Happ-E-Newsletter for February 1, 2008

Welcome My Dear Friend!

May I share with you these enlightening words of wisdom from Viktor E. Frankl in his outstanding book, Man’s Search for Meaning: "Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom."

A Happy Person!

With permission granted from RJ, who works in law enforcement, I would like to share some thoughts on what he has found on his journey toward being a happy person! The dates indicate when the letters were sent.

5-3-07
I am pretty good at not following my scary thoughts down the road to nowhere, but it takes constant practice. It is not always easy, especially when under a lot of stress. I believe the brain can change and you can learn to under-react to your own thinking. It is hard, but it has gotten much easier. I had never practiced meditation or happiness before this. I think more positive input will only improve my recovery. I look at how others have overcome challenges and it gives me more emotional muscle.

It comes down to one fact. A thought is not the problem, it is just a thought, but the way we think about that thought or circumstance can be a problem! Problems will always arise: sickness, anxiety, but you can handle them much better with a positive attitude and happiness. Acceptance is the gateway to the cure and happiness. I love positive books and people. Have a great day, the sun is shining here and the wind is blowing perfectly. A truly beautiful day to just be alive.

5-14-07
Thoughts, without a doubt, determine our happiness. I truly believe that anxiety disorders are not mental illnesses, but people like me and others who struggled with anxiety still have a very hard wired primitive part that misfires from time to time. With understanding and practice, you can be cured. With practice, you can be happy no matter what. It is very hard concept for some to understand, but thoughts are only thoughts, they are not necessarily truths, happy, sad, fearful, etc. How you react to the thought or circumstance is what matters. Thinking is important, especially to happiness. I love this new practice towards happiness, it is truly changing how I react to everyday things. I see the glass as half full much more of the time. I am so glad I found your website. I am reading The Art Of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama. Have a great day!!!


5-29-07
I just wanted to thank you again for spreading happiness. I love your book, Food For Thought, but most of all the quote "Fear is an emotion, An emotion is a thought. Why fear thoughts?" and "All fear is of the future It's the belief in your inability to cope with the next moment." Those quotes are so true and relate to me in a way I never thought of. All my fear is in the future and my ability to cope with what happens. I am much better over the last few months, since I started practicing happiness. I used to have anxiety. What I really had was a problem as a result of my irrational thinking. Though I had gotten over anxiety, I still did not have faith in myself, now I do. I love to practice happiness, and I also really love mediation. Everything is in the present, nothing is in the future except, What if. I only have right now! Also, I love your Happiness TV Show.

9-27-07
I have been practicing happiness since April 4, 2007 when I made the (Happiness Decision) pledge. I am now reading Gateway to Happiness by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, and love it. Life is painful, but the suffering is
optional. Unhappiness is a dis-ease and the only way to battle it is with happiness. Without you and the books and articles you have written, I would not have been so helpful to others. If I was not happy, I would be no help to anyone. It has been a few crazy weeks and I can not believe how well I have handled it, since I made the happiness pledge. You are a very special man. People do care and yes, people are good. I am starting to be known as the happy guy at work.

12-22-07
Thank you for your website and bi-weekly newsletters, they are wonderful. I found the answer, I listened to your Happiness Decision on your TV show and it was great. Why have two problems, something happened that I could not control, so why be unhappy also. Since I have been practicing happiness, my whole life has become better. I used to have anxiety and although I got better, the one thing that was missing was happiness. Happiness has brought so much more to my life, I can not even explain it. I love being happy all the time. Why choose to be unhappy, scared, angry, etc? I choose happiness in every situation. God has also just blessed me with another gift, my wife is pregnant with my second child. This time I can enjoy everything instead of worrying so much. Thank you for your work in spreading happiness to the world. Your book selection of Rabbi Pliskin's latest book, Conversations with Yourself was great. Happy Holidays!!!! You are only as Happy as your last Thought!

1-11-08
I am so glad that I stumbled onto your website I still can not believe the positive change in my life, and in so many people around me, because of my choice to be happy. I am reading: Choice Theory, by William Glasser, M.D. and it is great. This book will help me relate better to my two-year-old. He is definitely going through the terrible two's. Have a great and happy day, I know I will.

1-13-08

I have worked my whole life to be happy. It did not come easily and it did not come without some education. In the end, you are right, it was my choice to be happy no matter what was going on in my life. I had to overcome much in life, but it was worth the challenge to get to this point. Depressing yourself is easy, scaring yourself is easy, being happy is hard and takes work. Even my getting over anxiety was a choice in the end. I choose not to entertain thoughts that scare me. Plus I choose not to live in the past or the future. It was not easy, but in the end, it was a better CHOICE then living my life in fear. Happiness is worth everything, it is like an addiction, but a good one.

BE HAPPY ZONE by Lionel Ketchian. Published in the Fairfield Citizen-News on January 16, 2008

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!

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

Happy-Mail :) Please sign me up as a member of the Happiness Club! I heard about the Happiness Club in a Supplement to Bottom Line Publications entitled Secrets from the Top Self-Help Gurus. The Club is mentioned in Chapter 5, A Better You. How could I not respond? Our world needs it now, more than ever. The concept is so positive, Keep up the good work! With gratitude, Ann Kassabian Danielson


Happ-E-Quote :) "If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire--then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience." - Robert Fulghum

Happ-E-Mail :) Hope 2008 is a fabulous one. Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, from Jerusalem, will be back on my show and will be interviewed on " Perspectives with Barry Shainbaum" Sunday Feb. 3, from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM. Heard in Kitchener, Ont. Canada, on Faith FM, 94.3, the show is also streamed live online: www.barryshainbaum.com, click on Radio, click on Faith FM link. Thanks, Regards, Barry Shainbaum

Happ-E-Quote :) "Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love." - Erich Fromm

Happ-E-Mail :) Two e-mails about this article: Click here: Simple Secrets of How to be Happy - Articles

Thought you might enjoy this article...you could have written it yourself! - Christine Levesque-Kevorkian

Found this on the web. The conclusion it's all in the choices we make. - Sid Madwed


Happ-E-Quote :) Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Happ-E-Mail :) Since one of your major themes is gratitude, I thought I'd show you some. Your online articles really help me get through the day; when I feel myself slipping into a low mood, I use some of my break time to click on over to your web site. I'm amazed at how fast I feel better. Anyway, thank you so much! I hope, at some point, to attend one of your Happiness Club meetings in Connecticut, and thank you in person. Andy in Baltimore

Happ-E-Quote :) "Each day brings its own colours to be chosen, mixed, pigments of joy, happy moments, smiles and laughter....And which will you choose? For 'Life' is choice..." - John McLeod

Happy-Mail :) I would really like to subscribe to receive your newsletter. I attended the Fairfield meeting and I am hooked on happiness! Thanks ever so much! Pat

Happ-E-Quote :) "There are two reasons why people fail. One is irresponsibility. The second is fear." - Wally Amos, Founder of Famous Amos Cookies


Happ-E-Mail :) Happiness thoughts by Anne Fsanella
H Hold onto your dreams
A Ask questions
P Plan to succeed
P Proceed with confidence
I Invest in the right attitude
N Never stop believing
E Enjoy the detours
S Save time for little things
S Share a SMILE every day

Happ-E-Quote :) "Happiness is a state of mind, an attitude that money cannot buy. One must look for happiness within, rather than in material acquisitions. Look in nature, look for the good in others." - M. K. Soni

My-E-Mail :) Hi Stuart, I found your article on The Meaning Of Life to be an outstanding one on happiness and personal power. Congratulations to you for having the wisdom and insight to write this wonderful piece.

Here is an excerpt from: The Meaning Of Life
I've come to the conclusion that we are on an endless search to find meaning in our lives. We want to know why we're here. Well, I think what we're really looking for is happiness...and happiness comes from within--we all need to search deep within our hearts and souls, and begin to silence our minds and the world around us. Happiness isn't a thing; it's a sate of being--being able to love each other, being able to find joy in life, and doing what you want for YOU. Read the entire article: Click here: The Bodybuilder Chronicles

Stuart's reply: Thank you for the kind words! I'd love the happiness newsletter. I just recently wrote a fitness book called, Lifetime Physique. Check out www.lifetimephysique.com Thanks for adding my link to your newsletter. Best Regards, Stuart Schaefer

Happ-E-Quote :) "You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime." - Dale Carnegie

Happ-E-Mail :) I wanted to tell you that since finding your site I now have bunches of happiness sites book marked!! Thank you for opening up the happiness world to me! I also had a quick question. I was wondering if you had a suggestion from your book recommendations that would best help a person deal with people (family) who make efforts to rain on one's happiness parade. Thank you, Liz

Dear Liz, Thanks for your note. I would recommend one book that I believe would do the trick. It is:

Gateway To Happiness, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. I think this is the most comprehensive book on happiness I've ever read. Rabbi Pliskin has chapters dealing with everything you could imagine that could rob you of your happiness. He has chapters dealing with worry, sadness, friendship, living in the present, anger, guilt, suffering, preventing problems, envy, desires, grief, discouragement and many more.


The most incredible components of this book and the segments that make it great are the first four chapters. They are Chapter 1: Happiness is an obligation, Chapter 2: Appreciating what you have, Chapter 3: Happiness is dependent on your thoughts, and Chapter 4: Peace of mind. These four chapters include the best thinking and teaching explanations on happiness.

Rabbi Pliskin is A Self Talk Coach and Happiness Teacher.The book: Gateway to Happiness, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin. is available at: http://www.eichlers.com or 1-888-EICHLERS


Happ-E-Quote :) "Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them." - Leo Tolstoy

Happ-E-Mail :) I am offering a new happiness course through Westport Continuing Education, "Being Happy No Matter What", which meets on 6 Mondays from March 3 to April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m.

We all want to be happy, but life gets in the way. We cannot change events or the behavior of others, but we can be happy despite them. "Being Happy No Matter What" shows how to eliminate the self-created obstacles to personal happiness, such as negative thinking, boredom, anger, fear, unhealthy habits, or a frenzied lifestyle. Included are charts, questionnaires, discussion, and practical tips for reacting to events, people, and oneself with acceptance, gratitude, and realistic expectations; for taking charge by being assertive; and for creating a happy life that includes healthy eating, pleasure, passion, moderation, and order. The result is more inner peace and happiness that is not dependent on events.

As a Fairfield psychotherapist, I have offered workshops and private counseling for almost 30 years. I am the author of "It's Not Personal! A Guide to Anger Management" and "Eating Without Guilt", and I have spoken about these topics at area facilities and on radio and television shows. I live everything I teach. For more information, call 341-1209 or go to www.westportcontinuinged.com - Alice Katz


Happ-E-News :) Recent happiness articles and items of interest!

Yes, you can be happy at work Christian Science Monitor - Boston,MA,USA And yet, a job can be a tremendous source of happiness. It can give you success, victories, and professional and personal growth. It can let you contribute ...

Quiz yourself on how much you know about happiness Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA JOYCE BROTHERS Almost everyone seems to want happiness, but how much do you know about how to get it? Here's an opportunity to find out. 1. ...

Find your path to happiness in the classroom News 8 Austin - Austin,TX,USA That's because the University of Texas is offering an informal class: Happiness for Life, every Monday from Jan. 28 to Feb. 25. Instructor and author John ...

Seven things employees want most to be happy at work Christian Science Monitor - Boston,MA,USA

But increasingly, workplace specialists are discovering that for many workers, the "happiness factor" depends heavily on intangibles, such as respect, ...

Seeking the secret to happiness Milford Daily News - MA, USA At least that's what psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky says in her new book, ``The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life you Want ...

Teaching Happiness, on the Web TamilStar.com - Sri Lanka Hundreds of students sign up for Harvard’s most popular class, "Positive Psychology," which has come to be known as the "happiness course. ...


Happ-E-Quote :) "Enrich yourself so you can enrich the lives of others." - Gary Coxe

THE HAPPINESS SHOW ON TV :) "The Happiness Show," is on every Monday 9:30 - 10:00 PM. Co-hosts are Lionel Ketchian and George Ortega. Cablevision of Connecticut broadcasts the TV show on channel 77. Airs in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Milford, Orange, Stratford & Woodbridge. View over 130 shows in streaming media and MPEG on your computer anytime at: www.happinessclub.com

CLUB HAPPINESS, E-CLUB :) Everybody should join this club, try it, you'll love it!!!
We have created an online e-mail community for you to talk about and share happiness with people around the world. To join, just send an e-mail to: clubhappiness-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and you will be notified. Or join here: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/clubhappiness/ Club Happiness is run by our good friends David Ambrose, living in Calgary, Canada and Iolanda who lives in Australia. For more information: http://happinessclub.blogspot.com/2007/04/club-happiness-e-club.html#links">Happiness

VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB :) Tania Jedian will be our next guest on the Virtual Happiness Club Interview. Tania is a former student of Rabbi Pliskin and just published a book, Finding Inner Happiness. Her site: www.livingmybest.com Tania is a life coach and healer and has been teaching for 12 years and her goal is to take Happiness and Goal Workshops into High Schools and colleges. Tania says, "Happiness is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and creating the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life."

Tania believes that happiness is the foundation for becoming healthier and the foundation for better relationships and success. Tania says: "I look at it this way, the more that individuals develop happiness skills, the happier, healthier, and more peaceful planet will be. This thought brings me much joy and fulfillment to know that not only do we have the power to make ourselves happier but in doing so, to make the world a better place to live in."

Date: Monday, February 4. 2008
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM, EST in the USA.
Your Phone number is: (712) 775-7000
Your Access Code is: 122856#.
The Virtual Happiness Club is free, just your normal long distance charges apply. The first 90 callers may participate. The Virtual Happiness Club meets one Monday each month.

Join us from your home, on your phone, on the new VIRTUAL HAPPINESS CLUB with Dr. Cynthia Barnett. You can listen and talk with a great happiness teacher one Monday each month. Listen to an MP3 Audio interviews with Dr. Robert & Barbara Muller, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, Professor Christopher Peterson, Ph.D., Professor Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., Senia Maymin MBA, MAPP, Sarah Shapiro, the daughter of Norman Cousins, David Ambrose and Robert A. Nozik, M.D. You can listen to the entire one hour interview now at: http://www.HappinessMinute.com/VirtualHappinessClub.htm

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next Happiness Club meeting will have a presentation called: "The Art and Science of Health and Happiness" by Richard Kuepper. "By the end of this presentation you will re-ignite your passion for living, enjoy greater levels of happiness and fulfillment and have strategies for vibrant health and optimize your sense of well being." Richard was a head trainer with Tony Robbins for seven years and is President of L.E.A.D. USA, LLC, a CT based, corporate learning and development company.

Date :) Thursday, February 21, 2008
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the Fairfield Public Library, Rotary room, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Learn to have the peace of mind you need and experience happiness now. Future meetings at the Fairfield Library will be: Thursday, March 27th, Thursday, April 15th, 2008

Click here: Happiness Club: Directions to Fairfield Public Library


FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next meeting features a presentation called Happiness and nutrition.
Date :) Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Time :) 12:30 - 2:00 P.M.
Place :) The Fairfield Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield, CT 06824
The group facilitators are: Tony Derbyshire and Denise Stein, MS, LPC. Tony's phone: 203-904-3273 e-mail: derbyshirea@raveisre.com Meetings are free and open to all seniors. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives.

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next meeting will have a presentation called: The Secret: Laws of Attraction by Penny Cohen. Can you imagine a life filled with inner peace and strength, unconditional love, satisfying relationships, a career with meaning and purpose, and greater prosperity and joy? You live with passion and compassion, feel successful, happy and fulfilled and you accomplish this with minimal effort and much joy.
Date :) Thursday, January 31, 2008
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: Thursday, February 28, Thursday, March 27, 2008.

GREENWICH CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)

Our special guest for this meeting is Joy Baldridge. Joy's talks have been attended by corporate executives everywhere - she is a well-known speaker and author. Joy's website: http://joybaldridge.com Date :) Thursday, January 31, 2008.
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) NEW LOCATION! At the Cos Cob Library 5 Sinawoy Road, Cos Cob, CT 06807. This is behind the Cob Cob fire station, near the Porricelli's. The group organizers are: Dusty Baldridge & Dusty's phone: 203-869-4988 e-mail: lilabaldridge@yahoo.com and Senia Maymin, MBA, MAPP, Senia's phone: 212-920-0277, e-mail: senia@senia.com Meetings are open to everyone.

MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Our next meeting features a presentation by Anne Fasanella, R.N, B.S.N. called: "The Good Life" and "The Art of Living." Anne's talk will include: Secret techniques for lovin' life 24/7 and simple and practical solutions for how to cope with adversities, illness, pain, and depression.
Date :) Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, Ct. 06443
Tina Garrity is the group facilitator. Tina's e-mail: Ting45@aol.com, phone: 203-245-2632. Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month.

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.
Nicholas Hall, MAPP is the group facilitator. Nick's e-mail: nickhhall@yahoo.com For reservations and information contact: Rosalie at: 203 322-9990

NEW YORK HAPPINESS CLUB :)
Presented by Senia Maymin MBA, MAPP. 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! Any questions in advance, feel free to email me: senia@senia.com
Date :) Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Time :) 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place :) At Columbia Business School - Warren Hall Room 416 (4th floor) corner of Amsterdam and 115th street, Columbia University campus New York, NY 10027
Senia Maymin is the group facilitator. Senia is an Executive Coach and Editor-in-Chief of Positive Psychology News Daily. Ms. Maymin is an Assistant Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Master program for Applied Positive Psychology. Senia's phone: 212-920-0277, e-mail: senia@senia.com Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information www.Senia.com & http://hobby.meetup.com/7/

MENTORS HAPPINESS CLUB :) Our next meeting is Appreciation Day, and will be a tribute to our Club Facilitators and Mentors. It will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Chase Bank, 1401 Post Road, (across from the library), Fairfield, CT 03825, at the 2nd floor conference room. Reservations are necessary.

HAPPINESS CLUBS :)

Connecticut meetings

Fairfield Happiness Club, Fairfield, CT

Fairfield Seniors Happiness Club Fairfield, CT

Smiling Single Seniors, Westport, CT
Teen Happy Club, Stamford, CT

Greenwich Happiness Club, Greenwich, CT
Bridge House Happiness Club, Bridgeport, CT
New Haven Happiness Club, New Haven, CT
Madison Happiness Club, Madison, CT
Mentors Happiness Club, Fairfield, CT

More Locations...

New York Happiness Club, New York, NY

San Francisco Happiness Club, San Francisco, CA

Diablo Valley Happiness Club, Lafayette, CA
Happiness Club of Lompoc, Lompoc, CA
The Happiness Club of North Carolina, Wilmington,NC
Happiness for Elders, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Jane Bradley - Caregiver Workshops,Ontario,Canada

Attend from anywhere...

Virtual Happiness Club, by phone
Club Happiness E-Club, online, email

The Happiness Show, cable TV, online


I would like to recommend the Happiness Minute to you. David Ambrose produces this audio message just for you. Click here: Happiness Minute | Happiness in 60 Seconds a Week

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!

FREE Newsletter Share a smile with friends and family with this motivating FREE Happ-E-Newsletter. Subscribe online at: www.HappinessClub.com Our mailing list is never sold or given to anyone. To ensure that you receive your newsletter subscription in your inbox, please add printlrk@aol.com into your address book. Check out our blog and feel free to leave comments and messages: http://happinessclub.blogspot.com

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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 2008, Lionel R. Ketchian, all rights reserved.