The Home of Greene's Release

I want you to get paper and pen, because it is time to make a special list. Fold a plain piece of paper in 3 lengthwise, then cut into business card sizes. You will need 20. And a lovely small container to put the cards in when completed.

While you’re writing the list, think of how each item can be done in a simple way. e.g. Happiness could come from stopping, and listening to a bird sing, or feeling love when we pat an animal. Think of the simple things that don’t require anyone else to facilitate them.

Take your time doing this activity, feel the enjoyment your thoughts create. Do it with a friend, whatever.

1. Name 5 things people can DO that makes them smile
e.g. Smell a flower, feel warm sunshine, listen to their favorite song, take a long hot bath, watch the sunrise, sit outside and listen to a bird singing.

What are the things, just the mere thought of brings a smile to your face? Perhaps they are things you haven’t done for a while and have forgotten of.
Enjoy thinking of them all. Then get 5 of your blank cards, write one thing on each card, and set the pile aside till later.

2. Name 5 things people can GIVE SOMEONE else that they like receiving.
e.g. A smile, a hug, praise, a phone call to say hello.

Think how you would feel if someone gave these things to you, your smile, happiness. Then what it might mean, feel like for the person you give it to. Remember previous reactions, how it felt to see their smile, feel their warm energy.

Feel as if you are giving something to someone else right now. Enjoy the experience! Pick 5 that feel the best, and write them on 5 new blank cards, and put that pile aside till later.

3. Name 5 things people can GIVE THEMSELVES that would make them smile.
e.g. Time to themselves, patience, a treat, praise, yummy food, kindness.

How often do you even contemplate doing something for yourself? Is your life always too busy, do you have too many responsibilities, and think that other’s needs must come before yours?

Well, now is the time to think of you for a change. What is it that you could give yourself that makes you feel warm inside, right now. Think of all different things, listen and feel each. Find 5 things that bring that special smile of yours to your face.

Get 5 blank cards and write one on each, then put the pile aside for later.

4. Name 5 things people can FEEL that makes them smile.

e.g. Happiness, hope, warm and fuzzy inside. They can be anything you like.
The last, but hardest to do for some people, don’t stress if you only find 1 or 2. The thought is planted so you will think of more very soon. Include Happiness as one of your 5.

What feels good to you? Remember that warmth inside when you hold a new baby or kitten, the happiness when you see the smiles on childrens faces at Christmas, the satisfaction of a job well done. Feel inside you for those special feelings which create a smile from the inside out.

Write your 5 on the last 5 blank cards, and put the pile aside.

You now have 4 piles of cards, with 5 activities representing doing, giving another, giving yourself, and feeling.

Pick up one pile and write on the blank side, which of the 4 it is (e.g. doing), then a short sentence about why you chose it, what it means to you. For example.

1. Doing: smelling a flower – Flowers are beautiful and I like their smell.

2. Giving another: a hug – Because hugs show we care. Hugs make me feel warm inside.

3. Give themselves: time to themselves – Because quiet peaceful time is special, we all need some of our own personal alone space to think and feel and be us without interference.

4. Feeling: happiness – Because it makes me smile and feel good about living and myself.

This activity can seem tiresome, please make yourself keep going because it fills an important step in reaching the end goal. With each, think about how this activity makes you feel.

Now We Come To The Fun Part

Combine all your piles into one, and as you place each into the lovely container, think of as many ways as possible to create an activity to allow you to experience this feeling. For example:

1. Doing – smelling a flower. What are all the ways you could do that, simply and easily, without needing another person to be able to? Walk around the neighborhood, pick flowers out of your garden, go to a florist, a park.

2. Giving another person – a hug. How many different activities can involve giving another person a hug? Visiting friends and hugging, taking the time to have a lovely long hug with your partner, hugging your dog or cat, sharing an energy hug with a dear one.

3. Giving yourself – time to yourself. How many different ways can you achieve quiet peaceful time alone. Taking a drive, sitting outside under a shade tree, cuddling up under the blankets, taking a long hot bath and locking the bathroom door.

4. Feeling – happiness. What are the things you can do that make you feel happy, really happy from inside?

Everyone is different, but we each feel a special warmth inside when doing something we feel happy about. Joy is a special sensation many people have forgotten along the wayside, it comes from doing what feels right, natural, the real you without restrictions.

Think laterally, come up with as many ideas how to achieve each activity as possible. Imagine doing them all, feel your smiles and pleasure. One by one, imagine doing each activity, feel your smile, then place the cards in their special container.

Each morning pick one card out. It is your gift to experience that day. Enjoy!

Each one picked is your theme for that day, or week if you wish. Say you pick happiness, your goal for the day is to feel happiness, in as many ways and as many times as possible. So think of things and do them, just to experience what happiness is. It’s actually fun to see how many things you can come up with.

As you go along and learn the new experiences you like, think of all the simple ways they can be created. Write a card and place each in the container. For example: Doing something silly and not getting angry at myself, noticing how good I am at doing things, not being scared to feel, making choices, doing what feels right to do, understanding why I do things.

Build your own special container of life joys! Watch it grow and enjoy!