Taylor Lee

U.S.A Bestselling Author

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4 Scientifically Proven Tips to Improve Your Happiness (And reduce Holiday Stress!)

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Did you know that Being happy starts in the brain. If you’re looking for some foolproof ways to improve your life, here are 4 scientific tips on how to boost happiness, starting in your brain. Here are some excerpts from: Jordyn Cormier December 13, 2015  Care2 Healthy Living

  • Experience gratitude. Studies have shown time and time again that expressing gratitude and humility for the good qualities in your life can make you happier on a chemical level. Gratitude stimulates the brain to create dopamine and feel-good neurotransmitter, serotonin. By expressing your gratitude to people you are grateful for, you in turn create a positive social relationship with those around you that keeps on giving.
  • Express your emotions. Whether it’s through verbal language, writing or some other form of art, expressing what your innermost feelings are can have an instant effect on your life outlook. Often, our deepest emotions can get blurred while they’re still whirling around in our minds. Expressing your emotions allows you to put everything into perspective
  • Give up perfection. Instead of struggling and stressing over making the best decision possible, you are far better off making any decision rather than worrying over it. Making a decision moves you forward. Worrying does not. Once you’ve made a decision, your brain will immediately feel more at peace.
  • Enjoy human touch. Human contact is a powerful force in the body. It can boost the immune system, increase trust, improve learning and — you guessed it — boost your happiness and wellbeing.

How do YOU improve your happiness?  The best answer wins a $10 gift card!   

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Gratitude

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Gratitude

gratitude2Want a surefire way to have a great day?

Begin it by listing ten things in your life that you are grateful for.  

A wise friend told me that when I was facing some seemingly insurmountable problems.  At first I thought she was crazy.  The last thing I felt at the moment was gratitude.  But, I tried it.  At first I could only get to four or five things that I was grateful for but within days I was having difficulty stopping at ten.  It’s now become such an ingrained habit that I not only start the day but I also end it by silently making my “gratitude lists”.

A few gratitude quotes to help keep your life in perspective:

“This a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” Maya Angelou

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”  A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” 
― Alphonse Karr, A Tour Round My Garden

 

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Want to receive one of my books for FREE or a $10 Gift Card?

 STEP 1: Read the questions below:

 Do you make Gratitude lists? Why? Or, Why Not?  Do you have any other tips for weaving Gratitude into your life?  What has it done for you?

STEP 2: CLICK HERE to post your answer in a comment on my Facebook post.

I’ll publish the best answers on Facebook and give the snappiest/best/most poignant answers a FREE book or a $10 Gift Card.

 

The Single Best Thing to Do to Change Your Life for the Better

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What is the ONE thing you can do that is guaranteed to make you more creative, more confident, increase your brain power, make better decisions and feel good?

 

Stress Worry Woman with Text on WhiteNo, the answer isn’t ‘have more sex’.  Although that helps too.  NO, the answer is to get more sleep.  Sleep deprivation affects our mood, our ability to focus, our very well-being. Researchers agree that only 30 % of people get enough sleep.  A study in Science magazine said that for the sleep deprived,  an extra hour or two of sleep each night can do more for feeling happy than a $60,000 raise.  Professional athletes, scientists, writers, creative people of all types, are finding that an extra hour– or better yet, two, can have a profound difference on their quality of life. One researcher insists that cheating your body out of the R&R it needs can make you more prone to illness, stress, traffic accidents, and weight gain. He asserts that sleeping will actually do more to take off weight than exercise!”   So resolve to purge yourself of your “sleep macho” habits and give your body the care and attention it deserves.  Start with more sleep.  Experts are proving that getting enough sleep is the single best way to improve your life.  Go for it!!

 

P.S, I am/was a committed sleep macho.  I’m slowly but surely increasing the amount of sleep I get and yes, it is making a difference.  How about you?  Do you get all the sleep you need?  If not, why not?  Let me know!  Maybe together we can help each other.

 

P.P.S.  Arianna Huffington’s new book Thrive has tons of excellent advice.  I’m hooked on it and highly recommend it!

 

Happy Spring and Mother’s Day

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spring_has_sprung

Happy Spring and a Happy Mother’s Day to all my special readers!

 

During our annual Mother’s Day race, one of my daughters caught me up short when she said, “Mom, you are one of the world’s greatest givers, but you’re not so hot at receiving.”  While we both laughed at her observation, I was struck by how true it was.  Not only for me but for many of the women I know.  We are wonderful gracious givers of our time, energy, and love, but aren’t always open to receiving all those good things. I think that’s because at base, we don’t think we deserve them.  I have a new mantra that I want to share with you. If it strikes a chord, feel free to borrow it or make it fit for you. Just repeat it every time that obnoxious voice inside your head starts telling you all the things you need to do, or be, and are not!  

“I joyfully and gratefully receive and deserve all the glorious people and things that come into my life easily and continuously.”

On the reading/ writing front…

 I’m hard at work on Ruby, the second book in the Ladies of the Night Series.  I hope you all are enjoying Sapphire.  I promise you, Ruby, the red-headed firecracker will not disappoint.  And as for Agent Noah Walker, be prepared to drool! You can pre-order Ruby now on following retailers: Amazon  //  iBooks  //  Barnes & Noble  //  Kobo 

Also check out The Authors’ Billboard big Books in Bloom promotion HERE! A group of 30+ authors (including me!) have come together to bring you their best selling books; and all featured books are just 99 cents or FREE from May 15th – May 17th, 2015. 

For any of you who haven’t yet bought Sapphire, get it now at this special promotion price and the other great buys by my wonderful author friends. Click here to see all participating books and authors. 

But wait… there’s more!

I’ve joined with a group of talented best-selling authors to create what we are calling Book Bites.  A fun compilation of First Chapters to stoke your reading desires.  Be sure to check them out. It truly is a steal!  

Book Bites #1 available on: Amazon  //  Barnes & Noble  //  Kobo 

Book Bites #2 available on: Amazon  //  Barnes & Noble  //  Kobo 

Finally a heartfelt thank you to all of you who were gracious enough to write a review for  Sapphire. Please know that your reviews mean the world to me!

AND now… drumroll ….here is the list of the Lucky Gift Card winners who entered the Sapphire Review Lottery.  I love you guys!

WINNERS:

Diane S.  //  Susan R.  //  Lexee T.  //  Jane M.  //  Robin B.  //Jo D.  //  Rachel L.  //  Marie V.  //  Petula W.   //  Chrissy W.** Your gift cards will be sent within 7 days **

Warmest wishes,

– Taylor