4 Tips to Joyful Living

At a recent One-Day Qi Gong & Mindfulness Retreat in Portarlington, Australia on September 9, I was deeply moved by the comments and feedback of our practitioners.  They include:

- I didn’t think there was a way out of suffering but you’ve shown us that it’s possible.
- I realized that I’ve been consuming and feeding into my unwholesome seeds.
- You’ve given us so many wonderful tools to cultivate happiness.
- Thank you for the reminder that life is full of joy.
- There’s so much gentleness in the practice.

For the Aussies and friends around the globe that missed the event, I’d like to recap the day so you, too, can be reminded to come home to your body.

Tip 1: Take good care of your body. The body is your soul mate. Please make a vow to take good care of it with healthy eating, exercise, and mindful movements like yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong or walks in nature.

Tip 2: Don’t get lost in your mind. When the mind starts to wander, stop, and take 3 deep breaths to calm down the mind as to not get carried away in thoughts. If the breathing is too enjoyable feel free to continue for a few more minutes. You’ll soon notice that it’s just a state of mind that is creating stories, worries and anxiety.  Most of the time it’s not even real.

Tip 3: Surround yourself with like-minded people. That includes joining yoga classes, your local running, knitting, or meditation group. Naturally, you want to surround yourself with positive, supportive and grounded people who are the same path.

Tip 4: Bring awareness to your surroundings such as your family, neighbours, and friends.  Water their flowers. You’ve heard me say this before but it’s good to be reminded. “If you are kind to other beings, you are kind to yourself. If you victimize others, you are victimizing yourself.”

If we are diligent in our practice of the way of awareness,  we’ll soon suffer less and cultivate more joy.  Life is just too short to dwell in our suffering.  Dear ones, please take good care of yourself and transform your suffering into joy and happiness.

See you at the next Portarlington retreat with more Qi Gong and to deepen our mindfulness practice together. The date is set for Saturday, December 9th. For more details, please click here.

Smiling & breathing,
Hang