CONFIDENCE 4 U

How to be happy every day, not just at Christmas.

18-Dec-2006, Number 192

Written and published by Rachel Green.
Visit our website at http://www.rachelgreen.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe please go to the website or click here.

In this edition:

1. The importance of being happy.
2. Latest news: New CDs being made and I need your help – volunteers wanted in Perth.
3. Top tips on how to be happy all year round.
   
4. Further your happiness: An extra copy of "Midlife and Happiness" at no charge.
   
5. Laugh your socks off.
   

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1. Be happy every day not just at Christmas.

Happy Christmas – may your heart sing with joy as you celebrate. But why only be happy at Christmas? Let's make every day a happy one. As you approach 2007 choose to be happy – really happy – consistently happy – even when things go wrong. Happiness matters – people who are happy are healthier, live longer and are more successful. They catch fewer infectious diseases, exceed beyond expectations and according to some recent research may live up to 9 years longer than those who are unhappy. At work they are also more satisfied with their jobs, are more productive and have fewer conflicts. Happiness matters at work. So how can you be happier? Read on to the tips section to find out.

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2. Latest news: New CDs being made and I need your help.

I am busy making new CDs and doing more writing at the moment – and loving it. If all goes well there may be 4 new CD sets published during 2007. So far, I have recorded one on "Energy for living: How to have abundant energy and feel fully alive." It is presently being edited and the CD covers being designed – so hopefully it will be available by March. The "In love forever" CD has been recorded with my husband, and today I start doing the initial editing. And, I have plans to start recording a third one this week on confidence. Stay tuned to make sure you know what is available.

There is a chance for some people in Perth to appear on one or two of the CDs. So here is the first invitation. If you are lacking in confidence or shy and I could interview you about what it is like – let me know. Now I realise if you are shy or lacking in confidence that the last thing you are likely to do is to volunteer to be recorded and appear on a CD - but if you can pluck up the courage please do so. I simply want to have someone on the CD explain what it is like for her to lack confidence, to describe how she feels, what she does and what she avoids. It can include a lack of confidence when speaking in public or a lack of confidence generally. E-mail me at if you would like to participate and please include your phone number. You will need to be in Perth, able to get to Morley and available in January. You will get 5 free copies of the CD set if you are chosen to be on the CD.

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3. Top tips on how to be happy every day.

Tip A. Express gratitude daily.

When you get out of bed in the morning notice five things in your life that are good and focus on these. Say thank you. Express appreciation. This includes on Christmas day, Boxing day, and every day for the rest of your life. So often we spend our lives focusing on the things we don't have or on the things that annoy us in other people, or on the things that have gone wrong. Happiness does not arise or stay by doing that. Happiness is not in the negatives. Happiness is in appreciation of the "ordinary". Give yourself the time to enjoy the ordinary, every-day things around you. Express gratitude for what you have. Even a flushing toilet is a privilege. Have you been thankful for your toilet recently?

Tip B: Recall the times you were happy.

When you do feel happy and relaxed take the time to deliberately commit these experiences to memory. Notice all the details. How you were feeling. Your posture. Your gestures. Your facial expressions. What you were wearing. Where you were. What you were doing. The colours, sights and sounds in your environment. Who you were with. Remember everything about them. Commit them to memory. Then replay these images often. Happiness is already inside you, bring it to mind. (We will talk about how to do this on the Confidence CDs when they are made.)

Tip C: Don't give your happiness away to others.

When you are surrounded by negative, angry or grumpy people it can be hard not to be sucked into their moods, can't it? And yet why give your happiness away because of other people's emotions or behaviour? One of the first steps to take, in order to stop yourself doing this, is to be determined to stay happy, no matter what. Say to yourself "Just because other people are having a bad day doesn't mean I have to join them". Also, if someone has upset you, when you hang on to the upset you are disturbing your own contentment. So let it go and return to happiness.

Tip D. Help someone - be generous.

Happiness can arise by helping someone else or by being generous or kind. It's easy to think that it's the person receiving the gift or kindness who benefits, but really giving from the heart can make the giver happy too. It's very easy to be mean in our society, to just look after ourselves, to not share our good fortunes, to be in competition with others. But since when has being mean or cutting down the opposition brought lasting happiness? Happiness is far more likely to occur when you are full of kindness or generosity. Be kind and generous each day, even when you would rather be mean and nasty!

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4. How you can learn more about happiness.

Midlife and Happiness
While we are talking about happiness ... are you happy being 40 or over? Do you want more happiness to soar through your 40s, 50s and 60s? If so, this book, “Midlife and Happiness” is here to inspire you. It is a celebration of being over 40 and can show you just how good it can be to be 40, 50, and 60. There are seven chapters on my life and 13 chapters on the lives of other people, aged 40 - 61, and how their happiness increased despite having some pretty huge hurdles to overcome. I hope you'll read it. Order now! Only $34.95, with no extra for postage, world-wide.

Bonus: If you are a Rachel's Reflections subscriber and you order and pay for a copy of "Midlife and Happiness" no later than Wednesday 27th December 2006, then you will receive a FREE copy of "Midlife and Happiness" to give to a friend. Practise generosity and reap the rewards. You must order through our On-line Book and CD store and add under the comments section on the order form "A free RR copy," to be eligible for the free copy. It's worth $34.95. Don't miss out - hurry as this offer closes 27th December 2006. Order now!

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5. Laugh your socks off.

Thanks to the ahajokes.com website for this joke – we had to have a second Christmas one. Check out their website for more good Christmas jokes: http://www.ahajokes.com/christmas_jokes.html.

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!

If you have some clean jokes we can use, please send your contributions to

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May you enjoy your Christmas and find contentment is your constant companion.

Until next fortnight,
With kindness,
Rachel.

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Further information for you

If you'd like to have me speak at your function on happiness, emotional intelligence, stress relief or a similar topic; or run an in-house seminar; or provide 1-1 coaching; e-mail or call +61 8 9390 1188.

Learn in your own time.

There are four CDs, a printed book and 4 Electronic books to help you, including the NEW! book on media skills. Please order in our online book and CD store - we have a secure server: click here.

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Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is of a general nature and may not suit everyone or every situation. While every care has been taken to ensure it is useful and appropriate, no responsibility can be taken for the results gained from its implementation. Please seek individual professional guidance for any difficulties you may have with your communication, inter-personal relationships or psychological well-being. Thank you.