Happiness is an inside job by Pam Thomas
"Happiness doesn't depend on what we have, but it does depend on how we feel toward what we have. We can be happy with little and miserable with much." William Dempster Hoard
Happiness truly is an internal "thing" that radiates from the inside out. We can say that we will be happy once we have the bigger bank account, the larger house, the fast car, the great significant other; the bottom line is, if we aren't truly happy being who we are the external "stuff" won't mean a thing. Think about it. We truly don't have to search far for happiness, nor do we have to depend on others or things to supply that happiness.
Instead...
1) Take stock of the things that you currently have and express your gratitude. For example, "I am grateful for the roof I have over my head." "I am grateful for the food that is on my table."
As a matter of fact, for the next 21 days share five things you are grateful for and do so in the morning before your feet hit the floor and at night before you go to sleep. You can write them down in a journal or say what you are grateful to yourself; sharing gratitude for the things that you already have not only promotes happiness, but it helps you to attract more of the good "stuff".
2) Make a point each day to do something that brings you joy. It doesn't have to be anything that requires a lot of time or even money, it just has to be something that lights you up on the inside. For example, playing some upbeat dance music, reading the comic's page of the newspaper, or watching a funny movie.
3) Get outside in the sunshine. A great way to lift a mood and create happiness is to be out in the sun for about 15 minutes.
4) Get moving. Exercise and movement is an awesome way to increase the chemicals in your brain that promote happiness. Dance, walk, jog, or even skip...just get moving.
5) Stop the negative self talk. Saying negative things about yourself will only diminish your own happiness. Instead, find one thing that you really like about you and focus on that one thing. Do you have a kind heart? Are your eyes a pretty color?
Whatever you choose, just remember that happiness is a choice you make and solely dependent upon you.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Who turned off the power? - Pam Thomas
Who turned off the power? -Pam Thomas
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt
It is true that no one has the right to make us feel powerless or less of a person. NO ONE! And while it is a bitter pill to sometimes swallow, we do have a say or choice in how someone makes us feel. With that said, then why is it so easy to feel inferior or powerless?
There could be many reasons:
* Maybe someone we loved put us down and because we loved them, we believed them. (Hey, people we love and/or love us know us best, right? NOT ALWAYS.)
* Maybe it is because we have always been afraid to stand up for ourselves in fear we would rock the boat or make someone angry.
* Maybe it is because we spend time comparing ourselves with others and wishing we had what they have.
* Maybe it is because we just don't trust ourselves and our abilities.
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, please don't despair because reclaiming your personal power is absolutely possible. Give the following a whirl and see what happens:
1) Make a list of your MANY amazing attributes. (Yes, you have many!!) You should even write down all the attributes you wish to have.
2) As you write, if your inner-critic or self-doubter (that little contradictory voice) rears its head, thank it for its contributions and then tell it to be quiet. Please be sure just to keep writing!
3) Take your list and over the next 90 days read your list to yourself five times in the morning and five times at night before bed.
4) Say to yourself as often as possible, "It's none of my business what other people think of me, but it is my business what I think of me." It's true, you can't control what others think so why be held hostage by their thoughts or give away your power to those thoughts?
Just remember, you do have the power and no one has the right to turn it off.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent - Eleanor Roosevelt
It is true that no one has the right to make us feel powerless or less of a person. NO ONE! And while it is a bitter pill to sometimes swallow, we do have a say or choice in how someone makes us feel. With that said, then why is it so easy to feel inferior or powerless?
There could be many reasons:
* Maybe someone we loved put us down and because we loved them, we believed them. (Hey, people we love and/or love us know us best, right? NOT ALWAYS.)
* Maybe it is because we have always been afraid to stand up for ourselves in fear we would rock the boat or make someone angry.
* Maybe it is because we spend time comparing ourselves with others and wishing we had what they have.
* Maybe it is because we just don't trust ourselves and our abilities.
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, please don't despair because reclaiming your personal power is absolutely possible. Give the following a whirl and see what happens:
1) Make a list of your MANY amazing attributes. (Yes, you have many!!) You should even write down all the attributes you wish to have.
2) As you write, if your inner-critic or self-doubter (that little contradictory voice) rears its head, thank it for its contributions and then tell it to be quiet. Please be sure just to keep writing!
3) Take your list and over the next 90 days read your list to yourself five times in the morning and five times at night before bed.
4) Say to yourself as often as possible, "It's none of my business what other people think of me, but it is my business what I think of me." It's true, you can't control what others think so why be held hostage by their thoughts or give away your power to those thoughts?
Just remember, you do have the power and no one has the right to turn it off.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A Tale With a Storybook Ending
A Tale With a Storybook Ending
http://www.dailygood.org/
A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one. --Heraclitus
Inspiration of the Day
They met on Boston Common - two men with little in common. One a well-heeled, high-powered attorney, the other a street-schooled, often ignored homeless person.
Rob slept on a sidewalk. Peter had a swank condo in the Back Bay. But every morning they would cross paths here in the park and over the course of several months, actually became good friends.
How did that happen? Such contrasting men, living such disparate lives. You'd think after the weather and box scores they'd run out of things to talk about. And indeed, they did run out.
"So I gave Robert a copy of a book I really loved called 'Water for Elephants' and we would talk about that," Peter said.
Discussing the book became their way of connecting, and a friendship was born.
"And then one day I asked him, 'What'd you do with the book?' and he said, 'I gave it to a fella over there,'" Peter said.
"I knew there were a lot of people who read," Rob said.
"So it occurred to us that there was an interest out here that could draw people together," Peter said.
"You'd be surprised by how many people actually read," Rob said.
About a year ago, Peter and Ron started the Homeless Book Club. The group was dissecting a group of short stories by O'Henry. They meet every Tuesday in a church conference room. Peter buys the books. In the beginning he offered to bring in lunch too, but the members said "no thanks." They wanted this to be about more than just another free lunch.
"For me it's a place to go and escape," said Donald, a member.
"And to question things," said Betsey, another member.
"Yeah, I feel more sophisticated," said Jamie, a member, laughing.
Unlike the others, Jamie, who lives in a rooming house, says he never used to be a reader. His addictions were the priority.
"I picked up the first book and started reading it and I couldn't put it down," Jamie said.
Addicted still, only now, to literature.
"If I keep reading, and keeping my mind occupied, I'm less likely to hurt myself in life," Jamie said.
Testimonials like that are now inspiring other people in other cities, even other countries, to start putting together their own homeless book clubs.
And as for the homeless man who started it all - Rob - turns out, the only reason he couldn’t get subsidized housing was because he had an unresolved moving violation on his record. Fortunately, he knows a good lawyer.
Peter was able to clear up that traffic ticket, which is why tonight Rob is no longer on the streets. He's housed and working as a church custodian.
Be The Change:
Look out for a hidden connection in your own life and deepen it.
http://www.dailygood.org/
http://www.dailygood.org/
A hidden connection is stronger than an obvious one. --Heraclitus
Inspiration of the Day
They met on Boston Common - two men with little in common. One a well-heeled, high-powered attorney, the other a street-schooled, often ignored homeless person.
Rob slept on a sidewalk. Peter had a swank condo in the Back Bay. But every morning they would cross paths here in the park and over the course of several months, actually became good friends.
How did that happen? Such contrasting men, living such disparate lives. You'd think after the weather and box scores they'd run out of things to talk about. And indeed, they did run out.
"So I gave Robert a copy of a book I really loved called 'Water for Elephants' and we would talk about that," Peter said.
Discussing the book became their way of connecting, and a friendship was born.
"And then one day I asked him, 'What'd you do with the book?' and he said, 'I gave it to a fella over there,'" Peter said.
"I knew there were a lot of people who read," Rob said.
"So it occurred to us that there was an interest out here that could draw people together," Peter said.
"You'd be surprised by how many people actually read," Rob said.
About a year ago, Peter and Ron started the Homeless Book Club. The group was dissecting a group of short stories by O'Henry. They meet every Tuesday in a church conference room. Peter buys the books. In the beginning he offered to bring in lunch too, but the members said "no thanks." They wanted this to be about more than just another free lunch.
"For me it's a place to go and escape," said Donald, a member.
"And to question things," said Betsey, another member.
"Yeah, I feel more sophisticated," said Jamie, a member, laughing.
Unlike the others, Jamie, who lives in a rooming house, says he never used to be a reader. His addictions were the priority.
"I picked up the first book and started reading it and I couldn't put it down," Jamie said.
Addicted still, only now, to literature.
"If I keep reading, and keeping my mind occupied, I'm less likely to hurt myself in life," Jamie said.
Testimonials like that are now inspiring other people in other cities, even other countries, to start putting together their own homeless book clubs.
And as for the homeless man who started it all - Rob - turns out, the only reason he couldn’t get subsidized housing was because he had an unresolved moving violation on his record. Fortunately, he knows a good lawyer.
Peter was able to clear up that traffic ticket, which is why tonight Rob is no longer on the streets. He's housed and working as a church custodian.
Be The Change:
Look out for a hidden connection in your own life and deepen it.
http://www.dailygood.org/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)