Ann Nyberg and her film team from WTNH-TV, Channel 8 News in New Haven, CT came to our last Happiness Club Meeting. Ann recorded the entire Happiness Club meeting. We did an interview together and I answered Ann's enlightened questions. Ann also spoke to us at the meeting and filmed interviews with many of the other attendees. Ann Nyberg anchors the 6, 10, and 11 o'clock nightly newscasts on WTNH-TV. Ann said the recording will air in November and will let us know about the date.

Fred Rogers has said: "At the center of the universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service."

I want to make you aware of a new book written by Dr. Deepak Chopra, called: Power Freedom and Grace: Living from the Source of Lasting Happiness. This book was published by Amber-Allen Publishing, the same publishing company that published The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz. Dr. Chopra is an illimitable author of over 45 books, more than 100 audio, video and CD-ROM titles which have been translated into 35 languages with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.

I am so pleased that Dr. Chopra's latest book deals with lasting happiness. Dr. Chopra begins this book by relating a question he asked a sick patient at the beginning of his career as a medical doctor. "Why do you want to get better?," he asked. The male patient said, "Doesn't everyone who is sick want to get better? Dr. Chopra told him that is true but wanted to know why he wanted to get better. The man replied, "to make money!" Dr. Chopra asked him, why do you want to make money? The man replied, "So I can pay for my son’s education, so he can have a successful carrier. After asking the patient this question repeatedly, the man finally said: "Because I want to be happy!" Dr. Chopra has asked the same question to many of his patients with the same answer.

Dr. Chopra writes: "Happiness seems to be the goal of all other goals, and yet most people seek happiness in a roundabout way. In 1999, I presented a class on Happiness at Sacred Heart University. I began the first session of each class by asking the students what was important to them. I would list everyone’s comment on the black board. The answers included, money, family, security, health, and many more, then, I would go back to the person who raised the comment and ask them why it was important to them and how it made them feel. Every single person I have done this with inevitably has arrived at happiness, as their reason for valuing what they thought was important to them.

Dr. Chopra states: "Why not make happiness our primary goal? Why seek happiness through all these secondhand means?" The very first class at Sacred Heart University recognized the value of being happy and the importance of practicing this newfound power. On January 13, 2000, our first Happiness Club meeting was held as a result of the first class wanting to continue leaning about happiness and making it their primary goal in life.

I am delighted that Dr. Chopra has enlightened us toward a more accurate understanding of real and lasting happiness. As Dr. Chopra affirms: "…happiness for a reason is just another form of misery because the reason can be taken away from us at any time. To be happy for no reason is the happiness we want to experience."

Dr. Chopra affirms: "When our life is an expression of the inner state of happiness, we discover an immense reservoir of power within us. This power gives us the freedom from fear and limitations, and allows us to realize all the abundance that we aspire to." I have continually said that happiness is an issue of power. We are not speaking of the power we seek to have over others or in the world, but the authentic power we experience within ourselves. After all, my definition of happiness is: 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 serves us as well in addition to being favorable to others. Real power is the emotional control we develop as a result of being aware of lasting happiness. I have repeatedly said that the opposite of happiness is fear. It is by embracing the state of lasting happiness that we can move into and experience genuine freedom.

Thank you Dr. Deepak Chopra for writing this book that shows us how to embrace our true nature. I am grateful that you show us the way to lasting happiness. Dr. Chopra said: "To find happiness is to find your soul." Make sure you read this book so you can begin to understand the importance and the value of lasting happiness and how you can bring this effect into your life now.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian

Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News - October 11, 2006

Life is complicated, happiness is simple! LIVE RICHLY...PRACTICE HAPPINESS!

Everything we do in life is for the purpose of obtaining happiness!

Happiness Empowerment to You! Reminding you to make the "Happiness Decision."

Think Smart, Look Smart, Be Smart...Be Happy! Sharing Love, Peace and Happiness with you, Lionel Ketchian

Happ-E-Quote :)

"Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention." - Greg Anderson

Happ-E-News:)
That Oprah show inspired the teen self-esteem building nonprofit organization, Hey U.G.L.Y., to create a survey to get people in touch with their inner deservedness.

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus

I was reading you newsletter before Temple today and realized that on a day of atonement I have spread happiness this year and don't have much to atone. It has been a great year. My work produces outstanding nurses, my seminars help people to grow, my children are blossoming, my boyfriend is an angel, my family is loving, and my friends are supportive. What more could a person want? I am surrounded by love and light. I hope in the coming year we are all written in the book of life my friend and we may see world peace, Love, Barbara Rudolph

A Cheer For Your Efforts
When you try to help others overcome their sadness, don't demand perfection. Don't expect to always be successful in cheering up every person every time you try. Demanding such perfection will lead to discouragement when you are not successful. It is not realistic to expect perfection, but if you personally master an optimistic outlook on life and try to cheer up others, you have a chance of succeeding frequently. Be grateful for your successes, even partial ones, and learn from instances when you were unsuccessful.

Happ-E-News:)
People who are more materialistic and place being rich as a high value tend to be more pessimistic and unhappy. Frisch found that while money can’t buy happiness, happiness can buy you money. Happier people seem to have more initiative and productivity at work, and their customers and bosses are more satisfied, which can lead to a raise in pay," said Frisch, an internationally recognized positive psychology practitioner and researcher.

Lake of Eden.
Sun shining on slow waters
Boats glowing with joy and serenity
Sounds of still water
Saying hello my friend, keep smiling.

Happ-E-Quote :)
"Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." - Buddha

"Our plans miscarry if they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind." - Seneca

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next Happiness Club meeting will be a presentation called: "Simple Steps to Health & Happiness," by Dr. Veronica Waks. Dr. Waks believes that most illnesses are the body's reaction to a stressful, toxic environment and unwise lifestyle choices.

Date :) Thursday, November 16

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library, in the Memorial Room

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

Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

Future meetings at the Fairfield Library will be: Thursday, December 7, 2006, Thursday, January 18th, 2007

Our next meeting will be: "Happiness Hints for Single Seniors,"

by Karen Heffner & Lionel Ketchian.

The meeting will be held Thursday, October 19, 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave., Westport CT 06880. Admission is free and you can meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Stay happy and healthy - get well connected. Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. For further information, www.happinessclub.com or call Lionel Ketchian at 203 258-7777. Future meetings: Thursday, November 30, Thursday, December 21, 2006. Also Thursday, December 7, 2006 a joint meeting with Happiness Club at Fairfield Public Library.

NEW! - MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our first meeting will be Wednesday, October 25th, 2006.

Tina Garrity is the group facilitator.

"How To Find Happiness!," by Lionel Ketchian

Find out what happiness is and what it takes to achieve it!

We will have three wonderful books for you to win as door prizes.

Date :) Wednesday, October 25th, 2006.

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library

Address :) 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, Ct. 06443

Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month except for December 20, 2006.

"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 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.

Don't give away your power by being unhappy! Practice "Premeditated Happiness," because happiness is an issue of power. We give our power to others for many reasons. We mistakenly think that doing this will make us happy. The truth is that we have given others power over ourselves. We can now consciously reclaim our power and experience happiness. Happiness does wonders for your soul. Now is the time to learn to use happiness for dealing with challenges and difficult people so you can empower your life. 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!

No longer wish to receive the Happ-E-Newsletter, reply with "Remove" in the subject line.

"Unhappiness is a form of suffering." Eckhart Tolle If you're not happy by now, it's time to have a talk with yourself. Make the Happiness Decision Now! THAT'S ALL FOLKS...NOW BE HAPPY!

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