Who Am I?

Quote

Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?”  At some point, I bet you’ve considered this question and the answer may have come to you.  As you ponder the answer, consider whether you are living your life within the confines of this answer, if you are living in your ‘now’, or if you are projecting a desired ‘future self’.  Deeper thought may have you wondering if the answer is your spiritual purpose or destiny?  Lots of possibilities to consider as a result of asking one little question.  Let’s contemplate for the moment that there is no right or wrong answer.  Who you are is ever changing based on the choices you make throughout your day and throughout your life.  That makes the question, “Who am I?” a little easier to answer, doesn’t it?  Let me explain further.

Think of the choices that we must make as every aspect of our life unfolds around us.  If we are a parent and we choose to work late versus arriving home in time to tuck our toddler into bed, we’ve chosen career over family in that one moment.  Don’t beat yourself up over this choice.  Instead, notice how it makes you feel.  If you feel in a positive mood over this choice then it is the right choice in that moment for you.  If you feel unsettled as a result of this choice than you may want to reconsider your options next time.  None of us can unlock our true potential or realize our dreams if we keep making choices that make us feel ill at ease or if we make choices to appease others.  On the contrary, we can rise like shooting stars in every area of our life – family, career, abundance, relationships, and so on when our the choices we make soothe our soul and make us feel happy!

Positive Life PathBefore every choice, however, there must be a thought.  Our minds work so quickly to evaluate every scenario we face.  Because you have a supercomputer brain, it is important to keep your thoughts positive and nurturing and loving and compassionate.  A happy brain will choose the happiest options.  Remember, what we think about is what shapes our reality.  As we shape our reality we are also playing a role in shaping the behavior of those around us.  Children, friends, coworkers and total strangers will react to your thoughts.  Yes.  To your thoughts.  If you’re thinking in a joyful way, the choices you make and your overall behavior will be more cheerful.  And so on; and so on.

Change your life for the better (for you).  Shape your choices with your positive thoughts.  Influence your daily experiences and the lives of those around you (your children).  You’re in the driver’s seat.  Take the wheel.  Zip along that newly paved asphalt, smoothly and confidently.

Now ask yourself, Who am I?”  The answer is easy.  You are the creator of your positive, happy, abundant, magnificent life!

Do you have some thoughts of your own on this topic?  Please leave your comments below.

By, Joanne Henig, President & Co-Founder
Joy Kids Universe, LLC
The Law of Attraction for Kids
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

A ‘Joy Kid’ Leads Pixar’s “Inside Out”

Quote

I finally had a chance to see Pixar’s movie “Inside Out” this past weekend.  It took a while for the storyline to capture me, but it did.  The last half hour of the movie neatly tied everything together and I walked away thinking — wow, nice job!  You are saying exactly what Joy Kids Universe has been saying.  Thanks!

The “Inside Out” story is about a pre-teen girl named Riley whose outer physical io_Joy_standardinteractions are controlled by her inner emotions labeled Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust.  The five emotions operate a sophisticated computer network in Riley’s brain that suggest thoughts for Riley and receives back Riley’s reactions to those thoughts. Those reactions become recent memories that get stored in the computer as her long-term memories.  Positively charged Joy is like a super hero, constantly trying to fend off the other four negatively charged emotions, especially Sadness, who’s power is so great that she can change Riley’s past memories from happy to sad.

What the “Inside Out” movie portrays is that what we think about (focus on) and believe on the inside reflects how we behave and attract our circumstances on the outside.  This will sound very familiar to our Joy Kids Universe community.  It’s Law of Attraction 101.  And its for kids!  The movie has brought the “I AM” message to a broad audience of children, their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers in a fun, non-scientific way.  Bravo Pixar!  Bravo!

The Joyful Universe of Case Rose - A HAPPY Joybug Story

The Joyful Universe of Case Rose – A HAPPY Joybug Story

Most of our readers have heard about our little book titled “The Joyful Universe of Casey Rose – A HAPPY Joybug Story”.  The story is about a pre-school girl named Casey Rose who’s beliefs and joyful thoughts on the inside keep her happy and imaginative on the outside.  In the story, one of Casey’s toys accidentally bumps her on her head and Casey Rose becomes sad.  But the Joybug, Casey Rose’s super joyful friend, reminds her to think happy thoughts to help her bring back her smile.  Before long, Casey is happy again and she and the Joybug are off to their next adventure.

Both “Inside Out” and “The Joyful Universe of Casey Rose and the Joybug” promote positive and happy emotions inside to reflect a life filled with love and gratitude on the outside.  “Inside Out” even goes as far as to gently mock Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust (judgement).  Joy Kids Universe also discourages fear-based thinking and judgement of others while boosting a child’s essential development of love for themselves.

Please take the time to introduce a child to the movie “Inside Out” and to the book “The Joyful Universe of Casey Rose and the Joybug”.  Both are visually appealing and have a great message for children of all ages.

Oh, and one more thing.  If anybody knows anyone over at Pixar, please tell them that “The Joyful Universe of Casey Rose and the Joybug” book series is ready for its closeup!

Do you have some thoughts of your own on this topic?  Please leave your comments below.

By, Joanne Henig, Co-Founder
Joy Kids Universe, LLC
The Law of Attraction for Kids
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Children Teach Us To “Just Breathe”

Quote

Joy Kids Universe is happy to share this informative video by filmmaker Julia Bayer Salzman.  As Julia explains, “If my son was learning about this, it only made sense that I should learn too.”

The inspiration for “Just Breathe” first came about a little over a year ago when Julia overheard her then 5-year-old son talking with his friend about how emotions affect different regions of the brain, and how to calm down by taking deep breaths — all things they were beginning to learn in Kindergarten at their new school, Citizens of the World Charter School, in Mar Vista, CA. I was surprised and overjoyed to witness first-hand just how significant social-emotional learning in an elementary school curriculum was on these young minds. The following year, I decided to take a 6-week online course on Mindfulness through Mindful Schools, figuring that if my son was learning about this, it only made sense that I should learn too. Within the first week, I felt the positive effects of this practice take root not only on my own being but in my relationships with others.

As a filmmaker, Julia is always interested in finding a subject worthy of filming, and she felt strongly that mindfulness was a necessary concept to communicate visually. Thankfully her husband, who happens to be her filmmaking partner, agreed. They made “Just Breathe” with their son, his classmates and their family members one Saturday afternoon. The film is entirely unscripted – what the kids say is based purely on their own neuro-scientific understanding of difficult emotions, and how they cope through breathing and meditation.

They, in turn, are teaching us all, just watch ….

Joy Kids Universe, LLC
The Energy of Attraction for Children
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube