SuperSoulSunday’s conversation today explores  ‘happiness’ with Oprah and Shawn Achor discussing the secrets of happy people. Are you a glass half full or glass have empty personality? Shawn Achor says that is not the question to be asked… Instead, we should embrace a new more optimistic approach: look at life as a pitcher that we have the ability to fill in any way we want, and then choose to fill it with joy!

The show offers some tangible, attainable and practical means of finding your own happiness. I like Shawn Achor’s idea of sending one message a day to a friend, colleague, contact, praising them in some way. After 21 days, according to Achor, your social connections will feel more meaningful, deeper and resonant.  This sounds promising!

My idea is a more introspective approach. Simply ask yourself, what makes you happy? Then make a list. Your ‘happiness’ list should be filled with thoughts that are positive and uplifting – long term happiness isn’t attainable at the expense of someone else. So, what makes me happy? Here is my very short list, in no particular order!

1. ‘Simple’  makes me happy. Complex is good, complicated is not.

2. Relationships that hold me up and allow me, in turn, to do the same. Through some trials and tribulations (we have all had them!), I have come to fully realize that the quality of my life is increased greatly when I surround myself with people who want the best for me, and who accept the same positive uplifting friendship in return.

3. Doing my best. Yes this can be a difficult road sometimes, but the personal satisfaction I get from working hard at what is important to me – my relationships, my career – truly does make me happy. The resulting stronger connections enhance the quality of my life immeasurably. I believe I end up getting far more then I had given!

4. Soup (no surprise there!). Not only consuming it, but making it. Especially when I make it for my family and friends.

Sometimes life is far more difficult than a random email or even a bowl of soup made with heaps of love, can make better. That is for sure. But a moment of happiness in a dark day can be just the balm needed. A reminder that being happy is still possible and that our pitcher of joy can endlessly fill our glass. I believe my pitcher is really a big pot from which I can ladle endless bowls of soup.  The soup recipe for today’s Soup for SuperSoulSunday is a  delicious and easy soup to make – comfort food at its best!

Roasted Cauliflower & Parmesan Soup

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower (or 1 bag frozen although fresh is best)

Vegetable or chicken broth

1 onion, chopped

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Grated Parmesan Cheese (1 – 2 cups, depending on how much you LOVE parmesan)

1/4 cup of milk or cream

Salt & Pepper

How to Make It:

1. Break cauliflower into florets.

2. Put cauliflower onto baking sheet and drizzle olive oil on top.

3.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

4.  Roast in oven at 325 until tender. Approximately 15 – 20 minutes.

5. Pour enough olive oil into soup pot to cover bottom and add the onion.

6. Cook on medium until onion is translucent. Approximately 5 minutes.

7. Add roasted cauliflower and stir up.

8. Add enough broth to cover vegetables and simmer on medium until cauliflower is soft and easily breaks apart.

9. Add 1/4 cup of milk or cream and heat through.

10. Add more parmesan (as much as you would like!) and salt and pepper to taste.

11. Heat until the parmesan melts and then serve. If you like a creamier version, then you can blend the soup after it cools a bit.

ENJOY!