Is It Easier to Be Unhappy or Happy?

This was a question that was put before me recently and I thought it an interesting one. For many people the answer is it's easier to be unhappy, because unhappiness, struggle and complaint are their default beliefs and behaviors. For others, happiness seems to come easily. We all know those people who seem just naturally happy, no matter what. They bounce back from setbacks and keep going along their merry way.

So why is that? In her book, "Happy for No Reason", Marci Shimoff states the happiness is about 50% genetic and 50% learned. We all have a "happiness set point" that we come into this world with. Some people really are naturally more happy. Happiness is also a matter of what we absorbed as children from our environment. We picked up beliefs about life from our parents, other family members, teachers, friends, religious leaders and mass consciousness. If you heard that "Life is hard," "It's a jungle out there," "You'll never amount to anything," "You just can't get ahead," "You can't trust anyone" and other similar beliefs, you absorbed those ideas into your subconscious and they affect your outlook on life. Your behaviors will then be influenced by your beliefs, whether you realize you hold them or not, and the results you get in life will be the result of how you act in the world.

So the default for many people is to complain, blame others or situations for what's wrong in their lives, or to feel guilty for not being where or who they think they "should" be in life. It's easy to complain and blame. Remember the saying "misery loves company"? If you believe that and have something to complain about you'll surely find people who are willing to jump right in there with you to commiserate. It feels validating for a short time. You feel part of the group. That's the payoff for staying stuck in unhappiness. The problem is, nothing ever changes.

The good news is, you can raise your happiness set point.

The main thing we all really want in life is to be happy. With awareness of our thoughts and behaviors and the practice of new habits, we can raise our happiness level. It's possible to be happy without our outside circumstances changing. Real happiness is not the result of changed circumstances, but of changed outlook and response to life. In fact, when you're happy first, your life actually flows better as a result. Happy people get better treatment, more opportunities and enjoy better health.

The key word here, is practice. You need to be willing to make the commitment to new ways of thinking and approaching life. Just like learning how to play a musical instrument or learning a new language, learning how to be happy and setting it as your new default response takes consistent practice over time. So the question to ask yourself is, "Am I willing to make the small effort to change into a happy person? Am I willing to do the work to change my life?"

If your answer is yes, here are some happiness habits to get you started:

1. Be solutions focused. Are you looking at the problem or are you looking at how you might solve it? What is going right that you can capitalize on?
2. Question your thoughts. Just because you have a thought, it doesn't make it true. What is a thought that is as true or truer than the one you just had that feels better? Lean into the better feeling thought.
3. Surround yourself with happy people. Happiness is contagious!
4. Look for the lesson and the gift in every situation. Everything is FOR us in some way. What are you learning from challenging situations? How are you growing? Who are you becoming?
5. Practice gratitude. No matter what your situation is, there is always something to be grateful for. Gratitude centers you in your heart and lifts your spirits. If you are reading this, you can see and you know how to read. There's two right there! Practice this every day by either saying your gratitude out loud or writing it down. Lives have been turned around by this practice alone.
6. Get in touch with your purpose. What excites you? What are you passionate about? What do you do really well that you also enjoy? People who are inspired by purpose are happier people

It may be easier to stay stuck in unhappiness, but the rewards of making the decision and commitment to practice happiness are great!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-It-Easier-to-Be-Unhappy-or-Happy?&id=9469859

How To Feed And Care For Your Subconscious

It's hard to truly comprehend the full power of our subconscious mind. But it's always there, always doing its job, no matter if we pay attention or not.

Much of the time it's easy to forget that it's even there. Most of us are so busy wrestling with the thoughts running through our minds, it's hard to believe there's anything but the thoughts we're thinking.

But it's there. The subconscious is always doing its job. Collecting the information we feed it, listening to what we think and feel. And then it gives it all back to us, over, and over, and over again.

Our habitual patterns. Our habitual beliefs. Our habitual actions. Our habitual experiences. All come directly from our subconscious. All are the direct result of the thoughts, beliefs, and experiences we've fed our subconscious throughout our lives.

In the beginning, before age 6, our subconscious mind is in its full power. Like soft, fertile soil, it easily receives and accepts whatever comes to it though its environment. It's a time of super-learning. And a time of formulation of long-lasting beliefs.

Just like any garden, it's from this fertile soil that our life unfolds, and grows. And the ideas, thoughts, and beliefs which are continually reinforced, will grow the fastest, the strongest, and the deepest. Before long, they will grow into what feels like indisputable, undeniable, facts.

To truly understand, or begin to understand, the power of our subconscious mind, is to finally understand the power that is within all of us. Dorothy's ruby slippers were always on her feet, but she didn't understand, or trust, her power, until, of course, she finally did.

The power of your subconscious is in the soil And, just like any soil, it can be fertilized, nurtured, turned, weeded, watered, and fed. Overgrowth can be weeded out, and anything can be planted and grown within the right circumstances and environmental factors.

Here are some tips to feed and care for your subconscious - your inner power.

Weeding -- Weed out negative thoughts and beliefs, daily. Be mindful of what you're consistently thinking. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, or reacting to distressing beliefs - pause. By mindfully observing your thought process, you begin to disempower the negative spin. You can also direct your mind to think something completely opposite - such as a positive affirmation. In addition, EFT Tapping is a powerful tool to help weed out the negative feelings associated with your thoughts. Regular weeding will enable you to free up valuable space within your fertile subconscious mind.

Planting - Decide exactly what you want to grow in your garden. You can grow anything you like. What would you like to believe about yourself? How would you like to feel? What would you like to experience? Make a list of the beliefs, thoughts, and experiences you want to cultivate. For example you can decide to plant Courage, Strength, Joy, Persistence, Discipline, Success, Creativity. You can also plant the visions of experiences you'll enjoy as a result of new beliefs and qualities.

Nourishment - Once you decide what to grow in your subconscious, you've got to nourish regularly. If, for example, you decide to grow courage, you could nourish its grow by thinking strengthening, empowering thoughts, or visualizing yourself accomplishing courageous feats. Action-oriented experience is like a power-food for your subconscious - so taking inspired action is crucial. Remember repetition is key. By repeatedly, and consistently, feeding the feeling of courage, and it will grow within your subconscious, until it feels like an indisputable fact.

Environment - Plant grows best within specific environmental circumstances, and so do our beliefs. Be mindful of your surroundings, your media choices, your chosen activities, the people around you. Do they nourish or deplete your garden? What do you need more of? What can you let go of? Remember, you're in control of the care and feeding of your powerful subconscious. Be vigilant what you allow to enter it.

I'm continually amazed by the power of my own subconscious to help me heal, grow, and transform. And I feel incredibly grateful to be a guide for my clients as they access their own power.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Feed-And-Care-For-Your-Subconscious&id=9736119

Personal Development - What's In It For Me?

When first getting started with your business, you are told to identify your 'why' and develop your vision. These will be the framework for putting together your business plan.

These first steps are crucial to help you identify the audience you are going to target and resonate with. Get clarity on your vision and who you want to be. From that development the ideal customer you want to deal with will emerge.

Ask yourself who are the people you want to be your customers and who you want to spend quality business time with. Start attracting those people to you now.

I used to blame my problems on other people. My moment of clarity came when I looked in the mirror one day and burst into tears. It wasn't because I looked bad, but realized my problem was me.

When you have that moment you realize nobody else in your external world is responsible for your success or failure but you. The things and people you attract to your business are because of the thoughts and visions you have for yourself. What you focus on expands. What you make mental images of in your head, is what you will have.

Your brain and sub-conscious will conspire to give you the images you make. Don't sit around and dwell on what you don't have, but what you will be. Your brain doesn't understand the 'do' or 'don't, but only a verb or a noun.

You can reprogram your brain by the thoughts you intentionally put in your brain. Things like affirmations, prayer and meditation can literally reprogram your brain. Intentionally state your wishes and purpose for yourself. Set your intentions for what you want to build. It will go from your vision, to your purpose, to your message and then to your audience who wants to hear your message.

By doing this, you will never have trouble targeting the right audience. You will be the person you want to work with and start attracting the same people to you. It starts with your vision of who you want to be.

Dare to invent the future. Have you had that spark deep inside where you want to be that trailblazer or make history? What sparks the passion in you? Getting to the core of yourself is the only way you will communicate to the core of someone else. This will make them want to take action and this will build an army of raving fans instead of reluctant customers.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Personal-Development---Whats-In-It-For-Me?&id=9418217