Your mind is like a special satellite dish that hones in on anything you programme it to look for or be interested in. Whatever your focus that becomes your dominant underlying thought. Your thoughts and beliefs shape the way you understand yourself and the world, the help you navigate your gave through the word and make sense of your life.

But it is ultimately YOU who chooses to focus on whatever it is and that changes the way you understand yourself and the world.

The ‘Alter Rebbe’ coined the phrase ‘You are where your mind is’ which means, that, whatever you are really thinking about, that is who you become, the information you feed yourself everyday, from the outside (books, media, conversations, etc) all feed your own world view, but also your own internal voices back up and reinforce these ideas.

So the real question is where are you now – what are you thinking – what are you choosing to think about – what is your focus?

You are in the driving seat of your mind, there is no one else in your mind except you and you can choose to think about whatever you want. And those thoughts become your reality, they shape your reality, they shape and change the way you see and understand yourself and the world.

So become aware now, of what you think about.

When you notice that you’re focusing on negative things, just move your attention to something else – think about something else. Like Strawberries and cream, the smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of laughter, the smell of rain, the feeling of the sun warming you up, the sense of belonging and comfort from a hug from a good friend, and a 101 different things that might make you smile.

Make a choice, choose more happiness in your life, choose more life in your life, more laughter, more joy, more peace, more relaxation more gratefulness, more connectedness, more love, more goodness, more smiles, more winks, more of you, more of everything that’s good in the world.

Choose your focus – at the end of the day you can’t really argue with Happiness.

Try smiling, right now, if you find it difficult, just start by opening your mouth fully, and stretching your jaw, now try to smile, then relax.

Now do a really cheese grin, from ear to ear – go on! it wont kill you!

And make a cheesy wide smile and then stick your tongue out!

You should now have a look in the mirror – what a pillock!

OK. OK. Enough of that rubbish,

Contemplate this: YOU ARE ALIVE (it’s only for a relatively short time) YOU ARE BLOODLY LUCKY TO BE HERE!!!