Saturday, October 25, 2014

What Is Happiness?

        
  

One morning I just woke up and realized I've been writing about happiness for many a year now, yet what really is happiness? I have not defined it yet. Thesaurus dictionary says it is an adjective which means being delighted; satisfied. Dictionary.com says it is delighted, pleased, glad, over a particular thing.
There is this post in howstuffworks.com describing 'what is happiness.' It says happiness is subjective, meaning it means different things to different people. To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do something good or positive. To neurologists, happiness is a myriad of hormones released to the brain as a reward that prolongs survival. To religious orders, happiness is the presence of God.
Philosophers debated that happiness is a battle between two views: hedonia and eudaimonia. Hedonists believed that happiness is the polar opposite of suffering; the presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain. As a result they believed that the purpose of happiness is to maximize pleasure, minimize misery. However, this view lead on to the wrong notion of going after pleasure to its excessiveness, as in indulging too much alcohol or accumulating too much wealth. 
On the other side of the debate, eudaimonia is a combination of two Greek words "good" and "spirit" to describe the ideology. It views happiness as a pursuit to become a better person. 
Eudaimonists challenged themselves intellectually, or engaged in activities that make them spiritually richer people.
The distinction between the two comes down whether happiness is a destination (the hedonic view) or a journey (the eudaimonic view). Put another way, hedonism derives that happiness is expressed externally, while eudaimonism expresses happiness internally.
At a glance, the nobler form of happiness is expressed in the eudaimonic philosophy: which includes kindness and generosity towards others. However, it's in the hedonistic philosophy that one aspires for wealth wherein when one has it, it is much easier to be generous to others.
Whatever ones preference is, happiness depends upon the values one person has and in the ability he put into action those values. Albert Camus says, "But what is happiness except the harmony between a man and the life he leads?"
This all explains why sometimes I view happiness as a journey, and at times I view it as a destination. Whichever which I'll always aspire to be happy one day at a time.
Get happy!

Friday, October 17, 2014

How To Become Happy: Overcoming Challenge One

          

Goal: Happiness. Strategy: Wake up early.

How are the two related? So what if I do not want to wake up early, does this mean I could never be happy? Well, would you be? Are you a night owl, or an early bird? Studies suggest that humans are wired to wake up early because it is what we learned from our ancestors. This knowledge is passed down to us through our genes. And whether we like it or not our bodies respond to it positively.

Have you noticed that when you slept late at night and woke up the next day late, you still feel tired and unenergetic even though you completed eight hours of sleep? People who work at night knows this; myself included because I had experienced working grave shift. The name says it. Unconsciously, this experience if repeated for a longer period of time could result to the decrease of our happiness level. It is because our bodies signal to us that something is not right in its activities thereby resulting to its poor performance. I am not saying this as an expert, I am saying this based on experience. I do not condemn working late at night or working graveyard shifts, but if you want to be happy you've got to make a choice and set plans of actions. We only live once. Do not wait when things get serious before you act.

Naturally, when you sleep early you wake up early. When you wake up early you get to start early. You can do your physical exercises and even eat breakfast on time. Unlike when you slept late and woke up late, you would be in a hurry so as to forget about breakfast. When we take care of our body by doing things that could not harm it our rewards would be great. Not only can it guarantee us longer life but it also can give us the happiness we are wanting to possess. Happiness is being at the top of things. You could never be happy when you know that there is an aspect in your life that needs immediate attention and correction. One challenge to becoming happy is waking up early. Don't be too loose. This takes much discipline.

Get happy!


Monday, October 13, 2014

On Doing What We Love

                                      
  
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
                                                                  - Steve Jobs


And when you are loving what you do, you are happy. Is it not? This is a challenge most of us have to face-to put love in our work. And if we could not love our work, we only have two options: either to work in vain or find a work that we love to do. Most of us love to choose the latter because of our ultimate purpose-that is to do the very thing that could give us the most happiness. This is preferable because when we do what we love there is lesser demons to fight, lesser obstacles to hurdle. When we love what we do, the problems we will be facing is mostly outside of us, for our insides: mind and heart are working towards the same goal; there would be no more struggles deep within.

If you are like me, and I believe most of us are still at this stage, slowly paving and smoothing our way towards working head on, for the time to come that we would at last do the things that could make us happy. I am slowly working on in this, honestly. And I am trying to put love into this struggle. By putting love, it means accepting the situation in the first place then find ways to make it through. One person said, "doing what you love is freedom, loving what you do is happiness." Very well put. Everything depends solely on us. The choice is ours. I do believe no one is being put directly into the perfect place he loves. There must be a kind of struggle to make victory sweeter. 

Being in the middle of the road is being in the meantime. Let us just continue to walk towards the field of our dreams. To those who are already there, they are our inspiration. For all of us going there, let us be strong. Someday soon we will meet in the victory party.

Get Happy!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Conquer Worry With Trust

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“According to Vedanta, there are only two symptoms of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness. The first symptom is that you stop worrying. Things don't bother you anymore. You become light-hearted and full of joy. The second symptom is that you encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life, more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous. (quoted by Carol Lynn Pearson in Consider the Butterfly)” 

Following the path of happiness, am I following or just creating?, anyway whatever it is this is my version of following that urge to journey to the road to happiness. Following that path gives me many lessons. Today I will just tackle one lesson. There are so many if we are to google it, just like I did yesterday. But we could not do all those things with just one snap of our fingers, right? Let us have to be realistic and do things one step at a time.

Conquer worry with trust

We already learned that one way of becoming happy is dropping things that could hinder us to becoming happy. One of these things is worry. Too much worry makes us sick. Worry is carrying the mistakes of the past to the present. Worry is fearing that something bad is going to happen though things do not seem to go that way. Worry is just another name for fear. When we are worried, we could never  be happy, right? How can we focus on the feeling of happiness when another emotion is bothering us. Thus we've got to let go of that worry. One way of dispatching worry is to trust the Higher Power- our God, that He is capable of making things right; that whatever is going to happen is under His care, whether it will happen on our advantage or not. If things happen in our advantage then it is for us; if it does not, then it means it is not for us and something greater is prepared for us. And we just have to wait for that thing to happen in our life in God's perfect time. Just let go and let God, as one aphorism wisely says.

I know this is not easy to do. Things that give so much satisfaction is not given easily. We have to work for it. But if we are able to do that thing the result is so sweet and soul-satisfying and gives us joy and happiness. I have this worry too. But I consider this as a reminder that my trust bucket is almost empty and I have to ask God to fill that bucket once again. And it feels so good when you know God answers prayer. So start now working on conquering worry with trust.

Get happy!

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Finding Happiness

       

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak"
                                                                                                 - Hans Hofmann

Just browsed the web for anything about happiness. Google gave me many answers. Some good, some okey, some just empty. Meaning, others have not taken it seriously. Why would you post something unnecessary if it means so much for you? I am into this happiness path because this path is   where all of us are trying to walk. We wake up each morning hoping to do things that could give us happiness. 

They say happiness is in 'being' not in 'doing.' Wait, maybe they mean 'cheerfulness' not happiness. There are many people who were born with a cheerful disposition. I do believe happiness is a kind of goal, a purpose we are striving for. Is it not said that when you love your work, it is no longer work for you? It is everything that you are. Perhaps because you have found the very thing that could make you happy; the very purpose you are born for.

So one way to be happy is to let go of things that could hinder your way to happiness. Drop those things then live life simply. Next posts I would be writing about the things that need to be dropped out of your life.

Get Happy!
   

Monday, October 6, 2014

Getting In Shape

         


If this blog were created today I would have named it 'Get In Shape Slowly'. It is because I found out getting happy is a very broad topic to discuss. It is not enough to say, 'stay positive and be happy.' The world and our development do not work this way. There are things we need to do in order to grow and develop our self to the best we could. Our system does not guarantee us pure happiness when it knows there is still room for our improvement; it does not give us pure happiness when it knows we are much, much more than we actually are in our present state. We need to do more in order to be happy. This is the reality that most of us often neglected, because our notion of happiness is that whatever our situation in life is we should be happy. I discover I should not be. Grateful always for whatever situation my life is in, yes I should be. But I should improve, and improve, and improve, and improve. There is no limit as to how God could let out the best in me. Others say, "happiness is not the destination, but the journey." Well, this is in connection with their own journey. For me, I still work on and see whether what they are saying is true. Or perhaps I discover another thing which some of other travelers may be able to relate to. Whichever, I'd be getting in shape in all areas. And when I'm there I'd be able to say, happy at last.

Get Happy!

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Big Challenge

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Silent for awhile. Got busy with day job. But a little happy. One of the goals I am to hit for this year is developing my life fully; creating myself once again, developing my skills and talents, improving everything in me. But I have the difficulty in achieving that flow because there is that part of my activity that I do not so much love. It is because the achievement in this area depends not only on my efforts but also of other people. You know, I so firmly believe that the improvement of one person must stem from deep, deep, deep within. It must be a struggle as if of life and death. No one tries hard enough to improve himself because it is expected of him, but because that is what he WANTS to happen in his life, whether others would benefit from it or not. In my present situation, honestly, I have doubts if we would make it as a team. You would affirm with me if I say, even if one person in a team gives one hundred percent of his efforts perfectly while the other sixty percent in the group does not, the results would still be futile and devastating, right? I do not want to sound negative. I am just realistic for I know all too well the group I am with. I do not degrade the abilities of my teammates, I just doubt their determination. Success is all about determination and will and grit. If these things are missing, the opposite happens. Yes, there is what we call influence and encouragement. If I am that confident to do my best, would my determination encourage others? To those who want to take action it would be very much possible. But to those who want only the results but do not take action, we already know what it is going to be. Besides what would the feet, and the arms, and the ears could do if the head is not willing?

I just hope and pray our team would make it. I still have doubts. But the best thing I can do, is do my own thing and try hard enough to save the team and achieve our goals. To glory!

Get Happy!

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Grateful Monday

                         

Beautiful Monday everyone! I choose to start my week with beauty, happiness and thanksgiving. Everything belongs to God, so are our days. Let us thank Him for a beautiful week ahead. His blessings are coming, let us be grateful.

Get Happy!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Walk Humbly With God

                         

In this present generation there are whole lots of things one wants to do: from becoming a success in all areas of life, to gaming, to vacationing, to exercising, to maintaining good physical appearance and more. The only problem is time. Because almost everything is available with just one click, one is confused what to do first. Sadly, because of the busy-ness of life we tend to forget our very purpose in this world. We tend to forget what God requires of us. Praying, religion, Christianity seem to be things of the past. Then when something does not turn out quite well, it is then we remember God and ask Him why.

In our everyday dealings have we seen people who are merciful, just and humble? Are they common? Or even ourselves; are we merciful, just and humble? What we often see now are people who are competitive, goal-oriented and success-oriented. There is no wrong belonging to this group because they give positive impact. Yet, let us not forget that whatever goals and success we are after, God should be in the center, and that when  we become a success may it be rooted in the values of being just, merciful and humble.

Get Happy!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

The Power of Beliefs

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     Everyday is a happy day for me. I'm learning new things without the fear of losing myself. It's the fear of losing our self in the process that prevents us from learning and trying new things. When we open our hearts and minds to developing and improving ourselves life becomes inspiring and exciting.

     Today I found these powerful beliefs from Anthony Robbins blog. I love to share it here. 

1. The past does not equal the future.
2. There is always a way if I’m committed.
3. There are no failures, only outcomes—as long as I learn something I’m succeeding.
4. If I can’t, I must; if I must, I can.
5. Everything happens for a reason and a purpose that serves me.
6. I find great joy in little things… a smile… a flower… a sunset.
7. I give more of myself to others than anyone expects.
8. I create my own reality and am responsible for what I create.
9. If I’m confused, I’m about to learn something.
10. Every day above ground is a great day.


     Hope this helps you too.

     Get Happy!
 

How to Develop Self-Esteem

                         

     Self-esteem and happiness are connected, right. You know when you open your eyes to everything that could improve you, the right things will come. Creating a blog about happiness is a learning tool for me to become happy. I used to believe it is just all about spirituality. But no, everything has to be balanced and incorporated. I am excited to really feel that I am on my way to genuine happiness, and I am happy to know that I could share it with all of my readers.

     I never thought of self-esteem as a first step to happiness. But now it seems to make sense. I am that naive, am I? Anyway, I believe it is -- that self-esteem is the first step to happiness. Thanks to wikihow for posting this one. I know many of you could relate with me what poor self-esteem could do to a person; they are failure and delay of success. 

     So much for that, here are the following methods that wikihow shared in developing self-esteem:

1. Work on Improving Yourself
   - dress nicely
   - have good hygiene
   - practice good posture
   - workout regularly
   - give back to others

     I'm glad to say I'm doing all these things now. My workout is yoga and it's making me feel great. As to giving back to others the only way I could give back is through blog posts and sharing positive thoughts and ideas in social networking sites. This is the only way my time could afford at the moment. And I'm happy doing this.

2. Make Yourself Stand Out
   - compliment other people
   - sit in the front row
   - speak up
   - walk faster

     There is no problem with me about giving compliments. I'm able to do it. Sitting in the front row makes me nervous all through out college days. And even after. This is how shy and fearful I am. But now I'm trying to overcome this shyness with being pleasant. Speaking up made me nervous too, even though I know fully well how right I am. I guess the childhood experience that is continually playing it's role on me is being always told to shut up even if I'm only telling the truth and is speaking my side. I was always told to shut up. So I have carried with me the fear of speaking up. I'm just glad I love to speak up spontaneously through writing. So this I do. But of course, I also have to learn to speak up in gatherings or wherever and whenever needed. 

3. Remove Your Negative Self-Esteem
   - start from within
   - create daily affirmations
   - start with small steps to gain confidence
   - please yourself
   - be your own person
   - avoid negative people
   - face your fears and learn from your failures
   - stop the negative thoughts
   - don't worry about being perfect
   - learn to appreciate yourself
   - reward yourself when you succeed

     In short love yourself the right way. Negative self-esteem is borne out of how unaware people have hurt us when we were younger. Our minds have been injected with the false belief that we are unworthy. But the moment we wake up to the truth of how precious we are, wow, we are reborn. I know waking up is not easy, especially when negative past seems a nightmare. Yet every problem has a solution. This made me remember the question: How do you eat an elephant? The answer -- chop the elephant first then eat it piece by piece. This is how to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem. Removing negative self-esteem is one of them. Let's just follow wikihow's steps and couple it with lots of faith. It can be done. Is it?

     Get Happy!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

"Wow Mental Toughness"

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     If you know about Darren Hardy and is following his articles, you surely have stumbled upon this idea. Mental toughness. How is it working? How is it helping me achieve happiness and bliss? Before I answer this myself, let me share Darren's quote first: " Whoever is more mentally strong will win, succeed, and live the life they were meant to live." I used to believe that the way to happiness is just simple--just live simply sans material things, love God, live peaceably with men, stay away from messing with bad people. As simple as that. Yet as simple as it sounds, the hardest it is to do. Why? Because the road to happiness is not only in the outside environment; the work must be focused more on the inside. And nobody's got a perfect childhood. Nobody. All of us received the "ideas and beliefs" of the older generation about our existence that still needs improvement. We are still at the age of the 'ah' and 'ow, is that it?' existence. We are still at the process of becoming. That is why I am not so much sold on the idea of the "...5 things or 10 ways to become happy"... Some of those ways help. But only temporarily. If someone is to become happy for life, one must work on it within himself. And one way of doing this, is achieving that mental toughness that Darren is talking about. I'll be off now to work on that mental toughness.

     Get Happy!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Someone Is Happy Because You Exist

 
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     When stressed out I could not help myself feeling down, and eventually unhappy. No one could escape from stress especially when the place itself is stressful, in which my workplace belongs to. I'm now on the process of looking for ways to make my situation lighter.

     Anyway, when in blue days, you know those days when someone makes you feel unworthy,  I just hold on to the thought that  many are loving me as I am. I'm talking about my family; my husband, my kids. When my kids hug and kiss me, I feel like a diamond that is so precious for them. And when my husband embraces me, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. So need I be unhappy and ungrateful for the life I am given and the situation I am in? Of course not. I am always happy no matter what. Hope you too.

     Get Happy!

Be Happy

Saturday, September 20, 2014

New Eyes

                         

     Dear God,

     I know that every day is a new day. I thank you for creating this new day. Please grant me new eyes to see the beauty of Your creation. Create in me the wonder of the child that every thing would be a great discovery for me. Let me not go to other place to find new things to discover, instead open my heart that I may discover every thing beautiful in there. Thank You God. Amen.

     Get Happy!

Friday, September 19, 2014

Live The Moment Fully

                         

     Everything that is born eventually dies. The sun rises, the sun sets. The tide rises, the tide ebbs. Constant change. Should we stick on focusing our energy only on what we want to happen? We could say no. But deep in our hearts we know there is a part that lies. You may hate to admit it, yet the truth is, deep, deep down in our heart of hearts we know everything has its end; everything is in God's hands. Should we then not do our best because everything does not lasts forever? The answer is still no. The answer-- is to live life fully; to make use of the limited time God has given us. 
     
     Let us then rejoice, be glad, laugh, live; make use of every second. If someone's ruining our day, let us just let loose, forgive and move on. The end is near, no time for regrets. Live life so fully that every moment may seem an eternity. 

     Get Happy!

Our Purpose Is God's Gift

                         

     Could you imagine a life without a purpose, without a meaning? For me, I could not. It is my firm belief that all of us, creatures, are born into this world with a purpose. Even the fly, even the bettle, even the mosquito has a purpose. The purpose of mosquitoes? That we may clean the house and the surroundings. It is a sign that something must be done in order to live cleanly and healthily.

     Just because some things connote negativity, we already consider it as nuisance in life. But no. Every creature on Earth has a purpose. The people dedicated to the specific studies of certain creatures know this so well. As for me, I'm only dedicated to the study of my life, therefore, the only thing that I can be sure of is my purpose in life. As of this time, it is to Radiate Wisdom. I got this idea from the book of life coach, Robin Chaddock entitled "How to Find Your Path to Success". Though I am not yet 100 % sure of it because I'm still discerning, at least I have the clue that it is something nearer to that. If you want to know your specific purpose that book may be of help.

     It's fun and exciting to know our purpose. Hope you would one day know yours too.

     Get Happy!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

The Greatest Challenge Of Love

                         

     "It is the duty of men to love even those who injure them."

     Possible? To those who have the faith, the answer is yes. To those who are hurting, it may seem impossible. For me, yes, it is possible. To love is the 'Call for All', as how author Robin Chaddock puts it. I love to heed to that call, if it's only there that my spirit may find its rest. I'm not yet there, but I'm in the process. I know how hard it is to love even those who injure us. I have been hurt, for so long. Truth is, I had been living all my life with hurts and pains because of the people who injured me when I was younger. I brought those pains along with me. The moment I got sick of it and offered my heart to God for healing, was the time God spoke to my heart saying, it is only through love I could heal fully; not only the true love that I receive but also the true love that I could give. Could I ask for anything? If this is the only way; if healing equals loving, then let me do it. God is my Maker. He knows what I am made of. He would not surely ask me to do it if He knows I couldn't do it. I could do it because God tells me so. I must do my part then.
     
     We are all here because of God's love. So then it is our duty to give that love back. 

     Get Happy!

Love Is Never Lost

                         

     What we give, we receive back. This is the way of nature. If we give without expectations, we are a loving giver. If with expectations, we are hurt if not reciprocated. If it's genuine love we give, it's genuine love we receive back. And genuine love never dies, never fades, never lost with the passing of time.

     Get Happy!

Monday, September 15, 2014

How To Get Happy When You're Sad

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     I am not sad at the moment. I just need inspiration. From wikihow I found these 21 steps to be happy when sad. Hope you'll like it too.

1. Call up a friend or family member to talk about why you're feeling sad. Do this to get something off your chest, or to get your mind off it. The simple act of talking can make a surprising difference if it's with the right person. 
2.  Watch a funny movie, preferably one that you've already seen and liked. You'll remember that time that you were happy watching it, and the familiarity will feel comforting. 
3.  Eat a good meal. Make something different and delicious, something out of the ordinary. Chew slowly, smell the food, and savor every last bite. Be thankful that you even have food to eat. According to one source, about 25,000 people will die on any given day due to hunger or related illness.
4.  Exercise. Go for a walk, a jog, or a bike ride. Play a team sport. Do anything that gets you up and sweating. Exercising will make your body release endorphins, a chemical that lifts your mood and lessens your feeling of pain.
5.  Be spontaneous. Sometimes a consistent and boring routine can make you feel bad. Do something out of the blue without making any rash decisions. Go visit a friend or a museum, surprise your Mom with lunch, or take a weekend trip outside your city or town. 
6.  Paint a picture or mould a sculpture. Express your feelings with color and shapes. Art is a celebration of life, and you are a reason to celebrate. 
7.  Think about good memories. If you've lived through them once, you can definitely have them again. That's the beautiful thing about memories. Just because things may seem bad right now doesn't mean that they'll be that way tomorrow.
8.  Take a shower or a bath. You'll be amazed at how much of a lift taking a shower can give you. 
9.  Get out of the house. The fresh air will be invigorating. Go somewhere with a friend, a family member, or even by yourself. See a movie, shop, go on a picnic, etc. Staying inside can feel like trapping yourself inside the prison of your depression. Don't give yourself an excuse to feel bad. 
10. Listen to music. Resist the temptation to go for the sad music; try listening to energetic, jumpy, soulful, or happy tunes, along with numbers that inspire you or remind you of good times. Music can be and is used as a very effective therapy.. 
11. Have a good cry. Sometimes the sadness stays no matter how hard you force yourself to be happy. Try to let the tears out when you feel like it, and you might feel more relieved of your sad feelings, as if you got them "off your chest". Studies suggest that a majority of people who cry feel better than they did before.
12.  Put your feelings into perspective. Is what you're upset about really as important as you think? Did it seem to heavily affect you than those around you? If you sulk about little problems, like not receiving a perfect grade or spilled milk, then you're going to feel sad a lot more easily. 
13.  Taking a nap might make you feel better. Taking a nice, restful nap can help you feel more creative, get better grades, and relieve more stress, scientists say.
14.  Journal. Each day is a new day, a day to celebrate in writing. Write about how you feel, what your goals are, or even simple musings that you have. The good thing about journals is that they don't have to be read by anyone else. 
15.  Make a list of 100 things that make you happy. It's a challenge, but see if you can do it. Don't think, don't worry about if it's childish or silly, just write it down. 
16.  Before you go to bed, completely clear your mind of everything. This includes school life, grades, friends, family, etc. Dream up your happy place. This will at least leave you falling asleep with a better mood, making your feelings brighter in the morning. 
17.  Take a long walk to calm you down and to relax. Sometimes, it gives you a soothing feeling. Take a deep breath and puff it out. Focus on your breathing while you walk. 
18.  Try relaxing by reading. Lose yourself in another world, or in the past. Books transport us to places we've never been; often, those places are more adventurous and romantic than the places we're currently in.
19.  Laugh and smile. It may be forced at first, but it could trigger a funny memory or cause a real laugh itself. Scientists have figured out that smiling actually makes you happier than you were before.
20. Look at some of your childhood pictures. If a funny one pops up, don't push it away. Savor it. It'll help remind you that life passes by so quickly sometimes. Ask your parents for childhood pictures if you want a lot of them! 
21.  Stick to your routines. Probably you don't feel like doing it but force yourself to do it. You will eventually feel normal, if normal was a feeling you liked. Even if you have lost something/someone, you still have many other things/people that you enjoy. Most of all, you always have yourself.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Be So Happy

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     Why are babies happy? Simply because it is their nature. They have pure mind. They have pure heart. They have pure souls. They have worries too. They are full of fears too. Notice the way they look at strangers? They look with caution and fear. When their mother gets out of the room, they cry. But these things did not hinder them to express happiness. They know that worries and fears have nothing to do with happiness. They know that happiness is their state. They know that love and care are there always at their side. It would be with us, if we will always remember that God is always there to love and care for us. Let us always be happy then, like a child.

     Get Happy!

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Just Be Happy


     It's raining outside. The sun has not come out since this morning. There is tropical depression, the TV news says. Nevertheless, I'm still happy. I am because I choose to be. I am happy because I am alive. I am happy because I hear the gentle falling of the rain. I am happy because I know how does it feel to walk in the rain. I am happy because God gives rain. Hope you are to..

     Get Happy!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Live Every Moment

                         

     We live. We die. We come in this world with only God's breath--a gift that keep us alive. When He decides to take it back, nothing can we do but allow Him to take it. The best thing we can do with the limited time we have is to LIVE EVERY MOMENT of it. 

     Get Happy!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Brand New Day

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     God creates new day to give us a fresh start everyday. For the past week I've been battling with depression and frustration. These are due to my high childish expectations. When you are trying to walk with God, He'll walk with you all the way and even allow you to fail, if that is the only way for you to learn. This was what happened to me days ago. After everything has been processed in my brain, and of course, after having given my broken heart to God to be mended, I became alright and back on my feet again.

     I acknowledge everyday as God's gift for me to start anew. There is no use waiting for the 'right' time to start again. Everyday is the right time. Everyday is our time. And everyday is a brand new day.

     Get Happy!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Little Bird

     I am a little bird which is just learning to fly. Few flaps a day, and I'm off to to go. Then all of a sudden it came to my attention: when I fly lower, nothing notices me; and I am just alright. When I start to soar higher, other birds notice me and say how well I am doing. The funny thing is, I'm always carried away by little appreciation that I easily lose balance and go down thrice  as much faster as I soar. Too much concentration on my abilities perhaps; or my concentration is focused much on what the other birds have to say about me? The latter is nearer to the truth; and a truth that a tiny bird like me must conquer. There is no greater conquest than conquering oneself, as the sages say.

      I'm flying because that is what my life is all about. My ancestors have flown to greatest heights, sans the others who did not. But the process of learning to fly is much, much difficult as I imagine it to be. Sometimes I soar. Other times I fall. Balance is a little key; but focus is the main ingredient. Focus is being in the flow, being in the moment, being in IT. Actually, I'm not learning to fly because I don't know how to do it; I'm just re-membering how is it to fly; for flying is already in my deep consciousness. It is the flesh and bone of everything that my ancestors have left me.

Get Happy!

Life's Storm


     Sometimes it starts from droplets; then slowly comes heavier, and heavier, and heavier; until it pours heavily. Sometimes too, it just comes unexpectedly amidst a fairly beautiful weather. But oftentimes it starts with dark clouds, strong winds and large drops. Sometimes, it's expected. Sometimes it's not. Yes, I'm talking about rain and storm. This is the way how it comes. At times we are prepared. Other times we are not. 

     This is also the way how I describe depression. It's a time when the clouds cover the sky, cold winds kiss our skin and threaten our emotions that tomorrow might still be dark and bleak again. Sometimes in its strongest hit, we would lost everything: faith, hope, peace and sometimes love. Just like when there are storms, during depression we close our doors and windows. We keep them shut. We love to look outside through closed windows. We are left alone. We do not hear anything, except the tempests outside and our heavy breathing. Full of fears we cry. If tears would flow, we are lucky. In our devastation we thought this would be the end. If we are strong enough, there is nothing left to do than pray.

     Without our knowing the sun starts to shine. When we are through with the talking and grudging inside of us, we slowly hear the calmness outside. Holding our breath we slowly open the window, and take a peek at what's going on outside. We are relieved to know that the storm has passed; that everything returns to its usual business again.

      Actually, in depression the world is very much okay. It hardly notices our predicament. It does not know what we've been through. Sometimes, painfully it doesn't seem to care. But this is just how life comes naturally. If the world would be affected by every pain that we feel, what a topsy-turvy world we would have; for every human being has his own share of pain. Our all-knowing God prevents the world from knowing our pain that we would come only to Him for relief. When our loving God heals us from our temporary (yes, temporary. We would always experience pain in order for us to grow) pain and depression, we would come to the realization that, 'hey the world is alright. I thought it's some kind of a monster. I'm wrong.' 

     Depression is normal in my life. I've lived with it and have grown much stronger because of it. I consider it as stepping stone in my growth. I do not invite it to come in my life. But when it comes, my Heavenly Father always teach me different lessons when it goes. The last time it came, He was teaching me to love those who have repeatedly injure me--the hardest lesson I have to learn and is still learning so far. 

     Depression is just temporary as are storms and rain. But the lessons it bring is everlasting.

     Get Happy!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Nothingness And Beyond

        Just couldn't grasp it all. My humanity pulls me to take care of my body; provide it's needs, make it presentable. But then the other side of me asks, why worry of things that will perish? My body will perish. Yes, I have to take good care of it. Give it something to eat, clothe it, put shelter upon it's head. However, I noticed that I am going a little beyond. I'm starting to worry what to wear, how to look good. In short, I am taking care of my body just to be appreciated by everyone. Yeah, it feels good to be admired. But, does it pay when the very money I use for it could also be used for other important things like putting it in a savings that may be used later in case of emergency? Or when some needs arises? I noticed in myself that I am trying to keep up with the fad and fashion. Well, perhaps not that exaggerated, but I also have my fair share of worries about these things that is why I am trying to cope up. 

     I'm a student of success. Success tells me to dress well, to be presentable. How far is being presentable? How does being presentable looks like nowadays? Is being presentable still using an old fashion dress with grace? I don't know. 

     Fullness of spirit is telling me to be brave enough to accept nothingness. This world does not know nothingness. The only nothingness it knows is lacking the material things that the people of nowadays possess; like having a touchscreen cellphone, tablet, iPhone, iPad, car, designer bags and shoes, etc., etc. The list could go on and on and on. But nothingness is speaking in my heart. It tells me to not worry what to wear. A fashionable dress couldn't bring me to heaven. It couldn't even allow me to fulfill my Divine Assignment either. Nothingness is telling me to focus, to keep my eyes on the road ahead. Nothingness is telling me to keep still and weigh once again the things that matter. 

     How would I walk in this world and still having a grip on nothingness? Nothingness is whispering in my ear. It says I could have fullness of life if I will use it as my cane as I travel upon this earth. It tells me to forget about fame, to forget about pride, to forget about dignity. All those things are nothing. Every good thing that shines just lure a person. All good things come from God, for He alone is good. Yet, how does God defines goodness? How does man defines goodness? Every good thing seems to defy a person. A person aspires goodness for some other reason. Yeah, everything matters on what is inside the heart. If goodness resides in a person's heart there is no need for him to look for it because it is already there. It comes out just quite naturally. But if a person has not yet found goodness in his heart he will look for it in some other place. He will do everything to have it. And when he believes he already possesses it, he will prove all his might to show how good he is. 

     Let's return to nothingness. It hasn't left me yet. Nothingness tells me, if I were to do my Divine Assignment, I would BE who I AM. I would be a "nothingness" in this world. 

     Sad, I am. Would I? It's why I'm here in this world in the very first place; to prove how divine "nothingness" is. I just come to fall in love with the world that is why it is hard on my part to break away my relationship with it. It is hard to give it up. But I should listen to nothingness. I am here because of it. It says time is running out. My body is no longer getting any younger. I should listen, then do what I have to. 

     Perhaps you are wondering what this "nothingness" is that I'm talking about, let me define it in ways I can. In a lay man's term "nothingness" is just nothing, void, empty, lacking. The "nothingness" that I'm talking about is the fullness of everything. It's the same as the Christian song that goes, "lose yourself in me, and you will find yourself". It's this losing of the self that we would find our true self. It's what the sages call dis-attachment. I hope I've given the word justice. It's the closest I could define. It's closer to detachment--to detach oneself from something it has been attached to. In short, in my case, I have to detach myself from my attachments into this world. It is in detachment I could truly fulfill my Divine Assignment.

     This is why "nothingness" is calling me. It says I should return to the very purpose why I'm being sent into this world. One thing to know this calling is listening to the stirrings of the Spirit. The Spirit within of me is using "nothingness" to remind me of my true purpose, which all of us have. Perhaps you would not understand what I am talking about. Perhaps one day, you would.

Get Happy!

Monday, September 1, 2014

Illusions

                         


In this world, most of the things that seem to be are not really what they are. You can only see the real thing if you look with your heart and not your eyes. Your eyes are misleading. Thus, you should not waste time in regrets for not doing the things that you think you should do; or achieve the things, which you believe, you should have achieved. If you can, live each day with your heart. 

God speaks in your heart. In everything, you should listen with it. You must not be misled to think that because your time now is different from that of fifty years ago, you are much better; or that the principles of long ago is no longer applicable this time. The principles are still the same. You still admire the peaceful sunrise or the gentle sunset which your ancestors have also admired. Stay with a principle; live with a principle; and allow not your life to be wasted to naught. 

You should always open your eyes; accept the gift that God has given you, for that is the very reason why you live. Always believe that your life is beautiful, and when you do, God will open your eyes to more beautiful things. 

Live. Just live. For a purpose. For a reason. You are not an animal that is designed to feed only the body. You are a human designed to feed also the soul.  You have a soul; you believe in that. Feel it. Live it. 

These words are written especially for you who is writing this. For in this world, the things that you mostly discover are the things that you mostly seek. So if you, a reader of this words, whoever you are feel that these words also speak to you, perhaps you share with the thoughts of the writer. Only that your searchings have not come openly. And only then those words ring a bell when someone has presented it before your eyes. If these words ring a bell in your ears and in your heart, be merry for it took a lifetime of this writer to find the truth which she so painfully seeks all her life. 

Material things could make you feel and live comfortably. But let it not be the first in your priority list, for you do not have forever to live your life. As is written in the Bible, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you."

However, if these words are alien to you dear reader, my prayers be upon you that God may open your heart that you may see the truth given to the wise and hidden from the fools. Remember, in this world are many illusions. Often you are mislead. Open your eyes and heart wide. When you are ready to receive God's wisdom, He will grant it to you in abundance. 

Get Happy!

Sunday, August 31, 2014

The Key

                         


     Imagine that you are alone in an island. Not quite new, right? We always see this picture or image or scene in a movie where most of the actor survives in a shipwreck. He is saved; only to find himself all alone in an unknown island. Quite frightening, huh? We could not imagine what are we gonna do if ever we are the one in that kind of situation. But have you come to think, 'hey what if I'll enjoy for awhile. I'm so alone. Thank God I have a time all by myself. Let me enjoy this for a while. Anyway, this is only an imagination, right?' But no, we do not think this way. Even the thought of it paralyzes us. 

     Why? Because we do not want to be alone. We need someone. We always need someone. Because we entrust to people the key to our life. This key should be in our hands. But we don't want to hold it. We prefer to give it to others, that what may happen in our lives we always have someone to blame. We always have reasons why we fail. We do not want to be responsible with ourselves, so to speak. 

     But you know my newest realization is? That you and I hold the key to our success or failure. It is all in the mind. It is in our belief system. It is in our relationship with God. If we discern so much the spirit of God within us, we become truly awake to the truth-- that God has given us the strength to carry that key that  holds our future. We would no longer need anybody who has lesser knowledge of our life. Only then we would fully become responsible for ourselves. And the most beautiful thing is, when the key to our life is in our hands, God would teach us how to unlock the good possibilities as well as his greatness within us. Hope you are now prepared to hold your key and own it, finally.

     Get Happy!

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Don't Ever Quit

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Don't Ever Quit  

 (Author Unknown)

 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out.
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are -
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

     This is a poem I've first seen way back in college. It was written on a poster. I love the message so much. I bought it and put on the wall beside my bed to be my inspiration daily. Ironically, I stopped from the university for reasons I thought were best for me. My board mates asked for my posters as a souvenir. Unhesitatingly, I gave all my posters including my favorite poem.

     After two decades I again stumbled on this poem. It still struck me the way it did years ago. I now posted it here that I may read it anytime I need encouraging words. Hope it encourages you too.

     Get Happy!
  

Friday, August 29, 2014

Like A Flower

                                     

Like a flower I will wither and die.
Like a flower I will bloom with all my best.
Like a flower I will produce nectar to sweeten the lives of other creatures.
Like a flower I will give mature seeds that will die unto the earth and slowly grows when the right time comes.
Like a flower my beauty would last in the memory even after I'm gone.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Love Gives The Power Of Working Miracles

                         

     Og Mandino taught me to say I Love You silently to everyone I meet. At first, it's kind of weird. How can it be that effective if no one would hear it? However, I noticed there is that power of love which can be felt even if it's not uttered verbally. Maybe it's the miracle of love. Only God knows. On my part I just followed Og Mandino's advice because he had been there and did it. Nothing will I lose if I do it anyway. Besides, my goal to live fully is so strong that I'm willing to do everything just to become fully alive. I'm not that miracle worker yet. But someday I'll be when God decides to give me my time. I hope someday we would meet in the Miracle Workers Club.

     Get Happy!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Morrie Schwartz

                                      
  
   The Ice Bucket Challenge took the social media like a tidal wave. It's aim is to increase the awareness of the disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS which cure has not yet been found, and also to acquire donations from people who either would do the challenge or just donate 100 dollars, or do both. This lead me to remember the book I've bought last April 1, 2002. The book is titled Tuesdays With Morrie. I never knew who Morrie was nor who Mitch Albom, the author of the book, was. What ignited me to  buy the book was the promise in its cover, "life's greatest lesson".

     The book is a true to life story of a college professor, Morrie Schwartz, through his journey with ALS. He contracted the disease in his seventies. When his former student of two decades ago, Mitch Albom, then a journalist saw him in an interview with Ted Koppel in his program Nightlife, he found a way to meet with his life mentor. Consequently, they met and agreed to write a book, which they considered as Mitch's final thesis, about Morrie's journey with the disease and the lessons he had to share in his last days. 

     Albom describes the disease as an, "illness of the neurological  system. It starts from the legs and works its way up....It melts your nerves and leaves your body a pile of wax....It makes a man frozen inside his own flesh...It takes no more than five years from the day you contract the disease." In short, when someone contracted this disease, he is dying slowly. However, this disease did not paralyze Morrie Schwartz. He spent his last days strengthening his legacy of love and nurtured relationships. He even had his "living funeral", wherein his close friends and family joined together to say their last words for him as if he were already dead. He asked for this, that he may be able to listen physically what they had to say.

     Morrie's life lessons were very wise. It showed what kind of person he was in his lifetime. I quoted some of them below:

     "Ted, when all this started, I asked myself, 'Am I going to withdraw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live?' I decided I'm going to live - or at least try to live - the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with composure. "

     "Dying is only one thing to be sad over, Mitch. Living unhappily is something else. So many of the people who came to visit me were unhappy. Why? Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. Create your own. Most people can't do it. They're more unhappy than me - even in my current condition."

     "Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.... Love wins. Love always wins."

     "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating that gives you purpose and meaning."

     "I believe in being fully present. That means you should be with the person you're with."

     "Don't let go too soon, but don't hang on too long."

     "Be compassionate. And take responsibility for each other."

     "Love each other or die."

     "I mourn my dwindling time, but I cherish the chance it gives me to make things right."

     "That's what we're all looking for. A certain peace with the idea of dying. If we know in the end, that we can ultimately have that peace with dying, then we can finally do the really hard thing. Make peace with living..... It's natural to die... Everything that gets born, dies."

     "Here's the payoff. Here is how we are different from these wonderful plants and animals. As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you created is still there. You live on - in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here."

     "Death ends a life, not a relationship."

     When asked what are life's important questions, he had this to say, "As I see it, they have to do with love, responsibility, spirituality, awareness. And if I were healthy today, those would still be my issues. They should have been all along."

     "There is no formula to relationships. They have to be negotiated in loving ways, with room for both parties, what they want and what they need, what they can do and what their life is like."

     Those are some of Morrie's beautiful words that have touched me so much and are added to my collection of life's lessons? If you want to really know about his journey with ALS, you may purchase the book. Perhaps, it's still available in bookstores and online stores. As for me it was a best seller when I bought it. And it's worth more than the price.

Get Happy!

     

     

     

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