Reaching For The Heart Of Happiness

by Jill Abraham

The Universe Is Magical! If you open your eyes to see all the signs, you will find that your destiny is calling to you every single day. Sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small. But the question is, are you looking for the signs?

We can often lose sight of the mystical force that moves through all things. The same force that moves the sun around the earth, that keeps us anchored to the ground, that turns seeds into beautiful flowers, that moves the clouds in the sky. That same force is guiding each of us on our path. And even though it's there all the time, sometimes we forget to trust in it.

Following the signs can seem elusive at first. It's easy to fall into the trap that the signs should come like a big banner in the sky. However, it's much more intimate than that.

The signs come from within our hearts. When we get connected to the little things that we love, passions that we maybe secretly hold dear, or just the small pleasures of life, we are led - as if by coincidence - one by one into events that lead us closer and closer to fulfilling our dreams.

It starts with quieting the mind. Being able to get still is one of our first important steps in discovering who we are and what we are put on this earth to do. It starts with clearing out all the clutter and the noise in our heads that fills us with fear, doubt, self-sabotaging ideas, stress and anxiety-everything that will steer us away from taking big leaps into our dreams.

Once we get quiet we can hear the messages of the heart and the body - which always speak to us in a very simple language - sensation. Good or bad. If we listen closely, we know when a choice we are about to make feels good or if it doesn't.

Often the attachments and fears that run through our heads might prevent us from tuning in. However, when ignored, the body will send us signals over and over again until finally one day we are forced to PAY ATTENTION. Maybe we get ill, or we get into a car accident. The universe is JOLTING us out of our foggy state of mind to WAKE UP to our life that is happening NOW. Not sometime in the past or someplace out there in the future. And the more we distract ourselves with this illusion of time, the less likely we will be to step out of our comfort zone and step into growth.

Once you quiet the mind you can ask yourself some simple questions. What do I love to do? What brings me happiness? When do I feel the most fulfilled and the most joyful? What creative things do I want to put my attention on and how can I use my energy to its fullest? How can I serve others? In what way can I take all this energy of my mind and channel it into something positive that will make a difference?

Once you discover that which makes you happy, seek it out. Look online and find people who are up to the same things as you. If you see an article in a magazine that looks interesting to you, read it and see what there is for you to get out of it. Be open to meeting people everywhere you go - just like when you are in a foreign country - open to all the experiences that you have when out of your habitual routine.

Look at life as this amazing unlimited adventure and you will see that you can break out of the imaginary walls that hold you back. As you follow your bliss, life will meet you on your path. Opportunities will arise. People will show up. You will get powerful and creative in making your life your own.

Follow your Bliss. You may have heard that expression a few times before. What does it mean? Bliss is not necessarily big extravagant indulgent things. Bliss could be organizing a closet and the sense of accomplishment that comes with that. It could be gardening or writing or taking pictures or going to a yoga class.

Things that are simple are usually the best places to look. Then, as you start participating in this activity of your choice, your life becomes full of contentment and happiness. You become peaceful and at ease as you feed your spirit with that which you love. And on and on it keeps unfolding.

Of course there will be ups and downs, but the question is - are you willing to go through the fire of transformation inside of your commitment to fulfilling your dreams?

Are you willing to do the work that it will take to trust that even during setbacks and utter breakdowns, there is always a reason for all of the situations that happen in your life? Are you willing to trust in the universal force that it is guiding you exactly to where you need to be?

Doing the work could mean giving up the resistance in any area of life where you think it "shouldn't be" the way it is. Doing the work could be diving deeper into soul feeding activities like yoga and meditation, self study and self development.

Doing the work could be honoring yourself in everything you do, including; eating mindfully, exercising, being with loved ones and people who support you, watching movies that inspire you.

Celebrating your life. It could be saying "thank you" and holding space for all of the things you have in your life that you are grateful for, INCLUDING everything that challenges you because it is causing you to grow in tremendous ways. Then we can be grateful for everything and all of life's lessons, which brings us closer to realizing how strong, powerful, resilient, loving and compassionate we really are.

Lastly, shift your attention from complaints to gratitude and start counting your blessings. When we make this powerful internal shift, we become light and gracious in every situation in our life.

Do the work, follow your heart and your dreams will magically unfold.

Photographs by Ashley Bilodeau

www.poweryogaofcapecod.com

Jill Abraham is owner and director of Power Yoga of Cape Cod, and co-owner of Power Yoga of Cape Cod Dennisport. She is a 500 Hour Certified Baptiste Instructor, 500 Hour Certified Kripalu Instructor, and a 500 HR. E-RYT with Yoga Alliance.

Jill created and leads the 200 HR. Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher Training at Power Yoga of Cape Cod.

In addition to teaching yoga, Jill is a Certified Health and Life Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition, a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner through The Ayurveda Academy in Seattle, WA, and a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Cookery School (founded by Annemarie Colbin in NYC).

She has been leading health and nutrition workshops since 2005. In addition, Jill is a lululemon athletic ambassador for the lululemon in Hingham, MA, and regularly organizes community projects throughout the year to raise funds and awareness for various non-profit organizations.

For more information about Jill's work visit:
www.poweryogaofcapecod.com
or call 508.246.0714