In our crazy lives, finding moments of peace and self-care can feel like a distant dream. Ellen Seigel's book, "Be Happy No Matter What: A Guide to Inner Freedom," is a timely and uplifting guide that promises to transform your approach to self-soothing and self-care. With a casual yet engaging tone, Ellen invites readers on a journey toward effective living, offering a refreshing perspective that resonates deeply with the ethos of Northwest Columbus City Lifestyle Magazine.
The book is structured around five steps to achieving inner peace including: Centering in My Self, Appreciating Me and My Life as a Work of Art, Hearing My Inner Wisdom, Honoring My Self, and Caring for My Self. These steps are not just theoretical—they are practical, actionable and designed for everyday use.
Through hymn-like chants and mantras, Ellen provides readers with tools to cultivate a crisis-free existence, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge as a pathway to self-mastery.
What sets "Be Happy No Matter What" apart from the crowded self-help space is her acute understanding of the human psyche. Ellen deftly explains how current upsets often echo unresolved issues from our past, and she offers compassionate, cognitive-behavioral strategies to address these deep-seated emotions. Her conversational style and immediate language make complex concepts accessible, ensuring that readers feel supported and energized throughout their journey.
The book with such a brave claim came together after years of sowing seeds of happiness within the author's own life. Originally hailing from the outskirts of Manhattan, the expansiveness of the region "no doubt has had a huge influence" on her work, Ellen admits.
“Over the years,” Ellen says about the book’s development, “I’d jot down [on index cards] thoughts that were meaningful or useful to me—to free me from negative thinking…”
But, unlike most of us, Ellen actually made something with all those cards: a book centered around “authentic liberation and the inner freedom of your true self.”
“The teaching content continues to expand," she says of the "Be Happy No Matter What" ethos. Her YouTube "Enlightening Conversations" are focused on various topics discussed such as anxiety, sadness, fear, narcissism, spirituality, parenting, relationships and communication." The list goes on, but it all falls under the self-care umbrella.
As we continuously look for ways to improve ourselves and increase our happiness (there never seems to be a shortage of material on self-realization), there is a new series of these kinds of conversations, soon to be produced by Ellen, that will provide an even deeper dive into the benefits of self-realizations on daily life.
Along with all of the "Be Happy No Matter What" material, Ellen also has plans for expanding this care to kids with an upcoming children’s book. “A children’s book which I’m doing with my dear friend and colleague, Chris Soto,” Ellen states, “and then we’ve got the elementary school and teen versions [with parent guides] to follow.”
Clearly this local author has her plate full for the new year, but Ellen is quick to chat with anyone who needs a kind word or positive outlook. And if you’re too busy for that, Ellen offers daily contemplative thoughts for free with an email sign-up on her website, behappynomatterwhat.com. She also has in office in Worthington for clients who want to meet face to face.
Her podcast, YouTube content and newsletter are all free and ready to help you through whatever stressor you might be dealing with.
PS. Ellen will be presenting at the Empower Her conference at the Crowne Plaza on March 13—an event you don't want to miss.