Happiness - Not Something To Pursue

                                                             

Photo by Samson Katt

Perhaps the most sought after thing in the world is happiness. Our constitution even provides freedom for the pursuit of happiness. People seek out many things in that pursuit . . . power, money, love, sex, food, etc.

Happiness is not something to pursue. It's a decision we make for ourselves. Will Rogers may have said it best. He said, "Most folks are about as happy as they decide to be!" You have to decide to be happy. You may be amazed how everything else then falls into place!

My wife and I made that decision years ago. It works! But, you have to decide to be happy every day and regardless what happens. That's not always easy. Sometimes it can be a decision you have to make every other minute. You can always come up with "reasons" to be down, if you let yourself. Know what? You can learn to take even bad times in stride! As one 70 year old man said* concerning what he had learned in his lifetime, "Don't sweat the small stuff . . . and it's all small stuff!" It takes practice, but it can be learned. Try it! Make that decision right now!

The Lord can help. You can go to Him in thanksgiving and prayer anytime. Prayer works! It really does. For many people, the problem isn't believing in God, or that he can help. The challenge is believing that he will help. "Why should He help li'l 'ole me?" "I'm not important enough for Him to help." "That's such a little thing. Why would He help with that?" "Isn't He too busy with more important things?" "That's too much to ask!" The fact is . . . He is always there, like a loving parent, to help in any way, at any time. All He asks . . . is that you ask, with faith. Then miracles can happen!

When you decide to be happy, several things occur. The world suddenly seems like a better place to live in. People seem so much easier to deal with. They seem happier. Why weren't they like that before? Smile, and the world smiles with you? Your job becomes easier. Everything becomes easier! Dreams begin to come true.

Of course, there will always be some who will try to bring you back down to their level. Misery loves company? Perhaps. You may need to distance yourself from these people, if not physically, then at least emotionally. Something else to learn.

Above all . . . BE HAPPY! Pray about it. He will help!

*as recalled by the author from one of the 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' books

© 2004 David M. Butcher

Dave Butcher works a musical ministry with his wife, Carolyn Richards. They are full time and travel the USA presenting their programs at churches, gospels sings, revivals, RV campgrounds, fairs, festivals, and other events. Carolyn is the #5 "Most Played Overseas Gospel Artist" according to a chart published in the Oct & Nov, 2004 issues of Glory Train Express. Carolyn was in the top three percent "Most Played" of mainstream and indie country artists in early September according to a chart compiled by Western Heart Promotions of Phoenix, Arizona WORLDWIDE MAINSTREAM "MOST PLAYED "MAJOR & INDIE" ARTISTS CHART" 01-15 Sept.2004 According to the chart, she got more airplay in that time period than Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, and Loretta Lynn. She had at least one song on the charts every month in 2004. Dave & Carolyn ask that you remember this: The Lord is gonna see that Everything's Alright! Trust Him! [http://CarolynRichards.net]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8683

Why Do We Need Our Addictions?

 

If money is considered to be the root of all evil, then what

would we classify as our addictions?

The psychology of the human mind is ultra complex when

compared to any other species on earth, so why does it love

to tangle itself up in a destructive mode? Once more, why

would it seemingly feel right to be in this place in life?

Let's drill down and put addictions in a separate folder.

Psychological addictions are much more prevalent then

physical ones; however, people can have both. When

someone is psychologically addicted, they are obsessed

with doing, having, and the idea of a specific concept swirls

within.

If one is physically addicted, the actual body craves, but the

mind can easily be trained that it also must "have it" in

order to function properly.

Two main reasons behind the psychology of addictions are

fairly simplistic human emotions that we all have. Self

worth and security are the primary root reasons for our

propensity to become addicted.

Example: An invitation lands inside your mailbox and many

people that you know and don't know are going to be

there. Feeling unsecure about your abilities, you summon

up the courage to consume three or four drinks to take off

the edge and loosen yourself before the event takes place.

This concept seems to work and now you don't just do it

for regular functions, you begin to use it as a crutch more

frequently. Your workplace may be the next testing ground

or worst, at home.

Another example is when women seek out the same type of

man as a patterned behavior because they feel within

themselves that they simply do not deserve better. This self

worth can manifest itself into many variations of an

addictive personality or patterned behavior.

What would happen if we completely abolished all of our

addictions, whether big or small, serious or not? Would we

be forfeiting a part of our very fiber, the weave that keeps

us together?

Not only can the mind play tricks on itself and make it

believe that it needs something, but it can also become lucid

and understand that it can stand alone without the

assistance of external stimuli to artificially boost its worth

or security.

Obviously, the latter is where we would all love to be,

however, no one can break obsessive patterns unless they

are understood, acknowledged, and then taken apart

methodically.

This must come from within the person!

Analyzing your own behaviors from dusk to dawn and

understanding that every action and decision has an end

result of good or bad consequences, can prompt the 'ball to

suddenly move forward.'

If denial skews logic even after acknowledging that

negatives come out of specific actions, then additional

introspection should be indicated or an external intervention

employed.

If you let your security and self worth derive from your

past, then your past will always haunt you. However, if the

past is treated like it should be, as a way of understanding

ourselves better through lessons learned, then your future

can be today and beyond without the crutches.

Many of us carry around demons from the past and hold

them as close to our hearts as anything else. They, in

some way, fulfill what we think we are worth.

The truth is, everyone is literally invaluable, there is no

price that could ever be placed upon you. Living pure,

clean, and free of addictions is extremely attainable,

although, analyzing and understanding yourself first....is the

only way it can be done.

Strive to accomplish that daily, and you are on your way to

a much more loving, happier, and content future then you

could ever imagine.

--by Brian Maloney-ValuePrep.com

Want to improve your personal values?

Get high-quality relationship advice

from a 'Logical' standpoint.

Visit ValuePrep - Relationship Advice

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the content and include our resource box as

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Brian Maloney is an online writer & site owner of ValuePrep helping others understand their personal values and morals more effectively.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/19621

Forgiveness: Letting Yourself Out of Prison

                                     

I noticed the scowl on the face of a Vietnamese engineer as I taught about the impact of hardened anger and of the need to forgive. I was sure he wasn't the only one in this room of managers who felt the emotions his face seemed to reflect. After all, the company was about to go through downsizing, and many were unhappy with the edicts that had been handed down from Corporate.

He never spoke up in the group that day, though others were quite verbal. It wasn't until we sat together on the long ride back from the remote retreat location that I learned what he had been thinking.

"I heard what you said today about how grudges make you sick in your heart and body. But I can never forgive the Communists. They don't deserve to be forgiven."

"Tell me more about it," I invited.

"I had dreams," he said. "I left Viet Nam in 1982 in little 30-foot fishing boat with 60 people on board. We landed on Malaysian soil after four scary days and nights at sea. One year later I considered myself and my family very lucky to have been admitted to the U.S. under political asylum status. But I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, the horrible images of the past eight years keep coming back to me. All of my dreams would not have been just dreams if the Communists didn't invade my country.

"What kind of crime did I committed anyway? Were it a crime to be born in a religious family? Were it a crime to attend an American college? Were it a crime to work for a living?

"Unfortunately, it were from the Communist perspective. Religion were considered a tranquilizer to the People's Movement. Educated in American school was enough to qualify me as a traitor to the "people." Working with government-owned Air Viet Nam meant collaborating with the enemy.

"I had such a hard time trying to convince the political officer that I attended an American engineering college because I won a scholarship to have free schooling. I worked for Air Viet Nam just to make a living like anybody else does. I was a Buddhist because I was born in a family that believed in Buddhism for generations. The more I reasoned, the more I appeared not wishing to cooperate with the new government. It was not a surprise to see myself in the "re-education camp" (prison) shortly.

"Four years in re-education camp seemed decades. Days after days, I built the hatred in myself, I hate the Communists so much. They came and took away our future, our hope, our country's prosperity. I look at the guards like looking at monsters. No human would act the way they act... abusing people, treating people like animals, laughing on people's suffering. They tried to weaken our body by hard labor and undernourishing in order to control our mind.

"Out of 1200 prisoners in the camp, four hundred died in one year, average more than one a day.

"After 15 years, the hatred are still boiling insides myself as much as the time I was in the camp. All the years living in the U.S., I never touch a book on Communism. I refused to watch movie about Viet Nam. When I talk to someone who says one word that seems like favoring Communism, I walk away. My wife has begs me to go with her to visit family back in Viet Nam, but I cannot set foot there because of what happened."

This man's experiences are very different from ours...or are they? The setting is different, but the essential elements are the same.

1. LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL.

He was literally in a prison. We can feel that way when "life" or certain people create negative experiences for us against our will.

2. UNDESERVED PUNISHMENT.

This man did not commit a crime, yet he received four years of cruel punishment. Some of the hardest things to forgive are those that are totally undeserved, things we did not directly bring on ourselves by our own choices.

3. LOSS OF THINGS WE VALUE.

The psychological losses were the ones that fueled this man's anger the most - the loss of freedom, the stealing of dreams, the horror of witnessing harm to others. It is also these deeper losses that haunt us. They often convince us that our lives have been snatched from us - and that someone needs to be punished for that.

4. DIFFICULTY LETTING GO.

My friend was still living in the prison from which he had been physically released years before. Are you?

WHAT THOUGHTS KEEP YOU HELD CAPTIVE?

Your thought habits exert a powerful influence on your emotions and behavior. Let's examine some of the "cognitive culprits" - myths that can paralyze you, embitter you, and keep you from moving forward in your life.

1. If I forgive, I'll be letting the person get off scot free.

Truth is, the other person is probably not the one held most captive by this. It's you!

You were already injured. You already had important things stolen from you.

Why perpetuate the harm by keeping yourself trapped in the never-ending reliving of the horror?

Forgive to free YOURSELF!

2. If I forgive, I'll be saying that what happened doesn't really matter.

No way. It DID and DOES matter. What happened was very, very wrong. Choosing to forgive does not make any statement to the contrary.

3. If I forgive, he/she will have won.

When you allow yourself to have an unforgiving spirit, you are always the real loser. The collateral losses continue, as the bitterness causes you to become a less effective worker, spouse or partner, parent, and/or friend.

You couldn't help what happened to you originally. You didn't cause the first losses. However, if you harbor the anger and revenge, you will create more losses than the perpetrator could inflict. It's your choice about whether to continue to inflict pain on yourself.

4. If I forgive, I'll be more vulnerable to harm in the future.

Forgiveness will not prevent your learning the lessons that are essential in your future. What has happened will make you more cautious, true enough.

Yes, your rights were violated. However, the reality is, some of the things we presume are rights are really privileges. Another fact is, some of the assumptions we have about, "This will never happen to me," are unfounded. No one is immune..not even "good people."

The difficult realization is, this world may not be as safe as you had previously assumed. However, with that loss of innocence comes a more mature realization that, though there is danger in relationships, in work situations, and in all of life, you can make the choices that make safer choices without becoming paranoid.

If you free yourself from the bitterness that can distort your thinking, perceptions, and reactions...you'll be able to see the world more clearly. Without the irrationality that accompanies hatred and bitterness, you'll become a wiser person.

I had planned to get to the "how-to" part in this article, but because of the foundation we needed to lay, that essential information will have to wait til the next Magnetizer. See you then!

Dr. Bev Smallwood is a psychologist who has worked with organizations across the globe for over 20 years. Her high-energy, high-content, high-involvement Magnetic Workplaces (r) programs provide dozens of practical strategies and skills that can be put to work immediately to:

1. build strong leaders who influence and develop others through serving;
2. energize, motivate, and retain team members;
3. successfully accomplish important organizational transitions; and
4. impress customers and build their loyalty.

Review a complete list of her programs available for your convention or corporate meeting at the website, www.MagneticWorkplaces.com [http://www.MagneticWorkplaces.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/667

Abundance Prosperity Based on Wallace Wattles and Napoleon Hill

                                     

It is arguable that the definition of wealth is the free and unrestricted use of all of the things which may be necessary for you to advance in the direction of your dreams and aspirations thus attaining your fullest mental, spiritual, and physical prosperity.

You have a right to wealth because it is simply a desire for you to have a richer fuller and more abundant life.

We live for the advancement of body, mind and soul and there is no reason to limit our capacities. Many people see wealth as greed. Ironically, poverty can and will frustrate your relationships with the spirit, people, and those you love. Accordingly, giving is one of the highest forms of love.

If you are complacent, stay where you are and don't exercise your talents. However, if you want more out of life, we will give you some keys to prosperity.

The world is plentiful with resources. You do not need: money to start, special talents, or the perfect business location. Many people become rich without any of this.

Become willing to change. There is plenty of opportunity. Creativity, innovation, and abundance will go to the people who embrace life and not reject it. Nature has an inexhaustible source of riches and soul advancement is vital. Moreover, the last 100 years has shown more life improvements that the last 2000 years of civilization.

We will now show you the first secret of life. This key to success can be yours if you simply accept the following statement. Just take it as fact, and the world will begin to move with you.

THOUGHT PRECEEDS FORM

You conceive of your desire, you believe it will happen, and you retrieve and receive your opportunities from the universe. As a rule, man originates thought that becomes plans of the mind. Man can communicate his focused thought and mental images throughout the universe.

Your mind is the center of being. The presence of the universal spirit can be allowed into your mind, and your thoughts mixed with a thankful heart directed toward your inner presence can project into the world. These ideas will send off into the world like a letter of request. If practiced, the desires you have will be met. Do not focus on or speak of failure or poverty. Your truth is health, riches, success, and happiness.

The universe wants you to have all that your need. Your motives should include helping your self and others and not hurt other people. Your motives should not be colored in greed, ego, pride, lust, competition, hate, resentment, arrogance. Your desires must be propelled by love, gratitude, faith, confidence, mental focus, truth, acceptance, creativity, positive expectation, clear planning, & giving more love and value than you take.

TO BEGIN YOUR PROCESS OF PROSPERITY

Brainstorm and clarify in you mind exactly what you want and how you will achieve it. Hold the picture of the moment you have completed the achievement with positive certainty. Claim it as yours, claim the picture of success as "FACT". Keep your mind conscious of the universal presence by being grateful. If you can not be grateful, begin to think of your ability to walk, talk, see, hear, travel, speak, etc. The simplest of freedoms are easily overlooked. People will soon not recognize your new outlook and serenity. Remember, that you must exercise this mental picturing and thankfulness every day for at least a month. After a month, you will not believe the difference in your attitude.

Do not be scared or ashamed to ask for more than you need. Poverty and self sacrifice are not pleasing to anyone. We believe that there is a universal spirit of which unlimited abundance flows. We make the profound connection to the spirit by developing a strong feeling of thankfulness for the gifts we receive. Can you have happiness with a bitter heart? Can you have real faith when you are ungrateful? If so, good luck. If you want to feel that all is possible, then keep reading.

Remember times when you got what you wanted and became arrogant. After you got what you wanted or got out of a jam, you abandoned your connection to spirit. When good things happen to you is the EXACT time that you should practice having a grateful heart to continue the flow of riches. Gratitude dispels doubt, keeps you connected, and prevents dissatisfaction. Continue to fix your attention on health, love, success, and good fortune. Your faith will be renewed; it may not happen over night, but soon after using this simple 5 minute a day practice, you WILL see and feel results.

If you have trouble with certain negative triggers, then eliminate them or avoid them for a while. You are working on yourself, and it is OK to take care of your well-being first which will please all around you. This is putting your health first i.e. your spiritual health.

Your desires and mental blueprint should be very specific. For example, you may write out on a piece of paper a personal agreement to yourself:

I, John Doe, Jr., will have a million dollar business 4 years from today. I will sell creative WIDGETS. I will give the best service and value to my clients. My products and services have outstanding benefits to my customers. I will do all of these things, work hard, and be persistent. I will not give up. People will be glad to pay me for my services because they benefit the customer. I will gladly accept payment and do what is needed to receive the funds.

July 1st, 2006

John Doe, Jr.

SIGNATURE

Spend each day contemplating the million dollar business. Form a joyful mental image of you being paid in full ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE BUSINESS at that very moment of completing the transaction.

You must engage life to secure each days small successes with faith and action. After mentally picturing your vision and reading your personal agreement, complete the process with the words "THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSING AND THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING ME" This will send it into the universe like a request that must be granted.

You need only use your willingness on yourself and not upon others. You can use willingness to force yourself to think about your dreams. Every thought of doubt or poverty is a waste. Your creative ideas WILL be a success when you have a strong desire that your are willing to go the distance to fulfill.

Do not tell the same old people of your plans. If you tell enough bitter people about your idea, their collective doubt may doom your dreams. Surround yourself with insightful professionals. Do not share about you difficulties or failures (unless in a secure group). Interest yourself in becoming rich in life! Focus on optimistic conversation.

As for your plans, make lists of things to do and begin doing them one by one with faith and action. It may take a year to complete, but we must begin somewhere. Do each days work efficiently without haste. Do it right the first time, and you need not fix it later.

Don't force anything. The creative energies will unfold the correct result for you. You merely need to organize your affairs so that you may receive the success. Overall, action sprinkled with faith is the recipe for success. In sum, put the faith, vision, and purpose behind your every action to accelerate your reaching abundance.

FIND OUT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO AND BE!

Write out a list of 20 careers of interest. Keep adding or subtracting from the list. Over time, you will have a few things left because the supreme power will guide you to your talents. The list over time will become more specific such as: to become the best sports writer. It doesn't matter how you start, just begin. Remember, something you enjoy and are good at doing combined with desire to become the best in this field will guarantee that you become what you love.

Without boast, you must impress on others that you are advancing all that come in contact with you. Speak of your life and business as getting better each day. Act and feel as you are already rich in life. Incorporate humility mixed with poise, faith, confidence, and self-esteem. Only speak when necessary, but your strong character and faithful confidence will attract the best people into your life.

If you can't leave your job, then do what you can in the evenings or weekends toward your dream. Use your job skillfully to move in the direction that you want. Your contacts at work may lead to a better job. You must be able to clarify your dream to others. You must be able to ask for and receive what you want out of life. Your plans and requests are traditionally answered by the universal power in the form of another person being available to assist you. Be READY to tell them what you need, and do not be ashamed to ask for a fair deal!

In conclusion, times are only as good as your perception. Just when you think you are failing is the exact time to continue your gratitude, focusing on your goals, and ACTION! During your moments of doubt is when the best is ready to unfold. Even if the result isn't exactly as you want, something better is very close, and you have only been protected until something better comes along.

Kindest Regards, George

George Mentz, JD, MBA, CEC is a full time faculty member of Loyola College of Business Administration. George is also the CEO of www.icecc.com which is a worldwide organization for ebusiness professionals.

megaabundance@yahoo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/29738