Happ-E-Thought:) "The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet." - James Openheim

Happ-E-Purpose:) Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Letting you know about our meeting dates, giving you more happiness information, and the latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article that's published twice a month in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read today's article called: FACING FEAR.

Happ-E-Book Quote:) "Happiness is determined more by one's state of mind than by external events." The Art Of happiness, by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.

Happ-E-Mail:) I just received this e-mail from a new member of our Happiness Club.

Hey! First let me say that I'd like to be put up on the subscription list
for your newsletter :)

I'm reading The Art of Happiness, by Howard C. Cutler and the Dalai
Lama, and have found it to be one of the best books I've ever read. In
fact, I suppose this is the second time I'm reading it since I put it
on hold for a while and when I started reading again I figured I might
as well start over :)

Anyway, so I was searching on google on "happiness" and I found your
site, www.happinessclub.com , and it seems like an interesting project :)

I've always been more or less very happy in my life, and I know that
that is one of the reasons why I have a lot of friends and that I don't
let much get me unhappy.. I would like to attend one of your meetings
to see what it is about and what you do, but I highly doubt that I
will, since I live in Sweden. I am coming to the States this summer,
but I doubt I'll be able to be in the Connecticut when your meeting is
held.

If there's one thing that the book has taught me even more is that
happiness really is the best thing you can ever want to have. I found
that a lot of the tips the Dalai Lama gave, already applies to my
life.. so I recommend it to anyone who asks me what book they should
read, since I know its a working recipe :)

I don't really know why I'm writing all this, heh :) but to be honest
just reading about someone actually taking the time to hold free
meetings about happiness to anyone that'll listen is just very cool :)

I wish there was something like that in every city :)
From: Anders Elfgren

Happ-E-Book Recommendation:) The Art Of happiness, by His holiness The Dalai Lama, and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.

Happ-E-Quote:) "I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. That is clear. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we are all seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness." The Art Of happiness, by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.

Happ-E-Web Site:) Dr. Howard Cutler went straight to the source to research his book on happiness: he asked the Dalai Lama.
To see what he looks like and learn even more about this book: Click here: CNN - Writer searches for happiness with the Dalai Lama - January 27, 1999

Happ-E-Mail:) Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing your caring words and thoughts. Please let us hear from you, spread your happiness, that is the surest way of Being Happy!

Happ-E-Course:) If you want to know more about happiness, and earn your BHD, for "Being Happy Daily," sign up for my course "Be Happy, No Matter What." It is held at the Fairfield Campus of Sacred Heart University, four Tuesdays in April, from April 9, through April 30, from 7:00-9:00 PM. Call Gloria at SHU 203 365-7587 for registration. People have been enrolling, so don't miss this opportunity for happiness in your life.

Happ-E-Meeting:) Join us for our next meeting! The HAPPINESS CLUB will present: "SPRING INTO HAPPINESS." Lynette Turner and Lionel Ketchian will be talking about the subject so don't miss this valuable meeting, and meet wonderful people using the benefits of happiness in their lives.

Topic:) "SPRING INTO HAPPINESS"
Date:) March 21, 2002
Time:) 7:00 - 8:45 P.M.
Place:) Fairfield Public Library
In the:) Rotary Room
Address:) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06430

Open to the Public and Admission is Free
Call Lionel Ketchian (203) 258-7777 or E-mail: PrintLRK@aol.com
http://www.happinessclub.com

Directions to the Fairfield Public Library
From New York - I- 95, Exit 21, Mill Plain Road. Right at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass make a left at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on right at the corner.
From New Haven - I- 95, Exit 22, North Benson Road. Left at bottom of ramp. Under railroad overpass make a right at light (Post Rd.), 1/2 mile on left at the corner.

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
March 13, 2002

FACING FEAR
By Lionel Ketchian

Do you know what the opposite of happiness is? No, it's not unhappiness. Unhappiness is not a cause it is the effect of something. The opposite of happiness is FEAR! Fear is without a doubt one of the worst things you can experience. Fear is an inability to cope with life. Unfortunately, if not corrected that inability becomes a disability.

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." These are the brilliant words of John Homer Miller. They can point the way to your liberation of fear.

About two years ago I was giving a class on Happiness at Sacred Heart University. A woman named Jane taking the course, shared with the group a story about her experience with fear. Jane was divorced for about ten years. She was uncomfortable with being alone, and afraid of being in her house by herself. Late one night she heard quite a lot of noise coming from the front door. She hoped it would just go away but she knew that someone was definitely outside her front door. She was terrified, and did not know what to do.

Jane finally decided that she had to do something. So she ran to get a baseball bat that was in another room. She figured she would fling open the front door and scare the burglar away with the baseball bat. If that didn't work, she would run out the back door. So she got the bat and headed in the direction of the front door. Right next to the front door, there was a window with a curtain. So she decided to very carefully sneak a look out the window through the curtain to try to see the threat that was waiting for her.

So she went to the window and could now really hear all the noise outside the door. She slowly lifted the curtain and looked outside her front door. She was really surprised at what she saw before her eyes. Instead of seeing some impending doom, she saw three baby raccoons playing on her front stairs. One of the baby raccoons was jumping on her bushes next to the stairs. The other two baby raccoons were frolicking with each other right at her front door.

Instead of being terrified she broke out into sidesplitting laughter. She said the babies were so cute and so much fun to watch. Jane said the interesting thing about her story, was that she never again was afraid. This experience was the catalyst that allowed Jane to overcome her fear of being alone. She said that the adventure taught her not to give in to her fears and limited thinking about anything. Jane is a regular member of the Happiness Club and attends meetings often.

I think it is appropriate to use the words of Guillaume Apolliaire who said: "Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came, he pushed them and they flew."

Daniel Goleman, the author of the book: Emotional Intelligence said: "Even mild mood changes can sway thinking. In making plans or decisions people in good moods have a perceptual bias that leads them to be more expansive and positive in their thinking.
This is partly because memory is state-specific, so that while in a good mood we remember more positive events; as we think over the pros and cons of a course of action while feeling pleasant, memory biases our weighting of evidence in a positive direction, making us more likely to do something slightly adventurous or risky, for example.
By the same token, being in a foul mood biases memory in a negative direction, making us more likely to contract into a fearful, overly cautious decision. Emotions out of control impede the intellect."

As John Masefield said: "Best trust the happy moments. What they gave makes man less fearful and gives his work compassion and new eyes, the days that make us happy make us wise."

Fear is being out of control, and happiness is taking control of yourself. I think it was Emerson who said the only way out of fear is through it. The next time something shows you fear within yourself, go through it instead of running away. Running only allows your fear to gain ground, not you. Not facing your fear is much harder than dealing with it. Use happiness for ammunition and you can shoot through fear!

Take it slow in the beginning, but deal with your fear, face to face. If you face your fear it will make an about face and not you. You will become more powerful for having faced your fear and overcoming it. If you doubt anything, doubt your fears, never yourself. In the words of Shakespeare: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."

If you want to live your life with happiness, join the other people that have already signed up for my next course "Be Happy, No Matter What." It will be held at the Fairfield Campus of Sacred Heart University, four Tuesdays in April, from April 9, through April 30, from 7:00-9:00 PM. Call Gloria at SHU 203 365-7587 for registration. This opportunity only happens twice a year.

Join us for our next Happiness Club meeting Thursday, March 21, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "Spring into Happiness," and will be held in the Rotary Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting or the happiness you gain!

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, lived between 121 - 180 ad, and was not only the ruler of Rome but also a philosopher, and author as well. I leave you with his words of wisdom: "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club. He can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com

Share a smile and forward this Newsletter to your friends. Or, it's FREE, and easy to subscribe. Just send your e-mail to subscribe at: Happinessclub@aol.com, or subscribe online at: http://www.HappinessClub.com

Happ-E-Thought:) "When we look into the long avenue of the future, and see the good there is for each one of us to do, we realize, after all, what a beautiful thing it is to work, and to live, and to be happy." - Robert Louis Stevenson

SMILE, HAPPINESS BECOMES YOU!
Sending Love, and Happiness to you,
Lionel

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