by: Graham and Julie
Have you ever been really happy? Have you ever tasted the fruit of pure happiness? Have you ever completed a task with that feeling of YES! I gave it my all. I?m really happy and proud with what I?ve done.
Have you ever had that inner glow and outer radiation?
But was it happiness?
You see, most of us have replaced happiness with pleasure. Pleasure is those times when you feel terrific like after eating a fantastic meal with excellent company. Pleasure is when you loll for hours in that hot bath. Pleasure is when you indulge yourself in that spa weekend. Pleasure is when you watch our favourite team play?..But it ain?t Happiness!
The bad news is that Happiness is not an emotional state. Happiness is not the feeling you get when you are enjoying yourself. It?s much, much more than that.
What makes people truly happy, satisfied and fulfilled?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (pronounced "chick-sent-me-high-ee") director of the Quality of Life Research Centre at the Druker School of Management, Claremont, USA has spent years researching what makes us happy.
And he and his colleagues have found that happiness can only be achieved when you are totally involved in something. When, you are totally immersed. When, you are participating to the full.
You know, when you are enjoying yourself so much you have no idea what the time is, what day it is, what is happening around you. You are really happy.
His research involving 250,000 people from every continent including chess players, rock climbers, musicians, people who meditate, artists, sports people and people from all walks of life shows that:
- the times when you find yourself fully absorbed in something. Totally focussed, totally immersed and totally concentrated. Whether it be at work, playing with the children or meditating.
- the times when you don?t notice time passing.
- the times when you keep going without being aware of what?s around you....The state where?? I give Graham a cup of tea and he doesn?t even know I?ve placed it on his desk next to the screen?..
- the state where you really enjoy what you are doing and when you come up for air you are totally satisfied with what you have been doing. In other words you are really connected: heart and soul. You really enjoy what you were doing.
- the times when you were reading a stimulating book and when you put your head up everyone has gone off to bed.
- the times when you are so involved playing your favourite sport, you forget everything else
that?s when you feel really happy.
Happiness is: the flow state.
The state when you feel that you are on a roll. Where everything you do is effortless and just flows. The feeling you get when you completely lose yourself in what you are doing. The time, when time stops. You are in the ?grove? and everything is working for you. You are in total harmony with yourself.
The irony is, that this great feeling of happiness happens, not when you are relaxing or watching TV or enjoying the company of your friends. Happiness is achieved when you challenge yourself.
When, you stretch yourself. When you are doing what you enjoy doing most. When you are totally absorbed in what you are doing. When, you put yourself out there. When, you exceed your expectations.
So what are you waiting for?
You have nothing to lose. All you have to do is put those oughts, shoulds and musts behind you and follow your heart. Lose yourself in what you really want to do. Enter the flow world where:
"being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.
The ego falls away. Time flies.
Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.
Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)
That?s Happiness!
Go on. Go for it!
Good Luck
Graham and Julie
About The Author
Graham and Julie To improve your intuition, initiative and energy levels. Please go to: www.desktop-meditation.com. It?s free.
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Sticking to a Gift Budget at Christmastime
Sticking to a Gift Budget at Christmastime
by: Stephanie Foster
The Christmas season is upon us, and with it one of the most difficult times to stick on a budget. It?s so easy to go overboard on gifts for those you love. There?s always some cute, cheap item that is just perfect, but when you find things like that over and over, they really add up.
It?s no fun being on a tight budget at this time of year. You wish you could give your kids the gifts they want the most, and give other family members just the right gift too.
There are several ways to give well thought out gifts at this time of year without overdoing it on credit cards or adding to your financial worries. All it takes is a little planning and creativity. Here are a few ideas.
Draw names.
You?ll still have to do the shopping for your kids, of course, but getting together with your siblings or other family members and drawing names can save a lot of money, as well...
Sticking to a Gift Budget at Christmastime
Fruit baskets > Sticking to a Gift Budget at Christmastime
A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening ......Pruning
A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening ......Pruning
by: Leonard Mutch
Outdoor gardening is so much easier when you know how.
Outdoor gardening is much more enjoyable when you know a few secrets.
Much of the enjoyment of outdoor gardening comes from the care and proper maintenance of the garden.
Not many plants will look their best without some help, and pruning is one of these techniques considered essential to outdoor gardening if plants are to flower and fruit well, and to keep pests and diseases at bay.
For those inexperienced in outdoor gardening, pruning can often be a reason for concern.
Questions may arise, such as when is the best time to prune, and how, and where.
We prune our trees and shrubs mainly to increase flowering and fruiting, to control diseases, or to change the size or shape of the plant.
Some shrubs such as Forsythia need an annual prune of their older wood to help maintain...
A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening ......Pruning
Fruit baskets > A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening ......Pruning
Fruit baskets Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness?
Fruit baskets Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness? mortgages
Fruit baskets Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness? pool table
Fruit baskets razr phone Have You Ever Tasted The Fruit Of Pure Happiness?