Today’s Forgiving Fridays is about…Happy-ness!

Posted on by Forgiving Connects

Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay! This is an opportunity for you to let go and forgive.  You can do your post ANY DAY this week! I’m focusing on happiness & doing one act each day this week to make me happy.  You can join me in this — and choose whatever “happy act” you want to! 

Or you can do something else entirely that inspires YOU to forgive and choose love – even if you’re struggling.  e.g., try a poem, video, photo, or a story or inspiring quote. 🙂

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is about Happy-ness.  (being full of happy!)

I woke up this morning with a quote in my head “If you want to be happy, do happy things.”

When I was a kid, I was pretty carefree.  I saw pictures of myself with a big smile on my face, and I remember that!  Then life happened, and I forgot.  I lost connection to my own happiness. I’ve done a lot of forgiveness to let go of judgments & open to my inner joy.  Even so, there’s still a part of me that holds back.

One of the things I love about forgiveness is that I do it consistently, and that I can choose it anytime — it starts inside. This really works to help me experience my own love. I’m going to apply this to happiness!

So here’s what I’m going to do.  Each day this week, I’m going to do one act to make me happy, and rate myself on a “happiness scale”.  Would you like to join me?

The “happy act” I choose to do each day is ask 1 person what forgiveness is for them & give myself a big hug for my courage. 

Then at night, I’m going to rate myself on a simple 1 – 4 scale on how happy I am. And I’m going to journal what I learned about happiness and forgive my judgments.

To do this, I need a definition of “happiness” so that I know what I’m going toward!

Happiness for me is when I am content inside and have a big inner smile on my face.

My rating scale is simple!  I’m going to use photos of me because I’m visual.  You could use words if you want to, or songs, or what works for you.

Here’s my Rating Scale

#1:  (not happy at ALL)

Gratitude and Forgiveness Deb Grouchy

Here’s my #2: (a little teensy happy)

The Incredible Natural Joy of Forgiveness After 2

Here’s my #3: (somewhat happy 🙂 )

Debbie after Half Marathon

Here’s my #4: (SUPER happy & joyful)

 

I’m going to report my results to you next Friday.  You are welcome to do this with me – and choose whatever “happy act” works for you!

I see so much promise here for me to forgive, be happy, and connect in with that carefree little girl inside who is really excited to express herself.

Right now, I am giving that little girl love, to tell her that I think she is AMAZING and her smile is the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen.

****

I am SO SO grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays.  I learn so much from you!  Here are this week’s contributions:

Etta of Simply Etta D. gave us amazing keys for slowing down and living from a place of Soul – from happiness to self-love.  Each one is a gem!

DeB of Roaming Urban Gypsy contributed her acrylic artwork as a creative key to forgive. I experienced such joy when I read it.  Thank you!

Revived Writer wrote a poem for #ForgivingFridays, where she shares the water of love, and forgiving even when we forget that.  Incredible!!

Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking gave us a creative contribution of how kindness relates to forgiveness, and connects us all.  Simple and true!

Pragalbha of Infinite Living wrote a poem to celebrate 20 years with her husband, and the caring and loving of partnership is a shining example of forgiveness.  Congratulations!

And in case you missed it from last week –

Lacey of Big N’ Pinky Toes blogged on her experience doing a forgiveness coaching session with me!  Aww, Lacey, I’m so glad it supported you. 🙂

****

I just did my happy act for today!!  I went up to a woman in the coffee shop & asked what forgiveness is for her. Here’s what she said:

“Forgiveness is an everyday practice, if each day I can find a way to be gentle and soften, then I’m living with forgiveness as a part of my life.”

And I gave myself a hug.  🙂

I love you.

Love,

Debbie

***This post is my contribution for Frank’s Challenge, Promise. Frank, I see so much promise in doing happy things.  I’ll report in next week with the results! Blessings!***

 

Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

Gandhi happiness quote

  • Every day is Friday!  Do a post today or anytime this week.
  • Be creative – there’s LOTS of space for your expression! Write a poem, take a photo, post a quote, share your story …  what opens your heart?
  • Include #ForgivingFridays in your tags
  • Create a pingback link to this post so I can find you. 
  • Have fun – you are awesome!!  

 

28 thoughts on “Today’s Forgiving Fridays is about…Happy-ness!”

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    1. Love this post, Miriam. I so hear you and am sending the Light. Sometimes forgiveness is simply about feeling the feelings and allowing love to guide you. I honor you and am grateful you’re here! Blessings to you and the doves and the cat!! I’m honored to share this for #ForgivingFridays. 🙂 Have a good week, Miriam. Love, Debbie

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    1. You said it, Etta D! Each of us has our own definition of happiness, and of forgiveness too. I’ve been asking around this week on how people understand forgiveness — and the answers are so varied with breadth and perspective. One thing that’s the same is that the key thread is loving.

      Thank you as well for your contribution to #ForgivingFridays!! What an honest and open exploration of what’s present inside of you, and what true happiness is for you. I love it, and you. 🙂
      Have a blessed week, Etta. I’m here as support, which I know you know!
      Debbie

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  8. Love this! Not only doing happy things but being happy whatever things I am doing. Like cleaning the apartment! The Happy Intention. Sounds like a train. Chooo choo! A whole train of happy-ness. Going everywhere.

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    1. Oh, Anne, I love you! You have such a joy and delight in your presence that shines through your words. 🙂 This is so true, being happy whatever you are doing. That happiness may exist independent of outer circumstances or conditions. Such a radical perspective often – even sometimes for me. 🙂 I’m learning so much by opening to what happiness is for me, and what forgiveness is for others. A good inquiry!!
      Lots of love, happy week to you Anne.
      Debbie

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  13. Beautiful uplifting post! I loved when you talked to your inner child and told her how beautiful her smile was (is). I couldn’t agree more! YOU HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRING SMILE I’VE EVER SEEN! It could light a thousand rooms. And more! 😊🌟💫😊

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    1. Oh Andrea, THANK YOU! You are such a sweetheart — and I am a mirror for you 🙂 Your smile is so beautiful, as is your presence and the way you write in your blog. You light up my website for sure. I am grateful to know you, Andrea.

      Have a beautiful weekend! Feel free to contribute to #ForgivingFridays anytime if you want to.
      Love,
      Debbie

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    1. Hi Simon, that’s great! Do you mean what do we do for #ForgivingFridays? Or to do a Happy-ness Experiment?

      OK, well, for #ForgivingFridays, you can do a post anytime this week on something that inspires you to forgive, be at peace, let go, choose love, etc…. There’s lots of room for creativity, e.g., you can do a poem, write your experience, make a video, take a photo, etc. Then, link back to my blog & include #ForgivingFridays in your tags.

      For the Happy-ness Experiment, what you can do is one action each day that makes you happy, then rate yourself on a happiness scale of your own choosing each night. You can also journal your awareness, and do self-forgiveness if you want to.

      I hope this is helpful. Would be fun and lovely to have you participate however you’d like to.
      Blessings to you, Simon – Debbie

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  17. Love your “happy” photos here Debbie! and what a worthwhile project! I think my happiness lies in starting my day giving thanks to God, trusting him for the day ahead. It puts it all in perspective. Thank you for the reminder Debbie. You are amazing! hugs hugs!

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