Happ-E-Newsletter for August 1, 2007

Welcome My Dear Friend!

HAVE YOU QUESTIONED YOUR UNHAPPINESS?

I have been interested in the profound changes the right question can produce within a person. A good question can be like a clear mirror that reflects back to you what you really need to see. Sometimes we can see what is wrong with others with no trouble at all, while it seems hard to find the right light of examination in order to see our authentic self.

Seeing ourselves as we really are is one of the most difficult things we can experience. If you want to reduce the time it will take you to experience a realization, then asking yourself useful and accurate questions can be a good way to start on a path toward a more enlightened life experience. By using this process, you may very well add to your well being and also eliminate a great deal of suffering and difficulty from your life.

While you're reading this article you are wondering if you have time to read the rest of it. You are thinking, I wonder if this article will do anything for me? You might as well invest a few more minutes, if it will help you stop worrying about a problem you have or the unhappiness that you have been living with. Socrates has said, "An unexamined life is not worth living."

To experience a happy life, we need to examine ourselves so that we can really understand ourselves better and develop a deeper appreciation our lives. Think about a problem that you have had on your mind for the last few minutes. It may be a thought, a judgement or something you can't forgive, that is gripping your mind and making you unhappy. Okay, do you remember what has been bothering you? Good! Now, ask yourself the following question:

1. When I am thinking of something that makes me unhappy, how do I feel?

Really examine how you feel when you focus on the particular thought that is making you unhappy. Now, ask yourself the second question:

2. How would I feel if I did not react to that thought?

Examine yourself and be sure you know how you would feel. If you did not behave the way you do normally, then how you would feel. Ask yourself the third question:

3. If I knew I would be happy, is it worth giving up this thought?

If you are going to get what you really want, than it would be worth being happy and not letting this thought control your mind. I know you would agree. Now ask yourself the next question.

4. If I did not have this thought, if I could let go of this story, how would I feel?

This is an important question to think about. Allow yourself to release the thought and disengage from the story. Letting go of your personal story, no matter how bad, how old or how true this story may be, will become a liberating experience. Try it, you'll love it! Another question to ask yourself:

5. What can I do or change now, to be happy?

Ask yourself, what can you do right now or change right now. If there are things you could do or change now, write those items down on a sheet of paper and get it off your mind. If there is nothing you can do or change right now, that is fine, just notice this fact. Now examine the next question:

6. By being happy now, do I see the situation with enough clarity to make a choice?

Think about what your choices are for this moment. Consider the options that are available to you right now. Which options would be useful to you? You can solve all your problems if you use your thinking to examine the choice you have available to you now. Think about the next question with all the honesty you can command:

7. How has unhappiness affected me?

The answers you give to this question will lead to your personal freedom and understanding. You can take a sheet of paper and make a list of things that have overwhelmed you and ultimately controlled you. Has it been worthwhile to allow unhappy thoughts to control your thinking and negatively impact your life?

What questions do you ask yourself? Do the questions you keep asking bring you down in life and making you feel bad? The right questions can empower you to grow intellectually, advance spiritually and experience happiness for the rest of your life. As Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, "The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind."

The real answers to life depend on the questions you ask yourself. Use these questions to help you deal with any negative thought, judgement, criticism, or unhappiness you become aware of. This will become your liberation, your freedom and your joy.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian. Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News on July 27, 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

Happ-E-Mail :) Your 2 Steps to Happiness, was a Great Newsletter sermon! Absolutely true that making the full and unencumbered decision to be happy is the single most powerful way for becoming happy. Your comment, "If being aware of your happiness is difficult for you, then begin by being aware of your unhappiness. Noticing your negatives is a positive first step. The next time you feel unhappy, because of any situation, ask yourself the question; does this feel good to me? Become aware of how bad it feels to feel bad." is also sooo powerful. In fact, 35 years ago I used that method to find my own happiness. Well, it took me ~17 years, but it worked. I really knew what did not work for finding happiness and used that as my guide for discovering what did work. It was kinda like when people need to relax a muscle. Often the best way to do that is to first intentionally tense that muscle so they really know what tension there feels like, and then relaxation comes easier. Love and happiness, brother Lionel, Bob. (Bob Nozik, M.D.)

I want to recommend Bob's book to you if you have not read it yet! Happy 4 Life: Here’s How to Do It. by Bob Nozik, M.D. I am privileged to know and love Dr. Nozik. He is running the California Happiness Club. He has been happy for 20 years. He will show you the ways that will lead you to happiness. Learn the deep abiding happiness that you can count on even through tough times.

Happ-E-Quote :) "It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts." - Robert H. Schuller

Happ-E-Quote :) "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." - Andy Warhol

Happ-E-Mail :) These poems by David Lazar

Illusions
They make me happy
This prize makes me happy
This title makes me happy
This controlling makes me happy
This rage makes me happy
This new car makes me happy
This new jewelry makes me happy.

Realities
I make myself happy
I give myself happiness
I like what I have
I give myself love
I give my love to others
I give help to others
I make myself happy

Happ-E-Quote :) "I had no shoes and complained, until I met a man who had no feet." - Indian Proverb

Happ-E-News :) Recent articles and other things of interest on happiness!

CLUB HAPPINESS, E-CLUB :) Everybody should join this club, try it, you'll love it!!!

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Featuring a talk to be announced.

Date :) Thursday, August 30, 2007
Time :) 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.
Place :) The Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave. Westport CT 06880.

Admission is free and the meetings are for people single and over 50 years old. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Stay happy and healthy - get well connected. Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. Future meetings to be announced.

Our next meeting presentation is: JOYFULNESS AS A WAY OF BEING by Zsuzsa Simandy, LMSW. Zsuzsa is an author, a holistic therapist and a columnist for the Guilford Courier. She will give you an opportunity to tap into your own source and inexhaustible supply of harmony and joy!

STAMFORD CONNECTICUT TEEN HAPPY CLUB :)

Open to all high school students. Meetings are held twice a month on Saturdays from 11:00 - 12:30 P.M. At the Daniel and Grace Tully & Family Health Center, 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.

GOAL: "To play with the latest research about happiness, success, and productivity. You're guaranteed to interact with at least five new people each time!" Hosted in association with the Creativity and Personal Mastery program at Columbia Business School, as taught by Professor Rao. No dues, no registration and open to everyone!

Date :) Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At Columbia Business School - Warren Hall Room 416 (4th floor) corner of Amsterdam and 115 th street, Columbia University campus New York, NY 10027

Date :) Friday in August to be announced

Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) The Connection Internet Cafe (910) 793-1940, (Next to Fat Tony's). 250-1 Racine Drive Racine Commons Shopping Center Wilmington NC 28403

MENTORS HAPPINESS CLUB :) Meeting: Not till September. We will be meeting on our conference phone line that will be open to all Happiness Club facilitators everywhere. More information to come.

Virtual Happiness Club - For more information:

New - Happiness Club WWW Chapter - No meetings till September. For more information:

Mentors Happiness Club - No meetings till September.

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 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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May the good lord be with you, Down every road you roam, And may sunshine and happiness, Surround you when you're far from home. - Words from the song Forever Young by Rod Stewart

"Unhappiness is a form of suffering." Eckhart Tolle. "Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda

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.