Hope and Happiness Bringing Hope and Happiness
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Aristotle wrote “Happiness is the meaning and purpose in life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
I believe strongly in maximizing my potential through self-actualization. I have spent 35 years studying every self-improvement book, audio, and video I could find. After all this,
I am fully convinced that money can’t buy happiness, but happiness can buy success. Let’s face it, success without happiness, is it really worth it? Is it worth spending 70 hours a week to become the head of your company, if you lose your spouse and your children’s youth in the process?
I’m convinced that some people actually enjoy being unhappy. They love to host a daily “pity party.” Soon, being unhappy turns into a habit. If you are one of these people, then break that habit. When given the choice, always choose to be happy over unhappy. Following are some of the ways I do this.
1. I work daily on it. When I first wake up in the morning, instead of complaining about how I feel, what I have to do that day, my first words are always “Gee, it’s going to be a beautiful day.” Then I go out and make it so.
2. When presented with a challenge, I find the happy way out. “Don’t wait for the
storms in your life to pass. Learn to dance in the rain.”
3. I strive to eliminate “worry” from my life.
4. I find ways to make myself laugh. When we laugh, we release endorphins which are chemicals that actually blocks pain. You can do this by watching funny movies, reading jokes, etc. If nothing else, just look into a mirror and smile.
5. I surround myself with happy people. I avoid direct contact with party poopers, and instead contact them through email, telephones, etc.
In 2004, only months before he died, I had the honor of seeing and hearing Christopher Reeve at a Success Seminar. Struggling to speak each word between gasps of air from his oxygen, he was still one of the happiest people I’ve ever seen.
What are some of the things that makes me happy? Let me see, in no certain order;
getting a massage, going to the theater (Opera or the Barter Theater), beach music,
travel (especially cruises), cooking and eating Italian with a good bottle of wine, watching a sunrise, writing, helping others achieve their dreams, including retirement.
So I encourage you to decide between what you think you want, and what you truly believe will make you happy.
Please respond with things that make you happy that might help others.
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