Greeneflash

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The Elderly’s Secret to Happiness

What do people in their 80′s and 90′s know about happiness?  In a nutshell, it’s all about how you look at the world.  Those who are joyful in later years concentrate on appreciating the positive aspects of their lives.  It’s an easy trick that anyone can do.  

While the new book Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini focuses on persuasion, it also talks about the “positivity paradox” where older people who are joyous put their attention on the important things that bring them happiness.

Try it for a day - stay away from the negative and instead draw yourself to the positive - you may just be amazed at the results.

Photo courtesy of Peter Guttman

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Purpose Makes Life Worth Living ... And Increases Happiness

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Getting July 4th Chills

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Of Living and Dying

Today I got the news that I had been dreading for a while, my friend with stage four cancer is in hospice.  But, this is not a sad post about death and dying, it’s about living.  You see he, his wife and their daughter lived their lives with humor and dignity all the way through.  When he chronicled his illness, he made us all laugh, he inspired us through his words, his actions, and his positive spirit and humanity.  Their grace never wavered, even when the dark could have enveloped him.

When we received the email from him a few hours ago, he wrote that he always thought that he would move people and leave a legacy through his acting in the theater and film.  Yet, what he realized, is he did that through the people he touched in real life - through what’s most important - his actual relationships.  In the end, your relationships, the people you love, your authentic passion, your spirit, your loving and giving soul is really what matters.

I’ve said it here before, appreciate who you have in your life.  Hold them tight.  Treat them right.  Tell them that you love them.  After all, that is what a life well lived is really about.

I’m with you....

Photo courtesy of Peter Guttman

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WHEN YOU TRULY LISTEN MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN

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PLEASURES ALL AROUND YOU

Everywhere you look, there are things that make you happy.  From the subtle to the sublime from the ordinary to the extraordinary, what you love is really everywhere.  All you need to do is stop and remember, think in your quiet moments and understand what puts a smile on your face.  

For some, this is difficult and for others it’s just a matter of tuning your frequency into pleasure.  I have said it here before, but this simple one-minute-per-day exercise can make a world of difference.  Every day just after you awake, find three new things to be grateful for and in this way you’ll know what makes you truly happy.  You’ll start to look just about everywhere for the things that stir your soul ... even a little bit.

You can also try Unforbidden Pleasures or read an interview with the author here.  Whatever you do, I wish you a day, a week, a month, a year worth of pleasures all around you.  

Photo courtesy of Peter Guttman

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WORDS MATTER

Words Matter.  Maya Angelou famously stated, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did.  But people will never forget how you made them feel.” Hateful words make me feel angry and sad. Leaders' words matter - they can inspire a nation to glorious giving and peaceful action or they can lead a country down the path of war, violence, poverty and moral bankruptcy. 

Words Mater.  You can take people at their word or believe lies that insult your intelligence. When someone says something horrible over and over again they mean it.  Don't let them fool you because if they didn't mean it they had absolutely no business saying it.  

Words Matter.   What you say to your children, your family, your friends has the power to make someone's day or ruin their life.  Think before you speak - how can you be positive and kind?

Words matter.  Yours.  What you say to yourself also has power. The universe hears you. Use your thoughts wisely.  If you would never speak to someone in the negative way that you talk to yourself put an end to it. Say stop out loud and re-frame it by thinking the opposite instead. 

What will your words convey?  What will your deeds lead to?

Words Matter.  Make them count.

Photo courtesy of Chase Guttman

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Amazing wisdom as always from Mandela

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Brilliant Advice On Learning and Growing

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Are these the most inspirational quotes of all time?  This one is a favorite.

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LAUGHTER TRULY IS THE BEST MEDICINE

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UBER FOR THE HUNGRY

When Komal Ahmad went to buy lunch for a homeless veteran, she had no idea how her life was about to change.  She knew that Uber took the taxi industry by storm and become a billion-dollar company by matching riders with cars. and that Airbnb followed by changing what lodging could become by pairing homeowners with visitors, creating a enormously valuable business.  So, why couldn’t she do the same for America’s hungriest.  

That’s when Copia was born - a mobile app that matches left over food with those who need it most.  So far, the service has distributed 830,000 pounds of food, fed 690,000 people, and saved businesses $4.6-million in disposal and tax deductions.

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Meet the World’s Most Appreciative Penguin

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What centers you?  How do you find your zen?  What do you do to bring happiness into your life?  For me the answer is meditation.  I discovered the power of meditating when I contracted mononucleosis or mono for short many many years ago.  It sapped all of my energy and left me sedentary, tired, and sometimes sad.  

Then a friend suggested that I take a meditation class and I figured that I had nothing to lose.  That session changed everything.  Once I started a daily practice, my anxiety slowly started to fade away, my mojo began coming back, and I gained a new appreciation of my life.  After doing it for a while, a calmness I had never known began to be the hallmark of my existence and my positive spirit was amplified.  And, I don’t even do the difficult work of transcendental meditation, I merely close my eyes concentrate on my breathing and my body and do affirmations every single morning.  Then I find three new things to be thankful for and start my day on a happy note.

Now, finally, the business world is catching on.  In a recent piece by no less an authority than the consulting firm McKinsey they  recommend meditation for overworked executives.

So try it to start your week tomorrow - even if it’s just a few minutes of quiet time to think.  If you keep at it, you can become the person that you always wanted to be.  I’m rooting for you this week and beyond.

Photo courtesy of Peter Guttman

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GIVING WITH YOUR HEART AND SOLE

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Back Away From Your Screens And Answer To Yourself

What makes people happy?  Which actions lead to success?  How can you be more at peace with your life?  The answers to these questions may seem totally subjective, but in reality there are universal actions that anyone can take to be happier, more successful, and attain a greater peace of mind.

The most important thing is taking care of your body.  You know how to do that, get enough sleep, eat fruits and vegetables, skip the sugary stuff, and drink plenty of water.  Yet, you also need to look after your mind.  It seems that now, even the most serious business-oriented entities are discovering the power of meditation.  

The Harvard Business Review writes How Meditation Benefits CEO’s,  a piece in McKinsey Quarterly sung meditation's praises, and there have even been a few articles of late on the subject on LinkedIn Pulse.

You don’t have to learn ancient chants nor do you have to sit in a dark room and push all thoughts out of your mind.  It’s about concentrating on  your breathing and taking however many minutes you can spare to be mindful.

Once you try it and see it’s positive affects, it’s hard to go back.  So this weekend, give it a whirl even for five minutes.  Happy contemplation.

Photo courtesy of Chase Guttman

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EVERYONE NEEDS A SONG TO LIFT THEM UP - TRY THIS ONE