ARTICLES & BLOG
How to Have an Amazing Year
How to Have an Amazing Year. Simple, do Amazing things.
Plan these in, look forward to them with positive anticipation and after the event look back savouring the memories.
“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.
‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
““One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree.
‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
”
How to Have an Amazing Year
Simple, do Amazing things
Plan these in, look forward to them with positive anticipation and after the event look back savouring the memories.
Watch this short video.
https://youtu.be/MTgg37r_F9Q
As shared in the video, we went to a Candlelight Concert on the theme of Bollywood. The benefit of planning and doing amazing things was that we looked forward to the experience. This gave a positive feeling and we went with the expectation it would be a good experience.
During the event we were present and mindful, appreciating the ambience of the venue and wonderful talent of the musicians.
After the event, we are able to savour the memory as we share it with others. This leads to a positive, good mood.
I am looking to have at least one Amazing experience each month.
Let me know if you have any suggestions.
What are you looking forward to, have planned, what were highlights and learning from last year?
As in previous years, they will be to foster Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social and Spiritual wellbeing. Step out of comfort zone, learn, develop skills and grow. Be of service. Create memories and have joy.
Currently planned and some of the benefits/reasons :
Meditation & Mindfulness Day and Breathwork Workshop : Learning, skill development and supporting my friend who is running the workshops. This enables cultivating good working relationships with other practitioners.
Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop : Expand my comfort zone as it will be the first time I will be doing in-person, service to community.
London City Walking Tour With 5 friends : Enjoy a prize I won in a raffle. Treat some friends to an experience around their birthdays. Make the most of the day out creating positive memories, social connection and spending quality time together.
Gratitude for Wellbeing at North Finchley Library : Deliver a workshop in a new venue. Cultivating good working relationships. Continue the working relationship with Mind in Enfield and Barnet and also serve the Happy Life Habits mission.
Sound Healing session : Attend some Sound Healing /Bath sessions run by people I know
A few weeks travel abroad to visit family : A break from norm and a change in scene. Allowing social connection and a time for learning.
Visit with family and friends to watch a new play “Comedy about Spies” : Fun experience full of laughter. Spending quality time with friends and family.
ABBA Voyage Concert : Enjoy excellent music to sing along to that will make me feel good.
Self Renewal Luxury Retreat @ The Vedanta : Enjoy delivering the workshops and also having a relaxing time at this retreat, in a wonderful venue with like minded souls.
In addition: Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, achievements, time in nature, time with family, friends and community.
Happy Life Habits events to look forward to :
Social Connection dinner/lunch : one event in first half of the year near International Day of Happiness March 20th and another in the second half near Thanksgiving around the forth Thursday in November.
30 Day Gratitude & Journaling Habit Immersion Training course : our lifechanging flagship course that helps develop and benefit from a regular gratitude habit, a journaling habit, a morning and evening routine. One training course to be held in the first half of the year and another in the second half of the year.
Positive Grief Talk during National Grief Awareness Week in December
Gratitude Practice on WhatsApp : On 1st January we launched a 10 Day Gratitude Challenge for the first time on WhatsApp. Each day a different gratitude theme/question to contemplate on and share reflections. The feedback on the experience from the participants was excellent. Summarised as :
A different and moving experience beyond individual practice that helps you go deeper in your practice, think outside the box, be inspired from insights from others perspective, see our common humanity and make a positive difference to your day
All respondents to the poll rated it 5/5 - Amazing/Awesome/Transformative
The intention is to run a Gratitude Practice each month on WhatsApp. Join here.
Self Renewal Luxury Retreat : Following on from our first Self Renewal Luxury Retreat in September 2024 which was well received, with an average 9/10 rating by the participants, we are running another one on 8-10th November 2025.
Invest in your self-renewal at our retreats designed to re-energise, refresh and rejuvenate your wellbeing whilst connecting with like-minded people for an unforgettably meaningful experience in a beautiful countryside setting.
Happiness Boosters / Coaching / Talks / Workshops as and when booked by organisations and corporates
Even as I write this and think about the plans for this year it brings a positive and optimistic feeling.
Hiccups / Spontaneous / Expectations
Undoubtable some things will not go to plan. Things may get cancelled, postponed, delayed due to things outside your control or your own doing. You may become unwell, a friend can’t make, tube strike that could hamper the journey and so forth.
That is life. That’s ok.
The plans may go better and if they do not, I’ll step back to see the big picture and learn from the experience.
By planning, organising and expecting the best, I feel in control and have a better time leading up to the event or experience. We get what we focus on.
You need to be flexible to spontaneous opportunities. Sometimes these are the best. Such as a friend popping over unannounced, or a last minute shout to go out for a meal or chance encounter and conversation.
Many say, especially spiritual teachings that we should not have expectations as can cause disappointment and emotions when not met.
I think expectations themselves are not the issue but an attachment to the expectation or outcome is.
By expecting the best, we look for the best and also show up as our best helping to make it the best.
If it does not work out as expected, the quicker we are able to accept the situation and learn from it the better for us.
Planning allows us to feel in control of our lives, gives us an opportunity to enjoy looking forward to the experience, Enjoy while it happens and savour it after the event. Triple benefit from the one event. Now that’s a good return.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
There is much merit in looking back and review the past year. It allows us to learn from, celebrate and let go to move forward in the new year. We can see patterns, remember highlights and observe growth.
Looking forward allows us to plan, dream, visualise, prepare and the most out of the new year.
For a number of years I do an end of year review and often mid year too. Life is at a hectic pace that we can sometime lose track of what has happened.
Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop inc. lunch Sunday 26 January 2025 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
What is the wisest decision I made in 2024?
This is one of the questions from the Year Compass booklet we will look at in the workshop and capture in the booklet.
The Looking Back, Looking Forward Workshop is a great way to review the year.
The workshop includes:
- The YearCompass workbook
- In person session in NW London (limited spaces)
- Lunch (Vegetarian/Vegan)
What will you give you time, energy and attention?
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn
We will do structured review and planning
- a structured review of the last year using a workbook to look at various themes including personal life, work/studies, hobbies, friends, health, emotional, spiritual, finances etc.
- Capture learning, moments, challenges, achievements
- Consider what we want to let go
- Focus on new year via various themes including personal life, work/studies, hobbies, friends, health, emotional, spiritual, finances etc.
Questions to guide and focus such as
About Last Year :
What is the wisest decision I made?
The biggest thing I completed?
About this Year:
I am ready to let of of these 3 things ...
This year I will not procrastinate any more over...
Capture it in the YearCompass to refer to during the year and thereafter.
What are you looking forward to, have planned, what were highlights and learning from last year?
Year Review / Planning Resources
Here are videos/podcasts/articles and tools I have found beneficial for planning, goals and habits
Mel Robbins : How to Make Next Year the Best Year: Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6oJwpuOYc
Oprah Winfrey - How to Finally Change Your Life in 2025
https://youtu.be/v7VWqwCSc08?si=VzcWReIaIIUQ9p2B
Joshua Becker - 12 Unique Resolutions https://youtu.be/d3Ry0zbYnsU?si=2T48caakMdMWuVXp
Jim Kwik - 5 Steps for a Limitless Life in 2025 https://youtu.be/Vc-tuW85uHo?si=pPrk1ZaIIYaFr2nz
Andrew Huberman 6 small habits can CHANGE your life in 2025 (21 day plan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEq-AYSRFHE
Dr Rangan Chatterjee How To Completely Change Your Life In 2025 - 5 Habits You'll Actually Use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2k7FO6hNr4
How to Make Next Year the Best Year: Ask Yourself These 7 Questions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6oJwpuOYc
Oprah Winfrey - How to Finally Change Your Life in 2025
https://youtu.be/v7VWqwCSc08?si=VzcWReIaIIUQ9p2B
Joshua Becker - 12 Unique Resolutions https://youtu.be/d3Ry0zbYnsU?si=2T48caakMdMWuVXp
Jim Kwik - 5 Steps for a Limitless Life in 2025 https://youtu.be/Vc-tuW85uHo?si=pPrk1ZaIIYaFr2nz
Andrew Huberman 6 small habits can CHANGE your life in 2025 (21 day plan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEq-AYSRFHE
How To Completely Change Your Life In 2025 - 5 Habits You'll Actually Use | Dr Rangan Chatterjee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2k7FO6hNr4
Some planner tools
Join the Happy Life Habits WhatsApp Community - more regular sharing done here.
Shaileen Shah - Happy Life Habits Coach, Speaker & Trainer
Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day. We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list and join the Happy Life Habits Community WhatsApp Group
Facebook Group, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc links can be found at https://linktr.ee/HappyLifeHabits
Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Happy Life Habits Positively Impacting Happiness & Wellbeing Levels
End Of Year Review 2023
Review 2023
At various points in the year I take a moment to review the preceding time period and what is forthcoming. This is often at the end of the year with the Looking Back, Looking Forward workshop, the middle of the year and sometimes ad hoc too.
Like journaling, writing and sharing the review helps me celebrate the wins, learn from the challenges, see growth and gratefully acknowledge the opportunities.
My chosen highlights for 2023
Here are the themes for my chosen personal and professional highlights for 2023 with a brief example. Details on these continue in the blog article.
Commitments, Learning & Habits-
The projects and roles I have committed to I have delivered on. What has helped is consistency, focus, intention & creativity. I have worked from my strengths, stretched, stepped out of my comfort zone, attempted new ideas, used a growth mindset, been resourceful and drawn upon my various past experiences.
Social Connection and Celebration - Various birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated including milestone ones.
Rest & Renewal - much needed overdue holiday break in Kenya with Masai Mara Balloon Safari, forest walks and relaxation at the beach
Community Service & Volunteering - Mental Health Awareness Week digital support and masterclass on Anxiety
Achievements & Creative Innovation - Becoming a certified Heroic Performance Coach from 300 Day coaching program
Review 2023
At various points in the year I take a moment to review the preceding time period and what is forthcoming. This is often at the end of the year with the Looking Back, Looking Forward workshop, the middle of the year and sometimes ad hoc too.
Like journaling, writing and sharing the review helps me celebrate the wins, learn from the challenges, see growth and gratefully acknowledge the opportunities.
Here is review from 2021, 2022 and mid year 2023.
My chosen highlights for 2023
Here are my chosen personal and professional highlights for 2023. Details on these continue in the article.
Commitments, Learning & Habits -
The projects and roles I have committed to I have delivered on. What has helped is consistency, focus, intention & creativity. I have worked from my strengths, stretched, stepped out of my comfort zone, attempted new ideas, used a growth mindset, been resourceful and drawn upon my various past experiences.
A daily focus on learning, self care / renewal, mission statement review, setting intentions, gratitude, journaling, meditation, exercise, nutrition, virtue cultivation, planning, reflection, developing new positive habits have been the bedrock to allow the successes, opportunities, deal with the challenges and be resilient.
Social Connection and Celebration
Various birthdays and anniversaries celebrated including milestone ones.
Happy Life Habits lunches to celebrate 3 years of 30 Day Gratitude & Journaling Habit Immersion Training Course and second annual Thanksgiving Lunch.
Catch up and get togethers.
Rest & Renewal - much needed overdue holiday break in Kenya with Masai Mara Balloon Safari (Bucket List), forest walks and relaxation at the beach
Community Service & Volunteering
Pure Soul exhibition
Young Jains NEC
Focus on Forgiveness digital offering
Mental Health Awareness Week digital support and masterclass on Anxiety
Workshops for World Values Day - What Values would you die for?
Achievements & Creative Innovation
Becoming a certified Heroic Performance Coach from 300 Day coaching program
Being a Heroic Ambassador
Join the SoulBrite Winning Wellbeing team - taking part in LinkedIn Lives
Launch of Inner Compass - Program for deeper clarity on your life, time, energy and focus
Move to Happy Life Habits WhatsApp Community with various subgroups
Dedicated Mental Health group with Master Class on Anxiety and daily support / sharing for Mental Health Awareness Week
Daily sharing of Positive quote in Daily Quote group - to start the day with a positive
Publishing Every Day Happiness Book
Mind In Enfield & Barnet asking us to design and deliver a 10 week course on Happiness in addition to the Gratitude for Wellbeing Workshop.
Happy Life Habits Community Facebook Group - Each week on various days sharing of a question that promotes happiness and wellbeing
Purely digital/online daily offering for Jain Festival of Forgiveness
This was shared at the 6 month review blog in June https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/news/2023/08/01/work-ethic-e585y
___________________________________________________
The year started with a key note presentation for an HR conference in Athens.
We launched a new program Inner Compass and continued with the Master Mind Program.
Took part in 2 podcasts : People on Purpose and Estrella of Happiness - Within You.
Delivered two 3 hour workshops on Gratitude for Wellbeing for the charity Mind in Enfield and Barnet and supported Mental Health Awareness Week on the theme of anxiety sharing resources daily in a dedicated WhatsApp group and Master Class on Anxiety.
Our flag ship 30 Day Gratitude and Journaling Habit Immersion Training Course celebrated it’s 3rd year. We positively impacted trainees when we ran the course in March and a last minute decision for June. June was opened as free gifted refresher to previous attendees.
We celebrated completion of the June course and three year anniversary for the first time with an in person celebration dinner (which was open invite for all Happy Life Habits Community members) at the restaurant Little Resham. We shared delicious, vegan food, conversations and connected deeper with the use of the gratitude cards.
_________________________________
In addition to those shared above here are some more Happy Life Habits and personal highlights
Got Oshwal Connect New Years Honours List Award for the Mental Health and Wellbeing work
Organised a virtual surprise for my friend Priti who was celebrating her 50th Birthday. We had an Inner Compass/Master Mind session scheduled on her birthday. At the end of the session she was surprised on return from break out room when many of her friends and family had joined. We all shared memories and qualities that we saw in her. Awesome part was that in addition it to being a complete surprise we recorded the sharing and she now has that a gift to look upon and savour the memories.
We celebrated my wife Harshna’s 50th too with various get togethers. There were various milestone birthdays and anniversaries we were able to take part in celebrating, connection and creating memories.
Met up with a few university friends from 30 years ago
Ran Daily Facebook part of 30 Day course in November for past course attendees and also had annual Thanksgiving Lunch
My son finished his first year at University, passed his driving test and I’m just beaming with pride at his maturity and cultivation of virtues. The first time we went for driving practice in the family car after he had already been having lessons I was a little cautious. Watching him do all the safety checks and drive diligently the cautiousness went away and I feel really safe when he is driving.
Rest & Renewal
We had an awesome Summer break in Kenya, our first since Covid and lockdowns. Time spent with different family members for parts such as trip to Nanyuki near the foothills for Mount Kenya where the Equator is. A memorable experience was a trek to swim in waterfall lagoon at Ngare Ndare Forest. This was followed with a Masai Mara safari and ended with a whole family trip to the Mombasa including the South coast beach.
Many memories and wonderful experiences created. In particular the Masai Mara trip where on one particular day we set off before sunrise to watch the sunrise from a Balloon Safari (Bucket List) over the Masai Mara plains. An amazing experience followed by a bush breakfast. We did safari the whole day with a delicious picnic lunch inside the Mara where zebras were our backdrop. in In that one day we saw all of the Big Five : Elephants, Rhino (rare), Leopard (rare), Lions and Buffalo. More than 12 hours later we ended the day after the afternoon safari with a sunset sundowners.
Community Service & volunteering
As Happy Life Habits we supported for free Mental Health Awareness Week in May. The theme was anxiety. We shared daily videos, articles and quotes on a dedicated HLH Mental Health WhatsApp Group. An anxiety masterclass was shared.
Late February I was invited to join the Pure Soul team that was delivering 2 weekends of community events as SOAS university as part of the Pure Soul exhibition related to the Jain faith. I joined the team to assist with this project and draw upon my experiences for projects and leadership roles in Young Jains and SCVP as well as those gained from Happy Life Habits. I helped provide support, guidance, communication, create and coordinate a volunteer team. As Young Jains we delivered a workshop on Radical Forgiveness. Priti and I played the MC roles of the Sunday afternoon.
I rejoined the Young Jains NEC (non executive committee) at the end of July to aid the organisation which is facing various challenges.
Within the first few days against the odds I proposed an idea to deliver an digital offering for the Jain forgiveness festival of Paryushan at the start of September. Leading up to the festival, during and after we had a dedicated Focus on Forgiveness WhatsApp group. Each day we shared in English articles, quotes, songs, poems and awareness actions. For four evenings we delivered live online reflection sessions.
On World Values Day in October we offered 2 workshops: What Values would you die for? . One had no attendees despite registrations. This was disappointing. The second session was well received by those who attended. A strong reminder that our role is to show up, do our duty and understand that the results/outcomes are not in our hand.
List of articles shared in 2023
Here are links to articles shared this year.
INNER CHEERLEADER INSTEAD OF INNER CRITIC
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK 2023 : 15TH - 21ST MAY: THEME ANXIETY
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK: ANXIETY RESOURCES
A STRONG WORK ETHIC - WORKING 9 TO ...
Many thanks for your support, encouragement and engagement during the last year. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the new year.
Shaileen Shah - Happy Life Habits Coach, Speaker & Trainer
Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day. We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list and join the Happy Life Habits Community WhatsApp Group
Facebook Group, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc links can be found at https://linktr.ee/HappyLifeHabits
Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Looking Back, Looking Forward - HLH 2021 Review and 2022 Plans
In this blog article:
HLH 2021 review
MasterMind Group 2021 Learning Segment : RCSI : The Science of Happiness & Health
MasterMind Group 2022 opportunity
A funny True story
In this blog article:
HLH 2021 review
MasterMind Group 2021 Learning Segment : RCSI : The Science of Happiness & Health
MasterMind Group 2022 opportunity
A funny True story
Many of the HLH activities, events, projects and organisations during 2021
As part of Looking Back, Looking Forward (LBLF) Workshop
I have done a Happy Life Habits (HLH) 2021 Review. I love looking back and seeing what has been experienced during the year, lessons learnt, changes made and savour the positive times. I had forgotten many of the experiences in the first half of the year. Going through this process with the workbook was positive, energising, clarifying and helped show some of the themes. I have also made exciting plans for the forthcoming year.
Why? Our Mission:
Positively Impacting Happiness & Well-Being Levels so that individuals, groups, communities and companies can engage with life in a happier, kinder, effective & more meaningful way for the greater good.
How in 2021?
By delivering and sharing various events, activities, training, projects, ideas and experiences which included:
Gratitude & Happiness :
90 Days of Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course (3 X 1 month courses)
Thanksgiving Happiness Booster
Gratitude Journaling for Happiness for Mind In Enfield & Barnet (2 x 3 hour workshops)
Numerous Happiness Journals sold/gifted
18 Inspiration Point Podcasts of 1 hour each (12 consecutive weeks for series 2 & 3 during Lockdown)
One series was dedicated to Women, Mothers Day and International Women's Day
Celebrated International Day of Happiness
Using the Wonder platform and having a variety of speakers, coaches, therapists, practitioners share in zones for Laughter, Relaxation, dealing with loss and conversations
Talk at Healing Our Earth
6 MasterMind Group sessions
Learning & Brainstorming solutions
Learning : 10 modules on The Science of Health and Happiness by RSCI
Mental Health : Support during all of May
Happiness Boosters
Daily reflective questions in FB group
Daily release of video series during MHAW in website, LinkedIn, HLH Community, Asian Parents Club, Oshwal Connect and Covid 19 Mental Health Support
Talks on MH - APC x 2
Happiness Boosters x2
Hosting a 21 Day Simple Living Challenge
Positive Grief:
100 mins talk at Shishukunj Bethak - at Bhavan, live streamed on Zoom and recorded
Recording made into smaller bite sized videos and shared on website, FB during National Grief Awareness Week
Talk on Positive Grief given in Gujarati at Shishukunj Anandkunj for elderly audience
Positive Grief and Gratitude shared at Living Bridge Conversations with Tony Patti - Iglobal News
Talks on Science of Happiness, Gratitude, Mental Health, Grief, The Role of Effective Self care in Positive Leadership, Habits for:
Xerox The Women’s Alliance
Iglobal iWellness Show,
iRadio Podcast with Tony Patti
Living Bridge Conversations
Shishukunj (x2)
Shrimad Rajchandra Dharampur Mission Wellness Series
Healing Our Earth (International Day of Happiness)
Shared through various articles, blog posts etc on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp and the HLH website.
Training/Learning undertaken
Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace Level 2 Certification
6 weeks PQ Coaching Program
10 Module RSCI The Science of Happiness & Health
Various Bob Proctor, Robin Sharma and other trainings
Results: How many people did we Positively Impact their Happiness & Wellbeing Levels?
We have no idea. It’s not something we can measure.
Were you one?
One thing I know for sure is that one person did have a positive impact on their happiness and wellbeing levels from each and every one of these events, activities, training, projects, ideas and experiences. And that’s me! Thank you for the opportunities, support, encouragement, feedback and referrals.
Register here Happy Life Habits MMG 2022
MasterMind Group Learning Segment : RCSI : The Science of Happiness & Health
As part of the monthly MasterMind Group (MMG) we have a learning segment and a brain problem solving segment. For the learning segment we have been doing the RSCI : The Science of Happiness & Health Course. In the original course there were 25,000 people registered on it.
I had details about the course shared with me, looked at it, loved it and shared the opportunity with the MMG.
In the MMG we have worked through the 10 module curriculum taking 2-3 videos each month, watching them in our own time, making notes and then sharing them together at the MMG meeting.
I loved it as it resonated with what I learn and share drawing upon teachings from :
Stephen Covey
Viktor Frankl
Carol Dweck
Sonya Lyubomirsky
Martin Seligman
Barbara Fredrickson
Mihaly Csiksentmihalyi
Kristen Neff
James Clear
Charles Duhigg
The course shares these concepts on Increasing our Health and Happiness:
Understanding PERMA
Develop a Growth Mindset
Develop our Optimism
Understand mind-body relationships
Practising Mindfulness Meditation
Learning from the Blue Zones
Understanding our meaning & purpose ‘ikigai’
Practising Gratitude and Forgiveness
Explaining our Time perceptions
Developing positive resonance with others
Practising Empathy, compassion for others and self
Letting Positive Emotions broaden and build us
Identifying and using our personal strengths
Identifying and changing our stories
The practical daily habits we can do are:
Breathe
Meditate
Cultivate Compassion for self and others
Managing thinking process
Managing behaviour by observing thoughts (mindfulness)
Stories we tell ourselves
Positive Emotions leading to flourishing
Flow/Focus
Grow towards the light
Here is a video of the last module - worth watching
Here is what MMG members have shared of their experience:
"I've really enjoyed the learning segment which has touched on some of my degree work. Discovering how to put the learning to use as an individual when interacting with the other 'minds' of the group is fun and informative. I walk away every time feeling better about my development."
"An enriching and rewarding experience that stretched my mind, allowed the exploration of topics that I wouldn't come across in my day job, and practical insights of actions to take that I will benefit from now and in the future."
MasterMind Group 2022 opportunity
Take a moment to reflect on the last year. Also look forward to where you want to be, what you want to have experienced and learnt by this time next year. Take control and supercharge your development in 2022 so when you look back you have grown and developed from where you are now. MasterMind Group is open for registration, you can register here
Register here Happy Life Habits MMG 2022
A Funny True Story
A friend recently sent me a WhatsApp message as below:
I saw you in this video! https://youtu.be/I6QwXyE0J9c
It was a video of the motivational and spiritual teacher Gaur Gopal Das titled ‘Watch This If You Need To Say Sorry To Someone’.
I was cautious as having been a victim of Identity fraud and with many scams / fraud on the increase. (I have written about that experience in Identity Theft Fraud: How I lost more than 7 figures...and so could you). I have heard of and experienced messages like this from hacked accounts where the link takes you to a dodgy site on installs malware - hence my guard was up. I asked
Hi who is this?
in order to check if the name was correct, It was, to fully check I called them, it was my friend and I explained the reasoning for my questioning etc. It was lovely to have a quick, impromptu catch up.
I watched the video, and indeed I was in the audience from a wonderful talk I had attended by Gaur Gopal Das a few years ago.
I messaged my friend to thank them for sharing and reminding me of the important message Gaur shared. It complements with the bite sized Positive Grief video I did on Contact and Connection. I’ll add it to the Positive Grief page. I also said:
Ok, I will use this funny reply next time I get message like this, I saw you in this video! https://youtu.be/I6QwXyE0J9c.
"That's not me, I know we have same hairstyle but that's Gaur Gopal Das!"
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Facebook Group, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube etc links can be found at https://linktr.ee/HappyLifeHabits
Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year! See the year starts with Happy so be happy. I have recently gone through a year end review using a wonderful tool called the year end compass. I wrote about it last year when I first discovered it. This year I was able to spend a bit more time going through it more thoroughly to reflect on last year and to consider themes for this year. I found the process really enjoyable, useful and contemplative. I spread it over a few days as opposed to doing in one sitting. It allowed me to remember and savour the happy moments, absorb and accept the sadder moments, consider the things learnt and really appreciate the opportunities and moments of joy experienced. With that I gratefully thank all who have supported me on this journey; be it words of encouragement, coming to or sharing about workshops, investing in a happiness journal or two and encouraging others to do so also; creating opportunities for me to share at groups, communities and companies or reading this blog . Thank You.
A few questions from the year end compass:
What is the wisest decision I have made…?
The biggest risk I took …?
The biggest surprise of the year…?
The most important thing I did for others…?
Who are the three people who influenced you the most?
What are the the people you influenced the most?
Plus many more.
Then there are sections to look forward to this this year which included:
This year I will no longer procrastinate any more on…
This year I will be bravest when…
This year will be special for me because…
Take a moment to consider your answers to the questions .
I created a worksheet with some of these questions for the class I teach of 14-15 year olds at Veerayatan SCVP Jain School. It is part of work we are doing in sharing life skills with Habits and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers being the focus. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Really enjoying researching, think about and developing the content to share.
The 3rd Monday in January is known as Blue Monday, a day when many people feel low or more depressed due to various factors. Last year I wrote about Blue Monday. Again my friends at the Museum of Happiness are hosting a Winter Happiness Festival on Sunday 19th January 2020 to coincide with Blue Monday. I am volunteering there, I have enjoyed the previous 2 festivals.
Speakers include:
Clinical psychologist Dr Shelley Kerr of Balanced Minds, who will share the science of self-compassion and offer practical tools and techniques to give you full permission to be kinder to yourself
Best-selling author and behavioural change expert Shahroo Izadi will share how self-kindness is the key to changing unwanted habits, and how to make meaningful sustained changes in any area of your life
Former contributing editor of Ethical Performance Magazine Adam Woodhall of Extinction Rebellion will motivate and inspire us on how to be kinder to animals and the planet
Founder of I am Circle Nina Bubamara will conclude with a reflective session to connect and reflect more deeply, champion our creative expression and individuality, and set strong intentions to take action for a happier, kinder world.
We’ll close with a loving kindness meditation for the world and some ecstatic dance to shake off what no longer serves you.
This is a fundraiser to help the museum continue to do the fantastic work it does. Details here if you want to get tickets.
On February 14th (Valentines Day) and February 28th, both Fridays I will be sharing workshops on Happier Relationships at Veerayatan SCVP Jain School in NW London. These sessions are free and open to all.
Resources
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About the Author
Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
START YOUR YEAR END REVIEW NOW
Many people in December do a end of year review to reflect on the past 12 months. They go through their calendar, diary, journal and memories to reflect and capture aspects from the year. There is a great free tool called the year compass that can help with this process available from yearcompass.com/gb. The process can be insightful, heartwarming, provide learning and growth. Instead of waiting till the end of the year to do it why not do one at the end of each month, This has the advantage of making the end of year process quicker and smoother, less chance of missing things and the benefit of getting a good feeling as you savour and reflect at the end of the month and the opportunity to savour each following month.
One way to do it is to copy some of the items from the yearcompass into a word document or google sheet and title with the chosen month then add to it each month end.
Things to consider for inclusion are:
What did I achieve this month?
What were insights I gained?
What did I learn?
What am I grateful for?
What was challenging and how did I deal with it?
Who helped me?
Who did I help?
What could I have done better?
What am I looking forward to this coming month?
The YearCompass breaks it down into a few categories which include:
Personal Life & Family
Belongings
Friends, community
Intellectual
Finances
Work, Studies, Profession
Relaxation, Hobbies, Creativity
Heath, Fitness
Emotional, Spiritual
Bucket List
This is an expansion of the 4 human dimensions of : Physical, Mental, Social/Emotional and Spiritual.
YearCompass gives opportunity to consider the time period in six sentences such as :”The wisest decision I made…”. and six questions such as “What is the best thing you have discovered about yourself?”.
There is much more to the review doc than shared here, however, hopefully this gives you a feel.
Enjoy reviewing and reflecting