There are many people who dread the idea of exercise and can’t imagine that it can actually make you happy. From my years of experience training and coaching, I have seen first hand how exercise can make you happy. There are several studies by the American College of Sports Medicine, Penn State University and The National Institute of Mental Health that support this theory as well.

I’m sure like myself you have heard a variety of suggestions about how much water you need to drink each day. It is not as straight forward as the most common suggestion of drinking eight glasses a day. Rather, the proper amount depends on a number of factors such as the amount of activity you do, the size of your body, if you are outdoors in the heat a lot, the time of year, and more. The good news is if you listen to your body, it will always let you know if you need water.

Summer is almost here, the weather is getting warmer, and the days are getting longer. I am sure you notice a shift in the mindset of people you interact with. Everyone seems happier, has more energy, and a jump in their step.

Last month one of my suggestions to begin spring in a positive way was to put your energy toward learning something new or starting a new hobby. The good news is a lot of people followed my suggestions, but at the same time I heard quite a bit about how they were faced with the emotion of fear and lack of confidence. This feedback led me to write about confidence this month.

Now that you have learned how to take control of your thoughts, it’s time to look ahead. As the months grow warmer and people look towards spring, I like to ask: What does spring mean to you? The answers I hear usually involve a mindset that is focused on: flowers blooming, birds singing, cleaning out the house, cleaning the yard, love and romance, getting outdoors to be active, etc.

February brings us Valentines Day, the day we celebrate love. Instead of just one day, let’s look at this month as a month long celebration of love. Normally you run out and buy a card or flowers or candy for your loved ones. But now that you have less stress and more control of your thoughts, let’s focus this month on creating a mindset of love, compassion and kindness as part of your gift to yourself and others.

I trust you were successful using the simple breathing technique I shared with you last month to help you reduce stress during the holidays. I know I had plenty of opportunities to practice it with the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Please welcome Todd Morena to the site. Todd dedicates his life to the enlightenment of individuals around the world, providing the knowledge and support to achieve an improved quality of life.