Ray’s Daily
May 6, 2019
Happiness is an attitude of mind, born of the simple determination to be happy under all outward circumstances.
Donald Walters
I have learned that personal happiness comes from a positive attitude, appreciation of what we have, concern for others and feeling good. For years I have followed the writings of author Gretchen Rubin, a happiness guru. About ten years ago she wrote an article offering tips to get happy when you need a boost. Here is a list of her suggestions.
They can become everyday habits that will sustain a happier existence, at least it has for me although I still seem to create more clutter than I should. Oh, and by the way, if you are ever in my neighborhood let’s have coffee.
Nine Tips for Dealing with a Happiness Emergency–in the Next Hour.
Here are nine strategies that can boost your mood right now in a happiness emergency.
- Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside.
- Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is the KEY to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch.
- Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, do an errand you’ve been putting off, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and relief.
- Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around yourself by sorting papers, pitching junk, cleaning a closet, stowing supplies, sending out quick email responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater.
- Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (important: not something you think you should read) or plan an excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness,and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure.
- Do a good deed: make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good — this really works.
- Act happy: put a smile on your face right now. Research shows that even a fake smile has a positive influence on your emotions — turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood.
- Count your blessings. Take ten minutes to think about all the things in your life that are going right, about all the things that other people do to help you, about all the things that you’re thankful for.
- Perform an action that reflects your values. The First Splendid Truth holds that to work on happiness, we should think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth. Living up to your values will help you “feel right.”
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Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
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What to say to phone solicitors who call to sell you credit cards, vacation packages, etc.:
The police photographer is still here, and the county medical examiner hasn’t released the body to the coroner yet. Can you call back a little later?
What’s that you say? Speak up, please, will you? The battery has run down on my hearing aid. Louder, please, louder. Is that the best you can do? I’m afraid we’re just not communicating.
I’m gonna have to put you on hold. The baby is due any minute now. Quick someone, get some hot water. Lots of it. Sorry, gotta hurry now, don’t go away.
Oh, it’s you again. I was hoping you’d call back. The better business people said I need more positive identification to file my complaint. Now first let me have your name and telephone number…
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There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Mahatma Gandhi
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An attendant on a cross-country flight nervously announced: “I don’t know how this happened, but we have 103 passengers aboard and only 40 dinners.” When the passengers’ muttering had died down, she continued, “Anyone who is kind enough to give up his meal so someone else can eat will receive free drinks for the length of the flight.”
Her next announcement came an hour later. “If anyone wants to change his mind, we still have 29 dinners available!”
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Whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.
Swedish Proverb
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A man walked into a restaurant in a strange town. The waiter came and asked him for his order. Feeling lonely, he replied, “Meat loaf and a kind word.”
When the waiter returned with the meat loaf, the man said, “Where’s the good word?”
The waiter put down the meat loaf and sighed, bent down, and whispered, “Don’t eat the meat loaf.”
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If The Phone Don’t Ring, You’ll Know It’s Me
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It was a difficult subject to bring before his aged mother, but Morris felt that he must. “Mom, you are no longer a spring chicken and you do need to think ahead of what will happen in the future. Why don’t we make arrangements about when….. you know… when…. God Forbid …you pass on?”
The mother didn’t say anything, just sat there staring ahead.
“I mean, Momma, like…. how do you want to finally go? To be buried? Cremated?”
There was yet another long pause. Then the mother looked up and said, “Son, why don’t you simply surprise me?”
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Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.
Kevyn Aucoin
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Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than fifteen years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are more than 2000 readers from around the world.
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