"Self-trust is the first secret of success." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happiness is one of the most important things in your life. Happiness does wonders for your soul. I want you to practice "Premeditated Happiness." You should know that reading this newsletter will not just make your life better; it will make the world a better place because you have decided to be happy!

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have." - Louis E. Boone

Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Letting you know about our meeting dates, giving you happiness information, and the latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article that is published every other Wednesday in the Fairfield Citizen-News. Read the latest article called: What Happy People Know

Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy! - Lionel

Happ-E-Quote:) "If you do not do the thing you fear, the fear controls your life." - Brian Tracy

Happ-E-Mail:) I thought, just yesterday, that I should start some kind of non religious club for people searching for happiness. After taking various courses I have realized that we are all looking for something. Is it Happiness? Unfortunately I am not able to attend any meetings as I live in Australia but would like to see what your newsletters have to offer. Thank you. - Regards, Monica

Happ-E-Quote:) "He who wants to expand the field of happiness, let him lay the foundation of it on the bottom of his heart." - Tao saying

Happ-E-Mail:) Hi Happy Folks, Let's check out your happy newsletter, Peace and JOY, Sherry

Happ-E-Quote:) "Before I got married, I had six theories about bringing up children. Now I have six children and no theories." - John Wilmot

Happ-E-Mail:) I just took a look at your website! My name is Mark Steffan. I am the founder of the Total Life Planning Institute. I am writing you today to let you know I have reviewed your website at www.happinessclub.com/Coach/coach.htm and have placed a link to you within our "Life Coaches" resources page. Sincerely, Mark Steffan, Total Life Planning Institute, www.tlpinstitute.com.

Happ-E-Web Site:) A huge THANK YOU to our good friend Renee Filloramo. She has been updating the Happiness Club web site. We are grateful to you for continuing the wonderful work Thomas Finelli started. We sincerely appreciate everything you are doing for us. Renee and Frank are expecting their first baby in March. Congratulations and deepest thanks for your time, knowledge and efforts.

You will be able to read many more articles that you may have missed. We have just hit the 16,530 mark. The Happiness Club is listed on the top of the list for AOL's search, when you type the word, "Happiness." It comes up on the second page and is number 19 out of 2,460,000. That's ninetieth out of TWO MILLION four hundred and sixty-thousand other web sites. Our Happinessclub.com is a site to see, take a look:) Click here: www.happinessclub.com.

Happ-E-Quote:) "Your children will see what you're all about by what you live rather than what you say." - Wayne Dyer

Happ-E-Mail:) I would love to receive your newsletter. Your site is great. I was just at a Catechetical Leaders seminar last weekend and one of the workshops was on having fun. I am going to forward your web address to the instructor. Do you have a branch in Massachusetts? God Bless, Maureen from Boston

Happ-E-Quote:) "Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come." - Og Mandino

Happ-E-Mail:) We're doing well, still looking for work and trying to focus on a geographical area we'll enjoy. Something will turn up. I'm just looking forward to being settled down. David and I have a wonderful opportunity to choose where we want to live. It’s very exciting and I'm very optimistic. Give my love to everyone, especially at the Happiness club meetings. I miss you guys!!! Xoxoxo Meredith Obreiter

Happ-E-Quote:) "Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat." - Napoleon Hill

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING:) Join us for our next Happiness Club meeting Thursday, February 13, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "The Heart of Happiness." Lionel Ketchian will be making a presentation on the subject. Don't miss this valuable meeting, and meet and connect with some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

Topic:) "The Heart of Happiness"
Date:) Thursday, February 13, 2003
Time:) 7:00 - 8:45 P.M.
Place:) Fairfield Public Library
In the:) Rotary Room
Address:) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT

Open to the public and admission is free. www.happinessclub.com.
Call Lionel Ketchian (203) 258-7777 or E-mail: PrintLRK@aol.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.

Happ-E-Quote:) "The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions." - Alfred Lord Tennyson

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
January 29, 2003

What Happy People Know
By Lionel Ketchian

What Happy People Know. This is the title of a book that has just been published, by Dan Baker, Ph.D., and Cameron Stauth. The subtitle is, How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better. Dr. Dan Baker is the Director of the Life Enhancement Program at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, for the past 15 years. He was the founding director of the behavioral medicine department at Canyon Ranch. Cameron Stauth is the author of 24 books, including several bestsellers.

I am very excited about this book. We are finally getting closer to learning about what happiness really is and how to get a real hold of it. Remember my last article on January 15 titled Born To Be Happy? I disputed the fact that anyone can be born happy as the New York Times article on December 31, 2002 by Richard A. Friedman, MD, had suggested. On the back cover of What Happy People Know, Dr. Baker writes, "Contrary to popular belief, we're not born happy." So there you have it folks, I have support from an expert.

The reason I am jumping up and down with joy about this book is that Dr. Baker has hit the happiness nail on the head. He talks about the tools for happiness. He considers appreciation the most fundamental happiness tool. He states that it is most important because appreciation is the antidote to fear. He emphasizes that: "research shows that it is physiologically impossible to be in a state of appreciation and a state of fear at the same time." If appreciation and gratitude sound familiar to you, it may be because I have been writing and talking to you about it for years.

Dr. Baker's next tool is choice. He says, "Choice is the father of freedom and voice of the heart. Having no choices, or options, feels like being in jail. It leads to depression, anxiety and the condition called learned helplessness." Again if you have read my column for any length of time you know that making choices is so important in learning to be happy.

Another tool he discusses is personal power. I have spoken about the fact that happiness is power. It is self evident that when we are unhappy we have given our power away to others and that is why we feel unhappy. We actually feel powerless. We must choose happiness to regain our power.

His other tools for happiness are leading with your strengths, the power of language and stories, and multidimensional living. His wisdom and experience shows us how to use these tools to learn the basics of happiness. He has truly given us what happy people know. He has done it well, by using true stories, and allowing us to see a human being that has tremendous compassion and caring for others.

I agree with this quote, "I don't believe in the wholesale validation of feelings. Feelings can be just as screwed up as behavior. This uncritical validation of feelings -- which leads to the glorification of the victim role -- is one of the many mistakes commonly perpetuated in the field of clinical psychology. This "cynical psychology" was designed to help people find happiness. It assumed that if mental illness were cured, happiness would naturally follow. But this just doesn't happen for the vast majority of people. Their fear systems get in the way. If we could just rise above fear…what a world we would have. It's time to try."

I highly recommend reading What Happy People Know by Dan Baker, Ph.D. One good reason to read the book is that you will actually find out what happy people know and practice. With this knowledge you will be able to implement those tools in your life. When you read the book you will come across the following statement. "I know a technique that almost always decreases fear. I call it the Appreciation Audit. The Appreciation Audit helps you bring appreciation to the forefront of your spirit and intellect." His book will give you this simple method to connect you with the happiness you seek.

Just want to let you know this book is so new that it may be difficult to find. They are probably still packed in the back room because they were just shipped in. Happy hunting!

Once again, I want to exercise my gratitude to my dear readers, and express my appreciation for making me aware of this wonderful new book. Again, you have sent me the information that made it possible to remain on the cutting edge of happiness research and implementation. Thank you, your comments and suggestions are always welcome and appreciated.

You can either go to the Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona or attend our next Happiness Club meeting which will be held on February 13, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "The Heart of Happiness," and will be held in the Memorial Room, at the Fairfield Public Library, located at 1080 Old Post Road. There is no charge for the meeting or the happiness you will find.

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.HappinessClub.com.

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"The school is not the end but only the beginning of an education." - Calvin Coolidge

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© Copyright 2003, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.