The Ingredients To Fulfillment

By Amy Twain

During the last five years, there has been increasing proof supporting the relation of fulfillment with life or happiness and being able to utilize and maximize your strengths. Most human beings who feel fulfilled with their life are most likely to be less stressed or harassed, do well at work, have lesser sick days and social or psychological problems.

First and foremost, you need to know what the human brain needs. Gregory Berns, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at Emory University, believes that to feel satisfied is needed and essential to experience the fulfillment in one's life. In his book, Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment, he declares that being fulfilled necessitates two significant ingredients which nature has shaped our brains to crave: challenge and novelty.

Stress which is connected with a challenge releases the hormone cortisone. In high levels, cortisone can be damaging to the human body both physically and mentally. However, in smaller amounts, it could enhance memory, elevate mood, and increase concentration and focus, making you more effective. While novelty in life gives off the neurotransmitter dopamine which is related to feelings of being happy and well-being.

When these two chemicals mingle and interact, then the stage is set for powerful feelings of being fulfilled. Second, research by doctors Martin Seligman, Nansook Park and Christopher Peterson have discovered that there are five basic character/signature strengths that are constantly and closely associated to satisfaction in life. Moreover, there is conclusive information which points out which strengths or assets are indispensable and the ingredients our brain requires to experience fulfillment.

So, do you possess these key strengths and characteristics? 

1. Curiosity: finding topics and subjects intriguing and fascinating; taking a healthy interest in an ongoing and progressive experience and happenings for its own sake; constantly discovering and exploring. 

2. Zest: feeling active and alive all over again; living life as a big adventure; approaching life with happy energy and excitement; not doing things halfway or in a halfhearted manner.

3. Gratitude:taking time in expressing thanks; being aware of and grateful for all the blessings and good things that happen. 

4. Love: simply being close to other people; honoring close relationships, particularly those in which caring and sharing is interchanged. 

5. Optimism: expecting and believing the best in what the future will hold.

The great news is, if these strengths are not high on your list, you can develop them. For example, to develop: 1. Curiosity, acquire more information about things you're interested in and be open to ideas. 2. Zest, savor even those momentary pleasures. Do something with more energy and add more creativity in doing it.

3. Gratitude, especially if you're having a tough day, try counting your blessings by writing down three things that you are thankful for or appreciate stating "why". 4. Love, spend more quality time and bonding moments with friends and family. Renew your personal relationships for a stronger bond. 5. Optimism, whenever you are facing a problem or difficulty, stay in the present and be specific about what or who is involved.

Instead of "stewing" on problems, practice "savoring" the simple joys of life.



About The Author
The author of this article,Amy Twain, is a Self Improvement Coach who has been successfully coaching and guiding clients for many years. Let Amy help you find Happiness in Your Work Place. Click here to learn how to become a Happy Worker.


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You Want to be Happy and Successful? Get Mentally Fit

By Willie Horton

How are you going to be up to the not-too-onerous task of getting the very best out of life if you are mentally unfit? Unfortunately, many years of research confirms that the normal mind is not just unfit for effortless living, it has been living on a diet of clapped-out old movies (from your childhood) all of your adult life. It's the ultimate couch potato. And, if, for all of your adult life, you had sat like a lazy slob on a couch, would you really expect to be able to spring from your couch, put on your trainers and go out for even a light jog? You'd kill yourself in the process - and, sadly, that is what normal people are doing - dying to be a success!

However, life is not a light jog - life is more akin to a marathon and, if you don't take the appropriate regular exercise, you will simply not be able to stay the course. The amazing things is, though, if you do bother to take even a little mental exercise, you will suddenly realize that life is not, in fact, a marathon at all - it's only our unfit normal crazy mind that makes it so. In the right state of mind, life is a gentle, enjoyable and effortless stroll in the park. Have you ever experienced the peace and calm of that stroll? Is carefree and effortless living something that you have experienced? If you haven't, it's because you're an unfit mental slob and it's your own fault.

How do you change all that? Does it require massive effort or discipline? Not at all - all that is required is just a little commitment on your part. Believe it or not, it only takes a few minutes each morning to get your head in the right place - perhaps a little longer for a start if you want to give yourself the solid foundation from which you can springboard to effortless living. And ten minutes each morning will change the other twenty three hours and fifty minutes - you simply won't recognise your life.

What exercise am I talking about? Nothing could be simpler - you've just got to re-develop your innate ability to pay attention to reality. At present, as I've already said, your subconscious mind is stuck in a rut. It's obsessed with your past and it uses what it learned during your formative years to make sense of today. The results? Pick up the newspapers, see how so many normal people behave so badly - from domestic violence to wars, from petty theft to the barefaced greed that has all but dismantled the economies of many of the world's so-called developed countries. Look at your own life. Your subconscious mind's efforts to make sense of today lead to anxiety, stress, worry, ill-health, dissatisfaction - the list, in fact, is endless. Letting your subconscious mind run on auto-pilot is making nonsense of your life - you've got to come to your senses.

Research strongly suggests that our ability to be happy, focused, effective and successful is correlated to our ability to pay attention to the here and now. If we leave the running of our lives to our subconscious mind, we end up paying no attention to the here and now and the results are, at best, not-too-bad, at worst, disastrous. I've already said it but bears repeating - you've got to re-train yourself in the simple but powerful art of paying attention. I say 're-train' because, as children, we were experts at it.

What do you need to pay attention to? Not your goals, not the outcomes that you want to achieve - you need to pay attention to the here and now. Nothing else. It is in the here and now that life is lived. Today's actions create tomorrow's 'reality'. What you do today determines whether you succeed or fail. And, at present, your normal mind is pretty much doing nothing other than going through the motions of living. Rather than reacting automatically to what your subconscious mind thinks is going on, you need to take real action in your life. You've got to start taking action for yourself - nobody else will do it for you.

How can you re-learn your innate ability to pay attention? Meditate. Meditation disciplines an otherwise undisciplined mind. Meditation enables you pay attention to what your five senses are telling you. Meditation breaks the link between reality and what your subconscious mind makes up in place of reality. Only meditation can fully clear your mind - and armed with a clear mind you can and will change your life effortlessly. Meditation is the prerequisite to effortless, happy and successful living.





Copyright (c) 2010 Willie Horton

About The Author
Willie Horton is author of 'To Succeed Just Let Go' and founder of Gurdy.Net - the Personal Development Website. Since 1996 he has been helping his many clients change their lives and achieve happiness and success. Clients include top executives in organizations like Pfizer, Deloitte, G4S, Allergan, Diageo and Nestle. Willie lives in the French Alps, with his wife and children, from where he travels the world as a speaker and consultant.


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7 Persuasion Tactics To Influence Anyone In The Most Effective Manner

By Michael Lee

It's easy to influence anyone if you know the right persuasion tactics to use. Here's a list of 7 powerful techniques to get the most out of your persuasion efforts. 

Persuasion Tactic # 1: Start your discussion on the right track. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make in persuasion is that they start talking about a topic or situation that the other person is not yet aware or familiar with. 

I have a friend who often dives into the middle of a story or subject, which leaves me (and I assume many other people) clueless on what he's talking about. It's important to start your discussion on a point that people can relate to, preferably from the very beginning, unless you're sure that they already know the foundation of the topic of discussion. 

Persuasion Tactic # 2: Be crystal clear in imparting your message. 

When you say, 'He's mad' do you mean he's angry or do you mean he's crazy? Whenever you're going to say or write something that is vague or may lead to miscommunication, it's highly recommended that you change the words in a way that imparts a clear message. 

Persuasion Tactic # 3: Give them a summary or an overall glimpse of the big picture. 

This is vital when talking about something that takes a little (or a lot more) time to comprehend. This way, they can better relate the discussion to the big picture and 'absorb' what you're saying. 

Persuasion Tactic # 4: Stay humble. 

Never brag or be arrogant because it's a big turn-off. The other party may think (in his own mind) that he's better than you, and you'll just bruise his ego. 

You may even feign to not know things you may already be aware of, if it would give you an edge in persuading him. Give him the impression that you are an ally, and not in competition with him. 

Persuasion Tactic # 5: Pay attention to what is being said instead of thinking what you'll say next. 

This may be a little difficult for you to do initially. That's why it is critical to practice & enhance your persuasion skills until it becomes a part of you. When listening, don't interrupt while they're talking. Wait a second or two before you speak. Avoid changing subjects because this indicates your disinterest. 

Persuasion Tactic # 6: Choose the right time. 

When they're not in the mood or when they're pressed with time, your persuasion efforts may just fall into deaf ears because they will not give you attention. 

Ask first if you can have a few minutes of their time. If they say it's not a good time, ask for a time that fits their schedule. 

Persuasion Tactic # 7: Never disrespect anyone. 

Watch out for the body signals that you are giving away. You might be pouting your lips, breathing heavily, shaking your head, or rolling your eyes without you being aware that you're offending others. 

Watch your language too. If saying 'Whatever' 'Oh brother,' or 'Yeah right' is part of your lingo, practice taking them out of your vocabulary. 

Practice and apply these 7 persuasion tactics, and you'll be able to influence people faster than anyone else.

About The Author

Want to easily persuade anyone to do anything? Use subliminal persuasion techniques to put people under your control (without them knowing it)! Get a FREE course that reveals some of the most groundbreaking mind control techniques and persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm

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The Happiness Choice

By Margaret Paul, Ph.D.

"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."

--Stephen R. Covey,? Author and Speaker

This is a powerful freedom. And, from my point of view, another way of putting this is that the ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide our own intent:

* To protect against pain with our controlling behavior

* To learn about what is loving to ourselves and others

When our intent is to learn about love, that is when we get to decide how others will affect us.

If my intent is to control how other people feel about me, then if they don't like me, I will be upset. I may feel rejected or unworthy. I've made them responsible for my sense of worth, which then means that I have to try to control how they feel about me by being perfect, being nice, doing things right, saying the right thing, looking right, performing right, and so on. This is a very hard way to live!

When my intent is to be loving to myself, then I don't make others responsible for me sense of worth. Instead, I define my essential worth - not by my looks or performance - but by my essential qualities of compassion, loving kindness, caring, understanding, creativity, perseverance, basic goodness, and so on. I learn to define myself, not by my programmed ego wounded mind, but through the eyes of my higher self. If someone doesn't like me, I don't take this personally, since I accept that I have no control over who they are or how they feel, and it is not loving to me to take their behavior personally.

When my focus is on loving myself and sharing my love with others, I behave in ways that bring me joy. While painful outside events can momentarily affect me, when my intent is to be loving to myself, I quickly move into compassion for my own feelings, bringing in the comfort of Spirit to help me move through the loneliness, heartache, heartbreak, grief, sorrow, or sadness of a situation.

This all depends on who I give authority to - my personal source of spiritual guidance, or others and events. When I give authority to others and events, then I become a victim of others and circumstances. When I give authority to my personal source of spiritual guidance, I always have access to a source of truth, peace, and joy.

MY HAPPINESS OR MISERY IS MY CHOICE, AND IT DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON MY INTENT - WHICH IS MY ULTIMATE FREE-WILL CHOICE.

The moment my intent is to control that which I cannot control, or that which is unloving toward myself, others, or the planet to control, I will create my misery. Whether I try to control my pain with various addictions to substances or processes, or I try to control my feelings by getting others approval, or I try to control others and outcomes by acting in ways that are not in integrity with that which is loving to myself and others, I will make myself unhappy. Operating from a belief that the end justifies the means will never bring me joy.

The moment my intent is to be loving to myself and others, then I will treat myself, others and the planet in ways that are in alignment with what is in my highest good and the highest good of all. Loving behavior toward myself and others always brings a deep inner sense of joy.

When you choose the intent to learn about loving yourself and others, you move yourself into personal power, integrity, and connection with the Source of wisdom, truth, and joy.




About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is a best-selling author of 8 books, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding process - featured on Oprah. Are you are ready to heal your pain and discover your joy? Click here for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com/welcome and visit our website athttp://www.innerbonding.com for more articles and help. Phone Sessions Available. Join the thousands we have already helped and visit us now!


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