Challenge Myself: Day #185 Support Your Spouse's Dream

Today is Day #185 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, support your spouse's dream.

The book says,

You love your spouse and want his dream to be fulfilled, too. Think of several ways you could help him/her realize their deepest desires. Perhaps he or she always wanted to see a baseball game in all the National League Stadiums west of the Rockies.

You could suggest that next year he/she take a summer vacation with his best buddy and go on a baseball junket with maps, time lines, and cost estimates. Provided your relationship is firmly rooted in trust, vacations apart can be fun and healthy.

Spell out other ways you can envision supporting his dreams. Then, of course, you can talk about yours.

Now, I am not so sure about separate vacations thing, but in supporting your spouses dream, yes. When both spouses work outside of the home I think it is important to vacation, vacate, and disconnect together. In a relationship it is very important to support each other.

Just For Today:  I support my husbands dreams, passions and any endeavor he has.

Pic found @ Pinterest
From the Book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #184 Sharing Our Dreams With Our Children

Today is Day #184 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says we need to share our dreams with our children.

The book says,

Draw your children into your conversation about your dream. Share with them your ideas about how you plan to achieve your dream. Seek their input as well. Their ideas may strike you as silly, crazy, imaginative, inventive, or solid- you'll never know unless you chat with them about it.

When you involve your children in creative brainstorming, you are teaching them how to formulate and work on their own dreams. Children's minds are ever-evolving. As they grow, their minds develop. They begin to differentiate between rational thinking and emotional thinking.

By including them in your dream sharing, you help them develop healthy minds that can adapt, solve problems, and evolve further.

As I have grown older and listening to my grandchildren, I appreciate a young imaginative mind. One of my grandchildren in particular has a wild imagination. He often tells me stories about a character which is real, but he makes up stories about this character. He calls this character, Freddy Frazzberry. Although he often gets carried away, I think maybe one day he will be the storyteller.

Just For Today: Appreciate the imagination of a child.

pic found @ tjonajourney
From the book:  Live Happy

A Milestone: Halfway Through The Challenges

Today marks a milestone in the challenges of 365 Ways to Live Happy. Today we are at the halfway mark.

For the past several months I have been doing the Live Happy Challenges as part of my Just For Today. I am doing these as part of a Challenge to Myself. Several months ago we were challenged at Nar Anon to think of ways each day to bring just a little peace and serenity into our lives even if those challenges were Just for a day. Today.

A friend had given me a book called 365 Ways to Live Happy Simple Ways to Find Joy and 
happiness Everyday several years ago. I decided to include them into my challenge. After a couple of days I decided to share them here to spread some happiness and ways to live happy to others by blogging the challenges.

Today we are halfway through the challenges. Some of the challenges don't seem to fit in for right now, but I've been able to go back to some of them. Take for instance those on Happiness While Traveling. We don't travel outside of the U.S. but I can find ways of integrating the steps into our day trips or weekend trips.

Hopefully you have been able to get some ideas from the challenges to help you. In just two days we will be moving on to another section of challenges from the book.

If you have missed them and want to look back, they are listed on the sidebar of this blog under, Live Happy.

Have you enjoyed the challenges? Have you found something interesting? Have you tried any of the suggestions?

Challenge Myself: Day #183 Celebrate Your Dream

Today is Day #183 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says list specific ways you will celebrate achieving your dream.

The book says,

When you finally make your dream a reality how will you celebrate to mark the occasion? Will you buy yourself a piece of expensive jewelry you've been wanting? OR, will you escape to Monte Carlo for a long weekend?

Perhaps you want to do something physical like climb a mountain. Make celebration an important activity in the process of realizing your dream. You are marking a milestone and getting ready for the next part of your great adventure because a dream has a way of spawning others.

So, if tomorrow your dream of opening a business, or maybe becoming an entrepreneur, or a writer, or whatever your dream may be became a reality, how would celebrate it?

Just For Today: I celebrate all the milestones in both the journey and in dreams becoming realities.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Mysefl: Day #182 Keep a Lucky Charm

Today is Day #182 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says to put a talisman on your desk to remind you of your dream. Have you ever broken the wishbone on a turkey with someone for luck?

The book says,

Maybe you have always wanted lots of money, not for merely having it but rather for the purpose of being able to exchange it for other things important to you. Consider getting a talisman or charm for wealth, abundance, and success.

A talisman is simply an object intended to ward off evil and bring good luck. If you choose to make your money talisman, do so during the waxing phase of the moon.

When you are ready to charge it, hold the talisman in your right hand (which you place facing up in your left hand) and charge it with prayers, deep breathing, visualization of it's purpose, and infusion of your life force energy.

When not in use, keep it in a bag near where you work or on your desk to remind you of your pursuing dream.

I don't know how old you are, but do you remember the 70's and the lucky rabbits foot? I had several rabbits feet key chains that I carried with me everywhere. The four leaf clover is another example of a lucky charm. I had a friend that put one in resin to preserve it. Another is a horseshoe hung over a door.

Do you believe in lucky charms? Do you carry a lucky charm?

Just For Today: I want to believe that luck is on my side.

pic found @ Pinterest
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: #181 Organize a "Dream Team"

Today is Day #181 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says ask six friends to support your dream endeavor.

The book says,

You have dreams and so do your friends. Choose six friends and ask them if they would be interested in having a team to support them in pursuing their dreams. Then call a meeting of everyone and have a discussion of how each of you could best serve each other as all of you deliberately go after your dreams.

Will you call each other everyday to talk about progress and concrete issues? Will you meet on Saturdays for bagels and coffee to discuss overcoming any obstacles that some or all of you have faced during the week?

Knowing you have close-knit network of individuals committed to help you realize your heart's desire can help you stay motivated and on course.

Just For Today: I will find a dream team to support my endeavor!

Pic found @ Pinterest
From the book:  Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #180 Write the Plot

Today is Day #180 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says to write the desired result and plot the course backwards.

The book says,

A terrific exercise for seeing if you have figured out all the potential obstacles in your way to having your dream come true is to figure out exactly what the end result is and then plotting events backward to the beginning to the first step.

Perhaps you dream is to win the lottery. Start with winning it and work backward listing the events.

• You play everyday, spending a dollar on the Quick Pick.
• Even before the day you place your first bet, you choose your favorite numbers.
• Every day for two weeks, you walk to the convenience store in your neighborhood to play.
• You play at 7:00 PM.
• Then, on the fourteenth day, your numbers come up.

Just For Today: I will make an outline  of my plan.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #179 Vital Factors to Your Success

Today is Day #179 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, post on your mirror 5 factors vital to your success.

The book says,

Think of five factors that are absolutely vital to the success of your dream. Write them on sticky paper or note cards and place them where you can see and think about them.

For example, having a dream of owning your own business might mean knowing everything you can possibly know about your product or service and the demographic of your ideal customer, having a business plan, finding enough capital, and establishing the proper price point for your product.

Determining the optimum business location or having a great website will also be important. You want to start a business that succeeds. Knowing what is vital to that success will help you get those things before you launch your company.

Many years ago I wrote a short story. It's never been submitted anywhere. I've let a few friends read it who encouraged me to do something with it. It seems every time I tried, something came a long and set me back.

I sent it out a few years ago for some editing. My plan was to publish it on Kindle. I got it back and it still sets in a folder.

Reading these challenges for making a dream come true but it seems each time I get close enough another set back happens. I always took this as it just wasn't meant to be.

Just For Today: One day I will!!!

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #178 Manifesting Your Dreams

Today is Day #178 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says we need to create a manifestation board for our dreams.

Growing up I can remember saying, "I can't do this." My mom would always reassure me, "You can do anything you set your mind to do." I now know her words were telling me, don't ever give up on myself or my dreams and as long as I kept saying I can't do it, I would never manifest it.

The book says,

A sheet of poster paper or foam board will serve as a board on which you can paste images, inspirational words, goals, and dates for accomplishing goals as well as ideas of new directions to take your dream.

Maybe you want to find a way to help your children's school establish a theatrical group or an arts program. Perhaps you are an artist and can guide children in making masks, costumes, stage sets, and the like. Cut pictures of those images from magazines and put them on your board.

Do you know other parents or artist friends and teachers who could help you launch such a program?

Write their names on your board. Check them off as you call and make your pitch. You'll soon learn that a dream doesn't have to be a solo dream; it can come about through a team working together on a community held vision.

Write, I can do anything I set my mind to on a piece of paper. Put the paper on your mirror or carry it with you because you can do anything if you want it bad enough. Never doubt yourself.  If you want it bad enough, you can make your dreams come true.

Just For Today: I will stop saying, I cannot do this!

pic found @ Pinterest
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #177 Boost Your Dream

Today is Day #177 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, give your dream some rocket power.

The book says,

A dream needs a powerful push to move it into manifestation. You give it that power by making your dream as clear as possible in your mind, turning it into a specific goal or goals, putting the goals into a timeline, and knowing what the culmination of that dream looks like.

For example, you wish you could leave your indoor office job and find some kind of work in nature, possibly landscaping, or overseeing the care and security of a park. Be more specific.

Working at a wildlife rescue center is quite different than that of caring for the horses in an equine therapy center. Clipping spent flowers from rose bushes at a community garden is different from enforcing the rules governing the use of a local park.

St. Augustine, in the fifth century, offered the following sage advice, "Pray as if everything depended upon God and act as if everything depended upon you." Ignatius Loyola changed the word "act" to "work."

The point is that belief, actions, and work are all necessary to push forth a dream from the idea realm into manifestation.

Just For Today: One day I will get what I have written finished.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #176 Let Your Dream Take Flight

Today is Day #176 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says we need to incubate our dream and then let it take flight.

The book says,

This exercise might not seem too specific, but in fact it is. Incubate means allowing something time to reach its fullness. Letting your dream take flight is letting go of the restrictions you might place upon yourself and your dream.

Instead, think about it until it reaches its fullness then let it go. Follow it.

Writer, Anais Nin once observed that a dream was always ahead of her and she chased it, but when she caught up and lived in unison with it for a moment, that moment was nothing short of a miracle.

Dreams open your mind to beautiful and exciting possibilities. Give your dream full reign. You may even discover happiness and unfathomable success.

Not many know this about me, but I have started a few writings in spiral notebooks. Several story ideas I started years ago. One dream I always have is to one day get these writings finished and possibly publish them.

Several years ago I was working to get one published to a Kindle read. Some who have read my other blog will know this about me.

Real life took me in another direction. I do want to get that crossed off my list so maybe this year will be the year I get it published to Kindle.

Just For Today: My dream of publishing a short story has incubated for several years. I am hoping this year I can make this a reality.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #175 Journal Your Dream

Today is Day #175 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says we should buy a blank journal to record the daily progress.

The book says,

Blank journals are great for keeping track of the progress you make toward achieving your dream. You can find blank journals anywhere- at Walmart, book stores, drug stores, some supermarkets and department stores.

Perhaps you've always dreamed of owning your own salon. Assuming you already have your cosmetology license and, perhaps a station at a local salon, begin by figuring out all of your options, including striking out on your own or partnering with a friend, relative, or an associate.

• Is there a local salon for sale? Is there retail space at a good price in a great location?
• Do you already have clientele who will follow you to your new location?
• Where will you get the money for your startup operations?

Brainstorm until you know everything about actualizing your dream. Write your ideas in the journal. Then, make your dream happen.

Just For Today: I will start a journal for my dreams.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #174 Take 30 Minutes

Today is Day #174 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says to schedule thirty minutes a day concentrating on pursuing your dream.

The book says,

Isn't your dream worth thirty minutes of your time? If you think you can't squeeze thirty minutes out of a twenty-four-hour day, think again.

How long do you spend in the shower or shaving or putting on makeup? How long is the prep for dinner?

Use snatches of time here and there if you can't find a block of thirty minutes. The point is to work on lifting that dream out of the wish state and pulling it into manifestation in your life as soon as you can.

Yoke your dreams to your will, intent, and action and then give yourself a pat on the back for drawing your dream into physical reality.

Just For Today: I will take 30 minutes today to stop what I am doing to concentrate on my dream.

pic found @ Pinterest
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #173 Ask For Help

Today is Day #173 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to ask five friends to help you.

The book says,

Think of your dream as a team project. Ask yourself how five friends could help you reach your goal. Write down a master list of everything that must be done. Now make those calls to your buddies.

For example, perhaps you love to cook and already teach small classes in your kitchen. You'd like to take your cooking enterprise into a bigger venue. You could write a cookbook and have your friends become testers (preparing and cooking your recipes to see if the dishes come out correctly each time).

Or, you could assign each friend a specific task to help you make a video for a cooking show that might air on your local cable network. Enlisting the help of friends means they are invested in helping you succeed. So, get your team together and go for your dream.

Just For Today: I will ask for help to accomplish

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #172 Listen to a Success Story

Today is Day #172 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, to ask someone to share their success story

The book says,

Whenever you meet someone who has successfully followed and manifested his/her dream, ask them to tell you about their own personal journey.

Unless you already know everything there is to know about becomming successful and turning your dreams into reality, you can learn a great deal from others.

Perhaps there are pitfalls and minefields you can avoid that someone else has already gone through.
Be open to suggestions, insights, caveats, and the counsel of successful people. Most likely, they were once in your shoes, embarking upon a path toward their dreams and hoping to achieve success.

Just For Today: I will make it a point to ask and to listen to a success story.

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #171 Establish Attainable Goals

Today is Day #171 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, establish attainable goals first.

The book says,

When you have decided that success is possible and have worked you inner game (that is, being able to think of yourself as successful), then it's time to establish some modest, attainable goals.

Reaching for too much too soon might render disappointment if you aren't immediately successful.

Starting out with some attainable goals will increase your confidence and inspire you to even greater accomplishments.

I believe this is true. I've told my kids that they should list their small goals first; those they know they can attain. When you see you can get to the small ones soon you'll feel nothing can stop you now. Then, you will strive to get to the harder goals or those that seem less attainable.

Just For Today: I will strive to attain to my smallest goals first.

6 Ways to Stay Focused and Achieve Short Term Goals

pic found @ keep calm o matic
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #170 Devise A Spinoff

Today is Day #170 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, devise spinoffs of the dream you wish to pursue.

The book says,

Consider how you might do what one television infomercial guy did, that is, spinning your dream along different avenues.

The television guy speaks passionately about his love of real estate wheeling and dealing, updating houses he buys cheap through foreclosures, bank owned real estate auctions, or tax sales. He flipped those houses into a million-dollar income, but he didn't stop there.

He spun his dream into books, seminars, conferences, a television show, and other areas that cross-sold his real estate ideas.

Your interest might not be in real estate or lend itself to exactly those types of spinoffs, but think of how you, too, could develop spinoffs from your dreams.

Have you ever had a dream of doing something or becoming something?

Just For Today: Following dreams will lead to happiness.

pic found @ Follow Your Dreams
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #169 Visualize Achieving Your Goals

Today is Day #169 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, visualize achieving your goal three times a day.

The book says,

What's your primary personal goal? Is it to lose weight? Spend less money? Or maybe earn more money?

Whatever it is, write out an affirmation for achieving it. For example:

From now on at mealtimes I will eat one third less than my usual serving of food, and I will walk a half-hour each weekday.

Try to keep your affirmation succinct and to the point. That way, it will be easy to recall, and repeat it at least three times during the day. The more specific your affirmation, the more effective it will be in helping you attain your goal.

Just For Today: Today, I am happy. Today I am healthy. Today I am Blessed.

Just in case here is a link to Daily Affirmations or you can think of your own to use.

Pic found @ Pinterest
From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #168 What Will Your Future Hold?

Today is Day #168 of the Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my daily Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today says, think of six specific points for your ideal future.

The book says,

On a piece of note paper, jot down six specific things about the future life you desire. If it makes the task any easier, first think of several areas of your life, for example:

• 
  Family
• 
  Friends
• 
  Finances
• 
  Health
• 
  Career
• 
  Spirituality/Religion

There are certainly many other areas you could list, but choose six and then write out something specific about the area of your life that you would like the manifest.

For example, you might write, "I will have an income over $75,000 next year." or "I will move into a house twice the size of the one I'm in now."

When you are clear about what you want, you are more likely to get it.

Don't think of this challenge in terms of tomorrow, the next day, next week or even a month. In real life none of this will happen overnight. It will however come to you quickly after you have devised a plan of action. It will help by putting your goals into a prospective. Start with short term goals and end with long term goals.

Just For Today: I will start with the goals I can accomplish first.

From the book: Live Happy

Find Happiness Pursing Your Dreams

The challenges for the section on Be Happy on the Road have come to an end. I hope you found something interesting in the challenges of Happiness on Road and some ideas to help when you travel whether it is around the United States or for those of you who travel outside of our country.

The next section of challenges are about Finding Happiness Pursuing Your Dreams. Now, all of us have dreams especially dreams of something we'd like to do one day.

One of our sons has a dream of flipping houses. I would love to win the lottery to help get him started on his dream. He's very talented and would do well.

I personally would like to take a few of my hobbies and make an income. The hubby's dream is to homestead and live off grid.

We all have dreams of doing something one day. It is never too late to pursue any dream you have! The next set of challenges hopefully will give everyone ideas on pursing our own dreams.

I peeked ahead at a few of them and there are some really good ideas. There are so many brilliant minds here in the panhandle and so many young and future innovators. Remember, anything is possible- even your dreams!

I have called upon a local entrepreneur for his help and guidance over the next few days of these challenges and for his input.

If you are searching for Happiness in Pursuing your dreams and you have dreams, but you just don't know where to start locally reach out to local entrepreneur, Winchester Hopkins. Winchester spends time working with oppressed individuals through his nonprofit organization, Self Empowerment Institute Inc. 

Reach out to him for some guidance if you don't know where to start or for encouragement. For more information on his organization you can contact him @ winchesterhopkins@gmail.com

Also Read the Newspaper Article: Martinsburg Man Reaches Out To Those In Need
Pic from Dream Quotes