Ten Commandments For Happiness
"Happiness cometh not until we work out an integration between thought, word and deed. Let us do what we speak. Let us speak what we think."
-J.P. Vaswani

1. Happiness is always possible, depending non how you set your mind.
2. Spread happiness - it will rebound on you.
3. Look at your assets and your strengths, they will inspire you.
4. Change what you can and accept what you cannot change.
5. Be concerned. But never worry, it can only take you deeper into frustration.
6. Never let little things bother you, because life is not a bed of roses.
7. Do not let criticism upset you, but let your conscience dictate your life.
8. Forgive from your heart, it can liberate you.
9. Be gainfully occupied, it can bring glory to God.
10.Discover the beauty of life because you have only one life to live.
- Mridula Agarwal


HAPPINESS IS A VOYAGE

Author Unknown

We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another.

Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older.

Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them. Surely we’ll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets hi/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start real life. But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through, some work to be finished some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start . I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.

That pint of view helped me see that there isn’t any road to happiness.

Happiness Is the road.

So, enjoy every moment.

Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first of the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn,…before deciding to be happy.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than…

NOW.

Live and enjoy the moment.

 

BE LITHE AND ENJOY LIFE!

By:Seema Anil Agarwal

Go about the journey of life, taking happiness and peace to however many you can. Service to others is the greatest form of favor you can do yourself. If you keep someone happy, there is no doubt that part of that happiness will come back to you.

There is just one thing that may trouble some. You could be thinking of certain people who are just not happy with you. Whatever you do seems wrong in their eyes. You could break your back for them and they would still complain that you could have done it better!

Yes! Such people do exist – in the lives of each one of us. However good we may think ourselves to be, there will be some people who just don’t like us! There have been lots of great people in the world. But, at some time or the other, they have always faced opposition from lots of others.

We have to just go on doing what we have to do. There is no other solution. You cannot close yourself up somewhere and hope those people will disappear. They will not. They will continue to exist but will torment you only until such time as you allow them to. Consider it their bad fortune and MOVE ON.

10 Interpretations Of A Happier Life

  Stress affects all of us and can show its manifestations in various forms. We cannot avoid it altogether, but what we can do is follow some of these hints to reduce stress from our lives. Here is a list of ten quotations and how we can interpret these to experience a happier and stress free tomorrow.

1. Cry a river; build a bridge; get over it. Let go of past failures, sadness and people whom we remember but who no longer care for us. This sounds so easy but its easier said than done. We all have gone through our share of heartaches and sadness. But when we constantly remember the pain and suffering we had endured, we are allowing that sadness to gain an upper hand over us. What we must realize is that what has happened has happened. Its over and done with. People change and times change. Moving on in life is very difficult but it’s the first constructive step to a better you.
2. Everything happens in its own time. There are things that we do and expect to be rewarded for which does not happen. In offices, there might be a promotion that we might have wanted, a high score on a test, or a job offer that we were sure that was to be given to us that never worked out. At such times we lose perspective and blame our luck and become despondent. We need to realize that there is a time for everything that happens in our lives. And when the appropriate time comes, things will start working the way they were suppose to work.
3. You are the only person who can make yourself happy. Think of “your” happiness, too, and be kind to yourself. In life, all of us have goals and ambitions. But in the pursuit of those goals, we lose sight of the bigger picture that we are doing these things to make ourselves happy. This is seen especially in the case of mothers who are doing so many things for their kids and family that they don’t own happiness. It happens to all of us. Be gentler with yourself. Make yourself happy, and that can be done in so many ways. Treat yourself to some ice cream, buy a book that you were dying to read, spend a day lolling in the bed doing nothing. We deserve it and so do our bodies.
4. Laughter is the best tranquilizer with no side effects. Laugh each and every day of your life. Humorous situations happen to us every single day. Whether you choose to enjoy the moment or not is your decision. There are so many excuses in our day-to-day life to have a good laugh. All we need to do is just look at the lighter side of life and enjoy the moment. When you laugh, don’t think whether people are watching you or how much you laugh. It’s their problem that they cannot find the humor in the situation that you have found.
5. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. As we make our journey through life, we have so many things to savor and experience. There is no such things as instant happiness or happiness that can be found somewhere. Live your life each day, the same way you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.
6. Do today what others won’t so you can live tomorrow like others can’t. So many times we are faced with duties and work that we are not happy doing or performing. In those times, instead of hating or shirking from that work, we can try and make use of the thought that somehow, whatever we are doing will prove beneficial to us one day or another. Maybe the results won’t be seen tomorrow, but surely we will benefit because we did something that no one was willing to do. An example would be the people who started companies which are million dollar establishments today. They dared to venture and put their money in something that their colleagues would not have been willing to do, and today their work is paying off rich dividends.
7. It is never too late to be what you might have become. There are several factors that cause us to end up doing the work we do. Many of us, at some point of time, would have definitely wanted to make a career change and thought that it’s too late to do it. But the truth is it’s never too late. You can start doing whatever we want to do because it’s your life and your decisions. Think of the people who attend college in their late 60’s and 70’s because they always wanted to do it. Such people are the ones who truly believe in this adage.
8. Treasure the love you receive; it will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished. We always seem to cherish our material possessions more than we should. But life can take a lot more from us. Today we might have good health, family love and a good home to go back to. What we forget is that there are so many calamities that can take away all our comforts, but love is something that can never be taken away. We need to be more demonstrative of our love towards others and treat our loved ones with more kindness and affection.
9. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Any huge task that needs to be done seems very daunting at first. But if we analyze the task carefully, and do it step-by-step, we will find that things get resolved very quickly and easily. But we need to be bold enough to take the first small step. Once that is done, we just need to proceed with additional small steps towards our goal.
10. Always have something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. These three things are what will keep the flame burning within all of us. Something to do will keep us busy, something to love will keep us motivated and something to hope for will take us faster towards our goal.

The Joys of Life
(Sirach 40:18-27)

Wealth and wages make life sweet, but better than either is finding a treasure.
Children and the building of a city establish one’s name, but better than either is the one who finds wisdom.
Cattle and orchards make one prosperous; but a blameless wife is accounted better than either.
Wine and music gladden the heart, but the love of friends is better than either.
The flute and the harp make sweet melody, but a pleasant voice is better than either.
The eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than either.
A friend or companion is always welcome, but a sensible wife is better than either.
Kindred and helpers are for a time of trouble, but alms giving rescues better than either.
Gold and silver make one stand firm, but good counsel is esteemed more than either.
Riches and strength build up confidence, but the fear of the Lord is better than either.
There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and with it there is no need to seek for help.
The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing, and covers a person better than any glory.

HOW TO LIVE WITH YOURSELF AND ENJOY IT
1. Learn really to know and esteem yourself.
2. Cultivate a self you can trust and believe in.
3. Picture yourself as the kind of person you wish to be, affirm that you are that, then practice being it.
4. Keep some inspirational dissatisfaction as a goad to self-motivation. Complete self-liking dulls the drive factor.
5. Yourself is well named. It’s yours to keeps. You’re stuck with yourself.
6. Since you have to live with yourself it’s important to develop a self that’s pleasant to live with.
7. Love God and you will develop a normal respect and regard for yourself.
8. Learn to let God run your life. You’ll like the results than your own self-management.
9. Be humble, be big in mind and soul, be kindly; you will like yourself that way and so will other people.

 

How To Live A Happy Life

By: Valerio Albisetti

Happiness is the discovery of being, a magic moment in which we enjoy being in the world with everything around us.

 We feel happy every time we accept ourselves and when we strive to lessen our imperfections.

Happiness is …

Happiness is awareness.

Happiness is truth.

Happiness is self-respect; dignity.

Happiness is maturity.

Happiness is humility.

Happiness is the capacity to suffer, but is not masochism.

Happiness is the capacity to take decisions, but is not sadism.

Happiness is also knowing how to say no.

Happiness is knowing how to choose.

Happiness is taking the courage in one’s own ideas, in one’s own actions.

Happiness is contemplation.

Happiness is not possession.

Happiness is not dependence.

Happiness is not fear of loneliness.

Happiness is not conformism.

Happiness is not just physical desire.

Happiness is not a right.

 

Happiness is knowing oneself and understanding oneself. The comprehension of oneself which anticipates and brings balance, serenity and harmony, leads to the very essence of humanity, where money, sex, success and power become useless and indifferent exterior signs.

With self-knowledge, with the desire to understand the human conditions, to give meaning to existence and therefore to all things, one overcomes inner loneliness, which is one of the prime causes of unhappiness.


A Counsel

Do not pursue grand things, myths, grand words, grand sentiments. They are illusions and they never die. Instead, keep close to the things which die every day. This is the secret of happiness.

Happiness is to have a relationship with that which has no end.

We feel happy and alive every time we face the mystery of existence, even though we know from the start that it can never be exhausted with a definitive answer.

 

A Counsel

Convince yourself that being happy is a mental attitude and that nothing depends absolutely on external reality. So, face life courageously and do not allow difficulties to disturb your reserves of serenity.

Live today. Do not live in the past and do not let yourself be paralyzed by fear of the future. Be proud to exist. Never be afraid to live. There is no right moment for living. It is always the right moment. The past must never be put in front of us, but rather alongside us. Before us it would paralyzed us, but alongside us it can help us not to repeat the same mistake.

Happiness is a grace, not a right it allows us to read the world, things, people, with God’s eyes. Only then can we go beyond pain, beyond ourselves. Only then does everything make sense. For happiness is always in us, from the start.

Happiness is eternity.

Happiness is not a period during life.

Happiness is a state of mind.

Happiness is ageless.

 

A Counsel

Remind yourself that your worth goes beyond the work you do. Feel yourself to be a divine creature, because you really are, whether you believe it or not.

Happiness is applying one’s own energy to realize the divine component which is in each of us.

Each of us is unique and original.

 

A Counsel

When people give you compliments, or show you affection or friendship or sympathy, do not feel embarrassed or skeptical. Don’t think that you don’t deserve it, just answer with simplicity, accepting the compliment, feeling grateful for being appreciated.

Take care of your body, whatever shape it is in. Watch your food, don’t smoke, and drink alcoholic beverages moderately. When you eat, choose what you like, without being controlled by someone else’s taste.

Respect your body. Nourish it. Exercise it! It is sacred by the mere fact that it exists.

Don’t depend on others for your views or for your orientation. Listen to everybody, challenge yourself, but always have your own mind.

Happiness is to look for something within yourself before looking for it elsewhere.

We feel happy when we accept humbly (humility is truth) our condition as human beings, when we understand the structure of life, when we know ourselves.

 We are on earth precisely to understand, to give meaning to, to grasp the significance of life.

 

A Counsel

If we have a sick body we will give it meaning; if we have a healthy body we will give it meaning, and then everything will have meaning. All that is happiness.

 Happiness is finding power and strength within yourself.

A Counsel

·        Learn to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts.

·        Remember that you, and no one else, are the maker of who you are.

·        Never cheat yourself. Accept yourself.

·        At the end of the day, analyze the things that have happened to you, especially how you have reacted to them, and your life will gain more meaning.

·        Control your emotions!

·        Do not be afraid of yourself!

·        Remember that you are a divine creature!

·        Do not look for what divides, but for what unites.

·        Live everything with intensity, with concentration, with authenticity.

·        Don’t expect esteem from others if you are the first not to respect yourself.

Happiness is having goals. It never tires of planning, dreaming and accomplishing, and beginning again from the top when the goal has been attained. The goal gives the strength to face problems and to overcome them. For problems are dealt with, not avoided. A problem dealt with is no longer a problem.

 

A Counsel


Don’t stay paralyzed in a situation of conflict. Choose, It is always better to choose than to remain inert or passive. Don’t let life pass you by without taking it into your hands. Make a decision in some way.

·        Learn to observe others without any sense of inferiority, and you will realize that we are all alike.

·        Remember that nothing exists that is preordained. We are the result of choices made previously.

·        Accept your shyness so that you can modify it.

Happiness is not always doing what you want, but it is always wanting what you do. Desire and will must never be left alone. Desire by itself yields omnipotence, not action; will by itself yields inhibition, repression. In both cases there is death or unhappiness.

Happiness is realized only when desire and will are together.

 To unite desire to will and so attain happiness, perseverance and determination are needed. Without them desire would flicker out.

Only with perseverance and determination is true happiness attained.

 

A Counsel

Don’t trust happiness attained in a short time or in an easy way, it is usually false. Learn that a minute is made up of sixty seconds. Live intensely every moment of your life, giving space to whatever you feel.


Happiness is also wanting the well-being of others. This does not  mean sacrificing yourself for another to the point of forgetting yourself, but rather giving the person the possibility of loving himself/herself.

To help someone who is “starved” for happiness is to provide the person with the tools to discover one’s own happiness by oneself.

God has made humans free. Free to pursue interior happiness, but also free to get sick, to die. We should not impose happiness on someone else. We would thus be reducing the person’s freedom.

It is not true that every body is looking for happiness. There are many who are looking for illness, for death…Our task is simply that of giving witness to our choices.

If our choice to live is authentic and our desire for happiness is genuine, spontaneous and strong, nothing and no one will be able to separate us from our objective.

Happiness is to love and to be loved. Love is a positive sentiment. Love, however, is not exaltation. Exaltation is the excess of love.

To love is to give. Whoever does not give does not love and is not loved.

But you cannot give love if you do not have love.

·        Loving is the result of a long, continuous interior training.

·        It is said: Love others like yourself. This means that before loving others you have first to take loving care of yourself.

 

Happiness in love is succeeding in expressing strength with gentleness.

To love happily means to create the conditions under which others might resolve the problems for them. Thus it means to respect others, their personalities, their orientations. We should not want to change a person through force or by threats. It is the proof of a much greater love to provide that person with tools so that he/she can change. But in order to change people or to love them, fine words are not enough. It is not enough to say: “I love you.” Deeds are necessary.

 

A Counsel

Learn not to be afraid of change. If we really have to believe that a person cannot modify himself/herself, then life would lose its meaning.

 

Happiness is having the courage to choose.

Choosing belongs to free creatures, reacting belongs to slaves. Anyone reacting is not choosing. Absolute perfection does not exist. Imperfection motivates us to grow. The fear of making mistakes leads us to make even more mistakes, because it makes us lose sight of our objective. It is necessary to accept making mistakes in order to learn not to commit further mistakes.

 

A Counsel

·        Learn not to want to be right at all times, and all costs.

·        Aim at being ready to change ideas and to admit having made mistakes.

 Happiness is leaving no room for fear. Fear grows between thought and action. Thought should be concretized in action. Action should always be part of a plan, and never come about as a reaction. In order to pass from thought to action, to put into practice what we are thinking, courage is necessary. Courage nourishes action, while fear nourishes thought. Action is the proof of thought. Without action, thought is nothing, it becomes a neurosis.

Fear does not exist. It is a concept, an abstraction, a form of thought.

Someone said: Fear knocked at the door. Courage went to open it and found no one there.

Being happy, building our happiness is possible. It only requires readiness, patience, attention, sensitivity.

The impatient person can never be happy.

 That person is one who does not know how to pick up the rhythm of life, of reality, but wants to bend reality, to one’s own personal time, to one’s requirements. He/She is selfish, closed, and takes no account of others or of their time and place.

To be happy, it is necessary to be dynamic. Dynamic, not impatient. Nothing worthwhile in life is within easy reach!

One understands what happiness is when one realizes that life is made of continual deaths and continual births. Nothing is static. To live through things deeply means to be born and to die in them.

Many times, wanting someone else’s happiness means letting the person go. Experiencing happiness also means knowing how to die.

Happiness is never a superficiality.