Happ-E-Newsletter for February 15, 2007

Welcome My Dear Friend!

Happy Valentines Day to you!

Fred Rogers, a wonderful television personality said, "Anything that we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job...Life is for service."

More people are letting go of fear and following their hearts to live with happiness! People like Dr. Cynthia Barnett, who is running the Teen Happy Club, has just created the new Virtual Happiness Club is a fine example of this. Another great example is David Ambrose who just created the free happiness "audio postcard" that is sent via e-mail to you once a week. Read more about both of them below. These and other wonderful happy people are making a gigantic positive difference for all of us.

Derek Jeter said, "The longer you wait to decide what you want to do, the more time you're wasting. It's up to you to want something so badly that your passion shows through in your actions. Your actions, not your words, will do the shouting for you."

I have long said that fear is the opposite of happiness. It is certainly true that when we experience fear we are unhappy. Happiness and freedom are achieved through the release of fear. Happiness is freedom by virtue of the release of fear. You might say that happiness is letting go of fear! You may think that it is impossible to live without fear in this uncertain world. The truth is that it is an uncertain world and you need to embrace uncertainty, but not fear.

I am not asking you to be fearless and run across a busy highway blindfolded. I am talking about a common sense approach to overcoming your fears. James Allen has said, "They who have no central purpose in life fall easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pitying, all of which lead to failure, unhappiness, and loss...for weakness cannot persist in a power-evolving universe."

Fear is not only the biggest problem you may have to face, but also the largest problem mankind needs to confront. Of course, what we fear, we learn to hate as well. Fear and hate do not allow for a very happy positive life. H. A. Overstreet said, "To hate and to fear is to be psychologically ill…it is, in fact, the consuming illness of our time."

I would like to coin a new phrase, "Gratitudinal Intelligence." I use the word gratitudinal because happiness is comprised of both our attitude and our gratitude. Happiness has a great deal to do with our gratitude. It's possible that as much as 95% of our happiness belongs to the role of gratitude alone. When we are not aware of our gratitude, we are probably not in the best frame of mind and our attitude is causing us problems as well.

I think it is important to combine both the words attitude and our gratitude to create the word gratitudinal, because together the words have a much greater meaning. The word gratitudinal more accurately describes our disposition and demeanor, while expressing our feelings, temperament and spirit. The combined word is more visionary in scope and allows us to understand our perspective and point of view more accurately.

John Homer Miller said, "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."

Happiness is the opposite of fear. We must learn to change our attitude and express our gratitude in order to overcome our fears. The following are the words of Aristotle; "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."

Gratitude is an attitude of happiness and gratitude will enable you to experience the best things in your life. Gratitude is one of the basic things you need to experience in order to feel happy. Gratitude is the trailblazer to happiness. Do you want to be happy? Be grateful! You just can't be unhappy if you're grateful!

How do you access "Gratitudinal Intelligence," that attitude of gratitude? You can access it by finding something to be grateful for, it could be anything. It may be a loved one, something about your health, such as the fact that you can see, or anything else that comes to mind. Think about how fortunate you are to have all these extraordinary things in your life. You can also be grateful for the many negative things that you don't have. Negative things could be a life of poverty, illness or many other unfortunate life events.

Instead of thinking about the things that you don't have, you can be grateful for the good things you do have. You will start to feel happier and wealthier. Being grateful adds value to your life! You have an opportunity to get yourself into a happier state of mind. In fact, research has proven that the following simple exercise, done every day, is the single most lasting thing to make happiness a part of you. Every day, think of three things that you are grateful for at bedtime before you go to sleep. Use your "Gratitudinal Intelligence," and observe how much more appropriate your thinking will be. May Gratitudinal excellence be yours for a life of joy and intelligence!

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian. Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News on February 7, 2007

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

NEW! - VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Happ-E-Mail :) I am excited to tell you about this new project I have been working on for the past month or so! I hope you will like it as much as I think you will. It adds a new dimension for anyone looking to further their personal development and happiness by providing the follow through that a seeker doesn't get from a book. Visitors are invited to subscribe to a free "audio postcard" sent via e-mail once a week. Each weekly "postcard" contains a very powerful audio message, about a minute long, on an aspect of happiness. Included with each audio postcard is a link to a transcript for printing and later reference.

Happ-E-Quote :) "Happiness can be gained by making a conscious choice to be genuinely happy, then taking a few simple, practical steps to reinforce that choice over a period of time. This trains us to learn what I call the happiness habit." - David Ambrose

Happ-E-Mail :) Would you please send me the article on starting a club – I've always been very interested in happiness and believe that people of like minds can impact one another and those in each of their lives. It’s an amazing thing that you thought of starting a happiness club – I agree it’s the foundation of a positive and good life, having "mislaid" my internal happiness more than once in my lifetime. Because of those experiences, I believe I could help others and they can help me stay on track. Your website has come into my life at quite an interesting phase – thank you for starting such a website and thank you for sharing your knowledge and information. The resources you provide are valuable. Lorraine

Happ-E-Quote :) "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." - Anne Frank

Happ-E-Mail :) Thank you so much for including me in this wonderful and important "movement." The wisdom and value of all you are putting out into the world is such an inspiration. From our happiness springs the seeds of happiness and contentment in others. The gift that keeps on giving. (What a path to world peace!) I LOVE the quotes. I have already copied down a few favorites. I hope to be involved in a group locally here. Now, that is something to gather with friends about! Many blessings for your life and your work, as you continue to bless others. With appreciation, Pali

Happ-E-Quote :) "To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right." - Confucius

Happ-E-Mail :) I have been watching episodes of The Happiness Show, and I have been enjoying and learning a lot. I especially liked the episodes with Rabbi Pliskin. I also liked your episode The Happiness Decision quite a bit. That episode was very insightful. Keep up the good work! - Russ

Happ-E-Quote :) "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." These are powerful words from Aristotle.

Happ-E-Quote :) "Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one." - Benjamin Franklin

Happ-E-Mail :) Love your newsletter. I send out emails to Laughter Yoga participants almost weekly and I often use something from your NL's. I have also suggested that people sign up for it. In this last issue Cal Sultiff thanks you for an article you wrote about happiness in the workplace. My partner Lois and I have an opportunity to create a Laughter Yoga program at a local company. I'm looking for supporting information and your article sounds like just the right thing. Thanks so much and I am looking forward to doing Laughter Yoga with the Happiness Club. Laughter is another way to make that choice and get your body and brain chemistry on board. In Joy and Laughter, Steven the Laughter Yoga guy.

Happ-E-Poem :) Rituals of Connection. Dancing together, Singing a song, Taking photographs, Reading a story aloud, Drinking tea together, Sharing soul stories, Escorting a partner to the door, Playing a favorite game, Saying thank you, Saying I was wrong, Saying you were right. This poem sent us from our friend David Lazar

Happ-E-Quote :) "Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. - Dale Carnegie

Happ-E-Quote :) "The best portion of a good man's life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love." - William Wordsworth

Our next Happiness Club meeting includes a presentation called: The Heart of Happiness, by Lionel Ketchian. Learn to have peace of mind, love and happiness all year.

Date :) Thursday, February 15th, 2007

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

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

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next Happiness Club meeting will be: "Exercise for 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, February 22, 2007

Time :) 6:30 - 8:00 P.M. - Please take note of time change!!!

Place :) At the Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave., Westport CT 06880.

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 will be held on Thursday, Thursday, March 29, 2007.

NEW! - MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next Happiness Club meeting will include a presentation called: "The 10 B's of Positivity," by Lynette Turner. Lynette believes that taking charge of your life will take you on a journey of discovery and enlightenment that will change your life for the better. It will give you the courage and skills to forever move your life forward in a direction of peace, harmony and happiness.

Date :) Wednesday, February 28, 2006

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

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

NEW! - STAMFORD,CONNECTICUT TEEN HAPPY CLUB :)

Open to all high school students. 25 teens attended the last meeting!

Every other Saturday from 11:00 - 12:30 P.M. At the Daniel and Grace Tully & Family Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.

NEW! - WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our next meeting will be on Friday, February 23, at 7:00 PM. We are meeting at the Happiness Institute, 6336 Oleander Drive Suite #4, Wilmington NC 28403.

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

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"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 2007, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.