With a Little Help from Our Friends

Some people seem to have so many friends and other people only have a few friends. What matters most is the quality of those friendships. The amount of friends we have should not be a competition. Some people try to rack up the amount of friends they have on Facebook to somehow prove they are popular (and loved). How wide your circle of friends is is more a reflection of what type of person you are and the lifestyle you choose to lead. More introverted people generally have a small circle of friends but that circle can be very intimate and intense. Those who are very social might have a large circle of friends but it’s likely most of those friendships are not deep loyal friendships, although some will be. What matters is that we have at least one or two close friends we can confide in and who will not judge us. We all need that acknowledgement and acceptance.

photo: flickr/Vectorportal

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Make Yourself Happy

Do not depend on others to make you happy. It is up to you to make yourself happy. Looking for others to bring you happiness is likely to result in disappointment and resentment. Instead, cultivate a way of life that makes you happy. Like the photo above states, you need to plant your own garden. Not only do you need to plant it, you need to nourish it consistently to make it grow. Do the things that make you happy, surround yourself with the little things that give you pleasure, and maintain a grateful spirit for all the blessings in life.

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photo: flickr/Tony the Misfit

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Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Sometimes we get so comfortable in our daily existence. But stepping outside this comfort zone can breathe new life into you. Take risks, do things you never would have considered doing before. Get out of your rut and mix it up. We love the following poem about reaching outside your comfort zone.

My Comfort Zone – A PoemAuthor Unknown

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

Photo: thinkstock/Hemera

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Life Quote

“Life is what you make it. Always has been, Always will be.” There is so much truth and honesty in this statement. We are all dealt a different hand in life but it’s what you do with it that matters. Some people are determined to overcome their challenges and make the best life possible for themselves while others choose to play the victim and place blame on anything but themselves. Character is built on experience and what we learn from our past. Maintain a positive perspective and actively pursue what it is you want in life. Life is more rewarding for those who choose to create their life instead of waiting for something to happen in their life.

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photo: flickr/Christopher Macsurak

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A World Without Judgment

Imagine a world without judgment. Would you live your life differently? Would you behave differently if you knew your actions would not be judged by others? So often we are afraid to really be ourselves because of what others would think about us. We want to be accepted and loved by others so we tend to act in a way that will gain that acceptance. This has both positive and negative consequences. It’s positive because we are more civil to one another. People are less rude or arrogant and less inclined to act in a way that negatively affects those around them. It’s negative because we’re less likely to take risks in terms of saying what’s really on our mind or doing the things we really want to do, such as singing out loud when a fun song comes on the radio. We fear what others will think of us, but it’s important to be authentic to ourselves. Don’t let fear of judgment run your life. If you want to sing, then do it. If you want to wear that crazy hat you love, then do it. As long as you’re not hurting anyone, do the things that make you happy.

photo: flickr/simpologist

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Happy is the New Rich

The last few years have been tough times for many people. Jobs were lost, homes foreclosed on, and many had to scale back tremendously in terms of consumption. But, as the saying goes, “In every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.” To me, that silver lining seems to be a shift in values and attitude by many in the general public. Although people have always pursued happiness, it seems to have taken on new meaning lately.Instead of pursuing material goods, many people seem to be pursuing more meaning in their lives. Instead of seeking that high paying investment banking job, they are looking more toward non-profit work – work with a sense of purpose. People really seem to be taking stock of what matters to them in their lives and then pursuing careers more in line with that. We’re seeing people quit well-paying secure jobs to turn the hobbies they are passionate about into businesses. Their happiness means more to them than money. This shift in values from a money-focused society to a happiness-focused society is a positive trend that I hope will continue for many years to come.

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A Time for Gratitude

Always take some time to reflect upon all the good in your life. Even in hard times, focus on the positive and feel the gratitude for what is right. Enjoy the following poem, some very wise words.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

photo: flickr/Jessica.Tam

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Happy Endings

You are the author to the story of your life, how true. Our lives are basically the result of all of the decisions we have made along the way. Some are big decisions – such as whether or not to go to college, or should I move across country for that job promotion, or what career path I choose to pursue. Other smaller decisions are made each day but, collectively, they still define who we are. Will I exercise today? Should I eat the healthy fish or instead devour that huge burger with all the trimmings? Will I meet up with my friends for drinks or stay home and watch TV? The point is that we need to realize that where we are in life, aside from major random events that may occur, is because we steered ourselves in that direction. Take mindful responsibility for that going forward and you’ll become a wiser author for the story of your life.

photo: flickr/spettacolopuro

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A Brand New Day

Happy people tend to view each new day as a gift – a chance to do the things they like to do, to see things they’ve never seen before, to be with the people they love, to challenge themselves in their careers, to see what surprises are in store for them today. Basically, people who generally have this type of perspective have optimistic attitudes and see the positives in life. It is a great state of mind to have. There is a man who works the deli counter in the local grocery store. For some, that would be a mundane boring job but you can tell this man loves it. He gets excited to talk to the customers and he loves to provide great customer service. He is the best he can possibly be at this job and he knows it. He’s proud of his work and he knows the store and the customers appreciate his work. You can tell he is very happy. When asked how he stays so happy all the time, he replied “I know no other way.” We can all learn a lot from this man.

photo: flickr/Zanthia

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True Friendship

Love this old quote about the comfort of a true friendship:

But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one’s deepest as well as one’s most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort – the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person – having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

photo: flickr/code poet

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