by: Graham and Julie
Have you ever been really happy? Have you ever tasted the fruit of pure happiness? Have you ever completed a task with that feeling of YES! I gave it my all. I?m really happy and proud with what I?ve done.
Have you ever had that inner glow and outer radiation?
But was it happiness?
You see, most of us have replaced happiness with pleasure. Pleasure is those times when you feel terrific like after eating a fantastic meal with excellent company. Pleasure is when you loll for hours in that hot bath. Pleasure is when you indulge yourself in that spa weekend. Pleasure is when you watch our favourite team play?..But it ain?t Happiness!
The bad news is that Happiness is not an emotional state. Happiness is not the feeling you get when you are enjoying yourself. It?s much, much more than that.
What makes people truly happy, satisfied and fulfilled?
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (pronounced "chick-sent-me-high-ee") director of the Quality of Life Research Centre at the Druker School of Management, Claremont, USA has spent years researching what makes us happy.
And he and his colleagues have found that happiness can only be achieved when you are totally involved in something. When, you are totally immersed. When, you are participating to the full.
You know, when you are enjoying yourself so much you have no idea what the time is, what day it is, what is happening around you. You are really happy.
His research involving 250,000 people from every continent including chess players, rock climbers, musicians, people who meditate, artists, sports people and people from all walks of life shows that:
- the times when you find yourself fully absorbed in something. Totally focussed, totally immersed and totally concentrated. Whether it be at work, playing with the children or meditating.
- the times when you don?t notice time passing.
- the times when you keep going without being aware of what?s around you....The state where?? I give Graham a cup of tea and he doesn?t even know I?ve placed it on his desk next to the screen?..
- the state where you really enjoy what you are doing and when you come up for air you are totally satisfied with what you have been doing. In other words you are really connected: heart and soul. You really enjoy what you were doing.
- the times when you were reading a stimulating book and when you put your head up everyone has gone off to bed.
- the times when you are so involved playing your favourite sport, you forget everything else
that?s when you feel really happy.
Happiness is: the flow state.
The state when you feel that you are on a roll. Where everything you do is effortless and just flows. The feeling you get when you completely lose yourself in what you are doing. The time, when time stops. You are in the ?grove? and everything is working for you. You are in total harmony with yourself.
The irony is, that this great feeling of happiness happens, not when you are relaxing or watching TV or enjoying the company of your friends. Happiness is achieved when you challenge yourself.
When, you stretch yourself. When you are doing what you enjoy doing most. When you are totally absorbed in what you are doing. When, you put yourself out there. When, you exceed your expectations.
So what are you waiting for?
You have nothing to lose. All you have to do is put those oughts, shoulds and musts behind you and follow your heart. Lose yourself in what you really want to do. Enter the flow world where:
"being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.
The ego falls away. Time flies.
Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz.
Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)
That?s Happiness!
Go on. Go for it!
Good Luck
Graham and Julie
About The Author
Graham and Julie To improve your intuition, initiative and energy levels. Please go to: www.desktop-meditation.com. It?s free.
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Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties
Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties
by: Criss White
One of the biggest challenges for planning a baby shower or any other party is picking the right food. Appetizers and snacks are great for all types of parties, big and small. Here are some delicious appetizer ideas that you can make yourself or buy for your party:
1) Stuffed Mushrooms - Stuffed mushrooms are a tasty treat for any party. Larger mushroom caps of course are better and you can be creative with your stuffing choices. Some popular ingredient choices are cheese, bacon, and breadcrumbs.
2) Cheese and Crackers - Cheese and crackers are a simple snack idea for any party. This snack is also great for health conscious people. For upscale occasions, cheese logs or gourmet cheese balls can be used.
3) Fruit Platter - Another healthy and simple idea is fruit salad or a fruit platter. These platters can contain canned fruits, fresh fruits, or a mix of both. Some...
Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties
Fruit > Great Appetizers for Baby Showers and Other Parties
What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket
What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket
by: Donna Somerkin
If you want to give a unique gift that is guarantee to be used an enjoyed by the recipient, consider a fruit basket. Fruit baskets are fabulous ways to provide your friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, or client with a delicious?and healthy?treat that looks like a million bucks, but is actually budget friendly. When looking a fruit basket, you can either choose to purchase one pre-made or make your own to save you some of your hard-earned cash. Regardless where you get your fruit basket, carefully consider the contents and personalize the gift to the recipient.
The most important thing about a fruit basket is indeed the fruit itself. When looking for what fruits to add to a fruit basket, consider these popular options:
? Apples: This hearty fruit is a fruit basket favorite. Most everyone loves an apple, so you do not have to worry about less adventurous tastes avoiding the...
What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket
Fruit > What Fruits To Add To A Fruit Basket
Healthy Fruit Smoothie Recipe
Healthy Fruit Smoothie Recipe
by: Hans Dekker
Who doesn?t love a fruit smoothie? How about a healthy one that has a taste that cannot be beat? You can stop your search today because this smoothie recipe has it all.
This healthy fruit smoothie recipe is chopped full of wholesome fruit pieces and the sweet taste of honey. Blend one up today.
Ingredients:
1 cup plain flavored fat free yogurt
? cup crushed ice
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
? cup watermelon, cut into small cubes
? cup strawberries cut into halves
? cup mango, cut into small cubes
? cup peaches, cut into small cubes
1 tsp. vanilla extract
? cup honey
? cup almonds, crushed
Toppings:
Fat free cool whip
Couple sprigs fresh mint
To Make:
Frozen fruit may be substituted for this recipe, however fresh fruit will provide the best taste for these smoothies.
Fruit > Healthy Fruit Smoothie Recipe
10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family?s Diet
10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family?s Diet
by: Susanne Myers
We all know by now that we should be eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. But knowing and doing are two different things, aren?t they? Sometimes it is just not easy to get them all in there. We are constantly tempted to fill up on convenience and junk food. If your family is anything like mine, they?d much rather fill up on a bag of chips or a bowl of rice or pasta instead of trying an apple or a plate of steamed broccoli. So we?ll have to get creative. Here are a few ideas to ?sneak? some extra vegetables and fruits in your family?s diet.
1. Start the day with a breakfast smoothie. All you have to do is throw some fruits, low-fat yogurt and ice in a blender. You may also want to add a scoop of protein powder in there for good measure. Just blend for a few seconds and you have the perfect breakfast ready to go. I like to sip mine...
10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family?s Diet
Fruit > 10 Ways To Sneak Some Extra Fruits And Vegetables In Your Family?s Diet
Growing Hybrid Grapes
Growing Hybrid Grapes
by: Jim Bruce
Growing hybrid grapes is becoming more popular for wine and eating.
This popularity comes from the fact that hybrid grapes can be grown in areas where the traditional European grapes cannot survive.
It also comes about because more and more people are growing grapes in their backyard to produce their own vintage wine.
What are hybrid grapes?
To answer this question, we must look back in history about 100 years to when the European vineyards were being decimated by the phylloxera louse that had been brought from North America.
The European grape species, Vitis vinifera, is extremely susceptible to this louse.
Vineyard after vineyard was succumbing to this imported pest as well as to grape diseases that had also come from America.
But Native American species of grapes had evolved with the pest and were resistant to its attacks on the vine's roots.
In...
Fruit > Growing Hybrid Grapes