HAPPINESS SUCKS: Why joy is bad for you.....

That's the title of the short article I found on msn.com today. Here is is.

HAPPINESS SUCKS: Why joy is bad for you.
By William SaletanUpdated Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, at 8:02 AM E T(source msn.com)

A study suggests extreme happiness may be bad for you. Findings: 1) "The highest levels of income, education and political participation were reported not by the most satisfied individuals, but by moderately satisfied individuals." 2) Extremely happy people "earned significantly less money" and earned lower school grades than moderately happy people. 3) They "may not live as long," either. Theories: 1) Happiness makes you complacent and kills your drive. 2) It makes you slow to adapt. 3) It makes you too optimistic and insufficiently vigilant about your health. 4) It may overstimulate your cardiovascular system. Researchers' conclusions: 1) "Happiness may need to be moderated for success." 2) "Extremely high levels of happiness might not be a desirable goal." Human Nature's conclusions: 1) Success may need to be moderated for happiness. 2) Extremely high levels of success might not be a desirable goal.
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Let’s take a look at this because it’s such a great example of 3-D, limited, old paradigm thoughts and conclusions. In a logical, rational, left-brain world, this research and these conclusions may make perfect logical sense. However, in a quantum Universe with infinite possibilities waiting for you, it doesn’t hold water. Not even close.

Perhaps the researchers were equating happiness or joy with complacency. Then it would make sense, right? A lot of people feel that ‘if nothing is going wrong, then I’m happy’ An ‘under the radar’ kind of thinking. Or some folks may equate happiness with adrenaline stimulating activities that create a temporary high feeling. Fine and dandy, but not my definition of joy or happiness. And then there is the idea of 'the lower your expectations, the happier you are.' Right. What fun.

What I know from personal and professional experience is that there is a new breed of individual that has evolved into a place of recognizing and celebrating the magic of changing the way they think and believe, and then observing and experiencing how their lives change for the better. These people would not accept the premise that the happier they are, the shorter their lives will be. In fact, most of them would claim that the more joy they experience, the less stress they have, and that enhances health and longevity.

Why do you suppose it is that The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, and Happiness NOW! by Robert Holden,Ph.D in which he writes "...happiness doesn't come and go; what comes and goes is your attunement to happiness.", and other books about self empowerment, changing your thinking to change your life, and yes, increasing your joy quotient are finding their way into the big discount warehouse stores, like Costco, as well as being featured on the endcaps in Target, WalMart, Kmart, etc. Who you think is buying them, and why? And do you think these people experience that the happier they are, the more their health suffers? Do you think they believe that expansive, elevated thinking will make them sicker and shorten their lives? Come on!

This new thought paradigm is proposing that we are vibrational beings, and that the higher our vibration, ie., the more joyful we are, the more we are in sync with our True Selves, and the less stress, disease, conflict, ‘stuckness’, etc. we experience, and the more success and synchronicity or ‘happy coincidences’ we see occurring in our lives. The expansive, logic-busting new thoughts are based on very real research in quantum physics—research that tells us that we really ARE the creators of our reality. So if you get to choose which reality to create, will you really opt for less happy? Will you actually ‘moderate’ your joy? Even if the so-called research tells you to?

You decide. And then tell that to the woman whose tumor disappears before the doctors operate on her; or the man who finally meets his soul mate when he misses a flight to go on vacation; or the couple who decide they want to adopt a baby and have that baby arrive in their arms in record time, or the writer who dreams of writing a book for more than a decade and finally holds it in her hands…. We all know the stories, and we all get goose bumps of recognition because they activate our knowing about what magnificent, radiant, joyful beings we humans, are in our very nature.

Decide for yourself. Your thoughts become things. So choose carefully what to believe. Let yourself know what you know. Be your own expert. As for me I’m choosing joy and happiness every chance I get.

I’m The Everyday Joy Coach. Find me at www.EverydayJoy.com and let me help you create your own buzz about the power of joy and happiness to be the cause of dreams coming true, not just the effect!
© Janice Masters, 2008

WHO'S YOUR HIGHER POWER?

Your ego is so clever. As soon as things get challenging, it sets about convincing you that you’re the one with the power to change those things. It dangles concepts and tools, like the law of attraction, visualization, affirmations, and action, in front of you and says “ok, here’s what you use to change what you don’t like about what’s happening in your life now.”

And in your humanness, you bite. You go for it. You start working furiously on figuring out what to do to change things to your liking. You begin using all the tools at your disposal to recraft reality. You become dedicated to figuring out how to change things.

Here’s the problem: when you do that, you’re forgetting all about Source, God, All That Is. You’re forgetting that part of the human experience is recognizing that there IS a power greater than yourself. And that the how of change belongs to the realm of Spirit.But the ego doesn’t want to know about ANYTHING greater than itself. It wants to be top banana and perpetuate the illusion of ultimate control over everything.

Talk about a great way to create suffering! You try harder and harder using all the things you know to do, and the reality stays the same. And you hurt more and more, and besides that, you begin to feel like a failure. You start saying things like, “I can’t believe with all the things I know to do and do every day, that things are still the same.” Or, “what’s the matter with me that I can’t figure out how to manifest what I want right now?” All part of the same game of illusion which is the only game your ego knows how to play.

So now, you are not only working hard, but you're berating yourself for not being a good enough manifestor. And feeling irritated, angry, anxious, sad, maybe even depressed…and certainly, inadequate.

So what do you do to get around ego’s tangle of limiting, discouraging beliefs and judgments, and go back to KNOWING that Spirit is the source of all reality--that all good comes from God? That you can rest in knowing that you are supported and loved in every single moment? And that surrender is just a breath away? Yes, surrender. Surrender to what is is the answer. And finding your peaceful heart with what is. And trusting that the Universe knows what you want; knows your preferences, and for now, what is, is. And if it is, it’s perfect.

Oh man, does ego ever NOT go for that! But you must. Because your inner peace, your Everyday Joy depends on it--depends on your willingness to release resistance, stop pushing up against reality. That only causes you to suffer more and more deeply. The truth is you get to choose peace in every moment. You get to claim your Everyday Joy all the time. But in order to do this, you have to practice recognizing what ego is up to; practice acknowledging that ego is always trying to protect you from imagined harm; creating fear where there is none. and pretending to be invincible, rather than vulnerable.

Now understand, there’s no need to horribilize ego. Ego is not bad. Ego is your human mind working within its limitations. When you recognize these things, then you can choose to surrender into the NOW. You can choose to dwell in the expansive knowing of your spirit. Over and over and over and over and over, eternally. It’s what you have to do to finally claim the New World inside of yourself. Then and only then will it manifest outside of you.

You are capable of deep peace and radiant joy. Not just capable of them--- these are your nature. Gently moving ego out of the way is just what you have to do to live there. Embracing your human vulnerability is what you have to do to experience your magnificent spirit. Yes, it's a paradox. Keep practicing, it's SO worth the effort. You, are so worth the effort.

Wishing you the peace and joy that are YOU!
Jan

LOVING YOURSELF

I got this quote today in an email:

"...Do not give yourself more attention than you need, but take care of yourself and do not continually slay the God within you. Give opportunities in your daily life for the Christ within to manifest itself. This is what we mean by loving yourself, and this is what Jesus meant when he said ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. ‘ Love peace of mind, love doing the right thing, love living according to divine law."~White Eagle

I think it's beautiful. And it expresses perfectly how the law of attraction works. Put your attention on what you want and you will have it, and more of it as time goes on. The simplicity of what White Eagle says speaks to our ability to choose. Choose peace of mind, choose the right thing, choose to be guided by divine law.

Finding your everyday joy is a simple thing. It requires intention, attention, choice and commitment.

I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was feeling deep grief about something in my life. And my unconscious beliefs about these feelings were amazingly clear to me. I felt sorry for myself, I felt like a victim, like I shouldn't have to feel these feelings, etc. I saw so clearly how what I say to myself can either release or intensify painful feelings. It is about my intention, attention, choice and commitment to love myself.....or not.

Look for your unconscious beliefs in the things that you do and the things that you say....and challenge them. And replace them with beliefs, thoughts that are about loving yourself. It will make a world of difference.

Wishing you a peaceful heart,

Jan
The Everyday Joy Coach

PAUL POTTS appearing live!

Okay, so I must have been the last person on earth lol to see the uTube video of Paul Potts at his audition with Simon Crowell (see post below). Yesterday, the entertainment section of the Miami Herald had a full page ad for Paul's upcoming appearance at the Hard Rock Hotel here in South Florida! He made it. His dream came true. He's living it. He's traveling the world, from South Wales, singing opera--doing what, as he says, he 'was born to do'.

Your job is to collect evidence and data that dreams DO come true. Put your attention on the things that you want. Put your energy there. Put your faith there. Pay attention to how the dreams of others come true.And then watch the magic happen in your life.

Paul Potts is living the magic and you can too. Anything you desire already exists in the quantum field of all possiblities. I'd love to help you participate in the possibilities you dream of, and collapse the ones you no longer resonate to. Call or email me if I can help.

Wishing you all the JOY your heart can hold,
Jan
The Everyday Joy Coach

DREAM BIG! The perfect follow up.....

A friend sent me an email with this video link today. I watched it and had goose bumps from head to toe the whole time. And then I watched it again, and again...partly because of the quality of the superb performance, but mostly because I was watching someone take the risk to step into his greatness. I will watch it many more times.

Watch the video and be inspired to pursue YOUR dreams. Don't ever tell yourself you can't! Paul didn't, despite his confession that 'confidence has always been a difficult thing for me.'

So here then, is what the email said:

"This is a story about a guy, who like most of us, sometimes questions his existence, measuring himself to others, not believing enough in his abilities or his worth. Then one day, his passion outgrew his fears as he stepped onto a stage, a stage that took him to a place beyond his self-imposed prison. Watch the faces of the judges as this guy walks out on the stage. You can almost see what they're thinking as they pre-judge this guy based on his looks and the fact that he's a cell phone salesman. Maybe this guy stopped believing in what people told him for so many years and ultimately started listening to his passion. "

Click on the link and watch… http://www.maniacworld.com/Phone-Salesman-Amazes-Crowd.html

enJOY!
Jan

Dream big! That's what the sign hanging from the lamp next to my desk says...

My teen-aged son has big dreams for himself. He wants to be a professional musician, and perform on stage. Now, not everyone is comfortable with big dreams. In fact most people are very UNconfortable with big dreams. So when he talks about his dream, he gets a lot of comments like this: "get real, man!" or "come on! one in a million makes it big!", or "you better have a plan B." or simply "yeah, right!"

He's getting much more discerning about when, where, and to whom he voices his dreams. I say, tell them, "Be sure I have your address so I can send you concert tickets when the time comes!" :)

He is a kid whose imagination is at work all the time. Sometimes that hasn't served him so well... like when he imagines things that scare or discourage him. But this dream. He does not waver. Not one bit. That kind of certaintly overcomes others' doubts. He simply doesn't take in the negativity, he keeps his dream in close, and shares it with those who support him and believe in him. I believe in him, always have, always will. And not just cause I'm his mom. lol

I want to ask the nay sayers, "so what's YOUR dream? Oh, you don't have one? Or you don't talk about it because no one around you believes dreams can come true? And you're afraid they'll make fun of you?" Sad but true, many people shut their dreams down long ago because they were made fun of, put down or just plain ignored. And then they forget that they ever had dreams in the first place.

It's so important to find that dream that is uniquely yours. The one that only you can dream. And then give yourself permission to own it, dream it, see it, feel it, taste it, hear it, smell it, touch it....a lot. I've done that with my dreams and guess what? They come true!! My soul mate husband, my children, my books, and so many things, experiences, and relationships I have in my life now, once only existed in my imagination. I have a very long list of my dreams that came true! And in the meantime, do I ever have a great time imagining, dreaming, anticipating, feeling it as if it's already true.

Quantum physics teaches us that EVERYTHING already exists in possibility. We simply collapse the realities we don't pay attention to, and uphold those we do. So look at the realities you uphold...the ones where you put most of your attention and energy. And by the same token, look at the ones you have collapsed. Are there some of those---or completely different ones you want to align yourself with? Are they big dreams? Are they about your passion? Your intense desires? Would you like to shift your attention? Would NOW be a good time to do that?

Your thoughts become things. Your feelings create your reality. Your actions ignite the possibility you have chosen for yourself. Whether you believe this is true or not....it is.

So allot some time and energy this week, this month, this year, to investigating and clarifying what exactly YOUR dream is. When you discover it, cherish it, nurse it, spend time with it, KNOW it, and say to yourself "Already done!". For it is, and all you have to do is line up with it and uphold it with your attention, your thoughts, feelings and actions. And so it is.

And by the way, go back over your life and ask yourself what dreams you've had that already came true. We all have dreams. They may be dormant, but they're there. And we're all very powerful manifestors, so start collecting evidence of that.... and DREAM BIG!!

Wishing you all that you dream of....or something even better!
Jan

Would you like to win an Oscar?

I ask that because I observe how people sometimes dramatize things, energize painful experiences, convince themselves and others that they are a victim, and talk about it endlessly. I know that they're simply trying to feel better, but what they're doing is counterproductive.

Am I saying to not pay attention to the painful experiences in your life? No, of course not. I just suggesting that you give them fair air time, and then shift your focus.

Here's the thing, we do need to grieve, to feel anger, to be sad when certain things happen. Just don't let those feelings become habits. Feelings are an energy that is meant to come up, be felt, expressed in some way or another, and then be released. But if the most exciting thing that happens in your day is talking about something awful that happened, that will cause a spike in your endorphins, and your neurotransmitter receptor sites will want you to keep coming back for more, and more. In other words being a drama queen or king may be habit forming....and not in a good way!

Really, the drama is not worth it. By now you know that the drama will attract more....right! drama! So be conscious in your choices of where to put your focus, your attention, your emotional energy. Law of attraction doesn't hear you when you think, "just this once, I'll talk about it and it won't attract more of what I'm talking about." Nope. Law of attraction is like gravity...it just is...it does what it does...only ALL THE TIME.....so be mindful. That's all I'm saying.

Just a thought.....

Wishing you all that you wish for yourself.
Jan

You can call me Al......

This quote from Al Gore found its way into my email box today:

"When enough unexplainable new phenomena pile up, there is sometimes a shift in consciousness that moves us quickly and suddenly to recognize a new pattern that explains all of these things that have been mysterious in the context of the old way of thinking. That’s what we’re on the cusp of right now."
-- Al Gore

Al is so right. There is so much both personally and globally that we have a hard time explaining and dealing with. I know there are things in my life that are changing at the speed of light, probably in yours too. And in the most perplexing ways and areas. Often we get discouraged because we can't see the 'why' of it all, and it remains a mystery. And then if we're in resistance to the mystery...look out....here comes pain and suffering.

The good news is that the light is shining more and more brightly. Soon it will be clear to us about why certain things had to shift and change, and how those changes position us for more peace, joy, harmony, better relationships, a better world.

And to paraphrase what Al says, that's what our vibration is lining up with more precisely....until the light of consciousness and understanding reveals some of the mysteries and helps us to understand and embrace what is as we enter a New World.

My work as a coach and author is about helping us all to move out of that box of conventional thinking and into the possibilities that exist when we flip the switch that allows a rise in vibration, conscious awareness, and thought. What I know is that we don't have to WAIT to traverse that cusp Al Gore refers to. We are able to hasten the arrival of the time when we willingly tumble over that edge into quantum thought, accessing quantum realities that we are dreaming of in all of our NOWs. Our intention to embrace what is, with faith in what it means, brings us closer and closer to the energetic shift he refers to.

So if this part of the path of your spiritual journey seems a bit....or a lot...dark, have faith. In fact, KNOW that you are the light, you are the healing, you are the new consciousness, you are the one you're waiting for.

Think of it as perceiving something that you can't quite make out, going on the the next room...but when you finally open the door and switch on the light....then, it's all clear to you. You understand.

And allow yourself to anticipate with "already joy" the moment when you realize that YOU are the one!

I experienced a moment like that today while biking. I was repeating the phrase 'already done, already done, already done' knowing that God and the Universe knew what I was referring to. At that moment my faith was so complete, my trust so deep, and my joy so wide that all that I desire was 'already done', that I really understood the mystery that sometimes there is nothing to DO but simply BE JOYful. All the rest is 'already done'. Somehow that got in deeper for me today. The truth of that is a place of higher consciousness, a place of unshakable knowing. And in that moment I knew that all that I had experienced in my entire life led up to that moment of faith and knowing.

Wishing you deep peace,
Ja

Before you plan for the new year.....

How about celebrating all of your successes of 2007? Often we make resolutions and promises and set our intentions for the new year without really assessing how well we did and how far we came in the year that just ended.

I suggest that you list several categories:

• Fun/Recreation
• Spirituality
• Finances
• Career
• Family
• Health/Wellness
• Primary Relationship
• Friendship
• Home/Office Environment
• etc.

...and rate yourself from 1-10 as far as how satisfied you are with that area in 2007.

Then list all of the things you are proud of, grateful for, and want to pat yourself on the back for and celebrate in those areas. Here is a list of just some of the things I'm pleased with from last year:

• My husband and I took some wonderful, fun trips to Alaska and San Diego as well as numerous trips to Utah.
• I took lots of long walks and bike rides.
• I remained healthy, strong and recovered quickly from minor injuries
• I dealt with very challenging family issues with strength and grace.
• We redecorated our living room, dining room and family room to be warm, beautiful and inviting
• Beautified the patio and yard with plants and fountains, etc
• Traveled with good friends
• Stayed in very close touch with my 'soul sister' friends
• Very strong, close, fulfilling, fun relationship with my husband
• Attracted the very people I have been envisioning to provide what I needed to take my coaching/teaching business to the next level.
• Hired a virtual assistant to support me in my professional life
• Attracted more new coaching clients and increased my income
• Published my first book
• My spiritual connection is even stronger and deeper than before
• etc, etc, etc

You get the idea. So do this for yourself. Make a long list of your successes and positive changes from 2007. From there you'll be able to set clear, wonderful intentions for this year with a vibration that is high, grateful and appreciative. That will serve you very well...and it'll feel terrific!

Take the time to celebrate yourself and how wonderful you are, and how far you have traveled on your life path this past year.

Wishing you JOY!

Jan

What's it all about? JOY!

Joy is your reason for being. Joy is your nature. Joy is what propels you forward and upward. Joy is what aligns you with everything you desire. Joy is what allows you to tap into the quantum possibilities that already exist for your fulfillment! Joy is the fuel in the engine of your manifestation and participation in your desired reality. Joy raises your vibration to, what I believe is your natural state of being. Joy allows your well-being.

So how do you access more joy? I know that sometimes it seems like a long, hard leap from where you are, to joy. So let's look at the easiest path.

The path of least resistance to joy for most of us, most of the time, is through gratitude and appreciation. And when you get into the habit of choosing appreciation and gratitude on a regular basis, you're already in the process of inviting joy. Gratitude and joy are next door neighbors!

I carry small, pretty gratitude rocks with me in a beautiful little silk pouch so I can give them out as I go along in my life. Today I gave one to the young man who was my cashier at the discount store. After he handed me my bag and receipt, I held out the rock in my hand and said, "Here, this is for you. It's a gratitude rock. Keep it with you, and every time you touch it, think of something in your life you're grateful for." He looked at me sort of blankly, so I repeated myself and he smiled, took the rock, and put it in his pocket. At the same time, the young woman behind me laughed and said, "I'll take it if he doesn't want it! ....just kidding!"

Right before I gave him his gratitude rock, I had opened my wallet to pay for my purchase, and took into my hand, my own gratitude rock, a tumbled amythyst stone about an inch long. It was warm and smooth and I recited to myself all the things I was grateful for in that moment: my life, my health, my soul mate husband, my children, my parents, my friends, my home, my money, my dogs, my car, my teachers, my spiritual path, my optimism, my work...even my current challenges. All of that required only the short time it took for the young man to ring up my item. No time at all. And a whole lot in a NOW moment.

I had raised my vibration to gratitude; that led me to feel my own joy; I was moved to share it; and then I multiplied it by giving him the stone and giggling with the young woman behind me. Easy. Simple. Powerful. And the point of it all! And totally delicious. I left the store with a full heart and a big smile.

There are so many ways to tap into your joy. Make a list of the ones that you like the best and make it a habit to use them daily. And watch your life transform!

Wishing you Joy, Peace and Well Being,
Jan