The Power of Gratitude to Change your Life Rachel Devine

Gratitude is more than just saying thank you. Regularly cultivating and expressing gratitude has been shown in research to provide far-reaching physical, psychological, spiritual and social benefits. By focusing on blessings, rather than what is lacking, gratitude fosters optimism, strengthens relationships, improves health, and enhances overall happiness. The benefits of a gratitude practice is priceless. The power of gratitude is essential to happiness and living an optimistic life. A positive thought process will reap a positive life experience. Practicing daily gratitude will promote better health, well-being, relationships, spirituality, and so much more.

Let’s explore the benefits of practicing gratitude:

Physical Health Booster

Studies link gratitude practices with better biomarkers like improved sleep, lower blood pressure, and reduced inflammatory cytokines that contribute to heart health risks. Sincere appreciation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering stress hormones like cortisol that can damage health if chronically elevated.

In a pioneering UC Davis study, subjects who journaled on gratitude experiences for two weeks showed a significant increase in biomarkers associated with health in comparison to control groups. Keeping a gratitude journal emerges as an easy but potent habit of many benefits.

Mental Well-being

Gratitude changes perspective from scarcity to abundance by redirecting focus towards already present gifts rather than what is lacking in their life. This positive reorientation has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms, elevate mood, and increase happiness by over 25%, according to research from Positive Psychology pioneer Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky.

Oprah Winfrey, a vocal proponent of gratitude practices, reflected “I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up for you in life changes your entire experience of life.” Intentionally recognizing reasons for thankfulness, even during challenges, provides mental strength and resilience. And remember, gratitude and happiness quotes are also a fun way to keep gratitude growing.

Relationship Bonds

Expressing thankfulness fosters stronger social bonds by making others feel valued and appreciated. Gratitude helps diffuse conflicts and facilitates connection through authentic positive communication. Studies demonstrate that regularly voicing genuine appreciation to partners, friends, and family deepens bonds.

Bestselling author Brené Brown wisely noted that “Joy comes to us everyday as a gift. The longer we can hold onto it, the more we can take time to appreciate it, the more that joy expands.” The joy expands because of the principals of the law of attraction. Shared joyous moments are doubled when expressed with gratitude.

Life Purpose and Meaning

Gratitude helps uncover meaning in life’s mundane moments by focusing attention on the gift of simply being alive. Even basic needs like food, shelter, or nature’s beauty become profound when received gratefully. Practicing gratitude brings heightened awareness to purpose and blessings.

Holocaust survivor and renowned author Viktor Frankl highlighted the essential power of gratitude and meaning in his classic book, Man’s Search for Meaning: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” Gratitude provides freedom and can propel you to change your future course in life.

Doorway to Spirituality

For many spiritual traditions, gratitude sits at the heart of connection to the Divine. Expressing thankfulness for life's gifts cultivates humility and compassion. Regular gratitude meditations and prayers can facilitate a deeper relationship with God or existence itself.

Gratitude expressed in prayers in Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism and many more faiths, as a posture of humble appreciation, invokes peace and grace. Even non-religious individuals may experience transcendent moments of awe and grace through gratitude practices. Practicing daily gratitude is a form of graceful prayer and a blessing to all who cultivate gratitude in their life. Gratitude can help lead one to a life of humility and spirituality, when practicing gratitude daily.

Simple Habits

Gratitude is available to all through simple habits like beginning each day by listing a few things you are thankful for, saying grace before meals, keeping a gratitude journal, writing thank you notes, and meditating on moments of blessing. Consciously appreciating the people, experiences, and basic comforts that comprise your life opens the doorway to greater wholeness.

When you extend an act of kindness, endorphins are set off in the body, that have benefits of less pain and reduces stress and improves your sense of well-being. It not only benefits you with higher endorphins, but the person you are kind to and the person who is watching the act of kindness.

By changing your mindset from lack to abundance through gratitude, you gain a powerful perspective that research confirms provides tangible physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. The more good we notice, the more good grows. Centering in gratitude transforms life.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

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Let me know in the comments what you are grateful for today.

How to Overcome Your Midlife Crisis: 7 Tips for Turning Your Life Around - Jennifer Scott

Turning 40 can feel like a milestone in our lives, a point where we pause and reflect on what we've accomplished and where we're headed. For some, this reflection can lead to feelings of anxiety and unhappiness. It's important to remember that these emotions are normal, and many people experience a midlife crisis. If you're feeling stuck, know that there are ways to turn your life around and start feeling fulfilled again. Below, Devine Intervention shares 7 tips for overcoming your midlife crisis and finding your path forward.

Invest in Online Courses

Sometimes, it's easy to ignore the root causes of our unhappiness and continue living in a state of complacency. To combat this, consider investing in online courses that encourage you to dig into what's making you unhappy. Many platforms offer courses on self-discovery, goal-setting, and mindfulness. These courses can help you get to the root of your problems and create a plan to address them.

Embrace a Healthier Lifestyle

Your physical and mental health are intertwined, and investing in healthy lifestyle habits can help you improve both. Exercise is a great way to release tension and endorphins, which can improve your mood. It's also important to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and avoid unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking.

Try Something New and Daring

Sometimes, our daily routines can become stale and uneventful. Doing something adventurous can help break that monotony and give us a fresh perspective on life. Whether it's bungee jumping, skydiving, or traveling to a new country, challenge yourself to try something new and exciting.

Add Some Greenery to Your Space

Houseplants are great for bringing nature indoors and reaping the benefits of spending time in nature. Research shows that houseplants can improve air quality, reduce stress, and boost your mood. Even if you're not an experienced gardener, starting small with low-maintenance plants is a simple way to enhance your living space and enjoy the perks of nature.

Find the Humor Where You Can

Laughter truly is the best medicine, as it has been proven to have numerous physical and mental health benefits. Incorporating humor into your life can help you feel happier and more connected to others. Whether it's through enjoying stand-up comedy, watching funny movies, or spending time with friends who make you laugh, finding ways to incorporate laughter into your daily routine can have a positive impact on your overall well-being.

Self-Help Books Really Help

There's no shortage of books on the market that address midlife crises. Reading about the experiences of others, such as the tactics they employed to overcome their own challenges, can serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. By adding some of these books to your reading list, you can not only gain valuable knowledge and strategies but also feel less alone during this difficult time.

Give Your Career a Boost

If you're feeling stuck in your career and unsure of what steps to take next, it may be time to take a look at your education options. Pursuing an online degree program in education can provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to shift your career in a new direction. With the flexibility of online learning, you can balance your job responsibilities while also working toward your educational goals, setting you up for success in your next career move. Take a look at this option today and start paving the way for a fulfilling future.

Remember, a midlife crisis is a normal part of the human experience. You don't have to feel stuck or unfulfilled for the rest of your life. By investing in healthy lifestyle habits, challenging yourself, exploring new opportunities, and more, you can overcome your midlife crisis and create a fulfilling life. Don't be afraid to seek support from friends and professionals along the way. It's never too late to make a change and create the life you deserve.

Jennifer Scott is a talented contributor to Devine Intervention Blogs

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Find Your Happy Place and Uncover Inner Joy -Rachel Devine

Life presents many external stresses and challenges that can negatively impact our sense of peace and wellbeing. Even our routine day becomes mundane and doesn’t give one much to be happy about. Finding your happy place is worth exploring. We have the power to cultivate a “happy place” within ourselves, no matter what is happening externally. Finding your happy place provides a source of calm, contentment, and respite that promotes better mental and physical health. Inner peace and happiness awaits you as we explore our happy place.

Let’s go to your happy place.

What is a Happy Place?

A happy place is an imagined realm inside your mind where you feel completely at ease, fully at peace, and enveloped in warmth. It is a place that you find joy and happiness. It is someplace special where you know you are safe. It is a sanctuary you can access through visualization and meditation. Some describe it as a serene garden, a favorite nature setting, or even an abstraction like a sea of light. Other’s find their happy place at the beach or a lake-house. And some might find their happy place in the mountains or in another country. It can be a place you visited before, or a place where you would like to visit and you imagine it in your mind in full detail. As an example, my happy place is lying under hundreds of cherry blossom trees. I actually had the opportunity to have a blissful experience at the Botanical Gardens and never forgot the immense feeling of peace under those beautiful pink trees. Your happy place is whatever brings you profound inner joy.

Your Happy Place Benefits

Accessing your inner temple has been shown to decrease stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and perceived pain. It also boosts mood, creativity, confidence, and emotional resilience. Neuroimaging confirms that envisioning your happy place activates brain areas linked to relaxation and positive emotions. Therefore, finding your happy place can reap health benefits.

Even a few minutes of escaping inward to your sanctuary during stressful times can quickly bring relief and renewal. Also a few minutes in your place of bliss, during a work break, can help you be more creative when you return to work. It will help you feel more refreshed and perhaps more energetic. Make visiting your happy place a daily practice and you may see notable improvements in overall wellbeing.

Finding Your Happy Place

There are no rules on what form your happy place should take. Experiment with different visualization techniques to discover what works best. Also try adding in soothing music or essential oil aromas. The key is genuinely feeling the tranquility and bliss of being there.

Author Dr. Sarah Bamford Seidelmann suggests asking yourself questions like "Where do you feel safest? Where are you surrounded by beauty? Where do you feel loved?" Famous meditation guru, Deepak Chopra, advises focusing on memories of joyful moments as inspiration. Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “Happiness is something that you are, and it comes from the way you think. The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of the state of your mind.” Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that going to your happy place on a regular basis will in turn bring happiness and joy into your life. Afterall, happines is a reflection of our state of mind.

Using Your Imagination

Life’s demands sometimes stress us out, but you can always return to stillness within. There is no better medicine than your own inner temple of peace and contentment. Using your imagination to find your happy place is the way to journey into joy. Become the architect of your ultimate happy place. When you need refuge, retreat inward to this portable sanctuary and feel tension dissolve. Your happy place is always accessible and getting in the habit of going there, will help you reap enormous benefits. Even sitting at a red light, can give you a minute to enter into your inner calm.

In conclusion, we can go anywhere in the world, in our imagination, and feel a deep sense of peace. Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” These are great words of wisdom. Regularly visiting your inner sanctum, through mindful meditation, allows you to return to a state of calm and happiness, empowering you to manage life’s ups and downs from a more stable foundation. Return to your inner sanctuary - your happy place awaits you.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

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How to be Happy when Depressed: 9 Ways to Boost Your Mood - Rachel Devine

When you're struggling with depression, happiness can feel elusive and unattainable. The emotional gloom of depression make it extremely challenging to find any joy. The question is, how to be happy when depressed? There are ways to incrementally improve your mood, even if overwhelmed by the darkness of depression. Implementing small positive changes and accessing support can help lift the fog of despondency bit by bit. Finding your own happiness, finding true happiness, can be achieved, even if you are feeling the blues.

Let’s look at 9 ways to feel happy again.

Start Small

When depressed, even basic tasks can seem monumental. Just to get out of the house can seem like climbing a mountain. When thinking about getting something accomplished, introduce it in your mind as small incremental steps. Try to break down goals into tiny steps and celebrate small successes. Simply getting out of bed, showering, or eating a snack are accomplishments during depressive episodes. Keep focused on positive thoughts, forgoing the thoughts of ruminating with the depression itself. Appreciate any positive step forward. Feed your mind positive happiness quotes, that can help ease some of the darkness.

Track Your Progress

Journaling about your moods, diet, sleep patterns, and activities can reveal insights on factors impacting your happiness. Keep a journal to track what is happening in your day-to-day life. When you notice improvements, even minuscule ones, review your journal to determine what is helping. Awareness of what brightens your darkness points will steer you in the right direction.

Get a Support System

Speaking honestly about your struggles with a compassionate friend, family member, or mental health professional provides emotional relief. Feeling heard and understood is uplifting. Getting feedback can also motivate you to keep implementing changes. Ask loved ones to regularly check in on you. Additionally, there are groups out there that act as a community to help those with depression, like Emotions Anonymous, which is a 12-step program. You can meet new friends who have similar depression issues and have a support system of people to talk to.

Try Natural Mood Boosters

Some natural boosters are, being out in sunshine, exercise, music, comedy, uplifting books, pets, nature walks, prayer, yoga, healthy eating, and other relaxing hobbies enhance well-being. While not cure-alls, implementing mood-boosting activities repeatedly inspires consistent small boosts of endorphins, the hormone that helps improve your mood.

Social Connection

Loneliness and isolation feed depression. While being social feels difficult when depressed, finding ways to regularly connect and laugh with others provides mood relief, even if via a short phone call or texting with a friend. Shared joy is doubled joy. And sometimes we need to push ourselves a little bit to socialize when feeling down. It is said that a day out with a friend can be extremely beneficial.

Diet & Emotional well-being

According to this Harvard Medical School article, entitled diet & depression, diet plays a role on our mental state. Fruit, vegetables, whole grain, fish, olive oil, low-fat dairy and antioxidants help lower the risk of depression. From my own experience, sugar and carbohydrates cause inflammation, which in turn can bring on depression and pain in the body. The ideal diet of choice is the Mediterranean diet, which is also a heart healthy diet.

Get Professional Help

It is always suggested to contact a mental health expert regarding counseling, medication options, holistic remedies and lifestyle changes tailored to your symptoms. While not an instant fix, getting the right professional support empowers your ability to progress through the darkness in the healthiest way.

Practice Gratitude

When depressed, we primarily fixate on negatives which reinforces despair. Making an effort to notice and reflect upon any blessings, comforts, or simple pleasures cultivates gratitude. Countering negative tunnel vision with thankfulness, however small, generates light. Additionally, finding some purpose in your life, something you love doing like art, writing or a slew of other things, can help get out of the doldrums. You can transform your life with purpose.

Take it One Day at a Time with Prayer

View your situation as temporary and take one day at a time. This brings the situation down to size. Viewing every challenge through the lens of depression distorts obstacles to seem insurmountable. Tackle one step at a time, and one day at a time. Additionally, prayer is such a soulful way to bring hope into your world. Prayer is like shinning light on the darkness. You might want to also meditate on being in your happy place. Just sit and imagine yourself in the most perfect setting that brings a smile to your face. And celebrate any success, no matter how small. Remember depression often skews perception - with support and patience, the path ahead will open up. As they say, “This too shall pass.”

In conclusion, while depression cannot be instantly cured, implementing small changes with regularity can ease the sadness, and even bring some happy moments to your life. Social support, tracking progress, finding relief in simple joys, professional help, gratitude, prayer, and focusing on what’s going right, all let light gradually infuse the darkness. Have hope in the fact that at a certain point - you will feel better.

Mental Health Support

Suicide Hotline Phone Number 988 & Website

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Please leave your comments below or contact me.

The Power of Positive Affirmations - Rachel Devine

I am_________________?

Positive thinking affirmations are simple statements declaring self-empowering beliefs that can profoundly impact your mind and life. Repeating uplifting affirmations over time can effectively undo limiting negative programming and create lasting positive change. Creating positive affirmations can literally transform your life by changing from a negative mindset to a positive mindset. If your thoughts are positive it will empower your life to go in a positive direction on all levels. This can ultimately evoke happiness in your life.

World-renowned spiritual leader Louise Hay popularized the practice of affirmations. As a survivor of childhood abuse, Hay discovered firsthand the incredible power of affirmations to alter self-image and life circumstances for the better.

As Louise Hay explains, “affirmations reprogram the subconscious mind and alter the software that affects how we experience the world.” She was a genius when it comes to positive affirmations, writing a book on affirmations called, “You Can Do It.” Bestselling author and speaker Tony Robbins also advocates affirmations as a tool to “invoke the principles and practices of affirmative thought in your life.” And this can ultimately transform your life with purpose.

Train The Subconscious Mind

The conscious mind can only hold a limited amount of information and focus. In contrast, the subconscious stores a vast reservoir of information, past experiences, associations, beliefs, and emotions that drive most behavior and life outcomes without our awareness. The subconscious mind is like a memory card that is in a computer, holding all the experiences you ever had in your life. Your life is driven by your subconscious mind by 97%. Therefore, it makes sense to feed it positive thoughts.

Unfortunately, many subconscious beliefs become negative and disempowering, often stemming from past traumas or cultural conditioning in our childhood. Affirmations work by consciously and repeatedly introducing new positive beliefs into the subconscious. Over time, the positive messaging overrides the negative to create lasting transformations.

Neuroscience shows that the brain struggles to differentiate between real and vividly imagined experiences. With consistency, the conscious repetition of positive affirmations is absorbed by the subconscious mind as its new reality. And this positivity can become your reality and create your future. Remember, your subconscious mind is in control of your life.

Overcoming Negative Thoughts

By filling your mind with positive self-talk through affirmations, you can overwrite old mental programs causing feelings of unworthiness, fear or limitation. It helps to offset the negative incessant thoughts that daily bombard our mind.

For example, some positive affirmations include statements like “I have infinite self-worth and value” or “I love myself.” Focusing daily on such uplifting mantras helps release old hurts and shift into self-acceptance.

As motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “Affirmations take the place of the junk that so often fills our minds; they lift our spirits and boost our energy.”

Aligning Goals

Affirmations work best when they align your mindset with your desired situation or goals. Affirming your abilities, creativity, positivity, financial success or loving relationships primes your subconscious to support manifestation of the reality you seek.

Comedic actor Jim Carrey famously outlined his future success via affirmation as a struggling young comic. By visualizing and affirming his fame and wealth daily even pre-stardom, Carrey created the mindset to realize superstar status once opportunities arose. Jim Carrey literally was able to create the life he imagined.

Uplifting Affirmations

To implement positive daily affirmations, use this practice of creating 5-10 positive “I am...” statements reflecting your hopes, goals and dreams as a visualization. Remember to resonate with the feelings of the affirmations as true. Over time, monitor how these intentional thoughts bloom into reality.

For example, here are some, “I am” affirmations:

I am loved

I am successful

I am financially secure

I am beautiful

I am worthy

I am healthy

Create your own list and say these affirmations often in your day. You can also write them out on sticky notes and put them in a place you can see them, as a reminder to say them out loud.

By filling your consciousness with positivity, confidence, health, prosperity and purpose via regular affirmations, you enable the mind to make them come into your reality. In the words of pioneering psychologist William James, “Our belief at the beginning of a doubtful undertaking is the one thing that ensures the successful outcome.” Let affirmations unlock your unlimited potential. Positive affirmations for work, success, financial security, relationships, friends, or anything you choose, will help you in all areas of your life.

Neville Goddard said in his book, Feeling is the Secret, “Every feeling makes a subconscious impression and, unless it is counteracted by a more powerful feeling of an opposite nature, it must be expressed.” In other words, the feeling of what you want to feed your subconscious mind is what activates the subconscious mind to bring it to reality. Therefore, as you fall asleep each night, resonate with the feelings of being financially secure, or healthy or successful or whatever you want to resonate with in order to manifest your dreams into reality. One thing is for sure, your subconscious mind is navigating 97% of your life daily. It makes sense to feed it positive affirmations in order to create a positive life.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack. Please check out my new online audio step by step course on, “How to Manifest your Dreams.”

Devine Intervention

Please let me know what positive affirmation resonates for you. If you have any questions, please let me know, and I will respond to you or you can contact me.

Finding Happiness Within Yourself - Rachel Devine

Finding Happiness Within Yourself

Finding happiness within yourself will be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. At the end of the day, if you have a foundation of inner happiness, then the outer world cannot penetrate that happiness. The key is to get to a point where, no matter what happens in life, you will be steady in your inner world. You might ask yourself, how do I find happiness? You can’t look outside yourself, happiness is an inside job. Happiness is not outside you, it is inside you. Finding your own happiness is a thought away. What we think determines how happy we are. Our thoughts have power over us in all areas of our life. Being aware of this is crucial to finding happiness. Being present, in the moment, is also crucial to happiness. When we are in the moment, we are safe from past regrets and future worry. The moment is the main place where we find happiness. In this article, I will guide you to find your own happiness in life.

Let’s explore this further with the following suggestions for happiness:

Being Present

Being present and in the moment is crucial to happiness. When we are in the moment, we are safe from past regrets and future worry. The moment is where we find happiness and joy, because we are not bogged down by negative past or future thoughts. Also, the Spirit of God is in the present moment. We can only connect to God in the moment. When we pray or meditate we are brought to the present moment, which gives one a sense of peace and joy.

These are some ways to stay in the moment:

• Prayer - For many people, connecting to the devine or higher power provides happiness.

• Mindful breathing - Taking slow, deep breaths brings you into the present moment.

• Loving-kindness meditation - Wishing well for self and others generates goodwill and happiness.

• Visualization - Visualization brings one to the present moment.

• Walk in Nature - Walking in nature, in a mindful way that takes in the beauty of the earth, is a way to be in the moment.

Achieving Inner Peace

Achieving inner peace is a definite pathway to joy and happiness.

Here are some effective ways to achieve inner peace:

• Meditation - Quieting the mind through breathing exercises, mantras, and mindfulness helps calm anxiety.

• Yoga - Moving through poses and sequences creates body-mind awareness and reduces stress.

• Spending time in nature - Being outdoors surrounded by natural beauty promotes serenity.

• Journaling - Writing out thoughts, feelings, and intentions clarifies emotions.

• Forgiveness - Letting go of grudges, resentment, and anger frees you from negativity and brings serenity.

Living with Purpose

When you have a purpose in life your happiness is a guarantee. No matter what problems you have, a purpose in life brings meaning, passion and joy. Being able to do what you love doing, on a daily basis, will keep you in a happy place. You can transform your life with purpose. Your purpose is something you love doing that benefits humanity or the earth in some way.

Here are some of the key benefits associated with living a purposeful life:

• Improved health - Having a purpose lowers risk of diseases and increases longevity.

• Greater happiness - Purpose provides a sense of meaning and life satisfaction.

• More fulfillment - Aligning life with purpose creates a profound sense of fulfillment.

• Improved self-esteem - Contributing to something larger than yourself is empowering.

• More creativity - Purpose drives innovation as people find solutions.

• Leaving a legacy - Purpose creates something meaningful that outlasts a lifetime.

• Spiritual development - Finding your purpose can be part of a spiritual journey.

Living and working towards a sense of purpose has been shown in research to provide lasting benefits across many dimensions from physical to psychological wellbeing and of course it invokes self-fulfillment and happiness.

Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude is probably the single most important way of thinking, that invokes a sense of contentment and happiness. Simply stating each day, 5 to 10 things you are grateful for, can be life-changing. However, it takes time to see the benefits. It is suggested to do it at least 30 days.

Here are some key benefits of practicing gratitude for cultivating greater happiness:

• Boosts mood - Focusing on what you're thankful for releases dopamine which elevates your mood.

• Reduces stress - Gratitude helps regulate the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic response to calm anxiety.

• Improves sleep - Thoughts of gratitude before bed have been shown to help improve sleep quality.

• Increases optimism - A gratitude mindset makes you appreciate the positive in life rather than focusing on the negative.

• Increases empathy - Thanking those who have helped you cultivates compassion and concern for others' wellbeing.

• Enhances overall health - Studies link gratitude to improved heart health, lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation.

Cultivating gratitude through practices like journaling, meditation, reflection, and thanking others, can lead to lasting benefits for your happiness, health, and general wellbeing. It also generates abundance, since we are now focused on what we have and not what we don’t have. That positive energy comes back to you.

Spreading Joy

Spreading joy to others is such a natural expression of our own happiness. Just using a kind word, a compliment, or spending quality time with someone, has so many wonderful benefits. When we give out goodwill, it always comes back to us.

Here are some of the main benefits that can come from spreading joy to others:

• Improves emotional health - Spreading joy increases feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin to boost your mood.

• Provides meaning - Serving a greater purpose through spreading joy can be spiritually fulfilling.

• Boosts energy - Spreading joy and laughter releases endorphins that boost energy to the giver and the receiver.

• Improves health - Studies show altruistic behaviors like spreading joy may improve heart health.

• Creates positive ripples - The joy we spread can be passed on to touch many lives in a domino effect on our world.

The simple act of intentionally spreading more joy has the power to uplift others and come back and uplift ourselves in return through its myriad of benefits. Remember the law of attraction is clear, what we put out into the world comes back to us.

In conclusion, happiness is a state of mind. One can be happy in a warzone, and another can be miserable at a party. Our state of mind is the equalizer in each situation in life. There can be a person who cleans house, smiling and singing the whole day, and there could be a board member of a big corporation, in the perfect job, complaining all day long. Again, it is all about our state of mind. Abraham Lincoln said, “You are as happy as you make up your mind to be.” It’s that simple!

Rachel Devine is the author of, “The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.”

Also, check out,  Secret to Happiness Quotes, that are uplifting.

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What brings you happiness in your life? Leave a comment below.

Finding your Purpose - Excerpt from, The Third Road - Rachel Devine

Transforming your life with purpose can be the most rewarding step you can take to having passion and intention in life. I wrote a book called, The Third Road, that takes one on a journey into their inner-self and helps people discover their purpose in life. Aristotle believed, the purpose and ultimate goal in life is to achieve eudaimonia ('happiness'). He believed that being happy was not just achieving pleasure in life, rather it was the heart of virtue. What a wonderful thought, that part of being happy is having purpose in life. It’s important that one find your purpose and passion in life. Finding your purpose is the most organic and natural process you could resonate with. It is imperative to find your passion in life, in order to leave a legacy of importance for others to discover. Your spiritual journey to creating your purpose starts today.

This is an excerpt from my book, The Third Road, Your Secret Journey Home, in a chapter called, Your Purpose:

Your Purpose

“God alone knows the secret plan of the things he will do for the world using my hand.” ~ Toyohiko Kagawa

We were all born with a specific purpose in life. Our purpose is never to be a victim, survivor, or someone whose only existence is to work, take care of the children, or to be a drifter. There is a reason why you were created. Just like there is a reason for everything that has been created. For instance, the sun heats the earth. The flowers decorate the world, and give us beauty and oxygen. The ocean reaps fish that we can eat, and the animal food chain is an amazing asset. You get the picture of how everything created has a reason for being here and they all fit into the big picture called nature.

In a sense, we are all part of a big picture called life, and our part is just as important as the part played by royalty, presidents, writers, and artists. The main thing is discover what your purpose in life is.

There was a study done a few years ago that addressed the question, “What are the components that make a person happy?”  The study concluded there are three main components to happiness.

One was that people who earned a little more than enough money to live on, having extra money for things they wanted were the happiest. Being rich or poor was not on the list. Furthermore, they also concluded that people who have a creative purpose, such as, dancing, writing, art, sculpting, gardening, music, or an array of other outlets, were also happier than those without one. And the last component to happiness was having a connection to God or our Higher Power in a spiritual or religious manner.

So, there you have it. The three components to happiness are, having more than enough money to survive, having a creative outlet or purpose in life, and having a connection to a spiritual or religious Higher Power. Discovering your hidden talents such as writing, art, dance, music, singing, gardening, sports, or something that makes you really happy, can help you find your purpose in life. Your purpose in life usually benefits others in a small or large fashion. For instance, your writing talents can be used perhaps for a creative website that helps others in some way. Or you might use your musical talents to entertain the elderly in nursing homes. Perhaps you are a talented artist and you can use that talent for a voluntary promotion on the dangers of drinking and driving. Or perhaps your dancing talents can be used to entertain terminally ill children in hospitals.

We all have hidden talents and finding our purpose is not hard. The key is awareness. Just sit and meditate on what you love doing and your purpose will surface.

A man name Bill W. found his purpose in life in a very profound and mystical manner. He pulled much good out of a hopeless desperate situation in his life. Any member of 12-step program knows who Bill W. is. He is one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, a spiritual 12-step program that helps millions of people arrest the disease of alcoholism. I am not a part of this fellowship, but I studied its traditions and steps, thereby, knowing enough about it to really appreciate the amazing spiritual aspects of its success. Bill W. started this fellowship with a man name Bob S., who was a surgeon. 

I personally think the success of Alcoholics Anonymous movement is because the program is designed to help reconnect one to their Higher Power. In reconnecting to God, healing is now possible and one views their situation in a more honest, loving manner. Even the most desperate person who has the disease of alcoholism can heal when he honestly works the 12-step program, that has a spiritual basis, not a religious one, and encourages people to discover the God of their understanding.

Bill W. had an amazing awakening one night when he had reached his bottom in life. At one time he was a hopeless alcoholic and was in the hospital seeking help once again. He was at the end of his rope. Alcoholism was consuming his life and he felt an extreme desperation on this fateful night. His story is a powerful testimony of climbing out of the dark pits of despair and into the light of hope; from darkness to light in an instant, or from ego to love. 

He describes his experience or conversion in this way:

“My depression deepened unbearably and finally it seemed to me as though I were at the very bottom of the pit. I still gagged badly at the notion of a Power greater than myself, but finally, just for the moment, the last vestige of my proud obstinacy was crushed. All at once I found myself crying out, “If there is a God, let Him show Himself! I am ready to do anything, anything!

Suddenly, the room lit up with a great white light. I was caught up into an ecstasy in which there were no words to describe. It seemed to me, in the mind’s eye, that I was on a mountain and that a wind not of air but of spirit was blowing. And then it burst upon me that I was a free man. Slowly the ecstasy subsided. I lay on the bed, but now for a time I was in another world a new world of consciousness. All about me and through me there was a wonderful feeling of Presence, and I thought to myself, so this is the God of the preachers! A great peace stole over me and I thought, “No matter how wrong things seem to be, they are still all right. Things are all right with God and His World.” (Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age): A Brief History of A.A., page 63.

What happened to Bill W. on this fateful night? What force appeared to him that gave him hope in an instant? What could give him a peace that contradicted all understanding? What was this great power that came over him? The answer is obvious. The power of God’s Spirit had come into that room with its light, its ecstasy, and its peace. God is peace and Bill W. said that, “a great peace stole over me and I thought, no matter how wrong things seem to be, they are still all right. Things are all right with God and His World.”

For a brief period, Bill stepped out of his dark world of despair and into God’s world of light and hope. In an instant, he was transformed from a man who “gagged badly at the notion of a Power greater than myself,” to a man who incredulously stated in the next instance, “so this is the God of the preachers.” His inner world was transcended from darkness to light or from great despair to hope, in an instant, but his outer world remained the same. 

He stepped out of the dark road and instantly onto, The Third Road, where he started his spiritual journey “home.” He was now in a world that was unseen, but very much felt. He felt the power of God’s Spirit bind him to peace and serenity. His outer circumstances did not change, (he was still in a hospital room recovering from alcoholism) but his inner world was transformed. He was finally set free from the chains that bound him to the disease of alcoholism.

The wall that keeps us from this world of God is our own self-doubt. Release the doubt and step into God’s world that is within you and everywhere else in the world. The path to God’s love, and this peaceful world is through nurturing the soul. Prayer, meditations, reading spiritual literature, peaceful music, and serene walks in nature, are all ways to reconnect to this omnipresent Spirit of our loving Higher Power, which I reverently call God. A spiritual awakening is an individual experience. You might have an awakening similar to Bill W. and you might not. Some awakenings are more subtle than others, and others come about gradually with time. It doesn’t matter how it happens, all that matters is that it does happen. An open trusting heart is imperative to connect to this omnipresence.

When Bill W. connected to his Higher power, he found strength to stop drinking and also become one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, a 12-step program that has literally changed the lives of millions of people, helping them find the same peace with sobriety in their lives. In turn, this helped their families find peace and the domino effect of God’s presence on that fateful night flourished and still lives on today. God, with all His mercy and divine love, touched the life of Bill W., and in turn touched the lives of literally millions of souls in the world who suffer from the ill effects of a debilitating disease called alcoholism. The 12-step fellowship has branched out into numerous self-help groups such as Al-Anon, Nicotine, Emotions, and Overeaters Anonymous, just to name a few.

The only way to find your purpose is to put emphasis on who you are, what you want, and how you will go about doing that. In order to find your purpose in life you must put some time and focus on yourself. My writing took creative shape because I pursued what I love doing and kept my focus on my goals. It was easy, because I was doing something I love with a deep passion, which has given me so much joy. Writing is my passion in life, what is your passion or purpose in life?

End of excerpt.

 Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Take the, What is my Purpose in Life Quiz?

Life coach available.

Online courses, events and books on Devine Intervention.

Please let me know in the comments what your purpose is in life. Or just leave a comment letting me know about what steps you might take to achieve some goals.

What is My Purpose in Life? Take the Quiz! Rachel Devine

FInding your purpose in life can often feel like a daunting, if not seemingly impossible, task. Amid the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, the question, "Why am I here?" may frequently go unanswered. Yet, the benefits of having a well-defined purpose are too vast to ignore. An innovative and highly effective approach to unravel this life-defining mystery is taking a quiz focused on helping you discover your purpose in lifeHere. It helps to answer some questions like, what is my talent and what is my purpose alignment evaluation. Furthermore, it will give you a purpose driven life summary of what you are suited for, in order to leave your legacy on this earth. Additionally, keeping a purpose driven life journal can help unleash what talents are hidden under all the noise off this world, which often drowns out our meaning to life.

Here are some Benefits of taking a quiz called, "What is My Purpose in Life Quiz?"

Self-Discovery

These quizzes are designed to promote introspection, encouraging individuals to delve deeper into their thoughts, emotions, and desires. They ask pertinent questions that urge participants to reflect on their values, passions, skills, and goals. The process helps to unearth latent aspirations or reinforce existing ones, paving the way for genuine self-discovery. What is my purpose in life quiz is designed to help you focus on answering this very question.

Personal Passion

By illuminating our underlying passions and talents, these quizzes offer a sense of clarity about our purpose in life. They help to demystify life goals, presenting a clearer vision for the future. With a specific purpose, we have a roadmap that provides direction, making it easier to make decisions and set priorities in life.

Increased Motivation

Understanding your life's purpose generates motivation, the driving force propelling you towards your goals. When you comprehend your 'why', it fuels your 'how'. It becomes easier to overcome hurdles, face challenges, and persist because you know what you're striving for and why it matters to you. Finding your purpose in life is a way to transform your life with purpose and add more meaning.

Following are some benefits to having a purpose in life.

Health Benefits

Research indicates that having a purpose in life can enhance both mental and physical health. It serves as a buffer against stress and negative life events, fostering resilience. It's also linked to lower risks of depression, anxiety, and mental health disorders. Physically, it's associated with improved sleep, lower risk of disease, and even longevity.

Finding your Path can Boost Confidence

A clear purpose boosts self-esteem and confidence as you have a reason to believe in yourself and your abilities. It acts as an internal compass that validates your decisions and actions, making you feel confident about your path. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment in life, which is beneficial to our well-being.

A Sense of Direction Improves Quality of Life

A strong sense of purpose contributes to a higher quality of life. It fosters a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, and happiness. It makes you feel involved, connected, and valued, cultivating positive emotions and enhancing overall life satisfaction. And a purpose in life can leave a legacy behind for many years to come. This legacy will be left for your family and perhaps the next generation will follow in your footsteps.

"What is my purpose in Life Quiz?" are more than a passing trend or a momentary diversion. They are powerful tools designed to assist you in your quest for a fulfilling and purposeful life. These quizzes provide the opportunity to reflect, reveal hidden passions, bring clarity, and serve as a catalyst for personal growth. Having a defined purpose in life, in turn, brings forth myriad benefits – from bolstered mental and physical health to improved self-esteem, and a superior quality of life. Additionally, having a purpose brings about passion and ultimately happiness into your life. So why wait? Take that quiz, uncover your purpose, and step onto the path of a more fulfilling existence.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Devine Intervention webite, has online courses, events and books as a resource for finding purpose and more.

Coaching is also available.

My question to you is, do you know your purpose in life? If not, take the test, and let me know what you come up with.

Transform your Life with Purpose Rachel Devine

Research shows that living your life with purpose is linked to living longer. Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 older adults on the correlation between mortality rate and finding your purpose. Participants who did not have a sense of meaning in their lives were more than twice as likely to die prematurely as those who were living out their purpose in life. Having a sense of purpose also reduced the incidence of cardiovascular incidents like heart attack and stroke. Having a purpose is also essential for fulfillment in life and brings happiness. People are genuinely happy when they are living life on purpose. Making an impact on your world, and the world around you, is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. Contributing to society, even on a small level, is a way of leaving a legacy behind.

Sense of Direction

Everything in life has a purpose. There is a rhythm to earth that has a sense of direction. As far back as the fourth century BC, Aristotle was pondering life’s purpose and developing his theory of teleology, which is the idea that everything in life has purpose. In today’s fast-paced world, where we are being pulled in many directions simultaneously, finding your purpose in life seems more important now than ever before. And yet, because of our busy lifestyle our reason for being created eludes many of us. I will show you how to find your purpose and passion in life. Most of us are searching for meaning in life. Finding your path, having a personal mission in life, and having a sense of direction, is a positive way to go through this spiritual journey. Remember we are just passing through and we want are existence to have some meaning.

This is one of my favorite quotes:

“Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it.” Harold Kushner

Finding your Calling

However, finding your calling may be easy for some and hard for others. Transforming your life to one of purpose might be elusive to some people. And the reason can simply be you have not put any focused effort on it, because of the fast-pace of your life. And it doesn’t matter how old you are, purpose can come early in life or later on. Louise Hay didn’t start her successful publishing company until she was in her late 50’s. And Betty White was living out her purpose of being an actress, well into her 90’s. The most important thing is that purpose is revealed to you and this is usually, in God’s time. Finding your calling, at any age, is beneficial in so many ways.

Transform your Life

To make it easier for you, I created an online course called, Transform your Life with Purpose. This is a step-by-step guide on how you can discover a purpose that is taylor-made just for you. This course is designed to help awaken your inner drive and help you transform your life. When you shift to living a purpose-driven life, your life will never be the same. You will be living from a place of intention and passion. It really doesn’t matter if your purpose is big or small, all that matters is that you recognize it and you start to incorporate this, passion purpose, into your life. You may want to take the, What’s my purpose in life quiz. This short quiz is designed to help bring focus and awareness on your life, in order to contemplate your calling.

Whatever avenue you take to discover why God created you, remember self-discovery and living intentionally, is more valuable than all the diamonds in the world. And living out a purpose-driven life has a benefit to your physical and emotional well-being.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Please leave your comments below. I will respond to each one. And my question to you is, “What is your purpose in life?”

Finding Your Purpose and Meaning in Life

Are you searching for meaning in life? You are not alone. The unheard cry for meaning is very real. Many people grapple with how to find their true purpose and live life with passion. Embarking on the journey of discovering purpose in life can steer you towards a course filled with passion and fulfillment. Without purpose and meaning, we float through our days in mundane routine. If you feel like you are just going through the motions living each day, please know that you can discover your unique reason for being created. Uncovering what makes you have purpose can answer that age-old question, “Why did God create me?”

Here are some examples of what you can do to discover the reason you were created:

Take a “Discover your Purpose” online course

A, Discover your Purpose, online course guides you through structured exercises to reflect on your talents, passions, and vision. Interactive courses provide the most important value of bringing awareness and knowledge in discovering your purpose in life.

Identify Your Core Values

Your core values are key to your sense of purpose. This self-reflection exercise has you rank principles like growth, compassion, integrity, and community. Aligning your purpose to your highest values provides meaning. This will take some quite contemplation and I suggest you write about it to really get a sense of your values.

Go on a Spiritual Journey to Purpose

Spiritual retreats centered around finding purpose take you on an inner journey. Activities like nature immersion, meditation, yoga, and mentoring allow for purpose discovery through spiritual awakening. Go deep within and connect with the Spirit of God that dwells within you and listen for your calling to surface.

Finding your Purpose Book

There are a ton of books on finding your purpose in life. My book, The Third Road, guides you on a journey into yourself and helps you discover the glorious reason you were created.

How to Find my Purpose in Life Quiz

Taking a test on how to find my purpose in life and discover a wealth of information on your inner-self. Also, look at some motivational quotes to get some ideas on your purpose.

How to Find your Purpose and Passion in Life

Finally, ask yourself this simple question. What do I love doing? Whatever you love doing, therein lies your purpose in life. However, it has to also serve humanity in some way. For example, I love writing and I use my writing to help people with various social issues. My books, online courses, and retreats have all served humanity in a positive way. Meditate on what you love doing and anything that comes out of your meditation that is positive is usually from our guide within, or the Spirit of God.

Finding Fulfillment Starts with Self-Discovery

You must first understand your authentic self before identifying your external purpose. Learning how to unlock your hidden talents and realizing your true potential enables you to make the most meaningful impact. Start going within to manifest purpose outwardly. Going within through meditation will help you discover your purpose in life.

By taking purpose-focused courses, reflecting on values, taking quizzes, going on spiritual retreats, and doing inner work, you open yourself to finding meaning. Defining how you can best contribute gives life direction and significance. Discover your purpose and transform each moment. It will give you a reason to wake up to a fresh new day of meaning in your life and the life of others.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Devine Intervention website has online courses and books to motivate you to find your purpose in life.

Have you already discovered your purpose in life? If so leave a comment below. Or if you have a question. Or if you are still searching for your purpose, tell me what you love doing. Whatever you love doing, that serves humanity, therein lies your purpose in life.

Having a Purpose is your Pathway to Health, Mental Wellness & Spiritual Growth Rachel Devine

Living with purpose serves as an anchor, offering us direction amidst life's challenges. It is a beacon guiding us to healthier lifestyles, improved mental wellness, and profound spiritual growth. These benefits are supported by robust research and statistics, demonstrating how our life purpose significantly contributes to our overall well-being. Having a life purpose, a passionate pursuit, that gives you a reason to look forward to each day, is rewarding beyond measure. However, the health, mental and spiritual benefits are extremely important to connect with.

This is one of my favorite, my purpose in life quotes, by Harold Kushner author of, When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough.

“Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter so the world will be at least be a little bit different for our having passed through it.”

Deep down inside, I believe we all want to pass through life with purpose. Finding your purpose is what transforms lives. Let’s look at, my purpose in life examples.

Life Purpose and Physical Health

Research consistently shows a strong correlation between having a clear life purpose and physical health. A study published in "Medical News Today,” indicated that individuals who led a purposeful life had a 15.2% lower risk of death compared to those who did not perceive their lives as purposeful. The participants who lived with purpose were more inclined to engage in health-promoting behaviors like regular exercise, healthy diet, and adequate sleep, all contributing to better physical health.

For instance, consider renowned chef Jamie Oliver, who has made it his life's mission to promote healthier eating habits. His clear sense of purpose likely contributes to his physical health as he passionately pursues this goal.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey credits her sense of purpose in uplifting others through media as a driver of her commitment to physical fitness. She wakes up at 5am daily for meditation and exercise to maintain the energy and focus required for her demanding career. In an interview with Harvard Business Review, she stated “My purpose fuels me constantly. Every day I try to fulfill my potential and accomplish something new that will help and inspire others.”

The Impact of Purpose on Mental Health

Life purpose also has profound effects on our mental health. According to a study published in "Psychology Today” says that having a purpose better mental health,oeverall well-being and cognitive function. These individuals had more resilience and a lower risk of experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression.

For example, actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie, who has faced personal hardships and health challenges, has often spoken about how her humanitarian work provides her with a deep sense of purpose that enhances her mental resilience.

Another example, comedian Kevin Hart turned his difficult life experiences into inspiration for laughter and positivity. Despite challenges like his father’s drug addiction, Hart devoted himself to the purpose of spreading joy through comedy. He frequently cites the mental health benefits of pursuing this meaningful career, saying “There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with making someone smile or laugh...It keeps me level-headed and grounded."

Life Purpose and Spiritual Well-being

The link between life purpose and spiritual well-being is profound. From my own experience, having spirituality or religion in life has encouraged me to find my purpose, which is writing. My writing helps humanity in a myriad of ways. On the other hand, having a purpose often leads to a sense of interconnectedness, fulfillment, and higher consciousness. Spirituality and purpose go hand-in-hand.

Biblical scriptures also emphasize the importance of living with purpose. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This scripture suggests that everyone has a unique, predestined purpose.

Take, for example, Martin Luther King Jr., whose purpose was deeply connected to his spiritual beliefs. His purpose—to fight for civil rights—was an extension of his spiritual convictions, and his spiritual growth further reinforced his life's purpose. His spiritual convictions also influenced this very famous unifying quote, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Holocaust survivor and renowned author Viktor Frankl wrote in his memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning, “Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment. By the same token, every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.”

Discovering Your Life Purpose

Uncovering your life purpose involves introspection and self-discovery. Start by identifying your passions, values, and strengths. Reflect on where you can make a difference. Meditation and mindfulness can also aid in this introspective journey. Whatever you love doing, that brings you purpose, and serves humanity, therein lies your purpose in life.

Biblical teachings emphasize that each of us has a unique purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) states, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This suggests that discovering and embracing our purpose is part of a larger, divine plan.

Our life purpose serves as a catalyst for physical health, mental resilience, and spiritual growth. It offers a profound sense of fulfillment and guides us toward a more enlightened path. Living with purpose encourages us to lead healthier lives, boosts our mental resilience, and fosters spiritual development. As we journey through life, let us remember to seek out and connect with our unique purpose, transforming our lives into a testament of growth, resilience, and profound fulfillment.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Have you found your purpose in life? Or are you still searching for your purpose? Has this blog helped you with more awareness on the benefits of having a purpose? Please leave a comment in the box below.

What is my Purpose in Life? Step by step guide on, How to Find your Purpose - Rachel Devine

Research shows that living your life with purpose is linked to living longer. Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 older adults on the correlation between mortality and finding your purpose. Participants who did not have a sense of meaning in their lives were more than twice as likely to die prematurely as those who were living out their purpose in life. Having a sense of purpose also reduced the incidence of cardiovascular incidents like heart attack and stroke. Having a purpose is also essential for fulfillment in life and brings happiness. People are genuinely happy when they are living life on purpose. Your purpose does not have to be like a Mother Teresa mission, it can be on a smaller scale and be just as rewarding.

Everything in life has purpose. As far back as the fourth century BC, Aristotle was pondering life’s purpose and developing his theory of teleology, which is the idea that everything in life has purpose. In today’s fast-paced world, where we are being pulled in many directions similtaneously, therefore, finding your purpose in life seems more important than ever.

These are 7 steps to finding your purpose in life:

1. Focus on Yourself.

2. I Can Do It!

3. What do you Love Doing?

4. Helping Humanity!

5. Purpose over money.

6. Visualize it!

7. Gratitude.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Focus on Yourself

In order to get in touch with your purpose, you need to get in touch with yourself. Most of us live our life in a frenzy state, jumping from one task to another, with the pressures of working, taking care of our family and all the extra activities that go with a family. Even as a single person, your life can be just as active and hectic. When we go from one day to the next in a mundane routine there really is no time for growth and focus. Take time to put focus on YOU. Sit back and journal on what you want in life and what your talents are and bring these two together. It’s so important to take time for yourself, especially if most of your time is at work or taking care of a family. Sitting down and contemplating who you are and what you want to do is imperative to finding your bliss. Take some time for yourself, you deserve it. Sit back and ask yourself this very important question, “what do I want in life?”

2. I Can Do it!

Before we even begin, self-doubt will creep in with voices from our past telling us, we are not good enough, we can never achieve our purpose in life or we don’t have the talents. These voices in our head are telling us lies and it’s time to recognize these lies and call them out into the open. We are only as sick as our secrets, so getting in touch with that inner voice that whispers our so-called inadequacies and bringing them to light will help diminish their power of us. When I started writing years ago, I was also plagued with self-doubt. The way I overcame it was by just doing what I wanted to do, which was to write. I ignored the voices in my head that told me I was not good enough. It took years for me to feel confident with my writing, but like anything else in life practice makes perfect. Focus on your talents and your strengths and try to relinquish self-doubt. Say often, I can do it! This affirmation will start to resonate with your actions. The one thing self-doubt will do is talk you out of your purpose before you even begin, so be aware of that and just try to fight it off.

3. What do you Love Doing?

Your purpose is what you love doing in life. As I stated in the last step, I love writing, but it took me years to recognize this love, because I was so wrapped up in taking care of my two sons. It’s important to sit down and write out these questions. When you can answer these questions, therein will be your purpose in life; the reason you were created. Take some time to contemplate or meditate on these questions.

• What do I love doing?

• What makes me happy?

• What gives me passion?

Once you write these questions and answer them, your purpose should surface. If it doesn’t give it some more time. It could take a few days or weeks and then out of the blue your purpose is revealed.

4. Helping Humanity

Whatever you love doing that you determine is your life’s purpose, it has to align with helping humanity in some way. It has to give to the world. Your purpose has to benefit the earth, or people, or something on those lines. Here are a few examples of a purpose in life that helps humanity in some way.

• Little League Coach

• Singing in a Nursing Home

• Bringing food to the poor

• Writing

• Art

• Playing Piano for sick children in a hospital

• Creating a website that invokes peace in the world

• Creating video’s that help people in some way

• Yoga studio

• Exercise video or classes

• Creating Gift Baskets

• Life Coach

• Create a website that helps people in some way

These are some examples of following your bliss that gives to the world and helps people. Your purpose is unique and only you will be able to uncover this wonderful way you will use your talents to be on purpose in life.

5. Purpose over Money

When your purpose starts by helping people and you put that emphasis on your purpose, the money will flow in. Many people make the mistake by focusing on how much money they can make without emphasis on their purpose. However, putting the focus on your purpose over money is important because you are giving out abundant energy into the world and in doing so abundance will flow back. So, keep the focus on purpose and not on what money you will generate. In time the money will come, but the fulfillment comes from helping others. Additionally, you may be just looking for a voluntary purpose, where you don’t make any money. Of course, the choice is up to you.

6. Visualize It

Once you know what your purpose is and you start to gravitate towards making it a reality, you want to visualize a successful outcome. Just sit and imagine how wonderful it will feel if you wrote a book or you became a life coach. Sit and feel the feelings of how rewarding that would be as you close your eyes and visualize a positive outcome with your purpose. You are using the power of positive thinking to help your dream come to fruition. Just sit and visualize a positive outcome and resonate with the feelings of how it feels to be successful in your chosen purpose. This will help you manifest it faster.

7. Gratitude

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Gratitude is such a big part of any dream, goal or purpose. Being a grateful person in all aspects of life is beneficial in so many ways.

In positive psychology research, gratitude is consistently associated with happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

I would suggest writing a gratitude list daily of 5 things you are grateful for or making a mental note of 5 things you are grateful for when you go to bed at night.

Being grateful keeps the positive energy flowing and keeps us from complaining or being caught up in negative thinking.

So, there you have it, the7 steps to finding your purpose in life.

In conclusion, I want to put emphasis on the importance of doing all these steps to find your purpose. And just a footnote on what it feels like to live a life of bliss. When I am on purpose, I lose all sense of self and find myself in a wonderful realm of total bliss. When I am writing I feel like the hand of God is guiding me and I lose all sense of ego relishing in God’s glorious love and grace. It’s an amazing feeling of being in the, zone, and it can only be felt by experiencing it for yourself.

I wish you much joy, peace and success, as you travel this road of discovering the reason you were created.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

If you would like to check out my website, I have many resources with my books, events, online courses and so much more.

My book, The Third Road, Your Secret Journey Home, is a book that helps one find the mystical, omnipresent, inner power and their purpose in life.

Fuel your Passion with Motivation and Purpose

Embarking on a new project that aligns with your passion and sense of purpose can be both exciting and challenging. While passion and purpose provide a strong foundation, staying motivated throughout the journey is crucial for success. This article will explore effective ways to get motivated and how to stay motivated everyday. It’s important to know how to stay motivated to achieve your goals and how to maintain the drive to start and continue your journey towards fulfilling your dreams and purpose.

How to Find Motivation in your Life:

• Set Clear Goals: Begin by setting clear and achievable goals for your project. Break down the larger goal into smaller, manageable tasks. Each completed task will give you a sense of progress, motivating you to move forward.

• Visualize Success: Imagine yourself succeeding in your project and achieving your purpose. Visualization can ignite motivation by making your goals feel more attainable and inspiring you to take action.

• Create a Vision Board: Compile images, quotes, and words that represent your passion and purpose. Display them on a vision board to serve as a constant reminder of your dreams, fueling your motivation.

• Positive Affirmations: Create words of affirmation that helps you stay motivated to continue with your purpose. Affirmations like, I got this, I can do it, or I will keep moving forward, are a few ideas to put some affirmations in your world.

• Surround Yourself with Supportive People: Seek out like-minded individuals who share your passion or have similar goals. Engaging with a supportive community can provide encouragement, advice, and motivation during challenging times.

• Find an Accountability Partner: Having someone who holds you accountable for your progress can be highly motivating. Share your goals and progress with a trusted friend or mentor who can help you stay on track. Or you might want to consider a, life coach.

• Embrace the Journey: Motivation often wanes when the focus is solely on the end result. Embrace the process and enjoy the journey towards achieving your goals, recognizing each step as an opportunity to grow and learn.

• Break Free from Perfectionism: Perfectionism can lead to procrastination and demotivation. Embrace the concept of "progress, not perfection" and be kind to yourself when facing setbacks or mistake.

Top Motivational Quotes:

• "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs

• “Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities.” Norman Vincent Peale

• “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucious

• "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

• "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

• "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu

Starting a new project driven by passion and purpose can be a transformative experience. By setting clear goals, visualizing success, affirmations, and surrounding yourself with supportive people, you can find the motivation to embark on this journey. Embrace the process, let go of perfectionism, and remember the inspirational words of great thinkers who have found success through perseverance and self-belief. With motivation as your guiding force, you are well on your way to achieving your dreams and fulfilling your life's purpose

Rachel Devine is a motivational speaker and the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

Using Life Transitions to Build Positive Habits Jennifer Scott

Life transitions can be challenging, but they also offer chances for improvement and development. Whether you're starting a new job, ending a relationship, or moving to a new city, major life changes can be a catalyst for positive habits and transformations. In this article, we'll explore how to use life transitions to implement healthy, positive habits that can help you thrive in all areas of your life.

Develop Good Financial Habits

It's simple to neglect money obligations during stressful life transitions. However, cultivating good habits during these times is essential for long-term success. One of the most important habits to nurture is financial responsibility. This means taking a close look at your credit report and repairing any damage that may negatively impact your financial future. By obtaining your free yearly credit report, from each of the three major credit bureaus, and reviewing it thoroughly, you can take steps to correct any problems and set yourself up for a financially stable future.

Focus on Positivity

Another key habit to cultivate during a life transition is positivity. Change can be challenging, but focusing on the positive aspects of the transition can help you stay motivated and energized. Try to view the transition as an opportunity for growth and change, rather than a setback. Surround yourself with positive people who support your goals and aspirations, and make a conscious effort to focus on the good in every situation.

Start Your Own Company

If you're going through a major life transition, such as a career change or relocation, consider starting your own business. This can be a great way to take control of your career and build a successful future. One important step in starting a business is forming a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC provides protection for your personal assets and simplifies the tax filing process. There are six steps to registering an LLC in New York, but you can work with a formation service.

Stay Consistent

One of the biggest challenges of implementing healthy habits during a life transition is staying consistent. It's easy to get sidetracked or lose motivation when things get tough. To stay on track, create a schedule and stick to it. Make a list of your goals and set deadlines for achieving them. Celebrate your successes along the way and don't be too hard on yourself if you experience setbacks. Remember, change takes time and effort.

Be Patient and Persistent

Navigating life transitions can be a challenging and often stressful experience, but practicing patience and persistence can make all the difference. It's important to remember that change can take time and may not always follow a linear path. By showing yourself kindness and allowing yourself space to adjust to new circumstances, you can ease the burden of the transition. While it can be tempting to rush the process, staying focused on your goals and continuing to work towards them will help you build the resilience and positive mindset needed to thrive during any major life change. With commitment and effort, you can successfully navigate any transition and come out stronger on the other side.

Although significant life changes can be difficult, they also offer chances for development and constructive transformation. By improving your financial situation, embracing positivity, starting your own business, and more, you can cultivate healthy habits that will serve you well in all areas of your life. Remember, change is a process, so be kind to yourself and stay focused on your goals. With time and effort, you can build the future you desire.

Jennifer Scott

info@spiritfinder.org

spiritfinder.org

Jennifer Scott is a talented contributor to Devine Intervention’s blog.

The Power of Gratitude: Transforming Lives

Gratitude is a potent emotion that has the remarkable ability to shape our lives positively. It goes beyond a simple "thank you" and extends into a deeper appreciation for the blessings and experiences that enrich our existence. The benefits of gratitude are unlimited. By practicing gratitude, we can unlock a host of benefits that enhance our health, relationships, goals, and overall well-being. The health benefits of gratitude are astounding. The benefits of gratitude are unlimited. You will see the importance and benefits of expressing gratitude in your own life. It is important to really focus on how to practice gratitude. In this article, we will explore the incredible advantages of gratitude, discover ways to incorporate gratitude techniques into our lives, and understand how positive thinking and affirmations synergize with gratitude for transformative results.

The Health Benefits of Gratitude: Research has shown that expressing gratitude can have a profound impact on our physical and mental health. When we practice gratitude regularly, we experience lower levels of stress, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improved overall mental well-being. Gratitude also strengthens our immune system, lowers blood pressure, and promotes better sleep. Embracing gratitude can become a powerful tool in cultivating a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Improved Mental Well-being: Gratitude has been found to have a positive impact on mental health, especially for individuals with depression. It can increase positive emotions such as joy, happiness, and contentment. By focusing on the things they are grateful for, individuals can experience a boost in overall life satisfaction and well-being. Additionally, practicing gratitude has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, such as sadness and hopelessness.

Gratitude and Goal Achievement: Gratitude serves as a catalyst for achieving our goals. By focusing on what we are grateful for, we shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance. This positive shift enhances our motivation, resilience, and determination to pursue our aspirations. Grateful individuals are more likely to set realistic goals, persist in the face of challenges, and develop a greater sense of self-belief. By recognizing and appreciating our progress and accomplishments, gratitude fuels our drive to continue striving for success.

Incorporating Gratitude Techniques into Daily Life:

1. Gratitude Journal: The benefits of a gratitude journal is unlimited and will start your day off in a positive way. Set aside a few minutes each day to reflect on and write down things you are grateful for. It could be as simple as a beautiful sunset, a supportive friend, or a small achievement. This practice helps cultivate a habit of gratitude and directs your focus towards positivity.

2. Letters: Expressing gratitude is imperative to a positive life. Set your gratitude directly to people who have positively influenced your life. Write heartfelt letters or messages to friends, family, mentors, or colleagues, highlighting specific reasons why you appreciate them. This practice not only strengthens relationships but also deepens your own sense of gratitude.

3. Mindful Gratitude: Engage in mindfulness exercises that involve focusing on the present moment and acknowledging the blessings around you. Whether it's savoring a delicious meal, enjoying a walk in nature, or simply taking deep breaths, mindfulness amplifies gratitude and enhances your overall well-being.

4. Acknowledging Gratitude: It’s also important to let people know how grateful you are to have them in your life. This can be friends, family or co-workers. Verbalize how grateful you are for having them around and tell them how much they mean to you. This simple act of kindness can go a long way. Once you express gratitude to someone, you create a domino affect, because the person you express gratitude with will likely convey their gratitude to someone else. This is a great way to spread gratitude and positive energy in your world.

Positive Thinking and Affirmations: Positive thinking and affirmations complement gratitude in a powerful way. By consciously choosing positive thoughts and beliefs, we reshape our perspective and attract more positivity into our lives. Affirmations, or positive statements, help reprogram our subconscious mind, reinforcing gratitude and empowering us to overcome self-limiting beliefs. By combining gratitude with positive thinking and affirmations, we create a powerful synergy that fuels personal growth, resilience, and a profound sense of fulfillment.

Two Case Studies: How Gratitude Benefits Us:

1. Case Study: Sarah - Overcoming Depression: Sarah, who had been battling depression for years, decided to incorporate a daily gratitude practice into her routine. Within weeks, she noticed a significant improvement in her mood and a newfound appreciation for life's small joys. By focusing on gratitude, Sarah cultivated a more positive outlook, leading to a gradual reduction in depressive symptoms and an enhanced quality of life.

2. Case Study: Michael - Achieving Professional Success: Michael, a young entrepreneur, struggled with setbacks and self-doubt while building his business. Through a gratitude journaling practice, he shifted his focus towards the lessons learned from failures and the support he received from mentors. This change in perspective fueled his resilience, inspired creative problem-solving, and ultimately led to the growth and success of his venture.

   Gratitude has been an important component in own my life. I mentally list 20 to 30 things I am grateful for each morning. After doing this for several years, I have reprogrammed my mind to see the glass half-full rather than half-empty. It has given me the power to move forward with so many goals and dreams, as gratitude is at the forefront of my subconscious mind, which drives our lives either in a positive or negative direction. I relish in the fact that gratitude is the center of my life. This is another example of how to practice gratitude every morning in a different and positive way.

   In closing, gratitude is a transformative force that permeates every aspect of our lives. By embracing gratitude, we unlock a multitude of benefits, including improved physical and mental health, enhanced goal achievement, and strengthened relationships. Incorporating gratitude techniques such as journaling, expressing gratitude to others, and practicing mindfulness can amplify these benefits. When combined with positive thinking and affirmations, gratitude becomes a powerful catalyst for personal growth and fulfillment. So, let us cultivate the habit of gratitude and embark on a journey of profound well-being and joy. An attitude of gratitude will go a long way.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack, and both are available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Or you can order an ebook on my website.

Coaching is also available.

How to set Goals for Personal Growth & Prosperity - Rachel Devine

Goal setting is a powerful tool that can help individuals unlock their full potential, foster personal growth, and cultivate a prosperity mindset. The importance of goal setting is unlimited in its ability to help you live the life you dream of. The benefits of goal setting are truly priceless. By defining clear objectives and creating a plan to achieve them, we can navigate the path to success with purpose and intention. This article will provide a comprehensive plan for setting goals, fostering personal growth, and embracing a prosperity mindset to realize your aspirations and create a fulfilling life. This article is a guide on how to set goals and achieve them. It is so important to have a game-plan on how to set goals. Your passions will lead the way to your success.

1. Reflect on Your Values and Aspirations: To embark on a journey of personal growth and prosperity, it is essential to align your goals with your core values and aspirations. Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what you hope to achieve in various aspects of your life—career, relationships, health, and personal development. Identifying your values and aspirations will lay the foundation for meaningful goal setting.

2. Set SMART Goals: SMART goals acronym are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. By following this framework, you can create goals that are well-defined, trackable, and motivating. How to set SMART goals. Break down your larger aspirations into smaller, manageable objectives, ensuring they are specific and clearly articulated. Assign measurable metrics to gauge progress, set realistic targets, ensure alignment with your values, and attach a timeline to each goal.

3. Create an Action Plan: An action plan outlines the steps you need to take to accomplish your goals. Start by identifying the key actions required to move forward, and break them down into smaller tasks. Prioritize these tasks based on their importance and urgency. Establish a timeline for each task, and allocate time and resources accordingly. Regularly review and adjust your action plan as needed.

4. Cultivate a Growth Mindset: A growth mindset is essential for personal growth and prosperity. Embrace the belief that you can develop and improve your skills, abilities, and intelligence through dedication, effort, and continuous learning. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, maintain a positive attitude in the face of setbacks, seek feedback, and be open to new ideas and perspectives. Nurture a mindset of resilience, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

5. Develop Habits and Routines: Consistent action is crucial for achieving your goals. Identify habits and routines that support your goals and integrate them into your daily life. Whether it's dedicating specific time slots for focused work, practicing self-care activities, or pursuing ongoing education, build a routine that reinforces your commitment to personal growth and prosperity. A ‘to do list’ can keep you on track on a daily basis for continuing to work on achieving your goal.

6. Seek Knowledge and Expand Your Skills: Acquiring knowledge and expanding your skill set are vital components of personal growth. Engage in continuous learning by reading books, attending seminars, taking courses, or seeking mentorship. Identify areas for skill development that are relevant to your goals, and actively pursue opportunities to enhance your capabilities. Embrace the mindset of lifelong learning to stay adaptable and ahead of the curve.

7. Cultivate a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with individuals who inspire and support your growth. Seek out mentors, coaches, or like-minded peers who can provide guidance, accountability, and encouragement. Engaging with a supportive network fosters personal and professional growth, offers valuable insights, and expands your opportunities.

8. Review and Celebrate Milestones: Regularly review your progress towards your goals, celebrating milestones and acknowledging achievements along the way. Use these moments as an opportunity to evaluate your action plan, assess what is working, and make adjustments as needed. Celebrating your accomplishments reinforces a positive mindset, boosts motivation, and propels you towards further success.

9. Stay positive and steadfast: Even if the growth of reaching your goal is taking longer than you expected, stay the course. Don’t give up. Keep forging ahead. You might have to adjust your game-plan or add something more to achieving your goal. If you are passionate and determined about reaching a certain milestone, then stick with it. You can also use some positive visualization on what you want to achieve, by imagining it already is here while you fall asleep each night. Resonate with the feelings of obtaining your goal. This is apowerful way to manifest your dreams.

Setting goals, fostering personal growth, and embracing a prosperity mindset are powerful strategies for realizing your aspirations and creating a fulfilling life. By reflecting on your values, setting SMART goals, creating an action plan, cultivating a growth mindset, developing habits, seeking knowledge, nurturing a supportive network, reviewing milestones, and harnesting your positive mind-set, you can chart a course towards personal growth, prosperity, and a life of purpose. Embrace the journey, stay focused, and never underestimate the transformative power of your goals. And as they say, it’s not achieving the goal as much as it is enjoying the journey. Therefore, have fun and enjoy your journey towards your goal.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack and a motivational speaker.

Rachel Devine is available as a Life Coach.

Self Improvement Tips for a Fulfilling Life Rachel Devine

In the pursuit of personal growth and a more fulfilling life, self improvement plays a vital role. It involves a deliberate commitment to introspection, continuous learning, and positive action. In this article, we explore meaningful ways to improve our lives and provide practical tips to help you embark on a transformative self improvement journey. With a little effort you can practice self-improvement goals quickly and efficiently with several self-improvement ideas in this article.

Cultivate Self-Awareness:

Self-awareness serves as a foundation for personal growth. Take time to reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, values, and aspirations. Engage in introspection and journaling to gain clarity about your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. This awareness empowers you to make conscious choices aligned with your authentic self.

Set Meaningful Goals:

Identify specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound smart goals that resonate with your values and aspirations. Break them down into actionable steps and create a plan to accomplish them. Setting meaningful goals gives you a sense of purpose and direction, motivating you to take consistent action towards personal growth.

Prioritize Self-Care:

Nurture your physical, mental, and emotional well-being through self-care. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and engage in regular exercise. Practice mindfulness, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Set aside time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, such as hobbies, spending time in nature, or connecting with loved ones.

Continuous Learning:

Embrace a growth mindset and foster a love for learning. Seek out opportunities for personal and professional development. Read self improvement books, listen to podcasts, attend workshops, or take online courses. Engage in activities that challenge you intellectually and broaden your knowledge and skills. Embrace lifelong learning as a means to expand your horizons and enhance personal growth.

Practice Gratitude:

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life. Regularly reflect on what you are grateful for and express gratitude towards others. This practice shifts your focus from what is lacking to what you have, fostering a positive mindset and enhancing overall well-being. Get in the habit of making a gratitude list daily of five things you are grateful for. This practice has a lot of rewarding benefits.

Embrace Failure and Resilience:

Failure is an inevitable part of life. Embrace it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, view them as stepping stones towards success. Cultivate resilience by developing the ability to bounce back from adversity. Learn from challenges, adjust your approach, and persevere in the face of obstacles. Always look for the lessons from each experience you have, whether positive or negative.

Foster Meaningful Relationships:

Nurture relationships with individuals who support and uplift you. Surround yourself with positive influences and engage in deep, meaningful connections. Cultivate empathy, active listening, and effective communication skills. Meaningful relationships provide emotional support, encouragement, and opportunities for personal growth.

Practice Mindfulness:

Engage in mindfulness practices to cultivate present-moment awareness and reduce mental clutter. Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment. Practice mindful breathing, meditation, or yoga to enhance self-awareness, reduce stress, and foster clarity of mind.

Embrace Adaptability and Flexibility:

Life is constantly changing, and embracing adaptability is essential for personal growth. Develop the ability to adapt to new circumstances, embrace uncertainty, and seek opportunities for growth in challenging situations. By embracing change and being flexible, you open doors to new possibilities and personal development. Step outside of your comfort zone when you need to, allowing for more growth and experiences.

Give Back to Others:

Contribute to the well-being of others and make a positive impact in your community. Engage in acts of kindness, volunteer work, or support causes you believe in. By giving back, you cultivate compassion, empathy, and a sense of purpose, which ultimately fuels your own personal growth.

Embarking on a journey of self-improvement is a meaningful endeavor that can lead to a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. By cultivating self-awareness, setting meaningful goals, practicing self-care, continuous learning, and fostering meaningful relationships, you can create positive change. Embrace the tips outlined in this article, stay committed to your growth, and enjoy the transformative journey towards a better version of yourself. Remember, self-improvement is a lifelong process, and every positive step you take brings you closer to personal fulfillment and a life well-lived.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road and Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.

The Transformative Power of Life Coaching Rachel Devine

In a world filled with endless possibilities and challenges, many individuals find themselves seeking guidance and support to navigate their personal and professional journeys. Enter the life coach—a professional who empowers, motivates, and guides individuals to realize their full potential and achieve their desired outcomes. In this article, we explore the role of a life coach, the benefits of working with one, and present compelling statistics highlighting the transformative impact they can have on one's life. You will also learn how a life coach can enhance your life.

What does a life coach do?

1. Goal Setting and Clarity: Life coaches help individuals identify their goals, aspirations, and values. Through effective questioning and introspection, they assist in clarifying objectives, breaking them down into actionable steps, and creating a roadmap for success. Life coaching services are important to bring clarity to life goals.

2. Accountability and Motivation: Life coaches provide the necessary support and accountability to keep clients focused, motivated, and committed to their goals. They serve as a reliable source of encouragement and help individuals overcome obstacles and self-limiting beliefs that may hinder progress.

3. Personal Development and Self-Awareness: Life coaches facilitate personal growth by encouraging self-reflection and self-awareness. They assist clients in recognizing their strengths, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies to foster positive change and transformation.

4. Strategies and Action Plans: Coaches collaborate with clients to develop practical strategies and action plans tailored to their specific goals. They provide tools, techniques, and resources to help individuals overcome challenges, make informed decisions, and take meaningful steps towards success.

5. Support: Sometimes one might feel alone in struggling with their goals without anyone to bounce off of. A life coach is there to be supportive and encouraging, without judgement.

Benefits of Getting a Life Coach:

1. Clarity and Focus: A life coach helps individuals gain clarity about their life purpose, passions, and aspirations. By defining goals and aligning actions, clients can prioritize their efforts and stay focused on what truly matters to them.

2. Enhanced Self-Confidence: Through ongoing support and encouragement, life coaches empower individuals to recognize their strengths and develop a strong sense of self-belief. This heightened confidence enables clients to overcome self-doubt and take bold steps towards their goals.

3. Improved Work-Life Balance: Many people struggle to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. Life coaches guide individuals in establishing boundaries, managing priorities, and creating harmony to reduce stress and achieve a healthier work-life balance.

4. Increased Accountability: Life coaches provide a level of accountability that accelerates progress. Knowing that they are answerable to their coach encourages individuals to take consistent action, stay committed, and achieve tangible results.

5. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Life coaches help clients identify and challenge self-limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns that hold them back. By reframing perspectives and fostering a positive mindset, individuals can break through barriers and reach new heights of success.

Statistics on the Transformational Impact of Life Coaching:

1. According to the International Coach Federation (ICF), 99% of people who have hired a life coach are satisfied with the experience, while 96% would repeat the process.

2. A study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the ICF revealed that coaching clients experience an average ROI of 7 times their initial investment.

3. The Institute of Coaching reported that coaching leads to improvements in self-confidence (80%), relationships (73%), communication skills (72%), work performance (70%), and work-life balance (67%).

4. A survey by Manchester Consulting Group concluded that coaching can enhance productivity by 88%.

5. The International Journal of Evidence-Based Coaching and Mentoring published research demonstrating that coaching significantly improves well-being, resilience, and overall life satisfaction.

Life coaching offers a transformative experience by providing guidance, support, and motivation to individuals striving for personal and professional growth. With benefits ranging from increased self-confidence and clarity to improved work-lifebalance and productivity, the statistics speak volumes about the positive impact of working with a life coach. Whether it's setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles, or unlocking untapped potential, a life coach can be a catalyst for meaningful change and transformation. Embrace the opportunity to work with a life coach and unlock your true potential to live a fulfilled and purpose-driven life.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack, and her 3rd book will be published by the end of 2023. Rachel Devine is also a very successful life-coach.

The Power of Affirmations & how to use them

In today's fast-paced and often challenging world, maintaining a positive mindset is essential for personal growth, happiness, and overall well-being. Positive affirmations, a powerful self-improvement technique, have gained popularity for their ability to reprogram the mind and shift perspectives. This article explores what positive affirmations are, how to effectively use them, and provides case studies and statistics showcasing their success. Using daily positive affirmations will help you move in a positive direction. Louise Hay says positive affirmations are imperative to transform you life.

Let’s explore what are positive affirmations all about.

Understanding Positive Affirmations:

Positive affirmations are short, positive statements that are repeated frequently to challenge and replace negative thoughts. They work by shaping the subconscious mind and transforming self-perception. By repeating affirmations regularly, individuals can enhance their self-belief, motivation, and outlook on life. Short positive affirmations are effective in directing our lives in a positive way and helps manifest our goals and dreams.

Using Positive Affirmations Effectively:

1. Identify Your Goals: Begin by clarifying your personal or professional goals. Positive affirmations can be tailored to target specific areas of improvement, such as confidence, productivity, health, or relationships.

2. Choose Positive Statements: Craft positive affirmations that resonate with you. Keep them simple, concise, and in the present tense. For example, if you're working on boosting self-confidence, affirmations like "I am confident and capable" or "I embrace my unique qualities" can be effective.

3. Repetition and Consistency: Repeat your affirmations daily, preferably in the morning or before bedtime. Speak them aloud with conviction, visualize the desired outcome, and truly believe in the statements. Consistency is key to reinforce positive thinking patterns.

4. Emotional Engagement: To maximize the impact of positive affirmations, engage your emotions. Connect with the feelings of joy, gratitude, or empowerment associated with the affirmation. This helps to embed them deeply into your subconscious mind.

5. Additionally, you can post your affirmations on stickers and put them where you can be reminded to say them outloud.

Case Studies and Success Statistics:

1. Improved Academic Performance: In a study conducted by Emmons and McCullough (2003), university students who practiced positive affirmations related to academic success experienced significant improvements in their final exam results compared to the control group.

2. Enhanced Athletic Performance: Research by Crombie et al. (2013) demonstrated that athletes who used positive affirmations focusing on skill mastery, endurance, and self-belief reported higher levels of motivation and performance improvements.

3. Increased Self-Confidence: A study published in the Journal of Applied Sports Psychology (Callow et al., 2006) investigated the impact of positive affirmations on self-confidence in a sporting context. Athletes who consistently practiced positive affirmations reported elevated self-confidence levels and performed better under pressure.

4. Reduced Stress and Anxiety: According to a meta-analysis conducted by Wood et al. (2010), positive affirmations were found to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels. Participants who regularly used affirmations experienced a significant decrease in their perceived stress and anxiety symptoms.

5. Positive Mental Health: A research study by Prewitt Diaz (2015) indicated that individuals who incorporated positive affirmations into their daily routines reported increased positive emotions, improved self-esteem, and overall better mental well-being.

Positive affirmations have the potential to transform negative self-talk and cultivate a positive mindset, leading to personal growth and success. By integrating affirmations into your daily routine and aligning them with your goals, you can rewire your subconscious mind and foster a resilient and optimistic outlook on life. With the support of case studies and statistical evidence, it is evident that positive affirmations can be a powerful tool in achieving positive change and well-being. Embrace the power of positive affirmations and unlock your potential for success.

You want to also incorporate a gratitude list into your daily routine. Just list 5 things you are grateful for each day and repeat them out loud at least in the morning and evening. A gratitude list is another way to bring some positive affirmations into your life.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack & she just completed her third book which should be published by the end of 2023.

How to Create a Vision Board: Visualize Your Dreams - Rachel Devine

Do you have big dreams and aspirations but struggle to turn them into reality? If so, a vision board might be just the tool you need. A vision board is a powerful visual representation of your goals, dreams, and desires. It serves as a constant reminder and motivator to manifest the life you envision. In this article, we will guide you on how to create a vision board for manifestation and explore the effectiveness of this practice through the lens of success stories and relevant statistics. This blog will give you vision board ideas and a step-by-step guide to creating a vision board.

Step 1: Define Your Goals and Desires

The first step in creating a vision board is to identify your goals and desires. Take some time to reflect on what you truly want to achieve in various areas of your life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal growth. Be specific and authentic about your aspirations. Write them down in a journal to solidify your intentions.

Step 2: Gather Inspiration and Materials

Now that you have a clear understanding of your goals, gather materials to create your vision board. You'll need a corkboard, poster board, or a large sheet of construction paper, along with magazines, newspapers, photographs, quotes, stickers and any other visual elements that resonate with your aspirations. Additionally, grab scissors, glue sticks, markers, and any decorative items you desire.

Step 3: Visualize and Select Images

Begin flipping through magazines and other resources, cutting out images, words, and phrases that represent your goals and resonate with you emotionally. Focus on selecting visuals that evoke positive feelings and align with your values. These images will serve as the building blocks of your vision board. For instance, if your goals is to travel, cut out travel pictures or get some travel stickers at your local dollar store. Stickers are a fun way to incorporate our goals on a vision board too.

Step 4: Arrange and Assemble

Now comes the creative part. Arrange the images, words, and phrases on your vision board in a way that feels aesthetically pleasing and meaningful to you. You can organize them thematically, chronologically, or intuitively—there are no rules. Trust your instincts and let your creativity flow. Use glue sticks or tape to affix the elements onto your board.

Step 5: Display and Review

Find a prominent place to display your vision board where you'll see it daily—such as your bedroom, office, or any other space where you spend a significant amount of time. Make it easily visible and accessible to serve as a constant reminder of your dreams and intentions. Set aside a few minutes each day to review your vision board, visualize your goals, and reaffirm your commitment to making them a reality.

The Power of Vision Boards: Statistics and Case Studies:

While the effectiveness of vision boards may vary from person to person, many individuals have reported positive outcomes and significant progress toward their goals. Although concrete scientific evidence is limited, anecdotal evidence and personal accounts suggest that vision boards can be a powerful tool for manifestation. Here are a few statistics and case studies that illustrate their potential:

1. A survey conducted by the University of Scranton found that people who wrote down their goals were 42% more likely to achieve them than those who did not.

2. In a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University, participants who wrote down their goals, shared them with a friend, and provided weekly progress updates achieved a 33% higher success rate compared to those who simply formulated goals in their minds.

3. Many success stories and testimonials attribute the achievement of personal and professional goals to the power of vision boards. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Jim Carrey, and Ellen DeGeneres have spoken publicly about their experiences with vision boards and how they helped them manifest their dream. My own personal experience with my first vision board reaped to fruition around 90% of what I put on my vision board.

Creating a vision board is a powerful and enjoyable process that can help you stay focused, motivated, and aligned with your aspirations. By bringing your dreams to life visually, you increase your chances of manifesting them into reality. While scientific studies on the effectiveness of vision boards are limited, numerous success stories and personal accounts attest to their potential. By combining intention, visualization, and daily reinforcement, vision boards can serve as a constant reminder of your goals and keep you motivated on your journey towards achieving them.

It's important to note that vision boards alone are not a magical solution. They are tools that complement your efforts, helping you stay focused and inspired. Taking action, setting realistic plans, and actively working towards your goals are essential components of achieving success. The vision board acts as a visual roadmap, guiding you towards your desired destination.

When reviewing your vision board regularly, immerse yourself in the emotions and feelings associated with the images and words you've chosen. Visualization is a powerful technique that helps you align your subconscious mind with your conscious desires, amplifying your manifestation potential. The key to this is using your feelings to penetrate your subconscious mind.

As you progress on your journey, you may find that your desires evolve or change. Be open to adjusting your vision board accordingly. Regularly reassess your goals, update your board, and allow it to grow with you.

In conclusion, creating a vision board is a transformative process that empowers you to manifest your dreams. By visually representing your goals, dreams, and desires, you bring them to life and strengthen your focus and determination. While scientific evidence may be limited, the countless success stories and testimonials provide encouraging insights into the power of vision boards.

Remember, a vision board is just the beginning. Combine it with deliberate action, affirmations, visualization, perseverance, and a positive mindset to maximize your chances of achieving your aspirations. Embrace the process, stay committed, and watch as your vision board becomes a catalyst for turning dreams into reality.

Rachel Devine is the author of, The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.