Respect. It’s only seven letters, but what an important word! Think about its meaning:

1) To feel admiration for (someone or something)

2) To regard (someone or something) as being worthy of acclaim because of good qualities

3) To act in a way which shows that you are aware (of someone's rights or wishes)

4) To treat or deal with something good or valuable in a proper way

Respect covers so many areas—respect for yourself, for other people, animals and nature in general, material things, and much more. Some people think respect should be earned, others feel it should be automatic, and then there are those who may never really think about it.

As you can probably tell, respect has been on my mind lately. I always strive to live my life being consciously positive and I genuinely believe the path to any successful friendship or relationship is to start from a place of love and respect.

This week consider whether you purposefully show respect, admiration, and appreciation when and where it’s appropriate. Ask yourself, “Am I respecting myself (my body, my feelings, my needs), other people, my home and possessions? If not, start NOW! Let's all make this week leading into spring about renewed

R - E - S - P - E - C - T toward everyone and everything!

Sending you so much love!

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I was so inspired by Jane Fonda on the Golden Globes the other night. At 83, she looked so stunning and spoke so eloquently; all I could think of was how I want to age just as gracefully.

Now. . .we all know she’s had her share of plastic surgery and who knows what other anti-aging treatments. But it wasn’t just her physical beauty that stood out for me during her acceptance speech—it was her wisdom and love. She didn’t talk about herself, she lifted others up.

I’ll never be a movie star, but I can use the knowledge and experience that I’ve gained in my almost 60 years of life to guide me and others as much as possible in a loving, gracious way.

This week I encourage you to think about what you want to impart to others. How do you want to be thought of? Go out of your comfort zone and be that gracious, kind, inclusive, loving, warm, friendly (socially distant, of course) person you want to be. Your inner and outer beauty will SHINE so much more!

If you missed Jane Fonda’s speech, click here and let me know if she inspired you, too!

Sending you so much love!

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I love the saying, “The more you practice gratitude, the more you see how much there is to be grateful for.” After all, there are so many things we can be thankful for in our lives—just waking up and getting out of bed every day is one example!

In my book, The Recipe for Real Happiness, Four Simple Ingredients, gratitude is my #2 ingredient. I wrote, “By actively practicing gratitude, you see the value of everything in your life. As a result, you will enjoy life more.” Take a moment to think about this. When you express or show gratitude regularly, don’t you feel happier?

When you let others know you are grateful—even for the smallest of things—they feel joy and appreciation and will be more inclined to pay it forward. And as gratitude becomes an intrinsic part of your everyday life, you will find life's challenges less burdensome. Practicing gratitude truly strengthens your resilience.

I am so grateful to all of you for subscribing to my Motivational Mondays! Let's all keep showing our gratitude (for big and little things) to our family, friends and, even strangers!

To learn more about the power of gratitude and other ingredients for happiness, you can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness, on Amazon!!! Click here.

Sending you so much love!

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Covid has made it mandatory to be unsocial. You may not always mind it—after all, there’s no pressure to make plans, and you can wear whatever you want whenever you want. But there are consequences to being alone too much—it can have a major impact on your mental health. Loneliness can lead to anxiety, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, hopelessness, sleeplessness, and depression.

We’ve been diligently taking care of our physical selves (mask-wearing, social distancing, washing our hands), but we can all probably do a better job nurturing our emotional selves.

Each of us has the power to choose connection over isolation. Think about family and friends who you haven’t seen in a while and really miss. Send that text. Make that call. Accept that video-chat invite. Make plans for something to look forward to when this is all over—and it will be!

Self-love is ingredient #1 in my book, The Recipe for Real Happiness. Start taking care of yourself today!

You can purchase my book:The Recipe for Real Happiness here on Amazon!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Real-Happiness-Ingredients-Practices/dp/0692048944/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+recipe+for+real+happiness+melissa+garson&qid=1608835197&sr=8-1

Sending you so much love!

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The other morning when I saw little Zoe lying on my bed, the first words that came to mind were “living art.” Just looking at this little being brings me so much joy and love! I am so grateful for many things in my life, and she is right up there!

Take some time this week to notice the things around you and in your life that could be considered “art” to your eyes. It doesn't have to be an actual work of art or anything material—but it could be! Maybe it’s a plant that has been growing in an unusual sculptural shape, or a coveted designer bag that you only use for very special occasions. Perhaps it’s a photo of your child or grandchild that reminds you of the beautiful person they are becoming.

By performing this exercise, you will be putting into practice the #2 ingredient—Gratitude—from my book The Recipe for Real Happiness. We must make time to recognize, even when the days are especially challenging, that there is always something in our lives (big, small, living or inanimate) to be grateful for.

You can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness here on Amazon!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Real-Happiness-Ingredients-Practices/dp/0692048944/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+recipe+for+real+happiness+melissa+garson&qid=1608835197&sr=8-1

Sending you so much love!

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It's right about now (typically the second week in February) that about 80% of us have given up on our New Years' resolutions.

It's okay- it is not too late. One of the four main "ingredients" from my book, The Recipe for Real Happiness, is #3: "Live in Learning Mode," and it's great for helping you refocus on your goals.

I wrote about how important it is to learn from the past: You have probably had your goal (among others) on your list for years. I know because I did the same thing.

I had "meditate and live mindfully" on my New Years' resolution list every year for many years. But… it wasn't until I developed the simple habit of sitting in stillness for 5 minutes every morning that I finally achieved my goal (that overall sense of calmness).

The truth is the difficulty of your objective isn't nearly as important as developing the habits that allow you to achieve that goal. Intentions are great, but unless you start doing things differently and have a plan …a goal is just a wish, and your chances for success are slim.

So, let's fix that by setting yourself up for success!

• If you want to start eating healthier, get rid of the junk (or at least keep it out of your constant view) and create a weekly menu!

• If exercise is your goal, have a specific workout plan: 20 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, etc., and lay out your workout clothes and sneakers the night before.

• If your goal is to stop overreacting, put a reminder on your wrist to breathe before reacting.

Use your knowledge of what may not have worked in the past to take charge of your life and create healthy habits that help you achieve your goals!

You can purchase my book: The Recipe for Real Happiness here on Amazon!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Real-Happiness-Ingredients-Practices/dp/0692048944/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+recipe+for+real+happiness+melissa+garson&qid=1608835197&sr=8-1

Sending you so much love!

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For most of us, this has been and continues to be one of the most challenging years we have ever experienced.

So, what can we do to bring some happiness into our lives?

I am thrilled to share my book, The Recipe for Real Happiness – Four Simple Ingredients.

I have studied with world-renowned psychologists and researchers on the Science of Human Happiness to figure out - What makes people genuinely happy? In my book, I share what I have found to be the four main ingredients- Love, Gratitude, Mindfulness, and Learning.

1. Love- Living in love means making an on-going, conscious effort to acknowledge the good in yourself and others.

2. Gratitude- Living in gratitude is to intentionally appreciate the various people and experiences in your life, both positive AND negative.

3. Mindfulness- Living mindfully maintains a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment through a gentle, nurturing lens.

4. Learning- Living in learning means looking at life as a classroom and seeing challenges as opportunities for growth, resulting in greater confidence and resilience.

The book goes into detail, sharing the practices and techniques to implement in your daily life to achieve a sense of deep fulfillment and lasting joy!

You can purchase it here on Amazon!!!
https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Real-Happiness-Ingredients-Practices/dp/0692048944/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+recipe+for+real+happiness+melissa+garson&qid=1608835197&sr=8-1

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So many people I’ve spoken with lately have mentioned their inability to get a good night sleep. I totally get it—I’ve had trouble, too.

My issue is that when I wake up in the middle of the night, I often have a hard time falling back to sleep. I wind up on the thought train…and it’s downhill from there. I start thinking about one thing, which leads to another, and before I know it my mind goes in 5,000 directions. If the thought is upsetting me, I can actually feel my heart start racing.

The solution? Soothe yourself back to sleep by consciously relaxing. Here's how: Close your eyes and take a long, smooth, slow breath in through your nose (count 1,2,3), hold it for 3 and then exhale back out of your nose (1,2,3), counting slowly on both the inhale and the exhale. Do this 3 times. Then do a simple body scan to relax every part of your body. Feel and visualize your head and the rest of your body sinking into the bed. Then, consciously relax every part starting with your feet and slowly progressing up to your legs, torso, shoulders, arms, neck—until you reach the top of your head.

As you’re doing this exercise your attention may wander, and that's okay. When it does, acknowledge it, and gently bring your focus back to a specific body part. When you’ve reached your head, spend a few moments noticing how much more relaxed your entire body feels.
This should help you get out of your head, get into your bed and relax you for a beautiful sleep.

With so much love, appreciation and many a good nights' sleep!

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“A smile goes a long way”. That statement is true now more than ever! You are probably thinking: We’ve been wearing masks for 10 months and no one outside our homes can see us smile. That’s true…BUT…we can still express joy through our eyes.

The eyes are truly the “windows into a person’s soul”. Similar to body language, our eyes can express our feelings. And when you’re smiling—even under a mask—your eyes can reveal that happiness, and maybe make others happy too.

But smiling doesn’t only cheer up those around you, it elicits a powerful chemical reaction in the brain that makes you feel happier. Science has shown that the simple act of smiling can lift your mood, lower stress, boost your immune system and, possibly, prolong your life.

Smiling at someone usually triggers them to smile back. I’ve noticed this pre-COVID and I am seeing it now as well, even while wearing my mask. So, try it out, smile under that mask—your smiling eyes may cheer others up and you’ll feel better, too!

With so much love, appreciation and SMILES!

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With all the time we’ve had at home, I’m sure you've done some purging and reorganizing.

However, I’ll bet there’s more to do.

The best way is to tackle one room at a time. Begin in a corner and make your way around the space touching everything—it's important that you pay attention to every item. Then make three piles: throw away, give away and sell. If something is broken, doesn’t fit, is missing a part, or you've decided you'll never use it, either throw it out, give it away (for someone else to enjoy), or sell it. Then organize that drawer or shelf or closet so that it’s pleasant to look at. I do this all the time; I love the clarity and simplicity of only having things I truly love or need.

Organizing may be hard for those of us who are more sentimental or worried about potentially needing the item one day. Just remember—less is more!—and in our world now, we can see how much less we actually need and use.

Clearing out your home is a huge step toward clearing out your mind!

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