The Cause of Unhappiness

By Michael Bloxton

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it.” — Eckhart Tolle

This quote is so true but it brings up an interesting point. If thoughts are really in control of our happiness, what are they and how do they control us? It has been said so many times, and in so many ways, that your thoughts are things that have a profound impact on your life.

This isn’t just a philosophical idea. Thoughts themselves are measurable. Brain activity and testing have revealed that thoughts have a very specific frequency that can be measured with the right equipment. Every time you have a thought, a pulse of energy travels through a network of neurons in your brain. Of course, the question remains – how is this pertinent to our lives?

Science has not yet discovered all of the interworking of the mind and the brain. It is a realm of knowledge that is still largely unexplored though progress is being made. There are two schools of thought… some believe thoughts have a direct impact on the lives we create and others believe this is untrue. Since neither argument can be proven yet, we will avoid taking sides.

To be clear, we are not talking about “The Law of Attraction” here. This isn’t a debate about whether we attract the things we think about. We are talking about your thoughts’ ability to create new outcomes based on their impact on your emotions, behaviors, and your actions.

Let’s just take a look at some obvious facts. If you believe your thoughts have no control over the life you live and the experiences you have, you likely:

1. Feel that you are at the mercy of circumstances in your life.

2. Think you have no control over your future.

3. Feel stuck or trapped by your current conditions.

4. Are often in reaction mode to events in your life.

On the other hand, if you believe that your thoughts direct the focus of your life and create the life you live then you more likely:

1. Feel that you can respond to circumstances in any way you choose and through that response, create an outcome you desire.

2. Think that you have total control over your future.

2. Feel limitless in your possibilities.

This whole article is about happiness so here is a question for you. Which of these belief groups is going to make you feel the happiest? Think about it, as Eckhart Tolle so beautifully stated, it is your thoughts about what happens that matters most. We have all heard at some point in our lives that it is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.

There is an old saying that goes something like this: There are two types of people in the world; the person who knows things happen and the person who makes things happen. This concept, combined with the quote we started with, is truly empowering once you understand it.

Things happen. There is no denying it. If you “know things happen” then you go wherever the tide takes you. The events in your life are completely out of your control. If this is true for you, then there is no point in trying to change anything because it’s beyond your power to do so.

Then there is the person who “makes things happen.” This individual “knows” that events and circumstances do come up unpredictably and sometimes they are undesirable. S/he also understands that this is only 10% of the equation. They then apply the second part of the equation to that and respond with intelligent thoughts which usually starts by asking empowering questions.

We could write an entire article on the use of questions to assist us in creating our reality (and maybe we will soon) but for now, we want to give you a quick tip that will help you immediately. The most empowering questions always begin with the word HOW. Your brain always comes up with an answer to your questions… even when that answer is untrue.

For example, if you just got fired you might ask “Why did I get fired?” To this question, your brain will respond with the most reasonable answer it can find. But this could be anything from “Because my boss is an arrogant SOB” to “Because I suck at my work.” You aren’t directing your brain to give you something empowering. Instead, try asking, “How can I learn from this experience so this never happens again?” Aha, that should start you thinking in the right direction and that changes everything because thoughts are things.

Thoughts have the most profound impact on your life. A thought can take any menial task and make it wretched. A thought can take a pleasant situation and turn it sour. A thought can take nothing and make it something. Thoughts, whether you like it or not, are more powerful than you imagined.

The opposite can be said about a thought too. A simple thought or idea can start an industry. A mere thought of someone you love can turn any instant into a joyful smile. A thought can turn any bad into good and a single thought can take that good and transform it to great. The power to change everything in your entire world can be launched by a single thought.

You too can be the person who creates their situation by fully developing their thoughts about it.

By

Michael Bloxton,
President & CEO,
oneMYnd, LLC.




About the Author: For more information about OneMYnd - Coaching, Collaboration, Connection please log on to http://onemynd.com/

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=830994&ca=Self+Help

Image courtesy of nattavut FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How do I stop stress in my life?

By Nerissa Scott

Each day, before you walk in to work, do you feel as though you can never get ahead? Do you feel a sense of resentment that you let your life go on as far as it has... with you being unhappy? Do you feel like you are overtaken with the mundane sense of going along with your life each day, only to repeat the same thing the next day? So how do you make a fed up person, miserable... add stress and depression together. Do you want to be that person, or have you already reached that level? What is stopping you from managing your time and your life? Realizing your life is important. Where will you be when your neighbor realizes their worth? It is understandable that you think about your obligations first, but what about you? Don't let depression take over you. The time to take control is now!


How to create an environment for cultivating a happier you?


Step 1- Love your imperfections, love your kids mistakes and don't worry so much

Step 2- Each day; make certain that you take the time to pamper yourself with something that makes you "melt inside," for lack of a better phrase… You deserve it, and if anyone tells you otherwise—they are wrong!

Just make sure that it doesn't negatively affect your well-being or the well-being of others, you know

Step 3- Set goals! For yourself, AND have each member of your household set clear and realistic goals as well. The key to successfully achieving them is to write them down and put them in a place where they are visible and can be revisited throughout the day.

Always start with goals that may seem meaningless, as these always have the greatest impact on our lives. For example, you can start by setting the daily goal to dedicate five minutes without distraction, to listen to your little one (or even your husband for that matter.)

Many of us have a habit of multitasking and we forget that something so small can positively affect the person we are listening to, in addition to ourselves. Why? Because we are not stressed from trying to complete a task while someone we care about is attempting to tell us something that may well be important to them. Once we dedicate this small amount of time to listening, we can carry on with our tasks without distraction!

We all have aspect of our life snapshots that remain unclear for years, maybe even decades; nonetheless, no single task, endeavor, obligation, or person should prevent us from achieving pure happiness. The next piece of information that I am going to share with you was passed to me from my grandma, who has showed me a lifetime of inspiration and joy. By writing this for all to see, it is almost therapeutic for me, knowing that I can reach at least one person as they are experiencing a rough patch in their life. (Smile)

What my grandmother has shared with me… Each day, look at your reflection in the mirror & say to yourself: "I am a very important person and I am special. If I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of others." As a rule of thumb, I encourage you—as my grandmother has to me, to make it a ritual to do this each morning before you begin your day and each night before you retire. This worked to the highest degree for me, and I am certain that you will benefit greatly from it as well. Lastly, it would be wise for you to just believe in yourself. Do not let depression have control over your world. To avert continuing stress related mood concerns, it is imperative for you to set clear goals and believe in yourself. You have my full support and encouragement!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/goal-setting-articles/how-do-i-stop-stress-in-my-life-6865707.html

About the Author

My name is Nerissa Scott and I am a life coach, business owner and a licensed life insurance producer with a goal to help America's working-class. I hold a Master of Education Degree and I recognize the complexities of teaching personal finance to adults-- so feel free to ask away! It is my goal to provide life empowerment and professional guidance, by answering all of your questions to help you make decisions that you are comfortable with.

I believe that there is a need for Americas working-class to have an accessible and trustworthy resource to benefits and insurance coverage- now more than ever!

For personal inspiration, professional guidance and information to help you understand the basics of insurance, feel free to stop by my blog at http://lifegoalsandlifeinsurance.com-- You may well be surprised in what you'll find to be helpful. If you would prefer to reach out to me in a more personal environment, feel free call toll free at (800) 807-6172. (Smile)

Image courtesy of David Castillo FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why Forgiveness is Crucial to Your Happiness

By: Sonia Devine

Your ability to forgive those who have hurt you in the past is a crucial stepping stone to your spiritual and emotional growth. Throughout the course of our lives, we collect emotional baggage. This is unavoidable, and even though it can cause us a great deal of pain, it helps us to define who we are as people; the result is, we grow even more and learn valuable lessons along the way about ourselves and others.
So there you have it - emotional baggage is an unavoidable part of all of our lives - but it's not actually this that is the real cause of unhappiness in your life. What's really important is how you choose to deal with that baggage, because what you do here will determine the success or failure of your future relationships.. Now, there is another very important point I want to make:

People come into our lives to teach us lessons It's what you do with these lessons that determines how your future will be. Think of all the people you have encountered in your life. Isn't it funny to look back and think about the last time you saw a particular person; it may have been several years ago, and it's quite possible that you will never again see him/her in this lifetime!The reason? Because this person has served their purpose in your life. So now that you know this, think about this; what did this person teach you? Some relationships or encounters that we have with other people last only a few days, and some last a lifetime. But either way, each experience serves a specific purpose and is extremely relevant to your life!.
Now, given that every experience we have is a lesson for us, think about the people who have hurt you in the past. Have you allowed yourself to forgive them? Or are you still holding into the emotional pain? Do you find yourself conjuring up scenes of "sweet revenge" in your mind, or worse still, acting out those scenes? Are you able to forgive and let go? If you are not, then who holds the power - you or them?

Don't let people who have hurt you in the past have any control over your future! When you make a choice to forgive others, you are NOT lying down and becoming a doormat, nor are you admitting that person who hurt you is in the right. Forgiveness is about taking back control of your life and not allowing your negative emotions to rule you. And forgiveness is also about letting go of all those debilitating emotions that could be responsible for sabotaging your current relationships! So ask yourself this question: Do you want to feel good? If you are still carrying feelings of resentment and anger towards someone who hurt you, then what are you getting out of it?
Hanging on to feelings of resentment, hatred or anger, will ensure that these destructive feelings WILL spill over into your current life and stop you from enjoying positive, successful relationships with other people.
The fact is, your subconscious mind never ignores negative energy and emotions. It will remind you every day that you need to deal with them, and until you do, it will manifest your unresolved emotional pain through insomnia, chronic physical pain and in extreme cases, through life threatening illness. So there it is; make a decision today to take back your life by practising forgiveness. Your energy is extremely precious so don't allow yourself to give it away to those who don't deserve to have it it! Move on with your life today, and you will experience miracles.
Author Bio
Sonia Devine is a qualified professional hypnotherapist and success coach with a caring and committed approach to healing, who lives in Melbourne, Australia. You can find more of her information on attracting wealth, self image, love, relationships, phobias and much more on her website Manifest Your Success
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content