Welcome to October and the amazing fact that it is now only 82 days until Christmas which you may now know is my favourite time of the year.
I am literally counting the days right now and wondering if all the hard work and good behaviour I have been showing will pay off this year.
Father Christmas, if you are reading this then all I want to ask for is the winning lottery ticket and maybe a new workout vest, my current one has been getting a hammering this last month.
Right onto this week’s article and as I mentioned last week, I want to focus on two things moving forward until December and that is the Action for Happiness Course I am running and great events or opportunities that are running around the local area.
Last week, we spoke about Happiness being the “meaning and purpose of life” and how you could “try and enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realise they were big things.”
Amazing stuff and seriously profound and life-changing.
Last week, we also promoted the awesome 100-day challenge being run by Heidi Strickland-Clark and Fast Track FitCamp, please do get involved, it really is an amazing opportunity for you to get your teeth into something that is great for you but also great for the environment.
Now this week and for both focus areas we are going to talk about WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES US HAPPY and also an amazing wellbeing conference happening on Thursday, October 10, which coincidentally is also World Mental Health Day.
First of all, it must be said that HAPPINESS is different for everyone but one line that came out of last weeks course was “happiness is feeling good about life.”
Happiness has both the short term and the long-term benefits to it. It includes the day to day experience of positive emotions lime joy, amusement and gratitude but it also goes deeper than that and includes an overall sense that life is fulfilling, meaningful and going well.
A happy life is one where we generally feel good, despite life’s inevitable difficulties.
“Three essentials for happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.”
One final point from last week was from Professor Ed Deiner who is the professor of Psychology at The University of Illinois in the US. He has spent over 25 years studying happiness and has stated that “Happiness comes from having goals and values that are bigger than ourselves and that learning, and creativity are keys to flourishing.”
What could you be learning about this week?
What goals could you be focusing on that are bigger than yourself?
What creative hobbies could you be spending more time on?
Have a think and please feel free to get in contact and run some ideas past me, that conversation could propel you in the destination of a world you never knew existed.
As promised, now let’s focus on the Wokingham Wellbeing Conference. I heard about this awesome event some time ago and unfortunately, I am away on a prearranged activity, but it really shouldn’t be missed. Its an exciting opportunity for all regardless of your current situation.
After chatting with the chair of the organisers WIWAG (Wellbeing in Wokingham Action Group), please do read on … there really is some awesome activities planned for the day.
As stated, the conference is running on Thursday, October 10, which is World Mental Health Day. The conference is being run at the Holiday Inn in Winnersh Triangle from 9am to 4pm and tickets are only £10 plus a booking fee. The link to book is shown below so if the following information interests you then head over and get involved – – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wellbeing-conference-hosted-by-wellbeing-in-wokingham-action-group-wiwag-tickets-69037100827.
Anne-Marie Gawen, Chair of WIWAG, said: “Our aim is to inspire people to look after their positive mental health and wellbeing, and if they have been unwell, to recover as well as they can.
“We are positive about mental health and wellbeing matters and want to let the people of Wokingham Borough know that there are many, many things they can do to get well and stay well”
There will be 16 talks or workshops with experts in various fields for example Nutrition, Sleep, and Exercise.
There will be brilliant opportunities to “try out” things like Art & crafts, Laughter Yoga, EFT “Tapping” and Mindfulness. You will be able to join in a wonderful singing session which some say is wonderful for our happiness and wellbeing.
If this interests, you then you will also have the opportunity to meet other like-minded people.
During the event you will be able to talk to the stand holders in “Wellbeing Walkway” who will have even MORE ideas for your wellbeing. During the day there will also be a lunch, you will be able take part in a free Prize draw and consider making changes to your life so that you will flourish and thrive.
How does that sound?
Fancy setting aside seven hours to learn about ways to improve your own wellbeing?
Does flourishing and thriving sound like something you would like to experience?
You know by now my views on this subject and the passion that I have for mental health, positive change and being the best that you can possibly be so what have you got to lose?
If you do what you have always done, then you will get what you have always got so why not try something different on October 10th?
That’s a wrap for this week so I encourage you to take action on the points mentioned and put yourself first. As I said last week … YOU and YOUR FUTURE is the best and MOST IMPORTANT project you will every work on.
Have an awesome Sunday and see you next week
Chris Hunt is the Head Mind, Body and Life Coach at The FUNdaMENTAL Coach based out of The Hub, Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham
