What do you really want from life?

                                        

A good way to start a Monday morning and a brand new week can be to reflect upon life and what we really want in life. Jack Canfield has written the following piece and advices, which also can be found in the book The Success principles - How to get from where you are to where you want to be. Happy Monday!

"When Sarah was just a small child, she was very curious and had a strong will. With a big world to explore, she got into everything—from pulling out the linens in the closet to feel how the various materials rubbed against her skin, to tugging up the flowers in the garden to find out how deep the roots went. Sarah was definitely a handful of energy as she plunged headfirst into whatever she had decided to do.

Rather than asking Sarah why she did the things she did, her parents felt that discipline would set her straight. So, with stern voices they would chastise her, rather than seek to understand her:

Don’t touch that!

Stay out of there!

Don’t do that!

You should be ashamed of yourself, Sarah!

To avoid being reprimanded, Sarah quickly learned how to do the things that her parents wanted her to do, rather than those that she wanted for herself. As she grew older, this way of living—operating to satisfy others at her own expense—became the norm and she forgot the simple joys of making up her own mind about what she wanted to do and how she wanted to do it.

Does this story sound familiar to you?

Can you relate with the way Sarah began to live her parent’s vision for her life—or rather was limited by their lack of vision—instead of deciding what she wanted from life and who she truly wanted to be? Her early childhood programming got in the way of discovering what she really wanted in life.

My book The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be asks the child in all of us an important question: Do you know what you want from your life?

Deciding What You Want

The subtitle of my book is “How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.” The implication, of course, is that to find success, you not only have to know where you are now, but you also need to know where you want to end up. You need to be able to imagine what that place—your place of success, that place you want to be in life—feels like, sounds like, smells like, tastes like. You need to clarify your destination so you will be sure to know it when you arrive.

Clarifying exactly what you want in life is no easy task. As it guides you to a more refined sense of self-awareness, The Success Principles™ offers a wealth of wonderful suggestions to help you on your journey. Here is a sampling of ways to help you decide what you want from your life.

Stop Settling for “I Don’t Care, I Don’t Know, and It Doesn’t Matter to Me.” 

It doesn’t matter how small the decision, to begin reclaiming your right to decide what you want, have a preference. Yours is just as important as anybody else’s so speak up, voice yourself.

30-30-30

If you are having a hard time figuring out the one thing you want from your life, why not choose thirty? That’s right. On a piece of paper, write down a list of 30 things you want to do, 30 things you want to have, and 30 things you want be before you die. Sometimes when the pressure to find just one thing is removed, the floodgates open and you discover that there are a multitude of things that you want to do with and in your successful life.

Make an “I want” List

For 10-15 minutes have a friend record your answers to the simple question, “What do you want?” During the allotted time, have your friend ask you the question over and over again. If you’re like most people, your list will range from the very material things to matters of the heart and the true revelations of who you are and what you want from your most true self. Go ahead, start asking: What do you want? What do you want? I want! I want!

Don’t Worry, The Money Will Come

Is worrying about making a living keeping you from deciding upon what you want in life? Are you afraid that you won’t be able to survive if you follow your bliss? Make a list of 20 things you absolutely love to do. Then, try and imagine ways you can make a living doing these things. For example, if you love books, you could be a writer, a librarian, a clerk in a bookstore, a teacher, a desktop publisher, and on and on. Don’t worry—you can do it. You only have to believe, trust, and act.

Dream Big

When you are deciding what you want from your life, there is no reason to think small. Take a risk and dream big, shoot for the stars. This is your opportunity to write the script to your life—you are the star, not a bit player. Have the courage to write the role of a lifetime and, imagine this, yours will be the name shining on the marquee for all to see. Dream big because amazing things can and do happen to people just like you each and every day!

Share Your Vision—It Will Help You See

When you share your vision of success with trusted others, family and close friends, you will gain the support of your loved ones. In addition, each time you verbalize your goals, you are affirming to yourself and the universe that you know what you want in life, where you want to go, and that you are deserving of the successes you will find when you arrive.

Don’t delay. Decide what you want and begin transforming your life starting today!

___________________________________________________________________

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul®and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com 

See more at: http://jackcanfield.com

How to get from where you are to where you want to be

Jack Canfield is one of the worlds most sought after inspirational speakers and published authors. He wrote the bestseller Chicken soup for the soul series. His recent book is called The success principles - how to get from where you are to where you want to be, and this book has been hailed as the new success classic. I really like his advices on how to find success (based on an article from PositivelyPositive.) Especially that we´re all born with a life purpose, and that identifying, acknowledging and honoring this purpose is truly important for success. Stay tuned into yourself is another favourite.

1. Take No Less Than 100% Responsibility for Your Life

One of the greatest myths that is pervasive in our culture today is that you are entitled to a great life and that somehow, somewhere, someone is responsible for filling our lives with continual happiness, exciting career options, nurturing family time, and blissful personal relationships simply because we exist. But the real truth is that there is only one person responsible for the quality of the life you live. That person is you. Everything about you is a result of your doing or not doing. Income. Debt. Relationships. Health. Fitness level. Attitudes and behaviors.

2. Be Clear Why You’re Here

I believe each of us is born with a life purpose. Identifying, acknowledging, and honoring this purpose is perhaps the most important action successful people take. They take the time to understand what they’re here to do, and then they pursue that with passion and enthusiasm. If you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing, then just tune into the signals around you. Don’t forget to stay tuned into yourself.

3. Decide What You Want

People are physically tired, spiritually drained, and far from where they’d like to be. Why? Because they haven’t clearly mapped out what they want and then taken the steps to get there. Rather than identifying specific goals, milestones, and dreams they go through the motions day in and day out, tackling unimportant tasks. They end up going in circles and wasting lots of energy. In the meanwhile, they grow increasingly uninspired and out of touch with their authentic selves. This, of course, sets anyone up to living a life out of balance. As soon as you commit to a big dream and really go after it you’ll start attracting the people, resources, and opportunities you need into your life to make your dream come true.

4. Believe It Is Possible

Scientists used to believe that humans responded to information flowing into the brain from the outside world. But today, they’re learning that, instead, we respond to what the brain, based on previous experience, expects to happen next. In fact, the mind is such a powerful instrument that it can deliver, literally, everything you want. But you have to believe that what you want is possible.

5. Believe in Yourself

If you are going to be successful in creating the life of your dreams, you have to believe that you are capable of making it happen. Whether you call it self-esteem, self-confidence, or self-assurance, it is a deep-seated belief that you have what it takes—the abilities, inner resources, talents, and skills—to create your desired results. Stumbling blocks become just that—little hills to hop over.

6. Become an Inverse Paranoid

This one is straightforward: Imagine how much easier it would be to succeed in life if you were constantly expecting the world to support you and bring you opportunity. Successful people do just that.

7. Unleash the Power of Goal Setting

Experts on the science of success know the brain is a goal-seeking organism. Whatever goal you give to your subconscious mind, it will work day and night to achieve. To engage your subconscious mind, a goal has to be measurable. When there aren’t any criteria for measurement, it is simply something you want, a wish, a preference, or a good idea. Bear in mind that you have to be willing to change your behavior if you want a different outcome. You have to be willing to take the risks necessary to get what you want. So if you need just one thing to do differently today than you did yesterday, make it this: Commit to taking 100% responsibility for every aspect of your life. Decide to make changes, one step at a time. Once you start the process, you’ll discover it is much easier to get what you want by taking control of your thoughts, your visualizations, and your actions!

This was originally published on Beautifulosophy 2012

{Image from Pinterest via crushculdesac.tumblr.com 

Text source Positively Positive}

4 Steps for success

View image | gettyimages.com

1 Dream (But Don’t Stop There)
Everything starts with a dream. But if that’s all you do, you’re in serious trouble. Also, having a positive attitude is an explicit requirement, because a negative attitude makes us more likely to quit — or to never even begin in the first place. But when that positive attitude becomes a constant habit of fantasizing, things go south really quick. Yes, that’s right, tirelessly dreaming about success is not constructive. (A dream requires some work, as I wise person once told me.)

2 Aim for a specific outcome
This part isn’t too difficult. You just need to take your dream and crystalize it. Be ultra-specific. So if “making more money” is your dream, your desired outcome might be “get a raise at my next annual performance review.” Dreaming of a better work-life balance? Your outcome could be “A daily work schedule that allows me to be free every afternoon at 4 P.M. sharp and off during weekends.”

3 Visualize your obstacles ahead of time
We call this “mental contrasting.” You need to consciously think about the obstacles that could potentially prevent you from achieving your desired outcome.

4 Use self-inquiry to build actionable “if-then” responses for overcoming your obstacles
Mental contrasting is so helpful because it directly weighs dreams against realities. It basically stress-tests your desired outcomes. In other words, questioning your dreams leads to insights about how to proceed with them in the real world.

"Successful people are successful because they take action."

Based on content from Marc & Angel where you can read the whole text.

The Monday Pep Talk | Stop postponing happiness & success [A SIMPLE HOW TO]

Vishen Lakhiani from Mindvalley

INNER BEAUTY - THE MONDAY PEP TALK
Today with the whole world online, it´s more accessible than ever for everyone with a great idea to launch their own business. One of the really successful people creating an online business is Vishen Lakhiani, founder of the cool company Mindvalley Insights. He in his turn has his own mentor and strategic coach, Dan Sullivan, who has coined a theory called "The Reverse Gap", which aims to train you to bridge the gap between success and happiness now and in the future.

Although it´s great to be ambitious and bold, it´s also dysfunctional to postpone your happiness. "If only I can reach that goal I will be...". The problem according to Dan Sullivan is that we keep creating new sets of goals, meaning we´ll never actually reach our goals and therefore is postponing our happiness to the future constantly. Dan Sullivan means that instead of looking only to the future, we should also have a look back in time, called the "Reverse Gap". It´s very simple. When you wake up in the morning, and throughout the work day, just remember where you were two years ago, rather than thinking who do you want to be or where do you want to be two years from now. Instead think of and celebrate how much you have accomplished in the last two years. When you can do that you are able to create happiness in the now. This will not only get you more happy but also more stress-free and have you working in a flow, hence more successful. An important factor in this is to be grateful. Think of the reverse gap and where you are today. According to a UCLA study people who trained themselves to appreciate and be grateful for the reverse gap, a couple of minutes every day, were 25% more happy than the control group. So, whatever you do for a living, celebrate yourself and where you have come from in the last two years, starting today.

I love this simple reverse thinking since it´s too easy to just focus forward and forget to celebrate what you have accomplished, like it´s nothing. And happy in the now, isn´t that what we all really want?

See the four minute video with Vishen Lakhiani explaning the "Reverse Gap" here.

[Image via Pinterest from Mindvalley]

7 Business tips to make you happy

#488627603 / gettyimages.com

INNER BEAUTY - THE MONDAY PEP TALK
Maria Shriver's excellent site "Powered by inspiration" tells you how to find joy in business. Here are seven tips from author Simone Milasas how to do business and be happy.

1 BE HAPPY/DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE – Money follows JOY. Joy does not follow money. Choose happiness now and money will come. If you are doing something you love – the money will show up.

2 DON’T JUDGE YOURSELF – If you judge yourself in an unproductive way, you limit what can show up. Not judging means functioning from a space of possibility.

3 PUT 10% OF YOUR EARNINGS AWAY – Ten percent of every dollar you earn, every day you earn it, and DON’T spend it. It’s about honoring you. Not your bills.

4 BE WILLING TO BE SUCCESSFUL – If you have a fear or unwillingness to be successful, when you get there, you won’t actually let it happen.

5 OUTSOURCE WHAT YOU’RE BAD AT – If there’s a task involved in your business, like bookkeeping or social media, you are terrible at or hate doing, hire it out.

6 MAKING THE DEMAND – Do whatever it takes to get out of debt, make your business work for you, have fun or make it happen. Y

7 BE YOU – You are the source of your success. You create everything in your life. When you’re being you in totality, you change the world by offering your gifts and talents.

Read the whole article by Simone Milasas here.

Happiness in the moment

INNER BEAUTY
Let´s continue on the happiness path since the Robert Holdens' Be happy in 8 days has come to an end. One of the things I personally have experienced and learned a lot from, is to be present in the moment. Which I never really was earlier I realised later. I was always a semester a head at University, barely focusing on what I was studying now but what to choose next semester. Always a weekend ahead, the next vacation etc etc. Living in the future, or in the past (have to admit to that one too, being a nostalgic person by nature) takes you from the present moment where life actually happens. Where the happiness is found. Just by being more present. Today I couldn´t agree more with Eckhart Tolles "the power of now" and I can highly recommend the concept it if you haven´t landed in it yet.

Image from Pinterest

Be Happy - day 8

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 8 - BEING GRATEFUL
In the Be Happy course, participants are given a gratitude journal to fill in daily over the eight weeks. Gratitude is often referred to as the shortest shortcut to happiness. How so? First, gratitude helps you to remember what is important in your life. Remember, to be happy you have to be willing to sacrifice what is not important for what is. Second, gratitude helps you to be more receptive. As my friend Chuck Spezzano says, "When the receiver is ready, the gift appears."

Be Happy Exercise: 

Your assignment today is to review this eight-day mini version of the Be Happy program and make a list of at least eight blessings, breakthroughs and benefits you have experienced. The miracle of gratitude is that the more you practice gratitude, the more things you find to be grateful for. The gift of gratitude is that it helps you to participate more fully in your own life and to notice what is already here. This is so important because, in the final analysis, the only thing that is really missing in your life is more of the real you.

More:

Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 7

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 7 - PRACTICING FORGIVENESS
There are two meta-attitudes that are proven to increase your happiness levels. They are forgiveness and gratitude. Sometimes to be happy in the present moment, you have to be willing to give up all hopes for a better past. Forgiveness is the key to releasing the past and recommitting to your life now. It's impossible to carry wounds and be happy. You can't be a victim and be joyful. You can't keep neglecting yourself and feel whole. Forgiveness helps you to find your heart again, to be true to yourself and to let go of the past and be free.

Be Happy Exercise: 

Your assignment today is to practice self-forgiveness. Declare today a day of new beginnings in which you forgive yourself for all the past occasions when you have treated yourself in loveless and careless ways. Self-forgiveness is the key to loving yourself. This is so important, because it is impossible to love others and not love yourself. Also, the more you love yourself, the easier you make it for others to love you too. Forgiveness is the key to love and happiness.

More:

Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 6

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 6 - YOUR INNER SMILE
"Most of the time, I don't have very much fun, and the rest of the time I have no fun at all," quipped Woody Allen. Sometimes life can get so manic, busy and demanding that you end up setting your sights on getting through the day rather than genuinely enjoying the day. You run on autopilot. You are reactive rather than creative. You get into a mode. Life is a daily blur. The heavy tiredness you feel in your body is a sure sign there is a better way.

Be Happy Exercise: 

Happiness studies show consistently that most people who score higher levels of happiness do not experience markedly better life circumstances. So why are they so happy? Well, one answer is they know how to enjoy their life. The word "enjoy" means to bring joy to something. Today's assignment is to find your inner smile by reminding yourself (1) what energizes you, (2) what you love and (3) what inspires you. Memo to self: Remember to enjoy the miracle of existence today.

More:

Follow the course on Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 5

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 5 - PUTTING YOURSELF FIRST
We are a busy generation. Life can be manic. The to-do list isn't getting any shorter. If you don't stop, you become estranged from the real you. You probably promise yourself that you will catch up with yourself soon, but how soon is soon? By not stopping, you get lost in the daily blur, and you end up being a corporate version of yourself, or a caged bird (as Maya Angelou put it). The longing to be more authentic is what saves you. You cannot be inauthentic and happy. Committing to happiness is the key to living an authentic life.

Be Happy Exercise: 

You cannot neglect yourself and find happiness. Today's assignment is to arrange a meeting with yourself. Give yourself at least 15 minutes to check in with you, catch up on your own news and put yourself first. This is not selfish of you; it is essential for everyone. Tune in to your well-being. Ask yourself, "What are my needs right now?" "What messages is my body giving me?" "How does my heart feel?" and "What is my wisdom telling me?" Maybe it's time for you to ask for help. Life gets better when you treat yourself better.

More:

Follow the course on Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 4

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 4- BEWARE UNHEALTHY SACRIFICE
To be happy, you have to know the difference between healthy sacrifice and unhealthy sacrifice. Healthy sacrifice is giving up something that is not helpful, authentic or smart for something that is, e.g., stop saying yes to everyone, cut your to-do list in half, quit trying to please everyone and stop denying your own needs. Unhealthy sacrifice is when you try to sacrifice your happiness, your health or your integrity for something else. The reason this type of sacrifice is so unhealthy is that it doesn't work in the long run for you or anyone else.

Be Happy Exercise:

When you try to play the martyr, you lose and so does everyone else. One way to undo unhealthy sacrifice is to focus on receiving. People who are carers tend to be better at giving than at receiving, and this imbalance is what inevitably leads to sacrifice, exhaustion and unhappiness. Your assignment today is to be more open than usual, to let life support you and to let people give to you. Being a good receiver is what helps you to give yourself fully without giving yourself away.

More:

Follow the course on Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 3

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah and her Super Soul Sunday. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 3- I CHOOSE HAPPINESS
As soon as you wake up, you start making choices. Most of your choices are to-do choices, like taking a shower, getting dressed, fixing breakfast or drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated. There is another category of choices which are your "to be" choices, like being present, being loving and being happy. So, here's a big question for you: From 0 to 10, how happy have you decided to be today? Is your score a 5 out of 10, or 3 out of 10, or 9 out of 10, perhaps? Can you find the place in your mind where you have already made a decision about how good today will be?

Be Happy Exercise: 
Some people chase happiness, and other people choose happiness. It all depends how much time you want to save. Try to find the place in your mind where you have already decided how good today will be. Are you happy with your decision? Set a positive intention right now to let today be even more enjoyable than you thought it was going to be. Now, turn your positive intention into action by doing three things that make your heart glow.

More:
Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 2

INNER BEAUTY
Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah. The recommended time for the excersize is at least 15 minutes. Happy happy!

DAY 2 - THE HAPPINESS CONTRACT
As a child, you experience happiness as being natural and easy. Happiness is your original energy. Playfulness is your true nature. Joy is your spiritual DNA. In the years that follow, your personality creates a Happiness Contract that is full of learned ideas and false beliefs that limit your daily allowance of joy. Some examples of this conditioned thinking include fears like “Too much happiness is selfish,” beliefs like “I must deserve happiness”, rules like “I must earn happiness,” self-made laws like “I must sacrifice myself for others’ happiness,” and “It’s not okay for me to be happy if others’ are not.”

Be Happy Exercise:
The Happiness Contract is a metaphor, but its effects feel very real. The good news is you can re-write your Happiness Contract by being willing to accept happiness more unconditionally in your life. Today’s assignment is to complete the following sentence ten times: “One way I limit my own happiness is …” Free associate. Don’t think too much. Let your answers flow. If you draw a blank, simply move on. Afterwards, examine your answers carefully, looking for any learned rules, laws, and fears that you can surrender and let go of. Happiness is free – there are no conditions.

In case you missed day 1

More:

Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

Be Happy - day 1

INNER BEAUTY 

Scientific research show that you can change your level of happiness. It may take some effort and persistence, but the good part is that it is doable, for anyone. Ph.D Robert Holden is one of the greatest authorities in the "happiness department", having written several bestselling books and being a regular guest on Oprah, and has created the Happiness Project and Shift Happens, all of them really good I can say. Robert Holden has created an eight week course in happiness which can be found in his book Be Happy. This mini course for eight days is based on that and was created for Oprah and her Super Soul Sunday. I asked Robert Holden if I could share this course with my readers and he kindly agreed. So, if you want to expand your happiness, come back for the next seven days for more. Happy happy!


DAY 1 - DEFINING TRUE HAPPINESS

What is your definition of a happy life? Are you living it? Do you remember to include yourself in your definition? Think carefully on this because your definition of happiness will influence every other significant decision in your life. For instance, if you think happiness is outside you, you will turn happiness into a search, a pursuit, or a destination; whereas if you know happiness is inside you then happiness becomes a compass, a guide, and an enabler that helps you to live a rich life.

Be Happy Exercise: 
There is a world of difference between searching for happiness and following your joy. Your first assignment is to reflect on the question “When am I at my happiest?” Identify what inspires you, nourishes you, and fans the flames of joy within. Being clear about this will help you to be true to yourself, to be honest, to make better choices, and to have the courage to say a big YES to what really matters most to you in life. Say “YES” to joy today.

More:

Facebook.com/drrobertholden

Robertholden.org
oprah.com

Note: The original 8-week happiness program is written up in the book Be Happy (published by Hay House) 

Image via Pinterest via http://lexmel.tumblr.com

On finding inspiration (author)

INNER BEAUTY - THE MONDAY PEP TALK

The author of best selling book Gone Girl, recently turned into a movie, Gillian Flynn tells SELF Magazine about how to find inspiration and overcoming self doubt, among other things.

ON FINDING INSPIRATION "There's no waiting for a muse. You just have to sit at your computer and make yourself do it. I write from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. because of my kids, but if I had my druthers, I'd go from 9 p.m. to four o'clock in the morning. That's when my brain feels clickiest."

ON OVERCOMING SELF-DOUBT "When I was laid off from my job as a TV critic for Entertainment Weekly, where I'd worked for 10 years, I felt embarrassed and junky. I've handled self-doubt in different ways while working on new projects. Sometimes it's a matter of stepping away for a few days. Sometimes it's a glass of bourbon!"

MY REFRESH ROUTINE "Every afternoon, I go for an hour's walk around my neighborhood. I'm getting exercise, but I do it to reset my brain."

Read the whole interview with Gillian Flynn at Self.com

6 Tips to reach your potential

INNER BEAUTY - THE MONDAY PEP TALK
To become productive and successful starts with self-care. The magazine Fast Company have listed six simple rituals to follow perform at your highest.

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up.  A glass of water helps start your day fresh. 

2. Define your top 3. Every morning ask yourself: “What are the top three most important tasks that I will complete today?” Get clear about this. 

3. The 50/10 Rule. Solo-task and do more faster by working in 50/10 increments. Use a timer to work for 50 minutes on only one important task with 10 minute breaks in between. 

4. Move and sweat daily. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. 

5. Express gratitude. Gratitude fosters happiness.

6. Reflect daily. Bring closure to your day through 10 minutes of reflection. “What went well?” and “What needs improvement?” 

Read the whole article here. Have a happy Monday!

Image from Pinterest via Note to Sarah.

The Amazing You

INNER BEAUTY
Need a little inspiration on a Sunday? Not sure what to do with your life? Thinking about that purpose, what to become when you grow up (and you grew up many years ago...:) There´s a new movie out there on the Internet, aiming to inspire these questions. If you liked the Secret and that kind of movies, you will like this one, in the same genre and filmed in the same way; The Amazing You featuring several inspiring persons telling their success stories, how they found their passion and how you can find it too. One of the people featured is Gregg Braden, saying that the best way to find your purpose in life, and also have success with it, is to ask yourself; What do I have to contribute? 

Inspiration for every day work life

INNER BEAUTY
Some of the most successful women have said some great and memorable words about life, career and finding that famous work life balance. Happy Monday!

At the moment, our society’s notion of success is largely composed of two parts: money and power. But it’s time for a third metric, beyond money and power—one founded on well-being, wisdom, our ability to wonder and to give back. —Arianna Huffington

To follow your life's guidance, you may have to reassign some seemingly important things to 'unimportant.' If you believe that pleasing your horrible boss or having a spotless clean house is a higher priority than playing with your children or sleeping off the flu, be prepared for a long and strenuous battle against destiny. —Martha Beck  

Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it. —Madeline L'Engle

Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. That's what I have to say. The second is only a part of the first...There are thousands of people out there with the same degree you have; when you get a job, there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on the bus, or in the car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account, but your soul...People don’t talk about the soul very much anymore. It’s so much easier to write a résumé than to craft a spirit. But a résumé is cold comfort on a winter night, or when you’re sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you’ve gotten back the chest X ray and it doesn’t look so good, or when the doctor writes “prognosis, poor.”
—Anna Quindlen

Head over to A cup of Jo for many more inspirational quotes.

Negotiate pay rise with confidence

INNER BEAUTY - THE MONDAY PEP TALK 
How on earth do you negotiate a pay rise at the best? Well, the trick apparently is to approaching the conversation by acting as though you´re asking on someone else's behalf, let´s say your best friend. That means you knock out narcissism. Then start listing your successes, which is much easier when thinking of your achievements and worth when negotiating for someone else. And never apologise for asking, ever.

Source: TATLER September (print magazine) photo:elegantly-demure.tumblr.com

Tour the VOGUE office

OUTER BEAUTY
Have you ever wondered how it looks like at the VOGUE headquarter in NYC? I know I have. In this short film from Condé Nast you get a closer view at the office, the every day life of chief editor Anna Wintour and her employees. And Anna Wintour answers 73 questions of all kinds, like why is she wearing her trademark Chanel sunglasses, when she gets up in the morning, what word she thinks everybody over uses and what she will never wear...