Things to Give up to be Happy

1. Give up your need to always be right. There are so many of us who can't stand the idea of being wrong, wanting to always be right - even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain for us and for others. It's just not worth it. Whenever you feel the urgent need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question from Dr. Wayne Dyer:¬ Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind? What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control. Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, co-workers, or just strangers you meet on the street just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.
By letting it go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning. Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame. Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don't have, for what you feel or don't feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.
4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.¬ Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don't believe everything that your mind is telling you,especially if it's negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.
The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive. Eckhart Tolle
5. Give up your limiting beliefs¬ about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly! A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind. Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining.¬ Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things - people, situations and events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It's not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism.¬ Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others.¬ Stop trying so hard to be something that you're not just to make others like you. It doesn't work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you're not, the moment you take off all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change.¬ Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change - don't resist it
Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls. Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels.¬ Stop labeling the things, people or events that you don't understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open.The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.¬ Dr. Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears.¬ Fear is just an illusion, it doesn't exist - you created it. It's all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.- Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses.¬ . A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck and lie to ourselves, using all kind of excuses - excuses that 99.9% of the time, are not even real.

13. Give up the past.¬ I know, I know. This one's hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening. But, you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for - the past that you are now dreaming about - was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all, life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment.¬ This is a concept that, for most of us, is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too (it still is), but it's not impossible. You get better and better at it with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things (and that doesn't mean you give up your love for them - because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another. Attachment comes from a place of fear, while love well, real love is pure, kind, and selfless; where there is love there can't be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot co-exist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words

15. Give up living your life to other people's expectations.¬ Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them; they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them; to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people's expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need and eventually, they forget about themselves.¬ You have one life - this one right now - you must live it, own it, and especially don't let other people's opinions distract you from your path.

For Moms

‎(For all the mother's (including pregnant ones) in the world, this one is for you! - Author Unknown)

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family." "We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?" 

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her
baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming
children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.

I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.

I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike.

I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.
Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be Moms. May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.

20 Things a Mother Should Tell Her Son

20 Things a Mother Should Tell Her Son

1. You will set the tone for the sexual relationship, so don't take something away from her that you can't give back.
2. Play a sport. It will teach you how to win honorably, lose gracefully, respect...(tharr be more)authority, work with others, manage your time and stay out of trouble. And maybe even throw or catch.
3. Use careful aim when you pee. Somebody's got to clean that up, you know.
4. Save money when you're young because you're going to need it some day.
5. Allow me to introduce you to the dishwasher, oven, washing machine, iron, vacuum, mop and broom.Now please go use them.
6. Pray and be a spiritual leader.
7. Don't ever be a bully and don't ever start a fight, but if some idiot clocks you, please defend yourself.
8. Your knowledge and education is something that nobody can take away from you.

9. Treat women kindly. Forever is a long time to live alone and it's even longer to live with somebody who hates your guts.

10. Take pride in your appearance.

11. Be strong and tender at the same time.

12. A woman can do everything that you can do. This includes her having a successful career and you changing diapers at 3 A.M. Mutual respect is the key to a good relationship.
13. "Yes ma'am" and "yes sir" still go a long way.

14. The reason that they're called "private parts" is because they're "private". Please do not scratch them in public.

15. Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.

16. Bringing her flowers for no reason is always a good idea.

17. Be patriotic.

18. Potty humor isn't the only thing that's humorous.

19. Please choose your spouse wisely. My daughter-in-law will be the gatekeeper for me spending time with you and my grandchildren.

20. Remember to call your mother because I might be missing you. Peer into the depths..

Questions to Ask

Most us live in somewhat of a robotic state from day-to-day without facing some of the big questions that can lead us to more fulfilling lives and a sense of abundance. Here are 25 questions to start asking yourself everyday to stimulate a greater sense of awareness of who you are and why you are here.

1.     Why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

2.     What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

3.     If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

4.     Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

5.     If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

6.     Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

7.     What's one thing have you not done that you really want to do and what's stopping you?

8.     Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

9.     Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

10.  Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

11.  Has your greatest fear ever come true?12.  Do you remember that time years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

13.  Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

14.  When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

15.  If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

16.  When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

17.  If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

18.  What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

19.  Do you allow people to be themselves or do you feel the constant need to fix or change them?

20.  When you forgive somebody, do you feel empowered or disempowered?

21.  Do you believe there is more to life, space and time than what you have been told?

22.  When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

23.  What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

24.  What are you most grateful for?

25.  Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Laws of Success:

> The great sin -- Gossip.
> The great crippler -- Fear.
> The greatest mistake -- Giving up.
> The most satisfying experience -- Doing your duty first.
> The best action -- Keep the mind clear and judgment good.
> The greatest blessing -- Good health.
> The biggest fool - The man who lies to himself.
> The great gamble -- Substituting hope for facts.
> The most certain thing in life -- Change.
> The greatest joy -- Being needed.
> The cleverest man -- The one who does what he thinks is right.
> The most potent force -- Positive thinking.
> The greatest opportunity -- The next one.
> The greatest thought -- God.
> The greatest victory -- Victory over self.
> The best play -- Successful work.
> The greatest handicap -- Egotism.
> The most expensive indulgence -- Hate.
> The most dangerous man -- The liar
> The most ridiculous trait -- False pride.
> The greatest loss -- Loss of self confidence.
> The greatest need -- Common sense.

Definitions & Measures of success

Some examples ...

1. Money and status

2. Some measures are Grades at school, size of house, car, bank balance

3. Other measures are relationships - number of friends, peopel who love you

4. Health & beauty /  fitness level

5. Material possesions - toys, gadgets .....

Below is my favourite definition....

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived... this is to have succeeded."

We need to teach our daughter

We need to teach our daughters the difference between a man who flatters her, and a man who compliments her .... a man who spends money on her, and a man who invests in her .... a man who views her as property, and a man who views her properly ..... a man who lusts after her, and a man who loves her ..... a man who believes he is God's gift to women, and a man who remembers a woman was God's gift to man. "