"You know what? Joy is the only guide. I'm going to have fun regardless." -Joseph Fiennes Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer The holiday season can have a truly amazing effect on us if we allow it to. The lights, the music, the festive decorations, and the "holiday spirit" in the air can transport us back to a time when everything seemed magical... when we were full of wonder and excitement. Why not use this holiday season as an opportunity to seize that feeli

"Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest."– Sri Chinmoy Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer We all want to be happy. We want to wake up happy and fall asleep feeling content and at peace. Being happy is actually much more important than you might realize, and it can be so very, very simple. Here are 10 tips that will help you feel happier, not just for the holidays, but all day, every day!

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.” –Mary Anne Radmacher Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer The holiday season is upon us! (Can you believe it?? I guess time truly does fly when we're having fun!) Amidst the fun, the planning, and the hustle and bustle that the holidays can bring, it’s especially important to be gentle with yourself and keep balance in your life. You create everything based on how

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer If you live in the U.S., you'll be celebrating a holiday this weekend that is focused on one of the most powerful feelings we can express... the feeling of gratitude. But, we don't need a holiday to enrich our lives with more gratitude. We can start by simply living more deliberately in the present moment. Enjoy how

"Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.”~ Parker Palmer Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer We are taught at a very young age to love others. We are told often that we should love everyone, help others, and give often. We’ve learned to do this in many ways: we give of our time, our money, our resources, our skills, our talents and through random acts of kindness. Thi

“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” ~John C. Maxwell Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer In every situation we have a choice. Sometimes these are major life decisions, and sometimes they are just the small choices we make for ourselves throughout the day. Big or small, the decisions we make have a great and profound effect on our lives. So, how do we make the right choice? Make the decision that makes you happy.. It sounds so sim

"We all have a social mask, right? We put it on, we go out, put our best foot forward, our best image. But behind that social mask is a personal truth, what we really, really believe about who we are and what we're capable of." - Phil McGraw Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer With Halloween just around the corner, the topic of costumes is a favorite. We love to have fun pretending to be someone or something that we aren’t. But, the real treat is found when we r

"Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success." -Joyce Brothers Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer Sometimes we look around and notice that others are creating great things in their lives. We may wonder how they do it…. or if it’s even possible for us. No matter the stage of life you are in, it’s never too late to start living the life that you want now. At any age, you are worthy and capable of all the good and great

“Time and space are modes by which we think and not conditions in which we live.” - Albert Einstein Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer Albert Einstein may arguably have been the most brilliant person who has ever lived. One of his revolutionary discoveries is that time is relative. In fact, according to Einstein himself, time is an illusion. Like Einstein said, "There is only now. Now is the only time that exists." And this moment exists in whatever way we are

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Rohn Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer Think about the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning, or the simple habit of washing your face and brushing your teeth. You’ve developed a routine at certain times of the day. And these routines, practices, and "habits" are what truly begin to shape our reality. As we enter the last quarter of the year, it's a great time to fo

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” - Dalai Lama Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer What do you expect when you wake up each morning? Do you wake up expecting and believing that today is the best day of your life? Do you wake up with gratitude on your mind for what you already have? Do you set a tone for your day with "thanks in advance" for what you desire? Do you specifically focus on a day full of LOVE and FUN integrated into each and every activity?

“You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything.” – Henry David Thoreau Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer On your journey, creating the most amazing life you can imagine, you must always remember this very important fact. You are unique... an

“The only person who can transform your life is the one you see every day in the mirror. Be you the one who shapes your own destiny.” -Federico Navarrete Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer Research has proven that, when your brain receives input, it immediately goes in search of what you think, believe, and feel. Your mind chooses how to categorize and prioritize every single piece of information it receives based on these preconceived notions of what is most i

“You are free, you are powerful, you are good, you are love, you have value you have a purpose. All is well.” —Abraham Hicks Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer A cheerleader looks for the good in any situation to keep the team and fans inspired and motivated. We often serve as "cheerleaders" for friends, family, coworkers, and anyone who we feel needs some inspiration. Although it's wonderful to cheer on and encourage others, it's MOST important to remember to

“Big things are often just small things that are noticed.” – Markus Zusak Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer O.k., now it's time to really pay attention. Are you present right now? Are you here, in this moment? Now... stay for an extra minute or two and look around at all the little things there are to be in awe of. Pay close attention to these things! Because, believe me, when you find a new autopilot of love, gratitude, and fun, your life will take off and wi

“Don’t be afraid to shine. The world needs your light” – Timi Nadela Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer We all have qualities and gifts that create more joy for us and those around us. The real you, your "authentic self," shines most brightly when you know and accept your magnificence. Own your uniqueness today, so you can uncover and shine your incredible light more brightly than ever before. When you recognize your own version of brilliance, your light is vi

"Imagination is the true magic carpet." – Norman Vincent Peale Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer How was it possible for a multi-ton piece of metal to fly in the sky? How was it possible for a horseless carriage to move by itself? How was it possible for us to speak to someone halfway around the world instantly? How was it possible to breathe under water or explore the vacuum of space? The everyday amazing advances in technology and science prove that, at some

“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” —Michael Jordan Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer This world is not what it seems. In fact, the world works in a completely different way than we think it does. According to Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, in her book How Emotions are Made, Secret Life of the Brain, "You construct your environment in which you live, your reality.” The ability to grasp this concept changes and deepens our

"And we have complete control over our own attitude. We are the ones we decide how we feel, how we look at things, how we react." -Catherine Pulsifer Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer Feelings can be like ocean waves. They rise, crest, and recede throughout our day. But, according to brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, these waves of emotion actually only last for 90 seconds. After that, it's up to us. Taylor explains: “When a person has a reaction to somet

Going with the flow is responding to cues from the universe. When you go with the flow, you're surfing Life force. - Danielle LaPorte Little Gems of Wisdom & Fun from Mary Lynn Ziemer What does it truly mean to "go with the flow." Is it as easy as it sounds? Are you living your life in the flow right now, or does it feel like you’re rowing upstream, against the current? We all know the feeling that represents our life "in the flow." It’s that easy feeling that, wherever yo