Happiness Included, No Assembly Required!

August 17, 2005

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

Dear Lionel, I would like to know what you think people need to be happy for the long and the short term. How can we increase our happiness and what makes us happy. I guess I need to know what makes someone unhappy, and what recommendations you give to people to help them with their "unhappiness," as such.

Also, what are the benefits of being happy? How can being happy effect out life style, and life in general. I know that these questions sound a bit as though they are something that I should already know from life, but I am finding it hard to find a complete set of things that effect our happiness. If you could answer these questions, it would really help me. Thanks, Luke Modlamayr

Dear Luke, Let's start with your question about what people need to be happy. We don't need anything to be happy. It would really help to want what we have for now in order to be happy. As soon as we don't want what we have, we become unhappy. You can stop thinking of things in terms of long and short term and start thinking in terms of what do I do now! If you are not focused on this moment, you are missing an opportunity to experience happiness. You can't find happiness in the future. You must become aware of it within yourself right now in whatever situation you are experiencing in this moment.

We can increase our happiness by deciding to focus on happiness and choosing only happiness in each moment. Luke, I want you to know that nothing can make you happy and nothing can make you unhappy. It is just a decision that you make. When you tell yourself bad things are happening to you than you will experience unhappiness. If you look at events that happen in a detached state then you can remain happy and mentally well balanced and than choose what you will do about the event. This way you have remained calm and peaceful and can access the best solution available to you at this time.

The person that allows his or her thinking to dictate how they will feel will actually allow everything to make them unhappy. Even the good things will make them unhappy because their thinking will make them wonder when these good things will come to an end or are they too good to last? My recommendation to help people with their "unhappiness" is to make the decision to be happy, and do not choose unhappiness.

There are too many benefits of being happy to list them in this article. I can tell you that it will give you optimal mental health, better physical health, it can even positively affect your wealth. It will make you a friendlier person, more attractive to other people in every way imaginable. As far as happiness affecting life, being happy can actually create a more peaceful world. Once people start getting in touch with happiness they let go of their fear. The happier you are, the more confident you become and the more self-confident you feel and behave. Happiness affects your presence when you are with others, even before you say anything. People sense your positive nature and react with more favorable responses to you.

Luke, you say that these questions sound a bit as though they are something that you should already know. Believe me, most people do not know that happiness can help them cope with life's problems and actually create exceptional success for them. We all have to learn that happiness is an inside job. Happiness is not about your circumstances, your job, your life or anything else you may imagine. Happiness is an inner state of mind that can be reached by gently accepting where you are now. It really helps to be grateful for everything you have right this second. It is important to let go of judgements and practice forgiveness for your own benefit.

The real reason to practice being happy is so you can function better. You could say that being happy allows you to stop hurting yourself. The biggest reason to be happy is to stop your own suffering. Life can be hard, why make it harder? Happiness is a gift, but it only works if you accept it and use it. The most important thing you can do is to practice happiness every day and in every moment of your life. You will want to learn more about happiness. Thankfully, we are living in a time when there are many great books available to us.

I think it is wonderful that you are searching for answers to the benefits of happiness. Congratulations and keep up the good work. Small steps are what success is all about. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Today is a new day and you can live it with happiness. Once you do this, you begin to use the gift of happiness for yourself and you will find that you will want to share it with everyone you meet.

Join us for our next Happiness Club meeting on Thursday, August 25, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The presentation will be the "GATEWAY TO HAPPINESS," by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. Rabbi Pliskin is the author of 20 books. He is the author of the book, GATEWAY TO HAPPINESS, which is the best and most comprehensive book about happiness I have read. Rabbi Pliskin travels to us from his home in Jerusalem. The meeting will be held at the newly renovated Fairfield Public Library, in the new Rotary Room at 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield. Don't miss this valuable meeting and opportunity. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Admission is free; everyone is welcome. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club, a Happiness Coach, and can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.thehappinessshow.com & www.HappinessClub.com.