Wordstory

Happiness – Work Now or Later?
by Petra Rankin

Long-term success and happiness follows hand-in-hand with
strength of character.

As I mention in my book, Fast Track Your Success and Happiness, If we want to achieve a certain goal, we simply must do things that are less pleasant now than other alternatives have the potential to be. For example, if John wants to get a degree, he has to study for his exams, and not bliss out at the beach.

In order to become a person who manifests health, wealth,
success, education etc in our lives, we have to want and be
motivated to do those things that we don’t always like to do.
Once we become motivated because we have a specific purpose for
doing those things, they become satisfying because we can see
our lives moving in the right direction.

Life is certainly a journey. And it is not a journey where we
board a train and know our destination in advance. We actually
create our own destination by the steps we take today. So for
me, becoming the kind of person who can amass wealth and then
give it to charity, the kind of person who can love without
expecting back, and the kind of person who can achieve the
wildest goals, is well worth any unpleasantness I might have to
experience now.

In having that mind set, the hard work it takes to achieve our
goals doesn’t seem unpleasant. Even if we never achieve the
goals we set, we will be well on our way to developing an
amazing strength of character.

(C) Copyright Petra Rankin 2005

Petra Rankin used powerful techniques to beat her own long-term
depression. She is now dedicated to teaching others how to be
happier and lead more successful lives. Her first book Fast Track
Your Success and Happiness is due to be launched in
September 2005 and is currently available for download as a free
e-book instead of paying $19.95. Limited time only!

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Happiness – A Matter of Focus
by Petra Rankin

Imagine for a moment you have been given a task. That task is
to count the number of times five basketballs are passed
between a group of people who are running around each other.
Assuming that the exercise requires your full concentration,
what is the chance that you would notice a gorilla walk right
into the middle of the group, beat it’s chest and then walk
away again? Should be obvious right?

Well according to a study conducted at Harvard university, in
some circumstances as little as eight percent of people notice
the gorilla!

The reason is that our perception often has a lot to do with
what we are focusing on, and less to do with what is really
there. In order to process complex information we have to
delete most of what goes on around us. For example, before now
did you notice how your shirt felt against your skin? When was
the last time you blinked?

So the question is, if you are pessimistic – if you focus on
what is negative in a situation rather than what is positive -
what will your reality be? It is highly likely that if you
focus on bad, you will see and hear the bad and miss the good.

Being pessimistic is not the same as being ‘realistic’. It is
stripping your life of pleasure. Looking for the good in every
situation has the opposite affect. The more good you look for,
more more good (and happiness) you will get.

(C) Copyright Petra Rankin 2005

Petra Rankin used powerful techniques to beat her own long-term
depression. She is now dedicated to teaching others how to be
happier and lead more successful lives. Her first book Fast Track
Your Success and Happiness is due to be launched in
September 2005 and is currently available for download as a free
e-book instead of paying $19.95. Limited time only!

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Change 1 Thing Per Month – Making it Great One Step at a Time
by Phil Gerbyshak

So you’re stuck in a rut, bored with how your life is, and you can’t think of how to get through this period. Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” So stop being insane…and try something new.

Now I’m not saying you totally change everything you do, and everything you’re about. I’m recommending you take baby steps, and change 1 thing a month. Try this: Start getting up an hour earlier every day for 30 days, so you can get used to getting up with enough time to do something extra in the mornings. After 30 days, if you find it’s not working for you or you’re too tired or whatever your excuse is, then fine, stop doing it. Next month, try something else new. Maybe you take up a new hobby, maybe you start listening to books on tape/CD/MP3 on the way to and from work, or maybe you cut out sweets for 30 days. Try something new and different for 30 days, next month try another thing new, then another, and another, and eventually you’ll have a whole bunch of new stuff you can say you at least tried, and I’ll bet you find a few things you want to keep doing, or that you want to share with your friends, family and others.

There are so many ways to make it great, if you’re willing to try 1 new thing a month.

Phil Gerbyshak leads a team as manager of an IT Help Desk in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component for in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil’s personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders’ fantastic book Love is the Killer App: “Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow.” Check out his website at http://www.makeitgreat.org for more information about Phil and for other tips on how to make it great!

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A Shortcut to Happiness — Vote with Live 8
by Benjamin Conley

Did you see any of the Live 8 performances in support of stopping poverty in Africa? Here’s your chance to create a shortcut to your own happiness by voting to help others. You can support the creation of the happiness of survival for them.

The Live 8 stated goal is to cancel poverty, beginning with eliminating death by starvation and polluted water.

There are times when life hands us the opportunity to support and affirm what is positive in very dramatic ways. This is one of those times.

They clearly made the point that given the wealth of the free world, death by starvation and polluted water is an anachronism, a throwback to earlier times when nothing could be done about it. The United States spends $2 billion a day on Iraq, reflecting the high value put on that cause.

Live 8 challenged the countries represented at the G8 meeting to provide $25 billion to demonstrate that death by poverty, by starvation and pollution is no longer necessary.

That would be ½ billion a day for a year from all the countries of the world. It can be done.

This letter is about the creation of happiness by accepting reality as it is, and the pursuit of the positives wherever they
are possible.

The reality, what is, is that there is poverty in Africa.

Another reality is that the developed nations of the world have the money and skills necessary to stop poverty. The United Nations and other private aid groups are there.

So it is possible to erase starvation in Africa, should the G8 representatives decide to do so. Of course, success in Africa leaves starvation in other places to be addressed. But one continent at a time.

You can participate by joining with Live 8 and casting your vote for the elimination of poverty in Africa now at:
http://www.one.org/ This is a small thing to do, costing you nothing but the time to make your commitment public.

By the time you receive this letter, the G8 meeting will be over, and their decisions will be history. But the lives of those who live in Africa and other poverty areas will go on.

So cast your vote anyway, to make it clear that this push for survival will not end when the G8 meetings are over, but will go on for the lifetimes of those 1 to 3 year olds who will be saved from dying by our efforts. Perhaps they can become the leaders of a world without death by starvation.

One of the most dramatic moments of the Live 8 performances occurred when Madonna brought onstage a lovely 23 year old woman, the picture of happinesss. She was captured on film 20 years ago as a three year old starving to death. She was emaciated, tragically a few days from death by starvation. Not a picture of happiness.

She was rescued by a program of aid at the time that enabled her to finish her educational degree and be present as a beautiful, successful individual at the Live 8 performance.

She is living evidence that eradicating poverty and death by starvation and polluted water is possible.

It is possible not only theoretically, as with the amount of money necessary, etc., but it is possible in personal terms, to save the lives of those who can grow up to make their own contribution to the welfare of mankind.

Now, go on, do your part. Vote!

Benjamin Conley is dedicated to helping people create happiness wherever possible, by accepting life as it is, nurturing the positive, and limiting the negative. Get his free white paper on How to Create Happiness in Your Life at http://www.go-for-happiness.com

He is a Marriage and Family Therapist, Pastoral Psychotherapist, author and speaker living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. You can find out more information about him, his ideas, and his services at http://www.anthospublishing.com

(c) 2005 Benjamin B. Conley

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In Pursuit of Happiness
by Monica Burns

In pursuit of happiness, what will we do as women? Whatever we possibly can. We want to do things for ourselves, but always put others before us. What’s the result of this? Resentment…we start resenting our spouses, kids, family, etc.., but never stopped to take a look to see why we deferred our dreams.

Women it is time that you started thinking for yourselves…not allowing your spouses or family to make decisions for you. Sometimes they only make the decisions that will have you five years from now thinking, what happened to my dream? Oh I know, my husband, family, or kids said to wait until they accomplished all they needed. When it’s your time to start accomplishing, you’ll be too tired to do anything.

Get up now and start your own businesses, wives get out of the house and start gaining some career skills…you never know what may happen in the marriage if he decides he wants to trade you in. At least you’ll have skills and can live on your own and take care of the kids.

So with this written, In Pursuit of Happiness, be a Go-Getter. Stop putting others before you and make your dreams come true. Be Happy…Do What You Want for a change and love every minute of it!

To Your Happiness,

Monica M. Burns

copyright2005 Monica M. Burns

Monica M. Burns is a small business owner, an author contributing to several anthologies, and publisher of Monica Burns, Inc. website and weekly newsletter. To find out more email her at monicaburnsinc@yahoo.com

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Acts of Kindness Benefit Everyone
by Paul Jerard

Do you really want to be happy? Everyone says yes, but the gateway to happiness makes some of us frown. The gateway to happiness, is giving to others. Think about this: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – The Dalai Lama

Some of us may feel that, if we give too much, our generosity, will be taken advantage of by others. This is true, and a few very selfish individuals can possibly perceive your good intentions as weakness.

However, people who seek to take advantage are in the minority. To quote Gandhi, “We must be the change, we wish to see in the world.” Think about it, change has to start somewhere, so why not start with you and me, right now?

You can donate anything randomly, without seeking reward, and anonymously, without telling anyone. This is good for you, the universe, and those who receive your acts of kindness. Every time you give, you will receive – even, if you are not looking for a reward.

Try it, and you will see, what some call, “karma,” the law of cause and effect. It works like this: For every action there is a reaction. Let’s make sure the reactions to our actions are good ones.

Danny Thomas said, “All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.”

Share everything and you will achieve a legacy of kindness. Share nothing and people will, do their best, to forget you. When my life is over I will only leave memories, in the minds of others, and I want them all to be good ones.

So, how much should you give? It can start with, “heart felt”, kind words, a note, a card, or a flower. You will find that your gifts or donations won’t make you poor. As a result of this, you will see most people, naturally, return kindness to you.

You should also take the time to be polite to all of the people who perform services for you, every day. Many people do not bother to say hello to the maid, janitor, parking attendant, or service clerk.

Once you do, you may even learn their name, and you would be surprised how many of them will go out of their way to give you good service, just by addressing them by their first name.

If you establish sincerity and trust where ever you go, you will be loved by your fellow man. It is really that simple. As Mohammed said, “A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world.”

Paul Jerard, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

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Poetic Romance
by Robert Curtis

Romance is conveyed in so many different ways.

One less commonly used is the medium of poetry. Sometimes words penned on the page put across our feelings to someone else so deeply that we are moved to tears. Moved to compassion. Moved to passion in ways we would never before have thought possible. And yet, we find ourselves feeling as we have never felt. Holding as we have never embraced before. Touching gently and intimately as we would never have imagined before. And it was the power of words, the touch of the breath of eros upon our lips, our hearts, and our minds that has created within us this mood of sweet closeness, such warm intimacy.

Words have power and they have deep meaning. Words have caused individuals and nations to rise and become great. Words have tenderness as they gently play the music on the strings of our heart. Words arouse us and gently lay us to rest. Words soothe our longing hearts and aching souls. Words move us to become so much more than we are. They lift us so much higher than we have ever been.

Romance through words can be the healing balm to our troubled heart after a challenging day. Words are the whispers of the gentle soul upon the flesh of our anxious frame. Words convey the conversations of our hands as we slowly caress the softness of the tender soul.

Read gently the searchings, the sharing of the heart:

“Breathless”

I quiver with anticipation

Ache for the moment

Breathlessly I long

To hear the sound of your voice;

It is only but a moment

Though it seems to take forever

Until we are together

Sharing heart, thought, mind and voice

Enjoying the depth of such

Awesome company!

Then once again

I find myself waiting

For our next precious moment;

Breathlessly waiting

I quiver with anticipation!

“If You Are There”

(From the epic poem, “The Crusader”)

My love for you shall grow every day

Eternal happiness, too.

Our light will shine that all may see

What caring and loving can do.

Reach out and place your hand in mine

Together we’ll find the way;

Forever we’ll seek for the paths of truth

Our love growing day by day.

And then, at last, when here we’re through,

Eternal glory we’ll share.

Forever true, wherever we are

The farthest star

Is heaven, if you are there,

Is heaven, if you are there!

Bob Curtis has been writing articles, short fiction and poetry for over 30 years. He is affilliated with the site Blue Romance (http://www.moonlitefire.blogspot.com), which offers romantic helps and information to all interested in improving their relationships.

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Hanging Out
by Robert Curtis

Right off the top: What is the difference between dating and hanging out?

My teens try to differentiate the two by saying that dating is what you do with someone you want to be serious with. Hanging Out is what you do with good friends.

I guess perhaps age has slowed my mind up somewhat.

Even though I’m not that old.

To me, they seem similar. I should think that you would want to hang out with those you would be interested in dating.

Isn’t that right?

You should be dating, “hanging out”, with those you would like to consider a serious relationship with.

It is in the hanging out with each other that you get to know each other. You get to be around each other with your hair let down. You discover their likes, their dislikes, their habits, idiosyncrasies, hopes, goals, and dreams.

Maybe it would be more correct to want to “hang out” with the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.

There is so much to learn about each other. So much that can be discovered in their virgin territory of relationship sense. They have lived their entire lifetime without you up until now. You get the opportunity, the unique privilege of peeling back the layers of their life’s experiences, discovering the details of what has brought them to this point. What has made them who they are. Why it is that they have found they not only like what you are, but are indeed falling in love with who you are!

That may be the most revealing discovery of all…To you!

So get together. “Hang Out”. Discover all the wonderful things and depth of personality that exists in the person who is systematically stealing you heart away.

Enjoy the journey. It is the voyage of a lifetime!

Bob Curtis has been writing articles, short fiction and poetry for over 30 years. He is the managing director of http://www.People4People.blogspot.com and is the president of Nexus Publishing (nexus4u.blogspot.com). He assists with Blue Romance (http://www.moonlitefire), a site promoting “positive” romance.

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Tap Into Wellness – the Secret Self Help Tool Your Doctor Doesn’t Want You To Know About
by Jill Christopher

Everyone has issues with self esteem. It’s no wonder then that bookstores have entire sections devoted to it. Speakers and authors have made billions touting yet another seminar, book or DVD aimed at self esteem improvement.

What you think of yourself – both consciously – but more importantly unconsciously, literally makes or breaks you. It’s not just a theory it’s a spiritual law. For most, belief in a supreme being, or a source greater than oneself, brings with it a sense that this entity loves us completely – flaws and all. So, to realize our divineness, we too, must come to a point where we love ourselves unconditionally. Unity with the divine – whom I call God is the only way to live a successful, happy and healthy life. In this unity we receive the gifts of the kingdom. We are fulfilled and life is joyful.

Imagine for a moment you are looking at yourself with the loving eyes of God. You are beautiful, loveable, attractive, intelligent, kind, successful, compassionate, and all of the other things that make you most like your creator. Now, in that moment of visioning, how did you feel? Consider the possibility that most of the time you are telling yourself the exact opposite.

So, in order to move on to joy, how are we to correct this psychological reversal?

Face it, your opinion of yourself is at the heart of everything you do, say and experience. A poor self image is reflected in your appearance, finances, career success, and relationships (or lack of). Often it can manifest in any number of health problems ranging from minor annoyances like allergies to deadly diseases such as cancer.

In a vicious cycle we attend seminars, read books and ‘try’ one technique after another, but we never quite connect with the healing promised. Then when the “I can do anything!” glow fades we’re back in the bookstore, or another hotel meeting room trying to find that one thing that will generate all the ‘good vibes’ yet again.

While it’s true that everyone responds differently to the various self healing modalities available, a relatively new entry into the field of energy psychology has shown great promise with a multitude of issues. This simple technique takes literally seconds to do and has been proven to substantially reduce or eliminate emotional issues that years of traditional ‘talk therapy’ has been unable to touch. Its motto is: “try it on everything”.

So now imagine what that could mean to your life. The analogy of chopping down a forest is a good way to illustrate the positive effects of energy therapy. In your forest, each tree represents a limitation on your life such as guilt, learning problems like dyslexia, ADD and ADHA, irrational fears, weight and body image issues, depression, headaches or chronic pain, anger, stage fright, sports performance issues, nightmares and other symptoms of traumatic stress.

Energy therapy is known to be very helpful in assisting war veterans free themselves from the horrific memories and dangerous drugs prescribed by doctors to help them forget. But the subconscious never forgets under these therapies. Even talk therapy under highly trained and skilled professionals often fails to reach the core issues. It is when all else fails that energy therapy has shown great promise. In the case of the veterans, after using energy therapy for a relatively short amount of time we’ve found that in most cases, they are now clear headed, and for some – sleeping a full night without medication. If these brave men and women can find relief in alternative therapy, perhaps there is something good – in fact very good in this technique.

While there is no substitute for professional medical treatment in the case of serious mental or physical disease, energy work has proven to be a very effective adjunct therapy. It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have found relief where traditional methods have failed.

If there are issues you are still struggling with I urge you to investigate energy psychology. Most of the leading modalities of energy meridian therapy are simple to learn, yet very effective. Some forms of self healing energy therapy once learned, do not require continued work with a therapist to receive ongoing results. This makes it a very cost effective option for most. Energy therapy: It could just be the next thing you try; then again, it could be the last thing you’ll ever need.

Jill Christopher is a certified EFT practitioner and intuitive in the Dallas, TX metroplex. She is in private practice providing group and individual counseling, as well as offering free introductory seminars on a regular basis. Visit her site at: http://www.JillChristopher.com

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10 Survival Strategies to Overcoming Adversity and Being Happy
by Linda Furiate

If one thing is for certain, each of us will experience some form of adversity while we are still breathing on this Earth. Unfortunately, some of us will experience more than our fair share of adversity, either in the workplace or in our personal lives.

Over the years, I feel I have been fortunate to experience unpleasant and often times, life-altering situations. Although at times I find it difficult to sustain a positive attitude while working through adverse situations, whether it be the lose of a job, a relationship breakup, looked over for a promotion or battling a major health issue, I know deep down that by working through and learning to find purpose and meaning in these situations is where I will encounter my greatest triumphs.

I have often said “we may ‘go’ through adversity, but we may not know how to ‘get’ through adversity.” Each time I experience something unpleasant I ask myself “what can I learn from this situation and how has my past behavior contributed to my current state?” Instead of burying my head in the sand just waiting for time to pass, or the Universe to forget about the situation, I actively work through the adversity, which helps ease the pain and frustration.

As I assess what I have learned and how I have grown through the years, I have shaped 10 survival strategies that have allowed me to get through the tough times. They include:

* Patience – This could be the hardest of all to achieve although one of the first thing we must develop when faced with adversity. The key to developing patience is to know in the end everything will work out the way it’s intended to. Also key to developing patience is surrendering your self to the fact that there is a time frame for everything. I like to use the analogy – that if you want to have a baby even though you (or your wife) may be pregnant you still have to wait the gestation period before the baby actually arrives.

* Forgiveness – Forgive the other person for wronging you. By not allowing yourself to forgive you utilize a great deal of negative energy as you harbor old thoughts and feelings. Learn to forgive and use this same energy in a positive way to take back your life. While forgiving the other person make certain you forgive your self for any misgivings or shortcomings, otherwise half the negative energy still remains.

* Acceptance –Accept the hand you were dealt – even a pair deuces can win the game.

* Thankfulness – Be thankful for the adversity. Adversity is God’s way of saying “you are worthy of my teachings.”

* Detachment – We have all heard the phrase – “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.” If something is meant to be a part of your life, it will materialize, so there is no need to desperately hold onto anything.

* Understanding: Why This vs. Why Me? – I feel our first inclination when something negative happens to us we ask “why me?” Normally asking this question doesn’t provide any answers other than making us feel guilty for having asked it in the first place – really, why not you? No one is immune to pain. Simply reword the question and ask “why this?” By asking “why this” it typically leads us to understanding our past thoughts and actions that may have (karmically) contributed to our current state, allowing us to get to the root of the situation.

* Meditation or Quiet Time – I always say “it is only in the silence can we hear God’s voice.” Allow for quiet time to reflect up your desires and listen closely and intently to what is happening all around you – you will find your answers in the silence.

* Maintain a Creative Mind – Eliminate boredom otherwise it will lead you toward frustration and depression. Take up a hobby, do some writing, volunteer your time or spend time with friends and family. Any, or all of this, will make you feel good about yourself, allowing you to want to move forward.

* Work Toward the Future – Even if you do not feel things are moving forward, work on creating the future you desire. You can plant tiny seeds by going back to school, read material that is related to your desires, commit by writing out your goals and desires or network with like-minded people. Each step you take, no matter how small moves you toward your future.

* Trust – Let God and let God. All we really have control over is our actions and a gut feeling (or hearts desire) of what we hope the outcome of our lives to be. The rest is up to a higher power greater than our own. Trust the Universe will provide you with exactly what you need when you need it.

Linda Furiate is a personal coach, mentor, astrologer and author. She is also the creator and host of Portraits in Determination, a cable access TV program showcasing the lives of those who have suffered adversity and have grown emotionally and spiritually as a result of their experiences. Stayed tuned for October 21, 2005 @ 4:00 p.m. PST to hear live on the internet a weekly radio version of the show – log onto http://www.health.voiceamerica.com For more information log onto http://www.portraitsindetermination.com

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