The Top Twelve Essential Oils That Support Freelancers

August 8, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

You may have seen those little brown bottles on the shelves of your grocery store, or maybe you’ve heard people talking about the wonderful effects of essential oils on their physical, mental and even spiritual health.

With the growing popularity of essential oils, isn’t it time you at least looked into them?

I discovered essential oils a little over two years ago, and have since incorporated them into many parts of life. One of the areas essential oils have made a huge difference is in my work as a freelance copywriter. From creating a better work/life balance, to helping me focus and concentrate on tasks at hand, to improving the health of my body as I deal with ergonomic challenges of working at a desk all day… they’ve changed the way I enjoy my work and lifestyle.

Sharing 100% pure essential oils with others is important to me, as I see so much improvement in people who begin using them. Today, if you work as freelancer, or solopreneur; I know you juggle work and personal life as you serve your clients and customers from your home business, just like I do.

My Favorite Essential Oils for Freelancers

I’d like to share my favorite essential oils for work, and how they help me be more creative, balanced, happy, and focused on copywriting and content marketing projects, while also managing a busy household of three teenagers.

As a distributor of Young Living Essential Oils, I have access to all of them, but I do have some go-to oils, and everyday favorites.These are my top “Twelve Can’t-Live-Without” Essential Oils.

#1 I couldn’t live without my Lavender

… because it’s the “Swiss Army Knife” of Essential Oils. When you body needs zigging, it zigs. When your cells need zagging, it zags. When you’re depleted and exhausted, it invigorates; and when you’re revved up, it relaxes you.

Not to mention its soothing comfort to skin, it’s traditionally been known to balance the body and to work wherever there is a need.

If in doubt, use lavender.

I keep this oil on my person at all times. You can use it topically, and aromatically. Whenever I want to feel better, I place a drop in my palm, rub my hands together and cup my hands over my nose and mouth. Then I breathe slowly and deeply for about 20 seconds. I usually say a little prayer, too. After that, everything is alright again.

#2 Frankincense

… was that rare oil-gift the three kings brought Mary for a very good reason! Back in the days when people valued essential oils for their medicinal uses, Frankincense was a wonderful gift for a new mother. I like to imagine that they brought enough for Mary to use it every day with her little baby Jesus, and for all the little postpartum nuisances new moms face. I like to think the kings brought a giant jar that lasted throughout Jesus’ childhood, too.

“Frank,” as I like to call it, is great for modern life as well.

It grounds you spiritually, and gives you the focus to hum along writing all day with a sense of peace and goodwill. It’s really earthy, so if you think all this spiritual jabber is nonsense, then just know that it reduces “brain noise” and enhances calmness, allowing the brain to better use its own innate abilities for learning and decision-making.

I love Frank. You would love it too. Everyone I’ve ever seen exposed to this rare oil… literally swoons.

#3 Purification

… is an oil blend that consists of Citronella, Lemongrass, Rosemary cineol, Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil), Lavendin, and Myrtle. This is a fresh, purifying scent that makes my office come alive with a bright, cleansing aroma that everyone loves. Well, almost everyone. Rodents, pests, and insects hate this stuff; so does bacteria and icky smells of all kinds.

Any mildewy smells, stale odors, lingering cigarette smoke smells… nothing can last when my little diffuser is pumping out Purification. You can also use it in a hotel room when you’re traveling for work or pleasure (because freelancing requires travel sometimes), a garage, barn, even the car. It smells wonderful, and even improves air quality as all those refreshing molecules are emitted into the atmosphere!

#4 Thieves

Let’s just say I have this oil blend in a number of different forms (housecleaner, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. But my favorite is the simple oil blend. It cuts through gunk, cleans everything (I keep a little spray bottle of thieves and water on my desk for spot cleaner), and when I’m not feeling great I diffuse it, rub the bottoms of my feet with it (covering all the vitaflex points that lead to other parts of the body), and even drink it in a warm water tea. Just a drop or two with a drop of lemon is all it takes to soothe a throat and keep those mucous membranes healthy through all the winter months. So cozy and nice.

By the way, the “thieves” that this oil is named for, were grave robbers during the plague. Guess what? They never got sick, and succeed in raiding many a tomb before the King (which king, I don’t know… there are many versions of this story out there) finally captured them and demanded their secret. What was the secret recipe?

No one knows for sure, but this effective blend includes the pure essential oils of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus radiata, and Rosemary cineol. If you are looking for bodily protection, immunity from all the weird stuff going around this season (especially if you have school-aged kids or aging parents in and out of doctors’ offices), then this is your oil!

#5 and #6 have to be the one-two combo of essential oil blends Clarity, then Brain Power.

I can’t remember who taught this to me, but I love this combo at around 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon when I’m starting to fade.

I inhale Clarity first and it’s like a cleansing blast to the brain. It really sweeps all the cobwebs out and helps me focus. Then I follow up with the driving, and wonderfully warm Brain Power for a solid finish. After the two oils hit my system (it usually takes about 2 minutes) I’m refreshed and wide awake again. It’s a no-brainer for writers who need to, well… write!

I’m also a single mom, and the primary chauffeur for several people in my family. If you’ve ever been on the road in the afternoon, and have experienced falling asleep at the wheel, then you know why I keep these two oil blends in my purse at all times.

I can take a good whiff of these oils at a red light, get an instant, powerful boost, and be on my way again. I promise you, the jolt-iest energy drink has nothing on this combination. No jitters; just pure, healthful, open-eyed wakefulness.

#7 Peppermint.

As I write this, I keep thinking, how could I ever pick just one? It would be like trying to choose your favorite child!

I’d be so sad without invigorating, refreshing Peppermint in my daily water bottle. For fresh breath, mental acuity, digestive health, even as an appetite suppressant, Peppermint is an everyday oil, for sure!

Not only does it keep mice and spiders out of the house (just spray a few drops in water around the floorboards or wherever they get in), it is so invigorating to the human body! **Don’t use this on kids, or if you’re pregnant, by the way. It’s a doozy!

#8 Lemon.

We live in an environment that is just plain toxic. There are so many weird, lab-invented toxins that are floating around, it’s impossible to isolate yourself. And who’d really want to? You don’t want to live in a bubble. You want to live in the world and enjoy it!

But still, when I go into a big box store and my eyes water like crazy, and my nose tingles, I wonder what strange chemicals are getting into my and my kids’ bodies. Yikes!

Here’s my antidote. The limonene in lemon oil is a powerful antioxidant. Think of rust on a car. That crap just eats away at metals, right? Well, the very same thing happens when your body is highly acidic. Most of the average diet is pretty conducive to cellular oxidation — and you don’t want your cells rusting from oxidation! Lemon oil quickly raises your body’s alkalinity (the opposite of acidity), lowering its susceptibility to acidic influences and balancing out all your cells.

It also destroys petrochemicals in your home and your body. A few drops in your water or sparkling water is refreshing and OH so good for you!

#9 Joy.

Do I really need to tell you why I love this? Want to be grinning like a fool in happiness in no time? Then just inhale some Joy. Really. You’ll start smiling.

If you’re working from home, and everything is piling up on you, you need more joy in your life. The easiest way to get it is in a little brown bottle. (Yes, you can BUY Joy!)

Why does this stuff work? One of this blend’s oils is rose oil, the highest-frequency oil on the planet (by a long shot). It makes you vibrate with good energy.

I had a 100-year-old friend, Jane, that I shared some Joy with. She said, “OMG, I can’t smell this stuff, [her smeller had gone out years ago], but I can FEEL it!”

I swear by the stuff when I’m down. And being a solo-preneur is all about keeping yourself UP. At least it is for me. You can’t be sad with Joy on your heart — yes, put it directly on your heart and temples — or diffuser. Everyone who comes in your office will be happy, too. If you’re working from home, this could be your silver bullet!

#10 Aroma Ease, Relieve It or Pan Away (depending on the muscles involved)

… because working at a desk all day is no fun when your body is sore.

I’m a strong advocate of keeping healthy if you work from home as a freelancer. You simply cannot sit and work at a desk all day, never moving your body, and expect to feel good, look good, and be friendly to people. It just won’t happen. You have to MOVE your body. Our bodies were made for movement, so you must find time to exercise daily.

And as a work-from-home (or anywhere) freelancer, you simply don’t get an excuse not to. You can fit it into your schedule better than anyone… IF your intention is there.

That said, movement sometimes makes your muscles sore. Even sitting on a chair too long, and using a mouse and typing… all those things cause sore muscles. For me and many of my gym rat friends, any of these three oils are always close at hand, to soothe muscles naturally and powerfully. Wrist, shoulders, forearm, lower back knees, you name it. They all function better with essential oils to keep them healthy.

#11. EndoFlex

This beautiful oil blend supports the vitality of the body and the endocrine system. If you’re older than 12, then your hormones are at play in your body.

Your endocrine system controls the glands that regulate all those hormones circulating between your organs and cells. (OK, that’s not an official definition, obviously I am NOT a doctor! But it’s how I like to think of it.) Your liver, pineal and pituitary glands, parathyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands are all important senders and receivers of hormones that regulate metabolic and hormonal functions. This oil keeps that whole system balanced and healthy.

According to TeensHealth, the endocrine system is important because it regulates tissue function, mood, metabolism, growth and development, sexual function and reproductive processes. It influences nearly all cells, organs and functions of the human body.

Endoflex is also emotionally and spiritually soothing. Not a day goes by when I don’t apply this oil to all my glandular points, and feel grateful.

#12 Abundance.

Ah, abundance! Freelancing is a sometimes-on-sometimes-off business. You always have to be hustling for the next gig. Or at least have your eye on it.

Some mornings when I have a serious cash “imperative” to bring in the bacon, I say a little prayer, put a few drops of abundance in my diffuser and on my palms, and get down to business.

By the way, one the oils in this blend is Myrrh, part of the formula the Lord gave to Moses (Exodus 30:22-27). It helps open the heart and mind to receiving. When you are open, true gifts will be given. Some people even put it into the paint when they paint their office to expand their ability to attract wealth.

The Life Force of Plants

I hope this list of essential oils for freelancers is helpful to you. I can’t help sharing these with you because I’m passionate about making the most of this amazing gift of life. I’ve seen how they’ve improved my family’s and my life and health, and I know they can make a big difference in your life, too.

Essential oils are living, non-patentable, true forces of nature. Always slightly different from one batch to another due to differences in harvests, rainfall, sunlight, etc, these “smart,” miraculous, God-given plant oils, created to work for the good of all human beings. The more we know, the more we can make natural, wholesome choices about what we put on in and around our bodies.

If you’re curious about how to begin incorporating them to see positive changes in your life, and the health and happiness of your family at home, I’m always open to sharing what I know. Questions? Give me a call, or contact me through the contact page. Just want to investigate more? Grab the free ebook I wrote about getting started with Young Living Essential Oils.

*The FDA has not analyzed this statement for accuracy. This statement is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or heal any known or suspected disease. Consult your doctor.

Add-Ons For Essential Oils Gift Giving

November 20, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

It’s not even Thanksgiving and I’m already thinking about gift-giving, are you? Seems the holidays rolled around so quickly this year, or maybe time really is speeding up?

Either way, it will be no surprise to family and friends that I’m giving some essential oils as gifts this year. Since adopting them into my family’s lifestyle, I can testify to their life-changing properties, so of course I want to share them.

As for me, I’d be delighted to get a single, simple, tiny bottle as a gift (hint!), but I also know that for someone who doesn’t already use essential oils, or know much about them, they may be scratching their head as to what to do with it and why I gave it to them.

By the way, have you ever chosen the perfect gift for someone and then they open it and get that look on their face, like “Thanks, but I have no idea why, or what this is!” If you have to explain what it is, and why you thought they’d like it, you probably already feel like your gift isn’t appreciated and certainly won’t get used. And you’re probably right!

Gifts should make you both feel happy — not just the giver and not just the recipient.

Essential oils gift giving may be a little tricky if the recipient is new to essential oils. The right way to gift someone with a yummy bottle of essential oil and help your loved one enjoy her oils, is to give an add-on with the gift, something they’ll know how to use or a tool that will help them use the oil right away.

Now forgive my practicality. I’m not the only one who believes in giving practical presents (hat tip to this frugal blogger) but hey, at least it’s not underwear! The gifts I love to give are ones that I would love to receive myself; are useful; and make your life better or happier. You have to follow your own personal gift-giving rules, but that’s just how I do it. I love giving practical gifts that will get used!

This year, I’ll be giving some things to go along with my favorite essential oils… Blends like Thieves™ or Peace and Calming™, or basics like Lavender, Peppermint, and Lemon.

Rainstone diffuser — Young Living Rainstone Diffuser

1. A Diffuser

Diffusers are great gifts by themselves, but even better with a bottle of essential oil. Whether your intent is to purify the air, add a beautiful scent to a room, or help someone feel better when they’re under the weather; a diffuser is a great idea for anyone on your list. Get someone started on this super healthy habit with a good one like the Rainstone Diffuser by Young Living. It comes with a remote control, and has ambient light settings, and optional intermittent diffusing capabilities. Goes well with the most sophisticated decor, too.

Screen Shot 2015-11-05 at 12.15.55 PM — Lifefactory Glass Water Bottle

Young Living glass water bottle with grapefruit essential oil — Young Living Glass Water Bottle

2. A Glass Bottle

Ever since I started putting essential oils in my water, not only have I discovered that I drink more water, but I also feel more invigorated by the water I drink. Lemon is the perfect antioxidant, peppermint wakes me up, and Stress Away™ just tastes delicious. Even my soda-loving kiddos love peppermint water and drink it without my suggesting it. (I keep large glass pitchers of essential oil-infused water in the refrigerator to encourage this healthy habit.)

On the go, you need a glass water bottle — not a plastic one — to take in the car, to the gym, to the office, etc. I really like my plastic-sleeved Life Factory bottle, but I also like the simple glass bottles with open lids for easy swigging at my desk. Just remember, if you’re putting essential oils in water to drink, you must use glass. Plastic will break down and leach into the water — no good.

dryer balls with Lavender essential oils — CleanSpyria Etsy Shop

3. Dryer Balls

OK, I dare you to give someone dryer balls for a Christmas present. Maybe in red and green, they could do double duty as pet toys? Anyway, I don’t care what you say, dryer balls are my new favorite thing. I experimented with making my own here at home, and they work great! They cut the static cling, add a lovely scent to your warm, dried clothes (I use lavender), and they replace the nasty toxic chemicals in those dryer sheets. I didn’t even know how bad those were until I looked into it. Kittens have died…

For gifts, though I’d probably opt for buying them on Etsy, simply because ordering them online is more efficient when you need them quickly. ‘Tis the season to hurry up and do everything. Who has time to make dryer balls when you’re baking, shopping, wrapping, and doing all those other fun holiday things? Unless, for you, making dryer balls is a fun holiday activity, in which case, I’ll have whatever you’re having.

4. Food and Other Yummy Things

I have several friends who are using essential oils to make gifts for their families. Things like food, perfumes, bath salts, and even breath spray! Click here for some great essential oils gift giving ideas for family, friends, neighbors, and teachers.

If you have any other great ideas for gifts you can make or give to go with your essential oils gift? Let us know in the comments.

New to Essential Oils?

If you’re curious what all the fuss is about, you can try some samples at home. Just let me know, and I’ll send them out. Click below for details!

Try Young Living Essential Oils — Get the world’s purest essential oils delivered to your doorstep!

How To Combine Essential Oils With Prayer For Divine Connection

October 31, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

I discovered a long time ago, as I was peeling an orange, how easy it is to pray.

In fact, it’s really no big deal. You can talk to God any old time. His door is always open. Prayer is the one thing that is free, therapeutic, simple to do, can be done anywhere, and it goes a long way toward making you feel content and connected.

However you want to call on God is up to you, just as long as you call. If you know me by now, I dance in diversity. 🙂

One day many years ago, I pulled on an orange peel and the orange mist shot out.

In that instant I was surprised by the beauty of the spray of juice, and the bright, sunny smell. The design of the orange suddenly seemed perfect, like it was one of earth’s finest fruits, created just for me, and I had just discovered it. The only thought or word that occurred to me was “Thank you!” At that same moment, I realized that my gratitude needed to be directed toward someone or something, and so I gave it to God.

The tiniest things can make me ridiculously happy (or brutally sad; as I’ve come to learn this gift cuts both ways) but always grateful. So I find there are a million reasons to pray all the time.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about myself over the years, it’s that I have a gajillion personality flaws and make tons of social blunders, but I always seem to have a good time. I may forget to say Please and Thank You to others, but I’m always working on my manners because I like people. I can usually be counted on to say the wrong thing out loud (or the thing that everyone is thinking but no one says) because I wear my heart on my sleeve and it either gets me into trouble, or breaks the ice. I’m rarely confounded by people or events, because I have infinite expectations and a long sliding compass for “appropriate” human behavior (you’d be shocked), but for all these foibles, I have one good gift, and it’s this: I find it super easy to talk with one-on-one with God, and listen and look for signs of him. It’s like taking breath, everywhere, all the time!

That’s why I like to spend a moment in prayer and gratitude whenever I think of it throughout the day, especially when I’m caught up in work or writing, and I’ve forgotten everything around me. I sometimes get screwed down into a funk pretty easily (especially lately, it seems) and so it’s always nice to have an essential oil handy to loosen things up and get everything in alignment with the Creator.

You really don’t need essential oils to pray. Of course you know that. But I find that the act of stopping and going through a little ritual makes my prayer more fervent and meaningful. The oils are for your mind, body, and spirit, if you want them. God certainly doesn’t need them to hear you! He made them for you.

If you try this, you must allow yourself to believe, imagine, and let your spirit play when you use this recipe. That’s the magic part you have to provide. If you can do that, then you, too, can benefit from recipes like this one my friend Suzi taught me the other day.

This one’s really easy. It’s just two oils: Gathering™ and Gratitude™.

First, I’ll share when you need this. Then, I’ll tell you how to do it. Next, I’ll tell you the benefits and why this works. Finally, I’ll give you the VERY IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY WARNING. Don’t miss it at the end, or this whole concoction could go awry.

When To Use This Combination

Use this combo when you know you have it pretty good, you have everything you need, you are walking the path you need to walk, doing your job, and being present… AND you want more. Something is a bit off and you can’t quite put a finger on it. You are open to something better, even though you don’t have the words or images in your consciousness to make your ask. You want to ask for something better, but you’re not sure what that is. You want to feel like a queen and instead, you are a very lucky, well-fed, pampered and gifted attendant to the queen. Not sure that totally explains it, but it’s close. You should try this recipe when there’s just the vaguest sense that there’s gotta be something just a little bit more…

Maybe this is a girl thing, but I use this when I don’t really know what I want!

How To Do It

First, Gathering.

Put on drop into your hand. I like to add one drop of a carrier oil like V-6, too, because then I can get to all the following body parts in one pass.
Swirl it with your other hand and quickly start at your right temple and pull it across to your left temple across your forehead.
With your other hand, go from your adams apple down the center of your chest.
Then with both hands crossing, rub the remainder of the oils across your chest toward both shoulders.
Last, cup both hands over your nose and mouth and breathe, imagining all good feelings, things and desires of your heart being gathered toward you. Imagine a swirling vortex, as if these thoughts and sensations can’t resist being pulled toward each other and pulling together in you. You are like a magnet and all good things are coming together inside you exactly where you are at that very moment, in your car, at your desk, in the ladies room at the conference, etc. Make sure you enjoy this feeling of blessing. Just bask in it. This is yummy!

Second, Gratitude.

Put one drop onto your left hand and swirl with your right in a clockwise motion.
Cup hands over your nose and mouth and breathe deeply, inhaling for a count of four, holding it, then exhaling for a count of four. Do this several times.
This time your intention is peace and gratitude for all good things you already have in your life, both big and small. Be aware of your heart and mind opening and relaxing as you imagine all the goodness and love and strength you receive every time you allow it in. Think of all the limitless gifts bestowed on you and others… there is so much of it, it’s hard to get your thoughts around it all. You may feel like there’s an overflow, and you can’t contain all your gratitude. It spills over the top of your cup.

The Benefits

After a minute or so, you should feel like you have everything you need, and/or you will be receiving it presently. You will even appreciate that undercurrent that used to feel disquieting or frustrating because it translates into a flicker of strength and awareness. You are a vital human filled with the energy you need to fulfill your dreams and wishes.

Why This Recipe Works

There are some strong, high-frequency oils in each of these blends, all used by people through history in intense situations. You are not the first one to want more connection with the divine, and a feeling of fulfillment; it’s the human condition! We are not the first to combine essential oils with prayer. (Exodus 30: 22 – 27) The oils in the blends, Gathering and Gratitude, applied one right after the other, help your body, mind and spirit achieve focus, calm, and clarity, as well as a divine connection.

The oils in Gathering may help increase oxygen around the pituitary and pineal glands, bringing greater harmonic frequency for better communication with God and other people. They include, in Gathering,

Lavender, providing balance to the body and mood.
Galbanum, a potent oil for immunity and strength, particularly when paired with Frankincense and Sandalwood.
Frankincense, high in sesquiterpenes which increase oxygen and promote a positive attitude.
Sandalwood, again, high in sesquiterpenes, alleviates depression, and helps foster an accepting, non-egocentric openness toward others.
Geranium, a healing, calming and balancing oil. Learn more about Geranium’s lovely properties here.
Ylang Ylang, the male-female balancing oil that help you focus and tune out the constant noise, bringing you self-love, confidence and peace.
Spruce, which may help dilate the bronchial tract and improve oxygen exchange, balancing and grounding the body and releasing emotional blocks.
Cinnamon Bark, a Biblical oil used for oxygenation, purification, and toning of the circulatory system, this oil enhances the properties of other oils.
Rose, the highest frequency of all the essential oils, brings balance and harmony to every cell in the body.

…and in Gratitude,

Balsam Fir, at once stimulating to the mind, while relaxing to the body, it anchors the spirit and relieves tension in muscles and joints.
Frankincense, used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, stimulates the limbic part of the brain, helps oversome stress and despair, and helps us connect with our greater powers.
Galbanum, traditionally esteemed for its medicinal and spiritual properties.
Rosewood creates a feeling of empowerment, emotional stability, peace and gentleness.
Myrrh, a true “gift” oil, promotes spiritual awareness, and opens hearts and minds.
Ylang Ylang, an oil that combats anger, low self esteem, and negative energy, while restoring confidence and peace.

[If you’re wondering where I got all these facts, I consult books like The Essential Oils Desk Reference, by Life Science Publishing, and Aromatherapy: Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay.]

CAUTION:

As I was researching these particular oil blends, I discovered that Gathering is a very powerful blend. It tends to act as an amplifier, which means that if you have the wrong intent when you use it, you will get amplify that intention. If you are feeling negative, don’t use the blend Gathering. Wait until you are feeling more positive. (You might try Joy™ or Sacred Mountain™ to help your mood.)

These essential oils blends are doozies. They’re perfectly formulated to enhance certain moods or elevate certain spiritual or physical states. You can use them without even knowing what all’s in them, but I like to study why they do what they do. It’s fun to see which oils are used repeatedly in the different blends, and to play with making your own blends as well.

Bottom line? No need to be intimidated by essential oils, OR prayer, for that matter. Just use them. Use what you have and don’t forget that you really can’t use an essential oil the wrong way. Just like you can’t pray the wrong way, there really is no wrong way to use an oil. As long as your intention is toward wellness, happiness, and a good life, you’re pretty much going to nail this. If you ever want to talk about this with me, please DM me on Facebook, or leave a comment on the wall. I’d love to hear what you think! Truly.

You can also download a free copy of the ebook There Is No Wrong Way To Use An Essential Oil. Just leave your email below and I’ll send it right out.

15 Ways To Feel Happier In 5 Minutes Or Less

October 19, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Not to be a buzz kill or anything, but am I the only person in the world who thinks that Happy song is dumb?

OK, I’ll just say it. I’ve been in a funk lately, and it’s not the kind you can dance to.

It’s not that I don’t want to feel happier, in theory. I just need convincing, prodding, a whack in the head…

Oh, I know what I need to do. Volunteer at an orphanage, hold a puppy, visit a sick friend, lie down in a field of daisies and watch the clouds float by, dig a well in some remote African village, express the teensiest jot of gratitude…

If I could only get my selfish little mind off my own jaded existence and do any of the above, I’d perk right up.

My friend Shell wrote recently how, when she feels depleted, she kills time playing Candy Crush. This amazed me, and suddenly seemed like a jolly good idea. When I feel depleted, I prefer to eat a few bowls of ice cream sprinkled with handfuls of crushed corn chips, then languish publicly on a sofa like an Edward Gorey character.

Different strokes.

And therein lies the secret. The only way to lift yourself out of it is to try something new.

Something – even something tiny — just needs to change.

I’ve been clipping some ideas for a new Trello board I made: “Things To Try When You’re Ready To Pull Yourself Together and Be Happier”

I figure even if I’m just going through the motions, at least my body and psyche can get a head start on my heart.

Two important caveats:

First, I believe happiness is a choice as long as your emotional health is above a certain level. Happiness triggers like the ones I’m suggesting can be immediate and helpful because they require a small action that ignites a spark of gratitude, or brings a rush of adrenaline or helps you see a different perspective.

These happiness triggers only work, however, if you’re not too totally in the dumps. I know what real depression is, and it’s serious. No book or website is going to make you feel happier when you can’t even get out of bed. If you’re in survival mode, please seek professional help.

Second, I also believe that real happiness comes from serving others. When you are helping your community, or raising kids, or volunteering in your business, or washing someone’s car; thankless though the job is, you feel needed and (even in some miniscule way) that your life has meaning. These acts require getting away from your home, or at least pushing back your chair, and they are probably the simplest portals to genuine fulfillment.

I’m not really talking about fulfillment here, though. I’m talking 15 easy peasy “make-me-smile-right-now” happiness triggers from resources that are lighter and more personal! They’re all for you. You don’t have to share them, and no one even has to know you’re indulging…

Trying something new either nestles in and slowly takes effect; or it catapults you, slingshot style, over a wall, where you’ll land somewhere different. You could land shocked and sputtering like a cat trying to claw its way out of a porcelain bathtub; or gently, easily coasting as if on wheels. (I hope it’s the latter.)

You’ve probably already heard of some of these 15 ideas that will make you instantly happier, but the question is, have you acted on them?

Going through the motions is not just a temporary trick. Actually practicing happiness will make you a happier person. So pick what feels like the best idea this very moment.

I’m listing some proven happiness triggers here, so the next time you’re in a funk, consider this your happiness lifeline. Folks who believe enough in happiness to create content, processes, websites, art, and even “days” around the revolutionary idea of Happiness created these resources just for you. So without further ado, in no particular order…

1. Happify.com

This website seems a little dorky, especially if you’re feeling like Grumpy Cat to begin with. No one sets out to feel happier by playing some silly games, reading positive affirmations, and gazing at pretty pictures. Or do they?

Happify.com delivers all that and more in shameless, unapologetic splendor. I stumbled on this website one day and tried a game or two. Within a few minutes i was aware that my mood had lifted.

The first game I tried, I click-popped some floating balloons with happy words on them. Words like “bubbly, joyful, lucky, and delight.” Golly gee, I felt lighter, ready to take on some filing, or balance my bank account!

Now, don’t tell anyone, but I occasionally visit Happify.com for a quick pick-me-up; a perky positive self-assessment; a shooting game where you aim at negativity gremlins, a zippy little quote or video, or a 2-minute relaxation exercise on a peaceful, uninhabited beach. Like a spoonful of honey, a little is all you need.

2. Happy [the movie]

Driven to discover what really makes people happy, and how to measure happiness, Roko Belic traveled the world interviewing happy people and communities. Among the happiest that I recall were a rickshaw driver in India and a Scandinavian family living in a commune, though they seemed more content than happy. Interestingly, the United States ranks 23^rd of happiest countries.

You may find yourself pining for the little shack with the window, and the curtain, the sunlight streaming through it, and the gaggle of smiling neighbors. Maybe.

Or, like me, you might look around at all you’ve got and imagine the filmmaker politely asking if you happen to know anyone with a little less stuff. Think there’s a connection?

3. The Happiness Project; Gretchen Rubin

I caught an interview of Gretchen Rubin on a podcast called Glambition with Ali Brown. (Great podcast, by the way.) Soon after, I was in an airport when I saw her book quirkily standing out among the others. Then a tweet led me to another of her projects called (I’m afraid to say it) “The Happiness Project” and I decided that not only are my antennae ridiculously tuned to all this happy jazz, but that the trio of Rubin-esque tidbits (haha) must mean something.

It means that not only is this gal’s marketing timing excellent, but also that repetition and awareness fits her theme. If you’re open to it, you can find unexpected little measures of happiness as you trip through life. In fact, the universe accidentally pelts bits of happiness in your general direction… All. The. Time.

It’s your job to notice that you’re getting hit with it. Once you’ve figured that out and come to expect it, you can go about designing it to your exact specifications like a patchwork cloak of found happiness. Which is sweet.

4. Three Happy Blogs

Teesha Moore

Once upon a time, I used to make lots of stuff. You might call it art. Teesha Moore’s stunning creativity influenced me to dabble in art journaling and fiber art. I traveled a few times out to Portland to attend her art retreats and take some classes; I even taught a class on making stuffed patchwork animals one year (see my patchwork Rosie, right). Itching to do more creative things that make me happy, I’ve been lurking around Teesha’s website again lately. Colorful, slightly edgy, always fabulous, Teesha’s art is a trove of eye candy.

Aesthetics of Joy

When I discovered Aesthetics of Joy it was like finding treasure. Ingrid Fetell offers the cerebral girl’s guide to joy, centered on urban art installations, undiscovered studios, and design. At one point there was supposed to be a book. I imagined a coffee table book and I had my credit card out, but the months passed and still no book. I’m not sure what happened to this blog; the author slowed way down.

I’m worry when I discover a great blogger and follow them around like a homeless puppy, only to turn a corner and realize it’s over. I try to email them. “Are you OK?” I ask. I really have done this a couple of times, inquiring through the contact form. Or I leave comments on old posts. “Come back… Call me.” I want to say. I’ve never received a note back.

Visit this website anyway; it’s still intact, like a gorgeous forgotten museum.

[Exciting note! I just checked and Ingrid’s back! This really makes me happy.]

Oh Joy!

Joy Cho, on the other hand, went gangbusters. Starting with a small design firm and a blog, now she travels everywhere with her playful designs, many geared toward children. I like seeing the pretty things she comes up with, colorful Band-Aids for Target, party supplies, stationary, etc. Looking at her stuff always makes me smile. She’s prolific, too. There’s always something new.

5. Coloring

When creative people brag about how they “color outside the lines,” I always smile indulgently and with inward pity. Why would they WANT to? Coloring’s NOT that hard…

Finally, someone figured out that people like me grew up. Coloring, all these years later, is still mindless and oddly satisfying. It’s like meditating with crayons. You don’t even have to buy grown-up coloring books in secret on Amazon. I’ve been seeing them everywhere lately. In public, even.

6. Savor stuff now.

What’s a list without an infographic?

Will you just look at this one and still insist on having a bad day? Come on, you can try some of these things. I did. They work.

7. Muscle control, or lack thereof

Did you know you can use your muscles to change your emotions? I’m not talking about working out and getting an endorphin rush, although that’s pleasant. I’m talking about a) Botox, and b) Faking it till you make it.

The first time I swung for Botox was in response to my children asking me out of the blue, “Why are you mad, Mom?” when I wasn’t anywhere close to being angry. (Annoying!) So out of curiosity and vanity, I decided to erase that concerned crease that seemed to be taking over my life. What do you know, when you’re not frowning, the kids are calmer! That was hands down the best effect of my few rounds of Botox, which I no longer use, by the way. Now, I just raise my eyebrows as high into my hairline as I can get them, and say as calmly and lightly as I can, “Honey, I’m not upset.”

On a related note, you know that TED talk by Amy Cuddy on body language? The one where she explains that your body is flooded with happy and powerful hormones when you assume the right power pose. I now practice a winning postures and facial expressions when it occurs to me to do so. I stand up straighter; I smile even when I’m not feeling like it. It’s a great experiment to try if you want to reflect a new, better you.

Now along comes this study on Botox which doubles down on this idea, which says, basically that if you can’t frown as much — literally, if you paralyze the muscles that make you feel bitter and resentful — then you simply can’t feel quite it with any real emotion. It’s the chicken and the egg thing. Go ahead and try to pull a long face or give someone the evil eye. Ha! Can’t do it. So there. You can tease the brain to release a foul mood with a few tiny, painless, and costly injections. Or…

8. Laughter

A good belly laugh is much less expensive and saves you a trip to your dermatologist, however you may need to seek out funnier friends. Did you know that even pessimistic people find plenty to laugh about? Don’t let your chronic nihilism get in the way of true happiness. Cheerfully seek out jokes about the end of the world, mean little girls, and fascism; they’re out there. Then laugh as much as possible. Your life will get better.

9. International Day of Happiness (March 20, 2016)

This is a real day. Of course, so is “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day” and “Mulligan Day,” all in October (I’m looking at my calendar as we speak), so take it with a grain of salt. You don’t have to bake a cake or anything, but if you want to really stretch yourself, you might don a happy face tee-shirt and meet up with a bunch of other folks at a park in the city. They’re not going to let you be sad; not if they can help it. Let me know how it goes, OK?

10. World’s Happiest Playlist

(You’ll see that Pharrell Williams’ Happy didn’t make this list, at least last year.) You will find an interesting and seemingly random determination of what constitutes happy music. More important than tempo or key signature, “happy music,” whatever your criteria, is meaningful music.

This summer I heard a crew of roofers all singing the same song as they laid a roof on a new home over on the next ridge. I live in the Hill Country west of Austin, and the sound traveled the valley to my back porch and struck me still with joy. It was such a happy sound, studded with the staccato of hammer strikes, each man’s singular voice carrying the tune his own way and blending with the others. I wish it had lasted longer.

Most people don’t listen to enough music. We don’t memorize enough songs we can sing all the way through. We should. Make a playlist of your own that buoys your work and play.

11. EFT/Tapping.

Maybe you already know about this. Maybe you’re about to think I’ve lost my mind. Did you know that many people tap with their fingers on energy points to release negative thoughts and gather positive emotions to their psyche? Hundreds of thousands of experienced practitioners swear that the repetition of gentle but firm taps on meridian points of the body, coupled with positive verbal affirmations, help break through the negativity we carry around in our physical bodies…

I admit I don’t do this. It’s easy enough to just go get a cookie. Still, many people I respect and admire believe in tapping. It might work for you, too.

12. Nature

“Up! Up! my friend and quit your books;” Nature’s wisdom is more accessible than you think. There are degrees of immersion, but you don’t have to go somewhere so remote it takes hours to get there. Slip off your shoes and stand barefoot in grass, or gulp air up on the rooftop if you only have a minute.

The next best thing is plopping yourself down for ten minutes in front of a tree, or a plant, or a caterpillar, or your cat. If you have an hour, you might try escaping to a park bench (birds, grass, the whole big picture); or if you can spare an afternoon, a long quiet hike in the woods. There are pockets of raw nature in the heart of even the densest urban areas. I’ve been within a crow’s 30-second flight from a metropolis of millions and felt like I was in the middle of freaking nowhere.

Nature puts her arms around you if you give her half the chance. (I’m the daughter of a woman who hugs trees and lies down on rocks, just so you know, but I believe it’s in everyone’s blood.) Life is hardly worth living without a brief, daily hug from Mother Nature.

13. Happy Foods

Yes, there are happy foods, and no, they’re not Doritos. Want a list of food that nourishes you with positive juju? Here it is.

Happy foods give you energy, mental clarity, and a calm, healthy gut. Priceless. They may not be the “party in your mouth” you crave, but over time, a steady diet of happy foods makes you feel more grateful and whole.

14. Essential Oils

I can vouch for the immediate and happy vibe you get when you inhale essential oils. Now don’t roll your eyes at me until you’ve tried a drop or two of Joy™, Clarity™, or Valor™ blends by Young Living — some of my favorites. Good old Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon oils are hard to beat too. Humans have used pure essential oils since our awakening because they are elemental to our well being.

Why do essential oils make you happy? Because those tiny molecules from a volatile oil speed to your limbic system and set off all kinds of instantaneous feelings, sensations, emotions, and memories.

Your olfactory system triggers instant cellular reactions to an essential oil’s complex chemical compounds, like a magic wand casting spells in the nerve center of your brain. You can’t lie to your limbic system. The nose knows…

People have been anointing themselves with oils throughout history to banish negativity and forge a closer bond with the “Life Force” and divinity present in all things. Pure plant oils strengthen and maintain a body’s mental, physical and spiritual health; the equivalent of happiness.

Remember David falling to his knees crying for purity: “Cleanse me with hyssop…” He wasn’t talking about physical cleanliness, but mental and spiritual clarity and purity.

15. The Book of Psalms.

While the spotlight is on David, here’s my personal recommendation when you just need positive words spoken over you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to convert you (David wasn’t a Christian!), but I find that the edges of my crankiest days are buffed smooth if I just open to the Psalms of the Bible and read a few verses. If you can’t find one that holds promise, comfort or joy, just turn the page. There are 150 Psalms in there, many of them full of happy imagery and encouragement.

That’s all, folks. I hope you have your own ways of finding happiness, little practices or go-to pleasures that make your feel like you just found a ten-dollar bill in last winter’s sweater pocket, or a candy kiss hidden in the back of your desk drawer. It’s the little things…

You can’t be the light if you’re not lit from within.

Personal happiness triggers are crucial, especially if you’re a little edgy, anxious, or self-critical. Not you, of course. I mean me… I reserve the right to mute grating, sticky-sweet songs when they bubble up from the radio; and I hope you replace my suggestions with your own if these don’t suit you.

If you want to, please share what brings you joy in the comments below. Any little way you sweep the cobwebs out of your brain and heart.

Two Unusual Essential Oil Blends For Diffusing

September 10, 2015 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Do you love to experiment with new essential oil combos? You just can’t go wrong, so there’s really no need to fear. In fact you may come up with a delightful blend that elicits a special mood, invites in more fun, or simply helps you sleep.

When I went upstairs this morning the most beautiful scent enveloped me at the top of the steps. When I opened the diffuser I took a whiff, but couldn’t place what had been in there making that wonderful scent. When I asked about it later, I found it was simply “7 drops of Purification and 4 drops of Copaiba.”

“Purification²”

Wow, Purification is something I diffuse all the time on its own, but I’ve never diffused Copaiba, let alone with another oil.

Why not?

I frequently use Copaiba with other oils topically because it augments the effect of any oil it mixes with. If you use Lavender for relaxation, for example, then a few drops of Copaiba intensifies Lavender’s effect.

I remembered that little essential oils fact, but I’m so in the habit of placing the drops on my skin that I forgot I could diffuse it the same way.

Isn’t it funny how we get in a rut with our essential Oil usage? That’s why I love it when a new team member comes on board and shakes things up! The fresh perspective is great for everyone involved.

Experimenting with essential oil blends is fun once you start. You’ll get over that misconception that you’re “wasting” the oil if you mix it with something “wrong.”It all depends on what you like and what benefits you’re aiming for.

Another way to come up with new ways to use oils is by replacing one of your commonly used oils with something similar (a citrus for another citrus, for example, or an evergreen with another “pine-y” oil); or by adding something unusual to replace an oil you don’t have.

For example, there is a blend recommended for uplifting your spirit and energy levels. Found on the app called “Reference Guide 4EO” it suggests equal parts (3 drops each) Wintergreen, Lavender, Orange, and Spruce. But what if you don’t have some of those oils; what do you do?

Today I tried the recipe with some slight modifications and let me tell you, it is divine. I’ve been diffusing it all day and the atmosphere is heavenly. I literally feel lighter on my feet — how’s that for uplifting?

“Updraft”

3 drops Lavender
3 drops Wintergreen
3 drops Citrus Fresh
3 drops Norther Lights Black Spruce (this very special oil provides the magic in this blend, making all the other oils a touch more divine — Love it!)

Do you have any blends you diffuse that you’d like to share? Please feel free in the comments. Always open your senses to new ways to use Young Living Essential Oils!