The best things in life...

...are free! Debatable by some but not moi. Think about it. Think about all your favorite things to do, the experiences of daily life that make you happiest - no matter how trivial or small - and think about which ones you have to pay for and which you don't.

Stepping outside when the sun is shining. Your first sip of tea in the morning. Holding hands. Taking a hot shower. Laughing with a friend. Scoring a free sample at your favorite gourmet food store!

It's so easy these days to get whisked away by the consumer wave of needing, wanting, buying, wasting, needing more, and relying on these "things" to fulfill some deeper void within ourselves. We convince ourselves - often subconsciously - that the more we buy the happier we'll be and the better our lives will be. Sure, practical items make daily life easier in many ways, but they never make us happier people. We all know this, but putting it into action takes awareness and practice. To be truly happy we need to heal and nurture ourselves from the inside out.

And in these financially trying times, who can deny wanting to save a few pennies?

I recently read a book called "The Price of Privilege," in which the author argues that affluent adolescents are in fact worse off emotionally than those whose families struggle more financially. The author claims that families with financial means tend to placate their children by showering them with "things" in lieu of physical and emotional love and support. At the same time the families who can't provide their children with material goods tend to have stronger emotional support systems. It's proven in many studies that families who place emphasis on the family and spending time together produce happier, more grounded children. Those whose parents work constantly and spend little quality time together - talking, laughing, sharing about their days - lack the confidence and support needed, which forces them to try and attain it from "things" and exterior stimulants.

It's interesting research and one that we can apply to our own lives and benefit from as we move through our days of being constantly bombarded with advertisements and temptations for quick fixes. Clearly, the answer is not to stop shopping or never again to buy another new dress (my own personal fetish), but instead to recognize what's driving us when we do feel the need to buy the latest model of this or that - is it need based or want based? Is it to keep up with the Joneses or to console yourself after a bad day?

Think back to the mental list of free things you love to do and enjoy in your life. Make more room in your day for these activities and see how this can fulfill you more completely and keep you empowered on your path.

I invite you to keep this interactive and share your moments for us all to enjoy!