Practice | Live Happy

Quiz: How Passionate Are You?

Research as well as my 20 years of experience shows that being passionate in life can inspire greater success, productivity and happiness in many areas. Work and personal relationships as well as physical and mental health improve when we feel a strong calling—a zest for life and the things and people in it. I have developed this quiz to help you assess how passionate you are so that you can begin to either embrace the great skills that you have or you can work on the areas that you need to improve upon. The good news is, no matter what you score, you can always learn to be more passionate. How do you rate on the passion scale? Read each statement below and ask yourself whether, for you, it is true or false. Then add up your "trues" to find out your passion score, below. I get excited about the things I like to do. I would rather be awake doing what I love than sleeping. I would consider myself a person who gets more enthusiastic than the average person. I can be driven to action by my anger. I can be driven to action by my feelings of happiness. I am emotional and my emotions tend to be powerful. I have a good sense of what my purpose is in life and I pursue it. I take risks for things that I view to be important. If I feel strongly about something, I invest energy into it. I prioritize doing things that I love. I try to direct my attention toward people, places and things that make me feel good. I talk with others about the things that I am passionate about. I consider myself to be driven. I know what I want and I try to go after it. I often push myself to my limit. When I am excited about something, I often go after it “full speed ahead.” I often get so wrapped up in doing what I love that I lose track of time. I try to get others involved in my favorite activities. I take time to figure out what is important to me. I often feel like I cannot relax until I accomplish something I am working on. If I am interested in something, I can be known to research it in a driven and motivated way. I push past my fears if there is something on the other side that I want. I have so much I want to do that I sometimes don’t have time to do it all. I believe that you can always do more, be more and learn more. If I set a goal, I typically meet it. Unless there are extreme circumstances, I always make time for what I love. I take a stand for causes that are important to me. I speak up about topics that I value. I hope that my enthusiasm rubs off on others. Even if I have a bad day or feel down, I try to motivate myself to do something positive. I dream about doing great things. If one thing doesn’t work out, I work hard to find something else. I would call myself brave. I would call myself enthusiastic. I would call myself focused. I would call myself motivated. I would call myself open to new people, opportunities and ideas. I am dedicated and motivated to learn and grow. When I do something I love, I want others to experience my joy. When I think of the word passionate, I think of me. Passion score: 30-40: You, my friend, are a highly passionate person. You are generally highly motivated, enthusiastic and goal-oriented. The one caution here: Be careful not to neglect the key people in your life or your responsibilities. Sometimes those of us who are the most passionate can lose sight of other important things in favor of our passion. 20-29: You are a person who is passionate and allots some time and energy toward your passions without going overboard. Ask yourself if you can find a way to carve out more space in your life to enjoy what it is you are passionate about. If some of your passions are limited due to fear or financial means or other obstacles, develop a plan to overcome those challenges. 10-19: You know what it is you are passionate about, but you need to work on setting goals and gaining tools to spend more time and energy investing in your passions. It would be beneficial for you to place some more focus on this area of your life so that you can get maximum fulfillment. 0-9: Being passionate does not come easily to you, but you can learn to infuse more of this great feeling into your life if you wish. Make a decision to invest more time, energy and planning into finding what it is you love and into making more of those types of experiences. If you feel a bit stuck on how to go about this, enlist friends, family or other support to help get you going. Take our quiz: How Close Is Your Relationship? Stacy Kaiser is a successful Southern California-based licensed psychotherapist, author, relationship expert and media personality. She is an editor-at-large for Live Happy, and the author of the bestselling book, How to Be a Grown Up: The Ten Secret Skills Everyone Needs to Know.

Woman waiting for a bus, going off to find her passion

Practice

21 Ideas for Finding Your Passion in Life

Here is our list of favorite things to do, watch, read and share to cultivate your passions, your talents and your drive.1. Read The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson.2. Listen to “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac.My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou3. Watch The Aviator.4. Cross something off your bucket list.There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela5. Read The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose by Janet Attwood and Chris Attwood.6. Listen to “Life in a Northern Town” by The Dream Academy.7. Watch Tucker.Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks.” – Yo-Yo Ma8. Read Epiphany: True Stories of Sudden Insight to Inspire, Encourage, and Transform by Elise Ballard.9. Design your own Valentine’s Day cards; they’re not just for kids.10. Take up a musical instrument.11. Read Just Kids by Patti Smith.12. Listen to “I Hope you Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” – Bruce Lee13. Read Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh.14. Listen to “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall.15. Treat yourself to the “perfect day” and spend it doing something you’re passionate about.Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.” – Dale Carnegie16. Read Find Your Passion: 25 Questions You Must Ask Yourself by Henri Junttila.17. Take a class in tango or flamenco dancing.18. Watch Rudy.19. Howl at the moon.It is your passion that empowers you to be able to do that thing you were created to do.” — T.D. Jakes20. Watch the movie Whiplash.21. Sing along to the radio at the top of your lungs.

Practice

5 Tips for Making Your Resolutions Stick

One of the things that I love about New Year’s is that it feels like a fresh start—a chance for new beginnings. We have the perfect opportunity to set new goals and begin the year with feelings of hope and joy.A great deal of joy can come out of feeling optimistic about the upcoming year. One of the best ways to spark feelings of hope and happiness are by creating resolutions for the New Year.Now the fact is, many of us make our resolutions on January 1st that we have already rationalized dumping by February 1st! That’s because it takes approximately four to six weeks to change a habit or start a new one, so it's important to have a good plan in place to keep up that initial momentum.(Or as Jerry Seinfeld might have said, it is one thing to make a New Year’s resolution, and another thing entirely to keep the resolution. Big difference.)Here are my tips to help you set and keep your resolutions:1. Be realisticDon’t set yourself up for failure by trying for the impossible. Think about what you can realistically accommodate in your schedule and work from there.2. Be specificInstead of pledging, "I will lose weight," try something more like, "I commit to eating healthy and exercising daily unless it's a special occasion."3. Lay out an exact planDecide ahead of time how you will change your behavior, then write down the details on a piece of paper or electronic devices. This is an act of commitment to your goal.4. Share your goalsLet one or more members of your support system know that you are working toward making positive changes in this coming year, and ask them to be there to lift you up during the challenging times and to cheer for you during the successful times. Set up a plan to call them if you are feeling like you are struggling to stay on track.In an ideal situation, ask a friend to be your accountability partner and you can be hers. Check in with each other daily or weekly so that you can provide each other mutual support and encouragement.5. Focus on progress, not perfectionIf you slip up, allow yourself the room to make the mistake and move forward in a positive direction without beating yourself up. Each new minute, hour or day is another chance to try again.Remember that it takes four to six weeks to change a habit or to start a new one. Make every effort to continue on this path toward positive changes well into February, and things will get easier. Make this year one in which you achieve your goals and learn new skills. Set yourself up for success by starting out the year on a positive footing.Stacy Kaiser is a successful Southern California-based licensed psychotherapist, author, relationship expert and media personality, and a frequent contributor to Live Happy.

Chrissy Carter finds peace during the holidays

Practice

5 Tips for Holiday Bliss

The holiday season has always been my favorite time of year. When I reflect on my childhood, I remember the family traditions that made me feel at home within myself, such as decorating our house, helping my mother cook a special holiday meal and wrapping our homemade gifts. Even today, I love the holidays because they celebrate what matters most in life.Despite my healthy dose of holiday spirit, I’m often forced to face the (holiday) music: Rather than savoring the season, we can find ourselves slipping into survival mode as we try to keep our heads above water. In the midst of it all, our beloved rituals are thrown overboard to keep the life raft afloat.We may not be able to lighten our social calendar or shorten our to-do lists, but we can learn how to remain calm in the midst of the madness. So I want to share several of my favorite ways for keeping holiday stress at bay and staying connected to the magic of the season.1. Connect to the momentSome of my fondest memories from childhood involve helping my mother in the kitchen during the holidays. Cooking can be a therapeutic release, giving us mental space and clarity by getting us out of our heads, engaging our senses and helping us connect to the moment.Another way to engage in the holiday spirit is to create homemade decorations for your house, such as fragrant pomander balls.2. Sacred SpaceIt can be challenging for us to stay grounded when we’re feeling overwhelmed, so I encourage you to create a space in your home filled with photos and special objectsthat remind you of what’s most important in our lives.Each day, light a candle, and spend a few moments focusing on the significance of your display. Connect to each object, and contemplate how it makes you feel.3. Gift wrappingWrapping gifts can feel like a chaotic race to the finish of the holiday season, but with a little planning and some simple supplies, like craft paper, kitchen twine and a small bunch of wintergreens, this to-do can become an opportunity to connect with the creative process and create a natural, beautiful presentation for your gifts. Instead of a chore, think of wrapping as a hands-on craft project that can be fun and also rewarding when you see the faces of the recipients.4. Mindful meditationWherever our lives take us, we can reap the benefits of mindful meditation by following these simple steps:Close your eyes and take a few moments to observe your breathing.Scan your body and relax where you can.Visualize the special place you created in your home.See that space in your heart, and allow each photo and object to root you more deeply in what ís most important to you.Fill yourself with the positive emotions that arise from contemplating the things you love.5. Restorative yogaRestorative yoga invites the body to practice what it does naturally: renew. This type of yoga can initiate our relaxation response, redirecting our bodies’ energy to their housekeeping chores, such as digestion and elimination.The Floating Pose can help relieve our feelings of anxiety because when the front of the body faces the floor, it creates a feeling of safety and cues the nervous system to relax. When you’re overwhelmed, this pose will meet you where you are.A Restorative Twist stretches the muscles of the lateral torso and rib cage, encouraging a freer breath.And the Reclined Bound Angle opens the front of the body, inviting us to surrender to relaxation and inner calm. Each of these poses can be held for up to 10 minutes.Chrissy Carter is a yoga instructor and lifestyle expert. She teaches yoga and trains teachers at YogaWorks in New York City, as well as on GaiamTV.com and on two popular Gaiam DVD. Find our more about her work, life and inspirations at chrissycarter.com

Reading

Supersurvivors

In this new book, psychologists David B. Feldman, Ph.D., and Lee Daniel Kravetz contend that those who face trauma and then go on to accomplish extraordinary feats, you are a “supersurvivor.” The authors present stories of people who have learned how to redirect their focus and priorities to thrive in the face of great tragedy. This may have something to do with the fact that reflecting on death can, in a sense, lead to a better life. When you become acutely aware of how short and precious life really is, you are more likely to make the most meaningful choices possible. Tragedy doesn’t have to cause you to shrink from a full life. Even in the midst of trauma, you can continue to smile, to love, to celebrate and to renew. The stories presented in Supersurvivors offer hope to anyone who faces great challenges and anyone who would prefer to harness the lessons learned rather than be crushed by them.

Giving

9 Great Gifts That Are Experiences

Research shows that when we spend our money on experiences instead of objects, the happiness we feel as a result is both stronger and longer lasting.When you give a gift in the form of an experience, it includes not only the anticipation of the event and the event itself, but also a lasting memory to savor. Here are nine ideas for unconventional gifts that friends and family will treasure.1. Tickets to a performanceTickets to a movie, play, musical or comedy show can be a great gift for recipient of any age. It’s also a way of spending time doing something fun together. If you really want to splurge, consider season tickets to your favorite performing arts organization.2. Massage or spa servicesPerhaps you know someone who is often stressed and always working. A gift certificate for a massage or facial is a wonderful way to help that person decompress this holiday season and enjoy a little self-care.3. Overnight getawayIf you want to get something very special for yourself and significant other, or for another couple such as your parents, a weekend or overnight at a boutique hotel or B&B is a thoughtful and generous gift.4. Dance classGive a friend or loved-one a kick by signing them up for dance classes. Maybe it’s something they’ve had in mind but have not gotten around to doing yet. There are so many kinds to choose from, from ballroom to ballet.5. Cooking classCooking lessons of all stripes are available these days at places like Whole Foods, Sur la Table and elsewhere. Sign up for yourself and a friend—that way you can experience the fun together. Then get together later and try to recreate the meal at home. (It’s a gift that keeps on giving.)6. A National Parks passDo you have friends or family who love trekking to National Parks? You can purchase a year pass of full family access to America’s national parks, wildlife refuges and forests for just $80.7. Guided tourIf you know someone who just moved to a new city or town, consider buying them a guided architectural tour of the downtown, or some other tour special to that city, such as a food tour or factory tour. Heck, why wait until someone moves? Most of us would love to learn more about the place we live, even if we’ve been there for decades.8. Personal chefWho wouldn’t like a professional chef to drop by at the end of the day and whip up a home-cooked meal? You can give the gift of an at-home date night for someone too busy to cook; there are even websites that help you find local chefs' contact info.9. AdventureIt's no simple task to give the gift of adventure. But consider buying a class or lesson for someone who would never buy it for themselves—something a little wild, like surfing, or swinging from a flying trapeze a la Cirque du Soleil. You might give someone a thrill, or even a new passion in life.

Practice

3 Easy Ways to Show Gratitude at Work

Anytime you say “thank you” to one of your co-workers or employees for his or her help, you are expressing gratitude. When you take a moment to recognize a job well done, you’re practicing gratitude. Even when you reflect on how fortunate you are to have a job, you’re showing gratitude. Why say "thank you"? It takes just a couple of minutes out of your day, but the results of an expression of gratitude last far longer for you and the recipient. Case in point: Last year, Google studied its employees’ biggest motivators. What the company found was surprising. The No. 1 thing Google employees value most is not increased compensation or stock, but recognition delivered in a personal, genuine way. The company’s engineers said they especially value peer-to-peer recognition. As Yum! Brands CEO David Novak says, “Why be selfish [with] the one thing that matters most to people?” Here are three easy ways you can express gratitude at work today: 1. Catch your co-workers doing something right We’re pretty good at catching people doing things wrong, but we don’t always put the same energy into catching people doing something right. Be on the lookout for your co-workers doing great things, and then point them out in a very clear, specific way. With this positive feedback, your co-worker knows you’re sincere, and he or she can replicate the success. 2. Celebrate small wins Take your employees or co-workers out to lunch or coffee or even take a walk together and recognize them for a job well done. Identify and acknowledge achievements at staff meetings. Actually ask your co-workers, “How did you accomplish that win?” and “What was it about your preparation and effort that got you that far?” Celebrate, and let your co-workers know their win, however small, didn’t go unnoticed. 3. Make someone's day Everyone appreciates a genuine thank you. Make it a point to end conversations or encounters you have during your day with a thank you, when appropriate. Look your co-workers in the eyes, offer a warm smile and say “thank you”—let them know you mean it. You’ll be able to sense their appreciation, and who knows, maybe they’ll take a cue from you and share gratitude. So what will you do to let someone know you appreciate them today? This week? Will you catch someone doing something right? Will you celebrate a co-worker’s small win by treating him or her to a cup of coffee? Or will you aim to make someone’s day brighter by offering a sincere thank you? Whichever you do, chances are, when you express your appreciation for the positive others bring to your life, you’ll discover the effects of gratitude go far beyond a simple smile. Margaret H. Greenberg and Senia Maymin, are organizational consultants and executive coaches, and authors ofProfit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business. For more information about Senia and Margaret, go toProfitFromThePositive.com.

Practice

Give Happy

Before you go racing out to the mall to pick up a new oversized reindeer sweater for Aunt Sally and a set of drums for your 4-year-old nephew (fun for him, not so much for your brother and his wife), here is a holiday shopping guide based on the science of happiness that might help.The gift of happiness?Scientifically, the greatest predictor of happiness is, by far, social support—the breadth, depth and meaning in your relationships. So consider giving gifts that are activities, like a special evening at the local ice rink complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows. Unlike a physical gift, this experience gives you a chance to spend quality time with friends or family and strengthen your bond. The key is to use these moments to really connect and converse more deeply than you normally do with other people. This reminds our brains of the deep social support that fuels our own happiness as well as theirs.Encourage savoringThe difference between momentary pleasure and long-term positive memory is based on the ability to savor, or mentally return to, an event or feeling. A gift that causes a spike in happiness at the moment but that you can’t remember even a week later is analogous to going on a fantastic vacation that you won’t recall. When shopping this season, think of gifts that will continue to benefit the recipient. For example, for your spouse, you could buy a personalized pillow with important dates in your relationship that will literally help that person savor special moments every time he or she sees it. (We have one of these!) For a friend, perhaps buy him or her a coffee mug with a picture of something meaningful so the day starts with a positive reminder—the key is to pick a present that will continue to focus the recipient’s attention on positive, happy moments.Avoid the deficit trapIt’s normal to sometimes wish that we could give a better present than we can afford. Stanford professor Carol Dweck, Ph.D., calls the phenomenon of focusing on what we don’t have “deficit mindset,” and it robs the present (and our presents) of joy.Instead, we should cultivate a positive mindset by focusing on the facts that we have someone whom we care about so much that we want to give him or her a nice gift and more resources than some people in this world. Receiving is as important as givingWe’ve all heard that it’s better to give than receive, but the saying misses an important corollary: How you receive matters (a lot) to the giver’s happiness.If you receive well, your reaction to a gift can actually be a gift in and of itself. The problem is that many of us can’t receive gifts without our brains producing negative thoughts such as, “I’m not worthy of this present” or “Now I feel indebted to her.” Think about it: We’re happier when others are excited about our gifts and respond with joy and gratitude. So by subtly changing our ego-driven thoughts of guilt to “I am so grateful to her not only for the present, but also the friendship it represents,” we fuel greater levels of happiness for both the giver and ourselves.That way, when Aunt Barbara surprises you with a matching reindeer sweater, you can be genuinely grateful for her love—and the adorable pictures the two of you can take together to cherish for years to come.Shawn Achor, author ofThe Happiness Advantageand the newly releasedBefore Happiness, is one of the world's leading experts on human potential. Michelle Gielanis an expert on the science of positive communication and how to use it to fuel success. She formerly served as the anchor of two national newscasts at CBS News. Together, Shawn and Michelle createdGoodThink, a positive psychology consulting firm.

Practice

31 Days of Purpose!

We continue our Year of Happiness with 31 days of purpose. Pick and choose your favorite ideas from our list of things to do, watch, read, contemplate…and share!1. “Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” ―Gautama Buddha2. Spend the holidays with loved ones.3. Listen to “Lose Yourself,” by Eminem.4. Read The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work, by Jon Gordon.5. Watch Dallas Buyers Club.6. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ―Eleanor Roosevelt7. Give someone a hug.8. Listen to “Enjoy the Silence,” by Depeche Mode.9. Read For One More Day, by Mitch Albom.10. Watch The Mighty.11. Rescue a dog or a cat.12. Listen to “The Living Years,” by Mike & the Mechanics.13. Read A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle.14. Watch Rudderless.15. “If you can't figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” ―T.D. Jakes16. Write down five things you’d like to accomplish next year.17. Listen to “Changes,” by David Bowie.18. Read How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life, by the Dalai Lama.19. Watch Boyhood.20. “The meaning of life is life.” —Alan Alda21. Volunteer for a cause you feel passionately about.22. Listen to “Solsbury Hill,” by Peter Gabriel.23. Read The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life, by Dennis Merritt Jones.24. Watch The Family Man.25. “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.” ―Albert Camus26. Be social.27. Listen to “Mr. Jones,” by Counting Crows.28. Read Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman.29. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.30. Forgive someone in your past.31. Watch Seven Years in Tibet.

Practice

7 Ways to Be Happier Now

Happiness is about the journey, not about destination; it’s about how you live your life each day. Some articles you may have missed with a few ideas for adding a little more gratitude, mindfulness and joy into your usual routine.1. Practice self-nurturingTake a yoga class, dance in your kitchen to favorite music, get a mani/pedi or go for a walk in nature. Actively investing in your physical well-being can make your thoughts about yourself more nurturing, too. Learn more ways to focus on being the best you.2. Have a values check-inDo you have a feeling of meaning and purpose in your life? This quiz will help you find out. If you don’t like your score, you might want work on nurturing your relationships, being compassionate and giving back to others—all of which have been shown to have an impact on our own wellbeing. Take the quiz now.3. Look at Mondays in a new wayWhat would your day look like if you felt fabulous at the end of it? What project can you tackle on Monday to start your week super-charged and set the tone for a wonderful week? Don’t dread Mondays, show ‘em some love instead. Put the fun back in your Monday now.4. Call in the superfoodsCertain foods like olive oil, nuts, sweet potatoes and kale have been shown to contain mood-boosting nutrients. Not to mention these ingredients are incredibly healthy for you, and taste delicious when cooked with a little finesse. Four easy-to-make recipes.5. Tap into hopeIn order to be truly happy, you need something to hope for. We have 31 ways you can rediscover a greater sense of hope in your life.6. Find a happy highlight of the dayTake a few minutes every day to write down one positive experience that occurred over the past 24 hours. Enjoy the positive emotions from reliving that event, and look for patterns you can repeat to bring about more happiness. Read more on achieving happiness despite everyday challenges.7. Wake up happyTune in to experts’ advice on how to start your day happy. Don’t get stuck ruminating on negative thoughts. Take responsibility for your own happiness by putting yourself in situations that bring you great joy and choosing love over fear. Try this positive mantra: “You are doing your best.” Sign-up for our free Wake Up Happy! series.

Quiz: How Passionate Are You?

21 Ideas for Finding Your Passion in Life

5 Tips for Making Your Resolutions Stick

5 Tips for Holiday Bliss

Supersurvivors

9 Great Gifts That Are Experiences

3 Easy Ways to Show Gratitude at Work

Give Happy

31 Days of Purpose!

7 Ways to Be Happier Now

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