Happ-E-Newsletter for January 15, 2006

Welcome My Dearest Friend!

Using the profound words of Martin Luther King, Jr. " Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

THE OPTION METHOD

Among the best books written on happiness is: The Option Method by Bruce Di Marsico. I have it listed on my web site as one of the twenty best books on happiness ever written.

It is a very short book, but contains the wisdom to help you understand your unhappiness. Bruce has said that his method is the second best method to become a happy person. He said the best method is just to understand that happiness is very important and to simply become a happy person.

Bruce originally studied to become a Catholic priest. He studied psychology and philosophy in the 1960's at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Bruce passed away in 1995. His work has been taught to teachers, psychologists, therapists, social workers, clergy and other practitioners to enhance the tools of their professions.

Bruce knew that happiness could only be experienced right now, in this very moment.
One of two basic questions Bruce might ask you is: "If you believed now, that at this time tomorrow, you were going to be unhappy, what would you feel now?" Think about it and see how you feel about the fact that you will be unhappy at this time tomorrow. You feel unhappy right now, don't you? You see, as soon as you entertain the thought of being unhappy, you become unhappy.

Now Bruce's next question would be: "If you believed now, that at this time tomorrow you were going to be very happy, what would you feel now?" The same situation applies to this question as well. If you believe you will be happy this time tomorrow, than you will feel happy right now. The actual mechanism at work is your beliefs.

Bruce M. Di Marsico said: "Merely believing that something can cause unhappiness makes you feel it can and will cause unhappiness. Merely believing something is making you unhappy makes you feel as if something has made you unhappy. The feeling that something makes you unhappy doesn't mean that it actually does make you unhappy. You believe it can, so it does. In fact, you don't ever actually need to be made unhappy to feel that you are. You only need to believe you are being made to be unhappy."

If you come to our next meeting, you will hear more about Bruce's Option Method and how to understand more about your unhappiness. Being happy will be up to you. At least you will better understand your unhappiness.

One of the thoughts expressed by Bruce was: "All unhappy people believe it is necessary to be unhappy."

Bruce further states: "When we are unhappy we are, in effect, making the claim that bad feelings happen to us. We believe that we would not choose to feel this way, but are instead forced to feel this way by an event rather than the result of our own choice. This is feeling like a victim; and we are deceiving ourselves."

Bruce Di Marsico really knew what he was talking about and he was unquestionably a happy person. Bruce's words and insights prove the depth of his understanding in the matter of happiness. Bruce said: "Happiness is not the result of having good things in themselves. What we have always meant by good merely granted us the right to be happy. Happiness is the right to be happy and is the result of not doubting that you have this right -- no matter what. All people want to be happy. Happiness is the ultimate desire. Happiness is the prime mover. Happiness is the goal of all desires. The desire for happiness is the sole motivation of all people."

To help you understand the basis for the Option Method let me explain it this way. When an event occurs, your emotional response is affected entirely by your beliefs about the event and not by the event itself. This is true, and has been expressed by all great teachers. For example, Epictetus said: "What concerns me is not the way things are, but rather the way people think things are." What you think about the event that has occurred, and not the event itself, is what constitutes your emotional response. Your beliefs, in effect, choose your emotional state.

As Bruce said, "All fear is the fear of unhappiness." I want to ask you this question: is it worth living your life in fear or unhappiness, or both? With all that we think we have, we really have nothing if we do not have the experience of freedom that happiness brings. To be happy is more than a declaration of our emotions, it is a testament to our liberation from the suffering we have known and become accustom to as human beings.

True happiness is not concerned with circumstances. For example, I have acquired a cold as I write this article, my cold has absolutely nothing to do with my happiness. Things that happen can never be confused with my being happy. My happiness is steadfast and consistent. I can depend on it now and continually. If I had a cold was also unhappy, that would be an added affliction. I would be suffering from a double disease, one that would not only add to the unpleasantness, and obstruct the healing process, while making me feel worse. Happy people do not have fewer problems, they just don't use unhappiness to deal with them.

You may call happiness an attitude or a decision. Whatever the name, it is truly here for me every moment. The only way to lose happiness is not by having something happen, but by forgetting that it is the most important thing in life. Only a conscious person can be happy and I will not become unconscious, because I would not want to slide into unhappiness.

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation for Happiness called:
"The Option Method" by Lionel Ketchian. Don't miss this chance of a lifetime to find happiness through the work of Bruce Di Marsico's Option Method. You will learn why you are unhappy and how to handle yourself. The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 19, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Public Library, in the Rotary Room at 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Admission is free; everyone is welcome.

BE HAPPY ZONE
By Lionel Ketchian

Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News January 11, 2006

Life is complicated, happiness is simple!

Happiness Empowerment to You! LIVE RICHLY...PRACTICE HAPPINESS!

Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you,
Lionel Ketchian

Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision." Giving you our Happiness Club Meeting dates, The Happiness Show, on television and on the Internet, the newest happiness information, and your latest copy of the Be Happy Zone Article's that are published every other Wednesday in the Fairfield Citizen-News. At the beginning of this newsletter you can read the latest article called: THE OPTION METHOD

"What you see is who you'll be!" - Denis Waitley
Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy!

Until you know that life is interesting--and find it so--you haven't found your soul. - Geoffrey Fisher (1887-1972)

I was surfing the Web in hopes of finding some good information to help me feel better about my divorce.....Married a long time with a lot of unpleasant years has left me Very "Unhappy"! I found your website & would be very interested to attend a meeting. The Happiness Club sounds like an opportunity to meet people who strive to be Happy & Share it with others!!!! I would APPRECIATE any information you could send me. Happy New Year, Thanks

Do not feel any less self-esteem or become upset if other people speak or act condescendingly to you. The Sages have said that the honored person is the one who honors others. The converse applies: Who is a lowly person? One who tries to lower others.

Being an honored person is dependent on your behavior towards others and not on other people's behavior toward you. Why feel any lack of self-worth just because someone acts disrespectfully to you? Keep focused on your behavior toward others. When someone does not treat you with respect, it is his problem - not yours.

From Rabbi Pliskin's book: Gateway to Happiness, p.128)

Happ-E-Mail :)

I saw this article and thought of what you are accomplishing: By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY Mon Jan 9, 7:23 AM ET, There's more misery in people's lives today than a decade ago - at least among those who will tell you their troubles.

Hope your holidays were good and here is to another happy year ahead of us!!! Take Care, David

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Our own Dr. Richard Ellis, a retired physician, will lead "Secrets of Happiness." Seniors will have the opportunity hear about the secrets of happiness in a four-part course. He will talk about how we interact with the world, why misunderstandings occur including between the genders, and how happiness is achievable.

"Nothing makes you like other human beings so much as doing things for them." - Zora Neale Hurston

Happ-E-Book:)

I read a great new book called: 101 Exercises for the Soul by Dr. Bernie S. Siegel and recommend that you get a copy and read it.

101 Exercises for the Soul : Divine Workout Plan for Body, Mind, and Spirit (Hardcover)
by Dr. Bernie S. Siegel "Maintaining a positive attitude, no matter what your circumstances, increases the likelihood of your finding future happiness and fulfillment..."

"Nature tops the list of potent tranquilizers and stress reducers. The mere sound of moving water has been shown to lower blood pressure." - Patch Adams

Happ-E-Mail :)

The Heart Speaks.

Small vibrations and yearnings
Visions, whispers and sights
Hello world I'm ready to go
And to add to the joy
That is all around me if I just notice.

More Words of Joy.

Bonding with the highest parts inside ourselves
Love, joy, patience, serenity and ecstasy
And then more of the same
Letting go of fear, anger, anxiety and impatience.

From, David

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy." - Thich Nhat Hanh

Happ-E-News:)

I know many of you have spoken to me about the writing and work of Esther and Jerry Hicks. Just want to let those of you who are interested that they have a new book out. In the new book just released, The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent, Esther and Jerry Hicks bring forth the tremendous wisdom of the ‘teachers of teachers’, the non-physical stream of consciousness known as Abraham.

"Masterful teaching from the great masters of the universe!" – Dr. Wayne Dyer

"Aloneness simply means completeness. You are whole; there is no need of anybody else to complete you. So try to find out your innermost center where you are always alone, have always been alone. In life, in death - wherever you are - you will be alone. But it is so full! It is not empty; it is so full and so complete and so overflowing with all the juices of life, with all the beauties and benedictions of existence, that once you have tasted your aloneness, the pain in the heart will disappear. Instead, a new rhythm of tremendous sweetness, peace, joy, bliss, will be there." - Osho

Happ-E-Mail :)

Hello! I would like to receive information about the happiness club. Is there some contact in Brazil? Thank you Valério Igor P. Victorino

"My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds. My harvest will be either flower or weeds."

- Mel Weldon

Happ-E-Mail :)

I know Jonathan well, he works for the Happy Times in Florida, and he is a good guy! Lets see if we can help him fight cancer with a donation.

"Kindness is wisdom." - Philip James Bailey

Happ-E-Mail :)

The Happiness Show on TV:)

Watch "The Happiness Show," every Monday night, at 9:30 - 10:00 PM. Your co-hosts are Lionel Ketchian and George Ortega. The TV show is broadcast in six towns on Cablevision of Connecticut channel 77. It airs in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford, Orange, Stratford and Woodbridge. Watch "The Happiness Show," every Thursday night from 9:00 - 9:30 PM on Cablevision in White Plains, New York on channel 76.

HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING :)

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation for Happiness called:

"The Option Method" by Lionel Ketchian. Don't miss this chance of a lifetime to find happiness through the work of Bruce Di Marsico's Option Method. You will learn why you are unhappy and how to handle yourself.

Date :) Thursday, January 19, 2006

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) In the newly renovated Fairfield Public Library, in the Rotary Room

Address :) 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824

Admission is free; everyone is welcome. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

UPCOMING HAPPINESS CLUB MEETINGS DATES :)
All Meetings will be held at the Fairfield Library

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Try to do unto others as you would have them do to you, and do not be discouraged if they fail sometimes. It is much better that they should fail than you should." - Charles Dickens

California Happiness Club Meeting :)

Please RSVP because it helps us prepare. I hope to see you there! Aymee

Bob Nozik, M.D. and Aymee Coget, M.A., amazing individuals are in charge of running the California Happiness Club. Bob is the author of Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. Dr. Bob

Happ-E-Quote :)

"A "NO" uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a "YES" merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble." - Mahatma Gandhi

Free registration, please call the Village Center at 301-656-2797
Open to all community members that have decided to better their quality of life and be happy. Please send inquiries, requests for programs, speaker and consulting services to: Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Canadian Ambassador of Happiness :)

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Happiness is one of the most important things in your life.

Happiness is an inner state of well being.

A state that enables you to profit from your highest thoughts, intelligence, wisdom, awareness, common sense, emotions, health, and spiritual values.

Happiness does wonders for your soul. Practice "Premeditated Happiness." Happiness is an issue of power. We give our power to others for many reasons, and we think that they will make us happy. The truth is that we have given others power over ourselves. We can take our power back in order to be happy again.

Now is the time to learn to use happiness in dealing with challenges and difficult people in your life so you can develop the strength to prevail. 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!

NEED A SPEAKER?

Schedule a program with Lionel Ketchian and make your group happy.

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Our mailing list and your name is never sold, traded, or given to anyone outside of our organization. You can smile about that!

REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS:

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"Don't let go of the vine." - John Weissmuller, from the film, Tarzan.

"If you are going through hell...keep going." - Winston Churchill

Life is full of opportunities. Go For It! Carpe diem!

Make the Happiness Decision Now!

This can be the best day for the rest of the "Best Of Your Life!"

THAT'S ALL FOLKS...NOW BE HAPPY!

© Copyright 2006, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.