Great Happiness Resources

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Michael Kane

Great Happiness Resources

1So to help you out in your journey today a set of sites that I think have great content and can help you live a happier life, have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

A good piece from the Happiness Project, Gretchin Rubin’s book and site, 8 tips for being happier

Although it is linked in the Ministry of Happiness post below Zen Habits is one of my favorite blogs and always has great pieces

Authentic Happiness is a starting point if you want to learn about the psychology of happiness, a gateway to the study of positive psychology

The Happy Guy is a nice collection of happiness links:

Finally a piece from my own blog on other Happiness Resources.

 

Other Posts You Might Enjoy!

Happiness and Writing Away the Darkness

Happiness, Action & Experience

Cultivating the Subtle in the Pursuit of Happiness

Worry, the Enemy of Happiness

Happiness & Acceptance

 

 

 

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Happiness, Kindness & Surprise

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Michael Kane

Happiness, Kindness & Surprise

happiness, alive day

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle ~ Plato

Well after having returned from my annual vacation to the desert, I came home wondering what to write about, searching my mind for a way to express the calm and comfort I feel each year after this trip.  Then, while watching a TV show I saw an interaction between two characters that solved this little issue for me, so today we are going to talk briefly about taking action for happiness.

I try not to be too philosophical in this blog and write about ways in which you can act to help you have a happier and fuller life, today is no exception.  As we have talked about before, very often it is taking action to help others that rewards us with some of our best moments in life.  It makes us feel good, to make someone else feel good.

So today I’m asking that you not only do something nice for someone else but that you make it a surprise and take no credit for it.  So, take a minute and think hard, is their someone you work with who constantly complains about the lack of good coffee?  Is it the first week of school, maybe your kid could bring the teacher a little present?  Take someone, anyone, surprise them with a little something nice with no thought of return.  Who knows, maybe it will spur the beginnings of a gift economy in your life, a life where people share freely with no expectation of return.  Give it a try and have a happy day my friends ~ Rev Kane

Similar Posts You Might Enjoy

Remember the Sweet Things

There are Angels Among Us, A story of Kindness and Giving

Life Lessons from Granny

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Happiness Images

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Michael Kane

For today some images to make you smile and raise your level of happiness

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Happiness & Responsibility

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Michael Kane

Happiness & Responsibility

happiness joy

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Today friends I want to talk about the answer to a very simple question, who is responsible for your happiness?  The answer of course is that you are.  I’ll go even further and ask you whose happiness are you responsible for besides your own?  If you have children, or others who are solely dependent upon you for their care, then you have some responsibility there, but beyond that I’d be bold enough to say no one.  Not your partner, certainly not your parents or your coworkers, your friends or the clerk at the local grocery store.  Yet how often do we reduce our own personal happiness in order to try to keep someone else happy?

Now let’s be clear, I’m not saying you should be utterly selfish and unconcerned for others happiness, not saying that at all.  Absolutely, whenever the opportunity presents itself, as long as it doesn’t diminish us, we should help, be kind or try to make others happier.  But that opportunity does not impart upon us any responsibility for their overall happiness.  Likewise, in our relationships and this is especially important with partners, we should be giving of ourselves, cognizant of others needs and kind.  However, at the end of the day it is our partner’s responsibility for our partner’s happiness, not ours.

Some of you may think this sounds selfish or cruel, but in reality you cannot make another person happy.  You can give them everything they need, remove obstacles, give them support, but in the end, it is how each one of us perceives our world and chooses to accept it, that determines whether or not we’re happy.  We make a decision, each and every day, as to whether or not we are going to be happy today or not.  Without a doubt depression, which is a biochemical illness, can make it impossible, life can hand us mountains of issues that make it difficult, but in the end it is our responsibility to make the changes necessary, and choose an attitude that will allow us to be happy.  So take on that responsibility today and have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

Other Posts You Might Enjoy!

How Travel Makes You Happier

Fear is Killing Your Happiness

Our Best Happiness Posts of 2015

My favorite Appalachian Trail Photos of 2015

Why I’m Happy Right Now!

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Happiness and Loss

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Michael Kane

Right now in my world there is a lot of pain and loss going on, I have two friends whose parents are dying.  For both of them it will be the first parent they are losing, something I have not personally experienced and something I can sympathize with but can’t possibly understand.  They are both in very different situations, one is older and her parent is elderly and not unexpectedly passing, that does not make things any easier for her but at least it’s a more natural time of life.  Another friend is much younger and I’m sure it makes things even harder, not just for her, but also for the person who is passing.  Finally today, I found out a former student and friend potentially has ovarian cancer, she’s been without health care for two years for financial reasons and finally the pain she has been having was too much.  She went to the doctor and they did the biopsy today, we are all of course hoping for good news. 

I can’t express the anger I have toward a country that thinks universal health care is a bad idea when our current system is endangering the life of a person I care for.  You can call me a socialist, you can say I’m un-American, you can make up any label you want, but my position is that in the greatest country on earth, everyone should have access to quality medical care.  That’s not a liberal or conservative position, when I was younger they called this type of position common decency.

What do you do when these type of things close in on you, how do you help people you care about when things are bad and try and maintain any sense of happiness for them or yourself?  First and foremost you have to accept that things are going to hurt.  When people around you are hurting, there will be little you can do about it but be there for them, listen, hold them, help however you can, however they need you.  In the end, that caring and help makes you a better person, and deepens the connection and relationship which in the long-term will help you and the person you care for be happier people.  Sending my friends in particular and the rest of you a hug today, have a happy day my friends.

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The Dalai Lama on Compassion, Happiness, & Capitalism

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Michael Kane

The Dalai Lama on Compassion, Happiness, & Capitalism

happiness compassion

Today some quick words from the Dalai Lama and an article on him holding his own against some of capitalism’s heavy hitters reminding them of the need for compassion and necessity for considering happiness as part of being considered rich.~ Rev Kane

It is clear that feelings of love, affection, closeness and compassion bring happiness. I believe that every one of us has the means to be happy, to access the warm and compassionate states of mind that bring happiness. In fact, it is one of my fundamental beliefs that not only do we inherently possess the potential for compassion, but I believe that the basic or underlying nature of human beings is gentleness. ~ Dalai Lama

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Happiness & The Basics

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Michael Kane

Happiness & The Basics

As we all pursue a happier and more contented life we have to remember the basics eating right, sleeping right, and being safe.  We can talk about our relationships, about the nature of positivity and the psychology of happiness.  We can meditate, take vacations and make lists of the things that make us happy and try to maximize those things in our lives.  All things we have talked about and all good things that can help us be happier individuals.

However, in order to be happier we have to make sure the basics in life are taken care of.  Taoists say that when you feel out of sorts first always look at three things, how are you eating, how are you sleeping and are you safe in your environment.  If you want a more scientific rationale for this you can return to psychology and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.  Essentially it says the same thing, you can proceed to higher level psychological functions until you take care of the basic necessities of life.

So if you are out of sorts, not feeling up to snuff, or not quite happy then take a closer look at your life.  Are you eating properly, have you been busy and eating fast food or less than nutritious foods?  Get your diet to include more vegetables and food freshly picked and high in energy.  Are you sleeping well?  Are you going to bed on time, giving yourself enough time to sleep, are you taking time to wind down before you attempt to sleep?

Finally are you feeling safe?  Not just physically safe but also psychologically safe, are there demons in your circle?  We’ve talked before about the necessity to be safe and ways to do this.  This issue is one of the reasons so few people come to my home, it’s my sanctuary a place I feel utterly and completely safe.  Hopefully you are all doing great, but if not, remember are eating right, sleeping right, are you safe?  Have a happy day my friend.         ~ Rev Kane

Similar Posts You Might Enjoy

Remember the Sweet Things

There are Angels Among Us, A story of Kindness and Giving

Life Lessons from Granny

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The Dalai Lama on Altruism

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Michael Kane

The practice of altruism is the authentic way to live as a human being, and it is not just for religious people. As human beings, our purpose is to live meaningful lives, to develop a warm heart. There is meaning in being everyone’s friend. The real source of peace amongst our families, friends and neighbours is love and compassion.

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Deng Ming-Dao on Clarity

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Michael Kane

Deng Ming-Dao on Clarity

happiness clarity

Can you see a sound?
Can you hear light?
Can you unite your senses?
Can you turn inward?

What we are all seeking is clarity.  Forget about religious rationalization.  Forget about elaborate explanations.  What we all want is clarity.  What we abhor is ignorance.  Ignorance confuses us, brings us misfortune and sorrow, and makes us miserable.  If we have clarity, then we can live with equanimity.

It is a misconception that spirituality brings everlasting happiness.  There is no such thing.  Sadness still comes to the wise, but, unlike most people, their clarity of mind allows them to see beyond the temporal emotionalism of the moment.  They are farseeing, and so happiness and sorrow become the same to them.

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Happiness comes from showing our true selves

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Michael Kane

Happiness comes from showing our true selves

self happinessHappiness is a form of courage  ~Holbrook Jackson

We are all chameleons, painting on the masks and colors that best hide us from others.  Like a chameleon this process is defensive, it keeps others from seeing our true selves and if people don’t know who we really are, then it is harder for them to hurt us.  Self-preservation is a very strong instinct, even when it is our emotional safety on the line.

I know this process well, through my life I have become a master of building defenses designed to keep people out.  For a large part of my life I would hazard a guess that almost no one in my life, even those who were very, very close to me truly had any understanding of who I was.  Now these defenses served their purpose and for a long time it kept me from being hurt.  On those instances where I did let someone in I got hurt and that was just further reinforcement that what I was doing was right.  However, as with anything, there are two sides and the downside was that no one truly knew me and that was a lonely space to live in.  With no one knowing me I had no one I truly trusted so I had no safe conduit or outlet for my deepest thoughts and emotions.

This I am happy to say has changed, the walls and doors that were my defense are open.  Initially what changed was the birth of my brother, significantly younger than me, the joy of his arrival, watching him grow, caring for him, there was no thought of keeping him out.  Then, I met a woman and maybe it was her, or maybe I was finally ready, or maybe it was both but she blew up all the remaining walls and doors.  Left me bare and then hurt me maybe worse than anyone else ever did, but I was a different person then and what I found, was that although the defenses kept people out, once they got in and if they hurt me, they stayed with me, the pain stayed with me as well.

With the doors and windows now open I could let the pain out; it took me some time to learn how to do that, to become a happier person.  For me, it was expression through writing, stories, poetry and eventually the birth of the Ministry of Happiness and what I do here.  It is my hope that in some small way, what I do here, can help you open the doors and windows within yourself and help you be a happier person.  So stay open to others and have a happy day my friends. ~ Rev Kane

OTHER LINKS YOU MIGHT ENJOY!

Happiness is Poetry: Pablo Neruda

Happiness is Staying Positive

Happiness Resources: Happiness Podcasts

Why I’m Happy Right Now

Happiness is NOT Safety

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