September 2017: Do you know how to create happiness?

Gretchen Rubin, in her book The Happiness Project, sets out to discover ways to be happier. As she begins thinking about what sorts of resolutions she'll make to improve different areas of her life, she notices some "overarching principles" that play a significant part in her "happiness quotient"- and names these principles her "Twelve Commandments." I was intrigued by this idea - and so set about writing my own list - here they are: 1. Be good to myself and others 2. Love outrageously 3. Stop holding my breath 4. Smile at strangers 5. Say it out loud 6. Be hardcore 7. Stay in touch 8. Don’t miss this moment 9. Have great adventures 10. Don’t wait for things to be perfect 11. Laugh deep belly laughs 12. Relish being wrong Coming up with this list wasn't a complete breeze. I had to pause often to decide whether a commandment was really something I believed in or was inspired by or whether it was based on some external expectation. I loved doing it though. Sometimes, the fastest path to happiness is to first define what it actually looks like for you! To more happiness,     Watch Dr. Vincent Felitti share about his journey developing the Adverse Childhood Effects study. Read this tribute to the sexual abuse survivor depicted in the movie Spotlight. What are your 12 Commandments - what principles underpin your life - hold you, guide you, inspire you and increase your happiness!??

BOOK OF THE MONTH   The Ancestral Mind by Gregg Jacobs   "A significant cause of our current condition is our over-reliance on the Thinking Mind and our disconnection from the Ancestral Mind. The Thinking Mind-the rational, self-conscious mind-is responsible for our great technological achievements, but is also the root cause of the unhealthy stresses of modern life and excessive negative emotions. The Ancestral Mind-our older, more unconscious, emotional mind-represents a deeper, wiser guide to well-being and is the source of a more integrated concept of self, an expanded sense of daily awareness, powerful positive emotions, and healthy mind/body interactions." READ MORE HERE!   September's Theme: Authority Figures Genuine authority is something that is earned by virtue of a person’s experience and expertise. As survivors our experience with authority is skewed due to being overpowered and controlled. Learn More & Register Here Rachel Grant, M.A. Counseling Psychology Sexual Abuse Recovery Coach 415.484.5682 www.rachelgrantcoaching.com "What you think, you create"