• Choosing Happiness

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    Ever heard someone say, “…so-in-so is great, but I’m just not happy?” Or have you ever wondered why you just couldn’t seem to find happiness? Read on to learn how you can choose to be happy.

    Happiness is something you have to “choose” to be. A person could have all the money in the world, and still be unable to acquire what it is they really want, and ultimately remain unhappy. A person could be surrounded by all their friends and loved ones, and still be lonely. And, a person could have to eat bugs to survive, in a cold, wet prison cell, and still be happy to eat those bugs, and happy to be alive. This person has gratefully accepted their surroundings, and has found some good or greater meaning in it, making the experience more pleasurable. This person chose to be happy with what they had, by being mindful of the moment, recognizing the potential it may have.

    Getting into the habit of being happy is easy. The first step is learning to appreciate your blessings, seeing the good or greater meaning of things. This requires that you become more aware of your five senses. How else could the smell of freshly baked cookies cheer up your woefully dreary day? How else could the faint sound of your sleeping child’s breathing ease you into your own peaceful resting state? We need to use our senses to become more aware of our surroundings, and accept them. It’s then that we can change our surroundings to become more pleasing to us. This could include some small, but significant changes, like placing candles by the bathtub, or buying a special lamp for your reading area.

    Scientific research suggests that colors play an important role in one’s moods. Light green and orange seem to make people feel happier, whereas red makes them feel hungry. Many people have been hiring interior decorators as part of their strategy for feeling better, as interior decorators have studied colors, patterns, layouts, etc., and they use these factors to create a comfortable living area, tailor-fit to your needs. Just remember to research your interior designer, and be frugal. The positive effect that redesign brings, needn’t be boggled down by guilt from over-doing it. The idea is to do things that make you feel good. It won’t make you feel good if you overspend, or overindulge. But it will make you feel good if you shopped around, and you got the best deal, completely fitting all your needs.

    Again, awareness is the key to happiness. After you have become aware of yourself and surroundings, you can choose to be appreciative and happy.

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  • Be Happy! Why Worry?

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    Worry is a silent killer.  It is like a slow poison.  It is a chronic illness.  In fact, it is an illness which is many fold dreadful than the physical illnesses.  Worry not only affects our body but our mind too.Worry is a silent killer.  It is like a slow poison.  It is a chronic illness.  In fact, it is an illness which is many fold dreadful than the physical illnesses.  Worry not only affects our body but our mind too.

    If you think seriously, you would find that it is really no use worrying about anything.  It is really foolish to worry about past or future.  Nobody can change the past.  Whatever has happened has happened.  Why worry?  How can something that has yet not come to pass affect us?  How are we so certain that the future is so bleak?  Things may turn out well.  Why worry then?  Worrying just tires us and diminishes our capacity of clear thinking and planning.  It promotes negative thinking.  Instead of worrying we should use positive affirmations and resolutions.

    If worry could solve the problem, everybody would worry as much as possible.  Problem solving requires clear thinking and planning.  But worry makes us incapable of clear thinking and planning.  Many things, if they are going to happen, will happen regardless of our worry.   If it is going to rain, it will.

    We worry for small things.  The worst-case scenario may not even be bad enough to worry.  You have made your boss angry.  You worry that he may fire you.  What of it?  That is not the end of the world.  You are still alive.  Perhaps you would get a better job.  You dread to go to the office next day.  You think of sending in your resignation letter.  Worrying you reach office.  The boss calls you.  He apologizes.  It was his mistake!

    Not only we should not worry about little things, but we should also not worry about seemingly big things. The things that seem today very big and important will seem trifle tomorrow.  In your student life you must have worried for days about the wrong answer you gave, even though you knew the right answer, to an objective type of question carrying just half mark.  How much you worried about a dress on a special occasion, meeting a boy or girl whom you fancied, or the change of residence of a friend’s family?  Do these matter a bit today?  Why worry about spilled milk, or a broken glass, or a missed bus?

    Of course, no body worries for the sake of worrying.  Worry just comes into mind and then never leaves.  But many people never worry.  It seems that worrying is a sort of bad habit.   As all bad habits the habit of worrying is also difficult to get rid of.  So, in the first instance, never make worrying a habit.  Secondly, try to divert your mind.  Think of positive things.  Get busy with some physical activity.  Keep yourself away from people who are habitually worrying type and who always see the negative side of a thing.
    Instead of useless worrying, one should take positive action— BE HAPPY!

  • Are You Chasing the Elusive Butterfly of Happiness?

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    For many people happiness is an elusive butterfly in the garden of life. Imagine a young child in the garden on a summer day. The child sees a beautiful butterfly flitting from flower to flower. With eyes of wonder the child wants to see it close up, touch it, and hold it in their hands. The child goes towards the flower that the butterfly is resting on, with arms out stretched, only to find as he just gets in reach, the butterfly moves to another flower. Undeterred the child follows the butterfly to the next flower, and then the next, but the butterfly always stays just out of reach.

    As adults, happiness can seem just like that butterfly, always just out of reach. It becomes almost an obsession and the words “if only…” become an increasingly large part of our thoughts and vocabulary. If only I had more money I would be happy, if only I was in a great relationship I would be happy, if only I could have a different job……….and the list goes on. Even if we achieve one of our “if only “desires, the happiness we seek is still just out of our reach. The truth of the saying “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” becomes our focus and perception. If this becomes our focus, we find that dissatisfaction and unhappiness increasingly keep growing in our life and experience.

    The unhappiness within us can not be completely satisfied by external events or circumstances. To find happiness in life we must first be at peace with ourselves internally. External events and circumstances can bring us happiness in the moment, but they do not have a lasting effect on our inner self. Life experience brings a mixture of good and bad circumstances to everyone. To rely on life’s experiences for our source of happiness would mean living life in a constant emotional roller coaster ride.

    Happiness comes from within. The inner contentment that survives the roller coaster ride of life has its roots deep within our being. The source of happiness comes from finding and embracing who we are as a person, and living a life of purpose. We need to find peace in every aspect of our life- the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. To discover acceptance, purpose and peace in all of these areas will give a sense of completion in life. If we neglect any one of these areas, we experience a sense of emptiness and feel something is missing. There is not a solid foundation for building happiness within, but we then, typically start to try to fill this incompleteness by looking for outside solutions. That is the point when we can fall into the ‘elusive butterfly’ syndrome, and experience such frustration.

    Is happiness an elusive butterfly for you? Spend some time in quiet reflection. Are you neglecting one of the four important parts of who you are and experiencing a sense of emptiness within? The more you discover, embrace and accept your uniqueness and purpose, the more you will experience the butterfly of happiness alighting on your shoulder.

  • A Century of Hope

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    What would one initially think about someone who dropped out of school at the age of 16? Would there be any hope for this person? This person is Bob Hope. Comedian Bob Hope starred in over 50 movies and lived past the age of 100 years old.

    Hope was born in England and his family moved to the United States when he was four. What can we say about our past? Have we let things from our past get in the way of achieving what we want and living a life we love? Where you came from is out of our control. Where you’re going is up to you.

    1. Bob Hope held many odds jobs before becoming a comedian

    Long before Hope became a successful comedian, he held many odd jobs selling newspapers, was a delivery boy, worked in a soda shop, a shoe salesman. Newspaper reporter and was an amateur boxer.

    Many of us have had to work at odd jobs in order to make money. Working at odd jobs gives us opportunities to discover what we want and don’t want to do as a career. The skills you obtain through your experiences of working at odd jobs may prove to be valuable in your future career. For example, any job that can strengthen your communication skills is invaluable.

    2. Hope took dancing lessons

    Hope received on-the-job training while appearing in vaudeville. To hone his skills, he took dance lessons. Hope was such a good dancer, that he took over some dance classes to help his teachers.

    Do you have a passion that you would like to expand? Do you like to write or draw, but don’t know where to start? Do you like to play a particular sport or instrument, and want to get better? There numerous classes that are offered to help those who desire to improve oneself in a particular field and topic.

    3. Bob Hope was versatile

    Bob Hope was a successful dancer, singer and actor and comedian. Bob Hope was an enormously successful comedian. His ability to dance, sing and act very well made him a much better comedian because his options broadened on how he could entertain people.

    Many of us are good at what we do in our careers. Becoming versatile could only make us better.

    4. Hope entertained Military Troops from World War II to Operation Desert Storm

    Hope did a major service to increase morale among military personnel. For almost sixty years, Hope toured many countries to show his appreciation for the men and women of the armed services.

    Is there something that you have been considering to give back to your community? Is there a charity in which you would like to raise money for them? Would you like to encourage youngsters to explore a particular career? Bob Hope was a great example of giving back to his community. Bob Hope was a great example of not settling to be great in only one area. He was a success at so many areas in entertainment. Bob Hope did not let his past dictate what he could do in his future.

  • How Good Habits Can Turn into Bad Habits

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    It is not uncommon for good habits to morph into bad habits. This often happens when good habits are taken to an extreme. This is why people should be aware of their behavior, even when it might seem positive.

    People who want things to be the very best can seem to be very upbeat people. At least that is true until they go too far. When their leadership becomes nit-picking perfectionism, their good habits have turned into bad habits. Once it has reached such a point, it is hard to salvage the situation.

    Sometimes people make their neatness into bad habits. They start out nice enough. They just want to keep things tidy and clean. They are perfectly willing to do some work to keep it that way. Then, they go overboard. They begin stressing over every tiny smudge or speck of dust. Besides this, they expect you to be as obsessive as they are.

    There are two of these situations that are fairly similar. People turn good savings practices into bad habits. The first is when a person starts saving money for emergencies or for the future. They start a savings account, or an investment account. Then they begin to put money into it.

    If they develop bad habits, they can get carried away with their savings and become a miser. They can be that person who will not buy their children new school clothes because the money has to go into savings. They can be the one who will drive a car that breaks down every week. They cannot bear spending money that could go to savings.

    A similar situation happens when people start buying in bulk. At first they tell themselves they are just stocking up. However, the stocking up may not stop at a reasonable level. If it has become a bad habit, their entire basement, garage, attic, and all their closets may be filled with extra food and cleaning supplies. They have so much that it will go bad before they can possibly eat it all.

    You may wonder how being concerned about others can possibly lead to bad habits. A person who is this thoughtful is generous in spirit and cares only for the well-being of those around her. The bad habit may come in when the person puts others’ needs too far above her own. This can lead to all sorts of psychological problems for her.

    Perhaps you have heard that there is never a dumb question. People are generally encouraged to ask questions at school and at work. However, it becomes a bad habit when people ask questions aimlessly to no purpose. They will sometimes ask so many questions that no work can be accomplished at all. Sometimes it is better to try to figure something out on your own.

    This just goes to show that extremes are usually bad habits waiting to happen. Be a considerate person, yes, but do not do it at the expense of your own well-being. Indeed, you should maintain a savings account. Just make sure your family has what it needs. Do not let your good habits turn into bad habits and make your life difficult.

  • Dangerous Bad Habits

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    Some bad habits are just annoying, but others are actually dangerous. It is these dangerous bad habits that can really get you in trouble. Some people like to take risks. Others do not think about how their bad habits could affect them.

    Bad habits can be nothing more than not paying attention to your physical condition. If you are taking sedating drugs, it would be a bad habit if you continually worked in this condition. If you work two jobs, it can be a dangerous habit to work when you are sleepy. You would need to find a safe way to get enough sleep to work.

    Many people have bad habits around electricity. They may use frayed extension cords without thinking. This is a bad habit that can lead to electrocution or fire. Using ladders, especially metal ladders, around power lines is another bad habit that is dangerous.

    Some people have dangerous bad habits that are just unnecessary by any stretch of the imagination. People, often younger people, like to stand on moving cars and “surf.” This is reckless behavior at the least. At the most, it can be deadly.

    Many bad habits have to do with driving a car. People often forget how potentially dangerous driving can be if it is not done with caution. They drive so often that they become accustomed to taking the wheel without thinking. This leads to a number of dangerous situations.

    Some people have bad habits of grooming themselves when driving. Women might put on make-up while driving. They believe that they can apply mascara and watch the road at the same time. It may work out for a long time, and then eventually there comes that time when they are not concentrating on the road enough and an accident happens.

    The same can happen when men shave while driving. Or, it can happen when men or women groom their hair. Other bad habits include the way people use their cell phones when they drive. Sometimes people are so keyed in on their cell phones that they do not see the car in front of them.

    Driving through high flood waters can be a very bad habit. People think they can get through the water and make it to the other side. If it happens often enough, they may get braver and braver. However, if they go too far, their vehicle could be swept away. It could lead to a very dangerous situation.

    Drinking and driving is the ultimate in bad habits. If you do this, you are not only putting yourself at risk. You do not even know who else you might be endangering. It could be an infant, an elderly person, or a single parent. It could be someone just like you. You could kill them or make their lives a lasting misery. This is not a bad habit that you can let stand.

    If you engage in dangerous bad habits, you have to ask yourself why you do it. There must be something you can do to curb your desire to put yourself and others at risk. Find out what that is, and do it.

  • Brain Food

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    Our brain controls so many functions of our body besides being the powerhouse of information. Few vital functions of our brain are motor control, visual processing, auditory processing, sensation and learning. Considering all the functions of our brain there is no second thought that it is the most vital organ of our body beside our heart. Any kind of brain malfunction can be well understood if related to the current technology that is used in computer. The hard disk contains all the vital information of the computer and without it, the computer is as good as dead. If the hard disk crashes it is tough to recover it back and in most cases it cannot be recovered. Similarly if Amnesia or Alzheimer disease affects our brain it first destroys our brain cells and affects our memory. Loss of memory renders us useless, as we tend to forget all the skills that we have learnt over the period of time including language too. Any such disease can turn a human being into nothing less than vegetable.

    All the medications used to regain the memory back are used for brain nourishment. This can only be achieved thru universal nourishment of body and brain. In order to have them work both in tandem with each other we must feed our body properly at the same time keeps it active by participating in physical and mental activities such as jogging and memory games. Children in their early stages should specifically be taken care of. Right nutrition can ensure their physical as well as mental well being. Right from the stage of pregnancy, future mothers are administered the right dosage of multivitamins and folic acid to help the brain of fetus grow. In cases where folic acid and dietary supplements are not taken low or no mental growth is observed. In their growing phases children are feeded with health drinks as they become choosy and eat what they like. This leads to various deficiencies affecting growth. This has given rise to so many health capsules and drink but the best and trusted supplement is Cod liver oil. It is rich in Omega 3 fat that helps in better growth of brain. Research proves that children who have been given cod liver oil on a regular basis display good memory and active body.

    Over the period of time we barely make use of such supplements and the drug interference makes it worse along with the day-to-day life stress. This makes us prone to several mental disorders such as confusion, attention problem, foggy brain etc. We must not forget that the core brainpower has been derived from the nutrition given at early age and this would not last lifetime. We need to supplement it on a regular basis. There are many over the counter supplements available that are fortified with zinc, magnesium, folic acid and other essential nutrients for brain. But taking these supplements alone will not work wonder over brain hence we need to put in adequate exercise too. Try to challenge the memory often by engaging in memory games and other mentally challenging activities to ensure adequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Taking care of heart and keeping the cholesterol and blood pressure in check also helps in clearing the arteries of any block to allow good flow of blood. Hormones, specially estrogen level should be kept in check as it affects our brain and leads to various diseases in longer run.

  • Self Esteem for Women

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    Women are remarkably strong individuals who have the capability to battle with demons and conquer the world, but more often than not, it is their own self confidence that brings them down.  That nagging voice in the back of your head that questions your actions, criticizes you looks, and doubts your self worth can bring any woman—no matter how successful or powerful—to her knees.  Instead of falling prey to low self esteem, do something about it!  Strive to break the cycle of feeling poorly about yourself, not doing anything about it, and then feeling worse.

     Sadly, a major problem with the self esteem of women is the opinions of other women.  Instead of fully supporting, complimenting, and boosting another women’s spirits, women can be mean spirited.  Back biting, gossiping, and cruel remarks seem to run rampant with women friends, family, and colleagues.  If you find yourself in a situation with another woman that is detrimental to your own sense of self worth and self esteem, find a way to resolve the situation.  Perhaps all it will take is speaking your feelings to a friend who is saying hurtful things or to a coworker who always points out the negative aspects of your work.  Quite often, these individuals suffer from low self esteem and use a defensive or derisive attitude in order to compensate.  Be mindful of this behavior next time your friends, family, or coworkers are discussing another woman and be careful not to fall into the negative mindset.  By setting a good example, you will influence others in addition to helping your own self esteem.

     The majority of all women have some sort of issues with their body or physical appearance.  Regardless how beautiful a woman is, there is always a voice is dissent regarding one or more physical attribute.  Even the women society deems beautiful have issues with their bodies, which is often spotlighted in the media.  World famous models and actresses agonize over their weight, height, or looks just like every other woman on the face of the earth.  Instead of looking at yourself in a harsh, negative light, turn your attitude around.  Think about your positive attributes instead of ones you wish you could change.  Use these positive attributes to your advantage.  Instead of wishing you could wear certain types of clothing, embrace the styles that fit and flatter your body.  Self esteem is one of the best things any woman can possess and it makes her look better in the eyes of everyone else.

     Do not fall into the trap of thinking material items can make you feel better about yourself.  Quite often, women tend to indulge themselves on extravagant or expensive items that they believe will boost their self esteem.  A designer pair of shoes or expensive purse will not fix what is wrong on the inside.  No matter what you purchase, that shopping spree you just indulged on will most likely cause yourself greater self esteem woes.  It is a vicious cycle, feeling poorly about yourself, making outrageous purchases, then feeling even worse about yourself due to the surmounting bills and needless items.  Instead of heading to your local mall, hit the library and check out the self-help section.  You may find a book that has a great starting point for boosting your self esteem.  Money cannot buy you love or happiness, so why should you think it can buy you self esteem?

     Keep a positive outlook on life and you will lead a positive life.  Break away from negative influences and work to surround yourself with positive individuals who will positively influence your life.  You are a great person—every one you know feels that way and its time you should as well.

  • Self Confidence Makes You a Great Lover!

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    Love is a beautiful emotion, a gift of God, given to a chosen few. Not everybody get lots of love in his or her lifetime. However, many times lovers mess it up by not able to meet each other’s expectations by growing too possessive, by becoming overtly shy, by becoming unnecessarily skeptical and what not!

     Most of the time, the culprit is within ourselves making us see things much bigger and magnified than they actually are and makes us overreact to events that could have been easily avoided. It is much easier to lose than to build something – especially when it comes to the matters of the heart. An ignorant and careless person is vulnerable to losing a lot, including his or her life partner as well. This article tells you some simple things that you can remember to help keep you from hurting your partner and keep your love life blossoming.  Here are some habits of self-confident lovers.

     Self-confident lovers are not jealous

     If you are jealous of your partner, this is a sure indication that the foundations of love are not deep enough to withstand the wear and tear of time. Self confident lovers consider their partners as an extension of their own selves and feel happy if somebody has something good to say about their partners. There is no “yours” or “mine” in their relationship. It’s always “ours,” which forms the basis of their love. Most people get embarrassed or skeptical, or annoyed when someone makes a remark that “Your girl is so beautiful” or “Don’t you think your boyfriend has a talent of impressing girls around.” However, a confident man would say, “Yes. I know she is so beautiful and we are proud to be in love,” while a self-confident girl will shoot back – “Yes. He impressed me too!” Remember that your individual qualities now are a combined “quality pool” belonging to you both, and both partners must treat is as an asset. This is only possible when both of you are confident of each other’s love and commitment.

     Self-confident lovers are more forgiving

    Since self-confident people can maintain a cool and calm composure in the times of crisis, they are better at analyzing situations and are able to put themselves in their partner’s shoes. This way, they get their partner’s viewpoint and understand their behavior. In many instances, it happens that certain behavior of our partner annoys us or makes us skeptical. Lack of self-confidence can also make us think negatively. However, self-confident lovers believe in the policy of “forgive and forget” and can move on.

     Self-confident lovers make their partner more secure and comfortable

     In a relationship, looks do matter, but then the characteristics that matter even more are a sensible and rational nature, sense of humor, ability to handle tough situations and more. Self-confident lovers are the best places to look for these attributes. Their self confidence is contagious and they are promising professionals as well. They enjoy respect and camaraderie, and nurture positive and constructive thoughts. They seem to have the ability to push away problems and provide for their family. In this world where genuine love seems to be an urgent need to calm humanity, a self-confident lover makes us feel secure, comfortable and this life seems worth living for!

     Self-confident lovers give their partner a great gift – the gift of independence!

     Sometimes love rather than liberate us, actually binds us. So much so that a possessive partner would like to have all the details of our lives. Who are the people you work with? Who was that “Daniel” who gave you a call at 7 in the morning? Why do you want to have your personal car? Why do you have to wear makeup every time you go out? Why are you wearing this dress at this hour…and so on! Love, which was once the most beautiful emotion in our lives, which seemed to fill us with hope and enthusiasm, now seems to drain out all the energy from us. You feel as if you are bound to someone, answerable to someone and tethered to the wall with limited mobility. Love does not seem much more than slavery. Self-confident lovers realize the importance of independence. They let their partner fly and soar great heights, because they know that at the end of the day, it is to their arms their partner will return!

  • Self Esteem Summer Camp

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    Many children suffer from poor self-esteem that can negatively affect their school, athletic, and personal lives.  There are many factors that can attribute to a child’s self esteem, including home, family, school, friends, athletic, and developmental factors.  If you suspect your child may be developing self esteem issues, you should quickly begin to arrange ways to resolve this issue before it further develops.  Maintaining your child’s self esteem is an important part of his or her physical and mental development.  If you find yourself at a loss for techniques of how to deal with self esteem issues, consider enrolling your child in a summer camp that specializes in boosting self esteem.

     There are a great many summer camps available that for children with low self esteem.  These camps offer a variety of options that will suit your family and your child’s expectations.  Summer camps are either day camps or overnight camps.  When a child attends a day camp, he or she is dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon.  This is a great option for families with busy schedules or who wish to spend their summer vacations enjoying each other’s company.  Additionally, a day camp is better for younger children who may have difficulty being separated from their parents or family in an overnight situation.  Furthermore, a day camp allows families to spend weekends traveling or enjoying the summer without leaving out a family member.  Some day camps feature one overnight stay.  This is a great option for children who have never been on an overnight trip away from their family before.

     The other option for summer camps is the overnight camp.  Overnight camps are a more traditional camp, where children are dropped off at the beginning of the session and live in bunks for the duration of the program.  At the end of the camp, a parent or guardian picks up children, who have had some phenomenal experiences and undoubtedly made many friends.  The duration of the camp can last from one week to one month depending on the specific camp and the needs of your child.  This is an excellent opportunity for children to learn independence from their parents and experience living on their own.  Additionally, an overnight camp allows children to immerse themselves in working on their self esteem while participating in arts, crafts, sports, and other activities.

     A camp devoted to reinforcing self esteem in children uses a variety of methods to keep kids entertained while boosting their personal self esteem.  These techniques include team work and trust building programs like ropes courses or other related activities.  Also, self esteem camps teach children a variety of different sports and athletic activities.  Furthermore, these camps present terrific crafts projects and other activities that allow children to fully express themselves while gaining a new perspective on their own particular skills and capabilities.  When children are aware of their strengths and are reinforced with positive praise and celebration, these children are more apt to have a higher level of self esteem than children who are made aware of their weaknesses on a constant basis.

     If you are interested in sending your child to a camp that specializes in building self esteem, do your research!  Find a licensed, well respected camp that will suit your child’s needs.  The Internet is an excellent resource for finding a specific camp that best fits your family.  Involve your child in the exciting process of choosing a camp that he or she will attend.  This is a great way to keep you in your child’s life even though you may be sending him or her on an adventure at an overnight camp.