“The right train of thought can take you to a better station in life.”  --Anonymous

 Experts agree that our thoughts are critical.  They inform every aspect of our daily lives and dictate the trajectory of our lives.  Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”

 I recently read the book Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner. In it, he studied the happiest places on the planet and what made each of these unique communities so content. While these communities possessed some physical infrastructure commonalities, I noticed that the individuals in the community had a positive outlook that focused on raising a standard of contentment not just for themselves or their families but as citizens of a larger group.   

I thought about the book's contents relating to how I approach life. 

• What does make me happy?
• What importance do I place on it?
• Is happiness necessary for a productive life?
• How do faith and purpose intersect with happiness?
• Have my thoughts contributed to the joy I do or do not possess? 
• What contributions to others affected our collective enjoyment? 
• What do I see in the enormous scope of the communities I engage in?

 Perhaps these questions prick your conscience as well.

 Science tells us that we have 60,000-80,000 thoughts per day.  The average of this is around 2,500-3,000 per hour.  That’s a lot of thoughts! Brain scientists tell us that serotonin is released when we have positive thoughts.  Serotonin is the “happy hormone” that improves mood and creates a sense of well-being.  It also helps decrease cortisol levels, which in turn--left unchecked--can lead to slower brain function and even the development of depression.

 As a leadership and Life coach, I have challenged my clients with questions like this. Next time, I’ll discuss why a mind renovation can take you to a better place in life.

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Julie Sies, Co-owner of Life by Design Leadership, LLC, is an ICF ACC Coach and an accredited Transformational Leadership Trainer. She guides her clients to develop their inborn abilities so they can break through barriers and flourish with exponential growth and success. For more information, vdership.com. You can also schedule a complimentary meeting on her website.