning
Goal setting
Feeling happy every day
Upcoming happiness course
BUY MY BOOK ‘Daily Rituals For Happiness’ and learn step by step how to be happy
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Hello Lauren here, Thank you so much for joining me today for my 101st episode of my podcast “Being well with Lauren”. I have a cup of tea here in my favorite cup and I am looking forward to sitting down with you and having a nice chat. Today I talk about my upcoming free course about how to be happy every single day( I can’t wait to start please do join me). Email me if you would like to be part of this course on laurenostrowskifenton@gmail.com. Today I also talk about THE MYTH OF HAPPINESS THROUGH BEAUTY, YOUTH & WEALTH. So, without further ado let’s have a lovely chat about how to be happy every single day…It has been a few days since we have spoken…too long…too long I feel…I start with a quote today from one of my favourites Leo Tolstoy ‘If you want to be happy be” Isn’t that lovely? This quote really says so much doesn’t ? It is so simple yet there is so much meaning behind these words.
Today I talk about current happiness theories. What I found and what I regularly continue to find when combing the internet is that some blogs have pictures of beautiful young people and these people are smiling by a luxurious pool with a tropical backdrop….with the appearance of wealth suggesting that these elements automatically bring happiness. Yes perhaps these elements of youth, wealth, and beauty may help happiness…to be young beautiful with a healthy smoothie in the hand by a scenic outlook may indeed help our state of mind BUT sustainable is so much more than beauty, bliss, and the perfect circumstances. And to believe that these elusive elements come hand in hand with happiness is simply not true and quite misleading. Happiness is not a byproduct of being young, beautiful with wealth. We all have the right to happiness at any age, regardless of aesthetics, and without depending simply on money. What I think is that happiness is a practice. Just like golf, piano and maths times tables requires a devopment of skill so does the learning of how to feel happy. Today I refer to chapter one in my book “Daily Rituals For Happiness”. We need to cognitively learn to feel and practice feeling happy every day. Wouldn’t life just be a game of russian roulette if our happiness was simply dependent upon such transient states as beauty, wealth and bliss? If we look at Maslow’s law…..we know that happiness requires comfort….( Do you want to hear more? Get your cuppa…Click the link and lets have a chat about how to feel happy every single day) #dailyritualsforhappiness
BUY MY BOOK ‘Daily Rituals For Happiness’ and learn step by step how to be happy
My name is Lauren. I am a writer, life coach, meditation/yoga teacher, & ASMRtist. I make ASMR videos and write books about happiness, yoga, fitness, meditation, & wellbeing.
Being well with Lauren 