"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it's the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship." - 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!

"If the average person realized the power he wields over his life and destiny, he would live in a perpetual state of wonder and thanksgiving." - Earl Nightingale

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: HAPPINESS IS A DECISION!

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

Happ-E-Quote:) "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi

Happ-E-Mail:) I came across a quote that I felt moved to sharing with you..."Now and then its good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." - Guillaume Appollinaire. Of course when I read the quote I enjoyed it and thought about you and all the joy and wonder that you share with others especially in terms of happiness. Your good will in promoting happiness has changed peoples lives...I see your efforts as not changing lives but enhancing the lives of others. I truly believe that it is not within you to want to change anyone or anything. I also feel very strongly that you want and do enhance the lives of others for the sheer joy and happiness of it all. Thank you for being you (which you do so well). Take Care! Love, Barbara Cartsounis

Happ-E-Quote:) "We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Castaneda

Happ-E-Mail:) This is a card I have written and carried with notes to myself. I choose and commit to........

Step through the fears that confront me.
Not to live in my conditioned past.
To see love in everything and send it to all I meet.
Love my self and let God in.
Be supremely happy.
Not judge or compare myself.
Take stands for myself in all areas of my life.
Be impeccable with my word.
Make commitments and keep them.
Have the backbone and courage to use my self esteem.
Cherish myself and treat my body as the temple that God has made.
To trust myself always.
Jim Wakely

Happ-E-Quote:) "One's best success comes after their greatest disappointments." - Henry Ward Beecher

Happ-E-Mail:) Great article...I always look forward to reading the Happiness Club article and passing it onto my friends who are not able to make the meetings. Love and Much Happiness, Joanne Petitti

Happ-E-Web Site:) Again we must say THANK YOU and express our gratitude to our good friend Renee Filloramo. She has updated the Happiness Club web site. All the articles are on the site and she is doing a wonderful job. Renee, we are very grateful to you and we heartily appreciate everything you are doing to bring happiness into the world.

Happ-E-Quote:) "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Happ-E-Mail:) The meeting was great the other night and last night I went to buy the book, What Happy People know, by Dan Baker, Ph.D. They were out however, so I had to order it. Have a great and HAPPY weekend. xoxox Lynette Turner

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING:) Join us for our next Happiness Club meeting Thursday, March 20, from 7:00-8:45 p.m. The topic is "EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ANGER" Lionel Ketchian and Alice Katz. She is the author of the book, "It's Not Personal! A Guide to Anger Management." We will have a panel discussion and present: The principals of anger merit and management. Don't abuse anger, learn to use anger. We will entertain comments and questions for the group. Don't miss this valuable meeting, and meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

Topic:) "EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ANGER"
The principals of anger merit and management
Don't abuse anger, learn to use anger.
Date:) Thursday, March 20, 2002
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:
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:) "That they may have a little peace, even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally." - William Feather

BE HAPPY ZONE
Fairfield Citizen-News
February 12, 2003

HAPPINESS IS A DECISION!
By Lionel Ketchian

Happiness is a decision. Happiness is also a choice. Okay, then which one is it? Well, it's both a decision and a choice, because to have happiness you must make the decision, and to keep happiness you must make the choice. Good decisions allow you to be aware of excellent choices other people just don't notice.

"To get to happiness, or anywhere else, you've got to decide what you really want, and then put your energy where it will do the most good." This is a quote from the new book, What Happy People Know, by Dan Baker, Ph.D. This is so true because that is what I did when I came to the realization that happiness was what I really wanted.

Let's take a look at the difference between decisions and choices. The dictionary defines the word decision as "a determination arrived at after consideration." It also says, "a conclusion has been arrived at." The word choice is defined in the dictionary as "an option, an alternative, a preference, a selection, or an election."

Let me ask you to make a choice right now. Do you choose vanilla or chocolate? Which one did you choose? Why, and what were you choosing? I didn't tell you vanilla or chocolate anything! Were you thinking ice cream? I did not tell you that so how could you choose. Even if you are choosing between vanilla or chocolate ice cream. You first have to decide to have ice cream and than you make a choice. If you go to some ice cream stores the choice can be a lot harder because they have so many more choices. But the main thing is you walked into the ice cream store because of your decision to have ice cream. The ice cream was the decision and the flavor was the choice.

Author Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., in his 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. 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."

Wanting to be happy led me to the understanding that "to be happy," is actually needing, and wanting to be happy at some future time. That's when I figured out that it is all about 'being happy,' because being happy is something you can do right now, not later. Being happy has allowed me to be free. It has shown me what freedom looks and feels like, and I have developed a taste for it.

Being happy is a freeing experience, much like being let out of prison. Part of that experience comes from not wanting or needing everything to go my way all the time. That freedom has allowed me to experience peace. For what is peace but freedom from desire. Don't get me wrong, I still want things, but I don't get upset when I don't get them or when things don't go my way. Instead, I have learned to prefer things rather than demand them. I am much better off, because it makes me proactive in achieving what I want.

One of Dr. Baker's tools 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. Choice can even govern perception. Anyone can choose the course of their lives, but only happy people do it." 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.

"Courage begins with the decision to face the ultimate truth about existence: the dirty little secret that we are free. It requires an understanding of free will at the archetypal level -- an understanding that we are free to define who we are at every moment. We are not what society and randomness have made us; we are what we have chosen to be from the depth of our being. We are a product of our will. We are self-made in the deepest sense." This statement was made by Peter Koestenbaum in his work to bring leadership philosophy to business people globally.

Most importantly, I have learned that happiness comes from inside of me. It is not something I can find or hope to find. The true opposite to happiness is not unhappiness, but fear. Unhappiness is just the effect caused by fear. Being happy dispels fear. It is in your choice, so it is in your power. In order to become a happy person you must make the decision to become happy. Than you must make the choice in order to maintain your decision.

Napoleon Hill said, "Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and of changing these decisions slowly, if and when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, very slowly, if at all, and of changing these decisions quickly and often."

Our next Happiness Club meeting 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 Rotary 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.

Share a smile and forward this motivating Happ-E-Newsletter to your friends and family members you care about. Brighten their day by giving them a FREE Newsletter. Or, it's FREE, and easy to subscribe, just send your blank e-mail to happinessclub@aol.com, or subscribe online at: www.happinessclub.com.

"Discouragement often is a result of listening to people who have their own best interests planned for your life..." - Doug Firebaugh

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