What Does It Take to Be Happy?

Recently I watched a documentary called 'Happy' which was really interesting. And as you may know, happiness is definitely way up there in my areas of interest!

This movie shared the latest research on what and how people become happy and which of those particular people in particular circumstances were happiest.

Being a coach of some twelve (12) years now, the results did not startle me but they did just affirm what I believe to be true from what I've personally seen over the past many years not just in Coaching with clients, but with people I've met from across two countries who come from varying socio economic backgrounds.

Inevitably the results proved that people who had the least financial and material wealth were the happiest, but bearing in mind that the prerequisite to this was that they had strong connections in one way and/or another, wether that be as a result of family, extended family and/or strong connections within the community.

In terms of those people who seemed to 'have it all', the old tale rings true of the more you earn the more you spend and in this case, the more they attained to make them happy, then the more they then needed to make them happier once again.

Certainly those that were happiest had a clear appreciation and gratitude for what they had in their lives and took joy from those everyday events and experiences. As an example these might be such things as: looking forward to seeing their children waiting for them when they arrived home from work; gathering with other community members each day; or looking forward to and spending regular time with their extended families. Whilst this research tells us many things, it seeks to remind us that even in the most trying and impoverished circumstances people can find happiness.

So sometimes being unhappy is like becoming immune to the violence that we see on TV each day. The more you watch violence, often the more oblivious and desensitised you can become to this, sometimes reaching that point when you don't even notice those moments much within a movie anymore. So what does this mean? Well the violence is still there, but we don't notice it... and the things to be happy for in our lives are still there, but we don't notice them anymore.

And what about happiness through acquiring possessions? We can often buy new things, wants and haves for ourselves which can become so routine that we forget how lucky and fortunate we are to even be able to buy these things in our lives. Don't get me wrong, for those who can afford to buy those many luxuries in life you've probably worked hard to be in that position, but it may also be true that compared to our country men and women from other countries, we may have had what is considered to be a dream start to life. Perspective is all I'm saying and asking you to consider these things and have an awareness of these things when you're feeling at your lowest or feeling like things are all going wrong all the time. Because in reality things are probably just going wrong right now for you. And that's a long long way from 'going wrong all the time'.

I often think that happiness in life is about perspective and in fact perspective is in most instances that one key thing that people forget to remember when things are not going so great. Or have the perspective to remember that whilst other things around you might be crumbling, you still have a roof over your head and food on the table. This is about putting yourself in the shoes of other people and realising that things indeed could be worse! Now don't ponder that thought too long however, just take away from it that things could be worse and they aren't! You've all heard about or seen the situations where people have to work in extreme conditions and many children who should be at school have to work to survive. Is this not perspective enough to make us consider that happiness begins at home, with everyday things and not in a state of constantly longing for that which we don't yet have? And in fact it is in your power and ability to begin appreciating what you do have right now. And is it not inspiring to learn that if you begin doing this today, you will draw towards you more of those same great experiences?

We have much to be happy for in our everyday lives and certainly in the world that most of us live in. It does not matter what your situation, I'm sure you can find something to be grateful or happy for even if only momentarily. In fact one of the easiest ways to begin generating more happiness in your life is to start watching something funny each day. This is particularly useful if you feel you really can't find anything in your life to be happy about. Just by watching funny videos or reading funny jokes, you will increase the happiness you feel in your mind and body each day and you may be surprised at how much this opens you up to more happy experiences in the world around you as your week progresses. If you leave your home smiling, I guarantee you that someone is going to see your own smile and smile too and you've just started an entire domino effect in your town or city for sharing a smile. It's like a ripple effect and who knows how many people that one smile of yours is going to affect the world around you today.

You just might be on the receiving end of one of those smiling ripple effects today yourself that someone else started! So smile, think of something to be happy for or make up a movie or picture in your mind of something that would make you extremely happy.

Now the research from the documentary, Happy, showed that the influence of various aspects of happiness for individuals can be broken down into these three (3) components:

• 50% can be attributed to the genetics of happiness
• 10% attributed to material wealth and a
• Whopping 40% can be attributed to individual choices we make

There was a caption I read some time ago that made me pause and think and it was:

"I cried because I had no shoes... but then I met a man who had no feet"

So I ask you, what will you choose to spend your 40% of choice thinking about or doing today that will contribute to greater happiness for you tomorrow..

For some super Professional Personal & Mind Development Tools as well as Top Tips for Living Life, come and visit us at http://www.thesexybastardseries.com. See you there!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justine_Antoinette

How to Be Happy By Following Dream Therapy

A realistic happiness is a possible and achievable happiness based on positive life conditions. A realistic happiness in a crazy world is based on the elimination of illusions and lies.

You cannot be happy without organizing your life based on wisdom. You also have to correct the mistakes of the world, besides organizing your personal life. Organization is indispensable in all matters.

When you learn how to translate the meaning of your dreams according to the scientific method of dream interpretation you understand the unconscious guidance. The unconscious mind is in fact God's mind. God is as wise and saintly as described by all religions of the world. This means that you can trust the information you have in dreams. The divine unconscious mind shows you the truth.

Many times you won't be able to understand the truth from the beginning, but you can trust the divine guidance. The unconscious mind helps you solve your psychological problems and stop making mistakes. Your dreams help you have another image of your reality. You understand the real intentions of those who are around you. You understand how to organize your behavior and your life.

You also understand your own absurd tendencies, and why you make mistakes. After understanding your mistakes and changing your behavior, you stop believing in illusions. You are able to read people's minds, predict the future, and clearly understand hidden conspiracies against you or other attempts to mislead you in case you are in such position.

The divine unconscious mind helps you find happiness after eliminating what is negative from your brain and psyche, and from your life. Your happiness is based on the development of your human conscience. You follow the positive destiny traced for you because you fight the absurdity you have inherited. You learn how to become a wise and sensitive human being.

At this point, you understand the real meaning of many important details in your life. You are able to understand when other people are controlled by their anti-conscience and you know how to protect yourself from their absurdity.

You don't believe in false words. You are able to see what exists behind the camouflage of hypocrisy and falsity.

You are also able to find real friends and identify people you can trust. The divine unconscious mind also helps you find your perfect match, while helping you transform your personality. You learn how to find the right person for you based on the characteristics of your human conscience, and not based on the absurd desires of your anti-conscience.

This is why dream therapy is a process of psychological transformation that helps you find your soul mate.

Many people cannot believe that there is a special person who is the ideal one for them. However, Carl Jung already proved to the world many years ago that everyone can find their perfect match when they follow the guidance of the unconscious mind in their dreams.

Your perfect match is not an illusion. You can find your perfect match, even if you are not young. This is a realistic and proven truth. After transforming your personality you will be able to understand how to find the right person for you in your daily life.

An illusion is to believe that you can be happy if you'll have many different partners and you'll be desired by many. Only your perfect match can help you find the happiness you desire. This happiness is based on real love and this is why it lasts forever.

When you translate the meaning of your dreams you can understand what is good or bad. You are able to understand what is essential and how to always act with wisdom.

You have informative dreams that show you the psychological condition of those who are around you, especially if they are mentally ill. The unconscious mind gives you clear information about other people, the same way you have information about your own psychological problems and about the person you love in your dreams.

The unconscious generosity couldn't be recognized by the materialistic and atheistic world because nobody could understand the meaning of the symbolic dream language, besides a few civilizations in the entire history of humanity. Carl Jung was a genius who managed to discover the symbolic meaning of the dream images and the psychotherapy of the unconscious mind.

He understood that the unconscious mind was God's mind, but he didn't understand his real position as a sinner, and the real dimension of his discovery. My work completes Jung's work, showing to the world the real importance of God's existence and the importance of the fact that God sends us messages in dreams.

Now that I could simplify the complicated method of dream interpretation discovered by Carl Jung everyone can easily understand God's words in their dreams. This is a surprising advantage that is changing the tragic destiny of humanity.

The divine wisdom can helps us eliminate what is negative from our brain, our psyche, our lives, and our world.

This means that by following the divine guidance in your dreams you learn how to eliminate what is bad and become a superior person. You gradually become a better person as you eliminate your wild tendencies and you become a sensitive, calm, patient, humble, friendly, and generous human being.

Your happiness is based on your transformation into a perfect human being who understands the real meaning of life, who pays attention to all details, and who is able to understand what is really essential without wasting time with what is superficial.

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung's research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to exactly translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.
Learn more at: http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com

Click Here to download a Free Sample of the eBook Dream Interpretation as a Science (86 pages!).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Sponias

Do This, Be Happy

Being happy is good for our health and our business. Since my work life is equally divided between health and business coaching, I recognize in people the correlation between the state of their minds and their success in their bodies and with their businesses. Hence my writing about happiness in both arenas.

1. When you hear someone describe something about herself in an arena in which you have no personal desire, but it makes her happy, jump on her happy train and be happy for her. Let's say that someone lost twenty pounds and was thrilled. Even if you don't personally need or want to lose any weight, you can experience someone's happiness by proxy. Imagine that someone else's happiness is contagious. By feeling her happiness, you can experience more for yourself.


2. When you hear someone describe something about himself that matches a desire that you have, even if that person achieved one of your dreams, be happy knowing that what you want is an achievable desire. Let's say that you know someone who achieved a new rank in her network marketing business. Let's say that you want to be able to achieve that same rank. That someone was able to manifest this rank level puts it in the air as something that can actually occur. It would be smart of you to celebrate this person's happiness because her accomplishment makes yours more real. "Rank advancement happens". Manage any jealousy or negative self-talk. Switch your focus to thoughts and feelings that get you in touch with your dream to be able to advance. Be happy knowing that this is now more possible for you.


3. If something happens and you are not pleased with it, take a few moments to ask yourself what is perfect about this. Recently my husband and I were going to go to Chicago, and then we did not go. I was very disappointed. I asked myself what was perfect about this. I discovered that by staying in town I was able to go water skiing twice, have a fantastic evening with some friends who came over for dinner, and help some other friends move. I was so pleased with this discovery! When you do this, you can always come back to (fill in the blank) disappointment, anger, sadness... But you might feel better and choose to remain happy.

For more information and to receive any of Rosie Bank's special reports and her free newsletters, please visit http://www.rosiebank.com. To have Rosie speak to a group of entrepreneurs, college students, network marketers, and business owners, you can contact her at rosie@manifestingvision.com
If you are seeking reliable leadership and a strong network marketing organization, feel free to contact Rosie directly, 650-573-7177
Rosie is the author of six books on health and business. Visit http://www.rosiebank.com/store

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosie_Bank

How To Be Happy And Go With The Flow

Everybody wants to be happy. It is easy to become happy, all you have to do is change your name to Happy. Then you are happy. Let's face it, who wants to be known as sad?

Happiness Defined
Happiness is what? A state where bubbles of blissful endorphins fill the air and uplift you so that you feel you are walking on clouds.
This will leave you feeling spontaneous, positive, outgoing, optimistic, forgiving, and friendly--one might say, intoxicated.
What a party! Nobody is screaming, "Stop the world! I want to get off!"
When you feel happy, you just seem to go with the flow. Is this not true?
However, states of happiness experienced by most people are not continuous, unbroken experiences of the now. Most of us, if not all--as there is always the exception--experience different mood swings each day, which range from intense to relaxed. We can experience intense joy and then relaxing euphoria, or intense frustration followed by relaxing relief.

The Definition of Happy
Happy is a difficult term to define for most of us, although, you know happiness has been defined above and this speaks of the sublime, something more heavenly and other-worldly that transcends the normal experience of an Earthling.
One author has said that you are happy when you are optimistically making friends, forgiving the insolent, helping the sick, sad and lonely, and doing whatever you can to make your world a better place to live. I cannot remember who that author was, so maybe I am just making it up, or recalling a dream.

Joy Defined
Christian Sunday school teachers teach little children that JOY means Jesus first, others second and yourself last and this is how you experience a life of happiness. Although it is difficult to think of JOY, when as a child, you are feeling despondent and alone, because other children are calling you names and ostracizing you. Most children know reality is not fantasy, even if deluded adults try to tell them otherwise. So, if children have difficulty being happy, how can you be happy and go with the flow?

The Secret
You might not believe this, but I have found the secret to a form of happiness that enables me to go with the flow and enjoy the now, as well as let me smell the intoxicating fragrance of each flower.
First you need to acknowledge these five facts:

1. Life on this Earth is futile if we are born merely to die.
2. There is no justice in this world if we are born to suffer.
3. There is no love in this world, merely a knowledge of its existence.
4. You have not got the power over death.
5. You need the answer to why you exist.

That intoxicating state I described earlier, I have literally experienced for long periods, without the aid of pharmaceuticals or illegal hallucinogens. Whenever I am not experiencing the euphoric levels of happiness, I experience an inner sensation of joy that feels like a sausage-shaped balloon inside my body rising from the region of my waist's belly button into my chest. I discovered that this sensation had erupted within my being, when I woke, the morning after the night before, when I humbled myself and challenged God to prove Himself to me.

The night I challenged God, I spoke to Him and presented my reasons why I needed answers to my questions above. Probably, because I was genuine, that is, very earnest and meant what I said--as nothing else mattered, at the time--I received the joy of salvation that is promised in the Bible.
You too can be happy and go with the flow--using discretion, of course--if you are genuine, earnest, and want to know the truth about your existence and purpose in life, because nothing else matters. Then you can enjoy the now; it just never ends.

If you want to learn more about what everybody really desires deep down, and needs to know, if you truly want to be happy, you might like to visit http://www.tencommandmentstoday.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Happy_Riches

What Does it Mean to Be Happy?

What is happiness?  What will it take to make you happy?  People all over the world look for what it takes to make them happy in their lives, but it seems like a great many people never quite "find it."
Its my opinion that this is part of the problem.  Happiness isn't something that's found.  Happiness isn't something that finds you either.  If it is something that can be found then where it can be found might surprise you.

It's in your mind.  that's right, it can be found within the depths of your own mind.  It's a choice that you make everyday.  When you look around at your life, you make a decision about it.  You decide to be happy with it or you don't.

You can choose to look around at all the small annoyances that you that you face and decide that you because of those, you're not going to be happy.  A little secret about those little annoyances is that they're always going to be there.  No matter what you do for a living , or where you live, or how much money you have, if you choose to focus your energy on these things, you'll likely never find lasting happiness.

However on the flip side if you come to the understanding that there are always going to be those little annoyances, you'll have taken a huge first step toward becoming a happy person.  The good thing about this is that you'll find that once you start focusing on the things in your life that make you happy, those small annoyances will become much less influential on your mind and therefore your happiness.  You'll find yourself paying more attention to the things that make you happy as opposed to the things that don't, and that will make a big difference in your life.

Justin Bott is a successful entrepreneur operating an internet marketing business. He is well versed in this field and has a keen desire to become more successful and to help others become successful as well. As someone who's searched his entire life for success, he's studied many different programs and philosophies and brought them together to create a sustainable home-based business. Go to [http://www.profitlancecompanion.com] to find out how he got started.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Bott

Can You Be Happy in a Loveless Marriage?

On an almost daily basis, I have people who contact me and ask for advice on handling or coping with their "loveless marriage." Sometimes they are describing a relationship where the spark, connection, affection, and chemistry is gone. And other times, they mean that they and their spouse are no longer having sex. Whatever the actual living arrangements, they are usually reaching out because they know that there is a serious flaw in their marriage and they want to find a way to be with happy within in.

Most of the time, they don't see divorce as an option perhaps because of their children or because they believe that this commitment should be forever. I often hear comments like "We'll never get divorced so how can I learn to be happy in my loveless marriage?" Or, "how can I survive and keep my sanity in a marriage without love?" In the following article, I'll explore whether it's possible to truly be happy when you're living in a loveless marriage.

Finding Happiness In A Loveless Marriage. Is It Possible? Before I get to this specific question, I want to offer some reassurance that this is an incredibly common situation. Often, when people tell me that they're living in a marriage which they don't see as loving, it's as if they confessing something truly strange, and they're almost ashamed of it. I have to tell you though that I'm seeing this situation with much more frequency. Perhaps it's because of our economy or other external factors, but this situation is not one that is at all uncommon. So, if you're feeling guilt or shame, you can rest assured that you're most definitely not alone.

Another issue that I've noticed is that most people who contact me about this issue have given up hope that their marriage can or will change. Many of them see the lack of love as something that is going to be permanent. They usually aren't looking for a way to change the marriage into a loving one (at least at first.) Instead, they're looking for a way to be happy or to cope in spite of it. I find this to be somewhat frustrating because I've seen even marriages which appeared to be completely devoid of affection turn around.

But back to question of whether it's possible to be happy in this situation. I think that it's possible to be happy in other areas of your life. For example, you can be happy because of your children or your career or your friends. You can be happy with yourself. You can have a very rich internal and even external life so long as you are able to separate all of these things from your marriage.

And that's really where the problem lies. When you are in this situation, your ability to be happy almost lies within your ability to simultaneously separate your life from your marriage. This is not to say that it can't be done because I've seen people who are able to do this. They basically have come to accept their marriage for what it is and they live around it. And some of them even appear to be content.

But I'm always left wondering what would happen and what their life and contentment level would look like if they were able to find some love or loving feelings within their marriage again. I suspect life would go from firing on half cylinders to full cylinders and this would feel quite different to all involved.
I truly believe that you don't need to be in a romantic relationship to be happy. In other words, I certainly don't believe that a woman always needs a man to be complete or to feel fulfilled. But, when you are already in a relationship and are accepting that this relationship will never be a loving or fulfilling one, then I suspect that you might be selling yourself short.

Sure, you can learn to separate your satisfaction in other areas of your life from your marriage and in this case you could function just fine and even feel happiness and satisfaction. But the joy that comes from loving and feeling loved would be absent and I suspect that this absence would be certainly be felt.
Does this mean you can't be happy? Absolutely not. It just means that you have to learn to be happy without this particular aspect of your life present, which could potentially mean that although you don't reach your entire capacity for happiness, you generally feel happy enough.

What Are Your Options When You're Living In A Loveless Marriage?: Sometimes when I discuss this topic with folks, they tell me that they don't feel as if they really have any choices. For a variety of reasons, they aren't going to walk away from their marriage or from their spouse. Mostly, I don't think that they feel that their problems are severe enough to walk away. Many tell me that their spouse is a good person with whom that get along but whom they just aren't "in love with."
So, the options would appear to be to leave the relationship in search of a better one. (And as I said this usually is seen as the last resort. I can certainly respect this because I too believe that in many cases, marriage should be forever.) The second option would be to learn to live around the marriage as best as you can and to seek happiness in other areas of your life. And some people have become quite good at this.

The third option would be try to improve the marriage so that you no longer have to try to mesh a loveless marriage with your own happiness. I am generally surprised that more people don't pursue this option. I firmly believe and have experienced marriages which had been "loveless" for years make dramatic and satisfying come backs. And I'll often suggest that this is certainly worth a try. What do you have to lose if the marriage is already one that is lacking in love? I would suspect that the possibility of being happy in all areas of your life would make this an option worth pursuing.

It was my husband, not me, who felt that our marriage was "loveless," so he threatened to end it. I knew that it wasn't over for me and I refused to give up. I felt very strongly that we could be happy again. But, for a long time I drew on negative emotions rather than positive ones. This seriously backfired. Thankfully, I realized my tactics were not working and changed course. Eventually, I was able to not only restore my husband's love, but to change the dynamics of our marriage. You can read a very personal story on my blog at http://isavedmymarriage.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leslie_Cane

It's Never Too Late To Be Happy - But It's All Up To You and No One Else

Chris came into my office with a dejected look on his face. He was in his sixties and had been a successful business man for many years in our community. He retired at the age of 62 being financial set for the rest of his life.

"How is the family?" I asked as I watched his demeanor closely for clues as to what was going on. Chris and I had been friends for many years and I had never seen him in this mood or with the visage he portrayed that day.

"The wife is fine, busy with all her social engagements," said Chris. "The three kids have their lives busy with the grand kids and their jobs. We get together often and have a real good time. I just don't feel happy, Dr. Bob.

"I've been coming to your coaching sessions for many years and you and I have been friends for all that time. The other day I realized I am growing older. I just don't seem to feel as happy as you say we can be. What's going on with me?"

"It's never too late to be happy," I offered.
It can be too late for some things in life.
• Too late to start an athletic career.
• Too late to start a retirement fund.
• Too late to learn to be a concert pianist.
• Too late, with developing physical impairments, to climb Mt. Everest.
• Too late to take a supersonic plane ride because your heart could not stand the g-forces.
But it is never too late to be happy because being happy does not require any physical exertion nor any particular state of physiological ability. Happiness is acquired simply by being in a particular frame of mind and spirit.

"Chris," I said, "you are not too old or anything else to find happiness. You already know that material things and other people cannot bring you happiness. You have a vibrant family and are well situated financially. Still unhappy, though. So you know that angle well. I suspect you have not yet made a significant association with The All There Is, or as we say a lot around here, Tathis."

"But I have attend here for decades," Chris said in a manner that led me to believe he was affronted by my suggestion. "I know most everything you have taught by heart."

"Hold on, Chris, I did not mean to imply anything negative about your relationship with Tathis. But you have declared yourself unhappy and I find that folks who are unhappy do not have a dominant affinity with Tathis."
Chris seemed to calm down at those words. I suggested a guided meditation at that moment. Chris agreed, although I sensed it was somewhat reluctantly.

I led us to the mountain lake experience wherein Chris was to throw all his cares, negativities, concerns, challenges, problems, positivities, joys, fun, laughter, into that tranquil lake. We took in the beauty in sight and smell of the land surrounding the lake. Then, in our minds, just sat and relaxed, calling upon Tathis to make Its presence known in us.
I brought us back into the office where we were seated. "How do you feel now, Chris?"

"Well, I never have had such a close encounter with Tathis as I just experienced. I don't know what was different about it, but I felt closer and with a greater bond than I have ever felt before. Something definitely changed within me."

We talked some more and made two additional appointments to work further together. Over those three coaching sessions Chris came to break through his unhappiness and, especially in the second session, develop a real affinity for Tathis. He felt Tathis' kinship towards him expand as well.
Of course, Tathis' kinship is always active and strong toward you. Your receptivity to this door of happiness may not be as open as you had thought.

It is never too late to find happiness - no matter any other circumstances in your life, including your impending death. As long as you are conscious and aware you can make linkage with Tathis and find yourself happier and happier. Get to it.

I invite you to be Happier In Five Minutes http://www.createspace.com/3724772 and for the Rest of Your Life This book will give a great start on being happy. Buy it now.
Kindle Version: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TVBI36

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Robert_Henry_Schwenk

100 Reasons to Be Happy!

This is an "antidote for complaint, worry, and for those who are depressed." It is not a foolproof or perfect answer by any means, but it works at least to some extent on everyone. It's the art of being grateful and the exercise is simply one of creating a list of one hundred (100) things we're grateful for.
My present gratitude list goes like this:

1. I have the most beautiful and gorgeous wife in the world.
2. My three daughters are healthy and happy.
3. My children are growing and developing so well.
4. My parents are still alive, and my brothers too.
5. My parents-in-law and my wife's family love me and I love them.
6. Overall, I have a wonderful family.
7. The house I live in has modern facilities and keeps me sheltered from the weather.
8. My wife likes spending time with me and I like spending time with her.
9. I know Jesus Christ.
10. I have hopes to have more children.
11. I am free to worship God in any way I wish to.
12. I can walk.
13. I can talk.
14. I can read and write.
15. I can think and have thoughts and time with myself.
16. My five senses work well still, unaided (presently).
17. I can see, not only through my eyes, but also through the eyes of my heart.
18. I live in relative luxury, in freedom, and in a just society.
19. I have two days off per week most weeks.
20. My employer is wonderful.
21. The job I have is both stimulating and varied, and I'm valued for my work.
22. I have good managers and co-workers.
23. I attend a church where people love me and I'm allowed to love them.
24. I have the time to write.
25. I can drive a car... I own a car.
26. I have many great tools that help me live my life.
27. My personal library is bliss; every book hand picked.
28. We have not one, but two computers in my family.
29. I have both the inclination and ability to plan ahead in my life.
30. We have access to seemingly unlimited electricity, water and food, and other resources.
31. I really don't mind washing dishes anymore; in fact, I love doing them!
32. I love Proverbs, Psalms, Ephesians and Ecclesiastes... actually, I love the whole Bible.
33. I can talk sensibly and sensitively to my teenage daughters (most of the time).
34. One day rolls into the next for me; Wednesday's are just as important as Sunday's.
35. I have been blessed to have the second chance at tertiary education.
36. Trade qualifications, knowledge and skill have always been handy.
37. I see my parents at least each fortnight and have a great relationship with them.
38. I've got three beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews.
39. I have a sense of humour (most of the time).
40. Even when things don't go my way, I usually see the good things out of it.
41. I have a wonderful view outside of my office window of a serene operational harbour.
42. I'm living in the present; at the very cusp of time. I'm not dead yet.
43. The part of the earth I live in is such an inhabitable place climate-wise (most of the time).
44. I have the ability and the inclination to love--people and living things and my experiences.
45. I have a telephone so I can talk to people a long way away.
46. I have pictures of my lovely family I can look at; at home, at work, in my wallet.
47. I get to meet interesting people almost every day.
48. Living near the beach--there's nothing quite like the white noise of the surf.
49. There is clean water available for me to drink right now.
50. There is a plant I am responsible for and it hasn't died yet!
51. I have fish oil tablets and other vitamins to complement my diet.
52. I have the powers of self-control most of the time and the drive to improve.
53. I'm a member of a gymnasium.
54. The academic qualifications I have and study I've done have helped form my character so I become the person I've always wanted to be.
55. I can make a unique contribution.
56. I have a positive self-image and I'm thankful I've worked on it.
57. There is work I can do to keep me stimulated.
58. I can feel pain; most of the time this is good for pain is generally a healthy sign.
59. I have a watch, it looks good and suits my style, and I can tell time.
60. I have over three (and nearly four) decades of memories of living; the good, the bad, and the ugly.
61. Being in a western-most place means the sun sets on the horizon with the water in the foreground--that's pretty special!
62. There are plans that I'm making and have made--therein lies hope.
63. I've met some famous people and high-achievers and been inspired.
64. Coffee. I love it, and I can drink great coffee every day if I want to.
65. I earn money enough to give some away to those less fortunate.
66. Music. I really appreciate it. (And I think I have good taste--I'm allowed to say that.)
67. Enthusiasm and zeal for life and learning; I have it most of the time. I'm still excitable.
68. I have suffered loss and have survived it--it's actually made me a better person!
69. People honour me at times when they come to me for help.
70. To have achieved forty years of age... the best is yet to come.
71. I live in times of (relative) peace.
72. I have a passion for cricket and Australian football and follow both ardently.
73. This time I live in is dynamic; excitement abounds.
74. I love pizza, seafood and ice cream plus many other good foods.
75. I see miracles occur most days. Most people would call these things 'normal.'
76. I can rest and take time out to smell the flowers almost whenever I want.
77. Words and their meanings excite me. Language and communication are art.
78. Freedom of choice is something I appreciate and try not to take for granted.
79. I've overcome dependency on substances, for instance, cigarettes.
80. 'Creativity of thought' is a gift I'm appreciative of.
81. I can travel in a modern train any day I want and see the sights.
82. There is a reliable public transport system in the place I live; I feel blessed almost every time I use it.
83. A wife's or daughter's smile... what more could I say.
84. My 'encouragement file' is growing; people encourage me almost every day.
85. Mentors who've invested their time and effort in me--I'll be eternally grateful.
86. Reminds me of Maxwell Smart. I can watch television because I have one.
87. Mathematics. The sense of numbers makes sense to me.
88. The desire to keep growing throughout my life pleases me.
89. Wisdom. I see it in others and others at times see it in me. I love its truth.
90. My family's safety thus far; I try not to take it for granted.
91. I get ongoing education through courses, seminars, conferences and workshops.
92. Science. I marvel at it. It's got be intelligent design.
93. My heart is saddened by some things I see--I'm glad about that.
94. Health. My overall health, whilst not perfect, pleases me.
95. Movies and dates: I can date my wife, and love watching movies with her.
96. The range of shopping centres at my disposal is amazing.
97. I get to be "me" for all of my life. Now that's not bad.
98. I can wear whatever clothes I own; I can also dress myself.
99. One day I might be blessed enough to have grandchildren and perhaps great-grandchildren.
100. I might make it to 100 years of age by God's grace. I'm "not out" so far.
Even though we can't all subscribe to every item on this particular list of mine, it illustrates the important point that each of us has specific and very detailed reasons to be extremely thankful. Where you perhaps cannot list certain items I have, I am sure you might have items I could not list.
There really is no limit to this list when we think about it.
Copyright (c) 2008, S. J. Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). His blogs are at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com/ and http://inspiringbetterlife.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham

Every Feline Needs a Cat Scratching Post to Be Happy

A Happy Cat Is a Healthy Cat
A cat scratching post is so essential for your cat's health it must be thought of as a major requirement, if you decide to get your cat a scratching post when it is still a kitten it will really get familiar with it and you should have no challenge getting her to use it. If your cat is more senior and you haven't bought one yet you might have already spotted your feline scratching your furniture, in cases like this it is more challenging to have your feline adopt the scratching post, however it can be done with insistence a little persistence and maybe a few treats!

So Why Do Felines Scratch?
A top point to understand is your cat will scratch things no matter how hard you try to stop them, simply because it's within their instincts and they wouldn't be able to stop the urge to conduct it if they tried. They will end up using your woodwork as needed so it's advisable to use the cat scratching post as a deterrent to your furniture. There are several reasons felines scratch therefore we should try to understand that it's a good thing to them providing many benefits such as:

• Marking his or her territory - cats paws have scent glands in them so whenever they claw at stuff they are actually leaving his or her scent behind, this is often to allow other felines to discover other cats who live there.


• Maintaining their claws - as your cat scratches its claws on something hard the surface cover of the claw gets taken off to reveal new improved, healthier claws. Additionally it gets rid of every waste particle snagged in them.


• Exercise - A feline applies a great deal of energy using lots of muscles when clawing and invests a large amount of focus into this act, if you observe your cat clawing you should see her flexing and stretching showing she is getting an immense workout, meaning your feline will keep limber.


• Communication with other felines - as with marking territory using scent, scratching serves as a good visible gauge another cat is in that particular area. It's not definitely clear why felines do this, however it could well be because around mating time it would assist in coming across a mate simply by pursuing claw marks in timber.

If your precious cat doesn't have a cat scratching post or a cat activity centre it without a doubt will use up its desire on your best piece of furniture, it can be so disheartening for you and will end up with you experiencing bitterness towards your precious feline.
Without being free to claw at one particular thing your precious feline won't receive the full workout it must have and may even develop atrophied muscles, this affliction can prevent your cat from being agile and lack the reflexes a cat ought to have.

A Cat Scratching Post to Help With Relaxing
The cat scratching post should allow your precious cat to wind down, when they scratch it your precious feline may feel content and sleep a lot better at night time, you could get a cat activity centre so it has somewhere to scratch and sleep.
Not being able to effectively clear its claws of waste material your feline might receive an infection or lose the use of its claws which will be detrimental to your cats wellbeing and happiness.
Your felines overall happiness will substantially enhance, it will live an extended much more happy life, she should be a lot more laid back and admire you more due to the fact of this.

You can find some more great related content at http://www.catscratchingpost.me.uk or check out http://www.squidoo.com/5-reasons-to-get-your-cat-a-scratching-post. And remember a happy cat is a healthy cat!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradley_M_Griffin

Try To Be Happy

Dreams may frighten us, but they're nothing to be scared of.

Imaginations can be trampling wildebeest. As children we get carried away, yet as adults are we not still children? Some things never change. Our imaginations are limitless, and we, by our fear, try to limit them. But we cannot. They will still trample us. But if we were open we would just be captivated.

No dreams are especially bad, although they are really about uniting us with ourselves and reconciling everything within us under one symphonic umbrella of Divinity.

They say there is no such thing as a mistake, and from the longer term viewpoint this has to be correct. We judge ourselves too harshly. We sweat over the small stuff. And just about everything is exactly that - very insignificant, in the tune of eternity.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE
Whatever we hate about ourselves - whatever we despise or that which reviles us about our very being - is not as bad as it seems.

We should find a pleasant and gentle peace about those things we hate: the protruding gut; the double chin; the nervous stammer; the violent thought; the fact we trip over our own feet; our fears of the impossible; our belief in the possible.

All these fears and so many more are an inflection against the personality that can merely be accepted. There is so much energy involved in rejection, yet a gentle breeze blows through every period of acceptance.
Acceptance is liberating.

Resistance is more useless than we realise. We may prove things to ourselves in the short term, but in the longer term our wisdom is fractured. A better wisdom involves a godly unity, where resistance is defeated for a pleasant presence that negates nothing and subsumes all in its path.

DREAM AND LET DREAM
Our conscious and unconscious dreams and visions are the architecture of the mind that destines us toward a certain direction. We may feel controlled. But we only feel controlled when we feel out of control.

It is better by far to accept these dreams and visions and thoughts and feelings. As we learn to work with what is, we learn to dream and let dream.

Why do we fear these dreams when it is our mind's escape; a reconciliation of mental and emotional effort?
When we can dream and let dream, and make only effort to accept the vast acceptable, we have the mode of happiness at our fingertips.
***
To try and be happy is not a complex task. The simpler we make it, the better. We imagine the elderly woman from her deathbed, urging her grown children and her grandchildren to "try and be happy." Her words have power; they are wise words.


© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham

How to Be Happy Regardless of Your Circumstances

Did you know that happiness comes in 'threes?'
When we think our life is on a downward slope we often regard ourselves as a victim of it. We act as if happiness is somewhere out there, and react as if we are at the mercy of our circumstances. With this perspective we experience one rough spot after another. Some of us manage to deflect despair by employing the old belief that things come in "threes." Our solution is that if we can maneuver through the succession of mishaps, our luck is sure to turn around.

There is little truth to this superstition. However there may be some value in the theory of 'threes' that can be applied to durable happiness and help us to be more than merely a victim of our circumstances.
There are three facets to happiness:

1. The Pleasurable Life
Happiness and positive emotion derived from material things and conveniences.
Although these types of pleasures are enjoyable, alone they offer a sense of fulfillment that is often fleeting, leaving us wanting more.

2. The Good Life
Happiness generated by a sense of engagement, passion, and flow inspiring us to work hard for a particular cause that leads us to deep satisfaction from a hard-earned goal. This was the motivation for the contributions made by Edison, Einstein, Salk, astronauts and mountain climbers.

3. The Meaningful Life
Happiness built upon positive core values and a sense of purpose that supports the common good and where joy is accessible regardless of circumstances. Examples of this facet of happiness include Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.

Durable happiness is ours when we balance these facets.
The keys that assist us in creating this balance come in another set of 'threes':

1. Choice
The first key is to know that we are not victims of life and can choose where we place our focus. We may not always be able control our circumstances, but we always have control over how we view them.

2. Accountability
The second key is to be accountable by having our words, actions and intentions match. This means that we must get clear about our own definition for success, our own values, and our own self-worth before we balance them with the expectations of others.

3. Response - ability
The third key is one's ability to respond rather than react to life's challenges. It is our responsibility to develop compassion, patience, forgiveness, and acceptance to live a more meaningful life.

Simple reminders come in 'threes' to help us apply what we have discovered about authentic happiness:

 1. Focus on what's working in your life rather than what is not, empowered by knowing you have a choice.

2. Make it a point to love yourself as much as you love others, knowing that to be authentic you cannot give from an empty cup. Use gratitude as your antidote for worry as you count your blessings often, trusting that love is the answer to every question.

3. Life is not by luck or by chance, you are not a victim of your circumstances and the best things in life aren't things. Happiness is yours not only when you reach a specific destination or goal. It is durable through a three-fold journey of pleasure, flow, and meaning. The choice is yours to savor it every step of the way.
And, remember, third time's the charm.

Rhonda Hull, Ph.D., an innovative mentor, speaker and author of Drive Yourself Happy: A Motor-vational Maintenance Manual for Maneuvering Through Life, nudges willing women to transform their relationships with health, worth, wealth, success and happiness, showing it is possible, even in this crazy world. Visit

Rhonda at: http://www.driveyourselfhappy.com, http://www.centerofhappiness.com, email: info@driveyourselfhappy.com

Copyright 2012, all rights reserved
Reprint permission is granted to publish this article electronically or in print if the contact information signature box is included in publication.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Hull

7 Tips to Be Happy At Work

Let's face it, it seems like most of the population gets up every morning and prepares themselves for a job they don't enjoy. There are very few people that can say they love what they do, so what about the rest? Believe it or not there are 7 little tips that can help you be happier at work.

Start each day with a positive attitude
Despite what happened yesterday or the day before that, walk into work with a positive attitude. Realize that each day can be a day filled with new opportunities and chances to learn if you are open to them. Not only will your co-workers see the difference in you, your boss might as well. Changing the way they interact with you and you with them.

Take a break
Spending 8-10 hours a day at work can make anyone unhappy. Reward your hard work by stepping away from your desk at lunch time if possible. It will give you the much needed time to unwind and return refreshed for the remaining work day. Consider a walk around the block if it is nice outside.

Eat Healthy
It is a known fact the certain food and drink such as herbal teas, walnuts or a bowl of oatmeal in the morning can help boost your mood. Instead of reaching for a chocolate bar or a bag of chips for your afternoon snack, try and come prepared with a healthy snack.

Find co-workers with common interests
Sometimes the small things can bring a little bit of happiness. Having a conversation with someone you enjoy talking with can be one of them. This may not be possible everyday due to your work load but take time when you can to say a quick hello to the friends at work.

Know your limits
In the corporate world the work day seems longer and the deadlines shorter. So many of us push past that barrier of what we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of to complete the task at hand. Know your limits. Pack it in for the night if you need to, or take a much needed break. When we are tired, our mood declines and we are incapable of concentrating on what need to be done.

Stay away from office gossip
Talking about others can seem to boost the mood, but in the long run its negativity can start to wear us down. For where ever there are people talking about others, there are others talking about you. This can lead to mistrust in relationships, so veer away from the gossip to remain happier in your work environment.

Let go of the worries before you go to bed
Too many of us suffer from sleep deprivation due to worrying too much before we go to bed. Lack of sleep can make us stressed and grumpy. If possible, let go of the worries of the day before you get into bed. Find a relaxing activity to do beforehand such as reading. If you wake up each day feeling refreshed, you may feel happier at work.

Even though most of us don't have much of a choice in where we work, make it a choice in how you spend your days there. We spend most of our waking hours at work, so why not be happy in the meantime?

I am the owner of Essence of Health in Markham Ontario. Above and beyond healthcare I enjoy writing. More specifically writing articles that can help others. For more article like this one please see my website:
http://www.essenceofhealthmarkham.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melissa_Borgh

How To Be Happy And Fulfilled At Work

For many it is difficult to stay happy and focused at work. This is because not a lot of people are enjoying what they are really doing. The problem is while you may never enjoy your work, you need compensation for your basic needs. This is the reason why you must learn how to find the right focus and inspiration to become and stay happy at work.

Choosing To Become Happy At Work
The best way to make your work lighter is to become happy at what you do. Being happy is your choice that you must put yourself into. Not everyone is aware on how they can become happy at work. The one key to become happy at work is to choose positivity. Make sure to surround yourself only with the positive things found in your work. Take time to learn and appreciate your efforts and accomplishments.

Meaning you should take out negativity around you. Avoid negative people at work, as well as, gossiping which may affect other people. Remember that even those who are generally positive people can have problems when they are surrounded by negative feelings.

Your Development Helps To Make You Happy At Work
Your professional and personal development plays an enormous role in your happiness at work gauge.

According to research, most workers are happier when they see improvement in their work and their personal lives. Sadly, most workplaces involves cutthroat competition.. You need to compete in order to get commended or compensated. To overcome this, you must look out for yourself. Meaning you should take charge of what is going on in your work and in your life. Make sure that you choose a balance between personal and work life. Career growth is directly relevant on how you carry yourself..

Take your time to know what is going on in your work and how you will be able to positively contribute. Surprisingly, even little contribution can be a lot of help for other team members or even an entire department. Being proactive in getting more information will ultimately help your performance.

Become Happy At Work By Doing Something You Love Each Day
A lot of people who are complaining about the kind of job that they have are not happy with whatever they are doing. A good example, why huge corporations are able to keep their employees happy and motivated is by letting them do something they love everyday.. Never limit your choices to your daily tasks, do something that will make you think outside the box..
Keeping yourself happy at work can be a challenge to itself. However, if you try and start thinking positive thoughts you will be able to accomplish this. You will be surprised how happy people are able to improve their lives by simply changing their perspective at work. Though it may not be easy at first, choosing to be happy, helping yourself and doing something you love each day will help you become happier and better at work.

Linda Credit is top Internet guru on wealth creation. Read her blog for some of the best information on unlimited earning potentials. Learn about online wealth and how to be happy at work through her blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Credit

Do This, Be Happy

 


Being happy is good for our health and our business. Since my work life is equally divided between health and business coaching, I recognize in people the correlation between the state of their minds and their success in their bodies and with their businesses. Hence my writing about happiness in both arenas.

1. When you hear someone describe something about herself in an arena in which you have no personal desire, but it makes her happy, jump on her happy train and be happy for her. Let's say that someone lost twenty pounds and was thrilled. Even if you don't personally need or want to lose any weight, you can experience someone's happiness by proxy. Imagine that someone else's happiness is contagious. By feeling her happiness, you can experience more for yourself.


2. When you hear someone describe something about himself that matches a desire that you have, even if that person achieved one of your dreams, be happy knowing that what you want is an achievable desire. Let's say that you know someone who achieved a new rank in her network marketing business. Let's say that you want to be able to achieve that same rank. That someone was able to manifest this rank level puts it in the air as something that can actually occur. It would be smart of you to celebrate this person's happiness because her accomplishment makes yours more real. "Rank advancement happens". Manage any jealousy or negative self-talk. Switch your focus to thoughts and feelings that get you in touch with your dream to be able to advance. Be happy knowing that this is now more possible for you.


3. If something happens and you are not pleased with it, take a few moments to ask yourself what is perfect about this. Recently my husband and I were going to go to Chicago, and then we did not go. I was very disappointed. I asked myself what was perfect about this. I discovered that by staying in town I was able to go water skiing twice, have a fantastic evening with some friends who came over for dinner, and help some other friends move. I was so pleased with this discovery! When you do this, you can always come back to (fill in the blank) disappointment, anger, sadness... But you might feel better and choose to remain happy.

For more information and to receive any of Rosie Bank's special reports and her free newsletters, please visit http://www.rosiebank.com. To have Rosie speak to a group of entrepreneurs, college students, network marketers, and business owners, you can contact her at rosie@manifestingvision.com
If you are seeking reliable leadership and a strong network marketing organization, feel free to contact Rosie directly, 650-573-7177
Rosie is the author of six books on health and business. Visit http://www.rosiebank.com/store

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosie_Bank

Try To Be Happy

Dreams may frighten us, but they're nothing to be scared of.

Imaginations can be trampling wildebeest. As children we get carried away, yet as adults are we not still children? Some things never change. Our imaginations are limitless, and we, by our fear, try to limit them. But we cannot. They will still trample us. But if we were open we would just be captivated.

No dreams are especially bad, although they are really about uniting us with ourselves and reconciling everything within us under one symphonic umbrella of Divinity.

They say there is no such thing as a mistake, and from the longer term viewpoint this has to be correct. We judge ourselves too harshly. We sweat over the small stuff. And just about everything is exactly that - very insignificant, in the tune of eternity.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE

Whatever we hate about ourselves - whatever we despise or that which reviles us about our very being - is not as bad as it seems.

We should find a pleasant and gentle peace about those things we hate: the protruding gut; the double chin; the nervous stammer; the violent thought; the fact we trip over our own feet; our fears of the impossible; our belief in the possible.

All these fears and so many more are an inflection against the personality that can merely be accepted. There is so much energy involved in rejection, yet a gentle breeze blows through every period of acceptance. Acceptance is liberating.

Resistance is more useless than we realise. We may prove things to ourselves in the short term, but in the longer term our wisdom is fractured. A better wisdom involves a godly unity, where resistance is defeated for a pleasant presence that negates nothing and subsumes all in its path.

DREAM AND LET DREAM

Our conscious and unconscious dreams and visions are the architecture of the mind that destines us toward a certain direction. We may feel controlled. But we only feel controlled when we feel out of control.

It is better by far to accept these dreams and visions and thoughts and feelings. As we learn to work with what is, we learn to dream and let dream.

Why do we fear these dreams when it is our mind's escape; a reconciliation of mental and emotional effort?

When we can dream and let dream, and make only effort to accept the vast acceptable, we have the mode of happiness at our fingertips.

***

To try and be happy is not a complex task. The simpler we make it, the better. We imagine the elderly woman from her deathbed, urging her grown children and her grandchildren to "try and be happy." Her words have power; they are wise words.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Wickham

Set Your Intention To Be Happy

Positive states of joy, love, and enthusiasm can overcome and neutralize negative states of anger, hatred, or apathy. Strong determination, action, and effort can develop these positive habits and make them predominant. Setting an intention to be happy and living and acting from your intention can dramatically increase your level of happiness.

About 20 years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a series of lectures on happiness given by the Dalai Lama. According to the Dalai Lama, happiness is not only our right but it is our responsibility because by being happy, we elevate those around us with our contagious happiness. The Dalai Lama said that happiness is a mental attitude, a state of mind, and not primarily dependent on external conditions. We can actively choose to be happy and we can discipline our mind to choose happiness by confronting our negative states of mind and transforming them into more positive ones.

I have found that one thing that stood in my way of my happiness was my desire to be right. I'm now much more aware that "right" is only relative. Each of us has our own preferences and values that we have developed through our life experiences and what we have been taught. The more that I can acknowledge that each of us has our own mental model of the world and the less I can release my ego's attachment to being right, the happier I can be. And, no doubt, the people around me would say that they're happier, too!

Another method to move into happiness is to ask yourself, when stressed, if feeling badly is going to make your situation better. It may be that you need to process some feelings to feel better and if this is true, you should process those feelings. But you may realize that feeling badly in response to a situation creates a cycle leading only to anxiety, stress, depression, despair, and resistance to change. Ask yourself in that moment what thought you can have that would make you feel better. Your thought could be anything - the thought of a loved one, the memory of a sunset, music you love - whatever resonates as a good feeling for you. This newly activated thought may only make you feel better for a few moments. If you return to feeling badly, lovingly repeat the process.

Set your intention to be happy. Monitor your internal dialogue and watch when it tries when it tries to lead you toward more negativity. Cultivate happiness by actively working on and changing your mental outlook.

Are you a friend to yourself? Visit http://www.FriendYourselfProject.com to find practical tips on how to recognize your brilliance and to treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and loved ones.

Subscribe to a Moment of Inspiration to receive a free daily quote from Women with Spirit: Daily Quotations by Inspiring Women (distributed by Amazon)!

Georgiana Carollus, MA, personal, spiritual, and intuitive coach offers coaching and resources to help accelerate your process of friending yourself at the Friend Yourself Project website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Georgiana_Carollus

How to Be Happy Regardless of Your Circumstances

Did you know that happiness comes in 'threes?'

When we think our life is on a downward slope we often regard ourselves as a victim of it. We act as if happiness is somewhere out there, and react as if we are at the mercy of our circumstances. With this perspective we experience one rough spot after another. Some of us manage to deflect despair by employing the old belief that things come in "threes." Our solution is that if we can maneuver through the succession of mishaps, our luck is sure to turn around.

There is little truth to this superstition. However there may be some value in the theory of 'threes' that can be applied to durable happiness and help us to be more than merely a victim of our circumstances.

There are three facets to happiness:

1. The Pleasurable Life

Happiness and positive emotion derived from material things and conveniences.

Although these types of pleasures are enjoyable, alone they offer a sense of fulfillment that is often fleeting, leaving us wanting more.

2. The Good Life

Happiness generated by a sense of engagement, passion, and flow inspiring us to work hard for a particular cause that leads us to deep satisfaction from a hard-earned goal. This was the motivation for the contributions made by Edison, Einstein, Salk, astronauts and mountain climbers.

3. The Meaningful Life

Happiness built upon positive core values and a sense of purpose that supports the common good and where joy is accessible regardless of circumstances. Examples of this facet of happiness include Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.

Durable happiness is ours when we balance these facets.

The keys that assist us in creating this balance come in another set of 'threes':

1. Choice

The first key is to know that we are not victims of life and can choose where we place our focus. We may not always be able control our circumstances, but we always have control over how we view them.

2. Accountability

The second key is to be accountable by having our words, actions and intentions match. This means that we must get clear about our own definition for success, our own values, and our own self-worth before we balance them with the expectations of others.

3. Response - ability

The third key is one's ability to respond rather than react to life's challenges. It is our responsibility to develop compassion, patience, forgiveness, and acceptance to live a more meaningful life.

Simple reminders come in 'threes' to help us apply what we have discovered about authentic happiness:

1. Focus on what's working in your life rather than what is not, empowered by knowing you have a choice.

2. Make it a point to love yourself as much as you love others, knowing that to be authentic you cannot give from an empty cup. Use gratitude as your antidote for worry as you count your blessings often, trusting that love is the answer to every question.

3. Life is not by luck or by chance, you are not a victim of your circumstances and the best things in life aren't things. Happiness is yours not only when you reach a specific destination or goal. It is durable through a three-fold journey of pleasure, flow, and meaning. The choice is yours to savor it every step of the way.

And, remember, third time's the charm.

Rhonda Hull, Ph.D., an innovative mentor, speaker and author of Drive Yourself Happy: A Motor-vational Maintenance Manual for Maneuvering Through Life, nudges willing women to transform their relationships with health, worth, wealth, success and happiness, showing it is possible, even in this crazy world. Visit Rhonda at: http://www.driveyourselfhappy.com, http://www.centerofhappiness.com, email: info@driveyourselfhappy.com

Copyright 2012, all rights reserved
Reprint permission is granted to publish this article electronically or in print if the contact information signature box is included in publication.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Hull

Happiness, Play And Be Happy

Happiness has been described as an illusion, a warm bath, a bowl of cherries, and many other things by many people throughout time. It is not an abstract concept but there are many descriptions which make the feeling of happiness an individual experience. Since the concepts of happiness are reliant upon the mindsets and emotional states of each person who experiences them, there is a "fuzzy logic" kind of feel to it. Often people attempt to describe their state of mind and body as being directly related to an experience. People say that they are happy for many reasons, and for the most part will attribute those reasons as mirrored expressions of their physical and the emotional state which they experience as a result.

In an attempt to nail down the truth about what "being truly happy" means, it is essential to examine the basic needs that have to be met for people to feel that they have reached this euphoric state of mind. The basic needs of all human beings are water, food, shelter, companionship, and health. If any of these are missing it becomes difficult to maintain a happy disposition. Considering that most of these conditions are met, generally people in the modern world can achieve "happiness" on a regular basis. In considering the state of childhood and infancy, babies and small children according to several studies, smile 62 percent more than their adult counterparts. The rationale as to this deficiency in adult levels of happiness can only mean that at some point people become less happy as they get older. If all of the basic needs are still being met from child to adulthood, one must assume either "something has been taken away" or "something else has been added". In either case in order to change these levels of happiness, something must have "changed" to subsequently reduce smiling capacity by 62 percent. If something got changed, then in theory it can be changed back again!

In people's adult lives, things do change as they get older. Increases in responsibilities and requirements to earn an income, greatly detracts from the leisure of "playtime" that most people experienced as children. The action of aging itself has become a condition that for many reasons adds to a persons unhappiness. The evolution from child to adult and then to parent is a journey of increasing responsibilities and diminishing play time, compounded with a sense of becoming older and less likely to participate in play of any sort. People are living longer but attitudes towards well-being as the population ages are not promoted equally. There are preconceptions regarding "older people who play", but does it have to be this way? Could this increase in responsibilities and accompanying stresses be the reason for the decrease in levels of laughter and happiness? Most likely this is a key reason why most people become "less happy" as they age. They have forgotten how to play. It would seem that the stresses and lack of playtime greatly detracts from a person's ability "to deal with the stresses" they are accumulating as they grow up. As children we could "laugh and forget" about the injustices and mishaps encountered on a daily basis. As adults we don't shed the "feelings of unhappiness" quite so easily.

The solution isn't necessarily to merely take on fewer responsibilities; rather it makes more sense to increase our playtime and "happy state of mind". As small children, the imagination makes up a huge part of our psychological "well-being". The ability to dream up ideas and creatively play with the idea of things used to make our existence more meaningful. As adults we are told often "to grow up and stop behaving like children", perhaps the opposite is what we should be telling each other. While it's true we must take on many more responsibilities, we can still keep some of the key attributes we had as children. Of these, the values of friendship and "fair play", and how to make others laugh are important functions in the transition from our young lives to our maturity. If somehow people could merge the games and imagination used in their youth with the daily requirements of adulthood, perhaps their lives would be happier. Since there are times when play is not recommended, by finding things "we like to do", people can establish hobbies and pastimes that enrich their lives at the end of the work day. Simple things like drawing and pottery or a martial arts class can mean the difference between being able to shed the stresses of the day and "carrying them over" to the next day. Parents can join in more of the games that their children are playing, even if it does take them a while to catch on to the rules! The bonds that this will help to form and the resulting energies exchanged by getting down on their level, will go a long way to promoting a much better perspective on life.

As time passes and the memories of childhood fade, so too does our memory of what it felt like to "laugh out loud" in the very realest sense of the now much over used text abbreviation. Instead of allowing our lives to become chaotic pits of desperate and relentless stresses, we must continue to play our games and laugh with our friends. Barring the loss of the essential basic needs of survival, we must strive to use our imaginations and come up with new ways to truly "enjoy our lives". By pursuing happiness we are extending our journey here, not only for ourselves, but for all who are within earshot of our infectious laughter. Remember the old Chinese proverb, "where there is laughter, happiness likes to be!"

Author's Website Link
http://www.phillipharrison.com/

Happiness Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phillip_L_Harrison

People are continuously asking the same question; How can I be happy? What they don't realize is that the answer is quite simple, and it should be.

Why should finding happiness be difficult when the definition includes feeling emotions of positive, pleasant emotions and joy?

Here is a list of 8 simple actions you can do daily to be a happy person.

1. Start your day with positive affirmations.

If you wake up in a bad mood, expect your day to be down in the dumps. The good news is you can change the outcome of your day in an instant, and the sooner the better. Tomorrow morning before you even get out of bed, tell yourself that you are going to have an amazing day. Tell yourself you are going to hear great news all day long. You will be happier all day, just thinking that good things are on the way.

2. Smile, Smile, Smile.

One way to make you feel better inside is to smile. It's simple and it's free. Science proves that is will boost your mood and increase your potential for long term happiness. If you don't smile regularly, force it until it becomes natural. Seriously, try it now, I bet you'll feel better already!

3. Surround yourself with only things you love.

Jot down a list of things that make you feel good inside. Keep this list on you and read it every day. It could consist of music, people, or pets. The options are endless, but only YOU know what makes YOU feel good inside. Once you have your list, try and surround yourself with only those things. Keep the positive energy flowing.

4. Give someone a compliment.

It's human nature to think that receiving a compliment is the best thing for us, but it's actually complimenting others that makes us feel better inside. Complimenting or helping others is where we find true happiness in ourselves. Try to compliment someone at least once a day. You'll be happy knowing you just made their day.

5. Stop complaining. It's bringing you down!

You may not even realize you are doing it. Complaining and whining are constantly bringing your inner emotions down. Instead of asking "Why can't I ever win?" or "Why does this happen to me?", try re-wording it into a positive question. What can I do next time to help me win? What can I do better to make sure this doesn't happen again. Talking negatively will limit your happiness, so learn to speak positive.

6. Act like a child.

Do you remember how it used to feel when you were a kid playing outside? No worries in the world, just enjoying the sunshine on your face running barefoot in the grass. Try to do this more often. We often forget that it's the simple things in life that give us the most happiness.

7. Laugh Often.

Laughter is one of the best feelings in the world. It expresses pure joy. Figure out what makes you laugh the most, and surround yourself with it. It could be a person, or a social environment. Laughing is also important in happy relationships. Stop being so serious all the time!

8. Get a dog or cat, or both.

The amount of joy you will get from a dog or cat is off the charts. You will never feel lonely and they will love you unconditionally. I myself have 2 cats and a puppy. The house is always full of life.

My father convinced himself that he hated cats. Well, that was until my brother rescued and brought a kitten home. It's now his best buddy. He even told my brother that when he moves out, the cat stays.

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I strongly believe these are the most important things you can do on a daily basis to not only increase your happiness, but erase negativity in your life.

Good luck!

http://www.SunnySkyz.com, a place for everything happy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_P_Filippou