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Monday is International Day of Happiness, which is definitely something to celebrate! Even if it requires a little extra thought now and again, we can all think of something that makes us happy and something that brings us joy. This week is the perfect opportunity to look into what sparks happiness for us and think about how to bring even more of it into our lives!

The term “happiness” is something we tend to use a lot, assuming that everyone has some level of happiness and that we all feel the same way about our own happiness. However, if we look a little deeper, what it means to be happy and how important this is, can vary widely from person to person.

When we talk about being happy, we are often thinking about the larger sense of being at peace and thinking positively about our lives at large. We can often mix happiness with joy, thinking these two are the same. While happiness can be a symptom or a sign of joy, the two are not completely the same. Happiness can be fleeting and dependent upon external factors, such as money, people, or material possessions. Joy is an overarching mindset of well-being, without being to be overtly “happy” in each moment. Joy includes all aspects of life, including the negative parts, without losing a sense of satisfaction in life.

Happiness and joy are not merely states of mind. How we feel about our own happiness directly impacts our mental and physical wellbeing. Our health can largely depend upon how content, safe, and joyful we feel in our daily lives.

Happiness is not only a result of how we’re living our lives, but it is also a driving force in motivating us to better ourselves and live the lives we’ve envisioned. There are always spaces for us to improve, to help others as well as ourselves in bringing a little more happiness into our lives.

So, what can we do to cultivate more joy on a day to day basis?

1. Spending a little more time outside. Even just a few extra minutes outside can make all the difference for our physical body and mental clarity. Just going for a short walk can improve our mood and boost our sense of happiness, quickly and effectively.

2. Getting some extra sleep. When we sleep, we give our bodies and minds time to recover. Sleep can often widen our capacity for patience as well as helping us to be less reactive to negative emotions. Sleep helps us to be more resilient, which is essential in cultivating joy!

3. Returning to gratitude. Whenever any negative thoughts or frustrations come to us, remembering what we are grateful for is a perfect way to remind us of how much we have to be happy for in our lives.

4. Add in some more nutrients. Focusing on our physical health dramatically impacts how we feel about ourselves and our happiness at large. Small changes can make a huge difference.

5. Listening to ourselves. Whether that means we need to do a little less on a Monday or push ourselves to do a little bit extra, we know what is best for ourselves and what we need in our lives. We can all do a better job of listening to those signals.

6. Find some furry friends! It has been proven that spending time with and petting animals releases oxytocin (the warm, fuzzy feeling) into our bodies, making us feel happier and more at peace.

7. Sharing with others. Connecting with friends and family helps us to build a stronger sense of community, attachment, and belonging. Being around those who love and support us is an easy way to feel happiness and share that happiness with others!

What does happiness look like to you? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas below!

Happy sharing!

Sam

Photo by Delaney Dawson on Unsplash

There are many things that can appear to set us apart as individuals, but one thing that has the ability to connect and bring us together is our desire for kindness. As humans, we all want to be shown compassion, understanding, and forms of love. We want to be able to help others where we can and bring positivity to the work we are doing in the world.

Monday is World Kindness Day and we can’t get enough of how wonderful our community can be! Over 50% of people told us they perform some type of kind act each day! Now is the perfect time to bring our attention to how much kindness we bring to ourselves and to others. We can all begin to mark this day by bringing a little more care and understanding into our weekend!

There are many ways to show kindness to ourselves, to those we love, stranger, animals, and even to our environment. How you go about these small (or large) acts of kindness depends upon you! Get creative and spread some warmth wherever you can throughout this coming week!

So, what are some things we can do this week?

1. Showing gratitude. It can often be easy to forget those who help and support us on a regular basis. Reminding them how much their care and work matters can be a meaningful way of showing kindness.

2. Random acts. This is the creative (and fun) bit! Finding a few ways that could make someone’s day much brighter, like buying the next person’s coffee, train ticket, or lunch, holding the door open for a few minutes, give the parking space to someone else, the choices are endless! Try making life a little easier for a few people each day and see how it feels.

3. Show yourself a little extra kindness. When we work from an empty cup, we can’t possibly help others in the most honest or caring way. When we look after ourselves, we allow ourselves the ability to make decisions out of abundance and desire rather than obligation.

4. Try taking care of a plant. Plants have the incredible ability to bring out the nurturer in each of us, while also cleansing and calming the spaces they are in. When we care for plants, we also care for ourselves.

5. Going the extra mile. In whatever we are doing, we can choose to do mediocre work or we can choose to shine. Choosing one area that could use a little extra attention and care can help us feel more fulfilled while also achieving a goal!

6. Eating (and sharing) some nourishing food. Filling your body with food that is nutritious, while also being comforting is a great act of kindness to yourself. Sharing this food with others can be much greater.

7. Support animal welfare in some way. Whether that’s through donating time or goods to a local animal shelter, eating vegetarian for a day, or just cuddling our own pets a little longer, they will most likely appreciate the effort!

8. Reaching out to someone who might be struggling. Whether it’s through a text, call, letter, email, or an in-person visit, remembering to show a little extra love to those going through a tough time can make all the difference.

Share your experiences and ideas for showing a little extra kindness this weekend in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Happy sharing,

Sam

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again, where many of us devote a little time and attention into paying tribute to those who have given their lives within the armed forces. There seems to be more and more debate surrounding whether or not we should wear a poppy for remembrance day and what exactly this symbol means.  

The poppy symbol seems to be of increasing contention, as the opinion that the symbol serves to glorify war and violence has gained some traction, along with the idea of wearing a white poppy to promote peace. This alternative poppy, while promoting peace in theory, has not been without controversy.

These mixed opinions are shown in this year’s poppy appeal. According to Consumer Intelligence research, one in five adults are unlikely to wear a poppy this year, but a third of the population say they will be giving more to support The Royal British Legion appeal.

So, how can we bridge the divide this year?

1. Listen to alternative opinions. Going a little deeper past hearing only to prepare our argument, active listening allows us time to truly absorb and understand what another person is saying.

2. Share our experiences. Telling and showing others parts of our past, our history, and what makes us who we are helps us to understand ourselves better while also helping others to understand us.

3. Fostering a mindset of understanding. When we change our goals from making everyone agree with us to having a better understanding of the people and world around us, opinions and actions become much less hostile.

4. Appreciating our similarities. Regardless of where we are from, what we think, or even who we are, it can be important to remember how alike we are and how close we are as humans on this earth together.

5. Not taking opinions personally. This month, we can do our best to take a step back and realise that the actions and words of others rarely, if ever, have anything to do with us in actuality. Most often, they are only reflections of how others are feeling and thinking. When we take things less personally, the world can open up for us.

6. Showing compassion. We never know what those around us are facing, so we can all do our best to bring as much compassion to our interactions with others. A little truly goes a long way.

Whether you will be wearing a poppy this year or not, there is always an opportunity to show a little extra care and spread a little more understanding for one another. As we can see from The Royal British Legion itself, stating that “There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy. It is a matter of personal choice whether an individual chooses to wear a poppy and also how they choose to wear it. The best way to wear a poppy is with pride.”

Please share your experiences, thoughts, and ideas on wearing a poppy in the comments below.

Happy sharing,

Sam

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

Halloween isn’t just for children and the adults who absolutely love fancy dress. There are quite a few themes surrounding the holiday that each of us can use to brighten up our everyday lives!

While modern-day Halloween can feel a bit like a recently imported American tradition, in actuality, Halloween has been celebrated here in the UK for thousands of years, originating with Celtic and pagan traditions.

Dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins are all traditions rooted in the concept of warding off evil spirits and protecting those we love from the devil, starting with the Celtic Samhain festival bringing us guising (dressing up in costume) and carving turnips to keep fairies out of the home.

Like many ancient traditions, there are quite a few concepts within Halloween that we find silly and outdated today, but there are also overarching themes and ideas we can carry with us and uphold in many other ways.

So, how can we all honour the Halloween spirit?

1. Protect and support our bodies. Now is the time of year when most of us start to become ill, (if we’re not already!) We can protect ourselves with a little sleep, fruits and veg, and a few more supplements! If you need some extra tips, take a look here.

2. Changing-up our appearance! Whether it be an elaborate costume, a different outfit than normal, or a new hairstyle, let’s try to change something about the way we look this weekend and see how we feel!

3. A little more rooted: From pumpkin picking, carving, or eating, let’s get in the festive spirit and get our hands on some root vegetables!

4. Celebrating those we have lost. Aspects of traditional Halloween show us how to get more in touch with the concepts of life and death, and how to celebrate the lives of those we have lost. This time could be a great opportunity to grieve a little further or to just remember the people that have been in our lives.  

5. Uncovering our own shadows. Each of us have parts of our personality that we do not like to share with others or even ourselves. This season is an excellent (and often uncomfortable) time to dig deeper into our “uglier” sides. Where do we need a little extra love and healing? We have to open up in order to find out!

6. What are we so afraid of? Halloween is all about confronting our fears, seeing what truly scares us, and being able to move past it. This week is a great time to look at what we have been too scared of and finding ways rise above.

7. Getting a little silly. There are some heavy themes tied into Halloween, but let’s remember to weave some laughter and silliness into the spooky darkness as well! We can all grab some extra treats and make ourselves (and others) laugh during this holiday!

If you’re not looking to ward off evil spirits, but still want to mark the day in some way, take a look here for some ideas!

Be sure to share your Halloween memories, plans, and thoughts in the comments below! Will you be dressing up, partying, or laying low this spooky season?

Happy scaring!

Sam

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

To double up on all things spooky this month, we have fallen directly into Friday the 13th right in the middle of October. This weekend is the perfect time to kick off early Halloween-related celebrations, discussions, and questions!

Friday the 13th is one of the classic examples of a culturally-ingrained superstition without a clear history. Many of us tend to think of the day as “unlucky,” without much, if any, reasoning or background behind the sentiment.

So, why do we believe in a superstition we can’t fully explain?

Whether we wholeheartedly and actively believe in superstitions or not, many of us partake without knowing it! Once they are within our culture, we tend to uphold these superstitions together, feeling that if we do not at least acknowledge them, we are tempting fate.

Superstitions take many forms, carrying across nearly all cultures and providing an array of different reasoning for taking part. Superstitions tend to give us a stake in an often seemingly chaotic and uncontrollable world. When we know the rules, we feel safer. Superstitions tend to explain why bad things happen and tell us how to avoid them. Knocking on wood may not have a direct impact upon un-doing something negative we’ve said, but it sure makes some of us feel better!

According to recent research, believer or not, we overwhelmingly believe in the thought behind the words that we say. Most of us feel that, in one way or another, what we say matters, so putting positive sentiments into the world helps to bring about positivity (and we tend to think the opposite is true as well!)

Whether you’ll be playing it safe this Friday the 13th or doing your best to ignore the superstition completely, we can all bring a bit more positivity into the “unluckiest day” of the year!

1. If you’re in the market for a new furry friend, consider adopting black cat! Black cats tend to stay in shelters the longest, finding it the most difficult to be adopted.

2. Commit to 13 random acts of kindness! Spread a little joy today by paying for someone’s train or bus fare, buying someone a tea, holding the door open, giving a stranger a compliment, donating to a charity, giving someone a hug, or smiling at a stranger!

3. Declutter and donate 13 items you rarely use. Spread the love and clear out unwanted clutter in your home!

4. Tell someone in your life 13 reasons why you love them.

5. Get into the spooky spirit with some Halloween-inspired activities this weekend! Carve some pumpkins, make caramel apples, tell ghost stories, get a few costume ideas ready, and maybe even watch a scary movie or two!  

Share your Friday the 13th, superstition, and Halloween thoughts in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear all about them.

Happy sharing and happy celebrating!

Sam

Photo by Nathan Riley on Unsplash

In our busy lives, it can be easy to overlook our own mental health, but even easier is to overlook the wellbeing of those around us. The coming week brings us World Mental Health Day, on October 10th, which is the perfect opportunity to raise our awareness to the importance of comprehensive support.

As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, the topic of mental health can become increasingly important for many of us, but it can begin to feel even more relevant when we look back at the political, environmental, and social turmoil that have been present over the past few months.

With the recently announced plan to stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars by the 2040, there has been much talk on what the future holds, from car owners, public transport users, and those of us somewhere in the middle.

According to recent Consumer Intelligence research, half of consumers are considering electric cars in their next car purchase, and it is becoming clear that a great deal will need to grow and adapt in order for our systems to functionally support these changes.

Many feel that these changes will likely have wider impacts beyond our transportation decisions, stirring up worries alongside constructive conversation, and allowing us to re-evaluate our current choices. Now is the time for us to begin putting more thought into the kind of society we want to live in for the future and how we can go about building it.

Many of these ideas will take time to see real impact, while others will have immediate impact. Our transportation systems are not currently able to support a switch to electric cars, and while many of us may want to participate in this proposed switch, the current realities of eco-friendly cars seem to leave many of us out of the conversation. From pricing to travel distance, many electric cars just don’t measure up for what some of us need from a vehicle.

So, what could be done? Consumer Intelligence research showed that when we are given a helping hand into cleaner energy, such as a government scrappage scheme or government grants for purchasing electric cars, people report they are much more likely to change from petrol to electric. The hope is that as more people begin using these types of vehicles, the more readily our facilities and intricate support structures will begin to change as well.

There are endless possibilities for how the future of travel will look and feel, with immense opportunity for impactful change. We must remember that these conversations will need to include a vast array of backgrounds and experiences, particularly from those of us who are concerned about being shut out by the practicalities of changing fuel sources. So, share your thoughts and have your voice heard today!

Comment with your worries, celebration, apprehension, and excitement in the comments below!

We can’t wait to hear your ideas.

Happy sharing!

Sam

Photo by Mahkeo on Unsplash

Today marks the end of summer, moving us into the cooler months of Autumn and winter. While many of us may feel apprehensive to welcome this season, there are many causes to celebrate!

Autumn brings a shift in what challenges us, allowing us the opportunity to be more reflective and more purposeful with our decisions. There is great change, both within us and in our surroundings during this season. If we allow ourselves to notice them, there is great beauty everywhere we look!

So, how can we best take advantage of this season?

1. Showing gratitude. Now is the perfect time to reflect upon all of the blessings we have in our lives. Taking a few moments each day to create a list of what we are grateful for can help us to feel happier, more fulfilled, and even stay healthier!

2. Setting our goals and intentions. This season brings space and time to be in our homes, to sit with ourselves, and to reflect upon what we want to see in our lives. Understanding where we want to go helps us to continuously make decisions that support those goals. Let’s take the time to clarity and set them concretely!

3. Letting go. With each changing season, there are habits, thoughts, and ideas that need to change as well. What do we need to let go of this Autumn to make room for the present? Is there anything unhealthy that might be dragging us down?

4. Looking inward. Autumn in the perfect, and often the most difficult, time to do some self-work. We can often find ourselves alone with our thoughts, without the distractions of summer, which can occasionally be overwhelming and uncomfortable. Autumn provides us the opportunities to sit with ourselves and to see where we need to bring extra attention and work.

5. Getting cozy! Now is the time to cuddle up, get close, and pull our friends and family a little tighter. We have the chance to spend a little extra time and become closer to the people in our lives, so let’s take it!

Share your Autumnal plans, thoughts, and ideas in the comments below! We can’t wait to hear them!

Happy sharing!

Sam

Photo by Felix Russell-Saw on Unsplash

Yesterday, a brand new banknote went into circulation, featuring a new face and a new kind of material. As with any new changes, there are both approvals and arguments against, but what do we think overall?

New research from Consumer Intelligence shows that while disagreements have been made regarding the material, the majority support the additions, with over 51% approval.

Arguments against the new polymer material typically come from those concerned about animal fats being used and those who prefer the feel of traditional paper money over the plastic, stating concerns over the practicality of misplacing or sticking plastic money.

Over 67% of people side with the polymer, telling us they feel the notes are cleaner and more hygienic and 52% tell us their preference is down to a more modern feel. For many, this new material aims to address more modern needs, proving to be more durable, secure, and even more widely representative of our diverse communities.

Jane Austen will be the first woman other than the queen to be featured on our bills after a four-month hiatus, when Winston Churchill was introduced on the new £5 note. Along with a woman being represented, the new notes also include braille writing, allowing people who are visually impaired to discern between notes.

It appears that this new note is a step towards modernity, security, and inclusion, but it may be too early to see all sides to its application.

Let us know what you think of this new note in the comments below!

Happy sharing,

Sam