Leave your worries behind

Growing up, my mom worked for a magazine distribution company. As a result, our household was constantly filled with hundreds of different magazines each month. I can recall reading Psychology Today many times as a young girl, but it hasn't been until my "adult" years that I have truly started to appreciate some of the articles written in them.

Anyway, this week has sort of started out with a negative tinge to it (all of those fun details can be seen on my blog), but although we all get down from time-to-time, it is essential for all of us to be strong enough to bring ourselves out of a rut and brighten our spirits.

Psychology Today has posted seven carefree activities that may well brighten your mood. I can tell you that all of these definitely work!

1. Ride a Roller Coaster: Leave your worries behind when you let go of the handlebars, then feel the wind on your face as you swoop down the crest. The rush comes from the release of epinephrine, or adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is the target of a type of antidepressant called a norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor, and increasing its function can help raise your mood. Activities like riding a roller coaster allow your body to activate norepinephrine function naturally.
2. Berries in Chocolate: Consuming chocolate and other sweets can activate receptors in the brain's reward center. If you're feeling a loss of pleasure, the neurotransmitter dopamine, which fuels the brain's reward system, may not be operating at top speed. Recent research in depression has focused on dopamine. One tasty way to prime this reward pathway may be to satisfy your sweet tooth with a healthy treat.
3. A Day at the Beach: Put on those board shorts and catch some sun-dappled waves. Although you should use sunscreen, research from Australia shows that spending time in sunlight boosts your serotonin production. Yes, many of us do get depressed without sunlight. The brighter the forecast, the higher serotonin levels rise. A low serotonin level has long been a primary indicator of depression and other mood disorders, so naturally a spike in this neurotransmitter could help you beat the blues. Besides, you can enjoy a little eye-candy, too.
4. Massage, With Love: There's nothing more relaxing after a long day than a back massage, and all the better when it's given by someone near and dear. Oxytocin, a neurochemical released during social activities, especially those involving touch, can reduce levels of stress. And chronic stress increases the risk of depression. In fact, just holding hands with a friend or hugging your dog can boost oxytocin. In one study, subjects were given an oxytocin boost through a nasal spray, and asked to spend time with a friend. These subjects had lower levels of stress than subjects who only spent time with a friend or those who received an oxytocin boost alone.
5. A Big, Wet Kiss. The moon reflects off the pond, but you don't notice because you're busy locking lips. Saliva is full of testosterone, so when a guy kisses a girl he transmits the male androgen to her. And a woman's delicate hormonal balance requires a certain level of testosterone—studies have shown that lower levels can be a drag on a girl's mood. Depressed men often have lower levels of testosterone, so they benefit from a rise too. Talk about a connection that transcends.
6. Hit the Seafood Buffet: Tie on that plastic bib and enjoy a meal fit for a king. Make sure your plate is lined with salmon steak or other foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Not consuming enough Omega-3 can contribute to depression, and because we cannot synthesize these special fatty acids in our own bodies, they must come from our diet. Animal studies show that deficiencies in Omega-3s lead to a 50 percent depletion of serotonin and dopamine levels. The health benefits of fish abound. As Jerry Seinfeld said, "Why are fish so thin? They eat fish."
7. Take a Hike: A brisk walk or jog is a great excuse to get a breath of fresh air. What's more, moderate exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a chemical messenger that allows brain cells to grow. BDNF mediates new connections and growth in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in forming new memories that often shrinks during depression. What more can you ask for? Besides boosting mood and helping your brain grow, exercise is also a great way to work up an appetite.

Have any other tips to add to the list?

-Lisa

This is a wedding entrance dance!

This is a wedding entrance dance!

I would love to have one like that! It gives me a belief that wedding doesn't have to be boring and tense. Look how happy they are!!! They did it for themselves, they had fun and big pleasure doing it!

Here you can go to their website and donate for a good case. They thought it would be wonderful to help others through the popularity of their wedding entrance dance.
How amazing is that?

Much love. Deva.

Happiness...one day at a time.

I am going to be brutally honest here when I tell you that it has taken me a very long time to become a happy and positive person. In fact, I am not fully there quite yet. No, I am not Miss Negativity, but I have spent a large portion of my late teens/early twenties with a little bit of a jaded and unenthusiastic attitude towards things, particularly my future (relationships and career, mostly).

In the past, I would always ask myself questions like "Why not me?!" or "Why can't I have/become/accomplish/ that?" It wasn't until last year when I was 22 that I realized I am the only one in control of creating and maintaining my own inner happiness. No one else can be held responsible. No person can make me happy...true happiness lies within my own hands, and my hands only. Everything or everyone else just adds an extra dose of happiness to my life. :) I can honestly tell you that a positive and optimistic attitude is one of the greatest traits you can have...my life has been so different since adopting this new way of thinking. I wish I could take back all of the years I spend wishing instead of creating, or sulking instead of celebrating.

Below is an article that I read online at Cosmopolitan discussing happiness and the secret ways to become a happier person. The article isn't too deep or life-changing, but it does remind us to live in the moment and appreciate happy moments and to not dwell on the past or on things that you are not in control of. What do you to maintain a positive outlook on life?

-Lisa

The Surprising Way to Feel Happier:

There’s a proven technique to getting more pleasure out of life: staying in — and savoring — the moment. Sounds easy, but it takes a few mental tricks to accomplish.

Question: What were you doing right before started reading this article? You may have been sipping a latte or listening to music, but chances are, your head was elsewhere — ruminating about something from the past or plotting about the future, like that guy you hope will call or the Hawaiian island you plan to visit once you can finally take off time from work. It's a perfectly common state of being. But by never experiencing the moment, we miss the chance to savor life's many small pleasures, like that latte and chocolate-chip scone. In fact, studies show that simply being aware of what's happening this minute is linked to greater optimism, self-confidence, and happiness.

Of course, the question is, how do you stay mindful like that? Well, it takes some effort, honestly. There are distractions in every modern woman's life that make just being in the present difficult. But once you see what the snags are, you can navigate around them to a more pleasurable existence. "And when you're not distracted by all the things you're juggling mentally, you see things with more clarity," says psychologist Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, author of Happiness Is an Inside Job. "That helps you make better decisions and be more resilient when you hit hard times." So start here to free yourself from the stuff that holds you back from being happy right about now.

Goal 1: Savor the Mini Moments
Part of what makes your 20s and 30s so awesome are celebrations that spotlight how far you've come as an adult. But those graduations, engagements, and promotions aren't finish lines. They're just markers along the path.

"Investing too much emotion in thinking about exactly how you'll feel when something big happens — like 'I will be so happy when I'm finally walking down the aisle' — may prevent you from enjoying what actually happens," says Daniel Siegel, MD, author of The Developing Mind and associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles. "The end result may not look quite the way you thought it would...or even appear at all."

Tunnel vision also blinds you to joyful mini experiences you could be enjoying along the way. "We're so anxious to get to that yearly vacation with friends that we can overlook fun, impromptu girls' nights out or chats over coffee," says life coach Valorie Burton, author of How Did I Get So Busy?

How to pull it off: Make a conscious effort to notice how ordinary events can swell into extraordinary pleasure. "Focus on the sensory power in your routines, like how great your guy smells when you cuddle or the first delicious bite of your lunch," says Burton. Also, treat yourself to three little things each day that make you happy, whether it's meeting a friend for mani/pedis or walking by your cute coworker's office just to get a glimpse.

Goal 2: Do One Simple Thing at a Time
Your talent for doing about 83 tasks at once gives you superstar status at work. That instinct sneaks into life off the clock too. You can't just cook dinner — you have to do it with the TV on mute while chatting with Mom as music plays in the background. Hell of a downtime.

"For whatever reason, women often feel guilty if they're not accomplishing several meaningful things simultaneously," says Boorstein. But teaming up on activities saps your ability to delight in individual experiences. "And the ironic part is, you can't even remember doing half those important tasks because your brain allocates focal attention to only one thing at a time," explains Dr. Siegel.

How to pull it off: Once and for all, ditch the "Do something!" guilt complex and realize that not every moment has to be an exercise in superwomandom. "It is enough to just spend a few minutes laughing at a stupid YouTube video or lounging on the couch with your head on your boyfriend's lap," says Boorstein.

Goal 3: Take a Breather from Your Totally Wired World
In theory, posting up-to-the-nanosecond reflections on your mood on Facebook or Twitter is the epitome of staying in the moment. But publicizing real-time emotions makes you like that chick at a party who can't stop snapping photos. "You're so busy documenting the present for other people or so you can reflect on it later that you don't even register your own emotions," says Dr. Siegel. "And you end up feeling numb or scattered instead."

Also, you wonder, What would my boss think? Or that guy who just friended me? By the time you've tweaked your update, you've censored what you really feel or forgotten your impulse to post it in the first place.

How to pull it off: Take a hiatus from posting status updates online. "Not having to process everything for an audience will help you home in on what's happening now and enjoy moments as they come," explains Burton. And if you get the urge to share, do it the old-fashioned way: Call a friend. Also, check e-mail or Facebook three set times per day. "It gives you something to look forward to, but you won't feel enslaved by it," says Burton.

Goal 4: Liberate Yourself from the Past
Everyone gets drop-kicked by life at some point. And as a smart chick, your inclination is to ponder your way out of a problem: How could I have been so stupid as to date him? or Why do people act this way? But getting hung up on the whys can be just as damaging as the blow that knocked you off your game in the first place.

"Women ruminate over past mistakes or hurts, believing that if they just think about them hard enough, they'll see a solution or sign of closure," says Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, PhD, author of Women Who Think Too Much. Here's the reality: For many dilemmas, no amount of head-scratching will ever deliver an epiphany. Adds Nolen-Hoeksema: "Even if you're aware that you need to do something to get over a bad situation, you'll be less likely to take action if you let yourself think about factors out of your control, such as what motivated someone to hurt you."

How to pull it off: Rather than feel hamstrung by the mysterious behavior of others, free yourself to take action on your own terms. "Examine what you can do differently the next time, resolve to do that, then move on," says Nolen-Hoeksema. And when obsessive thoughts launch their insidious attack, distract yourself. Take 30 seconds to breathe slowly and deeply, concentrating on the in-and-out sensation. "It's so simple — just five breaths can clarify your thoughts and help balance your feelings," says Dr. Siegel.

I've Learned

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone that can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.

I've learned that you can do some thing in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way to keep score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I've learned that no matter good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

Author: Unknown

Best of love,
Fran

BOOK REVIEW - Happiness

I just read Fran’s article on joy and it made me think to this book I read a few weeks ago.

The title is “Zen and the art of happiness” and it’s written by Chris Prentiss. I know I already talked about him but whatever. He has been my key author in the last 3 weeks. This book in particular cannot be ignored. Chris reminds me (such as Fran did) that happiness comes from within and that there’s no secret tricks or stuff to possess that will make you happy. I mean an event can make you feel happy of course but it’s actually only a cover. If events or random stuffs were really the true source of happiness, everybody would feel the same way about it. And you know as I do that it’s not the case. So where does happiness come from? It comes from your way to look to those events and stuffs we were talking about. You only need to allow yourself to feel this way. Prentiss says that “it’s a state that is produced by our minds”. In fact, some studies have shown that when you have negative thoughts, your body’s immune system is affected and push you to depression. So just try to push all those negative stuff away and force yourself to think positively and to add some fun to your life. The rest will follow. Try to maintain this state of mind and you’ll be happy, confident, positive and all you want to be.

And to finish, I’d like to add this quote: “Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think” (Dale Carnegie). You may possess all the wealth in this world, it’s not what will make you happy. HAPPINESS COMES FROM WITHIN(lesson of the day you should never forget).

Have a great weekend y’all!

Let Joy

Let Joy Overtake You

Photo Credit: Margaret Warfield

Photo Link

Let Joy

By Ralph S. Marston, Jr.

Somewhere in this very moment there is joy.
Choose to let it touch you.
You do not have to arrange for joy to appear, or coax it out of life.
All you have to do is allow it, and jo will be.
Joy does not need a special circumstance or elaborate condition.
It only needs for you to let it arise.
In the tiny, unremarkable moments, joy is always read and waiting.
In the magnificent , dramatic times it is there as well.
Joy will be if you will let it.
Think back, and you'll see how often you've know this to be true.
Relax your defenses, openand expose your most authentic self to life.
Joy will surely reach and fill you.

Ladies, Say Hello & Say Goodbye: It Is An Assignment!

Hey ladies!

Life is an adventure. We encounter and embrace new things and we wave and say farewell to the old ones. "Hello" and "Goodbye" are probably two most frequently used words in our everyday life. We say "Hello" to new friends, to our brand-new dresses, to our dreamed jobs, to a great plan, to an original idea. Why? Because we lOVE them! But life is not always about good things to be happy about. Like it or not, we also have to say "Goodbye". Sometimes it is really hard to say the word because it can be hurtful and it just feels much easier to keep holding on. But in some cases, it is wise and usually a good idea to let go. It is a daring thing to do, isn't it? Sometimes it feels like telling everybody else you are leaving and you leave without looking back and actually you have no idea what is going to happen next and there is nothing you can do but keep moving on. Perhaps the goodbye is not forever, but you will never know until you say it and really mean it. Saying goodbye to one thing probably means saying hello to the other. It allows room for new things, for transformation, for exploration, and for better understanding of yourself. In some cases, goodbye is really the end, but a good one!

That is why I write this post. Hopefully it inspires you in some way. I intend to make it an "assignment". In this assignment, I would like to know your "Hellos" and "Goodbyes". Say hello to all the exciting challenges you want to face, and say goodbye to all the things you need to let go: bad habits, the passing of your loved ones, ex-boyfriends, or girlfriends, self-destructive feelings and behaviours, jobs, projects, or thoughts, anything.

But please write them as simple lists. Each can be a list of only one item, or a list of 1001 things. It is all up to you! By the way, for the Goodbye List, please take a moment with each one to really say goodbye. This isn't a catalogue of your fears and faults, this is a ceremony to bid them farewell.

I will show you mine first.

My Hello List:
- Hello my new haircut! Thanks to my new hairdresser. I know I still look stupid now, but less stupid than last time. And no matter what, my hair is growing anyway! (This one is for who I AM.)
- Hello Canada! I almost see you smile and wave at me. Almost! (This one, for my FUTURE.)
- Hello all my team members and all my readers! Starting this group blog is probably the best thing I have ever done! I do not want to say "Thank You!" any more. My gratitude is beyond words. (This one, the last but the most important one, is for YOU!!!)

And My Goodbye List:
- Goodbye my ex! You are so... such an a**hole but thanks for letting me know what and who are the most important to me. (This one is for the PAST.)
- Goodbye my bills! Thank God I finally paid you all for this month! (This one is for the PRESENT...)
- Goodbye biting fingers... I guess I have been doing really well for the past few months, and I do hope I will not get into it again! (This one is for the FUTURE.)

Ooookay ladies... I can only think of such shallow things about my "Hellos" and "Goodbyes", and I would love to hear yours! There will be a follow-up post with all your feedbacks and my thoughts by August 8, 2009!

It is just an experimental project of me, let me know what you think about this "assignment" thing. Or perhaps you have your suggested assignments for us all. For all your lists and suggestions, please comment, e-mail me at fran9719@gmail.com, or write something in your blog and let me know! I will not use any of your thoughts for anything else. It is a PROMISE.

Best of love,
Fran

Enjoy Your Life: A Marathon A~Z List :o)

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Hey ladies!

Today I am going to post a veeeeeeeeeeery loooooooooooong A~Z list. We need to remind ourselves from time to time, we need to LIVE.

Enjoy reading! Have a great day!

Best of luck and love,
Fran


Act now. For now is all you have.
Action is the food and drink which will nourish my success.
Action will destroy your procrastination.
All men must stumble often to reach the truth.
All nature is a circle of moods and you are a part of nature and so, like
the tides, your moods will rise; your moods will fall.
All your problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise.
Always let your reach exceed your grasp.
Always raise your goals as soon as they are attained.
Always strive to make the next hour better than this one.
Always take another step. If that is to no avail take another, and yet another. One step at a time is not too difficult.
Any act with practice becomes easy.
Apply all of your efforts to become the highest mountain of all and strain your potential until it cries for mercy.
Avoid with fury the killers of time.
Bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed.
Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown.
Be happy.
Be hungry for success.
Be prepared to control whatever personality awakes in you each day.
Become master of yourself.
Begin now to accent your differences.
Beginning today, you can increase your accomplishments of yesterday by a hundredfold.
Bury doubt under faith.
Cherish each hour of this day for it can never return.
Chuckle and your burdens will be lightened.
Concentrate your energy on the challenge of the moment.
Confidence will take away your fear.
Consider each obstacle as a mere detour to your goal and a challenge to your profession.
Consider each obstacle as a mere detour to your goal.
Count your blessings today.
Cultivate the habit of laughter.
Destroy procrastination with action.
Dismember fear with confidence.
Do not allow yesterday's success to lull you into today's complacency, for this is the great foundation of failure.
Do not be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments or indulge in self-praise for deeds which are too small to even acknowledge.
Do not commit the terrible crime of aiming too low.
Do not dwell on the past.
Do not judge a man on one meeting.
Do not listen to those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious.
Do not make vain attempts to imitate others.
Do not permit the petty happenings of today to disturb you.
Do not think of yesterday or tomorrow.
Do not waste a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, or yesterday's aches of the heart.
Drink every minute to its fill; savor its taste and give thanks.
Drive a bad habit from your life and replace it with one which will bring you closer to success.
Each day will be triumphant only when your smiles bring forth smiles from others.
Each failure to sell will increase your chances for success at your next attempt.
Each frown you meet only prepares you for the smile to come.
Each minute of today will be more fruitful than the hours of yesterday.
Your last must be your best.
Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck.
Each nay I hear will bring me closer to the sound of yea.
Each rebuff is an opportunity to move forward; turn away from them, avoid them and you throw away your future.
Each struggle, each defeat sharpens your skills and strengthens your courage and your endurance.
Enjoy today's happiness today.
Failure does not course through your veins as you were not delivered into this world in defeat.
Failure no longer will be my payment for struggle.
Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough.
For now you know one of the greatest principles of success; if you persist long enough you will win.
Forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of your life.
Fulfill today's duties today.
Good habits are the key to all success.
Grant me compassion for weaknesses in others.
Grasp each minute of this day with both hands and fondle it with love for its value is beyond price.
Green grass grows where dry desert ends.
Greet the sunrise with cries of joy.
Happiness is the wine that sharpens the taste of the meal.
Have confidence that this will be the best day of your life.
I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will, for why would the miracle which produced me end with my birth? Why can I not extend that miracle to my deeds of today?
I consider poverty to be the mark of a lack of ability or a lack of ambition.
I have a choice and I will not let my life be fed to swine nor will I let it be ground under the rocks of failure and despair to be broken open and devoured by the will of others.
I have not time to hate, only time to love.
I need not wait for I have the power to choose my own destiny.
I shall live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.
I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
I will be successful.
I will command, and I will obey mine own command.
I will do the work that a failure will not do.
I will encourage my friends and they will become brothers.
I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.
I will form good habits and become their slave.
I will greet this day with love in my heart.
I will greet this day with love, and I will succeed.
I will laud mine enemies and they will become friends.
I will laugh at evil and it will die untasted.
I will look on all things with love, and I will be born again.
I will love all mankind.
I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they may be hidden.
I will love myself.
I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me!
I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.
I will love the failures for they can teach me.
I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine.
I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many.
I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share.
I will persist until I succeed.
I will persist and I will win.
I will say it is done before the failure says it is too late.
I will talk when the failure remains silent.
I will think naught of my profession when I am in my home for this will dampen my love.
I will toil and I will endure.
I will walk where the failure fears to walk.
I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart.
I will work when the failure seeks rest.
If all things shall pass, why should I be of concern for today?
If I delay, success will become betrothed to another and lost to me forever.
If I have no other qualities I can succeed with love alone.
If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed.
If I stumble I will rise, and my falls will not concern me.
If you bring joy, enthusiasm, brightness, and laughter to your customers, they will react with joy, enthusiasm, brightness, and laughter and your weather will produce a harvest of sales and a granary of gold for you.
If you feel depressed - sing!
If you feel fear, plunge ahead.
If you feel incompetent, remember past successes.
If you feel insignificant, remember your goals.
If you feel poverty, think of wealth to come.
If you feel sad - laugh.
If you must be a slave to habit, then be a slave to good habits.
If you persist long enough, you will win.
If you waste today, you destroy the last page of your life.
Ignore the obstacles at your feet and keep your eyes on the goals above your head.
In setting my goals, I will consider my best performance of the past and multiply it a hundredfold.
Increase your knowledge of mankind.
It pays to be persistent.
Just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.
Just as nature made no provision for your body to tolerate pain neither has it made any provision for your life to suffer failure.
Keep work and family separate.
Laugh and your life will be lengthened for this is the great secret of long life.
Laugh at goodness and it will thrive and abound.
Laugh at the world.
Laugh at your failures and they will vanish in clouds of new dreams.
Laugh at your successes and they will shrink to their true value.
Laugh at yourself for man is most comical when he takes himself too seriously.
Leave your problems at home.
Lift up a friend in need.
Lift your arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day.
Live this day as if it is your last. Seal up the container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand.
Live this day as if it is your last.
Live today as if it is your last chance to prove your love and your greatness.
Look upon each obstacle as a lesson to be learned.
Look upon misfortune as opportunity in disguise.
Love the darkness because it shows you the stars.
Love will melt all hearts like the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.
Love yourself!
Make every hour count and trade each minute only for something of value.
Make love your greatest weapon.
Make the hours ahead priceless!
Make this day the best day of your life.
Many face each obstacle in their path with fear and doubt and consider them as enemies, when in truth, these obstructions are friends and helpers.
Many succumb to despair and fail without realizing that they already possess all the tools needed to acquire great wealth.
Master your emotions so that each day will be productive.
Master your moods through positive action and when you master your moods you will control your destiny.
Meditation and prayer feeds the soul.
My desire to meet the world will overcome every fear I once knew, and I will be happier than I ever believed it possible to be in this world of strife and sorrow.
Nature knows not defeat.
Never allow yourself to become so important, so wise, so dignified, so powerful, that you forget how to laugh at yourself.
Never be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments.
Never feel shame for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.
Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.
Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages.
Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer.
Never will I labor to be happy; rather will I remain too busy to be sad.
Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation.
Never will I scratch for excuses to gossip.
No longer shall my vocabulary include such words as cannot, unable, impossible, and quit.
No longer will I fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.
Obstacles are necessary for success.
Only a habit can subdue another habit.
Only action determines my value in the market place.
Only with laughter and happiness can I enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Only with laughter and happiness can you truly become a success.
People will always respond positively to joy and enthusiasm.
Persist and develop your skills as the mariner develops his, by learning to ride out the wrath of each storm.
Persist with the knowledge that each failure to sell will increase your chance for success at the next attempt.
Practice the art of patience for nature never acts in haste.
Put your uniqueness on display in the market place.
Rain cleanses the spirit.
Remember that as today's dead flower carries the seed of tomorrow's bloom so does today's sadness carry the seed of tomorrow's joy.
Remove from your vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless,
and retreat; for they are the words of fools.
Rewards are great if one succeeds but the rewards are great only because so few succeed.
Seek constantly to improve your manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.
Set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and your life.
Should you concern yourself over events which you may never witness? Should you torment yourself with problems that may never come to pass? No!
Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, think of it no more.
Sleep in peace for you have not failed.
Small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.
Smile and your digestion will improve.
So long as I can laugh, never will I be poor.
So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist.
Strive for happiness and peace of mind.
Strive for happiness, to be loved and to love, and most important, to acquire peace of mind and serenity.
Strive to become better than you are.
Strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.
Success comes to those willing to work a little bit harder than the rest.
Success will not wait.
Suffer me to know that all things shall pass.
The height of my goals will not hold me in awe though I may stumble often before they are reached.
The only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in their habits.
The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal.
The problems of the market place will be left in the market place.
The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.
There are good qualities in everyone.
There are lessons to be learned from failures.
There is no room in the market place for your family, nor is there room in your home for the market.
There is not time to hate, only time to love.
This day is all you have and these hours are now your eternity. Greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death.
This is the place.
This is the time.
This too shall pass.
Time teaches all things to him who lives forever, but I have not the luxury of eternity.
To conquer fear I must always act without hesitation and the flutters in my heart will vanish.
To enjoy success I must have happiness, and laughter will be the maiden who serves me.
To multiply your value you must multiply your actions.
To surpass the deeds of others is unimportant; to surpass your own deeds is all.
Today I begin a new life.
Today I shed my old skin which hath too long suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity.
Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
Today I will surpass every action which I performed yesterday.
Today you will be master of your emotions.
Today, I will act.
Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy.
Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday.
True wealth is of the heart, not of the purse.
Try again, make one more attempt to close with victory, and if that fails, make another.
Try, and try, and try again.
Understand and recognize the moods of others. Make allowances for their anger and irritation for they know not the secret of controlling their minds.
Unless you act you will perish in a life of failure, misery, and sleepless nights.
Unless you put your skills, mind, heart, and body to good use, you will stagnate, rot, and die.
Victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.
We must have the night to appreciate the day.
Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.
Welcome happiness for it enlarges your heart; endure sadness for it opens your soul.
What can take place before this sun sets which will not seem insignificant in the river of centuries?
What is success other than a state of mind?
When an act becomes easy through constant repetition, it becomes a pleasure to perform, and if it is a pleasure to perform, it is man's nature to
perform it often.
When I am burdened with wealth I shall tell myself that this too shall pass.
When I am moved to praise, I will shout from the roofs.
When I am puffed with success I shall warn myself that this too shall pass.
When I am strangled in poverty I shall tell myself that this too shall pass.
When I am tempted to criticize, I will bite on my tongue.
When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.
When you are heavy with heartache console yourself that this too shall pass.
Where dry desert ends, green grass grows.
Where there are idle mouths I will listen not; where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not.
Will my concern for this day not seem foolish ten years hence?
With each victory the next struggle becomes less difficult.
With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts, and in its place, I will build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.
Within you burns a flame which has been passed from generations uncounted, and its heat is a constant irritation to your spirit to become better than you are, and you will.
Yesterday's joy will become today's sadness; yet today's sadness will grow into tomorrow's joy.
Yesterday's success will not lull me into today's complacency.
Yesterday is buried forever, think of it no more.
You are a unique creature.
You are here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand.
You are nature's greatest miracle.
You are rare, and there is value in all rarity; therefore, you are valuable.
You can accomplish far more than you have, and you will.
You can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles with ambition.
You have been given eyes to see and a mind to think.
You have but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time.
You have unlimited potential.
You may encounter failure at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. You will never know how close success lies
unless you turn the corner.
You must fail often to succeed only once.
You must have objectives before your life will crystallize.
You must nurture your body and mind in order to fulfill your dreams.
You only have time to love.
You were conceived in love and brought forth with a purpose.
You will become great.
You won't know how close success is unless you turn the corner.

Make Me Happy

Lately I've browsed Internet cos I've looked for something which has connection to happiness.

I had a small talk today with myself and in the end I said to myself that I should be really happy with everything that I have.

Accidentally I had gotten to TIME page and I found a great article about happiness. It's called 20 ways to get and stay happy. I will write down each of them and get you my point of you.

1. Count Your Blessing

Not every day, maybe once a week or even rare. Get yourself a time for counting. Be aware of what you have and be grateful for it! Even if it's just one friend or family. Lots of people don't have that.

2. Hear The Music

The music heal the pain we know that. So listen to it very often!

3. Snog. Canoodle. Get It On.

Hug!!!! Kiss and ....

4. Nurture Your Spirituality

I have one thing to say. Believe. Believe in yourself, in God, in others. Just believe, doesn't matter in who. Faith can make miracles for you.

5. Move Your Body!

Move it! Workout! Jog, dance, walk, do yoga or pilates. Just move!

6. Laugh Big!

Don't worry if someone sees you, you have right to laugh. Laugh out loud till you cry! Feel free and happy doing it. You will be surprise how good you can feel afterwards.

7. Do Something Nice For Somebody Else

Say something nice, cook for someone, take for a walk or just be with no words. People can be unbelievably grateful for just one small nice word. Don't hesitate to make somebody smile.

8. Make More Money Than Your Peers

What I can say. Money won't make you happier person but making money more than others yes. It's a kind of competition, if you are making more money you win. I think it's more about your social status and your own place in the society though.

9. Seek Positive Emotions As A Path To Success

I don't think it needs a comment. Be happy with everything you do.

10. Identify With Your Heritage

Be proud of who you are. Know your culture. Know yourself.

11. Use A Happy Memory As A Guide

Recall all your good moments, your passions, interests and talents. Let them guide you.

12. Play The Part Of An Optimist

You can learn to be optimist. You just need to want to. Walk straight with your head high, walk fast and be confident doing that. People will see the power and energy you have inside.

13. Try New Things!

Of course. Learn. Travel. Eat new food. Don't limit yourself! Just live!

14. Tell Your Story To Someone
Tell it. Tell good and bad moments. It will make you more aware of what you've achieved and what you've already done in your life.

15. Balance Work And Home
Don't be a slave. Don't become one. Doesn't matter if you are a single, married. Make sure you have time for yourself. Balance yourself.

16. Keep Expectation Realistic
Nothing is worse than an exaggerated plans and expectations that you can't achieve. Think realistic. Will keep you far away from disappointments.

17. Make Time
Make sure you have time for people, things which are important for you. Maybe you need to burn some bridges, end some relationships for making your time - quality time.

18. Visualize Happiness
Remember all good moments from past and see your future fulfilled with happiness. You can see yourself wherever your want - it's just the matter of your imagination. Then follow your dreams, follow your happiness.

19. Smile
Smile everywhere to everyone. Smile at people and they will smile you back!

20. Marry Happy
Nothing worse than a horrible husband/wife who can't make us happy. Make a good choice!


Love you! Deva!

Communication From The Heart

Photo Credit: cattycamehome

Life is all about communication. Communication can be a thing that we think we are so good at because we have been doing it from the day when we were born; but it can also be a thing which sucks so much because sometimes we are totally lost and do not know what to "say" when we are perfectly able to "speak"... I personally think by being a good communicator, you almost win half the battle of your life.

I read something by a life coach about effective communication and that article is very relevant to me. A successful communication is not done by lip-services; it is a work of heart. There are some key points that I would like to share with you:

1. Connect with people on a heart-to-heart level
Be sincere. You have to take off that mask, open your mouth, and let people hear your voice. Once you tell a lie, your will either have to take a whole lot more time to cover it up, mainly by telling more lies (which obviously makes you a so-called LIAR), or forget that stupid lie, and finally unintentionally leak out the truth (which basically makes no difference from the former one). So, why bother being so pretentious?!

2. Reach out to the people that resonate with you
To me it is about choosing the person to communicate with. It is like choosing friends, or choosing a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I always believe that there should be some "real" one there for you, but there are a thousand more "fake" ones, too. Be careful.

3. Connect with people for the pure joy of connecting, not for a particular outcome
I want to say THANK YOU to our group blog and to all the people who contributed (although they are not necessarily "contributors" of this blog). I have learned a lot by starting such a platform for people my age to share their opinions and experiences. What is the word? Yes, INSPIRING. This blog was created only a couple of days ago but I have learned a lot more than blogging by myself and for myself over the past six months.

4. Use a method of communication that you are comfortable with, when reaching out for the first time
Obviously, "things you are (most) comfortable with" almost equals "things you do well (best)".

5. Tap into your feeeeeeeeeeelings!
Well... That is what I am doing!!!

Best of love,
Fran