happiness Archives - Page 2 of 4

The Happy Friday Series: A Big Green Loving Pen

10/18/2013 By Jayme Soulati

She’s the mom of two and wife of one, thank goodness (because I’m not sure how any woman could manage TWO husbands ever; don’t you wonder why the woman in various religions isn’t the one to have multiple spouses?), and she’s also a runner. Paula Kiger recently ran for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and in support of Gareth with MCAD (you’ll have to ask her what that is).

Paula is a unique individual from her interesting Twitter handle @BigGreenPen to the Happy Friday Series she wrote here on Feb. 1, 2013.

She shared her happy while in traffic; Creating Optimism While In Traffic On Foursquare, actually. She is a woman after my own heart as a Foursquare checker inner, a 12Most.com author and a peer blogger on the path. But what most intrigues me about Paula is the fact that she dashed over here to write the fourth in the series of Happy Friday posts, and I hadn’t had the wonderment of being introduced to her.

And, Paula gets the award, amongst about 45 guest authors, for the most interesting angle and take on happiness. Who the heck is ever happy while sitting in doggone traffic? Especially at the “Punishment Light?”

You can find Paula’s blog here, called Persipacity, and there she writes about wonderful topics (I assume with a Big Green Pen) like motherhood, teens in the workforce, and humanitarianism. When you read her blog post I provided the link to, you’ll find an effervescence and natural sincerity in Paula’s genuine nature.

I’m so happy she made us all happier getting to know someone who gives of herself unto others with love. It’s so obvious to me without truly have the privilege of knowing Paula IRL, that she’s the real deal.

PAULA?! Thank you for contributing right here and being part of this happy family.

The Happy Friday Series: Positively Peggy

10/04/2013 By Jayme Soulati

When I launched this series on Jan. 11, 2013 quite by happenstance, I had no idea where it would go, what it would become, or how I would write on happiness every Friday. I instinctively invited the very happiest person I know online and with whom I’ve never spoken or met, to kick off the first official guest post for the series.

She accepted my invitation with relish, and did me and us justice; The Happy Friday Series was official and rolling.

Every Friday since January, I’ve been jazzed with a cadre of #RockHot guest authors. People who have shared their most personal thoughts and feelings, and people who have shared their passions about what puts smiles in their hearts. The series hasn’t been off the hook giggles; it’s been about life and the pursuit of happiness. Sometimes we find that happy in odd ways, with one little bit of graciousness and generosity.

As the series has continued and my invitations to many to author here have become more sparse and peoples’ time has become less to commit, I’m turning the tables to you.

This series is taking a turn; it’s my turn to thank each and every one of you for your generosity of sharing and caring right here.

And, so, today, I thank Peg Fitzpatrick for her spirit and generosity for kicking off this series right here.

Peg, Positively Peggy, writes a blog that is always generous. She’s a teacher extraordinaire, she shares happiness for real with her community, and if you don’t follow her, you’re truly lacking.

Peggy is one of those sincerely genuine nurturers and givers. She puts herself last, she puts her community first.

She’s a managing partner at 12Most.com, she manages the Google+ community for APE, The Book by Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch, she is on all social channels, and she’s writing her own book. If you link to that blog post of hers, you’ll get a positive sense of this woman’s creativity and how she teaches you with relentless giving.

May I say, she’s forever in smiles, too?

Please give Peggy a nod your way; she will imbue positivity and inspire creativity — promise.

Peg Fitzpatrick, thank your for your Happy Friday. You are #RockHot!

Thoughts About Love In Business

08/28/2013 By Jayme Soulati

If your parents are stilted and unable to hug you with a genuine squeeze and vibration of love, then your journey to love, share love, open your heart to love, say “I love you” with meaning and be secure with that amazing emotion will be unsettled.

Happiness

All around us, there are studies on happiness. Have you read my series here each Friday that began Jan. 11, 2013, called The Happy Friday Series? It consists of your stories about happiness; there are no rules, just an interpretation, recollection, and often therapeutic sharing of life’s journey. Please read a few; here is the list from the first half of the year.

Please also consider writing for the series, as my goal is to get through year end without needing to fill a gap in guest writers.

Happiness research hit academia a few years ago; I still have the Harvard Business Review with happiness on the cover. Another Fortune company is going to find ways to make employees happier as it leads to greater productivity and morale.

Love on the other hand? It’s a sensitive emotion. Does it belong in the workplace? Should you use it to describe your services and products? Will anyone believe you if you do?

Kaarina Dillabough addressed respect as a topic for her post this week. She raises solid points about the lack of respect just about everywhere and mostly the lack of respect in the home. The children shooting adults out of boredom? No respect for life or happiness. I assume also there’s no love in the home or the foundation of the big three – happiness, love and respect.

That’s what the gangs are doing; encompassing and embracing errant children off the street and providing some semblance of security. At the same time the gangsta masters are delivering a foundation of structure and negative reinforcement; however, the flipside at home could be much worse.

Every Creature Thrives On Love

Every single living creature thrives on love. Perhaps it’s attention and love follows. Well, maybe snails don’t thrive on love; I’m not sure! Infants born with drug dependency react to cuddling and a warm embrace. When left alone, they suffer and cry uncontrollably. Heck, infants without chemical dependency thrive with warm and genuine hugs.

Think about someone ill or someone alone in a retirement center? What’s the best way to make them feel loved and secure and together? Hold their hand and squeeze. Feel the love from your heart travel to your hand and theirs. Watch it vibrate with healing energy to their heart and eyes.

Mark Schaefer wrote a post this week on a similar topic. He shared how his rigorous attention to analytics nearly drove his blog to disaster. His new approach is to be more relaxed with his writings and let his heart guide his content. What’s happened? His community found him back with more engagement than before.

So, I ask you…why are you doing what you’re doing today? If you’re unhappy with the results or you feel compelled to stay the course for the wrong reasons, then your heart is hurting. You do not love what you do in business. Love cannot pay the bills, I get it; however, love, passion and compassion are the very foundation of how you show up to others.

Is there a place for love in business?

Can you show it more so people can feel that you’re genuine?

Love comes in many sizes! Because we’re interacting more with perfect social strangers, we can show the love in a variety of simple ways:

Your gesture to someone on Twitter in the morning can be as simple as “Hey, how’s it going? I miss you @3HatsComm!”
You can honor love by thanking someone for a retweet or pingback.
You can pay attention by reading and sharing content.
Comments — always comments (and people have less ability to visit as often as we did). So, coming by to comment or take a survey shows care for your peers.

I’ve often spoken of genuine authority. What that means is subject to your interpretation. It’s not the purchase of Twitter followers; it’s not the grandiose presentation of your wins and successes at the expense of others; nor is it your false massaging of self to build up who you’re really not.

What if, as Betsy Cross always writes, you bared your soul on a scale beyond your comprehension? What if you were able to share one thing so painful right here on this blog and then you began to heal by revealing your inner pain?

The love and support you’d receive would be therapeutic, and you can be assured that I love you until you disrespect me back.

And, so, I ask again…is there a place for love in business?

Indeed.

Only if you truly love yourself first.

The Happy Friday Series: Things That Make Me Happy

08/16/2013 By Jayme Soulati

When Jayme started her Happiness series, I started to think about all the really important things in life that make me happy. And I realized they aren’t things: they’re thoughts, family, friends, relationships, paying-it-forward and simply being the best I can be, to best benefit those around me.

But then I did begin to think of the “things” that add to my core happiness. They don’t create my happiness, but they certainly add to it. They enhance, enrich and enlighten me. They bring a smile to my face and lightness to my step.

Things That Make Me Happy

First and foremost…me ?
I’m responsible for my own happiness. It’s not someone else’s responsibility to make me happy. But the following are some things that send my happy-meter soaring.

The smell of freshly cut grass
Warm Spring rain and jumping in puddles
Combing for seashells on the beach
Browsing through bookstores, especially second-hand bookstores. Pulling out titles of interest. Glancing through the pages. Observing the font and paper stock. Finding that gem that begs to be bought.
Songs like “Dizzy”, “Build me up Buttercup”, “Four Strong Winds”, “Unchained Melody” and of course anything and everything Beatles, Roy Orbison, Burton Cummings and Eva Cassidy. They take me back in time and elicit strong memories.
Writing longhand
Taking photos
Champagne with frozen strawberries
Blankets, especially cozy ones. I own too many.
Giving gifts. I’m a constant collector of great greeting cards and little “special something” gifts that I tuck away, either with someone specific in mind, or for that occasion when it will be “just perfect” for someone I know.
By Jayme Soulati, Santa Monica
Rocks. I collect them. Ones that speak to me, and many do. They’re all around my house, inside and out. On my desk. In my gardens.
Vintage postcards, chosen for the stamp that’s on them and the beautiful handwriting that is now almost a lost art.
Doodling
Red wine and aged cheddar
My red wellies (to jump in puddles with ?)
Antique hunting and auctions
Movies like “The Jane Austen Book Club”, “Sliding Doors”, “Rear Window”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “Con Air” (does that last one seem out of sync with the rest?)
Moon and stars on a crisp, cold night
Single malt scotch
Writing journals with beautiful covers and pens that feel like they were made for your hand
Being barefoot
Asparagus
Being fully present with whomever I’m with in the moment. Being fully present in each task at hand. Being in the moment.

Yes, these things add to my core happiness. I often say I’m happy even when I’m not.

In workshops, I draw two pictures.

One is of someone with a smile in their heart and on their face.

Another is of someone with a smile in their heart and a frown on their face.

My stance is that, as long as you’re happy in the heart – to your core – you’re always truly happy, even on crappy, crummy days when there might even be a frown on your face. Core happiness is an inside-out job…but “things” can certainly enhance, enrich and enlighten what’s already there. Cheers!

About The Author

Kaarina is a business/life coach living in Ontario, Canada. For over 25 years her high-voltage energy has inspired those she has worked with to reach beyond their grasp, to attain great things in business and in life. A former Olympic sports colour commentator and coach, Kaarina parlayed her coaching skills from the gym floor to the boardroom, working with business owners to improve their profitability and prosperity. Kaarina is known as an inspiring motivational speaker in areas such as branding, marketing, business growth strategies, and personal growth and prosperity. She loves nothing more than helping people achieve their goals in business and in life. She blogs here, and you can find her on Facebook here and Twitter @KDillabough.

The Happy Friday Series: Being Happy Is A Choice

08/02/2013 By Jayme Soulati

With conviction, courage, and creativity here is my being happy story:

I have learned that being aware in the present moment is the key to being happy!

Bottom line: being happy, healthy, and safe is the only way to live.

Growing up in a family struggling between being happy, being sad, and safe was not comfortable or easy. Growing up was a condition from hell; always living in high gear and on high-alert!

Uncertainty was everywhere. All that mattered was being loved and being safe.

My eye-opener on being happy began and came into my life when I left home to find the meaning and purpose of my life. I also set out to understand who I am.

How I Found Happy

As a child I was deprived of life’s magical moments. Fear (False Expectations Appearing Real) and worry surrounded my being and the living of my life.

After having raised three children and losing my only daughter to cancer, I began writing my book-in-progress, “What Makes Your Heart Sing?” It’s dedicated to my children and to their children.

Each day I learn to let go of my guilt, my pain and my shame.

As a survivor, I recently began to focus, with the help of Byron Katie, on life happening for me rather than to me.

When my focus changed, and I began to find that being happy was the cornerstone of my life, opportunities emerged. The purpose of my life became clearer.

My being happy comes from within. I no longer wait for people to make me happy. I have come to realize being happy is up to me. The choice is mine!

My journey has taken me through many obstacles I have learned to turn into opportunities using the creativity, encouragement, enthusiasm, inspiration, and support I receive from others. For that I am appreciative and grateful.

As a lifelong learner, learning about life’s purpose and who I am before advising, coaching, or educating others has been and is of utmost importance to me.

Being present in the moment I find topics and currently share them off-line. I also share them in the online, viral world throughout a variety of social media platforms.

I write from my heart, and you, Jayme, are among those who are my inspiration.

Thank you Jayme for this opportunity to join, and share with you and your community. Two thumbs up to my collaborators, family, fans, followers, friends, and supporters.

You know who you are! Be sure to look for your names in my book-in-progress, “What Makes Your Heart Sing,” when published.

Now it is your turn to share, and engage with me and others about what makes you happy and what makes your heart sing in the comment section below.

About The Author

Rae Baum, PhD is founder and CEO of The Baum Group. Dr. Rae is a bioenergetic analyst, stress educator and entrepreneur. As an author, consultant, and speaker, Dr. Rae has been changing the world with care by empowering businesses, families, and individuals to live on purpose since 1972 off-line and since 1995 on-line.