10 Rules For A Blessed Day

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1. Today do not strike back. If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, do not respond in a like manner.
2. Today ask God to bless your enemy. If you come across someone who treats you harshly or unfairly, quietly ask God to bless that individual. Your 'enemy' could be a family member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.
3. Today be careful about what you say. Carefully choose and guard your words being certain that you do not spread gossip.
4. Today go the extra mile. Find ways to help share the burden of another person.
5. Today forgive. Forgive any hurts or injuries that come your way.
6. Today do something kind for someone. Reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.
7. Today treat others the way you wish to be treated. Practice the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
8. Today raise the spirits of someone who is discouraged. Your words, your smile, your expression of support can make the difference to someone who is wrestling with life.
9. Today nurture your body. Eat less unhealthy food and eat more healthy food. Thank God for your body.
10. Today grow spiritually. Spend a little more time in prayer today. Begin reading something spiritual or inspirational. Find a quiet place, especially in your heart, and listen to God's voice.

     If you can do all of the above today, it is possible you can do it everyday. Eventually then your life will be full of happiness and bliss.

A Soulful Poem

Photo Credit

     When I was in college I bumped into this soulful poem, which I've forgotten eventually. Almost twenty years after, I bumped into this again. It is my pleasure to share this with you. You may have read this before, but I know reading it again will refresh the feelings of happiness and bliss that this poem brings.

Heaven's Grocery Store


As I was walking down life's highway 
many years ago
 I came upon a sign that read
Heaven's Grocery Store

When I got a little closer
the door swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.


I saw a host of Angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket
And said "my child shop with care".


Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store.
And what you could not carry
You could come back for more


First I got some PATIENCE,
LOVE was in that same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING, 
You need that everywhere you go.


I got a box or two of WISDOM
And FAITH a bag or two.
And CHARITY of course
I would need some of that, too.


I couldn't miss the HOLY SPIRIT
It was all over the place.
And then some STRENGTH and COURAGE 
To help me run the race.


My basket was getting full
But I remembered I needed GRACE.
 And then I choose SALVATION for
SALVATION was for free.


I tried to get enough of that
To do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter
To pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
To do the Master's Will.

As I went up the aisle 
I saw PRAYER and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into Sin.

PEACE and JOY were plentiful, 
The last things in the shelf.
SONGS and PRAISE were hanging near
So I just helped myself.

Then I said to the Angel
"Now how much do I owe?"
He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked, "Really now, how much do I owe?"

"My child" he said, "God paid your bill a long, long time ago."

         Get Happy!

Seven Ways To Be Happy Today And The Days To Come

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     There are many ways to be happy. Here are seven of them:

1. Boost your energy. Take a brisk ten-minute walk outside, or stand up and pace while you talk on the phone. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, it boosts focus, lightens mood, and increases the memory retention. And when you're energetic, the people around you will become energetic too.
2. Reach out to friends. Make a lunch date, or send email, or open your facebook account and chat with friends you have not meet for awhile. One of the keys to happiness is having close bonds with other people. Socializing boosts the mood not only of extroverts, but of introverts as well.
3. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Others call it, eating the frog in the morning. Answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist's appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer. You'll even be surprised you procrastinated for so long.
4. Create a calmer environment. Clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming. Often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the "one minute rule"--never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment can create a more serene mood.
5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun. Plan a weekend excursion at the beach, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening, reading an inspiring book, watching a movie --whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness. Anticipating it is an important part of the pleasure. 
6. Do a good deed. Shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise, or set up a blind date, or make an email introduction of two people who could help each other. Also, it is helpful to act the way you want to feel. When you act in a friendly way, you'll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.
7. Act happy. Put a smile in your face right now, and keep smiling. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions -- just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you're smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

     Wanting happiness is not a selfish goal as what other people perceive it to be. On the contrary, studies show that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy,productive -- and are more inclined to help other people. So boost your way to happiness and let it benefits others.

What Brings Happiness

     Ed Hays has very inspiring words concerning happiness.

     Simply to have all the necessities of life and three meals a day will not bring happiness. Happiness is hidden in the unnecessary and in those impractical things that bring delight to the inner person...When we lack proper time for the simple pleasures of life, for the enjoyment of eating, drinking, playing, creating, visiting friends, and watching children at play, then we have missed the purpose of life. Not on bread alone do we live but on all these human and heart-hungry luxuries. 

      How very true! Happiness is not bought. Happiness could never be rented. Happiness could only be lived by those who have innocent and simple hearts. Happiness is within each person. We could only find it when we free ourselves from the daily distractions of our lives.
      Get happy!

Forgiveness Paves The Way To Happiness

     St. Paul comments, "I am doing the things I do not want to do, and not doing the things I want to do." Recently this has been my dilemma. It's my goal of becoming a happy person through following the Christian values. Hence the creation of this blog. However, my goal has just been tested. There is this person whom I come into contact with daily and successfully manages to make me boil inside and makes me unhappy. I detest her ways. I hate her attitude. Slowly the feelings inside me are magnified, especially when other critics of her talk against her back in front of me. I always affirmed their criticism against her and even added my own opinion and ill-feelings.
     Doing this daily drains me of my energy. Not only that, my conscience keeps on bugging me. Here I am, doing a personal growth blog, yet doing wayward things. When I could no longer handle my feelings, I consulted it to God. I said, there is no way I could correct the person because no one could change someone's attitude in an instant and without the person's consent. Moreover, when the person is not that emotionally and psychologically mature.
      Eventually God did not delay the answer. He answered in one word -- forgiveness. Forgiveness not so much to the person who caused me misery, because there would be many of them whom I would eventually encounter in my lifetime. But forgiveness in myself. The reason why I react negatively and painfully, is because I harbor within me those feeling of negativity and pains. In short, I have not fully forgiven myself from my mistakes in the past, thereby making me difficult to accept people as they are, good and bad alike. I have not fully forgiven and accepted myself as I am with all my weaknesses and shortcomings. This dawned on me. I was awakened from my deepest slumber. Yes, this is what I have to work on within myself. For if I were loving myself as I am, there would be no difficulty on my part accepting people as they are. With this realization I am so thankful to God. And I am happy.
     Get happy!

Reverence For Life

    Heard about Albert Schweitzer? He was a medical missionary in Africa, an organist, a theologian and a philosopher. His greatest teaching according to Wilfred A. Petterson in The Art of Living With Others has been compressed into a spiritual capsule of three words -- reverence for life.
     Peterson describes reverence for life beautifully:

When one has reverence for life, one holds life in the highest esteem as God's gift to us. One recognizes that all life is a part of God and that God is a part of all life. One sees that the chief purpose of life -- plant, animal and human -- is to express itself. The universal affirmation of all life is the will to live, to grow, to make the most of its own unique qualities.

When a person has reverence for life that person will never do anything to harm, hinder or destroy life. Instead that person bends every effort to help life to fulfill its highest destiny. That person strives to maintain, enhance, and assist life to make the most of itself.

Reverence for life...is having the vision to see that when even the very smallest segment of life is helped. It is using our influence to glorify and celebrate the eternal miracle of life.

     Ah, beautiful words. Accurately put.
     It is our mission here on earth to revere the life we have and that of others because we are all connected with each other. We are one. It might be easier said than done, yet we have to do it because it is in our very nature. We could not go against our nature. It might be difficult for me to do, given the tons of aches and pains I carried on my back, yet doing it one step at a time, I'll be able to revere life, my life and those around me. Hope you could do it too.

     Get happy!
    

 

Prayer Affirmation

     In our age today, the form of prayer has a new face. Wise gurus discovered it and shared their discovery to the world. It is their way of touching people and helping them create better beings in themselves and others. This form of prayer is described by Socrates as, "You are what you think." Wise gurus said, everything that comes to mind is a form of prayer, whether it be good thoughts or bad thoughts, as long as it is recognized by the mind. Thus, this gurus lead us to the best form of prayer - the positive one. I found one of this prayers, which I pray daily, from Allan Cohen. It is my pleasure to share this with you.

Today I set my mind and heart on a new path. I focus my energy on love, appreciation, and my highest possibilities. Today I claim responsibility for my own success, and step forward with a new enthusiasm to manifest unprecedented good. I use my mind to create only the best, and I draw unto me all the support and resources I need for positive change. Thank you God, for opening the door to a life filled with blessings.

     Now go and pray this daily and be transformed in the days to come.
    
     Be happy!