How to Achieve Genuine Happiness

The Versatile Blogger Award

2011-12-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Philip Verghese "Ariel of http://arielscurrentaffairs.blogspot.com

I wish to thank him tremendously for this award and giving me the inspiration to continue posting.

Best Follower Award from Kimberly

2009-07-01T07:02:00.001-07:00

I have received another award from Kimberly - Stuff could Always be Worse.

Thanks again Kimberly. I do love reading her blog. She is a very strong and confident person and she inspires me a lot.

Sixth Tag from Kimberley

2009-06-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

I got this tag from Kimberly - Stuff could always be worse

Your mission, should you choose to accept is: go to your Pictures folder and:

1) Go to your sixth folder, then

2) Pick the sixth picture in that folder, then

3) Upload picture and write a story on that picture, then

4) Challenge 6 blog friends to do the same.

So here's my pic and story:

Well, maybe not the most exciting of pictures but there is nice story behind it.

This is cake from my last daughter's baptism. She was baptised or christened as some people say when she was one year old. She is now three.

We had to wait a little because she was born premature and then when we decided the time was right to baptise her we had to take classes for a month. After the classes, the priest did not call us until about one month after that, so there was a little delay, but eventually it did happen. Unfortunately we did not get pictures at the church for the actual baptism but a lot of pictures at the party.

She behaved really well at the baptism - did not fuss or cry. It was a really happy day for us all. It seems like just yesterday she was a baby, now she is growing and bossing everybody around. They just don't remain babies for too long. :)

Okay here are my six blog friends to take up the challenge:

Quick Coach Solutions

Birds sing sweeter than Books Tell How

Reach for the Elusive Happiness - Free mp3!

2009-06-12T12:47:00.001-07:00

I think we have had enough reading for now. I want to offer you a free mp3 entitled: "Reach for the Elusive Happiness".

Whenever you feel down or the need for a little inspiration, listen to it to help you feel better. Download it here:

Reach for the Elusive Happiness mp3

Just right click and save it to your computer, and listen whenever you have time. If you have any problems, please let me know.

Enjoy!

Happy Quotes

2009-06-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. - Mark Twain

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. - Abraham Lincoln

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.

Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy. - Gretta Brooker Palmer

You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness.

Happiness is a function of accepting what is. - Werner Erhard

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Ghandi

Some pursue happiness, others create it.

Gather the crumbs of happiness and they will make you a loaf of contentment.

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. - Margaret Lee Runbeck

If you are not happy here and now, you will never be. Taisen Deshimaru

Happiness is the feeling you're feeling when you want to keep feeling it.

He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has. - Henry Ward Beecher

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. - Frederick Keonig

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. - Dalai Lama

If you want to be happy, be. - Leo Tolstoy

The Quest for Happiness

2009-05-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Happiness is the most wanted thing in the world and yet the hardest thing to find. The search is endless and bounds no place and time.

The level of man’s longing for happiness becomes higher and higher as the standard of living also increases. The first step towards happiness leads to another step, and then to another until a progression of steps is made transgressing the three dimensions of time - the past, the present, and the future. Like love, happiness is a vague concept. Based on the dictionaries, happiness is parallel to contentment. However, contentment is a thing that does not actually exist because man has never been contended all his life. His success for having attained a particular end always paves way to the urge to meet a higher end.

Epicurus, an Athenian philosopher, suggested that in order for man to achieve happiness, he should give up all the complexities of life, like wealth, fame and power, and go back to basics when the things that only matter are those necessary for pure biological subsistence, friends, freedom and analyzed life.

However, it is hard to persuade man to renounce life’s worldly pleasures. If man will relinquish his desire to aspire for the better, progress will be hampered and everything will be doomed in complete stagnation. Time moves forward and progress has been the norm. There must be a machine that will turn back time. However, by the time that man may have reached the basics, time will again start to tick and it will not be practical to do the same process over again.

Happiness might seem to be very far, but man’s journey towards it endures. There are only three steps to perfect the quest for happiness.

FIRST, be aware that you are a participant in the universal search. Every person regardless of age, sex, gender, religion, citizenship, ethnicity, talents, abilities and physical condition, partakes in the worldwide hunt for happiness. Look around you, you will see other people walking. Beside you are people who are almost at the same situation you are in; you are all walking at the same pace. Others might speed up and become a few steps ahead. Do not fret; rather, cheer up for them and persevere.

On the other hand, if you’ve been blessed and have gone farther than your fellows, do not brag; rather, assist those who stagger. While you proceed, also look at the people in front of you. They are those who started the walk much earlier and are now closer to happiness. Make them your role model. Analyze the strategies they used and learn from their mistakes.

Also look at the people behind you. They are those who started the walk later. These people are the neophytes and they look up at you as their guide. Show them a good example. Let your works touch their soul to keep them going.

SECOND, accept that the quest for happiness is never-ending. Do not race with time, but also do not lag behind. Savor the moment and pursue the right level of happiness that is achievable at your age.

The level of happiness varies from individual to individual. When babies crave for happiness, they normally cry and this necessity can simply be satisfied by attending to their basic needs such as a gentle pat, cuddling, words of assurance, simple entertainment or just one’s mere presence.

On the other hand, for adults, happiness is at a much superior level. Adults have infinite list of needs and wants, ranging from life’s essentials to intimacy to a well-defined career path. Adulthood is the busiest stage of man’s existence and oftentimes causes man a lot of emotional turbulence.

Two other crucial stages in man’s existence are adolescence and middle age. These stages are the most dramatic, stressful, and overwhelming segment of man’s life. It is in the middle-age period that man prepares for his retirement; it is the period when most of his dreams have been fulfilled. By the time he reached old age, his journey in pursuit of happiness may have already ended. However, man’s desire for happiness does not end at old age; the longing continues as long as he lives.

LASTLY, love yourself. Take good care of your health - physical, mental, and emotional. Choose a healthy lifestyle so that you will live longer and stronger. In this way, you will have more time and capability to do the things that you want. Do not pressure yourself too much. Take it easy, enjoy life, and appreciate even the little things that you achieved, but do not stop striving for the better. Reward yourself for every work well done. The reward does not have to be expensive, it might be simple and it may not be a material thing.

Most importantly, share your love with other people. As James M. Barrie said, “Let no one who loves be called altogether unhappy. Even love unreturned has its rainbow.”

These are the only steps you need to be happy.

My Award from Kimberly

2009-05-16T12:30:00.001-07:00

I received another award from Kimberly: Stuff Could Always Be Worse

I want to say Thank You to Her. You have made me very happy today.

I have to start looking for awards to share with others instead of them always giving them to me.

How to Have a Happy and Lasting Marriage

2009-05-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

In the time of divorces, of life in the fast lane, of being single because it is trendy, there are those that find a partner in life for the rest of their lives. They have spent years together in marital bliss and never seem to grow tired of each other after so long. All couples that fall under this category have some common views on marriage and on how to make it last.

Finding someone to share the rest of your life with is easy. The hard part is keeping that person happy, content, and fulfilled with a relationship that is good not only for a few weeks or months, but even decades as love spans the years.

However, it’s not always bliss and happy moments that unite couples to one another. Sometimes trials come along that test the fabric of their marital relationship, and it is in how they manifest their love for each other during these times that make or break their marriage, and find out if they really are meant for each other.

For some, the road to growing old together is pretty straightforward. They meet, fall in love, and the rest falls into place. But in times of disagreement, you have to understand the other, and compromise to whatever is best for both of you. A relationship has to be give and take, and that doesn’t mean one giving everything and the other taking it all. If this is what happens, you or your partner gets burned out, and your marriage will suffer.

There are a few simple rules to follow to achieve a long, lasting and happy marriage, most of which rely just on love and common sense more than anything.

A good advice for those who want to be married and grow old with their partner in life is to be there for their spouse, and to cherish all the happy moments they have. During times of trouble, stand by each other and work on your problems until you both arrive at a win-win result.

Troubles are a blessing in disguise for the couple, because it forges a bond between them that nothing can ever equal. If you were to ask any married couple how they made it through years and years together about this, they would unanimously agree. This is the straightest route toward a happy and lasting marriage, and ultimately, it is the couple themselves that work toward this and nobody else.

How to Achieve Pure Happiness

2009-05-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Have you reached the point where you start asking yourself if you truly are happy with your life? Do you even know what it takes for you to be happy? Happiness is a subjective concept and what may be delightful for one person may not have the same effect in another. Nevertheless, the path towards achieving pure happiness is not really that rough, as some people may think. It’s really all about perception and attitude.

Here are some pointers to help you appreciate what you have and teach yourself how to live a happier life.

Set your own criteria for happiness. People have different standards about happiness. What happiness is for another person may not be exactly be similar to yours. Focus on your own standards and do not worry about the definitions of others. If you are content with where you are now, sound out the opinions and unsolicited advice of people who try to tell you otherwise.

Establish a plan for achieving goals that can lead to your happiness. Your enthusiasm will most likely go up as you go after your goal because you will feel more fulfilled aiming for something that is valuable to you.

Be with people who are happy with themselves. Being with individuals who are negative can easily make you think the same way. On the other hand, if you surround yourself with people who feel and think positive then, chances are, you will be inspired to feel and think the same way.

When things don’t work out the way you planned think of a way to reverse the situation rather than weep in one corner. Genuinely happy persons never let setbacks affect their insights and dispositions. You can always do something to turn the situation around. As the saying goes, there’s always a silver lining behind every dark cloud.

Spend time with your happy thoughts. Allow yourself to have some moments where you will think about everything that is happy – nice things, happy events, funny situations, and others. This will help you focus on things that make you smile and will eventually lead to a more sunny response to daily events.

Reward yourself with something nice. Giving yourself a pat on the back can do wonders for your mood. Eat a hearty lunch, buy a new dress, or simply get yourself a new bottle of perfume. It’s really the little things that make the biggest difference in the world.

Add a spice of humor to dire situations. While there are certain occasions when you need to be serious, you also need to lighten up. Laughter is the best medicine.

Live a healthy life. Keeping yourself healthy at all times also contributes to happiness. Watch your weight, as well as the food you eat. Obesity can have an unfavorable impact on your disposition and mood. Regular exercise has also proven to release endorphins that bring out the feeling of being happy.

Always believe that you deserve to be happy. When you think that you are not worthy of being happy, you unknowingly deny yourself of the chance to be truly so. Always affirm that you are worthy of happiness and bear in mind that the best is yet to come.

People cannot really decipher whether they are happy or not. It is a common notion that some people are deserving of happiness while others are not. Don’t get yourself trapped in this kind of thinking. How happy you are depends on how you perceive the life you are living now. Be positive, embrace it, and smile.

Develop Your Sense of Humour

2009-04-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Having a good sense of humor can do many positive things to a person. It can make them more attractive and definitely more likeable. People who have good sense of humor have the natural ability to start and lead a good conversation.

A good sense of humor is not difficult to acquire. Everybody can develop their innate sense of humor to a level definitely admired by a lot of people. Here are good tips on how to improve yours.

Project a light, humorous air. Your view of things would count a lot. View the things happening around you as funny and comical. Find the good and positive side in everything, instead of always looking at the bad side.

Associate yourself with people who are fun and humorous. If you can’t seem to be amusing naturally all by your own, be with people who are. Some of their witty abilities will sure brush up on you.

Laugh at yourself. Who else will be a good subject of something funny but you? If you can laugh at yourself and the rather embarrassing things that you did, that means that you have enough confidence in yourself. And you are not afraid to make mistakes at all.

Read funny books and remember those good clean jokes. Select the ones that you can easily insert on any type of conversation. Collecting good jokes would give you something to use when the need to break the ice arises.

Apply humor in your everyday life. Humor can really lighten things up. Humor can be applied in your workplace, in a relationship, and in anywhere else. Humor has the ability to transform attitudes – from gloomy to lively and enthusiastic.

Humor eventually leads to a happy disposition. Humor adds more to an already healthy relationship. And it makes a miserable one relatively better.

Add humor to your life. That is all you need for a more zestful and rewarding existence. It does not only make you the fountain of happiness of your group. It could also improve your aura to become a better person yourself.

A good sense of humor is really a welcome addition to your already happy and fulfilled life. Improve your sense of humor now and see how many people will begin to like you better each day.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Sadness

2009-04-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

Life is so unpredictable.

One moment your face is beaming with a ray of happiness and then the next day you suddenly feel weak, with low energy, and unable to accomplish anything. If you are experiencing the latter, then you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD).

Long ago, the feeling of sadness was closely associated with changing seasons. The transition from summer to winter to spring leads to mood swings. A person switches, starts off with a happy mood then becomes depressed and tense.

No person is immune from feeling sad, men or women, young or old, rich or poor, people will always experience sadness.

Here are five helpful tips that can help you combat sadness:

Soak up the morning light. Natural light occurs early in the morning between 6:00am to 8:00 am. Walk or sit by the window between those times. Staying indoors will keep you from getting natural light. Indoor lights at home or in the office represents only about a tenth of the natural light.

Avoid too much alcohol or caffeine. People make the common mistake of taking alcoholic beverages or coffee when they feel sad. While it can provide temporary relief, coffee can cause anxiety, muscle tension, or gastrointestinal disorder. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant. Alcohol can aggravate depression. As much as possible, refrain from using these drugs as a remedy for your sadness or depression.

Have regular exercise. While experts admit that there are no concrete studies on the effectiveness of exercise on sadness, there is no harm in trying. The moment you feel depressed, you become less involved in doing things which intensifies as time wears on. With regular exercise, you keep the momentum of having happy disposition.

Eat lunch outside. If your lifestyle does not allow you to enjoy morning light, try to do it during your lunch break. While natural light during the morning is most effective, getting it during lunch is better than none at all.

Eat foods containing the amino acid trytophan. According to medical experts, people with SAD have decreased secretions of serotonin. Trytophan is a precursor of serotonin and taking food rich in this amino acid can help elevate the production of serotonin. Foods rich in trytophan include turkey, milk, and egg white.

If all else fails and you are still suffering from sadness, then it is time to seek professional help.

Try these five tips and you will no longer feel the urge to sit and pout in one corner of your room.

What Makes a Happy Family

2009-04-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

A happy family is probably one of life’s most priceless treasures. Success won’t be complete without it. All the wealth in the world will not guarantee it. There’s no set formula or dynamics in achieving it. They have problems but somehow, they get through it intact. Is there some sort of secret chant or cosmic ritual that can promise you a happy family life? There’s none unfortunately. But you can look at happy families and you can see that there are some traits common to all of them. Here are some:

Priorities – Each family member treats their family as their first priority. Not only the parents, albeit they carry the bulk of responsibility, but also of the children. The integrity of the family must be solid in the sense that all members should think first and foremost about what will happen to their family in any action they do. Parents work hard and plan for their kids’ future but take time out to bond with them and take an active part in their life. Or they spend quality time just talking about what’s happening in the world. The children also make it a point to keep their parents informed of their school or other activities. They gladly spend quality time with their parents and siblings more than hanging out with their friends. If anything major happens to them, they’ll always go to their parents first.

Responsibility – Everyone in the family strives to be responsible – from the pre-schooler picking up his toys to the parents who work to provide the basic necessities. Loyalty to one’s partner is the norm and infidelity is not even in the vocabulary. What’s more, everyone does his/her responsibility not only because of duty but of love. It’s a sacrifice but one given selflessly.

Encouragement – Praises for good work, help in rough times, a listening ear and a good shoulder are common to these families too. No wonder they can get through any challenges they face!

Stability – One of the best ways they achieve stability is to have certain traditions they can count on. It could be a yearly holiday to an old hometown or eating together every Christmas Eve or raking leaves every mid-autumn. Whatever it is, the important thing is to be together. These traditions flow through the years and it becomes a routine; it gives a sense of continuity and an ongoing history. These sharing will form a foundation of the family’s views and will surely be passed on to future generations.

Lee Iacocca, an eminent businessman and writer, once said: “The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.” So strive to make your family a happy one.

How to be Happy with Your Current Weight

2009-03-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

People hear everyday from magazines, television, the internet and countless people that losing weight is the key to happiness. We are endlessly bombarded by pictures of the “ideal figure” and the “ideal weight,” with the promises of shape-changing supplements and drugs and state-of-the art body-modifying surgical procedures. Yet people fail to ask themselves, “Is it really necessary?”

A famous teacher once said that true happiness is not having what you want but wanting what you have. Since you were a child, you’d notice fat girls being teased by skinny girls and vice-versa. There seems to be no perfect weight and figure; so the only thing left to do is to be happy with who you are and admire the physical properties you were born with. Here are some tips on how to be happy about your current weight.

1. Assess yourself.

Weigh yourself and try to think why you do not like the numbers that you see. Then look at the mirror and try to think again what you do not like in what you see. Ask yourself the question, “Is it really necessary?” Do you really want to go through intense starvation episodes, nauseating difficult exercises, or more drugs and surgery in order to be happy? Think again.

2. Accept that all individuals are different.

Everyone has varying muscle and metabolism types, which explain why some people simply look different from others. Diet, lifestyle, exercise, and rest requirements vary from person to person; so you must need to learn which factors work best for you.

3. Reiterate your diet.

Plan your recommended daily intake and consume foods rich in nutritious vitamins and minerals like fruits and vegetables. These will give you a healthy feeling, as well as nourish your entire system. Do not put yourself on instant diets that promise leading you to the perfect weight. Remember that true health must be as good on the inside as it is on the outside.

4. Do forms of physical activity.

Find time to exercise and choose activities that you enjoy doing alone or with friends. It may be a sport, a short walk or preferring the stairs than the elevator. Exercise is very effective in reducing stress and boosting self-confidence.

5. Rest and sleep.

Always recover and rejuvenate by having at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night, and thirty minutes to an hour of nap at noon. Siestas are generally known to improve circulation and prevent cardiovascular and heart problems.

6. Relax and do some leisure activities.
Socialize with other people, read a book or paint, as long as you enjoy doing it. Discuss your current health status with someone, but do not compare. You’ll realize that not very many are in their best shape but enjoy life through healthy habits and an optimistic attitude.

Ideal weight is not synonymous to good health. If you’re judging yourself only by what the numbers are saying or what you see outside, perhaps your judgment is only subjective and superficial. Several people in their ideal weight are truly unhealthy and sick. Your current weight might not be what the norms regard as ideal, but you know you’re healthy and you’re happy and content about it. True health is achieved only through a good lifestyle and social patterns, and not through fad diets and drugs.

How to be Happy for a Day

2009-03-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Unavoidable or fated difficulties, frustrations, and adversities of life are not the cause of unhappiness. Most often than not, it is caused by what people believe and experience in response to the adversities of life, frustrations, and various dilemmas.

However, you can achieve the state of being happy in numerous ways and under various conditions. Many psychologists say that the meaning of actual happiness will entirely depend on an individual’s definition of being happy.

Reports show that in first world countries like the United States, many people define happiness as the state of having achieved their goals, being financially successful, and having good health and a wonderful family.

In third world countries, happiness would simply mean eating three times a day or getting a good job.

The state of happiness has its own varying categories. It can be gratification, such as learning a new skill; higher pleasures, such as amusement in watching your favorite movie; or bodily pleasure such as getting pleasure from eating your favorite food.

Indeed, various conditions can attribute to happiness. These things may vary from one person to another and from one culture to the next.

However, this does not necessarily mean that achieving happiness can be very tricky. There had been proven techniques and strategies on how to be happy. You can try using them in order to achieve a positive feeling about yourself, the environment, and your life.

Here’s how:

1. Wake up early

To start your day right, always make it a point to wake up early in the morning. Experts say that it would be better if you can witness the sunrise. The idea of seeing a brand new day, as the sun rises in the horizon, can bring a new sense of hope, faith, and confidence in your self.

In this way, you will be able to feel good about the day and could let you start your work with new hopes of getting good returns in the end.

2. Practice good hygiene

Taking a bath first thing in the morning and maintaining a fresh breath will definitely make you happy. Feeling clean can alleviate the pressure and tension brought about by yesterday’s stresses and anxieties.

Sleeping could have eliminated the toxicity of everyday living, but washing them off your body can give you a fresher feeling, making you feeling good all over.

Brushing your teeth can make you feel good about yourself. Once you feel good about yourself, you can feel the happiness that liberates from within your soul.

3. Do a good deed everyday

Always make it a point to do a good deed everyday. The idea of doing good deeds to other people will give you a special kind of happiness that no amount of good feeling can match.

Knowing that you enjoyed helping other people can bring a new kind of higher pleasure.

4. Do not jump on the assumption wagon

Before you conclude that something is negative, gather facts to clear up any ambiguities. Do not assume, for example, what someone meant.

Keep in mind that once you have started to entertain negative feelings, your path to happiness will be longer.

Indeed, happiness to many people could mean a lot of things. However, trying to embody all of these things can help you be happy at the least.

A Guide to Anger Management

2009-03-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

"How to Transform the Deadly Effects of Your Anger and Raging Emotions Into an Extremely Positive Experience"

Anger cripples. Anger hurts.

But most of all, anger can break people apart.

All people have the tendency to become angry. Anger is but a natural reaction when somebody has done something against you, the people you love, or the things you value most.

Anger is a very strong emotion. And if you don't know how to deal with it, it can overcome you like a dark cloud on a sunny sky.

Anger comes in three categories: indignation, resentment, and rage. If you get all brutal because you are very angry, then that is rage. If you choose not to express your anger, then it's resentment. But if you decide to talk to the person whom you're angry at with the purpose of making everything all right, then that's called indignation.

This audio/eBook package allows you to whisk away anger at a tiny fraction of the cost incurred when you visit a therapeutic expert. You can be your own psychiatrist and handle your anger in the same way that professionals do!

All these techniques will be available to you through the audio/eBook package entitled 'Ripping Loose or Calming Down? A Guide to Anger Management'.

With this audio/eBook package at hand, there's no need to vent out anger in a non-constructive way. From here on, you'd be able to make the most out of this rather negative feeling. It can even make you a better person! Plus, you can be the peacemaker for all the people around you.

This audio/eBook package will also reveal to you:

What anger really is and how it can affect your life.
The major causes of anger.
The idea why humans do have the need to be angry.
The danger when anger transforms into a negative emotion.
The reasons why all of us needs to know proper anger management.
Why some people copy other people's anger.
How to determine if you anger is truly under control.
The right way to act if chronic outburst continues despite managing your
anger.
The right things you should do if an angry person confronts you.
Answer to the question of whether anger is inherited or not.
The link between video games and anger.
Relation between anger and gun control.

And a whole lot more!

Now is your chance to eliminate anger. With this audio/eBook package, you need not spend too much on professional counseling or costly therapeutic sessions. Live life without anger! Get the audio/eBook package today!

Ripping Loose or Calming Down? A Guide to Anger Management

myLot User Profile

Coping with Depression and Continuing With Life

2009-03-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

Have you reached a point in your life where you are ready to give up and just quit living? Have you felt so much pain and sadness that you do not want to continue anymore? If so, then you may be facing depression, the intense sadness that can cripple your mind and your body.

Depression is something that can be felt by anybody who is not emotionally strong enough to handle extreme pain and anguish either in a single or a gradual blow. You may feel so alone.

But there is a cure for depression. People currently in that state can still come out of it victorious and free. The path may be long and tedious, but the results can be incredible.

To conquer depression, first, try to take hold of yourself. Look at the beauty of
life and what it can still bring you. There is too much beauty that depressed people often fail to see. The first step to victory is to realize that life is not over--even if a life-shattering incident makes it seem that way.

You need all the help and support you can get from friends and family members. Somebody should always be available to lead you out of your mental and emotional cage.

Realize that there is a better view of things--that you can always choose to be happy. You need to remember that life will continue no matter how bad things are.

As a depressed individual, you can be non-responsive to other people and to anything else. It is possible that you may be too disagreeable. People need to be aware of these normal tendencies when dealing with you.

While you are depressed, you may require more care and attention. You will need the people around you to be tolerant of your situation and what you are going through. Remember that depression is merely a phase. With enough will power and determination, you will be able to get through it.

Most of the time, what you feel is somehow different than what you think. During these instances, what you need is mind control coupled with an enormous power of suggestion. Then the doing and thinking will come together, helping you to achieve your goal of breaking free from depression.

Do not prolong depression. If and when you feel that you are not strong enough to conquer your problems and all your friends’ help is not adequate to take you further, there are professional people who can help. Do not be afraid to go to them. They can readily lend a hand.

Depression is a major problem. There are people who are really susceptible to it. Coping with depression may not be easy but it can be done successfully.

Ageing Happily and Gracefully

2009-03-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

Living in a society where youth is celebrated and even glorified, the realization of the fact that one has to grow old is depressing. People see ageing as decay and as a road to more limitations. On the other hand, ageing does not necessarily mean that you have to set boundaries upon yourself. As long as you still have good health, who says you can no longer do the things you used to enjoy before?

Read on and find out how ageing could be hip and how you can enjoy ageing gracefully.

Wisdom. It has been said that with age comes wisdom. Meaning, the more you grow older, the more you gain knowledge in so many aspects of living. Now, who wouldn’t want that? With the amount of years you have spent on earth, it is already expected that you have had a taste of nearly everything there is. More lessons learned means more lessons to teach and share.

Live Each Day. Now is not the moment to waste your time worrying: you’ve had enough of that during your younger years. Enjoy the present and leave yesterday behind. Prepare for tomorrow but don’t bother yourself by it. Live in the present. There’s no point of wishing you could turn back time because it will never happen. Like what Morrie said in the book Tuesdays with Morrie:

“Unfulfilled lives - Lives that haven't found meaning. Because if you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more.”

If you keep on wishing to go backward, you’ll never get anywhere; instead, you will just grow old and wither without accomplishing anything.

Enjoy Yourself and Your Family.
Gone are the days when you have to work double time each day to sustain your family’s needs. Ageing just means more time to spend with your husband, your children and most importantly, your grandchildren.

Accept that Ageing is Inevitable. Ageing is inevitable and no matter what you do and how many surgeons you visit (as some people do), you still won't be able to hide the fact that you are indeed getting old. However, what you can control is how you view the additional wrinkles on your face. Don’t battle with getting old because if you do, you’ll never be happy, you can’t prevent something that is a course of life.

Keep a Positive Outlook. Lighten up, ageing is not at all that bad. It’s so funny why people get excited when their birthday come but get depressed upon realizing that they’re getting older again.
Come on, just think that you’re just a year older and a year wiser. Having negative feelings towards adding up a year on your age is bad for your health. Researchers from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, found out that older persons with a more positive outlook of ageing lived longer than those with a negative viewpoint. So cheer up and enjoy life; you wouldn’t want to add to those wrinkles, would you? And definitely, you still want to live longer and watch your grandchildren grow.

Awards

2009-02-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

This Award was given to me by Kimberly - Stuff Could Always Be Worse.

I just want to let her know how happy she has made me feel. I appreciate this so much. I enjoy reading Kimberly's posts as she is so positive and uplifting despite whatever trials she may go through.

Thanks again Kimberly, you are truly blessed.

3 Steps to a Longer, Healthier and Happier Life

2009-02-21T17:40:00.000-08:00

Life is slowly deteriorating right before our very eyes. Don't wait until it happens to you!

Three Easy Steps to a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life will help you live life to the fullest in spite of how destroyed, polluted, or shattered the real world you're living in is right now.

It will show you - in just 3 easy and simple ways - what you need to do in order to stay alive when the rest of the world fades away.

Here are some of the topics you will find inside 3 Easy Steps to a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life:

Why many people today are immune to antibiotics for humans.

How pressures can be dangerous to your health.

Why deadly diseases today were unheard of in the days of our ancestors.

A very important key to longevity.

Why it is not a perfect idea to be a perfectionist

The difference of a simple life from a meaningless life.

What the most powerful food on earth is, as claimed by many.

The cause of vanity.

How the body copes with any kind of stress.

How laughter effectively promotes a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Why foods today are not as nutritious as they were before

Just download 3 Easy Steps to a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life - filled with in-depth research, the latest guidelines, and lifestyle secrets that are easy to follow, practical, and fitting to your daily schedule.

Is It Okay If I'm Happy?

2009-02-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” - Albert Schweitzer

How many of you out there can honestly say that you are happy? It all depends on how you define happiness. In the West, people could be said to be more materialistic – putting a high personal and emotional value on material wants. They keep acquiring more and more things, thinking that each new acquisition makes them happy. But there are still people who, despite their material riches, are not happy.

“Happiness” for some people might be a new car, or a new house, or a collection of CDs of their favorite artists. It could be more money in the bank or a personal yacht. But such “happiness” is fleeting and, once you get in the habit of acquiring things to make you happy, is an expensive habit to maintain. You fall into the trap of wanting more and more things to sustain the feeling of “happiness”. That kind of “happiness” is prevalent in our world today – which may explain why stores are full of things and gadgets that are supposed to make us content.

Think of the late billionaire Anna Nicole Smith, who died of a drug overdose. If she was really happy having billions of dollars to spend, why would she resort to using illegal drugs? Perhaps there was something missing in her life which she thought illegal drugs could supplant. Of what use are her billions of dollars to her now?

Perhaps Albert Schweitzer was right when he said: “I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

A good example of someone who knew that service to others is the way to happiness is the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She found happiness by serving the outcast of Calcutta, India. And not only did she find happiness, she also made many friends in that country – including Indians who were not Catholics but Hindus who supported her mission.

So, if you wish to gain happiness for yourself, try serving other people who are in need of your help. Maybe there won’t be monetary gains, but the psychic rewards will overwhelm you.

How to Have a Sense of Humour and Make Others Happy

2009-02-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Do you often catch yourself not laughing at something the rest of your group finds funny? Are you not able to conjure up laughter from friends and colleagues at the workplace? There could be something wrong with your sense of humor. It's too early to conclude, but your friends might be finding that being with you is a bore. If you think this applies to you, then you must do something about it now, before people start avoiding you at the lunch pantry or making up excuses not to sit with you on the poker table.

Humor is one’s capacity to bring about feelings of merriment in other people. It is a well-entrenched aspect of entertainment and communication and is very normal to everyday life. A person with a great sense of humor can laugh by himself and elicit laughter from other people by using, among others, one’s experience, everyday situations, and funny devices as objects.

A person exhibiting a great sense of humor is usually a fun person to be with. Sharing funny jokes and lifting the mood in any gathering serve as trademarks of those with fantastic jest meters. This is why more people prefer to be in their company. Anybody who welcomes the break from boredom and who craves for respite from the daily hustle and bustle of life will do well to nurture a great sense of humor.

While a sense of humor can provide an aura of fellowship and sociability most of the time, it can, however, displace some people, particularly the sensitive ones, when not properly presented or manifested. The following are important tips to hone your sense of humor. Read on before you crack a joke.

Start With Your Environment
Foster an atmosphere of humor in your life and relationships. Always direct attention to the amusing and hilarious aspects of your life. The laughter that these occurrences and things can bring will be your ticket to developing a greater sense of humor. Sooner or later, you will find out that you are capable of seeing humor in everything that you see and do.

Funny Pictures

Be With the Right Crowd
So you do not laugh very much. In fact, you feel grumpy most of the time. However, you've heard about the many benefits of laughter; hence, you want to attain a great sense of humor. Begin sharpening your laugh factor by hanging around with people who are witty and humorous. As much as possible, always go to places where you and your friends can have amusement and fun.

Timing Is Of the Essence
You might sometimes feel that you are oozing with excellent sense of humor that you think you can breeze through any application as a clown in your local carnival. But if you pop out your funny side without considering the timing, you might end up like a self-indulged rock star without a fan.

It is, therefore, important to pace yourself before sharing your sense of humor to other people. It is a good strategy to let someone else start clowning around before you stick in your own brand of funnies. This way, you are sure that everybody in your group is in the mood for fun.

Use yourself as a Guinea Pig
The safest way to infuse a joke is to aim the joke at yourself. This scheme will make sure that you do not hurt anybody’s feelings. If you cannot make fun of yourself in front of a group, try your best, instead, to make fun of the situations and the surroundings your group is in to avoid getting someone offended.

Humor can influence many positive things in your life. But, above all, it certainly makes other people want to be with you. Learn to develop yours.

Finding True Happiness

2009-02-03T10:35:00.000-08:00

How does one find true happiness? That’s the question most people would like answered. It seems a simple question, and yet for some people, it seems farfetched and impossible to find true happiness.

But is it?

Actually, it’s easier than anyone would think. There are two reasons why people find it impossible to find true happiness and keep it. First is that they tend to look at the general overview of things rather than the smallest details. Instead of looking at life day by day, they imagine the whole picture and reach for the stars tomorrow. This is not bad. Actually this is quite good, but planning for tomorrow and then unexpectedly not getting what you desire brings you the opposite. You get stressed out, tired and worn out. Why don’t you focus on the simple things today first before lounging on the big picture?

Think of the job you have at the moment, not about the job that you will get tomorrow. Think about the money that you have in your bank account right now, no matter how much or how little, not about the money that you will get in the near future. Think about your children right now and how they’re growing up to be like you, not about the children that will get married and leave you eventually.

With these little things, they make you all the more happy, joyful and not tired or stressed out.

The second reason is that most people think about their problems and not their blessings. They look at a glass half-empty rather than looking at it half-full.

This is actually inter-connected with the first reason. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, why not try looking at what you do have? If you don’t have a car, why don’t you ask yourself what benefit would that bring you? You would save on gas and money. If you still have food to eat everyday, it means you still have money left to get you through the day.

"Happy people are far more focused on the little victories and miracles than the problems," says Dan Baker, Ph.D., medical psychologist at Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Ariz., and author of What Happy People Know (Rodale, 2003). Instead of getting caught up in fear and worry, they see the good possibilities in each situation. They have confidence in their ability to cope, and they live with a sense of purpose.

Remember that happiness is not a destiny. It's a choice.

Happiness Quotes

2009-01-31T08:50:00.000-08:00

If you can learn to laugh in spite of the circumstances that surround you, you will enrich others, enrich yourself, and more than that, you will last!

The three grand essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

The secret to happiness is to count your blessings, not your birthdays.

A sense of humour is like needle and thread. It will patch up so many things.

A smile is a virtue that shouldn’t be removed.

When you share your joy with others, you double each smile and each laugh; When you share your pain and sorrow, each tear is divided in half.

Your day goes the way the corners of your mouth turn – smile!

Life isn’t always what you want, but it’s all you’ve got – so stick a geranium in your hat.

We don’t have to be happy to laugh. Indeed, we become happy because we laugh.

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of travelling.

You don’t stop laughing because you grow old… you grow old because you stop laughing.

Life is easier than you think – all you have to do is this: accept the impossible, do without the indispensable, bear the intolerable, and be able to smile at anything.

God made wrinkles to show where smiles have been.

We always have the option to choose Joy!

Laughing helps. It’s like jogging on the inside.

Enjoy today…God loves to hear your laughter

Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God

You have to look for the joy. Look for the light of God that is hitting your life, and you will find sparkles you didn’t know were there.

Take time to laugh… it is the music of the soul.

Laugh Heartily to Reduce Stress

2009-01-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

How many times do you laugh in a day? Research shows that a newborn baby laughs around 300 to 400 times a day. But a grown up hardly has time to have a hearty laugh these days. Grownups’ laughs are few and far between than children’s. As we grow we tend to get busy with our problems and issues. Stress tends to take over us. As a result we have forgotten how to laugh from the bottom of our heart like a child.

Stress is one bad factor that controls all aspects of our life. It affects our physical and psychological health. Stress creates all kinds of health problems such as high blood pressure, ulcers, heart disease, insomnia, depression, etc. It also affects our performance at work and at home.

Laughter is a great stress buster. Here is some of the stress relieving benefits obtained through laughter:

1. Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones such as epinephrine, adrenaline and cortisol.

2. It increases the level of health-enhancing hormones such as endorphins. It strengthens our immune system by increasing the release of anti-bodies in our system.

3. It leads to a physical and emotional release - many people cry at the end of a good laughter. There is a sense of freedom from bottled-up emotions. They experience a cleansed feeling after a hearty laugh.

4. It is a good internal workout – a good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, the abdominal muscles and the heart. You feel more relaxed afterwards.

5. It distracts your feelings away from anger, guilt, shame, etc. so that your focus is shifted from negative feelings to positive ones.

Laughter plays a vital role in a human being’s wellbeing. Laughter has the capacity to heal and make us feel healthier so that we feel refreshed and we regain our strength to carry on with our life. Some of the medical benefits of laughter are:

Improved blood circulation, increase in the sense of wellbeing due to release of endorphins, which are in layman’s language called as ‘feel-good hormones’, increased immunity, pain relief, etc.

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Now that you understand the positive effects of laughter why don’t you raise your laughter level with the following tactics?

1. Instead of watching serious movies on romance and war, you could watch truly hilarious movies on TV or go to funny movies and enjoy a belly-full of laughter with your family.

2. There are enough worries in life. Instead of focusing on them, try to laugh at them. Complain less and laugh more.

3. Studies show that faked laughter also has positive benefits on health. Fake laughter may lead to real smiles and laughter.

4. Make it a point to read joke books or watch funny movies before going to bed because it relaxes you and helps you to have a pleasant sleep.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-01-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's my birthday today and I'm very happy. Happy that I've lived to see 40 years, happy that I'm healthy and full of life, and happy that I'm getting older.

Yesterday, while my daughter and I were waiting for the bus, we were chatting just discussing what happened in the day. She has a way of calling Ma! The lady standing behind us just had to ask if I was her mother. My daughter is 20 years old and she just could not believe I had a daughter that age. She said we looked like sisters. (Everybody says that).

I have managed to stay looking the way I do because of my positive thinking and overall positive outlook on life. I just don't let anyone steal my joy. Of course, I do have challenges and difficult days sometimes, but I just don't let it get to me. Keeping a positive outlook on life, despite what you may be going through, will help to keep you looking young and healthy.

Life was meant to be lived and I vow to remain happy until the day I die.

Today I will take my children out for pizza (they're more excited about my birthday than I am) and just watch them be happy and have a good time.

Happiness is a state of mind, not just an emotion. Learn to be happy and enjoy life!

The Laugh Factor

2009-01-23T07:36:00.000-08:00

They are the funny and charming individuals who weave effortlessly through crowded galas, restaurants and events, making people smile and laugh, and always in demand at both business and social functions. They are never at a loss for associates, friends and lovers. They are the people that everyone wants to sit by, to talk to and to have around.

The Laugh Factor: How to Develop Your Own Unique Sense of Humor audio/ebook package will help you discover your inner sense of humor and develop it into an appealing aspect of your personality. The good news is that everyone has a sense of humor, different from others' and unique to you and your personality. Some people just need help identifying and nurturing this sense of humor.

Be Happy to Be Healthy

2008-12-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

As we go through life, with its many challenges, our emotions tend to take a roller coaster ride. One day we are up, the other down, the next day up again. when we've achieved a major accomplishment, we are happy and on top of the world, but when we face a major disappointment, our bubbles burst and we feel down and out.

What was the last major disappointment you had? How long did you feel sad or discouraged? A week? A month? Now think about something wonderful that happened. How long did the euporia last? Have you noticed that you tend to remain sad longer than you do happy?

The reason why this happens is that, as we achieve more, our expectations grow - which is not a bad thing in itself - but these expectations could become unrealistic. It sometimes get to the point of not being satisfied with what we have, and we just want more and more and more. Being wealthy and acquiring a whole lot of material things does not make one happy.

Being happy and developing a healthy attitude keeps us healthy. Too much stress is definitely unhealthy. Stress can kill. We worry about so much things, big and small. We lose sleep, don't eat and our state of mind gets into shambles. This affects both our personal and professional lives, as we lose patience with those around us.

The choices we make on a daily basis affect our entire lives. Healthy habits are needed in order to remain healthy. Health and happiness go together. We feel good when we indulge in simple pleasures and whatever we enjoy doing makes us happy. Living a healthy stress free life becomes easy.

If we are contented, have a purpose in life and a sense of belonging, we will be happy. Our whole outlook in life and the satisfaction we gain just by living contribute to our happiness and health.

So do what makes you happy, enjoy life and have a positive outlook in life and you will remain happy and healthy.

Grow Happiness Under Your Feet

2008-11-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Where are you looking for happiness?

Do you believe that happiness is in the distant future? What are you looking for to be really happy?

Here is a quote from J. Robert Oppenheimer

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.”

Happiness does not derive as a result of something. Happiness is by choice. You choose to be happy. We all have the power to grow happiness under our feet.

Here’s an exercise for you. Think about 5 things that you are most grateful for in your life.

Finished?

How do you feel? Things are not that bad, are they?

We all have problems, and sometimes we allow these problems to take over our minds and thoughts to the point where we believe that everything in life is bad. This deprives you of happiness.

Be happy right now. Here is another exercise.

Laugh, just laugh!

Feel better?

Look at this picture of a smiling baby, Doesn’t it make you smile?

How do you feel?

Grow happiness under your feet and choose to be happy - TODAY!

How to Find True Happiness and Keep it Forever

2008-11-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

Click on Image for more details.

Did you know that you could still be happy despite encountering unlimited challenges or hardships in life?

This is possible! You can use your body and your mind to be happy. There are people who can lead you towards happiness. Most especially, you can be happy on your own!"

How to Find True Happiness and Keep It Forever" will show you how to be happy every single day of your life. No matter what comes your way, you will be able to gain supreme contentment and bliss.

This audio/ebook will show you the real source of happiness within you. You will be fully at peace with your life. You will stop longing and looking for something or someone else to complete you.

This goldmine fully defines happiness in all contexts. Its step-by-step system will allow you to relate and fully understand the concept of happiness.

Knowing the essence of happiness will eventually lead you to reaching it. It doesn't matter if you are rich and famous, or poor and unpopular, young or old, married or single. It won't make a difference. We all need happiness and we need it right now. Now is your opportunity to find some!

10 Tips to A Happier You

2008-11-03T11:33:00.000-08:00

Life is pretty uncertain nowadays, especially with what is happening in the global economy. People are losing jobs, homes and money. Admittedly, these could be very worrying situations, but should they deprive you of happiness? I think not.

People are worried all the time about trivial things. But if you think about it, are these things really worth worrying about? There are things about you life you could change, and by all means, take the necessary steps to do so. However, if there are situations in your life you have no control over, then accept them and move on.

Try to be happy and have a positive outlook on life. Life is not really that bad. How can you achieve this? Here are ten tips to be happy.

When was the last time you paid attention to your outdoor environment? I am not an American citizen, where I live it’s summer all year round. But I know it’s close to winter, so the leaves have turned a beautiful color and are falling off the trees. Now is the time to admire the beauty of nature. The changing seasons of America is a site to behold. Don’t take it for granted. Admire it and be happy.

You must know some happy people. Stick close to them and make it a habit to associate yourself with positive thinking, joyous people. You won’t believe how contagious they can be.

If you find yourself in a troubling situation, don’t feel sorry for yourself and wallow in self pity. Take steps to solve your problems and have confidence that you can work them out. If the situation is beyond you, then accept it and move on. The future is always bright, who knows what is in store for you?

Learn to Love yourself. Once you love yourself and have self-confidence, you can take on the world. Also, loving other people will be easy.

Learn to laugh at yourself – When you make mistakes, laugh it off. Don’t become depressed over them. Just accept it as one more lesson in life’s classroom.

Take care of your health. A healthy you is a happy you.

Don’t let anyone steal your joy. You deserve to be happy. Nobody can take that away from you. Choose to be happy.

Has life become a routine? Change it. When you get stuck in a rut, life becomes boring and miserable. Is there something you always wanted to do, but could never find the time? Well now is the time to do it. Do the things you enjoy and life will become more enjoyable.

Be thankful for the things you have. You lost your house, but still have good health? Be thankful. You lost money you invested, but still have your family? Be thankful. You still have your house, car, family and money, then give thanks. You are happy.

Avoid negativism – Always look on the positive side of everything, and yes, there is a positive side. That is happiness.

It’s you life, choose to be happy, life was meant to be enjoyed. Live it.

How to Achieve Genuine Happiness

2008-11-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Do you know someone who is always laughing, always has a pleasant smile, who always looks at the bright side of a bad situation? Ever thought that maybe they love themselves and life so much that happiness just comes naturally?

How do you become genuinely happy? The first step is by loving yourself. To love yourself means to accept that you have faults, and once you have discovered and accepted these, you are able to find ways to correct them, to build your self-esteem, and recover from your mistakes.

Genuine happiness also means contentment. When you are contented with your job, your family, your friends, your house, your car, and everything else that you now have, you will be happy. Try and find something simple that makes you happy, that makes you smile. Once you have found that, look for something else. Eventually, you will find a whole series of things to be happy about. However, if you keep saying that life is unfair, that it has nothing to offer you, then you will never be genuinely happy.

Life is knowing what is right and wrong, and doing what is right. It’s about trying and failing, wining and losing. All these things are bound to happen to you during the course of your lifetime. But this should not deprive you from being happy.

So, how do you achieve happiness despite all this? By making every effort to improve the quality of your life and those of others. By encouraging someone who is feeling down. You failed an examination? Then keep on trying until you pass. Keep you surroundings clean and tidy. Your environment also plays a big part in how you feel. You will feel greatly satisfied when you do these things and life will reward you accordingly.

Genuine happiness is not about driving the best car, or owning the best house. Sometimes the best things in life don’t always go to the fastest, strongest, bravest or the best. Everyone has his own definition of happiness. Happiness to a poor man will be more money. Happiness to an author means best selling books. Happiness to a sprinter is winning the gold medal.

Understanding that it is not material things, but making the best of every situation will bring you happiness. When you find yourself laughing at your own mistakes and telling yourself, “I’ll know better next time”, you’ll have a much lighter heart and you’ll develop a positive outlook on life which will help you to carry on and remain happy.