A coach of mine, Wendy Hupperich at www.wendyhupperich.com, posted these simple thoughts today. They are true and wise and ancient.

A Happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.
-Buddha

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.
- Maori Proverb

"Where are you looking for Happiness? In the shadows or toward the sun? "

The key to our happiness is facing the light, rather than hanging out in the shadow. Light and dark is in us all. The evil, shadow, dark gremlins are not out there somewhere. They are in us, and they are not going to go away. But they do not have to be shouting at you, and luring you into their mind sucking trap. Welcome your gremlins, look them in the eye, shake hands, have a laugh together, don't take them seriously and get back to facing the light. It is a choice.

I just listened to a great NPR interview with Terry Gross and author Charles Duhigg about Habits, how and why we form them. As well as how we can change them. Our habits are driven by ques and rewards. His book, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, has you look at the subconscious patterns of how and why we do certain things. Our automatic patterns and the routines run a good portion of our day. Terry Gross, shares about the common habit we all experience of driving on auto pilot. it certainly is common for me to reach a destination without any recollection of the drive.

If you want to develop habits that support you, and replace habits that hinder you, you must be conscious, and present.   “If you believe you can change — if you make it a habit — the change becomes real,” the author concludes. “This is the real power of habit: the insight that your habits are what you choose them to be.”

I recommend this book as a support in understanding the mechanisms behind our automatic choices. Equipped with a better understanding, you have the tools to make and empower choices that support your well being.