15 Secret Ingredients for a Happy Year

What secret ingredient would you
put into the basket?

At a recent workshop, I asked participants to write down a“secret ingredient” for happiness in the upcoming year. The theme of the workshop was “Cooking Up 2012″ and during the course of the session, we focused on what makes for a happy life – what are the ‘main’ courses or must-haves for each individual? What about appetizers – those small tastes of something new or experimental that make life interesting?

We talked about the role of the side-dishes that make for a complete life, and the sweet indulgences – desserts – that make it rich.

At the beginning of the day, I placed a basket in the middle of the room. During the course of the session, attendees wrote down their ‘secret ingredients’ for happiness and dropped them into the basket. At the end of the day, each woman shared their vision or ‘recipe’ for the year and randomly selected an ingredient as a blessing to take home.

Here’s the list:

1. Positivity
2. Make your bed every morning – it only takes 30 seconds, and provides a lovely oasis for the rest of the day
3. Selfishness – take care of yourself first
4. Smile ‘til you feel it
5. Be in the moment
6. Be true to your dreams
7. Be nicer (you can always be nicer)
8. Shared values
9. Bubbles: laughter, relaxation, joy, peace, tranquility
10. Forgive
11. Tell the truth
12. Don’t take things personally
13. Humour
14. A dash of laughter
15. Trust

We have an unlimited number of ingredients in our lives to combine to cook up the perfect dish. What’s your secret ingredient for happiness?

“Cooking Up 2012″ will be offered again in Vancouver B.C. in February. Click here to find out more.

*basket photo by Andrea Walker: Walker Park Media