My life is my own to live as I please. And my choices are mine to make. Therefore, friends and family members cannot pressure me into decisions they would like me to make.

I strive to be friendly and respectful to all people. However, I stand my ground when people become overly needy or start making demands of me.

Like everything else in my life, my time is my own. If I am not in the mood to frequently visit a family member or friend, so be it. My only actual obligation is to my immediate family; everyone else gets portions of the time I have accessible. They each get only the time I am willing to dedicate to them.

I make it a point always to respect the boundaries of others. I refrain from pushing, prying, or overextending my welcome. I would feel like a burden if I were to push myself onto others in such a manner. It is only fair that my friends and family respect my need to control my own time and decisions.

I have the capacity to say no to others...

Happiness is not yesterday's memories or tomorrow's hopes; it happens today.

I treasure the enjoyable memories of 'days gone by'. But, I do not live in the past. Also, I let go of any predisposition to put off my life while waiting for a better day. Tomorrow might not ever come!

Today is what I have, and I collect happiness from each minute of it.

When the day begins, I am happy to live another wonderful day in my life. I peek out the window and note how lovely the dew is as it reflects the sun's light. I hear birds singing in beautiful harmony as they also rejoice in this brand new day.

I relish the pleasant aroma of my morning coffee and enjoy the warmth of the sun when I go out the door to meet whatever adventure life brings me today. When every day starts this well, how could anything diminish its pleasure?

My day is a parade of wondrous moments, and I joyfully receive the pleasure of every one of them.

My husband, flowers, puppies,...

I form new habits to enhance my life and improve my overall satisfaction. I am resolved to keep on practicing the healthy habits I have established. The power necessary to successfully form and keep new habits is in me.

I have tolerance for myself when creating challenging new habits. At times it takes days or months to form a new behavior pattern. I have the patience to keep trying.

Repetition is my key to success. To change new activities into habits, I must exercise repetition. I achieve my new activities with hard work and great effort daily.  

If I feel persuaded to give up, I push myself to do it again. I communicate my goals with those closest to me and gather their support. With the help of my loved ones and my reminders, I am successful!

When establishing new habits, I take them one day and one habit at a time. An easy-going pace helps me progressively make a long-lasting change. I forgive myself when there are setbacks and jump right...

My past is only a memory of positive and negative experiences, which have taught me valuable life lessons. I have shaken off the restraints that once held me captive to my past. Leaving my past behind me, I can now feel free in my present.

The trials that took place in my past remain part of my history. Though I do not forget about my past, I am confident in correcting previous mistakes and paving a new transformational track for myself. I am shrewder and more matured now than I was in years past.

At present, who I am is a collection of the pieces of my past fit all together, forming a stronger and wiser me. I purge myself of the hurt that some parts caused me, but I learned the lessons.

While I learned many lessons from my past, I move forward to grow and create ways for new experiences. I forgive myself for my past missteps and make every effort to make better choices today.

I acknowledge that I am worthy of friendship and success even though I had a...

The changing of the year often generates parties and excess. Instead of being careless, I choose to meet the New Year safely. I softly say goodbye to the year that is departing. I contemplate on all it brought me - good and bad - and choose to focus on the good. There are many accomplishments I am proud of in the past year.

Looking back at things that took place last year, I decide what I need for the New Year. I realize what to avoid and what I want to see more of in the upcoming months. I choose happiness, joy, and peace. These are all gifts I can bestow on myself. I consider their importance and value and vow to keep them in my life throughout the New Year.

Because I possess these gifts, I share them with others. I make the world better and brighter since I am happy to share what I know. I freely offer my happiness and joy to others. I present them peace with no strings attached. I get much satisfaction from encouraging others.

I serenely let go of one year...

As the snowflakes begin to fall, I become a child again. I love to catch snowflakes on my tongue. I love to watch the first snow of the season gently change the landscape. I especially love the giant snowflakes that look like angels in flight. They are my favorite.

I am full of childlike wonder as the world changes from orange to white.

As the world shifts, my heart becomes light. I think of times in my youth of sliding down the hills of snow on a sled. I can even hear the ‘shushing’ of my skis right now. I hear the echo of friends calling through the hills of white.

I cannot help but smile and feel like warm cocoa inside.

Becoming a child again helps me to see the world through a fresh set of eyes. No longer do I have the weight of the adult world on my shoulders.

I am free to be silly. I am free to laugh. I am allowed to do anything I want. Wow, this feels good!

This time, I am going to go through the Christmas season with the...

Special seasons during the year provide me with a feeling of gratitude. At those moments, I take time to reflect on my blessings. Most of my blessings are a result of the support I get from loved ones.

My connection with my family and friends deepens during special times each year. When I am prompted to reflect on the good times in my life, I immediately reach out to them. Family gatherings, gift-giving, singing Christmas carols, and special meals are also inseparable parts of Christmas. 

I use each opportunity I get to tell my family how important they are. It is easy for me to pinpoint their influence in my life.

When I am at odds with a friend, special seasons allow us to rekindle our relationship. I use those times to consider the role we play in each other's lives. I acknowledge that a season of caring and love is the best time to offer and receive forgiveness.

Houses aglow, parties with friends, and memories made with family—Christmas...

Staying joyful is vital to me. Busy holidays can add to stress, but stress leaves me like water off a duck's back. My life is overflowing with positivity and happiness. I remain joyful no matter what the holiday brings me. Each holiday is a distinctive occasion to do something that brings me more joy.

As holidays near, I find ways to stay calm. I let my peace radiate out to others. They see the peace I have, and they feel better about their holidays. I help a lot of people just by staying happy and positive during stressful holiday times. I know the holidays are what I make of them. I choose to make them joyful and fun.

I turn the stress of my life into positivity by concentrating on solutions. Holidays are wonderful times to appreciate family and friends. I take pleasure in finding the beauty of the holidays. I see that beauty and concentrate on it to help keep my stress levels down. Low stress equals high joy.

I live in joy this holiday season by walking in...

Every day I wake up with rekindled strength and decide to make the day a great one. I arm myself with positivity and a winning mindset. When I step into the world, I start to hear the beautiful hymn of hope that follows me everywhere I go.

Even when others choose to play a soundtrack of hopelessness, I dance to my hymn of hope. My ears are prepared to listen only to the sound of hope and to disregard any other noise. I abstain from listening to negative news reports that will only try to deprive me of my capacity to hear the sound of hope.

With so much negativity around me, I have to actively seek the good in the world to stay filled with hope. When I concentrate on the good characteristics of others, I can come up with hope.

My life is a song filled with hope. Although there is no guarantee in life, I am confident that my life choices move me on the right path. I know that I will be successful.

I sing my hymn of hope to the world so others can be lifted...

Staying physically fit matters to me. I make time for fitness even when my life is very busy. The Thanksgiving holiday is a busy time, but I still have plenty of hours in the day.

I get things done because they are important to my life. The things I do each day have value and meaning to me. Staying fit is one of those things that I value highly.

To stay fit, I make time for exercise. I avoid changing my routine during the holidays. I can enjoy the holiday season and still keep my workout routine. In doing so, I ensure my continued fitness and good health. I make sensible choices during the holidays. I stop and take time for myself when things start to get hectic.

Because I see the value of exercise, I make it a part of my schedule. I encourage others because I want them to succeed in their fitness goals.

By working with others to help them meet their fitness goals, I feel fulfilled. Seeing me fit and healthy makes others want to work toward their own...