being happy

5 More Tips To Save Money

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5 More tips to save money and be little bit richer

This is second in series of how to save money for daily expenses. As a stay at home mom for 2 kids, I have learned a few tricks that helps me keep within my budget and that too without feeling too much deprived. When I decided that I want to be home, leaving my cushy six figure job it was drastic change, one that I am happy to volunteer to leave my stressed job so I can be home with kids.

There are easy and simple ways we can save money for everyday savings. Once saving habits are ingrain in our mind, saving money or being frugal comes as easy as breathing and it will have so many benefits that your quality of life will be improved.

Start today, do not wait for special occasion or a new year to start a new habits. We can save money on everyday expenses such as phone services, insurance, groceries and travel and more. When we are starting, every penny will count. Do not think, what you will do with saving a few pennies here and there. Just imagine, saving a few pennies will make a dollar and few dollars savings will makes hundreds of dollar. Just imagine you putting this saving towards debt or in saving account, how much money you can save in interests.

5 More Money Saving Ideas and Tips

If you have not read yet part 1 of this series, you can read it here: 5 Tips for saving money for everyone.Let is look at 5 more additional tips that save us money for everyday expenses which anyone can do and add to our savings account.

Tip 6: Do not carry too much debt:

I personally like to say no debt is always the best but it is not realistic for many of us. Buying a home or car without a loan is not possible for 80% people unless you are already rich, have rich parents or rich friends with benefits. If you are like me and majority of people, we carry some debt. But that does not mean we are doomed, we can be smart and pay off these loans faster by paying $10-$100 extra towards our loans and pay off credit card debt when bill comes.

The worse part of debt or any loan is excessive interest that we pay on each loan, so faster we pay off, better we will be. Use cash only for many small daily expenses and paying off debt faster is way to go. Make sure your debt to income ratio is reasonably manageable for your monthly income.

Tip 7: Save money for emergency:

Emergency expenses can happen to any of us, any time. Like Dave Ramsey says about Murphy’s law, expenses and problems comes when you are not expecting it. Until someone invents a 100% future predictions, best we can do is save money for it, just in case of such a emergency. If it happens you will be prepared for it, and if it does not happen you will be bit richer, either way it is a win-win situation.

Just make sure you do not count buying diamond for your girlfriend as an emergency.Best way to save some money without feeling deprived is to auto deduct from your paycheck or your checking account and in to your saving account that you can not touch.

Tip 8: Wise Buying Decisions:

What do I mean by wise buying decisions? I have done impulse buying based on emotions, hunger and sheer joy of showing off to someone and I bet some of you might have done it too. Simple thing is do is, do not go grocery shopping when hungry, the truth is I have bought more junk food when I have shopped when I have been famished. Don’t try to keep up with jones, they might have nice stuff but I bet some of them may have nice debt too. Be smart and do not compete with someone in buying cars, vacations and diamonds. Comparison shop, do bulk shopping to save money as mentioned in part 1 of this series.

Tip 9: Eat IN more often:

As a vegetarian person who loves to cook at home, this comes easier for me. Even if you are not like me, you can still cook a few simple things at home and eat out occasionally only. Check out tips to save money when eating out. Food outside is usually ten to twenty times more expensive than if you would have made it at home and sometimes you can have more healthier food when you make it yourself. Occasional eating is fine and keep you from feeling deprived, just do it sensibly so you can save money as well as your health.

Tip 10: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse:

In USA, where I live, we tend to throw away things and buy new in this consumerist society. Buying a new shoes or new Television is much cheaper compared to repairing it here so it makes sense to do so, but we are wasting resources and earth’s environment by dumping things in garbage. We can consume less, reduce our materialistic things, recycle whenever possible will save us money and live sustainable life.

We can make small changes such as using

  1. Little less soap when doing dishes
  2. Using less shampoo when washing hair,
  3. Putting on sweater before turning on heater
  4. Donating good used items and not throwing in trash
  5. If you have child, supplementing with cloth diapers
  6. Turn off light of Television or computer, when not in use

Conclusion:

If we saved money without feeling deprived, we will do it for long term. Only two ways to save money are earn more income and be frugal. We can do both and save our environment at the same time. Start today.

Life Reflections and Life Lessons

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Many of us, look back to reflect on life. I tend to do that a lot, as I am always seeing where I am going and where I have been. Life has not been easy for many of us, new curve balls keeps coming and we have to make small adjustment along the life to keep going. Life sometimes gives us lot of lemons and does not seem fair but if we truly look at it small miracles are happening all around us, we just need to be aware of them and appreciate them.
It is often easier to see bad parts compared to good ones, as we tend to think them as either fluke or we constantly want to improve and better ourselves or our life to the best that might be never ending process. I want to say before you stop and see what is missing in the life, do make an effort to see what is working, what is going well for you. Looking in to positives of life can surely bring new perspective in life that simply is powerful and refreshing.

Life Lessons by Dalai Lama

I  like reading Dalai Lama and other inspirational writers, here are some quotes by Dalai Lama and Life reflections and life lessons: Some of them are quotes from Instructions of Life by Dalai Lama, the instructions are inspirational indeed so I am sharing here.

  • “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”- Dalai Lama
  • “Human beings by nature want happiness and do not want suffering. With that feeling everyone tries to achieve happiness and tries to get rid of suffering, and everyone has the basic right to do this. In this way, all here are the same, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, Easterner or Westerner, believer or non-believer, and within believers whether Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and so on. Basically, from the viewpoint of real human value we are all the same.” — the Dalai Lama
  • “Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.” – Dalai Lama
  • “ Follow the three Rs:
    ~ Respect for self
    ~ Respect for others
    ~ Responsibility for all your actions.” : Dalai Lama
  • “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” — the Dalai Lama
  • “When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.” – Dalai Lama
  • “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.”- Dalai Lama
  • “Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.” — the Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama : Instructions for Life Video

My Life Lessons Learned

As I reflect on good, bad and ugly of our lives, I am trying to see ray of hope in everything and not be focusing on only negatives that makes me lose sleep over some of the silly thing. I hope you do the same, it is not about making money killing or being popular. Just being content with what I have today is something I wish I can see and cherish it.

Here are some of the life lessons I am learned and learning more now;

  1. Money is not the main thing: Let me first say this, having enough money to buy basic necessity such as food, clothes, regular bills, shelter and medicine is VERY important. Beyond it, it is all extra. Money and things money can buy will make us happy temporarily but it is not sustainable.
  2. Stop comparing: This has been a huge for me, I tend to measure my success and happiness (wrongly) by comparing myself to others. For example, I sometimes feel jealous of people who can write quality articles fast, or someone who has more motivation, or someone who has beautiful skin. By comparing, only person I am making unhappy is me. I have come to realize that I am not going to be queen bee all the time. Sometimes there are people who are better and that is okay with me.
  3. Taking care of my health: When I was teen, I did not take good care of my eating and sleeping habits. I slept late, woke up late. I even ate cold pizza for breakfast and drank too much soda as I thought it was cool. I put on too much make up and wore really high heel sandals that made my feet aches even now. As I am growing mature (I think) further I am realizing how silly I was and who was I trying to impress then? I wished I had taken better care of my health but I have already started a few years ago and improving every day.
  4. Hug people you love today: Do not wait. I had waited and gotten busy with my life and one day I lost my grandmother and soon my grandfather too and I really never got a chance to tell them what they meant to me and how much I loved them. Do not wait, give a hug and tell someone you love them today.
  5. Treat others the way you want to be treated: One of my college professor said that once as he was talking to students and it has stayed in my mind and my goal since that day. I like to think I am treating others like how I want to be treated and that makes me more humble and compassionate even when I am not in agreement with the person.
  6. Do not chase success: While success can mean different to different people, often time success is associated with how much money someone is making or has made. I was one of these person who chased success and it was not easy. Now I try to teach kindergarten and cook in my kitchen, watch movies to have simple joy in my life. While, I am not saying I am successful or happy always but the pressure and stress is lot less right now.

Other Good Read:

Life Lesson I wished I had Learned Earlier

Life Lessons: Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us About the Mysteries of Life and Living

Life’s Greatest Lessons: 20 Things That Matter

What are your life lessons that you reflect upon?

How To Be Happy Right Now

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“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” -Lao Tzu quotes

Do you find yourself to be unhappy? Are you always wishing for more? Are you waiting to start living your life to the fullest? Many people think and wish that “if only I had so-and-so, then I would be happy, I can start enjoying my life”.  Once they achieve that goal, the next desire manifests.  There is no end to human desires. A desire is like a bottomless pit which never can be filled, resulting in our unhappiness, jealousy and maybe even some sleepless nights.  So what is the solution for being happy right now?

Being content with what you have is one of the best way to achieve happiness in our lives. There are various ways to be content .

Now, this does not mean, not having goals or not wanting to do our best, as this is more about being content with what you already have.  This is the way I see it, goals are for improving ourselves, our life, desires are mostly about wanting more stuff.  Leo Babauta said very well about this subject in his post Incredible power of Contentment .

For some people, the grass is always greener on the other side, this type of mentality will keep them from truly enjoying their grass and life, both.  I know, I have been there before.  Here are a few lessons that I have learned along the way to find joy in my life again, which I want to share with all of you.

1. Choose to be happy

Some of you may wonder at this statement, and Yes you have a choice be happy or sad.  It is totally up to us. While it is easier said than done, it is possible.  Sometimes when I have to do something I am not fond of and I cannot seem to get out of, I tell myself I am going to have fun no matter what happens.  And it happens, I end up having a great time, despite the adverse task.  Try it once, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results.

2. Volunteer and Help Others

In my early days of volunteering, I got to meet many wonderful people and kids from all walks of life. Many of whom were more happier than I was, despite not having enough to eat for the whole day.  As I became aware of the zest for life in these people, I realized that it was not I who helped them, rather they helped me find my own self!, my lost happiness.

Whenever I travel to India, I see happiness on faces even in harsh life.  I see dreams and hopes, most of all, I see them smiling while working in extreme conditions.  Seeing their smiling face, my complains for silly things vanish and inspiration and a new energy emerges.

3. Feel Gratitude

No matter how bad our condition might be, there are still many things going great for us.  Counting our blessings and feeling gratitude from the sheart can do wonder to our perspective!  Why?  Wait until the “Thanksgiving” holiday to be thankful, be thankful each and every day!

Right now, Zenguy is between projects, instead of being sad about it, I can count my blessings for having him more at home to spend time with me and the kids.  I also feel thankful for having simplified our life, where we can survive with our little savings until another job prospect comes along.  Ups and downs are part of life, it is our attitude towards it that makes the difference.

4. Up the positivity

Even when things are looking bad, I am sure there still are lots of positives in our lives.  Look at what you already have; what is going great for you already.  Many of us call to complain when product or services were not the best, but how many of us actually call for exceptional services and great product? Sadly, not very often. Why? Because we tend to focus on the negative and we need to learn how to be more positive to live a happier life.

5. Do something you enjoy today

Even if we do not have job, business or blog going our way, we can still do something we can enjoy in smaller chunks. For example, when I am having a bad day, I read my favorite book yet again or cook something and that really cheers me up.

Sometimes, just taking a walk outside for 15 minutes will recharge you to tackle life’s issues.  Sometimes, all one needs is a little nap or drinking a hot chai tea, like I do.  There are many simple ways we can be happier in our daily life.

Have goals to improve yourself and your life not your material possessions. Be compassionate towards others, be thankful for what you have and enjoy your today. Do not wait for your life to start some day. You are happy today because you are free and alive today!

Now, let me ask you, what makes you happy?

6 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Happiness

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Nobody really cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.  ~Cynthia Nelms

Fact: We all want to be happy and live Happy Life

We all go through phases where we are happy and when we are sad. Most of the time, we get sad because our expectations did not match the reality of outcomes or somehow something felt short. While, some serious sadness that comes with uncontrollable circumstances, we can do a few simple and easy happiness booster, that will surprise you. Don’t believe me? Try it out for yourself.

Simple Happiness Boosters:

Here are few simple and easy way to change your mood. No, it will not cure your money problems, world peace or cure for cancer. However, still you will feel lot better and happier. I know because I have tried it out first before writing it here, and I am your average person just like you, who gets happy and sad in daily life.

1. Get Sunshine

I grew up part of my life in Seattle, so believe me I like cloudy and rainy weather. It makes me feel like breaking in song and dance routine like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain (even when I know I can not dance!).

University of Michigan apparently have done studies that proves that 30 minutes of sunshine and fresh air feel more upbeat to those who decides to be inside in nice weather. So, I shut off my internet and went out in my yard, only to know that California weather in middle of may is cold rightnow. However, fresh air, colorful roses and chirping birds around made me feel better already. I think when weather is sunny (not scorching hot) will give me exposure to Vitamin D as well along with fresh air. This one sure works.

I remember when R was infant, one time he decided to cry and test out his lungs and my hearing by crying out loud. No matter what I did, did not calm him. I decided to go out of blue and little sunshine and light intrigued him and he stopped crying to see what was around him. I used this trick with little P as well. Try it with your baby or yourself, sunshine makes you upbeat!

2. Take Shower or Bath

Now, most normal people take shower in morning before going to work or school. But when I had baby #1, R , I realized that he kept me so busy that I had to take shower in evening or sometimes next day. Since R is now in kindergarten it has gotten better, but in middle when P was born, I had 2 youngsters, so it became hard to take shower without kids knocking on door (even when Zenguy was around, kids simply loved me too much to go in to a shower alone, At least I am going to think that is the reason). So, if you have little kids or are creatively busy, you may forget to take shower like me once in awhile. (Don’t judge me because I am honest!) Even if you had a shower in the morning, still one again on hot days or days when you are simply feeling gloomy.

Just take shower with lukewarm water will refresh you and sometimes your sore muscles! Try it. Now I make effort to take shower twice, specially in summer. In Zenguy’s family (as many other Indian family) usually do not eat anything even breakfast tea until they take shower so it was surely new to him until we had kids and we were too sleep deprived function well without Chai.

3. Bring back Memories : Photo Albums, Old Journals

Many times we are so focused on tomorrow or future, we often forget how far along we came or remember good thing. There are times, I have heard my friend or relative would say “I never did XXXX”..and ” No one likes me…” and so on. If you look back on your own mind memories, or photo albums when you were kid or when you were in high school, you will realize, you had fun, friends and joy around you.

I look at my old journal sometimes to see what was bothering me once, no longer an issue in my current life or reading something fun about my life event such as birth of my kids, my first vacation with Zenguy after marriage and so on. It bring backs nice and happy memories, boosting my confidence and happiness level to next level. You should try it too and let me know how it goes for you.

4. Be around Happy People

Happiness is contagious and so is anger. People around us, effect our moods and our life. Medical imaging technology shows that our brain have certain cells that cause us to imitate those around us. So, be around happy people as much as you can.

Sometimes we may not have these choice as family around us might be sad or depressed so do not leave them to be with happy people. If that is situation for you, you be the change you wish to see, become a happy person. Fake it, if you do enough faking or pretending, soon you will be happy in reality!

Now, this is not something I invented, my favorite author Dale Carnegie have said in my favorite book: How to win friends. I used to be coach’s assistant during Business Team Building classes based on Dale Carnegie principals. I was first skeptical but since then I know pretending to be happy, made me eventual happy.

Zenguy is happiest person I know, he is always making other smile even when he has things to worry. I remember, all my friends and family loves spending time with him because he makes others around him happy and feel good about them. I was opposite, I was grouchy person, with all world’s problem on my shoulders, or so I thought. I have long way to still go but since then I am improving and smiling more, thanks to Zenguy, My kids and wonderful Dale Carnegie.

5. Bring out your Creative Genius from Inside.

I think all of us, creative genius or artist inside us, no matter what you say. Research studies have shown that people with violent past and trauma are told to express their anger and frustrations over creating art pieces and it has helped them heal their psychological wounds. Now, we do not have be traumatized to use creative outlet or be great artist.

Here are a few ways you can let your creative genius out, mostly for your eyes first then you can share it with others when you are ready;

  • Paint (oil painting, Water Colors or Charcoal sketch)
  • Write short stories : fiction or non-fictional
  • Write poems on your feelings
  • Visit museum and see other artists
  • Make art and craft design with kids or adults
  • Do origami art pieces, learn origami
  • Read inspiring quotes
  • Read motivational authors/books
  • Listen to Music, make music with pots and sticks

I do many of these activities and know it works. I do oil painting and sketching for myself. So far, I have given away my art pieces but not sold any. I like creating art, even though it might be best, it makes me control and convey my feelings in positive ways.

6. Eat Healthy Snacks.

This simple booster I learned from my kids. Whenever R was going through “terrible Twos”, I have learned a simple tip to make it in to “terrific twos”, that was to eat something healthy. Many time little kids and sometimes adults are in cranky mood because we might be lacking carbohydrates in our body. We can simply fix this by eating some fresh apple, or any other fruits or little nuts such as walnuts, pistachios on munching.

Many nuts have omega 3 fatty acids which according to some experts have same effect as anti-depressants (that too without any side effects to worry about). It also improves communication with brain cells that creates good mood in us according to Harvard hospital doctors.

I always carry, healthy snacks such as some nut bar, peanuts or fruits (sometimes junk snacks as well) and water bottle with us in my car so kids and I will not go hungry or cranky. Make sure to eat healthy snacks. Soda, candy bars and potato chips will help a little but it will be more unhealthy, eat those only occasionally. We have only one body this life and let’s take care of it.

Conclusion:

Will these tips cure all of our problems and worries? No, it will not as I mentioned before. These tips however, will surely boost our mood to tackle our life worries and enjoy life more with our selves, family, spouse and kids. Even if you are single, or married with kids, we all deserve to live happy life and here are a few ways that I have tried out successfully that I want to share with you all for Free.

Best things in life are free!

Enjoy and please share your simple happiness boosters that has worked with you here.

Zengirl

How To Be Happy? : Quotes By Wise People

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All of us want to be happy and many times are looking for happiness in wrong place, including myself. Here at Happy Heart and Mind , I am always looking for ways to make heart and mind happy by finding a balance between our heart and mind. I am sure you do that too.

Here are some quotes by wise and famous people to make you feel great and inspired to have a better day TODAY!
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“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be”
-Marcel Pagnol (French Writer, Producer and Film Director, 1895-1974)

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“When we are happy we are always good, but when we are good we are not always happy.”
– Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)

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“Just think how happy you would be if you lost everything you have right now, and then got it back again.”
-Frances Rodman

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“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
– Albert Einstein (German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)

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“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”
– Tom Bodett

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“Happiness is what happens to us when we try to make someone else happy.”
-Unknown

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“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”
– Hugh Downs
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“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”
– Dale Carnegie (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)

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“You don’t develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.”
– Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)

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“Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”
– Alice Walker (American writer, b.1944)

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“The secret of being miserable is to have the leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. The cure is occupation.”
– George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950)

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“You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren’t happy in one place, chances are you won’t be happy anyplace.”
– Ernie Banks

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“Most people would rather be certain they’re miserable, than risk being happy.”
– Dr. Robert Anthony (Self-help author)

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“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking”
– Marcus Aurelius quotes (Roman emperor, best known for his Meditations on Stoic philosophy, AD 121-180)

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“Money doesn’t make you happy. I now have $50 million but I was just as happy when I had $48 million.”
-Arnold Schwarzenegger (Austrian born American Actor and Governor)

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“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”
– Abraham Lincoln (American 16th US President (1861-65), who brought about the emancipation of the slaves. 1809-1865)

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“The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.”
– Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

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“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”
– Andrew Carnegie

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“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
– Gautam Buddha

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“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”
-Carl Jung

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“Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.”
– Linus Pauling

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“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy — because we will always want to have something else or something more.”
– David Steindl-Rast

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“The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.”
– Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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Hope you enjoyed it ant inspired!

Your turn: What is your happiness Quote?

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Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What if you had Golden Touch?

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“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
– Frederick Keonig

What if you had a golden touch, so that every thing, every project you touch, turns in to a success or more money? Would not that be a blissful living?

I wonder about it, too often. However, once we achieve one financial goal, we move on to our other desires and wants. There are no ends to desires, as we often struggle to find contentedness with what we have and think having more money will solve our problems. Worst of all, money actually makes some things in our life more complex and awkward. Don’t believe me?

Let me share you my story, I was working as a manager in high a stress corporate job making over six figures and was very stressed, did not have time to enjoy my life and kept feeling something was missing from my life.  Now being a stay at home mom and doing volunteer jobs, or working for my blog part time, without any monetary gain, yet I feel lot more satisfied with my life compared to before? Why you ask? Because I am choosing to live life with what matters to me and I value the most, and not what mattered to my VP at the job or other people.  Now, I am not saying being poor without money is better. While being financially secure is important part of our life, none of us will ever be happy with all of the world’s money at our feet if we are not content.

Let me also share a mythical story called “Golden touch” to show you that sometimes having more money or wealth can bring sadness or emptiness in the life. While this story might be mythical, it can applied to our real lives in today’s world. You will see why, read on. This is based on Indian mythical story of Goddess Lakshmi, which shares similar moral wisdom of Greek Mythology of King Midas and other cultural stories.

Story of a Merchant who had Golden Touch

There once was a Goddess of money.  She saw people on earth suffering from hunger, pain and ill-health.  She thought, “Only if I can give enough money to a few good people, their suffering would end, and they would live a happier life”.

The Goddess of Money Goddess one good merchant who was kind hearted and a good devotee of the Goddess.  She appeared before him and granted him a wish that he can have anything he wished for.  He said he was grateful for all he had but wondered what it would be like to have anything he touched, to turned in to gold. So, the Goddess of money, granted him that wish.

The merchant was very happy, he went in the house and his shop and turned a few vases and pots into gold.  He felt happier and went outside in the garden, he turned a few flowers and plants into gold.  It was amazing, that everything he touched was turning into real solid gold.  After a while, he got bored and felt hungry.

He came inside and asked his wife for food. His wife brought delicious and mouth watering food in a plate for him. He could not wait to eat as he was famished.  But, as soon as he touched the food, it turned into gold.  He felt sad and one tear rolled away from his eye. His wife saw it and said dear, do not worry, “I will feed you”. So merchant was happy and touched her hand to be affectionate in his appreciation of his wife for being so nice to him.  And yes, you guessed it? She turned into gold as well.  Now he was hungry, angry for losing his beloved wife and wondered if this wish from the Goddess was a good idea after all.

He was sitting still making sure not to touch anything in fear. In the afternoon, his 4 year old daughter, whom he loved so much came from her preschool and saw her daddy crying, and asked what happened?  The merchant had broken down by that time and started crying.  The little girl wanted to give him a hug to make her daddy feel better.  As she touched her father, she too turned into gold.  Now the Merchant had broken down hysterically and started to pray to the Goddess of Money to take away his boon as it had turned in to a curse and snatched away all the love and joy from his life.  That boon was supposed to make him happy, not take away what mattered to him the most.  What is the use of money if he had no loved one’s to share it with?

The Goddess of Money finally heard his prayers and saw that money did not solve his problems, and she felt the pain and heartache of the merchant.  She was kind and just so she undid the wish and put the merchant in sleep trance.  After a little while when the merchant woke up, he saw his wife and daughter next to him.  They asked, why he slept off in middle of the day? The Merchant was so happy to see his family.  Just to be sure he touched a pillow before touching them, when pillow remained a pillow, he was the happiest person in the whole world as his perspective had changed.  The Merchant told to his family that he had a bad dream.  His wife and daughter asked what would make him happy.  He said eating a home cooked meal together would be the best gift in the world while he hugged them. And it was, the merchant had the best and satisfying meal in his entire life with his wife and daughter!

In conclusion, if money made everything better, many lottery winners and millionaires would be the happiest people in the world. True golden touch is gold or money itself but people in your life. Being content with what you have is the best way for living life, even though it may seem impossible. We will never know how good we have it, until we lose it like the merchant did.  Many of us may not realize it but you are richer than you think .

If you look back at the happy memories in your life, I bet, it will have to do less with money and more about sharing with people you care for. Don’t you agree?

Image Source: DJ Wich

10 Simple Things That Make Me Happy!

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Many times simplest things can bring smile and happiness in us. If you think back on times in your own life, you will realize that many of these happy memories has nothing to do money or things money can buy. Best things in life are not things, and costs nothing.

There are few simplest things in mine and Zenguy’s life that makes us happy:

1. When Both kids R and Little P are healthy, smiling and sleeping well.

2. Sitting and Drinking hot fresh and hot ginger chai-tea made by Zenguy

3. Eating simple home cooked meals or hanging out at our favorite food place.

4. Seeing cleaner house at night, after clean up of toys.

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Quotes: Being happy

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Image Source: bodymindspiritintegration.com

Here are a few of many wonderful quotes on being happy by some wise and famous people. Enjoy and be happy today! All of us want to be happy and live happy life. We like to make our close friends and family happy as we give gifts to them, cook for them, spend time with them, and listen to them. Somehow, happiness eludes some of us, of life gives lemons sometimes no matter how hard we work. Sometimes, all we need is little encouragement, little inspiration and motivation to nudge us going bit forward and we all deserve it, don’t we? I sure think so.

Motivational quotes are one of the best way I inspire myself to be happy, try bit harder and smile and it usually works! Sometimes all we need to do is read some happy Books and inspirational quotes or moral stories to bring back happiness!

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Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.  ~Jacques Prévert

If you want to be happy, be.  ~Leo Tolstoy

Happiness is never stopping to think if you are.  ~Palmer Sondreal

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.  ~Mark Twain

If only we’d stop trying to be happy we could have a pretty good time.  ~Edith Wharton

Nobody really cares if you’re miserable, so you might as well be happy.  ~Cynthia Nelms

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.  ~Norm Papernick

Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.  If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.  ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

What a wonderful life I’ve had!  I only wish I’d realized it sooner.  ~Colette

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.  ~James Openheim

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.  ~John Barrymore

It’s pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness.  Poverty and wealth have both failed.  ~Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier.  The way it actually works is the reverse.  You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.  ~Margaret Young

Can anything be so elegant as to have few wants, and to serve them one’s self?  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are seldom happy with what we now have, but would go to pieces if we lost any part of it.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic’s Notebook, 1960

The happy have whole days,
and those they choose.
The unhappy have but hours,
and those they lose.
~Colley Cibber

You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness.  ~Author Unknown

What makes you happy? Sometimes simplest things in life makes me happiest.

1. When little P and R are not sick, I find peace within me.
2. When clothes are folded and sink is empty of dirty dishes.
3. Hot chai-tea made by Zenguy
4. Seeing smiles on my kids face makes me happy.
5. Watching My favorite movie or reading a book (yet again)

Inspirational Happiness Reading:

Being Happy!: A Handbook to Greater Confidence and Security by Andrew Matthews:

It is a book about…

  • understanding yourself
  • being able to laugh at yourself
  • becoming more prosperous
  • being able to forgive yourself
Being Happy: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life:

By using the science of positive psychology along with acceptance, Ben-Shahar shows you how to escape the rat race and begin living a life of serenity, happiness, and fulfillment.

Be Happy: Release the Power of Happiness in YOU by Robert Holden

Step-by-step he introduces you to a set of proven techniques, principles, meditations, and insights that will help you be happy now! Key lessons include:Follow Your Joy — stop chasing happiness and start enjoying your life as it happens.